CHARTattack:Interact Feed

Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:14:23 -0600

"Ra ra aah aah aah ahh roma ro ma ma ga ga ooh la la"

Lyrics of the year?! Yes?!

What exactly is a vertigo stick? Is it the same as a disco stick? As in phallic metaphor? Does it make you go "ga ga" and what the hell does it have to do with fashion?

Something Ridiculous: Russian PM Vladimir Putin Attends Rap Battle

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:40:43 -0600

Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin is probably the last person you'd expect to see in the front row of a rap battle, but he appeared at one over the weekend nonetheless.

Putin, dressed in a white turtleneck, was at the show to give a speech on drugs and alcohol abuse, which are huge problems in Russia at the moment. According to ABC News, spectators screamed "Respect, Vladimir Vladimirovich" throughout the show, and you better believe you don't wanna be disrespecting Putin.

(Just a note on his middle name: In Russia, men's middle names are patronymic, which means they're derived from the name of the child's father. So basically, that should tell you Putin's father is also named Vladimir.)

ABC News reports Putin advocated hip-hop and graffiti as healthy because he said they prevented drug and alcohol addiction.

All that's well and good and none of it's really ridiculous. But the first part of the video below is. Putin can be seen in the front row, looking very, very out of place while everyone else waves their hands and bobs their heads and he stands. stock. still.:

Britney Spears — The Singles Collection

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:10:01 -0600

It's like every bad high school memory just came flooding back to me at once. Good.God.

I know this is mostly chronologically sequenced, but does anyone else see the irony in putting "Stronger" next to "I'm A Slave 4 U"? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Something Ridiculous: Woman Plays Avenged Sevenfold On Rock Band With... Flute

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:30:19 -0600

I don't think I need to explain why this is unbelievably ridiculous and amazing. Just watch this lady do an Avenged Sevenfold tune on Rock Band by playing her flute into the microphone. You should probably note she's playing on "Expert" mode.

Avenged Sevenfold suck, but least we know she's got some good ear training...

Check it out:

DVAS SIGN TO UPPER CLASS RECORDINGS

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:24:12 -0600

DVAS!!!!!!!! www.myspace.com/dvasmusique

Blitzen Trapper Had A Good Year

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:14:34 -0600

I must state this right off the bat, I'e never been one for enjoying the live musical experience. I've been at my share of great musical moments like Mogwai's musical blast out at the Horseshoe in the fall of 1999, Royal City's sonic bliss during CMW 2003 as part of ChartAttack's Horseshoe showcase that was broadcast live on CBC Radio 2 and The Bicycles' farewell performance at this years' Chart CMW Showcase at the Shoe.

Around that time, I happened to be covering Blizten Trapper's appearance at the Horseshoe having just heard their brilliant 2008 album, Furr. The show had its ups and downs with any and all of the songs from that last album shining above their earlier material.

A couple of months ago, the band released an EP called Black River Killer. Here's a review of the EP:

Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer (Sub Pop/Outside)
This quickie EP of seven songs consists of the six tracks from a tour-only CD from Blitzen Trapper’s recent live gigs. Their label, Sub Pop, adds the title track from their 2008 album, Furr. Marketed by the band’s new label as a way that BT’s fans could all get the exclusive tracks. Thanks but Furr was a big step forward for a band that would have fit perfectly into that lazy sun-drenched country-tinged rock scene of the mid ’70 akin to The Grateful Dead with touches of Badfinger, Allman Brothers and The Faces with Lou Reed-inspired lyrical content.

The title track is far and away the strongest song here. It’s a haunting gothic tale of death and tragic loss, “Black River Killer”. Front man Eric Earley’s stunning narrative of a man falsely convicted man of a horrendous murder and the psychological impact on his life and future actions. It’s a stunning ode that’s aided musically by the touches of an eerie synthesizer.

The EP continues with a harmonica-driven “Silver Moon,” but then the disc slows down it momentum with a quiet introspective ballad, “Shoulders Full Of You, that doesn’t really add to the band’s oeuvre. While the band is a six-piece the focal point is main songwriter Eric Earley. His warm inviting vocals on both “Going Down” and “Preachers Sisters Boy” hold the listener’s attention.

It all comes to an end with the raucous “Big Black Bird” which is a wonderful slice of retro, something you would have heard in the background of The Rockford Files or Baretta if they had been O.C.ed.

Them Crooked Vultures Full Album Streaming

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:46:39 -0600

Check out the entire album NOW at:
http://www.themcrookedvultures.com/

ALBUM AVAILABLE ONLINE & IN STORES NOVEMBER 17th

I Love This Sonic City Too

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:24:42 -0600

A couple friends of CHARTattack are doing some cool things folks need to know about.

First up, mistress of darkness, former Chart editor, and the glue that keeps the Polaris Music Prize running, Liisa Ladouceur, will be hosting editions of the City Sonic musical docu-adventure series every Sunday this month on Aux TV.

The program is a collection of short films where artists talk about concert venues that mean a lot to them. There'll be episodes airing Sunday, Nov. 15, 22 and 29, on Aux TV, which is Rogers cable channel 107.

Next, CHARTattack writer and Pipettes cover star Phil Villeneuve will having an album release party for his band The I Love You Toos this Friday, Nov. 13 at The Music Gallery in Toronto. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. If you search around the internet you'll be able to find videos of Phil and bandmate Stacey McLeod playing around in graveyards and such.

Junofest 2010 Looking For Performers

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:31:38 -0600

from the press release...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

MEDIA ADVISORY

STAGE IS SET FOR 2010 JUNOFEST SUBMISSIONS
Perform in a two-night music extravaganza as part of JUNO Week
April 16 & 17 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Submissions open November 16, 2009

WHAT:

JunoFest is a two-night music festival that is a part of the 2010 JUNO Week. The all-live festival will feature the talents of over 100 local, regional, and national artists representing the many genres of Canadian music.

A significant number of artists participating will be selected locally to celebrate St. John’s distinct music scene, in addition to performances from 2010 JUNO Award nominees and some of Canada’s national touring acts.

WHEN:

JunoFest will take place at over a dozen venues in downtown St. John’s on Friday, April 16th and Saturday, April 17th each night from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

HOW:

Artists and bands that wish to partake in this year’s JunoFest can apply online through Sonic Bids at www.sonicbids.com/junofest starting Monday, November 16, 2009. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday January 12, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

A $10 application fee will apply. All applicants must be Canadian residents and 19 years of age or over.

We thank all applicants who apply, but only those selected will be contacted.

About JunoFest: 2010 marks the nine year anniversary of JunoFest since its inception in St. John’s in 2002. As a means to promote and celebrate Canadian music, JunoFest has showcased more than 1,000 artists and bands of all backgrounds and genres including: African Guitar Summit, Arkells, Bedouin Soundclash, Classified, Divine Brown, D-Sissive, Doc Walker, Elliott Brood, Feist, Hey Rosetta!, Jane Bunnett, Marianas Trench, Matt Mays & El Torpedo, The Midway State, MSTRKRFT, Plants and Animals, Ron Sexsmith, The Sadies, Saint Alvia, Sam Roberts, Shad, Sloan, Thornley, Two Hours Traffic, and hundreds more.

Classic Video Of The Week: Beastie Boys' "Sabotage"

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:28:53 -0600

I won't lie — listening to the Beastie Boys anthology Sounds Of Science in the office prompted this.

But seriously, who doesn't love this video? MCA, Mike D and Ad Rock parody police shows in this clip, which is yet another classic from director Spike Jonze (just like last week's video, Weezer's "Buddy Holly").

This video was my introduction to the Beastie Boys in seventh grade, and it's responsible for getting me into all different kinds of hip-hop a few years later. I probably wouldn't have become curious about rap by the likes of 2Pac if it weren't for the Beastie Boys, even though that's ironic and ridiculous considering that musically, 2Pac and Beastie Boys have almost nothing in common, other than that they make/made hip-hop.

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:19:49 -0600
You know there was one point while these guys were sitting in their rehearsal space jamming out their songs where Josh Homme was, like, "Hold on a sec, bros, I gotta go piss." And while Grohl sat around fumbling with his cymbal and JPJ adjusted something on his amp, Homme was just around the corner having a secret moment pumping his fist, flexing like Hulk Hogan and silently screaming to himself "YES! YES! YES!" because he couldn't believe he successfully tricked them to go along with his scheme to do something that "sounded like Kyuss, except, like, more funky" and they bought it.

Nirvana Fans! Here Is Your Calling!

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:09:40 -0600

If you’re a Nirvana fan you gotta check out the “Name That Riff” app on facebook or beta. The game blasts the phenomenal “Live at Reading” performance, and then have to answer which song it is. The quicker you get it, the higher your score! The prize is an amazing Fender Classic Player Jaguar HH guitar, which is a replica of the model played by Kurt Cobain at Reading. Your knowledge could win you a guitar!
Facebook Game
Nirvana Game On Bibo

Something Ridiculous: Aqua's Video For "My Mamma Said"

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:45:59 -0600

Right now you're probably like, "Wait, I thought Aqua disappeared?"

Well, yes. They broke up in 2002, but reunited in 2007, toured a bit and announced they would record a third album. (Yes, there was more than one.) Then they said they wouldn't release that album just yet and would put out a greatest hits (yes, apparently they have enough material for this) compilation instead.

"My Mamma Said" is a new track which shows up on that record. Yes, its video is incredibly ridiculous.

Where do we even start? Let's just make a list of reasons.

a) It's Aqua;

b) They're all seated at a dinner table dressed up, but there's leaves everywhere and they're in a room that looks like it could become the trash compactor in Star Wars: A New Hope at any second;

c) Looks like some of the food is white (this probably represents something);

d) There is a cockroach on the table (this probably represents something);

e) Lene Rasted and Rene Dif look mad at each other (this probably represents something);

f) The song sounds like Coldplay;

g) Really? This is the group that sang "Barbie Girl"? Really?!

h) There's probably a lot of deep, meaningful stuff behind this video, but right now my brain cannot process it because

i) It's Aqua.

Here's the video:

Toronto venue: The Hideout

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:48:06 -0600
Has anyone been to this venue before? It's on Queen St. and Denison Ave. I was planning on going to go see Young Rival and Creature there on November 25th. I was just wondering how are shows like there, the atmosphere, and the sound? If you're curious about the show i'm going to, check out the event page here - http://www.stuffadpeoplelike.com/?page_id=115 thanks!

Dynamo & Badnutbeats

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:05:48 -0600
These guys are awesome. I saw them at the Toronto Cannabis Cup this summer and it's freaky. They dress in costume and play live sort of electro-rock music. It's pretty impressive considering there's only two of them and they don't use computers and shit. Check out the myspace: myspace.com/dynamoandbadnutbeats