Pedro The Lion – The Only Reason I Feel Secure EP (incl. Bonus Tracks)

Interestingly enough, I don’t really like Pedro The Lion. That said, I do own this EP, as in I actually purchased the physical CD from a music store when I was a Teenager. At the time though, I literally had no idea who this guy was. I just liked the album art.

Side note: I need to qualify that when I was younger, I was pretty concerned with buying the “right” genre of music. Don’t ASK me exactly what that even means, but this EP looked like the “right” type of music for me. Turns out I actually LOVE it regardless the way I came about owning it.

This EP came out originally in 1999 and was re-issued by Jade Tree records in 2001 with 3 extra tracks: “Big Trucks,” “Diamond Ring,” and “Invention.” I’m glad that I ended up with the re-issue as the additional songs are some of my favourites.

Back to the fact that I don’t like Pedro The Lion. (For anyone reading this who LOVES Mr. Bazan, you can just skip down to the next paragraph as I’m not really interested in debating my feelings towards him with you). This band actually just consisted of David Bazan at the time and I had/have a couple of issues with him as a performer. DB always came across as trying VERY hard to be different or individualistic and push the boundaries of, my impressions of, acceptable behavior as an artist. I don’t really agree with a lot of things that he did/does or said/says as a part of this forced façade. Let me just put it this way: David seems like the type of person you wouldn’t want to go up against in debate class because he would always have an opinion/argument for EVERYTHING; even for the most ridiculous topics. You’d have to research him a little to get a feel for what I’m saying; written interviews mostly. Granted I think he employs a large amount of sarcasm in his work (as can be seen from the original ’99 title of this EP: “The Only Reason I Feel Secure Is That I Am Validated By My Peers.”) That said however, I am able to separate the man from his music and I can say that I DO enjoy quite a few of his songs.

Songs of note:

“Criticism as Inspiration” – this song sets the stage for the entire EP. Mellow, melodic, and themed in sadness. It’s unclear to me if this song is meant to be taken literally or sarcastically. Perhaps this was an actual life experience or this is an indication of what we’ve often wanted to say to someone close to us. This song also prepares you for Bazan’s unapologetic form of lyricism: “Then there’s your girlfriend, she opens her legs and, gives your life meaning, is that what you love her for?” Great song though!

“Invention” – another example of the slow and brooding song writing style of Pedro. At the same time, this song is very cryptic and, probably intentionally, left open for interpretation. I personally think the main message here is to investigate something fully before investing your time in supporting it or believing in it.

“Be Thou My Vision” – cover of a traditional Irish hymn. I LOVE this song. Not only for the Celtic influence but also because of the way it’s arranged and presented. Give me chills. This is, originally, the closing song of the EP. This is very evident in the lengthened ending which gives the 5 song set a feeling of completeness.

“Big Trucks (Single Version)” – first of the 3 bonus tracks, this song is one of my favourites. Very upbeat and sometimes downright funny, this song paints the picture of a father trying to teach his son the lesson that the world doesn’t revolve around him and that he needs to account for other people and their feelings when part of a dispute.

“Diamond Rings” – One of the literal songs on the EP, Diamond Rings is song that features guitar playing and a slide guitar part that presents a feeling of unperfected recording or grittiness. However, this is one of the reasons I like this song. Somehow Bazan pulls this sound off. Maybe it’s because you feel like you’re sitting in front of him at home watching/listening to him play live. Aside from the style, this song is SAAAAD!

This turned into a pretty long blog post considering I don’t really like David Bazan! Either way, you should check out this EP and if you like it, you should also give a listen to his album “Control.” I’m warning you now though, if you’re anything like me with reading/following along with the lyrics, you may have a hard time with some of the things he portrays in his music. “The Only Reason I Feel Secure” can be found on iTunes and probably NO where else.

Step Twelve - Ends Close Sight EP

Alright, this is on a personal note. Andre Chamberlain and his newest project is the topic of this blog entry. Recently, Andre and his wife Samantha were home visiting for Christmas and MY wife and I went to visit them at his parents house.

Andre and I used to be in a band together in high school and we have been friends ever since that endeavor even though he moved out west to work/live alongside his brothers and work for Nomis Design soon after high school. Andre has been busily churning out music as a part of Chamberlain Davey, alongside Harrison Davey and Jeremy Radawiec, and more recently as a solo act under the moniker Step Twelve.

While we were visiting with Andre and Sam, Andre handed me his new EP “Ends Close Sight.” As a side note, I should qualify that I always assumed that Andre would make mostly instrumental music as this guy kicks tail on the Bass and was always a huge fan of the likes of Stu Hamm, Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai, etc. As part of Chamberlain Davey, Andre explored other instruments and this can be heard on their self-titled EP with him playing guitar. For this EP however, he has more or less decided to make music on his bass exclusively. Andre has also been exploring the world of singing ever since Lonely Heights (our high school band), and has been doing all he can in terms of vocal training and playing live shows in and around Vancouver as a way of honing his voice. All of this experience, training, and practice has very evidently paid off when listening to his latest record. It would be almost impossible for Andre's Bass playing skills to be lacking in my opinion but I'm particularly impressed with the talent and progress shown in his vocal work.

Songs of note: the two best songs on this disc are “Ends Close Sight #2,” which is my #1 example of how much Andre's voice has progressed over the years and “Groove of Love” which is a great example of Andre's instrumental music writing skills. Also, ECS #2 features a girl named Anne Lacovone on background vocals who compliments this song further by introducing a great contract to Andre's voice.

Honourable mention goes to the song “For You” with I THINK is about his wife Samantha? I could be wrong but this track is a great, upbeat, tap-your-foot-along-to song. Another great example of Andre's evolved sense of melody....especially the chorus/bridge.

Overall, Ends Close Sight by Step Twelve is a great little EP to listen to during downtime or relaxing on your couch. As far as I know, this EP is now live, available for purchase on iTunes.

Great job Buddy!

Incubus – S.C.I.E.N.C.E.

Incubus has sort of become a band similar to say U2 or Red Hot Chili Peppers, in that a lot of die-hard fans (or once die-hard fans) will tend to say “I only liked their first album” or “yeah, they USED to be relevant” or even “they totally sold out man!” However you would classify this band, there’s no denying that S.C.I.E.N.C.E. is one of their creative masterpieces (at least I think so). Where this album is quite different than its predecessor Fungus Amongus, the elements of inherent funk, rap, slow groove, and brutality are all still present throughout the duration of the album; but somehow they make all these genres work together for the better of the album where lesser bands have failed to do so in the past. UNLIKE their albums of late, it’s easy to tell that the label had nothing to do with the creative process/writing of these songs. Although the label’s involvement in this band’s creative direction may actually be somewhat indicative of their success considering Incubus hit most people’s radar with “Pardon Me,” a song that came awhile after this album as part of the Make Yourself in ’99. OR maybe they’ve just progressed past this style and I’m completely off base J (especially because they’ve always been signed to the same label). Enough of the speculative stuff…

Songs of note for me on this album: ALL OF THEM! “Redefine” is a powerful album opener, “Vitamin” assaults your eardrums with a fast-paced, heavy hitting melody and rhythmic sections, and “New Skin” & “A Certain Shade of Green” are probably somewhat recognizable to even the non-Incubus fan as these are two of the tracks on the album that received substantial radio play and most likely music video play (music videos? what are those?); these two tracks are likely destined to become favourites if you’re unfamiliar with this album. “Favourite Things” is another great track following “A Certain Shade of Green.” Now, following “Favourite Things,” we get a glimpse at a song that is representative of the genre of music that this band has become particularly successful at marketing to the masses. “Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)” is a great “ballad” for lack of a better term. Similar to “Drive,” “I Miss You,” “Stellar,” basically ALL of the Morning View album, "Talk Shows on Mute," “Southern Girl,” and the list goes on and on, “Summer Romance” showcases both intricate melodies and Brandon Boyd’s knack for singing the crap out of a simple sing-a-long-able song. The best part of this track is the Saxophone solo; I love that!

I could write about this band forever and ever as I have been a huge fan since the first time I listened to the album with my friend Andre in the basement of his parent’s house in high school and I will continue to be a fan regardless of the fact that many listeners have fallen away as a result of the bands choice to pursue a more “mainstream” style of music. Whatever your tastes, you have to admit that Incubus is a chameleon in the world of factory-made, cookie-cutter pop music designed to rot your brain. Take a break from the likes of Katy Perry and Hinder and check out S.C.I.E.N.C.E. and decide for yourself!

City and Colour – At The Bird’s Foot (Gasoline Rainbows Compilation)

Speaking of Tegan and Sara, and my knowledge of this song actually comes from the August City and Colour concert referenced below, Dallas Green has written a song about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico called “At The Bird’s Foot,” that features Tegan and Sara singing backing vocals, and released it as part of a compilation on iTunes called Gasoline Rainbows. This song is written in the style that only Dallas can deliver; a haunting minor, but equally melodic tune constructed into a straightforward storyline style similar to that of Leonard Cohen (however MUCH more sing-songy) or even Neil Young himself. Tegan and Sara compliment Dallas beautifully repeating phrases in harmony in the background helping to bring together a very different type of song then we’re used to hearing Dallas/City and Colour sing.

As far as I can see, you can’t buy this compilation on Amazon. You can however buy it on iTunes. (similar to Borrowed Tunes; a Neil Young tribute compilation to which Dallas contributed his interpretation of “Cowgirl In The Sand”). I recommend getting at least this song and Damien Rice’s “The Connoisseur of Great Excuse” as these are previously unreleased tracks.

EDIT: APPARENTLY, I'm a bit of an idiot. This song features Amanda Zelina from the band The Coppertone. Whatever guys, her voice is still haunting!

Tegan and Sara – Sainthood

I always assumed that Tegan and Sara were just two feminists or sisters that sang the type of music that, immediately following, would require a two hour embrace from your mother or a session of circle cutting on the bathroom floor for the listener. I’m assuming that this opinion originated in high school from the type of people that sat in the hallway alone at lunch with their backpack, disc-man, and headphones wearing their favourite Tegan and Sara t-shirt for the fifth day in a row. All that said, my wife and I, by chance, saw T&S opening for City and Colour this past summer at the Molson Amphitheatre and I was pleasantly surprised by both the style of their music as well as the VERY evident amount of talent backing said music. It took me until today, January 5^th, 2011, on my ride in on the train, to listen to Sainthood (released in 2009) in its entirety. I can’t speak for any of their other contributions but I can say that Sainthood is an impressive musical work. Noteworthy songs for me include: Arrow (album opener), Hell (yes EVEN though this is the only single played on the radio), Alligator (one of my particular favourites), and Paperback Head all of which are a fair representation of the overall up-tempo tone of the album. All in all, you won’t be able to resist stomping your foot along to Sainthood while all the while, however slowly, changing your opinion of a musical act who, in my opinion, was once synonymous with the “EMO” phenomenon headed by the likes of Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday.

You can find Sainthood at Amazon.ca (standard edition) or on iTunes (deluxe edition incl. bonus tracks).

My So-Called "New Year's Resolution"

Over the past couple of years, I’ve gotten into the very bad habit of listening to ONLY talk radio, both during my commute to work and throughout the workday, as this is the format that seems to pass the time. Beginning with today’s train ride in however, I’m hoping I can re-ignite my passion for new and emerging music as well as re-discovering old gems that sit collecting dust in my 250 capacity CD Case in the storage space outside my apartment. Be kind to me as what follows is my opinion only. These are merely my suggestions for those of you searching for something new and interesting to check out.

-Tim