See Them Play

MMXII - Best of 2012

2013-01-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

Is January 22nd too late for a "Best of 2012" playlist? I've been sitting on several of my favourite tracks from the past year, like a mother hen waiting for her musical chicklings to hatch. However, I feel like there's never really a bad time to listen to a collection of well-constructed tunes, so here it is.

The list is a real mish-mash of sounds, ranging from folksy acoustic to upbeat dancin' in your moon suit synthpop. Something for everyone, perhaps.

Free to stream**, but also free to DOWNLOAD HERE (part 1) AND HERE (part 2)***

1. Poor Moon - Birds

2. Kindness - Swingin' Party

3. Tea Leigh & Luke Reed - Color Theory

4. Chromatics - Kill For Love

5. Parenthetical Girls - Curtains

6. Wild Nothing - Nocturne

7. Brad Fillatre - New Tattoo

8. John Maus - No Title (Molly)

9. Grimes - Oblivion

10. Kent Odessa - Bo Jacksons

11. White Birds - When Women Played the Drums

12. Tame Impala - Apocolypse Dreams

13. Twin Shadow - Five Seconds

14. Wild Nothing - Paradise

15. Tanlines - Brothers

16. Matthew Dear - Her Fantasy

17. Porcelain Raft - Unless You Speak From Your Heart

18. Summer Heart - Stockholm

19. HAERTS - Wings

20. Animal Collective - Today's Supernatural

21. Mac Demarco - Rock and Roll Nightclub

22. TOPS - Turn Your Love Around

23. Postiljonen - How Will I Know/ALl That We Had Is Lost

24. WALL - Magazine

25. James & Evander + Friends - How It Feels (Major Cities vs. Heart Island Remix)

26. The Darcys - I Got The News (Rey Pila Remix)

27. Child Actor - If You Loved Me

28. Bravestation - Tides of the Summit

29. Zulu Winter - Key To My Heart

30. GOODTIME - Can't Get Away (Jape Remix)

31. Trust - Sulk

32. Ty Segall - The Hill

33. Choir of Young Believers - Nye Nummer Et

**Note: 8tracks doesn't always stream the tracks in the above order.

***If the links to download don't work, please e-mail me at jill@seethemplay.com and I'll get you a copy.

[FREE MIXTAPE] - Gentlemen Prefer Beats

2012-07-26T07:00:00.000-06:00

I've been egged on to make a new mix. So here it is.

Gentlemen Prefer Beats

00:33 – Matthew Dear – Her Fantasy

04:14 – Korea in the Space – National Anthem

05:12 – Seth Troxler - Aphrika

07:37 – Princess Chelsea - The Cigarette Duet

11:19 – John Maus – Castles in the Grave

12:41 – Trophy Wife - Now That I’m Real (Chad Valley Remix)

14:57 – Stand Up Against Heart Crime - Colours I Dislike

18:24 – Walsh - Girlfriend

20:07 - Roxy Music – Turn You On (Disco Pusher remix)

25:20 - Taken by Trees – Dreams

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

[MUSIC VIDEO] Twin Shadow - "Five Seconds"

2012-06-18T19:56:00.002-06:00

I've been busy working on the publicity for Toronto's annual North by Northeast (NXNE) music festival, so my noticeable absence from this site can be blamed on all my time and energy being put into that large-scale project. Now, as the dust settles, I'm ready to commit to blogging once again. However, I am still contemplating a change in direction/re-branding, so stay tuned for that exciting development!

But back to the music...

A few weeks ago, Twin Shadow released the first single, "Five Seconds", off his new album Confess (out July 12th). Keeping in tune with George Lewis Jr.'s stylistically 80's synthetic sounds and highly danceable drum beats, "Five Seconds" is the sort of track that will make you want to put your aviators on, pop your retro collar, and dance/air-punch down the street in a angst-ridden musical montage. Alternatively, it may make you want to beat up a bunch of people and then ride into the sunset on your motorbike with your friend/quasi-ambiguously homosexual lover. Either/or, really.

The latter storyline is featured in Twin Shadow's very recently released music video for "Five Seconds", which is based on the novel "Night of the Silver Sun". And guess who wrote it? None other than George a.k.a. Twin Shadow himself. He's also the star (go figure).

Test drive Twin Shadow's latest music video here:

And pre-order the album Confess here.

The War on Drugs - A Pagan Place (Live, Waterboys Cover)

2012-04-25T06:26:00.002-06:00

[photo by: David Andrako]

It's no secret that I am hopelessly in love with The War On Drugs. For some reason or another, the folksy and often upbeat soul of this Philly band's sound brings out a wanderer's spirit in me. I feel the blithe beat and I hear the earnestness of Adam Granduciel's vocals and all I can think is: "I want to go." I don't know if there's a destination, but there's certainly a road. I'm not trying to be wildly metaphorical here either. For most of Slave Ambient, all I could envision was summer road trips on a never-ending highway. Perhaps in the same way that a person might be overwhelmed with a certain colour, smell or emotion when listening to a song and please dear god am I still making any sense?

I'm not normally a fan of live recordings of bands (the 'woots' and hollers of crowd usually just make me want to scream "SHUT THE F$CK UP"), but the sound quality captured by nyctaper.com is absolutely top notch. Recorded at the Bowery Ballroom on April 11th, the entire The War Drugs set has been generously made available to fans as a FREE DOWNLOAD, so get on it.

My personal favourite (and the track which essentially pushed me to come out from under my non-blogging rock) is of course the band's cover of the Waterboys song, "A Pagan Place". Please press play, and I wish you sweet dreams of wandering aimlessly down the highway like the hobo that you know you secretly wish you were.

"A Pagan Place" (Live, Waterboys Cover) - The War on Drugs (2012)

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

- J. R.R. Tolkien

[Show Review] - Perfume Genius - Toronto 8/4/12

2012-04-09T10:08:00.008-06:00

I haven't forgotten about you. I just want you to know that.

The last couple of weeks have been a period of transition and change. I've admittedly strayed from my duties online, but only because I needed some time to emote and reflect in the "real world". But last night's live musical performance was so moving, I feel compelled to jump back into my writing once again. Such is the power and the potency of Perfume Genius.

With the fresh release of his latest album Put Your Back N 2 It, Mike Hadreas (accompanied by keyboardist Alan Wyffels) played to a dreamy-eyed sold-out crowd at the Drake Hotel Underground last night. Those of you unfamiliar with the sombre subtlety of Perfume Genius' music should know that Hadreas composes some of the most heart-wrenchingly naked melodies; thematically painful, hopeful, raw. Lyrics that can only be borne from a soul who has been broken, and survived to tell the tale. This is the sort of music that is best appreciated and absorbed through comfortable headphones, lying alone in the dark. Because of the intimacy of such music, I was admittedly curious to see how this translated in the beer-soaked and slight sweatiness of a live show.

In all my years of attending live performances, I have never seen such a large audience be so respectfully still. Transfixed on Hadreas at his piano, no one spoke; or if they did, it was in apologetic whispers. No one tried to shove their way in front of me, or left the floor to get another drink. Naturally, people shyly stole quick photos with their iPhones, but even that felt slightly awkward - as if we were voyeurs gawking at this individual through his bedroom window. Though it was a crowded bar, the humanity in Hadreas voice and lyrics cast a spell over his audience; our shared sufferings, heartaches and happinesses resonating in the belly of Perfume Genius' lyrics.

"Dark Parts" - Perfume Genius, Put Your Back N 2 It (2012)

Perfume Genius continues his tour throughout North America and Europe. While you eagerly await a visit to your city, you can buy the album here (if you haven't already).

Canadian Music Week 2012

2012-03-26T09:58:00.040-06:00

So another Canadian Music Week has come and gone in Toronto, and now it's time to try and write something half-way coherent while I simultaneously nurse my music festival hangover. But beer-stained t-shirts and tinnitus aside, this past week packed in an amazing array of over 900 talented bands and artists, representing a broad range of musical genres. If you were lucky enough to have a wristband, then hopping amongst the 60-ish venues like a Redbull-guzzling ninja became second nature to you by Sunday. While most people have a laundry list of "can't miss" performances, I tend to just throw caution to the wind and blindly let the gods direct me to a randomly selected show. And by gods, I mean friends (new and old).

If you didn't get a chance to make it to CMW this year, then take a peek at some of the highlights of See Them Play's festival experience. Even if you did go, your week was probably vastly different than mine, so have a gander at just a handful of the fantastic talent that you might have missed.

Krief

Perhaps more widely known as the guitarist for The Dears, Montréal-based singer-songwriter Patrick Krief seamlessly shredded the stage at The Great Hall Black Box on the festival's opening night. If stylistically you expect to hear a healthy onslaught of juicy riffs and hypnotically progressive guitar solos, then Krief's live show will not (and did not) disappoint. Instrumentally, recently released "Simple Lives" is decidedly more pop than rock, but listeners can't help but be incredibly endeared to Patrick through his soulfully humbled lyrics.

"Simple Lives" - Krief (2012)

Grab your copy of "Simple Lives" from iTunes, and those of you who missed the CMW show can catch Krief again on Friday, April 13th, 8:00 p.m. at The Dakota Tavern.

First You Get The Sugar

Winner of the very official See Them Play CMW Best Band Name award, Montréal's First You Get The Sugar (did you pick up on The Simpson's reference?) revved up a sea of bobbing bodies at the be-twinkled The Painted Lady on Wednesday. Devilishly defying being pigeonholed, FYGTS jumps playfully from grungy punk rock to disco (yes...disco), with effortless flare. Fans old and new can catch these rascally rabbits live at their single release party for "Hannah", March 30th at O Patro Vys in Montréal.

"Pearson" - First You Get The Sugar (2012)

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://music.firstyougetthesugar.com/track/hannah"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Hannah by First You Get The Sugar&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Bensh

A healthy mix of two-thirds Austrian and one-third Welsh, Bensh lit up what was sadly an empty Gladstone hotel ballroom last Thursday. Setting fire to the airwaves in Europe with the heat of "Doubt", "How Come Nao" and "Sweet Repeater", this lovably eclectic group is quickly picking up steam in North America. It's difficult to pin down Bensh's sound; "Sweet Repeater" settles in nicely with your favourite classic rock ballads, and bouncy tracks like "Juice!" give synth-wizard Sion Trefor ample room to play. With such a broad range right out of the gate, who can resist their charm? The potency of the drumbeat in "Doubt" is enough to put this girl under their spell.

"Doubt (Radio Edit) - Bensh (2011)

Visit Bensh's website to get your grubby hands on their latest ensemble of tracks.

The Autumn Portrait

Representing some of the best of the Canadian west, The Autumn Portrait rocked the Gladstone hotel ballroom like they owned it. Some pretty impressive trad-alt rock emanated from this trio, especially considering the uber-talented bassist Al Pujo came on board for the band's Ontario tour just a mere week or two before they hit the road. Where other bands might buckle under the pressure, The Autumn Portrait flourishes; opening for The Trews in Thunder Bay just because they happened to be in the right place in the right time. As for the music: you'll be sure to fall in love with the rawness of the instrumentals, coupled with Freddie Mojallal's buttery yet bold vocals.

"Awake" - The Autumn Portrait The Design is Over (2011)

Go to The Autumn Portrait's website to get your copy of the band's latest album, The Design is Over, and watch out for some upcoming releases.

The Apache Relay

Sometimes the best musical discoveries occur when you've just stumbled onto a venue, simply because you happened to be in the area. Playing a fiery set at El Mocambo last Friday, Nashville's The Apache Relay may just be one of my surprise favourites of the entire week.

Despite having a range of tempos on the latest album, American Nomad, the band's live set was a handsome onslaught of upbeat (and slightly sweaty) foot-stompers. Their energy was downright infectious, and it resonated throughout the swelling crowd. To be explicitly blunt, The Apache Relay drops the fucking heat on their audience faster than I can drop the f-bomb. Which is fast, in case you were wondering.

"American Nomad" - The Apache Relay, American Nomad (2011)

"Lost Kid" - The Apache Relay, American Nomad (2011)

This band's music is a healthy flavouring of Americana; rooted in carefully simplistic lyrics, with influences of good old-fashioned rock, folk and a coy flirtation with country music. Borrowing a quote from their Facebook page, Paste Magazine thumbed the band as being the "best of what's next". And you know what? I believe it.

Thanks to Dine Alone Records, American Nomad is now available in Canada. Get on it.

Wintersleep's Paul Murphy serenades a packed Horseshoe Tavern

Of course, there were plenty of equally sensational acts that I had the honour of witnessing during CMW, one of the highlights being Dan Mangan's performance as the 'surprise guest' during the Arts & Crafts Showcase. You have to appreciate an artist who makes the effort to really connect with his or her audience. Dan is truly one of the few performers that has mastered that connection, not as a gimmick but because of his innate authenticity. Mangan refuses to adhere to the boundaries of audience versus performer, exemplified when standing on a chair in the midst of his fans and encouraging their participation in a sing-a-long. It is for these reasons that this great Canadian artist is so beloved, not just as a powerful musician, but as a human being. And, at the end of the night, he shook my hand. I am never washing that hand again.

Update: I washed my hand. I had to. It was getting dirty.

Special thanks to the members of Wintersleep, The Darcys, Zeus, The Unquiet Dead, Shotgun Jimmie, Metro4 and many more for making my Canadian Music Week a truly exceptional time.

Also, another special thanks goes out to Dave Jaffer. Without you, I would not have personally met as many interesting artists or industry professionals, drank as many beers or had as much fun as I did. So thank you.

P.S. - What was your favourite CMW experience?

Les Filles Et Les Garçons - "Night (feat. my girlfriend)"

2012-03-21T05:00:00.004-06:00

I know I should probably be writing something clever, witty and topical about what's happening at the Canadian Music Festival in Toronto this week. I definitely will write something to that effect at some point in the next several days (largely in part because there is a lot of fabulous talent out and about this week), but inspiration comes from weird and unknown places, and today I am inspired by a bouncy little French number.

I've admittedly been smitten by the likes of Les Filles Et Les Garçons since Toulouse-native Lucas Nedellec first dropped his magnetic inaugural EP almost a year ago. Though fairly new (as far as I can tell) to the scene, Nedellec has an absolute knack for composing infectiously well-constructed yet completely experimental pieces. Using a variety of highly-addictive synthesized loops and winsome vocals (aren't the cute little French accents of Nedellec and his girlfriend in "Night" just nothing short of adorable?) Les Filles Et Les Garçons is quickly becoming an act to keep a watchful eye on.

Fall in love with (or because of...this song is definitely going to soundtrack the next rom-com I inevitably star in) "Night (feat. my girlfriend)", and download Les Filles Et Les Garçons' 2011 EP. If "Night" doesn't have you up and dancing, then "Uh Uh Uh" definitely will. Or...there's something fundamentally wrong with you. YOU DECIDE.

"Night (feat. my girlfriend)" - Les Filles Et Les Garçons (2012)

"Uh Uh Uh" - Les Filles Et Les Garçon (2011)

Crystal Castles Warehouse Party - 03/31/12 in Toronto

2012-03-14T18:07:00.006-06:00

Just a couple of hours ago, electronic duo Crystal Castles casually mentioned that they will be putting on a sweaty little warehouse party on Mar. 31, at Toronto's DC Music. The venue suggests that it's an "invite only" event, but Crystal Castles personally told me (and about a million other followers) about it, so it's fair game, right?

(Source: crystalcastles.com)

Welcome Back Sailors (Cassette release by Crash Symbols)

2012-03-13T09:36:00.011-06:00

This may be old news to you already my little trolling tastemakers, but just a few short weeks ago my favourite little label south of the border released something beautiful. Cassette-wielding musical maniacs Crash Symbols have recently put forth Welcome Back Sailors' latest work, Love (That's All), which features a collection of tastefully dreamy (and some remixed) tracks by the Italian duo.

Today is a beautiful sunny day in Toronto, and I can think of no better soundtrack to celebrate fair weather than Love (That's All). One play of "Stronger" and you will be fully immersed in the lush sounds of summertime (I can taste the mojitos already). Welcome Back Sailors has an incredible aptitude for creating richly visual soundscapes, layering slightly hazy vocals with delightfully lazy beats. And thanks to Crash Symbols, you can listen to these tropical tracks while lying in the sun with your favourite boombox a-blastin'.

P.S. - Also scope out the latest remix of "Stronger" by Barcelona's Lenticular Clouds:

I've already bought my cassette, and you should too. Go grab it here.

Town Hall - "Small"

2012-03-12T08:02:00.004-06:00

Every Monday morning, I wake up - nay - sprint up out of bed the very moment my alarm goes off, full of energy, enthusiasm and natural vigour. Snooze buttons? Haven't even heard of them. By the time you've even thought about rolling your sorry ass out of your disgustingly comfortable bed, I've drank five cups of coffee, repped a hundred one-handed push-ups and solved a motherf@#$ng Rubiks cube (note: for those of you born in the '90s, Rubiks cubes used to be the one and only true measurement of intellectual skilfulness). My Monday mornings are literally pure unadulterated energy, and accordingly I crave music which pumps me up. Like anything from Dance Mix '95, or any mash-up of a Justin Beiber song and Slipknot.

Annnnnnddd....FALSE.

Mondays are stupid, and the only thing worse than a Mon-'day' is that exact moment when your alarm goes off for the twelfth time at what feels like the crack of dawn on a Monday morning. In a nutshell, Mondays are something you hellishly endure for 24 hours so that you can finally reach Tuesday and feel like the weekend isn't just a distant, hazy dream. So apart from my extra giant enormous cup of Tim Hortons coffee that I'll be clutching like a gollum, I want to listen to some music which will ease me into what is bound to be a long week.

Cue Brooklyn's Town Hall. Delicate plucks of the acoustic guitar alongside songstress Phoebe Ryan's soothingly sweet vocals are the quintessential melodies I crave right now. Sometimes all we really need is some good old fashioned stripped-down folk music, and the melancholic ruminations of "Small" certainly fit the bill.

The second single from their upcoming album Roots & Bells (to be released in April), you can stream Town Hall's "Small" right here, or get yourself a copy of their latest EP Sticky Notes & Paper Scraps via their bandcamp page.

The Answer Page & Red Alder - "Solstice"

2012-03-07T09:09:00.004-07:00

What do you get when you take two cups of a melancholic songstress from eastern Washington, mix it with an equal amount of savoury Texan shoegaze, add a dash of tempered guitar riffs and a sprinkling of progressive drum beats? Only the most deliciously cooked-up artist collaboration this side of the Internet!

Avid readers (all four of you) of this blog will know the depths of my love and devotion for Nate McKee's work, and just this past November he revealed his ambitions of working with the amiable Miss Kelsie Brown on a fancy new track. Well it looks as though someone's been cooking up some magic, because this perfect collab finally dropped today. Premiering on the fab new Decoder blog, "Solstice" features a healthy mix of softly haunting vocals from both The Answer Page and Red Alder, dancing gently atop a gradual evolution of instrumentals. All music lingo aside, it is a beautiful piece that any listener can easily sink their teeth into.

Download a free copy of "Solstice" and keep an eye out for my recipe blog, because apparently I should have been a food blogger.

March Mix: In Like a Lion (Free Download)

2012-03-01T07:20:00.010-07:00

It's been so long since I sat down and made a mixed mixtape; not that making mixtapes is a #1 priority lately, but it should be. It's a fun little semi-useless hobby, but it's also a refreshing way to serve up a selection of tracks which I have meant to blog about, but unfortunately never got around to doing so.

March has decided to kick off in full "Lion" mode, what with the wet and windy weather we've had the pleasure of experiencing lately. So bundle up, slap on the ol' headphones, and listen to this Frankenstein creation of mine (which incidentally might just be the perfect length for your trek to work/school...unless of course you take public transit in Toronto, in which case you can take the estimated travel time on Google and add an extra 20 minutes).

Tracklist (one continuous flow, 29:46 minutes in length)

1. Sutja Gutiérrez - Wild Child

2. Trust - Sulk

3. Grimes - Genesis

4. Chen and the Hoax - Flagg Staff

5. Sufjan Stevens - Futile Devices (Shigeto Remix)

6. Sunday Songs - Salvation

7. AIR - Seven Stars (ft. Victoria Legrand)

8. Choir of Young Believers - Nye Nummer Et

9. True Gold - Undulate

10. People People - Apertures

CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEDIAFIRE DOWNLOAD (27.72MB)

VIDEO: Mirror Lady - "For Good"

2012-02-21T14:25:00.003-07:00

I feel as though it was several months ago when I first blogged about Mirror Lady, but in actuality only a mere six weeks have passed. In a span of only a few short months, this Californian phenomenband (yay for new words!) has been rapidly gaining momentum in the independent music blogosphere. While I may not be able to stake any claim on their success, my blog DOES come up in the top six Google search results for "Mirror Lady" (top five, if you disqualify this Mirror Lady, which I do). So basically you know you're somebody when you've been featured on See Them Play, but you're even more of a somebody if your interview gets featured on that fancy new Portals site. What's next for Mirror Lady...Pitchfork? I certainly hope so. Heck, just give me a pad of paper, an envelope, some sparkley unicorn stickers and a couple glasses of merlot and I'll formally snail mail Ryan Schrieber myself.

However, I have a feeling that those efforts won't be necessary. Just one listen and you'll be hooked on T.J. Petracca's wonderfully infectious vocals, the quirkiness of the miniature keyboard and the deliciousness of those drum loops.

Peep the video above (featured on Indie Ambassador) for a decidedly stripped-down version of "For Good"; a yet-to-be released new track, which will be included on Mirror Lady's upcoming EP (due to arrive by the end of this month). I just have to warn you though: there are no ladies OR mirrors in this video, but it's still really awesome nonetheless.

P.S. - If you're lucky enough to be heading to Austin, TX for SXSW this year, be sure to catch at least one of Mirror Lady's gigs on March 15th at Maggie Mae's, or March 17th at The Whiskey Room (with Craft Spells).

VIDEO: The Answer Page - "Cold Blue Light (In Circles)"

2012-02-08T09:58:00.011-07:00

Remember that time I blogged about how totally radical The Answer Page was? Of course you do. No doubt you have committed each of my articles to memory, like the script to some sort of high-strung, awkward and self-deprecating monologue. Kinda like something out of a really bad Woody Allen film (wait, is that an oxymoron?), only a bit more shoegazey and a lot less whiny.

Well The Answer Page a.k.a Nate McKee is at it again, with a beautiful inaugural music video for (what is probably my favourite song off of Orca) "Cold Blue Light (In Circles)". Not only is this video sophisticated in its subtle use of light and colour, but it compliments the softness of the track elegantly. Anything with more flash could easily overwhelm what is already quite a resonant and raw piece, but the visual progression works nicely to enhance the music. And what do you know? Mr. Nate "DIY" McKee shot and edited the entire thing himself. I bet that twenty-some-odd years ago, Mommy and Daddy McKee had no idea they had brought a crazy little creative genius into the world, did they?

And if you haven't done so already, you can get your copy of The Answer Page's Orca after the jump.

And if you haven't seen any Woody Allen films, then you can just use this Megaupload link to...oh.

Well, this is pretty much the same thing.

Blood Rexdale and the Walls are Blonde

2012-02-03T07:14:00.001-07:00

As I am still a bit of a Toronto newbie, I've been trying my best to assimilate and become one with its people, places and things. I have tried the local delicacies like sweaty hot dogs outside the Rogers Centre. I have gone to the ~~the zoo~~, ~~the CN Tower~~, ~~Casa Loma~~, ~~Much Music and~~ all of the pubs near my apartment. And now I want to acclimatize myself to the beauteous sounds that this city has to offer. I have managed to catch a couple of Torontonian bands (which will include tonight's Young Empires CD Release Party), but I have yet to truly immerse myself in the TO creative hip indie chill fun indie hip time music scene.

I can't think of a better cure for that lack of whatever-it-was-I-was-just-talking-about than being submerged totally and utterly in Blood Rexdale and the Walls are Blonde. If you think that sounds like a name for a psychedelic-folk group fronted by a man named David Kleiser and a misfit ensemble of musical friends and acquaintances from different bands and walks of life...then you would totally be right.

If I didn't know any better, I would assume that Kleiser was one of those artistic types. I mean, I can't put my finger on it, but maybe it's that he doesn't just dabble but dives head-first into visual art, music, and film. Upon visiting his website, a person can't help but be smitten with his illustrations. I want a Kleiser print. No, wait...maybe he could design a ginormous graphic for my wall. Or, no, wait. A tattoo. OK David Kleiser...if you're out there...and you're an "all around nice guy" like you profess that you are, you should design a tattoo for me. Like a really cool one. Something that makes people say "Oh neat." I don't know what I want yet, but I'm thinking something along the lines of "Classy Tramp Stamp"...?

Ahh yeah...the music. Well, much like the artwork, I'm decidedly hooked. While it's heavily experimental, as you know I have always been a bit of a sucker for the rough-cut and fuzzy. And because this is a collective of various voices, instruments and elements, you know that each track on each album is going to be something completely and utterly different. I don't know about you, but I find that inconsistency in sound to be, in a word, fascinating.

"It's Hideous!" - Blood Rexdale and the Walls are Blonde from Winter (CD-r 4) (2012)

"Scared Woman in a Private Hell" - Blood Rexdale and the Walls are Blonde from Heading off to Montreal! (CD-R 4 - Fall) (2011)

Bonus points go to Blood Rexdale and the Walls are Blonde for allowing us to download their work for free. And double double points for having a gig in Toronto on Feb. 9th at The Port.

Pete Ferg - Wolverines

2012-01-25T08:58:00.010-07:00

Ahhh, yes. Rabbie Burns Day. Or Robbie Burns, if you're one of those "I eat $20 imported haggis in an Irish-Canadian pub because I want the authentic Scottish experience" types. But if you're not on the up-and-up with your Scottish facts and figures, that's OK. Long story short, Robert Burns is Scotland's most beloved poet and lyricist. Remember (or maybe that night was a blur) singing Auld Lang Syne at midnight on New Year's Eve? That was Rob Master B. So to celebrate how awesome he was, the Scots like to gather together, eat a giant Scotch egg, drink a bucket of whiskey, and recite a bunch of poetry. But don't worry, you can still participate even if you're not in Scotland. Basically, if ye hae Scottish heritage, hae bin tae Scootlund, hae heard ay Scootlund, urr liked th' movie Braveheart, 'en ye can officially tak' part in th' festivities (that last bit was courtesy of Scottish translator...so blame that site if you're a wee bit offended by the blatantly stereotypical slang. Sidenote: just suck it up).

Usually I take this opportunity to relate my musings to some new music which has absolutely no relation to my previous thought process. But today I thought I might include a little ditty which I found to be strikingly perfect for today's celebrations.

I don't know much about Pete Ferg, apart from the fact that his bandcamp tags seem to indicate that he's Scottish, and specifically Glaswegian. And possibly a self-professed emo. But something about his slightly rough-around-the-edges sound drew me in. Perhaps it is only my opinion, but the cut-and-dry folksy quality of "Wolverines" is a great representation of the Robbie Burns legacy. I'm not saying that Pete Ferg is going to win the Nobel Peace prize for literature. But his emotive lyrics, lofi recording and bare-all vocals set the tone for toasting the many writers, poets, lyricists and artists who are a valuable part of our culture and identity. There are no pretenses with "Wolverines". So pour yourself a wee glass of Dram, and indulge in the simplicity of it all.

Pete Ferg - "Wolverines" by SeeThemPlay

Be sure to grab a free copy of Pete Ferg's "Wolverine", and keep checking for new tracks to drop.

PS: Half of my family is Scottish (go MacKenzie clan!) so I'm allowed to reference giant Scotch eggs.

Sunsets and Hearts

2012-01-17T08:08:00.004-07:00

It's a lazy hazy dazy chillwavey sort of day in Toronto today, as you can see from the mists of Avalon that are slowly devouring the city. It's not as if I need to try and navigate my way from Point A to B today, so let's celebrate the fact that Toronto is slowly disappearing into the grey and miserable abyss with some mood-lifting/mind-altering music.

Today's Special landed in my inbox just last week, and I've been playing this amazing new album on a continuous loop ever since. Sometimes it's difficult for a blogger to effectively verbalize the feel, tone, and movement of a certain piece...and it's even more difficult when that blogger is naturally a bit fuzzy-brained. Today is no real exception, but at least the spirited sounds of Sunsets and Hearts are doing a superb job of matching my day-dreaminess. Interspersed with catchy drumbeats and soft rambling melodies, this Texan band (born of the blood, sweat and tears of Car Gonzalez) is the perfect companion to your inevitable navigation through the haze.

And guess what? This deliciously progressively soulfully ambient album is available for free. Be sure to jump on over to Sunset and Hearts dot com and snag Altered Faze for yourself.

"Crystal Prisms V Visible Light" - Sunsets and Hearts from Altered Faze (2011)

"Replica" - Sunsets and Hearts from Altered Faze (2011)

Mirror Lady

2012-01-08T19:53:00.004-07:00

In all honesty, I meant to pop out this bad boy of an article way back in 2011. Oh wells. I've never placed much emphasis on being at the forefront of Pitchfork-style buzz-building scene-breaking band-blowing-up...ing...ness. So why start now?

And to be fair, this up-and-coming Los Angeles band probably doesn't really need my help. By the time I've actually got around to writing this, the intoxicating musical workings of Mirror Lady will have already stolen the hearts of all the lo fi bedroom pop hipsters with their ears firmly planted on the pulse of the independent music world. To be fair, it would be difficult not to fall madly in love with this group and their dreamily woven sounds; their insightful lyrics; their distinct and slightly addictive vocals. So I wouldn't blame you if you're already smitten.

I actually listened to Mirror Lady's latest single "Roman Candles" while watching a muted version of The Santa Clause avec Tim Allen, on the plane going home for Christmas. I'm not going to lie, it was a bit disturbing. But lucky for you, you can watch the (much better) music video here:

Jump on over to Mirror Lady's bandcamp page for some free downloads, and if you're in the L.A. area (or wish that you were) then you can catch this fascinating new band at Central S.A.P.C. on Jan. 22nd.

A List of Lists: Best of 2011 (Free Download)

2012-01-01T09:54:00.011-07:00

I was actually planning on drafting my own list of my favourite tracks/albums/artists from 2011, but then I just got frustrated and overwhelmed and lazy at the prospect of trying to include everyone/everything. Every second blog on your blogroll probably has their own 'Best Of' list, so why would you listen to a schmuck like me, eh?

So I've decided to leave the playlist creation up to the real professionals, and instead compiled a list of...well...their lists. There are literally a gazillion well-made, well-thought-out "Best of 2011" lists out there, so I've narrowed down my top 10 to blogs which have been generous enough to provide their entire playlist as a FREE DOWNLOAD. That way, you can pick and choose your favourite list at will, download it straight onto the new iPod you got by elbowing people in the face at the Future shop Boxing Day Sale, and actually listen to the year 2011 at your own leisure.

There will ultimately be a few overlaps in terms of tracks, but that is bound to happen so suck it up. There will be a link under each blog listed, which will take you to the individual site. Please let me know if any of these links gets all not-worky.

So here are your lists, in no particular order:

1. Said the Gramophone

This music blog has been around the block, having been compiling “Best Of...” lists since the Stone Age of 2005. This is certainly an eclectic mix, featuring a variety of tunes all the way from Adam & The Amethysts to Jay-Z.

Click Here To Get Said The Gramophone's Best Of 2011 List

2. Feel Good Playlists

23-year old Courtney has put together a plethora of (a.k.a. three) ‘Best of 2011’ lists, including Top 50 Feel Good Indie Songs, Top Indie Folk Songs and Top Upcoming Female Indie/Alternative Artists. All in all, that’s nearly 100 tracks to get your grubby paws on.

Click Here To Get Feel Good Playlists Best Of 2011 Lists

3. Microphones in Trees

Multi-lingual Microphones in Trees (or do they prefer the name of their URL: "Calm in Trees"?) just have far too many favourites this year. So many in fact, that as I write this, they now have EIGHT 'Best of' lists. Parts III and IV will probably be the most familiar, with the inclusion of artists such as Grimes, Sun Glitters and Run DMT. But I think all of the lists deserve a download here, as each of them express an entirely different personality.

Click Here To Get Microphones in Trees Best Of 2011 Lists

4. BIRP

An old-faithful in the indie-music-playlist-making arena, BIRP consistently puts out a delicious buffet of musical treats. And if you’re not quite feeling the Best of 2011 list, you can always just download January to December 2011 individually (making a gargantuan list of over 1300 tracks you greedy bastard you).

Click Here To Get BIRP's Best of 2011 List

5. Blouse

Sydney, Australia's Blouse gives us our smallest list, featuring a handful of tracks from the likes of Gang Gang Dance, Real Estate and Metronomy. Though modest in size, it's a decidedly a bit more electropop, which I can dig. You can make this little playlist the appetizer to whet your appetite, before devouring some of the meatier lists out there.

Click Here To Get Blouse's Best of 2011 List

6. The Indie Rock Playlist

Another staple in the online realm of indie rock playlists. Here, you can titillate yourself aurally with a whopping THREE HUNDRED tracks from ’11.

Click Here To Get The Indie Rock Playlist Best Of 2011 List

7. Urban Outfitters

I really hate to admit that a giant retail outlet that specializes in over-priced jeggings can actually come up with a half-way appealing list...but they kinda did. Featuring the likes of Youth Lagoon, Kurt Vile, The War On Drugs, Neon Indian and Balam Acab (amongst many other great artists), Urban Outfitters’ Best Of 2011 compilation looks strikingly similar to the Top 25 Most Played list on my iPod.

Click Here To Get Urban Outfitters' Best Of 2011 List

8. The Very Best of Indie

Let two music fans, sghazari and okamistarguitar, take you on a journey through 2011 with two stellar lists (Top Singles & Top Albums). Including tracks from Lykke Li, Craft Spells and The Bilinda Butchers.

Click Here To Get The Very Best of Indie Best Of 2011 Lists

9. Dr. Schluss’ Garage of Psychedelic Obscurities

A little bit of a wild card, here. In Dr. Schluss' own words, he was into "dreamy, ambient sounds even more than usual this year, so you'll hear a fair amount of that wafting around on these tracks." See for yourself.

Click Here To Get Dr. Schluss' Best Of 2011 List

10. Juice Springs Indie Rock Playlist

I had never heard of Juice Springs, until I stumbled across it the other day while looking for another list to round out my...list. Juice doesn't seem to have a need for mucking about with websites, so this playlist is seemingly only available as a downloadable torrent. But don't let that deter you. There is certain to be something for everyone on this comprehensive 'Best Of' list.

Click Here To Get Juice Springs' Best Of 2011 List

Happy New Year, everyone!

Seasons - Autumn EP

2011-12-29T15:25:00.004-07:00

My apologies for not blogging often enough in the last few...ever. I thought I could get a lot more accomplished during the holiday break, but that definitely isn't happening. I keep getting sucked in by friends and family members to "do stuff" with them, like, in Real Life. I'm making it sound like I'm so amazingly popular, when really I'm just being lazy. I could have very easily churned out a couple of music articles in the past week or so, but instead I chose to eat my weight in cookies, turkey, and eggnog. Definitely some major #firstworldproblems up in here.

But I've rolled over to my computer to tell you that Seasons has just released a new EP, aptly titled Autumn. This latest creation is a follow-up to the band's Spring, Summer & Winter albums, the last of which included the track "Of Our Discontent". For those of you unfamiliar with the unmatched talent that is Seasons' work, I first blogged about them back in August, when director Christopher J Ewing created an engagingly cinematic music video for the aforementioned song. However, the delivery of the Autumn EP is particularly exciting, as it has been nearly a year and half since the band pleased audience ears with Winter. There is certainly a more refined sound to each track on Autumn, making it my favourite album thus far. And it's not every day that you come across a solid indie rock band who are consistent in their ability to make beautiful music.

You can listen/download "Monday Nights" below, or cosy up to this L.A. band via their website.

Seasons - Monday Nights by seasonsbandla

People People - "Collarbones"

2011-12-20T22:40:00.005-07:00

Put all of your frou-frou holiday celebrations aside, because today holds a little bit more significance than any grandé non-fat double-whip triple-foamed eggnog latté can provide.

Yes, you can write this down children, because today Northern-hemispherians will gather together and (probably) hold hands in celebration of the first day of Winter Solstice. If you don't know/care what that is, it basically just means that Dec. 21st (or in some places, Dec. 22nd) is the longest night of the year, with some joyous areas of the world getting a meagre 4 hours 20 minutes worth of precious sun-tanning timez. To quote the poetic virtuosos that are Metallica: "Exit light. Enter Night." Shakespeare couldn't have put it better himself.

The night-time is always the most optimal time for serious introspection and philosophical musings (unless you experience your deepest thoughts in broad daylight, like some sort of deviant). So if you're looking for something to help you soundtrack that time of reflection...something with a little bit of gentle soul, then have a lick of People People. A recent up-and-comer, Phoenix, Arizona's Michael Cullan has created an exceptional inaugural track with "Collarbones". Tasteful in its muted simplicity yet stylistically rich in tone, "Collarbones" features a tender beat and attractively undressed vocals, which I am definitely digging; in the dark or otherwise.

Download a copy of People People's new single "Collarbones", while you eagerly await the arrival of a hot new EP, which should hit your ears come January.

People People - "Collarbones"

PS: Dec. 21st also marks the one year countdown to Doomsday. Only 364 days until the end of human civilization as we know it, and only one question lingers on my mind: Where do I get my End of Days advent calendar?

M83 (new tour announced!)

2011-12-07T08:34:00.009-07:00

Don't worry, cyberspace. I'm not dead. Yet.

Life has been an insane amount of busy lately, and unfortunately this wee little blog has been neglected by yours truly. But I received some rather titillating (that's a real word) news today, and so I decided to crawl out from under my rock, just to report it to you.

After releasing his latest creation, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming just this past October, French electro-dreampop artist Anthony Gonzalez (better known as M83) sped through a whirlwind North American tour, having landed in my newly-acquired home of Toronto on November 18th. Sadly, I missed the boat and wasn't able to snag myself a golden ticket to that show, which made me feel like I was just about the saddest creature in the whole world. Basically :-( x infinity.

But Gonzalez has decided to give us all an early Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Azerbaijan International Solidarity Day, by giving us all the gift of yet another slew of North American shows. And this time around, I've already got my ticket on LOCK DOWN. You might as well buy your tickets now because January's credit card bill is gonna be bananas and then you'll change your mind and you won't be able to get a ticket and then we can't hang out together ever. See you in five months!

CLICK HERE TO GET TICKETS TO M83

Intro (ft Zola Jesus) by M83

New Tour Dates:

April

04/22 The Fillmore – San Francisco

04/25 Roseland Theatre – Portland

04/26 The Neptune – Seattle

04/27 Vogue Theatre – Vancouver, Canada

04/29 In The Venue – Salt Lake City

04/30 Ogden Theatre – Denver

May

05/01 Granada Theater – Lawrence

05/02 The Pageant – St Louis

05/04 The Vic – Chicago

05/05 The Majestic Theatre – Detroit

05/06 Sound Academy – Toronto, Canada <<<<< YEAH! Let's get a beer together pre-show!!! :D :D :D

05/07 Town Ballroom – Buffalo

05/09 House of Blues – Boston

05/10 Terminal 5 – New York

05/11 Union Transfer – Philadelphia

05/12 9:30 Club – Washington

05/14 Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta

05/15 Marathon Music Works – Nashville

05/17 House Of Blues – Houston

05/18 Stubb’s Waller Creek – Austin

05/19 Granada Theater – Dallas

The Answer Page (exclusive interview)

2011-11-08T13:49:00.012-07:00

A testament to skilfully crafted music amongst a sea of viral sensations, Nate McKee is certainly more than a one-hit-wonder. Creating his softly instrumental tracks under the alias The Answer Page, McKee’s strength lies in his ability to do it all; write the lyrics, sing all of the vocals, play all of the instruments, and even master the final product. With his inaugural album Orca having only been released a mere four months ago, The Answer Page is keeping his audience on their toes with his latest release; a cover song of DNTEL’s “Your Hill”. Unveiled just last week, “Your Hill” offers listeners a stripped-down acoustic version of the original, reflecting McKee’s low-key approach to its creation. In a digital tête à tête, I sat with the Houston-based musician to discuss his latest track, what inspires his creativity, and what the future holds for The Answer Page.

JILL: I have to admit, I’m intrigued by your artist name, The Answer Page. Where did the inspiration for that come from?

NATE: I spent a lot of time at my grandmother's house growing up and did a lot of crosswords and word searches while over there. I remember the day I discovered that there was a section in the back that had all of the answers and it blew my mind. From then on I tried not to cheat and look back there unless I felt I had no other choice but I'd constantly think about it while working on puzzles. I know that it’s probably an odd explanation for this project's name but to me it sort of symbolized something I subconsciously knew I could do and wanted to do but never really did. Now I'm doing it, so to speak.

JILL: Do you work on all of the elements of your music all on your own? What exactly does that entail?

NATE: It really is just me. I went into this project with musical skills and abilities but only a very rudimentary understanding of recording/mixing/mastering/etc. I knew that I couldn't afford a professional studio and I didn't like the idea of having the pressures of time and producers and all of that. I wanted it to be a very low-pressure, no-deadline kind of thing.

JILL: Tell me about your experience with Orca. What was the journey like, when forming that inaugural album?

NATE: Well, depending on when you asked me that it was fun, scary, stressful, time-consuming, pointless, and unbelievably rewarding. The first 5 or so songs came out without much direction and I didn't even plan on them being part of an album just yet. In April of 2011 I got really serious about trying to release a full album and I knew that all of the songs were sort of inadvertently about the same topic and at that point decided that I'd use that as a starting point to tell a bigger story. There were times that I almost scrapped the whole thing and walked away because I had a lot of self-doubt and really the only feedback I had on the entire process was from friends who had time to listen to tracks and tell me what they thought. Fortunately I got over the nerves and had a lot of encouragement from some good friends to just go all in and put it out there and not look back. I owe them a lot for that encouragement.

JILL: Recently you have released a cover song of DNTEL’s track “Your Hill”. What was the inspiration for that choice?

NATE: Every now and again I come across a song that I simply cannot stop listening to, sometimes for months at a time. "Your Hill" was one of those songs. After Orca was released I took a really long break from playing and writing music. I didn't even really play my guitar until last week, and I decided that I wanted to cover a song that was important to me but not one that was already in the spotlight, so to speak. That way I could put my own spin on it.

Thrushes - "Trees" (Official Video)

2011-10-30T11:06:00.003-06:00

This may come as a bit of a shock to all of you, but I am a flesh and blood human being and NOT an overly sophisticated computer-generated bot. In my next life, I will aim to come back as E-Jill. At least then my blog posts could be delivered to you at concrete, timely, and continuous intervals. E-Jill could send perfectly synchronized articles, Facebook wall posts & emails, and send witty and flirtatious tweets whenever appropriate buzzwords and hashtags funnelled through the filters. Unfortunately human Jill has many flaws, and that includes occasionally forgetting to write about something that's actually really awesome so she didn't forget about it because it's not awesome because it is actually quite...awesome.

Back in August I wrote about the ultra-talented and incredibly approachable music video director Christopher J Ewing. Chris had just finished crafting a video which featured an endearing story set to the ear-appealing "...Of Our Discontent" by Seasons. OK, now fast forward just a little bit to September. Just last month, Mr. Ewing himself dropped yet another vid-gem onto my digital lap, with his latest production via Wasted Potential Productions.

Featuring music from the decidedly shoegaze Baltimore band Thrushes, the video captures a free-spirited quality which audiences will find both engaging and entertaining. Like in many of the director's creations, the official video for "Trees" weaves an endearing story with an exquisitely sci-fi twist, captivating viewers' attention from beginning to end. It also helps that Thrushes' music is insatiably ambling and sexily rock and roll, complete with Anna Conner's daydreamy vocals and catchy guitar riffs. Human Jill's only regret is not showing you this diamond in the rough sooner!

Be sure to check out more from Thrushes, as well as grab a bowl of microwave popcorn to a queue of other Chris J Ewing's music videos.

Poor Man's Fantasy

2011-10-24T07:57:00.004-06:00

The Universe works in mysterious ways.

Take, for instance, how I stumbled across my latest musical find:

I should add that I am a big ol’ Internet ‘creeper’. Actually, I hate the language we’ve created for our mutual methods of browsing the Internet. Most of us are not ‘creeping’ or ‘lurking’ like some sort of perverted e-predator, hiding the shadowy corners of the Net (well, some of us are perverts, yes). But it’s human nature to have a healthy interest or curiosity in what other people are doing, and it’s simply smart blogging practice to pay attention to the metrics of your site. Granted, the #1 thing that gets me excited about writing for this blog is the small amount of exposure and recognition I can offer artists who appreciate my haphazard attempts at writing about them. But the #2 reason: I love seeing the whens/wheres/& hows of the people coming to my site. Or following me on Twitter. Or “liking” my blog on Facebook. It was, interestingly enough, the latter that brought me to my latest artist.

See Them Play was never born to rival the likes of Pitchfork (mostly because I’m too lazy to try), so likewise, my blog’s social network is modest in size. Long story short, I take notice whenever someone “likes” my blog on Facebook. Curious Jill will usually take a quick little peek to see who this cool new dude/dudette is and, at the very least, make a mental note about how awesome they are. But the last person who liked my page (that sounds vaguely like a sexual innuendo...) also had a link to his bandcamp page on his profile. And just like that, Alice fell down the rabbit hole and into a world of new music bliss.

Creating beautifully atmospheric music, Calgary’s Patrick Seager is the mastermind behind Poor Man’s Fantasy. Without even listening to a single note, his album Drifter already has several things going for it. Namely (but not exclusively), the fact that Mark Webber (who I may have a slight affinity for) mastered it. Of course he did. Mark Webber does everything. I feel like I should just base my blog solely on whatever I find after I browse the 'Mark Webber' tag on bandcamp...if such a tag exists. Everything that man touches is pure artistic gold, and Poor Man’s Fantasy is no exception.

Attractively organic in its sound, each track on Drifter encompasses a folksy simplicity which falls with grace upon eager eardrums. Seager’s layering of instrumentals and silken vocals make this album an autumn must-have, and will have you smitten with each note.

Float on over to bandcamp to get your copy of Poor Man’s Fantasy’s Drifter (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Poor Man's Fantasy - "Drifter" by SeeThemPlay