Boys & Girls – Blur

ParkLife (1994)

NME has reported that the quintessential Euro-boy, Damon Albarn, recently announced that Blur will in fact be reuniting in the studio next year. The news brings much excitement, as I have long been a fan of Blur’s fun style. I’ve included the first Blur track that got my attention above. Boys & Girls is a ridiculously catchy track, that I’m sure stirs many memories in other 30-somethings like me. With lyrics as deep and complex as:

Girls who are boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they’re girls
Who do girls like they’re boys
Always should be someone you really love

You really can’t go wrong :p In all honesty though, the song does have a very nice message, on top of how fun it is to dance to at summer pool parties!

Perfect thinks that the following song should be the next theme song for the Canucks, because of “that whole WHOO thing”. Here is the best 2 minute song of the 1990’s:

Song 2 – Blur from Blur’s 1997 self titled album.

Blur (1997)

In the Leaves – The British Columbians

If you haven’t been an avid traveler on the Road 2 Nowhere, you likely have yet to hear about The British Columbians.  They take their name from their, and my home, beautiful British Columbia (Aside: BC is beautiful, but it’s not the best place on earth, no matter how much money the tourism board of BC spends on trying to convince us that it is). The 4 young Canadian men share a love of music, with far ranging influences including early Blues and Americana, 70’s rock, and even modern alternative music. Their debut album is raucous at times, and soulful at others.

My favorite track of theirs is called In the Leaves (download above), a beautiful contemplation on the passing of time:

Here in the leaves of the fallen trees
My body’s breaking down on me
I pay no mind at all
In a little rowboat
Heading for the falls

The track has a stunning production level for an indie band. The sound of Knox’s guitar is full and haunting, showcasing his picking skills. The subtle bass, a proper upright bass, line draws the listener into the song in time for the rhythms to take the listener away. I love how this song ends, all the song elements seem to spin together eventually trailing off into the unknown.

For more on these guys, check them out on myspace. All of the tracks they have up there are well worth listening to. If you like what you hear, search for them in the iTunes store.

Perfect is doing Movember, growing a moustache to raise funds for men’s health, particularly for prostate cancer. I’m in full support of this endeavor, and am quite fond of the moustache, though I’m not sure if I’m ready to admit it, but there is a possibility that my boyfriend might be a moustache guy! Who’d of thunk it?

As an excuse to promote my Perfect in his follicle journey I’ve devised this post: 3 songs by great bands that aren’t scared to wear the facial hair boldly and proud! Don’t worry, the tracks I’ve chosen are truly great and very much deserve a post, and a listen, with or without the moustache!

Boy with a Coin – Iron & Wine

The Shepherd's Dog (2007)

I love this album start to finish! Iron & Wine has a light and thoughtful style. Samuel Beam has been recording as Iron &  Wine since 2002.  Boy with a Coin is an incredible catch song, with poetic lyrics worthy of analysis in an English Lit class. I highly recommend this track, and the entire album.

Flume – Bon Iver

For Emma (2008)

Bon Iver has an additively haunting sound that pulls you in and make you feel both the power of love and sadness at the same time. The slightly off vibration of the guitar string amplified by the resonator on James Vernon’s Dobro joined by his gentle vocals gives Flume a unique beauty. It seems James Vernon share’s with me the love of the recluse lifestyle. I’m quite jealous of the season he spent in a remote cabin in Northern Wisconsin creating this album. His time was certainly well spent!

General Specific – Band of Horses

Cease To Begin (2007)

This track has a fabulous down-home country hoedown feel to it, but still maintains the requisite level of cool. The 4 guys from Seattle clearly felt out of place in the post-Nirvana grunge city, with their full fledged country style,  as they packed it up and moved to South Carolina a couple of years ago. I haven’t had the chance to listen to Cease to Begin, but I certainly intend to. If the track General Specific is any indication, I’m sure it’s a killer record. The group is currently working on their third album; no release date has been mentioned.

I didn’t realize how many connections there are between these 3 artists: South Carolina, Sub Pop Records, one man shows, and moustaches! On top of all that, apparently Band of Horses used to open for Iron & Wine! It’s a great and crazy world.

Last night I should have been at the Biltmore. Last night I should have been in the crowd, being a part of a group of strangers sharing moment of beauty. Last night I should have been there, but I wasn’t. So I don’t even know whether or not Jellybean is a regular on Rutledge’s set list, I just know it would have been a moment.

To be quite honest, I had never heard of Justin Rutlege before I saw the poster for his show at the Biltmore, which I found when pseudo-cyber-stalking Jenn Grant. I went to her mySpace page in hopes of finding a Vancouver tour date. I was terribly excited to she she had a gig set for late November, but she was the opening act! Without hesitation I investigated the nearly 30* Canadian, to find the gentle Canadian alt-country singer-song writer easily grabbed my ear. I was dead-set that I would not miss this show. I love music, but have not been to a proper gig for an embarrassingly long time. My lifestyle has clearly changed. When the date finally came I had to admit, I wouldn’t be able to go. The show would run to late, I would be late for work the next day, causing a domino effect that was liable to destroy my productivity for the rest of the week.  So I missed it.

Why wasn’t I there? Why did I have to go to bed in time to make my day job playing with computers? I turned into a geek instead of the music scout my 16 year old self so desperately wanted to be? Going to all the shows, mingling with the music snobs and musicians, looking for messonite fallen from the sky. Don’t get me wrong. I have no regrets in the path I chose; I see great possibilities in my current future. But in a different life, in a different time, I was there.

This doesn’t stop me from enjoying the on-demand, digital servings of Jenn Grant, and Justin Rutledge. Shouldn’t stop you either! Why not listen to the below mp3s, and check out their albums.

Dreamer – Jenn Grant

Orchestra for the Moon (2008)

Jellybean – Justin Rutledge

Man Decending (2008)

* I’m not sure why I feel the need to call out other’s in their early 30’s, perhaps it’s ’cause I love it here!

Milkshake (Man Eat DJ & Jizm Remix) – Kelis

Milkshake (2004)

Man Eat DJ and Jizm are two young producers from the Netherlands with fresh ideas and lots of enthusiasm. Their treatment to Kelis’ well know track has awesome cut ups that are not only funky but also make the listener do a double take:

My milkshake boys brings all the… d’ d’
Damn right!

The track sets you up to hear the expected, but throws something completely different at you. I highly recommend this remix, as its guaranteed to make you want to move! I’ll be watching for what else comes of these two producers in the future, as I expect good things.

If you are wondering what Kelis is up to these days, the Harlem born beauty has put out a compilation earlier this year, The Hits, and has has a handful of tour dates in South America this month.

Below is a cover of Milkshake by the world renowned Peter Griffin: