I *heart* Hawksley!

Song: Hawksley Workman - Dirty and True

This post is dedicated to my man and husband to be Steve!!! Thanks to this man for introducing me to the lovely Canadian's music. I've always thought of Steve whenever I hear Hawksley. Hawksley is one of those rediculously talented brilliant guys who is so amazing he's just nutty. I cant wait to see him live in March!! So this is for my boy and everyone else who should hear ths guy. Recently Added: Check out his book "Hawksley Burns for Isadora"

Golden Delicious

Song: Fiona Apple - Never is a Promise

Here is the depressingly beautiful and incredibly talented Fionna Apple on KCRW playing a song off her '96 album "Tidal". I love it when its just her and her piano. There is such a lovely simplicity to her music, all it needs is her expressive voice to give her songs all the necessary flavour. I encourage everyone to check out her new album Extraordinary Machine, be it the older bootleg version or the recently released one.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Song: Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #4

A little combo KCRW action/Canadian love. This one here is by The Arcade Fire out of Vancouver and the studio version is off their album Funeral. It took me a second to warm up to these guys, but despite that I was immediatly struck by their full and very unique sound. And I don't mean unique like oh its very "unique" and "nice", but that they are totally and immediatly identifiable by their writing, intrumentation and mixing. David Bowie is appareantly a fan too....

King of the Sad Bastard Song!

Song: Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan - La Fille Danse

Here is another KCRW tidbit, this time featuring the lovely Damien Rice and his even more lovely vocal accompanyist, Lisa Hannigan. I dont know anything about how this track came to be, but I first heard him do it on his B-Sides album in combination with the song "The Professor". I prefer the live version, as you get to hear Lisa Hannigan's absolutely fantastic voice and their harmonies are so beautiful. I would love to be able to sing like her!!!

And for the record Damien Rice is the crowned king of the sad bastard song. His album "O" - Jebus!

Is Tom Waits

Song: Tom Waits - Fall of Troy

Here's a little diddy by the great "Tom Weezy" as Peter would say.

This is from the KCRW Rare on Air disc. KCRW is a station out of Santa Monica that sometimes brings artists into their studios and has them play some good live shit and here is a song that they put on a disc with a bunch of other peeps. I'm going to make my next couple of posts KCRW tidbits that I've managed to track down.

I figured I'd start with Tom Waits since he is God. The End.

Not Tom Waits

Song: Kevin Quain - Thief of Dances

This dude is from Toronto. He plays every Sunday night at the Cameron House on Queen West, and puts on an awesome show. The interesting thing about him is that he is very Tom Waits - I mean very - but gets pissy if you tell him that. Maybe he should stop playing accordion, musical saw and the piano drunk in a vest and bowler hat drinking Wild Turkey. But besides his princess attitude, he's quite nice sometimes and has some great songs. Anybody that's in the Tdot on a Sunday should check him and his band out. Warning: The bartender, Paul, is kinda scarry and mean. Just make sure you buy something and tip decently and he'll leave you alone.

Birdy

Song: Fake Palindromes - Andrew Bird

Here is a song off his newest album "Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs" which is incredible. The artwork is especially beaitful. I love this song for its classical weirdness and hot lyrics. This song is sexy as shit. I was bummed I missed him when he was in Toronto a few weeks ago, but when he come back I hope he plays this tune o' mine.