[Event] TONIGHT in Toronto: EMAY Live at the Drake Hotel for TIFF Film Fest

Recent regular readers know I’m a big fan of the new Hamilton-based producer/MC, Emay so I’m pissed I’m gonna (probably) miss this performance here in town tonight for TIFF ‘cos I’m going to see Kid Cudi (he’s still around??!) instead. I highly recommend you check this out though if you claim to be looking for creative, artful hip-hop. Kid is wild nice on record. let’s see if he’s got it live on stage now. If I’ve persuaded you to the cause, CLICK HERE for more details on Facebook.

[Event] TOMORROW in Toronto: Release Event for The Real Frequency presents The New North Album

You know the deal. If not, CLICK THIS LINK then make plans for tomorrow:

THE REAL FREQUENCY Presents

For Guestlist call 1 800 Support-Great-Music

CLICK HERE for the Facebook Event Page.

Hit the jump for the full flier and to hear the album if you were too lazy to click the link above.

[via]

(more…)

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 40. Young Galaxy – Shapeshifting

Last album DONE! Can’t believe I made it all the way through after recklessly declaring I would embark on this foolhardy plan to do a post outlining my thoughts on all forty of the albums on the 2011 Polaris Long List that I had to listen to before voting on the Short List finalists.

I’m glad I : 1. listened to all the albums (something I don’t think all the jurors did before they voted but I won’t tell tales out of class)! and 2. decided to do this series after all though because it was something different (hey!) than the regular re-posting of video, vlogs, mp3’s, mixtapes and other sundry rubbish PR and marketing agencies inundate my inbox with every day. That sh-t gets tired (to me, at least) and there are plenty of other ‘aggregator’ blogs out there to satisfy that need if you so desire.

As for Montreal’s Young Galaxy, there wasn’t anything essentially wrong with their vaguely new wavey, 80’s-esque sound. In fact, I quite enjoyed it but their music wasn’t standout or better than a lot of other things on the list I thought deserved to be long listed. Here’s a couple joints from Shapeshifting so you can make up your own mind though:

Download Young Galaxy Cover Your Tracks [MP3]

Download Young Galaxy Peripheral Visionaries [MP3]

and after the jump, check out a handful of bonus remixes of ‘Cover Your Tracks’ by Teen Daze, Freedom of Death and CFCF and stay tuned for the Polaris contest if I can pull it together….

(more…)

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 39. Neil Young – Le Noise

Speaking of droney, who knew rock elder statesmen, legend and icon (yes, all three!), Neil Young would go there on his latest album, Le Noise?! From a creative and artistic point of view I give him full credit for still being willing and able to take these kind of creative chances this far into his long and storied career when many others would play it safe. Musically this was pretty on point but unfortunately, lyrically it often fell way short verging on atrocious at times.

A Look at the Polaris Long List: 38. Women – Public Strain

Women‘s Public Strain was giving me Jesus and Mary Chain vibes with it’s droney, Phil Spector-ish sound & 60’s Beach Boys on quaaludes (or something) harmonies. Was a little on the weird side but I could f-ck with it. Can you though??

Download Women Bullfight [MP3]

Download Women Venice Lockjaw [MP3]

Download Women Narrow With The Hall [MP3]