scruffy the yak

Wooden Wand - Winter in Kentucky

2011-12-26T20:06:00.000-08:00

I don't know much about Wooden Wand. I've been told Wooden Wand is really a guy named James Jackson Toth, and Winter in Kentucky is taken from an album called Briarwood which came out in November on Fire Records. Fine funny lyrics, great organ sound, nice understated guitar, a hint of a Steve Wynn/Bob Dylan vibe...I just played it five times in a row, I'm stuck on it.

Wooden Wand - Winter In Kentucky by FIRE RECORDS

Wooden Wand - Motel Stationary by Cargorecords

Keri Latimer - Liquidation Sale

2011-12-26T19:42:00.000-08:00

Nathan's Keri Latimer will be releasing an album called Crowsfeet and Greyskull on April 1, 2012. Here's a preview, Liquidation Sale. Lotsa layered vocals, pretty pop sounds with some Roches-like hints, looking forward to the rest. I saw her open a show by herself once long ago (Bob Mould? Robyn Hitchcock? Can't recall), I've been meaning to give her some attention since. Here it is.

Liquidation Sale by kerilatimer

Here's some more Latimer sounds, don't know if any of these will be on the album or not.

Chop shop by kerilatimer

So long (demo version) by kerilatimer

Mud and slobber demo by kerilatimer

Ray's echo by kerilatimer

John K. Samson - When I Write My Master's Thesis

2011-12-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

I dunno about you, but I guessed that John K. Samson solo would mainly be in the folky singer-songwriter vein. Maybe not so much if the new song is indicative of the album - more straightforward than the roads The Weakerguys have been heading down, at least to my possibly gig-damaged ears. Album entitled Provincial out January 24, more info/ purchasing info here.

John K. Samson - When I Write My Master's Thesis by antirecords

Cruise Night by John K Samson by scruffy the yak

John K. Samson - Provincial Road 222 by plaidisrad

Track List:
01. Highway 1 East
02. Heart of the Continent
03. Cruise Night
04. Grace General
05. When I Write My Master's Thesis
06. Letter in Icelandic from the Ninette San
07. Longitudinal Centre
08. www.ipetitions.com/petition/rivertonrifle/
09. The Last And
10. Stop Error
11. Highway 1 West
12. Taps Reversed

You know, you can leave a comment below, it's fine with me, and no one else cares.

Yuck - What's in a Name?

2011-12-26T18:19:00.000-08:00

I ignored Yuck for a while because I can't stand the band's name. This isn't the first time I've deliberately shied away from artists with terrible names (cough*Death Cab for Cutie*cough), but if the music is good enough, I'll get past it. Yuck's seemingly effortless stabs at 90's greats like Dinosaur Jr. or Ride eventually won me over. One of my favourite's of this year. I still don't like Soothe Me, though.

Get Away by Yuck

Milkshake by Yuck

Doctors In My Bed by Yuck

Holing Out by Yuck

Georgia by Yuck

Suicide Policeman by Yuck

Shook Down by Yuck

Soothe Me by Yuck

Rubber (Mogwai Remix) by Yuck

Natsu Nandesu by Yuck

Here's a cover of Smog's It's Rough by Oupa (a side project from Yuck frontman Daniel Blumberg).

It's Rough by Oupa

You can buy Yuck here.

Sons of York in Brief Dust-Up, Emerge Mostly Unscathed - Video Evidence

2011-12-26T06:10:00.000-08:00

Caught this video of Winnipeg's Sons of York mining the Outsiders visual thing once more. Seems they recorded a few tunes in NY with Gus Van Go and Werner F. which are available on iTunes. I'm surprised some label hasn't snagged this band yet, but maybe those days are over. Hey, shouldn't Splendour in the Grass with this band be Splendour in the Grease?

Feel How You Wanna by SONS OF YORK

Splendor In The Grass by SONS OF YORK

Everybody's Breakin Up by SONS OF YORK

Paul Kelly - 8 Free Discs and a Christmas Song!

2011-12-24T14:43:00.000-08:00

Paul Kelly is one of the most amazing singer/songwriters ever hatched. Recently I was watching a documentary on Ron Sexsmith and many people were talking about how it was such a crime that he wasn't a superstar. In my opinion, Paul Kelly is another guy that should be revered much more than he has been to date. Kelly's been making exceptional music since the seventies, but I haven't heard anyone nominating him for sainthood. I'm doing that now. Let's start with a holiday song. It's not too late, you can still jump on this bandwagon.

Paul Kelly How To Make Gravy by 1888Media

Anyway, (Son of) Exile on Moan Street has made available to you and me 8 DISCS of Paul Kelly Rarities, and supposedly approved by Kelly himself.

Paul Kelly Dumb Things by 1888Media

Paul Kelly To Her Door by 1888Media

Paul Kelly From Little Things Big Things Grow by 1888Media

Paul Kelly Every Fucking City by 1888Media

Paul Kelly Nothing On My Mind by 1888Media

Paul Kelly Gathering Storm by 1888Media

Knuckleduster - Ricky from Transcona

2011-12-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

I know John K. Samson and The Weakerthans have been showing a few sides of Winnipeg and Manitoba. Here's a completely different element of the town from Knuckleduster.

Forbidden Dimension Rises Again?

2011-10-31T09:14:00.001-07:00

I've been trying unsuccessfully to get more info about a supposed new release from Calgary's Forbidden Dimension. All I know is that this tune hit my radar and it seems that a new album is coming out Nov. 22. At any rate, it's the perfect Halloween band, so here you go.

Forbidden Dimension - Chokin' On A Heartache by killbeat music

The Watchmen - Free Live Album, Jets Montage, Grey Cup Show

2011-10-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

For a part-time, having a lark reunion band, The Watchmen seem to be more active than many artists that consider themselves a going concern. CBC used Any Day Now as the musical accompaniment to a video montage celebrating the return of the Jets to Winnipeg yesterday, for example. Look closely in that montge and you might see a white-haired kid riding in a convertible for Dale Hawerchuk's signing - is that Scruffy the Yak? Could be.

The band also played their Silent Radar album in its entirety (as well as other fan faves) in September at the Horseshoe Tavern. Now the band is making the whole show available for free download at their website. No fixing it up in the studio, no auto-tuning, just the sounds as they unfolded. Here's a taste.

The Watchmen - BRIGHTER HELL Live Silent Radar Redux by scruffy the yak

The Watchmen have also announced their first show in Vancouver in about 8 years, playing as part of Grey Cup festivities at The Commodore on Saturday, Nov. 26. Tix on sale now. Here's an old one that never made it to an album.

The Watchmen - One of Us (live Moncton 2000) by scruffy the yak

If that ain't enough, somehow some older Watchmen tunes 'The South' and 'Sleep' made their way into the 2011 TIFF selected film "The Whistleblower" starring Rachel Weisz.

Matthew Sweet - Get a Free Mp3, Remind Yourself of His Greatness

2011-10-08T17:45:00.000-07:00

You know who is still fine? Matthew Sweet. Very few can pull in influences from the last 4 or 5 decades, twist them into pure power pop genius, and unravel them into consistently spiffy modern aural full course meals. His new one, Modern Art, is no different. Full album review coming soon, I promise. But I never promised you a rose garden.

First two tracks below are from Modern Art, the ones below it you know and love. You should, anyway.

She Walks The Night (Radio Edit) by Matthew Sweet

Matthew Sweet - Late Nights With The Power Pop by The Vinyl District

Sick Of Myself by Matthew Sweet

We're The Same by Matthew Sweet

Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet

Time Capsule by Matthew Sweet

Dave Rave - Anne Marie mp3

2011-09-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

It's always funny when I get musical submissions to the blog that reference Scuffy the Yak. You're, uh, missing a letter there. Regular viewer/listener/reader, are you? And the song's not that new either...but Dave Rave's made music with Teenage Head, Daniel Lanois, and Alex Chilton, to name a few. I had to listen to the song he sent. And of course it's just the kind of power pop the world needs today. So listen to it, and feel free to buy it here or here.

Dave Rave - Anne-Marie by daveravemusic

Hüsker Dü : the story of the noise-pop pioneers who launched modern rock by Andrew Earles

2011-09-11T09:09:00.001-07:00

Today I woke up and listened to Husker Du's Celebrated Summer. Just finished reading Hüsker Dü : the Story of the Noise-pop Pioneers Who Launched Modern Rock by Andrew Earles. It's a pretty straightforward account from a writer who spoke to Grant Hart and Greg Norton but never interviewed Bob Mould, probably because he was writing his own book. As you might guess from the title of the book, the author spends a lot of his words making the argument that Husker Du was indirectly and indirectly responsible for shaping modern rock/college rock/alternative rock as we know it. I think he makes his point pretty clearly. It's not a gossipy, scandalous, rumour-mongering account, Earles has worked hard to try to stay away from sensationalism and focus on reality. For a guy who was too young to see the band live, Earle has created an edifying, entertaining piece of quality rock journalism.

Husker Du - Celebrated Summer by Draconian Age Music

Hüsker Dü - Never Talking To You Again by Nadir Hassan

Every Everything - Husker Du - Flip Your Wig by bluepumpkin aka antennica

Husker du diane by ybstatusquo

Chartered Trips - Hüsker Dü by chrisleoni

Hüsker Dü - Somewhere by user7714452

Husker Du's influence is clear from the countless covers newer artists have recorded. Here's a few.

13 - Nitrominds - Husker Du - Something I learned Today by nitrominds

Never Talking to You Again (Husker Du cover) by stRts

The Better Half of Husker Dü EP - "Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill" + Alternate Version by thespacebetweenthings

Celebrated Summer (Orig. Hüsker Dü) by disasteradio

Upset Noise - It's Not Funny Anymore husker du cover by theinflated

King Crimson, Adrian Belew and Me

2011-09-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morn and blasted King Crimson's Dinosaur (the live version). I don't know what that says about me. Try it tomorrow morning and tell me.

Here's some more King Crimson and Adrian Belew stuff, some of it's kinda unusual - a Pink Floyd cover, a Dead Prez mash-up, a King Crimson disco edit?

Pipeless & Smoking Crack (King Crimson Remix) by 310Threeten

King Crimson - Man with an open Heart - Disco Edit by evansparks

KING CRIMSON's "Starless" digital remake by exm by exm

KING CRIMSON's "Sheltering Sky" Total digital remake by exm by exm

06 Adrian belew and Alan white - Mother (feat. john wetton) by mmmaau

ADRIAN BELEW- House Of Cards by serpentbird

For Only You ( Feat. Adrian Belew) by user5834793

Adrian Belew-Fish Head by lmolmud

ToToM - Bigger than King Crimson (Dead Prez vs. King Crimson) by ToToM

Kevin Max & Adrian Belew - Black Leather and a Microphone by dpulse

New Wilco Streaming Right Now!

2011-09-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

Go listen to the new Wilco record right now (and for about 23 1/2 more hours, I think) at the band's site.

This is on the album (although the song is actually entitled Open Mind) but this ain't the studio form.

Jeff Tweedy - "Open Your Mind" (New Song, Live) by TwentyFourBit.com

Also, Nels Cline is some kind of awesome.

Here's some stuff that isn't taken from the album, but I always like to leave you with something you can listen to right here.

Jeff Tweedy & Jay Bennett - Via Chicago (1999) by AnnieHall

Jeff Tweedy - how to fight loneliness by kirmizibasliklikurt

You can pre-order the new album as well as t-shirts, yo-yos, stuff I don't know exactly what it is, etc. here.

Matthew Good, Ryan Dahle, and Megan Bradfield - Seriously Serious mp3 for You

2011-09-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

photo by Melissa Dex Guzman

Stumbled into this track the other day, and though I've never been a Matt Good fan, I love this song. It's free for you, hit the download button if you like it as much as I do.

Seriously Serious (with Ryan Dahle and Megan Bradfield - 2005) by Matthew Good

You can buy Matthew Good here or here. Buy Ryan Dahle here.

New Crooked Fingers Tune Typhoon, Album Breaks in the Armor

2011-09-02T18:07:00.001-07:00

New Crooked Fingers album Typhoon will be released October 11. First single Typhoon is pretty catchy, no?

Crooked Fingers - Typhoon by MergeRecords

Crooked Fingers - There's A Blue Light by ashgrayproclamation

Here's some older. class Crooked Fingers for ya.

Your Control - Crooked Fingers by Constant Artists

01 Crowned In Chrome - crooked fingers by studiohum

Crooked Fingers: Shelly's Winter Love (Merle Haggard cover) by TheMusicFile

Crooked Fingers - Every Dull Moment - Engineered by Brian Paulson by SoundofMusicRecording

Crooked Fingers - Under Pressure (Queen Cover) by wtfbtw

Crooked Fingers-Carrion Doves by FrankieMancini

Crooked Fingers by Eastern Fiction

04 Sleep All Summer (Crooked Fingers cover) (w St. Vincent) by lahorademandrake

Buy the new Crooked Fingers here.

Feel free to leave a comment below.

New Wilco - I Might and I Love My Label (Nick Lowe!) and Jimmy Eat World Covers Wilco

2011-09-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Wilco is selling pre-orders for their new record The Whole Love, giving away Custom Wilco bicycles and whatnot in order to promote the new long-player. The best promotional tool I've come across is the new song I Might, nice fuzzy guitar, some xylophone, confident vocals from Tweedy and an upbeat feeling all around. B-side is the Nick Lowe cover, since Wilco is now on their own label. Taken from my favourite Nick Lowe Era, it's a fine tune, and both of these Wilco songs are getting me pretty excited for the new release.

Wilco - I Might by chalsroig

Wilco - I Love My Label by The Line Of Best Fit

Here's some older Wilco in case you missed it.

Wilco - I'm Always in Love by ordinary-joe

Wilco - Say You Miss Me by njalmeida

02 She's A Jar / Wilco by jeffreygarofalo

Bull Black Nova by Wilco by benphia

That's Not The Issue - Wilco by StealThisTrack

Wilco - I am Trying to Break Your Heart by mateodesign

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky - Impossible Germany by pcagx

Wilco 2004-11-13 Handshake Drugs by jeff s

07 Wilco - Country Disappeared (Wilco) by GDPR1

Wilco-Someday Soon by allmusiclovers

Wilco - One Wing by okannie

Wilco - Any Major Dude (Steely Dan) by harmonica6by2

Wilco - Magazine Called Sunset by rslblog.com

Is this really Jimmy Eat World doing a Wilco tune? Seems weird to me but it's a decent cover.

Jimmy Eat World - You and I (Wilco cover) by DPie

Here's an interesting remix:

Kid Cozmo VS Wilco (Shot in the Arm) by Kid Cozmo

Buy the new Wilco in all of its multi-facteted pre-order package glory here.

Ryan Adams - Lucky Now

2011-08-31T05:27:00.000-07:00

Ryan Adams has already amassed a catalog of fine tunes that sometimes seems to be overshadowed by an idiosyncratic, overdriven personality. I think the new song, Lucky Now, is a stripped bare affair that shows he's a great songwriter and performer. I could imagine this one covered by Alison Krauss, Bruce Springsteen or Lyle Lovett. The track is a teaser for Ryan Adams' new album, Ashes & Fire, out October 10.

Lucky Now by ryanadams

Ryan Adams - Lucky Now (Live On BBC Radio 2) by vinyloftheday

Here's a few older Adams tunes I love.

Ryan Adams - "Halloweenhead" by ModernMystery3

Ryan Adams - So Alive by xarpi rio

The Joy Formidable: a Power Trio for Today?

2011-08-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

New Anthrax! Finally!

2011-08-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Anthrax is finally releasing a new studio record after 8 years. Worship Music will be released September 12 internationally and September 13 in the U.S. The band has also re-enlisted Joey Belladonna, who hasn't fronted the band in the studio since 1990's Persistence of Time. Honestly, the band's gone back and forth with singers in the past years more than some guys change their underwear (you know who you are).

I enjoyed the Belladonna years the first time (1985-1992), but preferred the vocalist who followed, John Bush. Belladonna is a classic metal vocalist, with those unbelievably high notes coming into play, and the the new tunes seem to reflect that old school metal, with few aspects of the more adventurous John Bush era. Check out the U2 or Radiohead covers below and you can hear how Anthrax was willing and able to step try some different things. Even before Bush came along the band made some interesting moves, collaborating with Public Enemy way before rap and metal held hands or writing songs based on books or films. The two new songs (immediately below) sound fine, I just hope the guys haven't morphed into just another old metal band covering themselves.

ANTHRAX - The Devil You Know by NuclearBlastRecords

Anthrax - Fight Em Till You Can't by dmrock

Some old school Anthrax:

With John Bush:

Anthrax does U2!?!

Anthrax does Radiohead.

Durham County, Hugh Dillon and Headstones

2011-08-18T10:18:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty sure I have never posted about a television show on this blog. I can't say I'm a big TV watcher. But I stumbled across Durham County, a pretty good little series which started...4 years ago?! Okay, I'm out of touch. Anyway, the show's won a bunch of awards, many of you have probably at least heard of it, unlike me. The first season is exceptional, if you ask me, especially the bad guy, played by Justin Louis, who is also known as Louis Ferreira - amazingly creepy. But I also realized that Hugh Dillon is a decent actor. I never got into Flashpoint, the last thing I watched him in was Hard Core Logo, which was a long time ago. So, here's something different, a post about TV, which I rarely watch, and Hugh Dillon, a guy I never paid a lot of attention to when he sung in Headstones. But he did rock a good snarl, fine spiky hair, and a ragged, frayed long-sleeve ribbed sweater, and he was quite different from his character in Durham County, because he was always swearing, spitting, or chain-smoking, even onstage.

Headstones. That reminds me of a story, and while I might not recall all of the details, it goes something like this: Years ago, I remember a friend telling me about when she was a waitress at a pub/restaurant and a rock band came in - Headstones. The guitar player orders a beer. The drummer orders a beer. The bass player? A beer. Singer Hugh Dillon ordered a coffee, or a Coke or something non-alcoholic. My friend the waitress says, "Are you sure you don't want a beer?"
"No thanks."
"Come on, your friends are all having a beer."
"No."
"Awww, why not!"
"Because I'm a recovering alcoholic, that's why!"

Unsound-The Headstones by Attack Media Group

Hearts, Love- The Headstones by Deevel

Hindsight-The Headstones by Attack Media Group

Bryan Ferry: In Conversation, On the Piano Stool, On Record, Getting Awards

2011-08-17T14:27:00.001-07:00

This young whippersnapper Bryan Ferry shows no signs of slowing down. He's ubiquitous, playing more than one show in a day, getting a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) award, and making some of his hard-to-find material available online. And from the live videos surfacing, you'd think he had an amazing twelve-year-old kid on drums (one kit, anyhow) and a 15-year-old whelp on wailing guitar. Maybe these people are keeping him young. Anyway, here's pretty good interview, along with some other videos you might not have seen and some non-album tracks. I'm glad that with David Bowie pretty much out of the picture these days, Ferry seems to have become a go-to guy.

Lover by BryanFerry

Sultanesque by BryanFerry

Nocturne by BryanFerry

Shameless (feat. Bryan Ferry) - Groove Armada Version by BryanFerry

The Numberer by BryanFerry

Hula Kula by BryanFerry

Trash 2 by BryanFerry

South Downs by BryanFerry

Always Unknowing by BryanFerry

Is Your Love Strong Enough by BryanFerry

Olympia Mixes by BryanFerry

The following is, of course, not a Bryan Ferry song.

Lost on the Bryan Ferry by AKUDAMA

The Watchmen: Jets Pre Game Show?, Silent Radar

2011-08-14T09:43:00.001-07:00

I've been seeing some tweets regarding a pre-game show featuring The Watchmen before the first tilt for the revitalized Winnipeg Jets. Watchmen drummer and Winnipeg Biz guy Stefano Grande have been in touch concerning the festivities, we'll see what transpires. Maybe Danny singing the anthem? I'd like to see Danny on skates. Make sure you get him a good helmet if he goes anywhere near the ice.

Meanwhile, the band is playing what is so far a one-off Hogtown show September 24 in which the fellas will perform the entire Silent Radar album plus a whack of fan favourites.

I'm Blind - The Watchmen by scruffy the yak

Seven Times - The Watchmen by scruffy the yak

Bob Mould Covers Sugar, Decemberists Also Cover Sugar, and Bob Mould's Autobiography Sheds a Little Light

2011-08-12T08:00:00.001-07:00

I just finished racing through Bob Mould's autobiography, See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody. I was not surprised to find it was well-written, but I was happily surprised to find that Mould put the auto in autobiography; not that it was done on auto-pilot, but it was an intensely personal account. Mould isn't your typical rock star, so we aren't treated to numerous accounts of groupies and hotel-room destruction, but we are given peeks into going through punk rock as a gay man, working in the pro wrestling business, and struggling through a myriad of problems most of us never encounter. I wish he would have expanded on accounts of certain aspects of his life (such as the break-up of Husker Du), but overall, a quality read.

Bob Mould "covers" Sugar

The Decemberists cover Sugar

Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind by misterwilson

Ben Gibbard & Bob Mould - "If I Can't Change Your Mind" by TwentyFourBit.com

SUGAR Explode And Make Up by pterkrogh

Bob Mould guest stars on this Foo Fighters tune:

Dear Rosemary by Foo Fighters

Bob Mould-New #1 by janet weiss

Bob Mould - Trade by djmike81

Bob Mould - Circles (Kill The DJ Mix) by Kill_The_DJ

Husker Du-Something I Learned Today by superfrauz

New Day Rising - Hüsker Dü by Robert Bell

Husker Du - Real World by martin.carlos

Husker Du - Divide and conquer by nicesunset

Husker Du - Don't Want To Know If You Are Lon by BigFootAtWork

I believe the following live version of eight miles High was recorded at the Royal Albert Arms in Winnipeg. Sorry for the spotty sound.

Husker du 8 miles high by ybstatusquo

Buy See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody here. Buy Bob Mould music and merch here.

Scott Hinkson Gives You Simpleton

2011-08-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

Scott Hinkson's third album, One Beside Two, will be officially launched at the release party September 24 at the Park Theatre. If you want it sooner, try his website, itunes, or Planet of Sound. You can also download the first single Simpleton free from his website. I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out how to describe his music, and I'm falling short (I tried 4 1/2 years ago here), because there are no easy tags here. It's modern rock that eschews overt influences, and maybe it is what you might expect from a guy who is as comfortable covering duos such as Simon & Garfunkel or Hall & Oates as he is interpreting Tool or Kyuss. Listen, tell me what you think and post a comment below.

Scott Hinkson -Simpleton by scruffy the yak