Polaris 5 - Holy shit this is hard: It's all true, The Suburbs,

So...I might be a bit ambitious.  Taking this task on was like ordering the Lumberjack breakfast at Denny's...

Never the less I'm gonna keep trekking ahead.  There are six days until the short list and while there is not way I can get through the rest of the longlist before that I'll continue on while we wait for the final prize announcement.

Junior Boys - It's All True
When I have parties I like to dance...or sing along with Jimmy Buffett songs.  But when I'm not a six-pack deep I like songwriters and all that otherwise boring music.  What I find interesting about this album is that it mixes the sonic textures of Caribouesque electro pop with a lyrical narrative for us boring traditional "three minute song" types. Favourite tune "A Truly Happy Ending."

Here is Reid Coolseat's description of the album.  He is Canada's fastest marathoner and went to highschool with the Boys: Junior Boys, electro-pop duo from Hamilton with a distinct Northern sound. Charming.Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
what is there really to say about this album that hasn't already been said?  For me it was less energetic than Funeral and less insightful then Neon Bible.  Great moments no doubt: "it's hard to lift something with your arms folded tight" in Rococo to me was a beautiful comment on the apathy of my generation and a fun poke at the Sid Vicious leaning on the Jukebox kind of mentality of the cool kids in the cafeteria.  Solid album but for me there is a little irony in the fact that the biggest anthemic rock record of the year doesn't read quite seem as powerful Wake Up or Rebellion.  Favourite track: Sprawl II


Keep it easy friends

Polaris 4: Degeneration Street & Wilderness Heat

The Dears - Degeneration Street
I've always had a peripheral liking of The Dears.  This album continues in that tradition.  I was running a lot to these tunes back in the spring.  I was also writing a lot of hip-hop tunes and lyrics at the times and some part of me loved the connection between hip-hop beats and the beats and grooves on this record.  Especially "Omega Dog."
Love the lyric - "none of us has the guts to bear a cross" from Thrones and I love the peppy jump along guitar of Yesteryear.

Black Mountain - Wilderness Hearts
When I was younger and I would get pissed off I would throw on Nirvana's Nevermind and just fucking rock out on my Fender Squire until all my grungy angst had dissipated.  I started listening to this Black Mountain album after I failed to make the finals at the Canadian National Track and Field champs.  It almost had the same effects.  Well, heavier tracks anyways.  And I thank Black Mountain for that, but when I listened back to the album the parts I cared for were the tunes that sound like they belonged on a Pink Mountaintops record.  All in all I think I wish Wilderness Hearts  was a 5 song Pink Mountaintops ep rather than a sometimes fragmented stoner rock mish mash.

Word.

Polaris P. 3 - Kaputt

Hey y'all, 

This is gonna be a mixtape first I think...an overall negative review.

Gonna throw it out there. Destroyer-Kaputt is not quite my cup of tea.  It's more of an earl grey when you I'm really a Jasmine guy.  To me, the album came off like elevator music for American Apparel. While there are moments (a beautiful pop guitar solo in the middle of "Blue Eyes") I thoroughly enjoyed, most of the album's fabric sounded like it would have been better cast as a soundtrack to the comedown moments in "Bright Lights, Big City".  Overall, I guess I understand the throwback Hall & Oates aesthetic but it just ain't my thang.  

If I missed something holla at me to let me know.  

Polaris p.2: Departing, Honeymoon Punch, Special Affections

Yo yo, we back.

We've got 39 albums to go so let's jump right into it.

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing
Lots has been said about the high and lonesome vocals of Nils Edenloff but my favourite part of this album might be the dance that goes on behind him.  The sometimes frantic always pulsing drums of Paul Banwatt against Amy's Cole's haunting girl-next-door piano create a big atmosphere for the three piece.  Usually when I listen to an album the whole way through there is a triad (or so) of songs that really stick out.  The jewel piece of the record. "Muscle Relaxants" "North Star" (below) and "Stamp" are the emerald in the crown of Departing.


THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE - Muscle Relaxants from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.


Honeymoon Punch - Jenn Grant
I've written about Jenn Grant before.  A couple times I think.  It's because I really think she's super. From the first lines of the record -"You look like a movie star from this angle..."- to the by-the-candlelight-on-the-back-porch lullaby turn barroom romp of "Stars to Waves" I just keep listening!



Special Affections - Diamond Rings
I first heard "All yr songs" a long time ago and I always mixed up Diamond Rings with One Hundred Dollars so I could never find it when I went to go look for it. When I finally pulled my head out of my touche and realized it was Diamond Rings it was just about time for John O'Regan's rise to indie stardom via this concept glam rock moniker.  Dylan has a line in "Mr. Tambourine Mane" that reads: "to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free" and to me that is how this album sounds.  This tune "All yr songs" is a beautifully crafted take on the love song.

Mixtape Does Polaris p.1

Hey y'all!
So now I've decided to return to the blogosphere I have thrown myself fully into social media whoredom.  That's right, I've got a tumblr, I've got a blog, and now I've got an android phone synced up to a beautiful twitter account.  Has this Canmore mountain air gotten to my head?

Anyone who has half a foot in the door of the Canadian music scene must know that the polaris music prize announced its longlist last week.  It's chalk full of amazing Canadian artists who are dedicated to the integrity of the album.  As part of our journey here at the Mixtape to open up discussions and introduce/remind you of our favourite music I'd like to weigh in to the polaris prize conversations.

Hooded Fang - Album
You know that (usually) douchy guy in the gym who claims his "muscles have muscles"?  Well, if the good folks in Hooded Fang claimed that their hooks had hooks I'm not sure they would be lying.  With a name borrowed from Mordecia Richler and a sound they categorize as "alt pop/holiday" this Toronto band caught my ears on the Grant Lawrence podcast.  This fantastic Album is a jumpy light pop masterpiece in my books.  My favourite tunes are "Ghosts" (for it's wicked guitar riff...take that Vampire Weekend! and its mid song snare build up) "Promised Land" (for its backing vocals).  Listen - that's an order.

That's all for today.  Going to a show @ Communitea here in Canmore.  Should be fun!  Before I leave though, check out this sometimes hilarious podcast