MOG - Tommy O's Posts

Is Craig Ferguson the funniest man around?

Tommy O — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 02:19:52 GMT

Sean Connery & Michael Caine in Pulp Fiction...Ferguson is brilliant!

Theme song

Tommy O — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 02:08:05 GMT

I've always liked the idea of having a giant sized ego. With that said, I like the idea of walking into a room to your very own theme song.

Ego or not, surely I am not the only one who has considered this option.

So here are some ideas...

Green Onions by Booker T & The MGs - groovy, but does it say enough?

Down Payment Blues by AC/DC - As much as I might have wanted to be Bon Scott when I was 21 the truth is I think that would be pretty pathetic for a teacher and father.

Applecross Wing Commander by You Am I - Perhaps...but I am sick and tired of telling people about Australia's best rock n' roll band...having them as my theme song would just add to my already busy musical missionary work.

21 Miles - Edwin Starr - but, the love of my life is only about 21 feet away...so it wouldn't make a lot of sense.

I am the Resurrection by The Stone Roses - ah, to be 24 again and dancin for hours and hours and hours without a care in the world...my knees can't take that any more.

So, I have to go with my old favourite.

I'm a Man by The Spencer Davis Group - Forget the thinly-veiled attempt at ego here the true beauty of it as a theme song is in Muff Winwood bass and Pete York's drums. Brilliant...and you can slip with that slightly off-kiltered bass line...

So...what would be you theme song?

Dead is the drunkest that you can get.

Tommy O — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:47:20 GMT

Well. The Rheostatics. Canada's stalwart purveyors of proggy-inspired-sonic Canadian delusions are breaking up after what? thrity years of pushing the limits of a sound that is remarkably orginal and remarkably Canadian (songs about Wendall Clark, Saskatchewan & Regina). Over their career the band has hardly changed. Two changes on drums (in CDN hockey fashion they traded drummers in the mid-nineties Don Kerr - Dinner is Ruined - Rheos - for Dave Clark - Rheos - Dinner is Ruined) and the relatively recent addition of Michael Phillip-Wojewoda.

They have put their own unique signature on Canadian music from album salutes to CBC radio programs to a unique project that traced the Group of Seven (Iconic CDN painters) and for being that, truly and uniquely Canadian they deserve my respect.

I must admit, I was not always a fan of the Rheos but my wife helped me to see what an exciting and talented band they were. Thanks to her, and subsequently them for the music.

For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about here is one of their tracks...and check out their website: http://www.rheostatics.ca/

The Rheostatics

Tommy O — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:15:35 GMT

So...Canadian stalwarts The Rheostatics are calling it quits this Friday at the legendary Massey Hall in Toronto. These guys have consistantly pushed music to extremes and tried new ideas and sounds when others were happy to "tow the line". Their sound is uniquely Canadian and uniquely Rheostatics. They have worn their nationality on their shoulder (and on their guitars) with pride (singing Gordon Lightfoot covers and songs about Saskatchewan and Wendall Clark) and all the while managed to keep and grow one of the countries most devoted fan bases. They have stayed as a cohesive unit for their 30 year career, with the exception of two drummer changes (Dave Clark went on to Dinner is Ruined and Dinner is Ruined/Ron Sexsmith drummer Don Kerr came to teh rheos - I mean, how more CDN...they traded drummers like they were left wingers...and the relatively recent addition of Michael Phillip Wojewoda).

I must admit, I was not always a fan of the band, but my wife helped to show me what a wonderfully entertaining and talented band they were and for that I thank her, and subsequently them.

For those of you who wonder who the hell these guys were...have a listen...

The CONS!

Tommy O — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:23:55 GMT

It is a good week for concerts up here in Canada. And perhaps teh best live band in Canada The Constantines are in town to make me believe that rock n' roll can never die! Cliched? Quite possibly. No...no way! Funnelling the power of Fugazi and The Clash with the Soul of The Afghan Whigs and Springsteen...Wednesday...can't wait!

Check out this great performance on a BRUTAL TV show...

And their cool (despite looking like it is Talk Talk) video for Working full Time...

The Broken West

Tommy O — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:23:49 GMT

Has anyone else heard of these guys?

I recently bought their album and am loving it. Sounding at times like a smoother Spoon, Wilco or even Calexico this album employs a sound that harkens back to the great rock-pop gems like The Posies or Teenage Fanclub. Really nice stuff, that I hope does not get swept under the rug of ignorance perpetuated by those who can't grasp that "pop" does not equate to American Idol and The Pussycat Dolls.

Greatest album cover

Tommy O — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:34:10 GMT

I was examining a poster in montreal with some recent releases and got to thinking of great album covers. I think my first two have been the same for years... 1. T Rex - Electric Warrior 2. Soundgarden - Louder than Love

However, despite the decline of the medium of CD I firmly believe record companies are once again looking at cool album covers.

Although it is worth asking this of your independent music outlet. I once commented that I thought a certain album was cool...Spaceman Stan of Cambridge, Ontario then explained that yes up front it might be lovely but watch how it becomes lost in the masses. Perhaps another reason for "the man's" ban on "Smell the Glove"

And yes, I acknowledge that I did not go with some of the classics: The Clash - London Calling Otis Redding - Otis Blue The Stones - Beggar's Banquet

Leave me alone...these get the prices all the time.

So here is how the rest of my list goes...

3. Spoon - Gimmie Fiction I love that the album cover...gets me thinking and thus is giving me fiction - get it? Brilliant!

4. The Afghan Whigs - Black Love Classy. Stylish. You can almost smell the atmosphere...although that might be the incense sticks....is that how you spell incense? Who cares...only for hippies anyways.

5. TIE

Jill Scott - Beautifully Human Lovely voice that harkens back to olde-school soul music and thus the album cover does the same thing and in a subtle way she throws herself in the face of top 40 perfection.

Belle and Sebastian - Fold your hands child, you walk like a peasant. I looked at this album over and over again. Love that the girl is reading "I fought in a war", which is a song on the record. Great!

Also worth noting is this indie band whose CD I have called the Machines...Their album "After my misspent youth" has a brilliant album cover - see the link http://www.myspace.com/themachines

Thoughts?

Rolling Stone

Tommy O — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:15:18 GMT

I was in the waiting room at a our doctors today and had a bit of a headache so I did not bring in the book I presently reading or the newspaper I had in my bag.

Forced to sit there, I turned and picked up Rolling Stone...what I experienced what much the same as turning on Saturday Night Live now (although I watch the disgracefully bad episode the other noght to see Arcade fire). I think this is the first time I had picked up RS since the early 1990s. WOW...this magazine is still garbage.

The top ten albums of the year was absolutely striking.

RHCP, James Blunt...need I say more?

Dreadful.

Do they know where their bread is buttered, or might it one day return to writing at least partially thought-based material?

Great driving songs?

Tommy O — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 11:48:19 GMT

Well, I just finished a 10 hour drive and got to thinking -- as I was into my trip - about great driving tunes.

No...I do not mean radar Love by Golden Earring.

After my drive I have come up with this list:

25 Miles - Edwin Starr Tank and Commander - The Constantines Rock n' roll Damnation - AC/DC Trigger - Change of Heart What's Hardcore - K'Naan Heard it through the Grapvine - Marvin Gaye Roller Coaster Ride - Belle and Sebastian Applecross Wing Commander - You Am I I am the Resurrection - Stone Roses Baby Please Don't Go - Them

thoughts?

Canadian Top Ten

Tommy O — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 04:04:24 GMT

I am curious what those of you non-Canadian think of Canadian Music...and also those Canadian fans out there of course...

Here is my Canadian Top Ten:

1. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot 2. Helpless - Neil Young 3. Diamond Mine (long version) - Blue Rodeo 4. Herstory - Change of Heart 5. The River - Joni Mitchell 6. Tank and Commander - The Constantines 7. Calendar Girl - STARS 8. I'll Bring thh Sun - Jason Collett 9. Tomorrow in her Eyes - Ron Sexsmith 10. Have not been the same - Slow

Hon mention: Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies My Only Aim - Hardship Post Chelsea Hotel - Leonard Cohen Slow Burnin' Fire - The Skydiggers I'm an Adult Now - The Pursuit of Happiness

Jose Gonzalez

Tommy O — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:16:31 GMT

This Argentinian-Swede is really impressive.

Flamenco guitar with a penchant for pop...sounds like Hayden or Xavier Rudd being played in a Tapas bar.

And somewhat surprisingly he has a penchant for interesting covers like the Joy Division's "Love will tear us apart" and Massive Attack's "Teardrop".

www.myspace.com/josegonzalez

Check him out!

Cheers!

Tommy O — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 19:56:31 GMT

These guys (and gal) might be the best live act in Canada. Hailing from Toronto their debut album "Everything in Two Parts" brought the Golden Dogs well into the public eye. Blending big bad 70's rock with the likes of The Pixies has ensured that The Dogs show up on radar and that people sit up and take notice. I have seen the future of Rock N' Roll and its name The Golden Dogs.

More or Les

Tommy O — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 03:23:49 GMT

This Toronto rap artist is like a glorious whif of olde school in our seemingly uninspired modern rap genre. Deconstructing hip hop and attacking from within this guy's intelligent rhymes put a lot of artists to shame.