Interesting Noises

When you've just released your fourth album, your fourth EP and your drummer has left for the second time, you should probably take it easy for a while. Not BRMC. They saw it as a perfect time to release an instrumental noise rock album.



The Effects of 333 is just that. Apparently having been in the works for years, written whilst they were touring for the past few years what better time to release it than now. And when I say release it, I of course mean they released it themselves without their record label. What's cooler than that? I don't think anyone really noticed it's release. And it's all for the wonderful price of €6. Now if only they had released it on vinyl (or even tape), then it'd be one of the indiest albums of all time. Also, isn't that one of the coolest covers you've ever seen?

"That" Time of Year

It's unavoidable.. the time of year where people jump on the biggest band wagon in the long and complicated history of band wagoning. That is of course Religion.
Not that I have any particular beef* with religion, but it has a tendency of standing for almost everything that I disagree with. To me it's more than a bit suspicious that as soon as i let slip that i think gay folk should be allowed to marry or that perhaps i kinda feel like murdering someone, that suddenly a religious institution draws up a law against it.
Now i have to wait until some women commits adultery before i can stone her to death. How can they possibly expect me to live under their unbending rules!

So this time of year I take a stand. I will not be one of those "part-time" atheists who give up their hatred for all things holy for a bit of turkey or perhaps a funny lookin' candle. i would find a legitimate way to remain anti-religion but of course still get turkey/candle without looking like a hypocrite. For those of you looking to do the same here are your options.



1) Unitarianism
So ever get a bit confused when you find out that Jesus is the son of god and in fact god himself? kinda makes you wonder... perhaps the relatively obvious question "who rose Jesus from the dead and subsequently to heaven if he in fact is god, and he had died" or ever find yourself thinking, "that old testament stuff is pretty crazy, can't we just pretend it doesn't exist?" if so then you should try Unitarianism! They ditched the old testament as well as for all intents and purposes, demoting Jesus to super hero, because (like i learned from highlander) there can be only one god.


2) Humanism
If for some reason you didn't read enough comics or bibles as a kid and have problems believing in super powers then this might be your cup of tea. the good points include having the same moral guidance that moderate Christians think they have, but without having to apologise to anyone when you fuck up. Bad points include a necessary grasp of correct punctuation, turns out that being "humanist" and being a "Humanist" are different things, so you may find yourself looking up which one you are when a census form comes around (as if the person reading it is going to make the distinction).



3) Apathiesm
This is kinda like the waster teenage son of Atheism. These are the people who have better things to do than wonder about god. the good points are that you have become Mormon Kryptonite! Not only have you not found Jesus but if he was dancing on your face, the power of your sheer apathy could kill him... again. bad points are that everyone hates you. If Theists and Atheists would join together for one reason it would be to get you to stop playing World of Warcraft for one bloody minute and either embrace or debunk god.

So what ever way you decided to scam your way to getting gifts for an imaginary persons birthday. Make sure you don't loose your integrity because being Indie and Religous ensures you miss out on being condensending to people not just about what they like to listen to but also what they beleive.

*just to let you know i was going to try and make a joke at that point about either meat on a Friday for Catholics or perhaps something to do with pork for Jews... but it wasn't funny enough, points for effort?.

Indie Laughs

Yes, somewhere out there, there are indie people laughing for one of two reasons. Either they're listening to popular music, or their watching the latest indie comedy troupe. Here's a couple you may or may not have come across in your travels.

The Mighty Boosh



A surreal journey through the minds of two clearly insane lunatics... and it's absolutely brilliant. These are one of the indiest acts around. Having done a radio show, a late night cable TV show and now a live act they've managed to garner themselves an audience now. I was a huge fan of the TV show, and even went to seem them live (and I'll be going again soon), I suggest you all see them if you can. It'll be the strangest few hours of your life. And even if they're not the indiest act around, they're still made indie awesome.

Picnicface



Youtube's indie answer to Smosh or Fred. They've a few more popular videos like Powerthirst. These lovely Canadian guys and gals have been going around for a while and thankfully (unlike a few other people on Youtube) do actually have a life and some talent outside of the internet as can be seen by their stage shows and performances and comedy festivals and the likes. Keep and eye on these folks, they might just be coming to your town. And when they do, bring your friends and you'll look like they indiest comedy lover in town, which we can all agree is a good thing...

Today's pictures are from Ella Mullins (The boosh) and some mysterious (and therefore presumably indie) fellow named Bradleclerc (Picnicface).

First Lines of Indie

The first few seconds of any song is usually all you need before uttering "this is shit" or perhaps "this has the potential to not to be shit" what can be make or brake it the first line of the song, and here is a selection of some great opening lines from some indie music

Bonnie "Prince Billy" and Tortoise: Pancho
Pancho.. don't you like me no more?..


Hawksely Workman: Little Tragedies
You bought a gun, cos you though i wouldn't listen..


Shins: One By One All Day
"Howdy, lem," my grandpa said with his eyes closed..


The Postal Service: We Will Become Silhouettes
I've got a cupboard with cans of food, filtered water and pictures of you, and i'm not coming out until this is all over..



Malcolm Middleton: Autumn
Ah, Autumn, You fucking cunt

A little further north

Last time I forayed into Last.fm's radio is was American Indie, this time it's Canadian Indie.

Stars - The Woods



Toronto indie pop. A good start. Though the song is a little mellow for my taste and a little weird in placed. It's a good example of Stars as songwriters though. Definitely would make then warrant more research.

Ron Sexsmith - How on Earth

Another catchy Toronto artist. Feels like one of those future Sun Kil Moon's of the world, though he's not there yet. Nice poppy (but not too poppy), with all the jangly guitars and piano's one would ever need. Lyrics are pretty decent too. Might have to get this album (Retriever).

Mother Mother - Train Of Thoughts

Vancouver this time. Different, interesting, cool. The guitar playing is amazing, the harmonies, pretty awesome. Check 'em out. I can't describe it in words.

The Weakerthans - Plea From a Cat Named Virtue

Nothing too special here. No offence to any Weakerthan fans out there, but it sounds a lot more commecial than what I prefer to listen to (though my last.fm profile might say otherwise). All that being said, it's a decent enough song. Last.fm describes them as folk influenced punk. I'd say more post-punk influcenced rock, but that's just semantics I suppose.

Sam Roberts - Don't Walk Away Eileen



Feels like something from 1970's (in the good way). Even a little Rolling Stones influcence can be heard. It's got a little bit of folk, some blues, punk even that weird sound of Brit Pop in the mid-90's. This I like, and so might you.

Not bad for a 15 minute foray into Canada... Not bad at all.

Today's snaps: Stars by AJ and Sam Roberts by Martin Cathae. Both awesome indie photographers.

Indie Movie Reviewed: Waltz With Bashir

An animated anti-war documentary... don't think i've ever said that before. Can you really show the truth and ruthlessness of war through animation? wouldn't the animation just remove the idea of war even further from reality?
It was quite a brave movie to make. but it worked. After the movie i thought hard about why it had worked so well.. war seemed more truthfully nightmarish in this realistic animation then it ever has in filmed live action documentaries.



As the film maker searches for his hidden memoires of war, i thought animation is certainly the closest anyone could come to seeing into his thoughts. I imagine that any memories of war would have to be be painted with a pallet far removed from reality, how else could anyone cope with them?