Peter Gabriel releases "Scratch My Back"

In case you haven't heard, I love Peter Gabriel.

I also love the fact that this album is here and I have it in my hands. I'm a song and a half in and my heart is already swelling.

As previously reported, Scratch My Back is a collection of cover songs from artists like David Bowie, Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, and Radiohead.

What I wasn't aware of, is that this album is entirely orchestral - no guitars, no drums. As such it is beautiful, sweeping, lovely and dark. Gabriel has once again set the bar and done something brilliant, unique and cutting edge.

Even more exciting is the companion album that is set to follow this, in which the artists who Gabriel has covered will cover his songs. Needless to say, my mind is BOGGLING at what David Bowie will cover and if my mind and heart will be able to handle it.

And to top everything off, Gabriel will be performing the album live at only 3 venues in North America this spring. New York City, Los Angeles and Montreal... I believe I must attend, if only I can find someone who shares my passion for Peter that is willing to spend the money to get there - lord knows it will be worth it.

I'm still taking it all in - more to come.

Tracklisting:

1.	"Heroes"	David Bowie
2.	"The Boy in the Bubble"	Paul Simon
3.	"Mirrorball"	Elbow
4.	"Flume"	Bon Iver
5.	"Listening Wind"	Talking Heads
6.	"The Power of the Heart"	Lou Reed
7.	"My Body Is a Cage"	Arcade Fire
8.	"The Book of Love"	The Magnetic Fields
9.	"I Think It's Going to Rain Today"	Randy Newman
10.	"Après moi"	Regina Spektor
11.	"Philadelphia"	Neil Young
12.	"Street Spirit (Fade Out)"	Radiohead

x&o - Miss A

I'm the ghost of city life

A copy of the new Alberta Cross record landed on a colleagues desk today. I'd been meaning to buy it, but as circumstance would have it, hadn't gotten to it yet. And there it was, shiny and new - filled with songs that weren't strangers to me, but that I hadn't heard in a while. Old friends waiting to be revisited.

And there they were, in fine form. Petter, Terry, Alec, Sam and Austin - darling boys I drove around with that one time. Darker and heavier than their debut EP, Broken Side of Time is a stunning full-length record that goes down nicely with a bottle of red wine, a few hundred cigarettes and a head full of nostalgia.

I won't bore you with some wordy and pretentious review about this particular guitar solo, or that tortured lyric or the artistic principles employed... the album speaks for itself and you're smart enough to form your own opinions.

I could not give you an unbiased review of this record if I tried. Anyone who knows me knows I gave my heart to this band when I first stumbled upon them at All Points West in 2008. Every song attaches itself to a memory. Living room slumber parties, stolen bananas, singing along under an umbrella on a rainy Thursday in Buffalo, dark highways, squealing brakes, getting pulled over in Woodstock, NY, hotel rooms with decor unchanged from 1964, the loudest snoring you've ever heard... and the laughter.

Well done, boys. Well done.

While there are better songs to showcase the mood of the record, this song is speaking to me in particular today. I'd forgotten how moving it was. Beautifully captured:


x&o - Miss A

I'm the underdog, live my life on a lullaby...

Bask in the utter joy that is the new Kasabian record. West Ryder Pauper Asylum is fantastic start to finish. I'm so happy to be so excited about music - it's been awhile since I was over the moon about a record the way I am about this one and the Company of Thieves debut...





Yes, that is Noel Fielding from the Boosh in the last video. Fabulous.

P.s. good on you Tom Meighan for growing out your hair. Looking fit.

x and o
-Miss A

Fresh Sounds II

The Parlor Mob: And You Were a Crow

Ladies and gentlemen, Rock and Roll is not dead after all. In fact, it arrived in my mailbox last week.

And You Were a Crow, The Parlor Mob's debut release on Roadrunner Records is a stellar record from start to finish. These New Jersey natives have managed to create an album that would be just as at home in 1973 as it is today. They've pulled off a throwback classic rock sound, with just enough of a modern twist to keep it from seeming contrived. Crow boasts riff heavy hits like 'Hard Times' and 'Carnival of Crows' but also slips into dark but vivid acoustic pieces like "When I was an Orphan" and "Angry Young Girl." Both of these styles showcase singer Mark Melicia's rich, vintage vocal range wonderfully.

2008 is shaping up to be a great year. Buy this album immediately.
http://www.myspace.com/theparlormob

Fresh Sounds

Second Semester half of the ol' student loan came in this week. Of course that meant SHOPPING TIME! I picked up and ordered some albums I'd been craving. Thought I'd share.

FRESHLY PURCHASED:

Ours: Mercy, Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy
Jimmy, will you marry me?
After 6 years, Ours has finally come out with another stunning release. What else can you expect with Rick Rubin seated in the Producer's chair? Jimmy Gnecco's voice is still as beautiful and tortured as ever. You really feel a tug on your heart when he goes into one of his aching wails. The first half of the album is perfection, second half took a few listens to grow on me. The only thing that I have to complain about is the random female voice that closes the album - at the end of the last track, a female voice begins to sing "and the more you love, you love" over and over. It seems to come out of nowhere and in my opinion it takes away from what is otherwise a flawless record.
* Please demand OURS in Toronto so I can see them again! (see sidebar to demand)
Fast Faves: Black, Murder, Live Again
http://www.myspace.com/oursmusic

Portishead: Third
Oh Dear Beloved Portishead, thank you for returning.
After seeing them at Coachella and having my mind sufficiently blown, I had to grab the new Portishead album. Although it wasn't as life-altering as I had hoped/expected, it certainly was not a let down in any way. Anyone who was a fan of Portishead before will enjoy this album. The contrast of Beth's eerie, hauntingly beautiful voice with the synthetic creations of her male counterparts is just so striking and lovely. This album definitely proves that these Trip-hop pioneers are alive and well, and still just as relevent now as they were when the released their last album of new music over ten years ago.
Fast Faves: Nylon Smile, Machine Gun
http://www.myspace.com/portisheadalbum3

Black Mountain: In The Future
I was gutted that they conflicted with Roger Waters at Coachella. Then I blacked out in the crowd and had to be taken to the EMS tent. As I started to get my bearings back on my lovely cot, I heard a familiar song starting at the stage closest to the tent - I looked over and saw on the screen Black Mountain breaking into "Stormy Stormy High" - the Universe decided I was whining too much.
As you may know, I love anything that sounds like it could have been released in 1973 - and this album definitely harkens back to those glory days of rock, without sounding contrived. The Vancouver natives ambitious sophomore effort does not fall short of its mark. It flows effortlessly between soft psychedelia and pounding rhythms without losing the listener for a moment. In the Future is one of those rare records that you can happily listen to from start to finish. My opinion?: This is definitely one of the Must Have albums of 2008.
Fast Faves: Stormy Stormy High, Tyrants
http://www.myspace.com/blackmountain

IN THE MAIL:
The Parlor Mob: And You Were a Crow
Can't wait to hear the full album - Heard of these guys through mutual friends and adore everything I've heard of them so far!
http://www.myspace.com/theparlormob

Rilo Kiley: More Adventurous
I likely won't review this since it came out in 2004, but I only recently discovered the joys of Rilo and bought their newest release "Under the Blacklight" first in prep for Coachella. Now that I've seen them (and will be seeing them again at the Pheonix this month) I know it's time to grab this one!
http://www.myspace.com/rilokiley