Back in 2007, The Paperbacks released a cool little disc called An Illusion Against Death that helped shine a light on the great music scene in Manitoba beyond the Weakerthans. Interestingly enough, Jon K. Samson (main Weatherthan) produced that album, which may be one reason why so many compared the two band’s sound.After a series [...]
More >
There’s something to be said for youthful vigor and vitality, the innocence and spontaneity of music that’s not calculated or skewed to a particular demographic. I hastened to use the term “naiveté” because that implies a lack of wisdom or judgment, but that was one of the initial reactions I had to listening to Sault [...]
More >
If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, then you’re probably aware of how little live music I actually get out there to hear, so it’s not often that I mention concerts or review them, let alone use a whole day’s post to promote an upcoming show. Still, when it comes to The Wilderness of [...]
More >
The harsh reality of being in a band in 2009 is that the odds of being around by the time 2010 rolls around are not in your favour. I can count on my fingers and toes (and those of 5 to 10 friends) all the great (and semi-great) bands that have come and gone before [...]
More >
To win yourself a copy of Hop, Skip, & a Jump by The Mountains & the Trees, see contest details at the end of this post.Although no one will ever describe him as burly, semi-burly, quasi-burly, burly-like, burly-esque., Jon Janes’ one-man band The Mountain & The Trees has been described by one adjectively-challenged person as [...]
More >
I've been trying to keep weekend posts to a minimum lately (a blogger needs some rest, doesn't he?) but thought-hey, why wait for this? By the time I get around to posting it, it'll have been everywhere already. Vampire Weekend have a video for the first official single from the soon-to-come Contra. "Cousins" is a grower [...]
More >
I'm still trying to get myself back into the swing of things after my whirlwind week back and forth to NYC, so forgive me if some of this is old news, but it's all good stuff nonetheless. Late Night Tales has been a great DJ compilation series from the folks at Uncut magazine, and the latest [...]
More >
When I was in high school, I discovered Anne Rice’s vampire novels and–pardon the pun–was bitten. I can hardly remember all the details of the novels now, but I know how hard I fell for the romanticized midnight lives of the tortured, and torturing soulless vampires Louis and Lestat (Claudia not so much). In my [...]
More >
What I love about writing a blog is having a documented record of the changes in my listening habits, and seeing the evolution/connection between records in my collection. Have you noticed how one artist leads you to another, or how a specific record sort of opens the door to a new genre or style that [...]
More >
I avoided reading any review or talk of Strokes front man Julian Casablancas’s solo debut album, Phrazes For the Young, before actually listening to the thing myself. It was a semi-conscious decision, but one guided by premonition nonetheless. Something in my gut told me I wasn’t going to be impressed, and looking at reviews wasn’t [...]
More >
One day last week, as I sat down with my breakfast and coffee and The Globe & Mail, My eye was drawn to a short review for All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, the new LP from Chicago’s Califone. The album has popped up in a lot of discussions and blogs lately, and not having [...]
More >
To win yourself a copy of Giant Hand’s Coming Home please see the contest details at the end of this post.Kirk Ramsay has certainly had one heck of a whirl wind year. As the only man behind the moniker Giant Hand, he’s got a lot to handle on his own. So far, so great. As [...]
More >
Happy Friday the 13th! This week’s 4FTW post is coming a bit early, as I’ve got my hands full trying to take care of last minute details before taking off for NYC on Monday. Things will be a bit quiet around here for the weekend, but I’ll be back blogging on Monday with the second [...]
More >
I’m getting ready for a trip to Manhattan next week, and I’ve been working feverishly to get some posts in the can for the days that I’ll be away, but it seems that every time I pick up something to listen to and perhaps write about, I’m finding myself thinking, “This is too good to [...]
More >
Do you have an awkward friend who makes jokes that go over like lead balloons? You’re not exactly sure if he’s being serious or funny, or if he’s seriously trying to be funny. For a moment, he makes you feel self-conscious and stupid, like there’s something wrong with you for not getting it; until you [...]
More >
I’m always amused by people who categorize anything as being “chick-”, like chick-flicks, chick-lit, or chick-music. Yes, art and other inanimate objects can have an air of masculinity or femininity to them, but to actually assign a gender? I’ve heard lots of people refer to Tegan and Sara as being ‘chick-rock’ but is that just [...]
More >
Back on July 17, 2007, Vivek Shraya subjected himself to a little thing I used to call the QBiM Questionnaire. The premise was simple: I emailed artists a list of nonsensical and non-threatening questions all in the name of getting to know them better. Vivek was a willing victim subject, and we had a fair [...]
More >
This week's 4-pick was going to be a no-brainer. 20 years ago, 1989: the finest year of the modern music era. Don't believe me? Check this out-one of the earliest QBiM posts that doesn't make me wince with embarrassment-and tell me if you think differently. The world was on the cusp of a new decade, rushing [...]
More >
I’m pretty positive that I wrote a post sometimes back on Vancouver’s Said The Whale, around the time they released the Talking Abalonia EP in 2007. Unfortunately, I don’t have any documented proof of it in my archives, because it was one of the ill-fated posts that was zapped by Blogger prior to moving QBiM [...]
More >
A while back, a very unassuming and nondescript email came across my screen introducing me to Digits, a Toronto-based musician who started twiddling knobs in his bedroom (and not those kind of knobs–get your mind out of the gutter!) earlier this year, and has now emerged with–yep you guessed it–his debut album!Same story you’ve heard [...]
More >
What is this? The MOG Music Network is MOG's community of the best music blogs from around the internet. The network is growing rapidly and we're always looking for more great music blogs to add to our roster, so if you think your blog should be part of the MOG Music Network, APPLY HERE!
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
