Friday, September 30, 2005

H&M&MEEEEE!

Monday was a mini-christmas. I gave Jaime back her cd, and an iPod sock that I knit for her, and she gave me a box of origami supplies and an invite to H&M friends and family day!! Now I get to put my unexpected bonus to good use, and buy lots of fahionable stuff, with Jaime as my personal shopper. I'm v. excited! Also, I've developed a newfound love for typing v. when I want to say very - it just feels so sophisticated ;)

I'm in a v. good mood.

Haagen Daaz Dulce de Leche is v. delicious.

Autumn is my v. favourite season of all. Every time I step outside I have the feeling that the feeling would only be more perfect if I was in an apple orchard - next weekend for sure.

Friday, September 23, 2005

October!!

For some reason, October is THE best month for music. Case in Point: Wavelength. Fantastic.

Sunday October 9 – WL 284

Band: North of America
Description: Canadian math-rock legends' long-awaited return.
Contact: northisacurse@gmail.com

Band: The Lava Witch
Description: Suburban Toronto aggro-dance sensations.
Website: www.lavawitch.franktowndesign.com
Music: www.myspace.com/thelavawitch
Contact: doyle30@hotmail.com

Band: Dog Day
Description: Post-rock from North of America's fello Halegonians.
Website: www.dogday.tk
Music: http://www.myspace.com/dogdaytheband
Contact: sethsmith@gmail.com

+DJ JEREMY SAMSON FINKELSTEIN

-------------------------

Sunday October 16 – WL 285
Band: Germans
Description: Indie pop. But complicated.
Website: http://esistgermans.cjb.net/
Music: http://www.myspace.com/germans
Contact: sicksound@gmail.com


Band: The Lolo Project
Description: Hanna-Barbara hip-hop experiment from the Midways' keyboardist.
Website: http://www.sonicbids.com/Theloloproject
Music: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=299372
Contact: Peter@milkshakemusic.ca

+ DJ TANNER

-------------------------
Sunday October 23 – WL 286

Band: Vermicious Knid
Description: Toe-tapping agular-rockers from Brampton release their
first full length!
Website: www.thevermiciousknid.com
Music: www.thevermiciousknid.com/music
Contact: ford.fordplant@gmail.com

Band: Beef Terminal
Description: Post-rock electronic music – CD release!
Website: www.beefterminal.com
Music: www.noisefactoryrecords.com .
Contact: info@beefterminal.com

Band: Thomas & The Evil Computer
Website: http://www.evilcomputer.ca/
Music: http://www.thefordplant.ca/thomas.htm
Contact:
+ DJ SEPARATE BILL

Thursday, September 22, 2005

New Harvey Danger!!

Harvey Danger are some cool folks. They've FINALLY released their 3rd album - and get this- they're releasing it as a free download BEFORE it hits the shelves next week. Granted, you have to know how to use bittorrent (which I don't) but still, its pretty cool. And next week, when they release it in CD form, they're also putting it up in mp3 form - for free, forever. In hopes that they can prove what we've been talking about all alaong, that people will listen to it, and decide whther to buy it or not.

You can check it out here (and if you figure out how to download it, let me know!!).

UPDATE - i figured out how to use bittorrent (I'm an idiot - i just had to change .zip to .torrent) and so far, the album is mighty good.
My last post felt a bit pretentious. I wastrying my hand at a new way of writing. Here's a way better review of Sigur Ros written by an actual writer, for Pitchfork.

I'm still freaking out about applications, but I started knitting and its helping a bit.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

so good, but unquoteable

Today is unproductive. I've accepted it, and I'm going with it. Instead of reading Ch. 1 of the required reading for my insanely frustrating History of Psychology class, I'm going to write about some music. Specifically, Sigur Ros. (But I may rant *just a little* about the logic of assigning a poorly written text to a largely waste of time course that I'm required to take even though it will barely graze upon topics relevant to my field. Said text was written by the course instructer - I cry foul).

Moving on.

Mark surprised me on sunday with tickets to yesterday's Sigur Ros show at Massey Hall. We both have reservations about paying so much ($50) for concert tickets - we rarely need to shell out more than $10-$15 for the shows we want to see - but there's a bit of legend surrounding a show by Sigur Ros. Most people that have gone to see them in the past have reported life-altering beauty, or at least something that makes them seem a bit.. umm.. floaty... for a few days afterwards. So Mark got the tickets.

We didn't leave the show feeling floaty. It was really really good anyways. If not floaty, I at least felt a little bit moved. It was an excellent show. As far as I can tell, $35 extra for a ticket gets you a cushy seat in a beautiful venue, and the band gets to fly in from Iceland and bring some fancy light show materials with them (really, a projector and a big curtain...). They also get to bring a wonderful opening band/backing string section (Amina) with them that adds depth. Here's a picture:

Monday, September 19, 2005

Mooses!

I was almost ready to call off camping last thursday when the forecast switched from clear and sunny all weekend to rainy and shitty till saturday night - SO glad I didn't. The rain did follow us all the way during our drive to Algonquin, but stopped just before we entered the park and stayed away the entire time that we were there. It was one of the most gorgeous trips I've ever been on - I feel completely refreshed after so much beauty. The trees are just starting to turn - most are still green but there are a few spectacular red and orange ones. Mark completely wore me out with hours and hours of canoeing, but I got him back with a 10k hike (Centennial Ridges - again, more pretty sights than you can shake a stick at). Here are some pics:







Also: I saw a sign that said "Parents, children are your responsibility!" I was overwhelmed.

Friday, September 16, 2005

Photo update! (oh, and we're idiots)

This is what I've been doing for the last couple of weeks (no pictures of sick jen --the red nose just isn't becoming):

Housewarming! The house got very warm - we felt the love :) I hope it gets filled like this very often.




Cookies! and Scrabble! Arguably, the best way to spend a few days sick at home. Must include lots of tea, drooling cats, and garlicked soup.



Sufjan!! The show was soo nice. We got there a little late, missing the opener and the beginning songs of Sufjan, but it was worth it as we were able to celebrate a bit of Mark's friend's birthday - tons of cupcakes, nice people, and wine. The church was a perfect venue for sufjan - his shows already contain much reverence (from the crowd) and it just seemed right to have a proper venue for that sort of feeling. The show felt way too short, and it probably wasn't quite as good as last year's Lee's show, but it was still worth every penny. I managed to record "The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!" with a hilarious intro - apparently the song is based on an early camp experience Sufjan had with a friend, when theyscared themselves silly about a predatory bird wasp that they saw in everything - birds, sheets, you name it. It's probably my favourite song on Illinoise, so I was quite happy.




And now to the idiots portion of the post: Last night we had tickets to see the Notwist/Themselves, so we hauled ourselves down to the horsheshoe for nine. When I asked if theNotwist were playing, or if it was just the bands' collaboration "13 & God," I was informed that whoever was playing, they were doing it at Lee's Palace. We looked at our tickets for the 4th time that night, saw that Lee's Palace was printed very clearly on them, front and centre, and hauled ass to Lee's where we sold our tickets and went home to watch the 40 year old Virgin.

PS - Everyone should listen to the new Thee More Shallows album, More Deep Cuts. Its fantastic and the best album I've put my hands on in quite a while. There are two mp3s on that site, get'em while they're hot, and buy the ablum when they come to Toronto on October 21st!! Honestly, their music makes my heart swell. In a good way.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

FUNHOUSE

So, while having a quick look on craigslist for a friend who's looking for a place to live, I found this. WOW.

http://toronto.craigslist.org/roo/97681686.html

Friday, September 09, 2005

Friday afternoon!

This week was full of being sick in my newly-warmed house, and this weekend will be full of celebrations! Tonight, my dad is being honored for 20 years service to Durham Regional Police, and I get to have my hair done and dress all purdy for the ceremony. Good job dad!

Tomorrow: Vegetarian food fair! It's meat- and money-free! And then a birthday party, a Sufjan Stevens (!!!), and maybe another house party!

Sunday: Mark's BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Co-Shacker-Upper!!!

I'm not excited at all.

(!!!)