PopCast #50 - 2008 is Broken (for Henry)

Episode 50! A special extended 2008 year in review episode!

PopCast #50 - 2008 is Broken (for Henry)

Actually, I know that I've done way more than 50 of these things since I started this podcast back in 2005. Chalk it up to way too many "Side A"s and "Part 2s". It being a special end of year wrap-up, and twice as long as your standard episode, there was no way I was going to call it "Episode 47" or something lame like that. So here you have it, ten songs from ten great albums that came out this year, plus some extra nuggets.

Dedicated to Henry Benjamin Rose, born October 30th, 2008!

PopCast the Next Generation - Burn the Tapes (Episode 46?)

The PopCast returns. Maybe? Either way it's October 1st, 2008, and this is a PopCast episode, in the old style of previewing bands playing the Pop Montreal festival, which is underway today.

PopCast the Next Generation / Episode 46 - Burn the Tapes

In this episode!

Valleys, My People Sleeping, Hi Lonely Oak, Adam & the Amethysts, and more....

PopCast #45B Part 2 [We're Not Here, aka the Matt Shane episode]

It's finally here, I can finally get Jack Dylan off my case and say a proper goodbye to 2007...in March. I'll spare you the details of how it came to be that we've not gone live with this until now, but this episode was finished in January, and caps off the Top Ten International Albums countdown we began on Episode 45B Part 1.

PopCast #45B - Part 2 [We're Not Here]

Lots of Jack Dylan rambling, some amazing songs, and attitude advice.

As always, it's anybody's guess as to what happens from here, but I'm sure Jack will be on my case when he returns from Japan...

Enjoy.

PopCast #45C [I Want You to Know - 2007 Covers, Reissues, Soundtracks, and Oversights]

The glowing blind spot of 2007, featuring everything not packed into the more conventional countdowns and wrap-ups of the year gone by (ie. episode 45, Sides A and B ...). In this episode I take advantage of Jack Dylan's overseas incompetence (ie. Part 2 of Side B is coming soon) to deliver a kind of outtakes intermission ... touching on some late discoveries / oversights from 2007, some reissues, some covers, and some soundtrack samplings. Maybe my favourite of the 2007-in-review-bunch. Anyway, by some calendars, we're only a couple of days into the new year. We'll dedicate this one to Heath Ledger; may it carry him through the afterlife.

PopCast #45C [I Want You to Know - 2007 Covers, Reissues, Soundtracks, and Oversights]

Featuring: Ólöf Arnalds, Sandro Perri, Elfin Saddle, Wilco, Nelson Angelo e Joyce, Stephen Malkmus, Peter Sarstedt, Jonny Greenwood, Sunset Rubdown, Andrew Bird, CSS.

PopCast #45B Part 1 [the mass we left behind]

One of the things I love about doing the PopCast is being able to highlight songs, albums, and artists of recent memory, but without the sometimes over-anxious pace of breaking news, leaks, debuts, and scoops. Now, you could say that's a convenient excuse for laziness or journalistic resignation, or say, finally putting the finishing touches on a 2007 wrap-up in February, and you might be right. But at least by the time anyone hears this (does anyone still listen to these? Matt Shane doesn't think so...), they will have long since stopped caring about who made what top ten. And rightly so.

Yes, this is Side B of Episode 45 [the mass we left behind].

Where Side A was "Canadian/Montreal" 2007 countdown of sorts, Side B hits up all those other great records from the year gone by, the one we've left behind.

We've even split this into two further parts, partly to confuse things, and partly because Jack Dylan (who now fancies himself a full fledged co-host) thought it would be appropriate given the length of the episode. While I don't know if I should pass over "production" duties to him (Part 2 will surface as soon as I undo the damage he's done to it), he might be right in this regard. Jack likes to talk. I don't know if all this talking is a good thing or a bad thing, but these songs are pretty great. And I do like the little doodles he's been making lately.

Rumours of an additional pod-pop-show are bubbling as young prospects appear to be eyeing for ice-time all over. If the Habs have taught us anything this year, it's that every organization needs a good crop of up and coming talent to carry and develop the load. So bring it, kids!

Jack is off to Japan for a couple months, where he'll be filing field reports...and the PopCast, whatever it is, continues to rattle along.

Enjoy!

PopCast #45 (Side A): Emotional Rescue (Canada 07)

PopCast #45 (Side A): Emotional Rescue (Canada 07)

The PopCast commences it's end of year wrap up with a look at the best Canadian albums of the year, and welcomes Jack Dylan as official co-host alongside Andrew Rose....leave your cats at home; this one gets heavy.

PopCast #44: Entire Sun Cycles (with Taxes)

PopCast #44: Entire Sun Cycles (and Taxes)(mp4)
(mp3)

SUNSET RUBDOWN, ENTIRE CITIES, THINK ABOUT LIFE (NEW GVP REMIX!), FRED WESLEY (WTIH MORT SAHL!)

The home-stretch does the full round for Saturday night, with Jack Dylan's Griffintown Spider-working-Man our hero. If the sun isn't up by the time you get home, ya blew it.

PopCast #43: Wonder Women and Glowing Orbs

PopCast #43: Wonder Women and Glowing Orbs

A Pop Montreal preview for FRIDAY OCTOBER 5th. Featuring a guest appearance by Said the Gramophone's Sean Michaels, and more Jack Dylan...

PLANTS AND ANIMALS, BUCK 65, YEASAYER, BOCCE, PATTI SMITH

The weekend craziness kicks in. Hold onto your pants. Or don't!

PopCast #42: Big Men on Campus in Leather

PopCast #42: Big Men on Campus in Leather (with more Jack Dylan!)

MAN MAN, MAGIC WEAPON, THE LUYAS, THESE HANDS, MARK BERUBE, CODY CHESTNUTT, MAN MAN.

Whoah, been a while since episodes appeared back to back one day to the next. Setting a difficult precendent here, but there are just too many good shows happening every night. Episode 42 is dedicated to Thursday October 4th! With a brief cameo by festival director, Dan mother-fuckin'-Seligman. Come on, people!

PopCast #41: Heroes & Blasphemies (with Jack Dylan!)

Pop Montreal 2007 is underway, with episode 41 highlighting some artists performing Wednesday, October 3rd:

PopCast #41: Heroes & Blasphemies (with Jack Dylan!)

CARIBOU, TORNGAT, OLA PODRIDA, THUNDERHEIST, FUCKED UP, MIRACLE FORTRESS

Co-hosted by Andrew Rose and famous-artist, Jack Dylan...who will be giving a run-down of the third installment his (in?)famous superheroes poster series and appearing on episodes throughout the festival. If all goes well have one of these episodes for everyday of the festival to help you make your excruciating decisions. But no get the impression that this is even scratching the surface...plough through that program, or abandon it entirely and go wandering. The best adventures are accidents that feel like magic because you went at them with an open heart. And open Pop 2007 she is!

PopCast #40: The Sexennial!

The PopCast is back just in time for the sixth edition of Pop Montreal.

In this episode: Patrick Wolf, Radio Radio, Basia Bulat, Hot Panda, Beasts & Superbeasts, Devendra Banhart.


PopCast #40: The Sexennial

PopCast #36: Turduckens! (SXSW 2007)

In this episode: Miracle Fortress, Frog Eyes, Andrew Bird, Dan Deacon, Ponytail, Amon Tobin, and an old-school legend.

PopCast #36: Turduckens! (SXSW 2007)

Spring, spring, spring; bring it on. Had a brief little taste of downright summer in Austin, Texas during SXSW last week, from which I'm now only recovering. So here's a dose of some of the best stuff I caught while in Texas.

PopCast goes Volume 3 (Episode #35: Lovers Pinned to the Sky in World Devastation)

PopCast #35: Lovers Pinned to the Sky in World Devastation (m4a) .....

In this episode: Volume 3! X Y Lover->Forest City Lovers, Handsome Furs, Zoobombs->the Besnard Lakes

There's something warm and comforting in being blanketed by 40 centimetres of snow in a day, in early March, knowing that it's just a temporary skin that will be shed, before the thaw and the invetibale spring. So much musical activity bubbling that it was time Vol. 3 of the PopCast kicked into gear to address this weekend's bounty, and get the ball rolling again. Much to be done before Pop Montreal 2007, it starts now, as always.

---

Get the mp3 at popmontreal.com.

PopCast #31.5: The Same Castle (taken as 2006 pt 2)

PopCast# 31: The Same Castle:

Vetiver, TV on the Radio, Man Man, Kelley Stoltz, Final Fantasy, Joanna Newsom, Sunset Rubdown.

Wherein Fate has a way of setting history abalze, learns how to speak a defeated language, and the sun comes through and concerns itself with the invisible, appears to be sandcastle that the gibbering waves take, and buries it's head in the side of the world was the day is done.

PopCast #33: Anthems and Interventions (m4a)

In this episode: Welcome to 2007 (w/ Simon Angell), Thunderheist, Think About Life, brown frequencies, Arcade Fire, Johnny and the Moon, Plants and Animals.

PopCast #33: Anthems & Interventions - m4a

Oh, the year turned on me sooner than I had expected. That New Year's Eve party episode ended up being the PopCast's sign-off to 2006, but fear not, fear not, the wrap-up will be completed, if in a slightly less conventional (read: exciting) manner. So here's the first PopCast of 2007, part preview, part wrap-up, all local take-no-prisoners awesomeness. There are some great shows happening this weekend previewed herein, so don't miss 'em.

PopCast #32: 2006 Wrap-Up Part 1 - Get Up! (LOVE) m4a

PopCast #32: 2006 Wrap-Up Part 1 - Get Up! (LOVE)

2006 comes roaring to a sudden hault, and with it another end-of-year three-part PopCast (LOVE POWER PEACE). As with the 2005 episodes, part 1 here focuses on the more dance-friendly of numbers. A soundtrack for your own little personal New Year's Eve party. There was no one in music more dance-friendly than the James Brown, so this episode goes out to him, no doubt telling everyone in the afterlife to Get Up!

So in this episode: The Godfather of Soul, Ghostface Killah (is back), Fujiya & Miyagi, Peter Bjorn & John, Hot Chip, The Whitest Boy Alive, Junior Boys, The Knife, Tiga/DFA, ...the hardest working man in show business...

I'll no doubt be borrowing from this tonight at the Green Room, where I'll be playing a midnight->2 set for an intimate New Year's celebration. Cover is a meager $5. No frills, no pressure; just lovely people, and lots of drinking and dancing.

Stay tuned for 33 and 34, showcasing local breakouts and the best of this year's moodier offerings, respectively.

Happy New Year!

PopCast #31: Town Finishes Painting / These Are the Soul (post-Pop pt.4) m4a version

Episode 31 of the PopCast would have been here yesterday, but the planet decided to smack my block with a layer of dripping ice, like God frosting a cake. But all the more fitting it arrives on a Sunday, the last of the PopMontreal 06 wrap-up episodes, 40 minutes of stuff recorded during the festival itself (save the home-made prologue, and salute to the season).

PopCast #31: Town Finishes Painting/These Are the Soul (post-Pop pt. 4) (m4a )

Appearing in this episode: Patrick Watson, Jesse Jackson, Gary Lucas, Jace Lasek, Joe Grass, Mishka Stein, Robbie Kuster, Simon Angell, 'I'm Peter Tosh' and other random guy outside the Casa del Popolo, and friends and statesmen. Montreal Oct 6th-7th, 2006.

If you like this episode, you'll want to come to Pop's holiday season shows on the 15th and 16th at the Ukranian Federation. Patrick Watson and Plants & Animals play December 15th, and a growing group of local artists will be doing a 'Save Frosty the Snowman' benefit on the 16th. More will follow about the latter, it's shaping up to be quite a lineup.

This is assuming the neighbourhood doesn't get frosted itself, again. I don't know who all these people are who think symbolically renaming streets (or provinces) is a good use of time, but I'm glad this Dion guy's central message seems to revolve around the words 'environment' and 'sustainable'. Whatever they mean.

Now that the four-part post-festival episodes are done, we'll be moving swiftly back into festival application/upcoming shows content for the Podcast. I'll also being doing some kind of year-end wrap up much like last year. The podcast is starting to tale a bit more shape seasonally (and content wise), and in the coming week the whole back catalog of episodes will be archived here and available on iTunes. So get in your applications and mp3s, and send us your show listings. We're also looking for a couple unique contributors for the website, now that the next season is underway, so get in touch if you have ideas for the future. Or the past...

PopCast #30: Three Meteors (post-Pop pt. 3) m4a

In this episode: Joanna Newsom & Sunset Rubdown.
Part three of the post-Pop episodes.

PopCast #30: Three Meteors (post-Pop pt. 3) - m4a version

A couple epics for Episode 30. Two of this year's big highlights from Pop Montreal are featured, including Joanna Newsom, whose Ys is out today.

PopCast #29: LilDishPipWasher Pieta for the Apocalypse (post-Pop pt. 2) - m4a version

In this episode: Moments from Pop Montreal 2006. Jack Dylan's "Anti-Depressants for the Coming Apocalypse" exhibit featuring Dishwasher, the PopCast showcase featuring Lil 'Pip.

Both of these acts were supposed to be at the 'Cove tonight (see Wednesday's PopPicks ) though last I heard there was possibility of a Dishwasher cancellation. Jack Dylan is also taking his show to Toronto next week, though minus the (now purchased) Pieta.

Regardless, here's a mini episode with just a tiny offering of all the month-old tales still waiting to be told. Episode 30 should arrive by Monday, too.

PopCast #29: LilDishPipWasher Pieta for the Apocalypse (post-Pop pt. 2) - m4a

PopCast #28: Anything Can Happen When You're Walking Down the Street (post-Pop pt.1, m4a version)

Well here we are again. It's only been a week since Pop Montreal wrapped-up in terms of the actual physical geographical event, but the seeds it planted have only just begun to sprout. If haven't already done so, make sure you investigate some of the great coverage of the festival that was done this year. Prefix Mag, Chromewaves, Zoilus and Midnight Poutine all have great coverage. Even David Byrne has a few things to say about his trip up...

PopCast #28: Anything Can Happen When You're Walking Down the Street (post-Pop pt. 1) (m4a version)

What I'll be doing starting with this episode is a series of enhances podcasts meant to captures bits and pieces of the festival as I experienced it. There was no better place to start than with Jesse Jackson and Ramblin' Jack Elliott. I ran into Jesse on the steps outside the big church on Rachel where the big Gonzales organ show was going on. I had already been down to the Jack Dylan vernissage by this point and seen great sets by Miracle Fortress and Dishwasher, and heard about the warm and heartening presence of Ramblin' Jack Elliott, whom we'd meet up with...later in the evening. (Elliott, incidently, was a good friend of Jesse's father, a painter named Harry Jackson who you can probably look up in the liner notes to Freewheelin'...).

A special thanks to Emily Gan for all the amazing pictures she took of Jesse during that ride he took with us in the trunk of a packed car on the way to see Ramblin' Jack. If you're not getting the enhanced version of the podcast here, you're missing out....And yes, most of this episode was recorded via the small trunk of a car.

There's just way too much of this kind of material here to blast through it in one urgent news-of-the-moment go, so I'll be rolling them out as regularly as I can until all of a sudden Pop Montreal 07 is upon us (accepting submissions November 1st!).

PopCast #27: Men That Aren't There (m4a version)

In this episode: flash and flame...new Miracle Fortress, Akron/Family, Miracle Weapon/Magic Fortress doing John Cale, Magic Weapon, Sunset Rubdown.

PopCast #27: Men That Aren't There (m4a version)

At Pop:

Miracle Fortess: Oct. 4th @ 7pm - L'Autre Gallerie & Oct. 6th @ 10pm - Les Saints
Akron/Family: Oct. 7th @ 11pm - Le National
Sunset Rubdown: Oct. 8th @ 11pm - Ukranian Federation

Missing voices, the man who wasn't there, music, music, music, thank god. Something had to give, something had to get done, and I'm glad it came out like this. Damned if I was going to sit around and not let new episodes roll out in heavy numbers with the festival basically underway in less than two days. So to quicken the pace of both the production and consumption of the PopCast (so that as many artists can make it onto episodes prior to the fest as possible) I DO NOT APPEAR on this episode. I also think it's one of the best PopCasts yet. There's still special stuff happening within, and the m4a format yields more extra goodies, so plug it into your iTunes/pod.

I'll probably pop back onto the next few episodes here and there, but they will continue to be these condensed bursts of music, either linked thematically or by event.

This one centers around Graham Van Pelt (Miracle Fortress) and Jordon Robson Cramer (of Magic Weapon and Sunset Rubdown) stuff, as promised last episode. Includes their collaborative cover of John Cale's Hanky Panky Nohow. Also features two of the most exciting acts appearing at Pop: Akron/Family and Sunset Rubdown.

PopCast #26: Don't Make Choices Based on Lies (m4a version)

In this episode: Patrick Watson, Lil Pip, Vincat, Percy Farm, GVP Tupac Remix, a little Mandolin solo....

PopCast #26: Don't Make Choices Based on Lies (m4a version)

The festival begins in something like 4 days, there's not much time to say much of anything, but much trying to be said, all the same. Pop is happening very soon; I recommend curling up with with the program and some podcasts and getting some rest for a few days, because the only thing that will be lacking this year is sleep.....

The PopCasts keep rolling, stay tuned.

PopCast #26: Don't Make Choices Based on Lies (mp3 version)

In this episode: Patrick Watson, Lil Pip, Vincat, Percy Farm, GVP Tupac Remix, a little Mandolin solo....

PopCast #26: Don't Make Choices Based on Lies

The festival begins in something like 4 days, there's not much time to say much of anything, but much trying to be said, all the same. Pop is happening very soon; I recommend curling up with with the program and some podcasts and getting some rest for a few days, because the only thing that will be lacking this year is sleep.....

The PopCasts keep rolling, stay tuned.

PopCast #25 (Side B): Acts of God (Help Me Somebody) (m4a version)

In this episode: Brian Eno & David Byrne remixed, David Byrne and the FMC, the Museum Pieces and the PopCast showcase, the Christa Min, Beirut, Special Events, Pop Levi, hi di hi di hi dee ho...

PopCast #25 (Side B): Acts of God (Help Me Somebody) (m4a version)

Pheew, ok, it's September 16th, Side B took a little longer to come around than first expected, but episode 26 should only be a couple days away. That wraps up the two part (or three if you count the other one year anniversary episode I did at the beginning of the month) 25th episode. We're still adding content to the website, but you'll notice the schedule is up, and downloadable in pdf. If you're in Montreal you should see the paper manual lying around sometime next week.

More more more to come ... don't be scared.

PopCast #25 (Side B): Acts of God (Help Me Somebody)

In this episode: Brian Eno & David Byrne remixed, David Byrne and the FMC, the Museum Pieces and the PopCast showcase, the Christa Min, Beirut, Special Events, Pop Levi, hi di hi di hi dee ho...

PopCast #25 (Side B): Acts of God (Help Me Somebody) (Regular mp3 version)

Pheew, ok, it's September 16th, Side B took a little longer to come around than first expected, but episode 26 should only be a couple days away. That wraps up the two part (or three if you count the other one year anniversary episode I did at the beginning of the month) 25th episode. We're still adding content to the website, but you'll notice the schedule is up, and downloadable in pdf. If you're in Montreal you should see the paper manual lying around sometime next week.

More more more to come ... don't be scared.

PopCast #25 (Side A): What the Future Tapes Might Be (m4a enhanced)

IN THIS EPISODE: Pop Montreal.com relaunched, Think About Life, Professor Murder, Plants & Animals, Krapp, Tapes n' Tapes

PopCast #25 (Side A): What the Future Tapes Might Be (enhanced m4a version)

PopMontreal.com has mostly emerged from its facelift, there's exactly one month until the festival, and episode 25 (a two parter) kicks things off for Pop 06 in earnest.

PopCast #25 (Side A): What the Future Tapes Might Be

IN THIS EPISODE: Pop Montreal.com relaunched, Think About Life, Professor Murder, Plants & Animals, Krapp, Tapes n' Tapes

PopCast #25 (Side A): What the Future Tapes Might Be

PopMontreal.com has mostly emerged from its facelift, there's exactly one month until the festival, and episode 25 (a two parter) kicks things off for Pop 06 in earnest.

PopCast #24: Pump In Someone Else's Blood (enhanced m4a version)

In this episode: Regina Spektor, The 1900s, Ok Jeff Ok, Davy Levkovich, Nethers.

Episode 24 (enhanced m4a version)

The sprint starts here, I think. While we're still finalizing programming, you can expect the PopCast to start focusing a little bit more on previewing artists that we'll be welcoming to the festival, and giving general updates in terms of special events, etc. Lots, lots more to come.

You'll also notice that our podcast feed is, um, feeding smoothly. Pure XMLers can use the good ol' orange button to subscribe, or you can always get us on iTunes, too, where all the back episodes are now available. Stay tuned for our September 1st site relaunch!

PopCast #24: Pump In Someone Else's Blood (regular mp3 version)

In this episode: Regina Spektor, The 1900s, Ok Jeff Ok, Davy Levkovich, Nethers.

Episode 24 (regular mp3 version)

The sprint starts here, I think. While we're still finalizing programming, you can expect the PopCast to start focusing a little bit more on previewing artists that we'll be welcoming to the festival, and giving general updates in terms of special events, etc. Lots, lots more to come.

You'll also notice that our podcast feed is, um, feeding smoothly. Pure XMLers can use the good ol' orange button to subscribe, or you can always get us on iTunes, too, where all the back episodes are now available. Stay tuned for our September 1st site relaunch!

PopCast #23: Next Chapter (m4a version)

M4A version. (See popmontreal.com if you're an iTunes subscriber and still don't see the enhanced chapters)

In this episode: Enhancement. Dengue Fever, The Dandybeards, Dishwasher, Denitia Odigie, Basia Bulat.

Episode #23: Next Chapter (m4a - enhanced)

A little late, I know. The PopCast had to go through puberty. Or something like that. One day I dream of a PopCast that's cutting edge in terms of compatibility and functionality in addition to its obvious cutting edge content status. Content will always be paramount in my books, but that doesn't mean the formatting nerds shouldn't be given a nod now and then. While there are bound to be glitches, we get one step closer to respectability in this episode with an m4a version and click-throughable chapters. iTunes and iPod users will notice a difference. Kinda. We're still resolving some actual feed issues with m4a, so if you're a subscriber on iTunes, you may still just be getting the mp3. Be bold and download the m4a directly from popmontreal.com until we sort it out, yeah?

The rest of you archaic or anti-iTunes souls (and I feel you, I do) should of course have no problem still sampling the mp3.

There's also a ton of good music. Lots more to come, and back on schedule.

PopCast #23: Next Chapter (mp3 version)

In this episode: Enhancement. Dengue Fever, The Dandybeards, Dishwasher, Denitia Odigie, Basia Bulat.

Episode #23: Next Chapter (mp3 - regular)

A little late, I know. The PopCast had to go through puberty. Or something like that. One day I dream of a PopCast that's cutting edge in terms of compatibility and functionality in addition to its obvious cutting edge content status. Content will always be paramount in my books, but that doesn't mean the formatting nerds shouldn't be given a nod now and then. While there are bound to be glitches, we get one step closer to respectability in this episode with an m4a version and click-throughable chapters. iTunes and iPod users will notice a difference. The rest the archaic souls (and I feel you, I do) can still sample the mp3. There's also a ton of good music. Lots more to come, and back on schedule.

PopCast #22: Fabulous Concrete Castles for Breakfast

In this episode: These Hands, Habitat, Benn Ross and the Fabulous Band, Forest City Lovers, Brave Radar, Lil' Andy & Karaoke Cowboy.

Episode # 22: Fabulous Concrete Castles for Breakfast

In which the first round of applications actually yield a few diamonds in the rough.

PopCast #21: Ghost and Kings vs. Saints and Rainbows

In this episode: Flames! wish your children luck in the new world, The Racket deliver bite!, Oh Bijou let their robes show, Hexes an Ohs assert that you're a hologram, and Joey Cobden has new plans for an old meal.

Episode #21: Ghost and Kings vs. Saints and Rainbows

In which damnation and salvation both come with emoticons. Enthusiastically.

PopCast #20: Giver

In this episode: Patrick Watson, Giselle Numba One, Balun, Caledonia, intereference...

PopCast #20: Giver

In which Pop Montreal's NXNE showcase in previewed, Secret City Records is revelealed, and Andrew risks compromising his journalistic integrity only to realize that a transparent and disclosed subjective position serves everyone that much better.

PopCast #19: Dark Horses with Copper Wings

In this episode: There Were Valleys, The Besnard Lakes, King Khan and His Shrines, Tokyo Police Club, The Sunday Sinners, Vitamins for You.

PopCast #19: Dark Horses with Copper Wings

Lots of local new releases pepper this episode, as well as a preview pf Pop Montreal's NeXT showcase at NXNE, an exploration of the Besnard Lakes (as geographical location), and the return of PopCast success story, Tokyo Police Club. And in honour of that first PopCast (on which Tokyo Police Club appeared back in September 05 with Telefauna, Man Man, and Timber, among others...) Episodes 1 and 2 are finally available again for download.

PopCast #18: Lucky Lambi

In this episode: The Museum Pieces, The Fiery Furnaces, Pony Up, Bob Wiseman, Tiga.

PopCast #18: Lucky Lambi.

June is around the corner, stay tuned for the Fringe Pop lineup!

PopCast #17: Condos and Killer Vegetation

In this episode: Johnny and the Moon, Magic Weapon, Orillia Opry, The Yo Yo Contingency, Final Fantasy.

Episode 17: Condos and Killer Vegetation

Lots of really great new music on this episode, including a debut from Dante DeCaro's Johnny and the Moon, and cuts from the new Orillia Opry and Final Fantasy records. Lots more will be happening in the coming weeks in the Pop Montreal department. Make sure you check out the Pop Off Tour, which kicks off May 3rd in Ottawa. And keep an eye out for a review of last week's back-to-back Wolf Parade shows...

PopCast #16: Shut Up I Am Dreaming Everybody Needs a Song

In this episode: Think About Life, Sunset Rubdown, Kelley Stoltz, Flames!, and Matt Shane...

PopCast #16: Shut Up I Am Dreaming Everybody Needs a Song

Lots of big Montreal albums drop in May, and I preview of a couple of them here, among other things. Also includes a rant on the lack of "best podcast" category in the annual Best of Montreal poll. PopCast listeners are encouraged to vote for it in the "best radio show" category... (Best blog and festival are no-brainers, of course.)

PopCast #15 - SXSW Edition Part 1: Anything That's Anything Becomes Nothing

In this episode:

SXSW madness, VietNam, Page France, the Stills live from the eerie Myspace Bus and otherwise, Horns of Happiness, Man Man, and more more.

PopCast #15 - SXSW Edition Part 1: Anything that's Anything Becomes Nothing.

So it took me about a week to get things together and sort through the audio that I didn't manage to lose/record over/never actually record in the first place (note to self: never stop to check what you've already captured and then plug the mic back into the headphone jack...). What you've got here is therefore the PopCast partially transplanted to Austin, Texas. Incomplete and unprofessional in all its glory, but still fun. It's really meant as a companion piece to parts 1 and 2 of text report, as well as the video episode that's on the way...

PopCast #14: The Soul's Intact (VidPopCast!)

In this episode: Dishwasher at Friendship Cove (the PopCast's clumsy video debut).

So I worked myself into a bit of a corner boasting the bi-monthly PopCast, but I wanted to try and stick to my guns as much as possible. The result this week is just as much of a next step as it is a cop-out, however, as we're featuring our first little video clip. And although the moment is short (and cut-off) and the quality is shoddy, I hope you'll agree that it's full of as much soul as anything I've ever put on the PopCast. The minute or so captured here is from Dishwasher's set at the Friendship Cove this past Saturday. It was as much of a performance piece as it was a set of music; complete with projections and pre-recorded comedic interludes, Martin started simple and messy and ended in a kind of evangelical frenzy. He's a pleasure and inspiration to watch, and I think you can see it on display here.

The show at the Friendship Cove also had performances from Martin's fellow Think About Life-r, Graham Van Pelt, (showing up as Miracle Fortress as well as half of Magnus), and rousing sets from Socalled and Kali, with guest spots by Katie Moore, Giselle Numba One, and Magnus's other half, J-E Z, who hitched a ride back from Toronto and CMW. Performances and nights like this are the real foundation of the PopCast, and as we move forward with the channel—offering video, live recordings, etc.—I really hope these kinds of moments can be captured more.

If you're partial to the audio-only, fear not. I'll either have Episode 15 next week or serve it up some time on the 20th. Either way, the latter date will be a special SXSW edition of the PopCast, as I'll be down in Austin from the 15th-19th, hopefully capturing some of the action to keep things interesting and international. If you listen (or watch!) the Popcast, and you're going to be in Austin for SXSW, by all means get in touch.

In the meantime, go ahead and get your hopes up for the Sunset Rubdown full length, Shut Up I Am Dreaming, which lands on May 2nd and is far and away the best thing I've heard this year. I doubt the (partial) title track, "Shut Up I Am Dreaming Of Places Where Lovers Have Wings", will be topped in 2006 in terms of great songs. And I'm tempted to say that it stands up to epic tracks like Led Zeppelin's "Over the Hills and Far Away" and Bowie's "Station to Station" ...

PopCast #13: Burning Chariots and Trains to Pennsylvania

In this episode: Miracle Fortress, Lagoons, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Schooner, Bishop Allen, Man Man.

Episode #13 - Burning Chariots and Trains to Pennsylvania.

The PopCast goes bi-monthly! Ok, so no hard and fast promises here, but it's been two weeks to the day since Episode 12, and we're going to do our best to keep things going at this pace, so stay tuned.

We go south of the border for the bulk of this episode's content, and look ahead to the 2006 edition of the Festival by getting back to those Sonic Bids submissions, among other things. But our story begins with an ambitious young charioteer and some of this week's local gems...

PopCast #12: Graveyard Dedications

In this episode: Magic Weapon, Sunset Rubdown, Boo Hoo, Dishwasher, Devin the Dude.

Episode #12: Graveyard Dedications

And so the first even dozen of PopCasts is fittingly rounded out by four Montreal artists and Houston's Devin the Dude. I've taken the time to do a dedication for each song featured, partly to recognize that fickle older sibling of the podcast—the mp3 blog (which you'll notice, thanks to Jay Watts III, PopMontreal.com has now added to its list of functions)—but mostly for novelty's sake. Still, there's plenty that's novel in a lot of these tracks, and all are worth checking out as the late Winter show season moves into high gear (that was fast, hmm?).

Enjoy.

PopCast #11: More Songs About Buildings and Food (Don't Worry About the Government)

In this episode: Magnus, Islands, Ideal Lovers, The Paper Cranes, Harkness.

Episode 11: More Songs About Buildings and Food (Don't Worry About the Government)

Behold PopCast 2006! An exciting episode for a lot of reasons ... it marks the first time since the end of the 05 edition of Pop Montreal that we're programming new submissions. Tons of applications have started rolling in for the 2006 edition of the festival, so if you're a band who's submitted or is planning to submit, get the word out that we'll be putting the best of what we hear on the episodes to come. Get them in through Sonic Bids on in the good old snail mail.

This episode also features a new track from Islands and their debut release, Return to the Sea. We'll be doing a launch party for the record at Club Lambi on February 17th.

Keep the e-mails coming; it's nice to know there are so many people listening and enjoying.

And if you're in Canada, go vote!

PopCast #10 - Part 3: Music comes back from the dead AND down the chimney.

PopCast#10 - Part 3: Music comes back from the dead and down the chimney.

In this episode: Final Fantasy, Andrew Bird, Buck 65, Sufjan Stevens, Coco Rosie, Animal Collective, Bell Orchestre, Architecture in Helsinki, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Wolf Parade.

'Aren't we all forgetting the true meaning of Christmas .... the birth of Santa?' People everywhere may be ironically oblivious to the kingdom of heaven while they worry themselves over the fate of a Christian Christmas, but we know better. Much like Santa, you can't see Heaven; just don't tell me you can't hear and feel it in songs like these.

Word to all of your mothers, and a happy New Year.

PopCast #10 - Part 2: Darkhorses, discoveries, debuts

PopCast #10 - Part 2: Darkhorses, discoveries and debuts.

In this episode: The Hot Springs, Katie Moore, We're Marching On, Alden Penner, Les Angles Morts, Land of Talk, Royal Mountain Band, Miracle Fortress, the Museum Pieces.

PopCast #10 - Part 1: Parties, Punks, and Putting the Finishing Touches on 2005

PopCast#10 - Part 1: Parties, Punks, and Putting the Finishing Touches on 2005.

In this episode: Part 1 of 3 of the Year in Review, featuring Caribou, Beck, Cadence Weapon, Out Hud, LCD Soundsystem, Fatlip, Danger Doom, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Spoon, Stephen Malkmus.

It's a mammoth three-part podcast affair that I'm bringing you here in collaboration with Pop Montreal and the PopCasts. Over the course of the next week or so I'll be posting my top twenty major releases of the year. Part 1 and 3 of Episode 10 will be giving you a sampling of the best tracks from those albums. While I'll be counting down at the mass is secretly obsessed with nipple dream in terms of textual reviews, the podcasts will be organized more thematically, with an ear to flow and theme. The tracks have been chosen for their representativeness of the albums from which they respectively spring, as well as their general kick-ass-ness. There are some obvious (and necessary) choices, and some darker horses in the mix. And speaking of, Part 2 will be an attempt to showcase some of the best local/Canadian darkhorse talent that emerged this year as either debuts or discoveries. We'll be posting various reviews and content surrounding that stuff at Pop Montreal. By the time we're done you should have a pretty good idea of what to go out and get yourself and/or your loved ones for Christmas. Assuming, that is, that we can save Christmas. But you'll have to wait for Episode 3 for that ...

PopCast #9 - Snowy Canadian Secret Weapons

Episode #9 - Snowy Canadian Secret Weapons

In this episode: The Earlies, Boo Hoo, Cadence Weapon, Stars.

Bombs dropping everywhere, but no one being harmed. When the war against kayfabe begins, I wanted Cadence Weapon as my general. Something snowy for everyone here, and a fitting December document if I do say so myself. Stay tuned for an expanded special edition of the Popcast with Episode 10, capping off and counting down another amazing year for music in Montreal ... and Canada ... and the Blogosphere ... the Universe .... and ....

PopCast Episode 8 - Cellos and Violins Play Us Off Dramatically

PopCast Episode 8 - Cellos and Violins Play Us Off Dramatically

In this episode: Oh Bijou, the Museum Pieces, Holy Fuck, Bell Orchestre, Immaculate Machine, Tom Vek, and more...

Well, don't worry if you didn't catch part of the Arcade Fire playing Cure songs in Union Square unannounced. If you're anywhere near Montreal, or anywhere near anywhere for that matter, there's music going on. Pop Montreal and I are going to try and keep bringing it to you year-round in one way or another, give you an excuse to go and see live music, and to support emerging artists—whether you live in Montreal and we're talking about a show happening, or you live somewhere else and that band is playing in your town 5 days later, or you just like good music.

Of course we'll also be leading up to Pop Montreal 2006, and applications are being accepted as of Nov. 1st. Keep an eye out at popmontreal.com for more details pertaining to this year's admission procedure. In the meantime, send us your music. Whether you're from Montreal, coming through town on a tour (however modest!), or just like the podcasts and want to be featured.

PopCast Episode 7: Doing the Whirlwind

Episode 7 - Doing the Whirlwind
In this episode:

Architecture in Helsinki, Asobi Seksu, Pawa Up First, We Sold Our Souls to Rock n' Roll Photo Exhibit, Kings of Leon, Harmony Trowbridge, Oh Bijou live.

I've seen twelve bands in two days, and tonight will be no less busy. I think next year we're going to have change the tag line of the festival to "choose your own adventure". My highlights so far:

The full-on Devin the Dude love-in at the Main Hall; the Old Soul doing Brian Wilson's "Vegetables" during a late-night set at the Academy Club; Oh Bijou (my vote at this point for most precious hidden gem at the festival); and We're Marching On and Think About Life— for brining the desperate frenzy. That was some wild spiritual group shit that went down last night, and it happened in more than one place. After the Think About Life set L.A.'s Subtitle sounded like he was ready to move to Montreal, scarf in hand.

It's a bit warmer today. And I'm sure the shows will be just as hot.

PopCast Episode 6: I Can Get No Satisfaction

Episode 6 - I Can Get No Satisfaction

Where to start? Better yet, where to end? I can't possibly do justice to all the crazy stuff that's already gone down at the festival. And we're only on day two here. I can't tell you anything about the TTC show, because Islands was opening for Beck (and doing both proud by performing a great cover version of One Foot in the Grave's "Cyanide Breath Mint") last night. I did hear that the TTC show kicked ass, however. "Show of the festival", said our Creative Director Dan Seligman. He likes saying show of the festival. But who knows, maybe he was right. That's kind of the great thing about being bombarded by so many shows—a lot of 'shows of the festival' tend to happen. Props to Bus Driver for making a guest appearance along with Subtitle on stage with Islands (doing their Corn Gangg impression) before booting it over to open for TTC.

Things got loud and dirty at the Academy Club last night where the Besnard Lakes, the Donkeys, and Bionic kicked off the party. The city pissed rain all morning like the whole damn place was hung over, but woke up around 2pm with some sun. It's a bit chillier, but I'm going to grab a warm roti and hunker down for the home stretch.

There's too much happening for one man to keep track of; if you have any documentation of any Pop Montreal event, send them to andrew at popmontreal.com. We'll publish well written reviews, photos, whatever you got if you want to send it.

The podcasting continues as much as is possible. Shifting focus a bit to bring you some more party sounds and the like. This episode is full of information loose-ends, more Pop performer tracks and a neat jam session that was just recorded featuring Gisele from the Hot Springs, SoCalled, Francis and Thomasino from Malajube, Séba and Marlène Richer.

Bear with me, there's also the world's best music party going on ... right now.

In this episode:

Marcel Marceau, Black Mountain and Film Pop, SS Cardiacs and Blocks, The Old Soul, Cadence Weapon, Gisele's Jambourie with SoCalled, some Malajubers and guests.

Pop Cast Episode 5: Pop!

Episode 5

A nod, Annie, Post Pop, No Luck Club, Black Moth Super Rainbow, City Field.

It's all one big blur from here on in. Or here on out. Whatever; the music continues as Pop Montreal 2005 gets underway ... Annie tonight!

PopCast Episode 4: In the Ruff

PopCast Episode 4

This is a big one. On this episode you'll hear the interplanetary debut of a new track by Islands, the new pop 'chateau' from former Unicorns Nick Diamonds and Jaime Tambeur, as well as some in-the-trenches sounds, and the rest of our Montreal-artists-only mini-series. Get the lowdown here.

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My Odeo Channel (odeo/4658b144b6aaa0fa)

PopCast Episode 3: PopCast Montreal!

PopCast Episode 3

All Montreal content in this episode, which will be spilling over into next, as well. Get the full lowdown here, and bear with me on the otherwise contentless void as Pop Montreal comes roaring to a crescendo.

PopCast Episode 2: Politics ...

PopCast Episode 2

Get the original post here.

PopCast! Pop Montreal joins the revolution.

The mandate mutates sooner that I suspected ... only good reasons for it, however. I'm taking over podcasting duties over at Pop Montreal (launching their first ever podcast, that is), and with the festival so close, it would be a bit too redundant and time-consuming for me to be publishing new material here as well. However, with the office a flurry of activity over at Pop Montreal, I have no idea how long it's going to take for a proper feed to get set up over there. So I'll be syndicating the PopCast here, as well. We're hoping to have about 10 episodes altogether between now and October 2nd, so check back regularly if you're not a subscriber. I'll shut up now.

Pop Montreal's PopCast - Episode 1

Episode 1 - (Self Titled)

Ok, here we go. Attempt number one. A brief hello, an informal mission statement, Wolf Parade, fluid communities, We're Marching On, Social Arts Club, Pop Montreal, Broken Social Scene and more ....

Hopefully everything will sound better with each new episode. I'll attempt for weekly updates, and then reassess in a month's time or so.

I prefer candid talk to the over-polished, but I don't want anyone to have to listen to me umming and ahhing the whole time. Feedback welcome, but be gently with me; I''m a virgin.

Episode 1 - (Self Titled)

You Can Syndicate Any Boat You Row: Welcome....

Very exciting. While I've been blogging on and off for some time (and finally launched The mass is secretly obsessed with nipple dream in earnest back in March of this year), I've also been DJing around Montreal for a few years, and having a lovely go of it. These two activities don't exhaust the taxes on my time, but they're the most interesting ones. I think so, anyway. That said, it would make sense that I finally get my act together and bring these two pursuits of mine into loving embrace. Hence the podcast portal you're staring at.

It's anybody's guess as to just how far all this podcast-mania is going to go—or more accurately—it's anybody's guess as to exactly where. Are we going to see big crackdowns on the podcasting of copyrighted material? Are really popular podcasters going to start quitting their day jobs? Are mainstream organizations going to lure a whole bunch of underground talent to their realms with the promises of easy licensing and regular paycheques? Probably all of the above, but when and where and how exactly I don't know. In the meantime, I figured I'd plunge right in, take whatever chances I can, and learn along the way.

This is going to be a music-oriented podcast. Not exclusively, but primarily. I'm going to focus a lot on local (Montreal) artists, and give as much genuine insight into what's going here as I can. I intend to be free of hyperbole and pretention. I intend to woo you with my charming voice, of which so many of you have been deprived for so long. I'm also going to play a lot of good music from other places, too: forgotten music; amazing music that you haven't thought about in a few years, but used to devour; music of the not-so-distant past that complements music of the quickly-passing-present. Bear with me; I don't know who's going to come knocking on the door demanding I stop, but until then, let's just see how this goes, shall we? Assuming the worst happens, the mandate here will probably have to be altered slightly, but I'm in a fortunate position whereby negotiating permission to continue bringing you excellent local stuff shouldn't be too difficult.

Episode 1 of Dig a Pony on the way...