Belated Tuneage Tuesday - Embarassing Secret Revealed

Once again I’m posting another belated Tuneage Tuesday post HOWEVER I’m hoping that by revealing an embarrassing secret we’ll overlook the fact that it’s Thursday.

My Musical Guilty Pleasure? ---- is Demi Lovato.

As a soon to be 28 year old (next week), I find it more than slightly embarrassing that I think this little 18 year old rocks -- I also follow her on twitter *hangs head in shame* – but she totally does.  I’m not really into “popstars” to begin with but the part that makes it even more embarrassing is that she’s one of those Disney products (ex. Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers…) and while some of her earlier songs (when she was like 15) have pop-y ridiculous lyrics, there’s no question that this girl can actually sing.  She’s also the least promoted “tween” sensation however she’s the only one with actual talent (she also composes some of her own music). 

The reason I decided to post about Demi is because she released a new single on Tuesday called Skyscraper, which I’ve just heard today, and it’s just such a beautiful song.  Demi was admitted to rehab last year for a slew of issues after suffering an emotion breakdown on tour (she totally punched one of the backup dancers…which makes me like her more) and it has since been revealed that she suffers from bipolar disorder, eating disorders and had been cutting herself….there’s a reason I’m telling you this.  This song was recorded before her breakdown, while her voice was still raw from her eating disorder, and the producers have left her voice un-produced.   So when you listen to this keep in mind, nothing has been done to digitally enhance her voice.  Talent.

Anyways….I think I stop this post right here.  Enjoy skyscraper.

Tuneage Tuesday (The Wednesday Edition) - Coheed & Cambria

Okay so I just wrote a lengthy AMAZING post about Coheed and Cambria that wasn't saved....so let's try this again :(
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I'm awful at updating this thing.  I actually wanted to post about Coheed and Cambria sometime last week (I saw them last Wednesday for the 14th time) but stopped myself so I could write about them for my music post on Tuesday.  Then what do I go and do? Forget to write a post on Tuesday.

So Coheed and Cambria is a band (my favouritest band actually) from Nyack, New York.  They incorporate aspects of progressive rock, punk, metal and post-hardcore in their song writing.

All of their five albums are concept albums which reveal a science fiction storyline called the Amory Wars (a story that was written by lead singer Claudio Sanchez, which was later adapted into a comic book series).  Their fifth album, The Year of the Black Rainbow, is a prequel to the series.

Discography
The Second Stage Turbine Blade (2002) - My favourite album
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (2003)
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005)
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow (2007)
Year of the Black Rainbow (2010)


As mentioned I've seen them 14 times, so I was going to take a photo of my first Coheed concert stub (from 2002) but I think it's on my desk at work.  So instead, here are some videos:


Here We Are Juggernaut - Coheed and Cambria (Toronto, April 27, 2011) - This is from the concert I went to on Wednesday.  Claudio's old man glasses are fantastic.  I love this acoustic version of Here We Are Juggernaut better than the original.  Note: I didn't record this video.

Junesong Provision - Coheed and Cambria - I recorded (well, my boyfriend did.  I can't stand still at concerts to save my life) at a concert in Hamilton sometime last year.  This is my favourite Coheed song.

I think I could be content watching them every night.  I know that sounds a bit insane and like it would get boring after awhile but they're just so damned good live! I think I might follow them for a bit on their next tour.  For like four or five concerts.

Here are some more videos:

Pearl of the Stars - Coheed and Cambria (Toronto Apr 27, 2011) - I also really love this song.  Claudio's face when the mic starts working again is priceless.

Welcome Home - Coheed and Cambria - This is probably their most recognized song.

Okay, well I'm going to stop there.  This is not as great as the original post.  I don't know why it didn't update properly OR save my post in drafts.  Oh well.

There ain't no party like an Primeval party - Tuneage Tuesday (kind of)

I'm going to count this post as a Tuneage Tuesday post as it relates to S Club 7...remember that group? Well this post revolves around my favourite member, Jo O'(Racist McTeeth)Meara....just kidding, I mean Hannah Spearritt.  Now I'm not, nor was I ever, a huge S Club 7 fan but Hannah always seemed like the most normal to me AND she seems like a pretty cool chick now. Currently she stars on the show Primeval with finance Andrew Lee Potts (seriously, the cutest 'celebrity' couple ever, if you ever have a chance to watch them do an interview do it! so cute).

Primeval was cancelled in 2009 and then picked up again so I'm currently trying to catch up on season 3.  Primeval is a show about a team of scientists (and a zoologist) studying temporal anomalies that occur across England through which dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures enter present time (think Doctor Who meets dinosaurs).

Pictured below are Hannah and Andrew.

Update:

Here's a cute interview plus it's Jonathan Ross so bonus!

Tuneage Tuesday - Battles

In honour of the rude awakening I had to endure last week (was jarred awake by the song Tij by Battles) I'm going with Battles for my Tuneage Tuesday.  Tij is a great song, it's just not the most pleasant sound to wake up to.

Battles is an American experimental rock supergroup, founded in 2002 in NYC.  The band's current line-up comprises of guitarists Ian Williams (formerly of Don Caballero and Storm & Stress), Dave Konopka (formerly of Lynx) and drummer John Stanier (formerly of Helmet).

Discography
Mirrored - 2007 (Warp Records - yay Warp!)
They're second album is tentatively scheduled for early summer.


This is the song The Line which appears on the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack.  While I completely resent its affiliation with anything related to the Twilight franchise, the song itself is pretty awesome.  I've never seen Eclipse so I don't know how the song fits into the movie but I like it nonetheless.  I'm excited for their upcoming album release.

Tuneage Tuesday - Peaches

So I'm going to see Peaches Christ Superstar tonight (so excited!), which is Peaches' one woman performance of Jesus Christ Superstar.  I've read some really good reviews so I'm going in with high expectations PLUS we have front row seats.  With that in mind I've decided to go with Peaches for Tuneage Tuesday because, come on, who doesn't love Peaches? 

Peaches, who was born Merrill Beth Nisker, is a Canadian electronic/performance artist who is currently living in Berlin.  Her music has a strong focus on questioning the traditional gender norms through the use of sexually explicit lyrics.  Anyone who has seen Peaches live will know that she does this through her perforances as well.

The thing that interests me the most (and horrifies me a little) about Peaches is that before she got into the 'Music Biz' (yay Robots in Disguise) she was a music and drama teacher at the Associated Hebrew Day School.  Imagine having Peaches as your teacher!!

For anyone who hasn't heard Peaches (I'm sure we all have as her music has been featured in many movies/television shows) please go check her out.

Peaches Discography

Fancypants Hoodlum - 1995
The Teaches of Peaches - 2000
Fatherfucker - 2003
Impeach my Bush - 2006
I Feel Cream - 2009

Tuneage Tuesday - Miracle Fortress

I know its Wednesday but I prepared this entry yesterday and forgot to post it.  So keep in mind this was written yesterday:

So for today’s Tuneage Tuesday (I know I haven’t posted in awhile) I decided to go with Miracle Fortress.  I had a really difficult time falling asleep last night and around 3am, after much tossing and turning, I decided to put on my headphones and listen to some music.  I fell asleep listening to Miracle Fortress’s album Five Roses and I have to say it was the most restful three hour sleep I’ve had.  Obviously I’m a little tired today so I’ve decided to mellow out and listen to Miracle Fortress at work (with some Malajube thrown in here and there. I guess it’s my ‘Double M’ day. Both bands start with ‘M’ and are based in Montreal.)

Miracle Fortress is a Canadian indie rock band based in Montreal.  Five Roses, which was released in 2007 is their debut album, although they released a 5 song EP called Watery Grave in 2005.  Anyone who attended films during the Toronto International Film Festival will have heard their song Hold Your Secrets to Your Heart as it was played during the Volunteer Appreciation clip at the beginning of each film.  I attended 10 films (7 premieres) and heard the song at the beginning of each movie.

Miracle Fortress, Five Roses, 2007

Tuneage Tuesday - Gorillaz

I attended the Gorillaz concert last Thursday, October 14th, at the Air Canada Centre and it was one of the best concerts I've been to.  I had fantastic seats (centre floor, 7th row) and there was just so much to look at - great production value, it was evident a lot of work went into the tour.

As for the musicians themselves, all 37 of them, they really gave it their all; so much energy throughout the evening.  And as talented as they all were,  I was too distracted by the fact that I was watching Mick Jones and Paul Simonon (from the Clash) play live!  A definite highlight.

Damon Albarn is totally charismatic and an absolute rock star!  He was also much more smiley than I expected, it was endearing.  He was also extremely polite and appreciative of the audience, he seems like a genuinely nice guy.  I walked out of the venue with a giant crush.  The fact that I got to hold his hand during Clint Eastwood and that he sang/smiled/pointed at me several times during Last Living Souls (I was blushing furiously) didn't help curb my new found fascination with Mr. Albarn.

Sigh....

Okay, enough about the concert.  Although I like Plastic Beach, the concert (oops, brought it up again) made me appreciate it more.  I am completely obsessed with the song Rhinestone Eyes right now.  Check it out if you haven't already.  Other favourites are: Empire Ants, White Flag and Glitter Freeze.

Here's a video I took during the concert of 19-2000.  It's the least shaky video I took, although it's still quite shaky.  It was really hard for me to stand still.

Here's an iphone pic I took -