Album of the Month: Neverending White Lights - Act II: The Blood and the Life Eternal

Neverending White Lights' Act II: The Blood and the Life Eternal is my choice for album of the month. The album is the follow-up to Act I: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Body, which featured colloborations on every track, minus the opener, with the likes of Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Scott Anderson (Finger 11) and Jimmy Gnecco (Ours). It also featured the amazing track, Grace featuring Dallas Green of Alexisonfire, a song which dominated Canadian radio in 2005.

If you have never heard of Neverending White Lights here's what you need to know in a nutshell: 1. NWL is fronted by Daniel Victor; 2. He is Canadian. (Let's here it for Windsor, Ontario); 3. This is not a band, it's a project; 4. While songs feature a different singer for each, Victor plays all of the musical instruments.

Act II is no different than its predecessor, as it features a handful of singers collaborating with Victor. Some of the notable artists include Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins, Auf der Maur), Rob Dickenson (Catheerine Wheel), Sune Rose Wagner (The Ravonettes) and Aqualung. It is also just as dramatic and melodic as Act I. The first single Always has already hit Canadian airwaves and is a terrific choice to remind people just what Neverending White Lights had to offer in the first place; romantic, rich, textured songs.

Neverending White Lights seems to be one of Canada's little secrets. But I think it's time we let everyone in on it. If you like your rock with a little bit of ambiance, this album is for you.

Tracklisting
1. Theme From The Blood and the Life Eternal
2. Dove Coloured Sky (feat. Jimmy Gnecco of Ours)
3. The Living (feat. Coury Palermo of Lynden)
4. The World Is Darker (feat. Auf Der Maur)
5. My Life Without Me (feat. Mat Joly of Mobile)
6. Miss World
7. The Warning (feat. Jonathan Bates of Mellowdrone)
8. Always
9. Where We Are (feat. Rob Dickinson of Catherine Wheel)
10. Black Is The Colour of My True (feat. Lexi Valentine of Magneta Lane)
11. Bleeds To An End
12. Nothing I Can Save
13. Distance (feat. Aqualung)
14. Last Of The Great Lovers (feat. Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes)
15. Warding Off The Spirits (feat. Hawksley Workman)

MySpace: Neverending White Lights

Neverending White Lights: Official Website

Buy Act II: The Blood and the Life Eternal

It's Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, it's Halloween today. So to mark this auspicious occasion I'm going to take a detour from the usual happenings here and just post a song by The Horrors. I mean they're 'goth' and fantastic and all that good stuff. Plus they have a song called Jack The Ripper, who may not be directly related to Halloween but is still a pretty scary character nonetheless. I mean his (or her) identity is still unknown, despite all of the theories. I mean to think this The Ripper's identity has alluded us for so long....alright, I'm rambling. Enjoy Halloween!

Go out, get some candy and scare some kids.

Download: The Horrors - Jack The Ripper [mp3]

MySpace: The Horrors

The Horrors: Official Website

Buy The Horrors - Strange House

CD Releases: Week of 30/10/07

Here's a list of some notable releases this week:

This Week's CD Releases
60 Watt Kid - 60 Watt Kid (Absolutely Kosher)
Nicole Atkins - Neptune City (Columbia Records)
Blues Traveler — Cover Yourself (Columbia/RED Ink)
David Byrne - The Knee Plays [Reissue] (Nonesuch)
Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley — Mr. Marley (Universal Republic)
Queen — Queen Rock Montreal (Hollywood)
Saves The Day — Under The Boards (Vagrant)
Sharon Jones & Dap Kings — 100 Days, 100 Nights (Daptone)
Taking Back Sunday — Notes From The Past (Victory)

You Should Be Listening To: YEASAYER - 2080

Today I will encourage you to sample a song from Brooklyn, New York's Yeasayer. The single is called 2080 and it's from the band's debut LP, All Hour Cymbals, which is in stores now. It is a terrific song that begins with the brilliant lyrics 'I can't sleep when I think of the times we're living in\I can't sleep when I think of the future I was born into.' There's nothing wrong with a little pessimism every now and then, right? Some melodic chanting, chorus harmonizing and eerie children vocals fills in the remainder of the track. Give Yeasayer 5:24 minutes of your time, you won't regret it.

Download: Yeasayer - 2080 [mp3]
MySpace: Yeasayer
Yeasayer: Official Website

Buy All Hour Cymbals

Le Loup

Le Loup. French name for an American band. Interesting. And if my French skills are at all intact from high school then I believe Le Loup translates into 'The Wolf.' The band formed back in 2006 in Washington, D.C. That's not too long ago but they are signed to Jonathan Poneman's (founder of Sub Pop) new label Hardly Art. The Throne Of The Third Heaven Of Nations' Millennium General Assembly, the group's debut album, was released in September. I haven't gotten a chance to listen to it in its entirety. However, my first reactions to the songs I have heard are that they remind me of two great Canadian bands, namely Broken Social Scene and The Arcade Fire. That should be reason enough to give them a sample. There are a lot of sounds and layers happening in the songs, so listen carefully to gain a full appreciation of Le Loup.

Download [mp3]: Le Loup - We Are Gods! We Are Wolves! [mp3]

MySpace: Le Loup

Le Loup: Official Website

Buy The Throne Of The Third Heaven Of Nations' Millennium General Assembly

You Should Be Listening To: BLACK LIPS - COLD HANDS

Black Lips are a band from Atlanta, Georgia who write noisy punk-garage rock. They have been around for quite some time but are only now gaining a larger audience after a successful run at SXSW this past year. Their new album, Good Bad Not Evil, was released on September 11th through Vice Records and has received some great reviews. The first single is called 'Cold Hands,' a track with spirited/gritty guitars and blustering, in-your-face vocals. Listen and love it.

Download [mp3]: Black Lips - Cold Hands
MySpace: Black Lips

Buy Good Bad Not Evil

CD Releases: Week of 23/10/07

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals release a 7-track EP today entitled Follow The Lights. It includes three new songs including 'My Love For You Is Real' and 'Follow the Light.' The other four tracks are live studio recordings, one of which is a cover of the Alice In Chains song 'Down In A Hole.' Apparently a box set is in the works for release later this year. No idea what the content is but it seems like Ryan Adams and Co. are very busy.

This Weeks CD Releases

Black Dice - Load Blown (Paw Tracks)

Castanets - In The Vines (Asthmatic Kitty)
Cinematic Orchestra - Breathe (Domino Records)

David Byrne - The Knee Plays [Reissue] (Nonesuch)

Efterklang - Parades (Leaf Records)

Holy Fuck - Holy Fuck (XL Records)

Phosphorescent - Pride (Dead Oceans)
Prefuse 73 - Preparations (Warp Records)

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Follow The Lights EP (Lost Highway)

Saturday Looks Good to Me - Fill Up The Room (K Records)

Soft - Gone Faded (LTY)

Subtle - Yell & Ice (Lex)

Thrills - Teenager (Virgin Records)

Tullycraft - Every Scene Needs a Center (Magic Marker)

Vashti Bunyan - Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind: Singles and Demos 1964-1967 (DiChristina)

Ween - La Cucaracha (Rounder)

Download [mp3]: Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - My Love For You Is Real (demo)

Buy Follow The Lights

The Thaw Sessions From The Verve

A very cool (free) download is being offered by NME.com. It's called 'The Thaw Sessions' and it is being described as the first jam session that took place between The Verve after the band decided to reunite. I just listened to it and all I can tell you is that it is 14 minutes of uninterrupted, raw musical goodness. The download will be available for a week starting today. Just click on the link below, follow the instructions and it's all yours.

The Verve - The Thaw Sessions

MIA's UK Tour

M.I.A. has been playing quite a few shows in North America but in December she is back in the UK, embarking on a mini tour prior to Christmas. Not only has M.I.A. put out one of the best albums this year (Kala) but from what I hear, she was one of the best acts at the Virgin Music Festival in Toronto this past summer. So if she's playing your town, journey out and go see her.

M.I.A's UK Tour Date

08/12/07 London @ICA

10/12/07 Birmingham @Custard Factory

11/12/07 Newcastle @Digital

14/12/07 Brighton @Concorde

15/12/07 Bristol @Anson Rooms

17/12/07 Nottingham @Rescue Rooms

18/12/07 Manchester @Academy 2

19/12/07 Norwich @Waterfront

20/12/07 London @Coronet

The news of the UK tour also gives an excuse to post on of my favourite songs off of M.I.A.'s new album. Here it is:

Download [mp3]: M.I.A. - $20

MySpace: M.I.A.

M.I.A.: Official Website

Buy Kala

CMJ: The Red Romance

Back in May I went to see The Killers play at the Air Canada Center in Toronto. I actually got there in time to see the opening band, a group called The Red Romance. I had no idea what to expect and to be quite honest it is a rare occurrence that I leave a show actually wanting to know more about an opener. However, The Red Romance caught my attention and I was surprised to find out later on that the group were unsigned. Opening for The Killers without a label, not bad. And they did win the crowd over, at least those who were present.

The Red Romance are from New York and consists of guitarist Matthew Dublin, bassist Adam Chilenski, lead guitarist Herschel Gaer and drummer Darren Beckett. They released their self-titled, 5-track EP back in May and play CMJ tonight at the Delancey. If you get a chance make sure you check them out. The Red Romance write a brand of indie 80's music with a modern flare that is worth your attention or at least a record label's.

Are they still unsigned? What the hell!

Download [mp3]: The Red Romance - You're So Cold

MySpace: The Red Romance

The Red Romance: Official Website

Buy The Red Romance EP