I’ve long considered Fraggle Rock to be the least of Jim Henson’s achievements (most likely because it has a “Canadian” feel to it, since it was made in Toronto), even though I watched it with regular fanaticism as a child. What I didn’t see then that I do now is its a little Muppet show about a commune of bohemian gnomes, and it’s many allusions to pot culture (whether real or imagined) put it onto some far-out other level. The episode we watched yesterday was about a “magic pipe” which brings forth the song inside of you. Trippy.
Aden asked if Wembley, in his flowery button down Hawaiian inspired shirt, was their stoner surfer friend. Of course, and if the characters were portrayed by real people, he’d be played by Steve Zahn.
I had forgotten about Uncle “Traveling” Matt, Gobo’s uncle who ventured out into the people’s world (”Outer Space”) on a grand exploration, regularly sending postcards back (received by the Storyteller and Sprocket, read aloud with puzzling confusion, while the scene flashes back to visualize Matt’s brief tale).
Apparently there’s a Fraggle Rock movie in production slated for 2011 release, with Ahmet Zappa taking a crack at the script and music, also executive producing. Keen.
Artist: Q-Tip/A Tribe Called Quest Albums owned: Tribe - Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990); The Low End Theory (1991); Revised Quest for the Seasoned Traveler (1992); Midnight Marauders (1993); Beats, Rhymes and Life (1996); The Love Movement (1998)
Q-Tip - Amplified Eps owned: sadly, none Album(s) missing: Tribe - Hits, Rarities & Remixes (2003); The Lost Tribes (2006)
Q-Tip - The Renaissance (2008)
Status: Q-Tip’s “lost album”, Kamaal/The Abstract, originally slated for 2002 release, then scrapped by the record co., will finally be released by Battery Records on September 15, 2009
A sixth Tribe record was discussed around 2006-2007 when the group reunited for touring but nothing since has been mentioned.
Personal history: Tribe was always my second hip-hop love to De La Soul, but upon relistening to the albums (see anew #134-140) the once-perennial seed has once again blossomed. I’d been anxiously awaiting Q-Tip’s second album for years, then kind of gave up hope, and completely missed it when it came out last year. It’s on the list of things to be corrected. I also forgot that I had the opportunity to see Tribe about a year and a half ago in Toronto, and didn’t take it. Dang.
Artist: Godspeed, You Black Emperor Albums owned: Yanqui U.X.O. Eps owned: none Album(s) missing: lift yr. skinny fists like antennas to heaven! (2000); slow riot for new zero kanada (1999); f# a# oo (1998) Status: on hiatus
Personal history: GAK introduced me to GSYBE on a mixedtape back in 1999 I believe, or perhaps it was a mixed cd in 2000. Either way, i was fascinated and a live show at a remodeled and restored Palais Royale way way back still resonates in my mind, as does their powerful contribution to the opening moments of 28 Days Later (remember when Danny Boyle was cool, not famous…? bah). GSYBE, I miss you.
Artist: Parkas Albums owned: Now This Is Fighting (2003), Put Your Head In The Lion’s Mouth (2007) Eps owned:A Life of Crime (2006) Album(s) missing: none Status: Currently recording their third album with Dale Morningstar… and then…?
Personal history: Even though I’ve known drummer Greg Rhyno, and bassist/vocalist Mark Rhyno since high school, do I put them on the list because I know them? Hell no. The Parkas are an amazing band, full stop. Having emerged from a tumultuous career path (see the near-brilliant “Life of Crime” DVD) stronger than ever a few years back, they make fun, exciting rock and-or roll, with clever and catchy lyrics and deliver one of the best working man live shows around. New material is most definitely welcome, and anticipated.
Artist: Golden Dogs Albums owned: Everything In Three Parts (2004); Big Eye, Little Eye (2006) Eps owned: none Album(s) missing: none Status: Currently recording
Personal history: Even though married leads Dave Azzolini and Jessica Grassia are originally from Thunder Bay, I didn’t actually come across the Golden Dogs until 2006, and even that was by happenstance (of which I can’t remember). Impetuously infectious and a killer energetic live show, with a wildly varied and grandiose sound, they could be from Duluth or Bruges and I’d still be just as enthusiastic. I also have a yellow t-shirt with the “target” emblem from their last album which I just love love lurve. Their video for “Never Meant Any Harm” still ranks as one of my favourite all-time videos:
Artist: Matt Murphy Albums owned: The Super Friendz - Mock Up, Scale Down (1995); Slide Show (1996); Love Energy (2003)
The Flashing Lights - Where the Change Is (1999); Sweet Release (2001)
Guy Terrifico - The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico (2005) Eps owned: The Flashing Lights - Elevature EP (2000)
City Field - Authentic City ep (2004) Album(s) missing: none Status: Supposedly recording a new Super Friendz album…
Personal history: I was introduced to Matt Murphy and his Super Friendz by the aforementioned Parkas, Greg and Mark Rhyno, way back in 2005, when their pre-Parkas endeavour, Phasers on Stun, opened for the Halifax based band at a tiny little place with a foot-high stage and low ceilings whose name escapes me (I saw Hayden there too). Chris Murphy of Sloan was filling in on drums for their tour, I recall, and I remember him saying that Mark had the best hair in Rock and Roll. Anywho, I bought Mock Up, Scale Down then and there, and it’s been probably my favorite Canadian rock album ever since. Their track “Karate Man” was at one time adapted into chapter 3 of my novel Quarter City but was later excised.
Their second album, Slide Show wasn’t well received, which I couldn’t ever figure out, since I’ve enjoyed it immensely from the get go. It’s not as poppy as their debut, but it does show growth and maturity. I knew the Super Friendz had sadly disbanded but I was over the moon to discover the Flashing Lights in 2000, and to see them live a bunch of times in 2001. The track “Do It To Yourself” on Sweet Release is one of my all-time favourite songs. It was bittersweet to hear that the Flashing Lights disbanded so that the Super Friendz could reunite, creating Love Energy, followed by Matt Murphy’s unexpected performance as the titular legendary 70’s country music sensation in the mocumentary film The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico. The album which resulted from the film was incredible, and the celebratory live/farewell show for the DVD release was a great time, full of nudie suits and pedal steel guitars. Taking a back-seat in his girlfriend’s band, the B-52’s inspired City Field, Murphy’s contribution is still quite tangible. He’s been rather absent since Guy Terrifico disappeared, but whatever he does next, I’m there. The man can cross genres and styles with ease, and is a damn fine entertainer.
Artist: Rod Slaughter/Novillero Albums owned: Duotang - Smash the Ships and Raise the Beams (1996); The Cons & The Pros (1998); The Bright Side (2001)
Novillero - The Brindleford Follies (2002); Aim Right for the Holes in Their Lives (2005) Eps owned: n/a Album(s) missing: Novillero - A Little Tradition (2008) Status: Active, just coming off touring.
Personal history: I don’t actually recall how I came across Duotang. Was it a live show in Thunder Bay? Late-night CBC Radio of Brave New Waves? MuchMusic back when they actually played music videos? Honestly don’t recall. But I remember making a choice between two a bass ‘n’ drums duos, them and The Inbreds. While I like both, I threw my hat in with the Winnepeg-based band and followed them for years, across three albums and at least four live shows. Duotang’s frontman, the brilliantly named Rod Slaughter, had dabbled with the Winnepeg mega-band Novillero between albums back in 1999, but it seemed to be a bit of a passing phase, only when Duotang split up, he threw himself right back into it, and while the first album was decent, the sophomore release was incredible. They’ve been active ever since, achieving some modest success. I missed out on their 2008 release, which will have to be corrected.
Artist: Interpol Albums owned: Our Love to Admire (2007) Eps owned: none Album(s) missing: Turn on the Bright Lights (2002); Antics (2004) Status: Working on a 4th album, expected in 2010.
Personal history: GAK introduced me to Interpol back in 2000/2001 on a mixed cd, and lent me an early EP, and I didn’t really get it. They didn’t strike me as interesting and I found their sound rather monotonous. Somehow, though, they found their way onto my iPod (probably when I had GAK’s entire CD collection for about 2 years) and one day, with Paul Bank’s dulcet tones ringing in my ear, I became enraptured. There’s a rock-steady consistency to Interpol’s sound which, the more their catalog builds, the more comforting it becomes, and the more they become the heirs to post-punk royal crown. I find their sound to have great momentum, perfect driving music (more daytime than nighttime though).
Personal history: Ratatat makes stadium rock for your headphones. It was the video for “Cherry” that drew me in and while I don’t have much in the way of personal attachment, it’s really just that their instrumental merger of hip hop, guitar rock, and laptop electronica just pleases me. Their two volumes of Remixes, made available for free on their website at one time or another, (likely making rounds on the torrent sites), made some very mediocre rap palatable.
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33 bands (in no particular order):
1. The National
2. Modest Mouse
3. De La Soul
4. TV on the Radio
5. The Futureheads
6. !!!
7. Menomena
8. Danger Mouse
9. Damon Albarn
10. Q-Tip/A Tribe Called Quest
11. Godspeed, You Black Emperor
12. Parkas
13. The Golden Dogs
14. Matt Murphy
15. Rod Slaughter/Novillero
16. Interpol
17. Ratatat
The end of the Hero Squared saga, and it has a happy ending, which was sweet to see. This was an amazing series about tragic romance told through a superhero pastiche. Funny and touching with the occasional fight sequence, the characters of Hero Squared had their greatest battle in the second issue of this closing mini-series in front of a relationship therapist. The climax found Captain Valor and a couple dozen alternate reality versions of himself squaring off against a world-ending Caliginous, but it was really all about Miles and Stephie, and their emotional turmoil. I’m making it sound all emo but it really was a fantastic book, and it’s nice to see some closure.
Something I didn’t just learn, but thought I’d share anyway…
When replacing your blown-out your tire tube, always check the inside of your tire to see if the offending object (nail/glass/whatever) is still there. The first time I changed a tube I got about two blocks before it blew right out again, because the glass that punctured the previous tube hadn’t been removed.
Ever since, in the occasional instance I’ve had to change out a blown tube, I’ve been paranoid that I haven’t cleaned out the tire tread and that it’s just going to blow again. I try not to let it distract me.
Friday was thankfully a lovely day to wander around with my flatted-tired bike in search of a bike shop. Thanks to “Set Me Free” on College for the assist.
Went back to the Thai place at Jane/Bloor (see “ate #103″) but I once again forgot to take note of the restaurant’s name. D’oh. Anyway, I’ve been to a fair share of Thai places over the past 8 years, and to be honest, this may be the best I’ve been to. It’s unfortunately not been that full in the two times I’ve been there, but I hope business picks up and keeps them around because, well, yum. The Green curry chicken had a hint of heat but was otherwise savory, and the pumpkin soup that came before the main (plus a spring roll for the $7.95 lunch special) was sweet but not offensively so.