CD Review: Rush: Snakes and Arrows

Snakes and Arrows is Rush's eighteenth studio album, the first since 2002's Vapour Trails, and the first work from Rush since the Excellent 2004 EP of cover songs, Feedback. With Feedback, Rush went back to the very beginning, recording songs they played in their cover band days. Snakes and Arrows, has stylistically stayed with the old days, sounding more like Rush of the early 80's than anything of the near past.

The radio played Far Cry is the first single off the album, and is very traditional Rush sounding. Armour and Sword, the second piece, is wonderfully weaved around an acoustic verse, that reminisces of old Rush, but with a new flair. Workin' Them Angels could almost belong to the Fly By Night album and The Larger Bowl returns Lifeson to the acoustic guitar

Acoustic guitars run throughout this album, giving it a warmth that other Rush efforts haven't always had, and speaking of acoustics, Hope, Lifeson's small acoustic piece is one of the albums true treats. The CD's other instrumentals, The Main Monkey Business and Malignant Narcissism both are excellent and work well to meld the album together. This is Rush's first multi-instrumental album.

Much has been made of Peart's lyrics on this album being very faith oriented, an understandable investigation of Peart's inner feelings on the issue considering much that has happened in his life the last ten years. However, the lyrics truly jump out at you, the examinations Peart is undergoing clearly defined and understood. There is little in the way of "Wonder what he means by that" in this album.

Overall this is an excellent Rush album, but still very much a Rush album. By that I mean if you are a die hard Rush fan, you have reason to rejoice. If you are not really a fan, this probably won't convert you. And if, like myself, you can go either way with Rush, this is one of the better ones.

4.5 out of 5

Dragonette Feature

National Post today gave a page 2 feature to Canada/Brit band Dragonette. The theme of the article is on Martina Sorbara, lead singer and daughter of Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara:

Meet the pop-star daughter of Ontario's buttoned-down Finance Minister: Martina Sorbara prowls the stage in a latex bodysuit and sings blithe numbers about one night stands.

Dragonette, the band she started with her husband, is gaining momentum, largely thanks to the provocative video for their single I Get Around, shot at Wicked, a swingers club on Toronto's Queen Street West. After a nod from Internet gossip columnist Perez Hilton, I Get Around received close to five million views on YouTube.

We will be watching for Dragonette, meanwhile here's the video in question: I Get Around.

Sapphire City CD release

Fergus based Indie band Sapphire City is having a CD release party for their debut CD, All We Are. The release is on April 27th, 2007 at the Five O'Clock Bar and Grill - 30 Glamis Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 7H5. Admission is free.

Some samples can be heard at the bands myspace site, and I must confess to being impressed. I wish I could make it out to the release party, but that's also my anniversary so sorry guys. I won't be reviewing the show for you.

I will try, however, to get a copy of the CD to review.

CD Review: Avril Lavigne: The Best Damn Thing

I should start this reviewing by pointing out I'm in my mid-40's; in other words, this album was not made with me in mind. I'm 25 years beyond the target audience, probably the wrong sex and not supposed to like it.

That out of the way, I don't mind this CD. Or rather, I can understand others who do like it. If I was in my teenage years, I could see me liking Girlfriend, which reminds me a lot of Kim Wilde's 1980 bopper anthem, Kids in America.

That said, it's kid music. Avril Lavigne is a young married woman, and is still writing stuff like :

Hey! Hey! You! You!
I don’t like your girlfriend!
No way! No way!
I think you need a new one
Hey! Hey! You! You!
I could be your girlfriend.

She needs to grow up musically soon, or be left behind.

Another influence that keeps popping up, especially the title track The Best Damn Thing, is the Spice Girls. This should serve as a warning to Avril and her people. While fine for the teenage audience, if Avril plans on having a career down the road, she is going to have to mature with her audience. She has already surpassed the Spice Girls in longevity, but pushing out songs that sound like them is not good for the long haul.

I also note that the production team double track her voice in most of the album, and when they don't her voice comes across as weak, as it does for the verses of When You're Gone.

Overall, this is a decent collection, and should be a successful CD for Avril Lavigne. However, she is at a career stage where many careers begin to stumble. This CD is not such a stumble, but neither does it raise her to the next level of performance.

CD Review: Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Montreal's Arcade Fire's second CD, Neon Bible released to much fanfare and acclaim about three weeks ago, is every bit as good as the hype suggests. The follow up to 2004's Funeral, Arcade Fire have produced a collection of songs varying in style and influence.

Influence, it's the word you think of most when listening to Arcade Fire. Their work is dripping with influence, with Neon Bible offering hints of Bruce Springsteen, The Go-Go's , The Band, U2, The Police, Fee Waybill and the Tubes as well as some 18th century church music sprinkled in.

These influences, however, aren't in the form of rip-off or blatant attempts to sound like someone, more so flavours, like a chef sprinkling spices over a dish. A quick flavour of the Go-Go's here, a guitar part that sounds like The Edge, a heart wrenching Rick Danko like vocal part. Hints, spices and flavours of others combine to create interesting music.

The songwriting is also mature and professional. No formula here, but clear storylined lyrics, music that drives the song forward and arrangements that solidify the whole into complete music.

Highlights include Keep The Car (U2 meets Eddie and the Cruisers, with mandolin), Intervention, Black Wave/Bad Vibration, with it's very Go-Go's beginning and the very Band like No Cars Go. That's just teh tip of the iceburg, however. Neon Bible is a solid collection, from a band that hopefully, will have a lot to say in the future.

Bachman Cummings New Album

It seems that Bachman and Cummings have a new CD in the works, a compilation of "Oldies Remakes," called Jukebox. Among the tracks on it will be Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie", Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Just Like a Woman", Sam Cooke's "Good Times" and Edwin Starr's "Agent Double-O Soul" The Beatles' "I'm So Happy Just to Dance With You," Jimmy McCracklin's "The Walk," and John Fred's "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" and the classic Elvis track "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby."

The CD is set for release in April.

Milk Crate Classics #4 - Mama Let Him Play

What I remember most about Jerry Doucette's Mama Let Him Play is the cover. I used to wander into the record store and there was a poster of this album: A fabulous white Gibson SG double neck and a boy of about 2 sitting beside it. On the wall is a picture of a grown man, Jerry Doucette, in a frightening disco, suit playing the same guitar. Ten years later I had this poster on my wall and it stayed there a long time.

Interestingly, I never bought the album. Not then, not later when it hit the dollar bins. To this day I don't know why and in the late 80's I paid a King's ransom to finally get a copy. This is an album that has had a hold of me for a long time, much longer than I have had a hold of it, and it all starts with that one song, that anthem: Mama Let Him Play. Want a quick and fast opinion: This is the greatest flat out, straight ahead rock and roll song to ever come out of Canada! Ever!! Some will reasonably argue Takin' Care of Business, others maybe Innocence or American Women, others still My Heart Will Go On but I'm not budging. There is no greater high volume, high energy song to come out of Canada. This is the only known song in which I cannot drive and listen to simultaneously, at least not at the volume that this song must be played at.

But the rest of the album deserves scrutiny as well. It is, first of all, a product of its times. While Love Me Do may be a good song, it is unquestionably from the early 60's. Mama Let Him Play was released in 1977, and there is no mistaking it. When people think of 70's music, they often think disco. Disc, however, existed in our conscience for only two or three years and great rock and roll surrounded it. Unfortunately for Mama Let Him Play, 1977 was the middle of the disco craze. This makes it an album that is sometimes directionally confused and allows Doucette to get away from his strengths. This means there are moments when it is not up to its potential. All I Wanna Do and Love Is Gonna Find You are almost full blown disco songs that hurt the overall effort. But even the influence in songs like People Say is a drag on the song, and consequently the album.

Yet it is still one of my favourite albums, and at the top on my Top 5 Canadian Albums list. It is actually scary to think how good this album really could be if it was sans disco. The albums second track, Back Off, may be the second best Canadian straight ahead rock song - the great moments in this album are truly that good. People Say, disco bits and all, has a groove that so few artists ever achieve. Take away the disco and this song could be number three. The albums opening track and first single, Down The Road, is an hard edged pop song worthy of Bryan Adams (if only Adams was half the guitar player). What's Your Excuse and Keep On Running also deserve honourable mention. This is the way electric guitar was meant to be played, and it's songs like this that put the rock in rock and roll.

Overall, this is a great album that I would heartily endorse to anyone who likes 70's rock. This is as good as it can be, despite it's weak moments.

Jerry Doucette
Mama Let Him Play
Mushroom Records, 1977

Side One
All I Wanna Do
Back Off
When She Loves Me
People Say
All I Wanna Do

Side Two
Mama Let Him Play
What's Your Excuse
It's Gonna Hurt So Bad
Keep On Running
Love Is Gonna Find You

Not The Messiah Opens in Toronto

Monty Pythoner Eric Idle, the Brains behind the hit Broadway musical Spamalot, is at it again. This time it is Python's Life of Brian (The Greatest Movie ever made) that is being made into an oratorio. The "comic oratorio" will premier in Toronto under the baton of Idle's cousin TSO director Peter Oundjian. The oratorio will be called Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy), is approximately 50 minutes in length and will run from June 1st to 10th.

Watch Singles Scene for ticket information.

The Police in Toronto July 22nd.

The Toronto Sun today reports that The Police are doing a reunion tour, and will hit Toronto July 22nd. Other Canadian dates are Edmonton on June 2 and Montreal on July 25. As well the tour will kick off in Vancouver on May 28.

Tickets for the Toronto Air Canada Centre show are reported to be $225, $90 and $50, and will go on sale this Saturday (Feb 17).

New Zappacosta CD

Perennial song smith Alphie Zappacosta is having a CD release party at Hugh's Room (2261 Dundas St. W.) on Saturday February 10th.

The CD, called Start Again, is a 15 song set, and features the remake of 4 of his classic songs: Start Again, Passion, We Should Be Lovers, and I'll Be the One. Start again is available for listening, and is really nicely re-done in an acoustic vein.

Tickets for the show are $18 advance, $20 at the door by calling 416-531-6604, although the show is rumoured to be sold out.

Endless Highway: The Music of the Band

Due for release tomorrow, January 30th, Endless Highway: The Music of the Band is a collection of great songs from quite possibly Canada's greatest band, by a wide variety of artists. The Band have long been hailed from inside the music industry, Eric Clapton was a noted fan of their first album, 1968's Music from Big Pink. The eclectic group that make up this CD, from The Allman Brothers to Gomez, Bruce Hornsby to Leanne Womak, this is an interesting an exciting addition to The Band pantheon.

The Album opens with Guster's This Wheel's On Fire, a rolling blue-grassy version that is both light and fun and pays appropriate homage to the Band's version.

Bruce Hornsby manages to sound more like The Band than himself on King Harvest, a bit disappointing considering his unique style and sound. None the less, his version of this song is a worthy addition, and actually excellent version. Just not very Bruce Hornsby-ish.

My Morning Jacket do an almost spot on version of It Makes No Difference, with a guitar running through it that could be Robertson at his peak playing.

Jack Johnson's I Shall Be Released, is a stunning version of a wonderful song. This may eclipse the Band's original version, and is clearly the highlight of the album.

Lee Ann Womack's The Weight is, as can be reasonable expected, heavily countried up. It's a song that lends itself well to countrification, and this works great, but it's also a song that I have long wished fro somebody to rock out on, and this would have been a good chance.

Bill Hayes, favourite band Gomez handle my favourite Band song, Up On Cripple Creek, very well. A friend last week was praising Gomez to me, suggested I had to hear them. This version of Cripple Creek makes me want to take him up on that.

The Allman Brothers give The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down the blues treatment, to some detriment. I would rather have given the Allman Brothers the Weight, and let Lee Ann Womak have this piece, but it is none the less, a different interpretation of the song, the third distinct on that I can think of. Nice writing Robbie!

Blues Traveller do a hopped up version of Rag Mama Rag that lacks true interpretation. They just seemed to have sped it up, cranked the honky-tonk piano in the mix, and called it a day.

John Hiatt & North Mississippi Allstars sound very much like The Band in Ain't No More Cane, with Hiatt himself sounding a lot like the late great Rick Danko.

Wallflowers lead singer, and son of Bob, Jakob Dylan's Whispering Pines is pretty if unremarkable.

California rocker's Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO) modernize, without much changing Ophelia, a nice example of paying tribute without imitating.

Alt Country singer songwriter Joe Henry, treats Bessie Smith like an up-tempo folk tune, a nice treatment. Although my favourite Bessie Smith version is a swing version by the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra. None the less, this is a nice version.

Other highlights include a jam version of The Shape I'm In by Warren Haynes Govt. Mule, a rocked up version of Chest Fever, with full horns, a pretty version of Acadian Driftwood by female folkies The Roches, a cool treatment of Life is a Carnival and a stunning version of Stage Fright by Canadian folkie Steve Reynolds.

Over all, this is a great CD, the weak material being still good, and the best of it some great stuff. The Band were great songwriters, and what this CD does is show just how versatile and interesting their songs were. A nice tribute, and worth the price just for I Shall Be Released and Stage Fright, and Life is a Carnival may make it a bargain

1. Guster "This Wheel's On Fire"
2. Bruce Hornsby "King Harvest"
3. My Morning Jacket "It Makes No Difference"
4. Jack Johnson "I Shall Be Released"
5. Lee Ann Womack "The Weight"
6. Gomez "Up On Cripple Creek"
7. The Allman Brothers "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"
8. Blues Traveler "Rag Mama Rag"
9. John Hiatt & North Mississippi Allstars "Ain't No More Cane"
10. Jakob Dylan "Whispering Pines"
11. Animal Liberation Orchestra "Ophelia"
12. Joe Henry "Bessie Smith"
13. Jackie Greene "Look Out Cleveland"
14. Death Cab For Cutie "Rocking Chair"
15. Gov't Mule "The Shape I'm In"
16. Steve Reynolds "Stage Fright"
17. Rosanne Cash "Unfaithful Servant"
18. Widespread Panic "Chest Fever"
19. Josh Turner "When I Paint My Masterpiece"
20. The Roches "Acadian Driftwood"
21. Trevor Hall "Life is a Carnival"

Andy Kim Article

One day before The Andy Kim Christmas Show, Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington has an article on Andy Kim's career:

Andy Kim Answering The Call

You never know how your life can change with the ring of a telephone.

And you never know what you can do to change things for others by picking it up. Andy Kim knows both.

He knows what it's like to be on the bottom and he's enjoyed the fruits of being at the top. It's the journey he savours the most.

"I never thought my life was a race with someone else's," he said yesterday.

He tells kids, "Every day is the day to do your best."

So, for the second year in a row, he's hosting The Andy Kim Christmas Show, presented by Mix, 99.9 at The Mod Club on College with proceeds going to the Children's Aid Society.

The 54-year-old Canadian rock'n'roll legend is hoping to help somebody because he believes when there is a positive action, there is always something positive that comes from it. "We want to help the kids."...

Read the whole article here.

Singles Scene #10

Back to the Basement: Christmas music has been around since there has been Christmas. Many songs composed by Bach in the 1600's, for instance, make up our annual Christmas soundtrack. Canada itself has developed it's own Christmas songs. Before there was the celebrity Christmas album, before Diana Krall or Sarah Mclaughlin could release an album of all Christmas music (or Twisted Sister even) and still be seen to have a credible career, there was the Christmas song. The Beatles did it, as did Elvis. Bruce Springsteen made it cool, and George Throrogood showed us just how much Christmas could Rock and Roll.

Canadian Acts have always been in the game; I have spent many years looking for Murray McClaughlin's Let The Good Guys Win. Featuring the Payola$ Bob Rock and Tom Cochrane, it is among my favourite Christmas songs (along with the Pogues' Fairytale of New York and Otis Redding's Merry Christmas Baby). Marvellously sung, with the three stars sharing the vocals, this Celtic influenced guitar and mandolin piece is magical, if not actually a Christmas song:

Ring the Old Year Out
Ring the New Year in
Bring s all Good Luck
Let the Good Guys Win

I used to go to Encore Records in Brampton, and for years they had a copy of Johnny Bower singing Honky The Christmas Goose on the wall. It was a steeply priced at $25, and I eyed it for years but could never dust off the wallet and grab it. Of all the records through the years, it is the only one I ever regret not getting: $25.00 is probably cheap by today's standards and it would be great to pull out Honky for the family on Christmas Eve, to go with my Bob Rivers Twisted Tunes CD. Besides, as I have never heard the song, it would be a special treat to own at this stage.

Corey Hart of course did Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, but possibly the less said about that the better (although it was once explained to me that as Corey played the underdog, Rudolph was a most appropriate song for him, as Rudolph himself was the penultimate underdog).

Going Through my 45's, I actually have very few Christmas singles. The Eagles, Springsteen's Santa Claus in Coming to Town of course , but little in the way of Canadian. Except... Bryan Adams Christmas Time.

My copy, which was bought when it was a hit, is green with a red label. Kids today can't concieve how records that where almost always black, could occasionally be made alternate colour, which was considered exotic. Instead of stamping artwork on the CD, we had a small label with actual information on it. But these occasional coloured vinyl records where always a treat, and still are. My kids, who are firmly of the CD/DVD era, respond with a '"cool" when they see a coloured vinyl record. Bryan Adams, Christmas Time is one of the coolest.

The songs not bad either, A good old sing along, you can imagine the bic lighters during a concert. A reasonably simple accompaniment behind solid Christmas lyrics, this song is in the great tradition of Christmas songs. However, the song feels dated and could use a re-do, someone to modern up the sound, and if they could, cut the tripe-laden PC (circa 1985) 2nd verse.

The B side has much less of redeeming value. Reggae Christmas stands up less well. Not that it was a good song then, but now... The late seventies and eighties Reggae was stylish, The Police made a career out of playing rocked up reggae. Bryan Adams, however, made a career not playing reggae, and it shows.

Andy Kim Christmas Show

UPDATE: It appears the date is wrong on this. Actual show is Dec 20th, at the mod club - tickets available through ticketmaster. However, I found some pictures, listed as Andy Kim Christmas Show December 5th. Question is, Dec 5th of what year? All other information seems to be accurate, and I apologize for any confusion.

The Andy Kim Christmas Show will be this Saturday, December 2nd, at the Mod Club Theatre in Toronto.

Kim, singer of Baby I love You, Rock Me Gently, and co-writer of the Archies Sugar Sugar, will be joined by guests Stabilo, Emm Gryner, Serena Ryder, Tomi Swick The Bycicles.

Proceeds will benefit the Children's Aid Foundation.

Tickets are $19.99, available at Ticketmaster.ca - although I couldn't find them when I looked.

Milk Crate Classic #4 - Triumph

Triumph had a series of great, and popular albums through the 1970's and 80's. It is the first Triumph album, Triumph, that I turn to when I want to listen to them. Recorded in 1976, Triumph is still a great sounding album that carries itself well 30 years on.



Starting with the marvellous 24 Hours a Day, this album stays strong throughout. 24 Hours a Day would define Triumph for years to my mind, starting soft, with a gentle sweet lyric about playing in a band, before getting hard and hot, becoming anthemic through the chorus: "Everybody Party, 24 hours a day"; Triumph was, throughout their career, a great party band, and the theme of rock and roll life weaved its way through all their music.



Even on this album, the other great track, Side two opener What's Another DayStreet Fighter covers the same theme. But ultimately the songs that bring this album to life are the side closers, and Street Fighter Reprise, on side one and Blinding Light Show/Moonchild on side two.



Blinding Light Show/Moonchild goes to all the places Triumph would dominate in their music, hard, heavy and melodic intro, soft guitar over pitch perfect vocals for the verse, and a Spanish guitar solo in the middle. Nobody stops a song,or an album, for a Spanish guitar solo these days, and it's a pity. Blinding Light Show/Moonchild is not just a good Rock song, it is a top fight piece of music that encompasses styles, shows true musicianship while still being a good song unto itself.



Blinding Light Show/Moonchild ends the album in the same vein it begins, Offering something else modern albums never do, completion. It is not just a collection of songs, but Triumph's Triumph is a complete thought unto itself, beginning with tech singer complaining he can't sleep because the music is running through his head, "and I can't tell if it's Carnegie Hall or just some local bar." It ends with him in the centre of the rock concert, the Blinding Light Show. In between, it's taken "a long time to make it this far."



A complete, and solid collection of songs that, 30 years on, still sound good and fresh, if not just a bit to musical to be made of modern stuff.

New Canadian CD Releases

Canadian CD releases for this week are:



Our Lady Peace - Decade

John Allen Cameron: 1938 - 2006

Born in Cape Breton in 1938, John Allen Cameron grew to become the Godfather of Celtic Music. He left a teaching career at age 30 to resume playing music. His career included playing on the Don Messer Show, opening for Anne Murray and his own CBC TV show from 1975-1981.

He is widely considered a significant influence on modern day celtic music acts such as The Rankins, Ahsley MacIssac and Natalie McMaster.

He passed away in a Toronto Hospital yesterday at 67.

17th Annual SOCAN Awards

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), held the 17th annual SOCAN awards at The Carlu in Toronto last night. Awards were handed out in 16 categories including a Lifetime Achievement Award to Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and International Achievment Award to Finger Eleven and a National Achievement Award to Jann Arden.

Other notable winners included Michael Buble, Avril Lavigne, Leanne Rhimes and Nickelback. As well SOCAN classic awards went to the Stampeders for Devil You, Nick Gilder for Hot Child in the City, and Roxy Roller and The Powder Blues Band for Doin' It Right.

A complete list of the winners can be found here, and pictures here.

Recognition for Triumph

70's Canadian rock legend Triumph will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. The band will be honoured, along with songwriter/producer David Foster, at a ceremony on March 10, 2007. Foster's induction was announced previously:

TRIUMPH To Be Inducted Into CANADIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME - Nov. 21, 2006:

Canadian hard-rock trio TRIUMPH will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame during Rogers Wireless Canadian Music Week. Music veterans Gil Moore (drums/vocals), Mike Levine (bass/keyboards) and Rik Emmett (guitar/vocals) will accept the honor Saturday, March 10, 2007 during the Canadian Radio Music Awards at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

The journey for TRIUMPH began in Toronto Ontario in the summer of 1975, with their self-titled Attic Records debut "Triumph". After gaining popularity in Canada and a gold record, TRIUMPH released the double-platinum album "Rock 'N' Roll Machine" (1977).

My comment? How have they had a Hall of Fame this long without Triumph? Triumph is one of the best bands to ever come out of Canada, although the quality of their music far exceeded their fame. I have been listening to Triumph lately and I can assure you, their music holds up exceptionally well.

Congratulations to the Rik Emmet, Gil Moore and Mike Levine for a well deserved, though belated, honour.

Joe Warmington on Tom Cochrane

Joe Warmington is one of my favourite writers. Yesterday he met up with Tom Cochrane in Toronto, and today we get a great article on Cochrane.

It's especially good because Cochrane has been promoting his CD, as well as the Canadian troops in Afghanistan, and the troops is one of Warmington's favourite subjects:

The highway has taken him a lot of amazing places in this mad world but Tom Cochrane says he's never very far from our soldiers in Afghanistan.

"A lot of people care about them deeply," the Canadian rock legend said he has noticed from travelling coast to coast.

Now more than ever, he said, is the time to show it.

"We have to be pro troops," he said yesterday. "I support the guys and gals."

In fact his backing of the Canadian troops is as solid as has been his career. Tears form in his eyes as the singer of such hits as Life is a Highway speaks of the valour our Canadian soldiers are showing in Afghanistan.

"I have seen their faces," he said. "Courage is a very quiet thing."...

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