Neu! Tribeut for Yeu

Thom Yorke is a fan and so is Polaris award weiner Dan Snaith/ Caribou. Just listen to their records and you’ll hear the influence of the Krautrock pioneers. They’re not the only ones though influenced by their driving beat and electronic squonks and noodles… A star studded tribute album to seminal German electro-neudlers Neu! is on the way. Without question, the brief-but-stellar career of Neu! is something to be celebrated. Just know though, this is not your Dad’s style of tribute album. It features the bands involved contributing songs influenced by their Krautrock heroes, with the exception of a solo cut by Neu!'s Michael Rother and a track from post-Neu! project La Dusseldorf. The record, Brand Neu!, is reportedly being issued on May 11 as the first release on Feraltone, an imprint of the Groenland label.

Looks interesting but wheu the feuk asked Oasis and Kasabian to participate? Where is Electrelane or Caribou?

Brand Neu! track listing:

Ciccone Youth (Sonic Youth) - Two Cool Rock Chicks Listening to Neu!
Primal Scream - Shoot Speed / Kill Light
Pets with Pets - We Only Found This Place
Oasis - I Can See It Now
Foals - Titan Arum
Cornelius - Wataridori
Holy Fuck - Super Inuit
LCD Soundsystem - Watch the Tapes
Kasabian - Stuntman
School of Seven Bells - Device fuer M
Fujiya & Miyagi - Electro Karaoke
Hook & the Twin - They'll Get Your Head
La Dusseldorf - Sketch 1_08
Michael Rother - Neutronics 98

UPDATE – Best Live Music Club in Canada Announced

Phog Lounge in Windsor, ON has been named Canada's best music club in the CBC Radio 3 Best Live Music Club competition. Personal favourites the Aeolian Hall and Call the Office in London perservered until the end and despite my daily voting were defeated.

Concert-goers were asked to submit the names of their favourite music venues that held less than 1,000 people last month. More than 100 were submitted and rounds of voting narrowed the competitors to 20 and then ten finalists. The winner was announced by Grant Lawrence live on Wednesday.

Phog Lounge will receive a live concert from CBC Radio 3 with a "nationally recognized act," a Sirius satellite radio and subscription, CBC Radio 3 loot for its owners and staff, a plaque and a trophy.

The venue which holds about sixty people opened in 2004. This contest will no doubt put the club on the concert map. Congratulations to Phog Lounge on the win, although next year, (and I’m saying it now) the title will come to London where it rightfully belongs.

Hey Hey, My My, the Forest City Welcomes that Neil Young Guy

Neil Young to Make the Trek Across Canada this Spring

This city has been abuzz of late with possible news that Neil Young would be coming to town. Well like his oft promised Archive Volume 1 Boxed Set I took it with a grain of salt and hoped for the best. Thankfully though it’s now been confirmed; and good news for other smaller Canadian markets as a full fledged spring mini Canuck tour has been scheduled. The Young tour starts April 6 in St John’s, Newfoundland and will travel across Canada, making stops in 10 cities.

4/6/2009 Mile One Centre St. John's,NL
4/10/2009 Halifax Metro Centre Halifax,NS
4/11/2009 Harbour Station Saint John,NB
4/13/2009 K-Rock Centre Kingston,ON
4/15/2009 John Labatt Centre London,ON
4/17/2009 Essar Centre Sault Ste. Marie,ON
4/20/2009 Credit Union Centre Saskatoon,SK
4/22/2009 Prospera Place Kelowna,BC
4/23/2009 Rexall Place Edmonton,AB
4/25/2009 ENMAX Centre Lethbridge,AB

Visit johnlabattcentre.com for local ticket details and times.

Psssst Presale here.

The 2009 tour is a continuation of his successful 2008 tour. The concerts will feature Young with the same band that backed him in 2008 - Ben Keith, Rick Rosas, Chad Cromwell, Anthony Crawford and Pegi Young. Tickets for Young's first show here in years go on sale Friday, Feb.27th. Young has not played in London since he made a stop at Alumni Hall at the University of Western Ontario in 1973! Still no word on the boxed set but Neil’s new record, apparently a thematic set about his electric car, Fork in the Road is due soon.

Your Weekly Download Lowdown

Always Something Good to Listen To

A couple things to recommend for your listening pleasure on this cold, post-Oscar February morning.

First up- Hot on the heels of a European trek opening for Fleet Foxes (and upcoming Elbow dates), Ottawa’s the Acorn are back with a stunning Daytrotter session. This is one band that has managed to completely beguile me with their music and compelling lyricism. At times reminiscent of the Talking Heads with latter period Talk Talk thrown in for good measure I am eagerly anticipating the follow-up to their excellent Glory Hope Mountain from 2007. Part biographical narrative, part surreal fairy tale, Glory Hope Mountain is the story of Gloria Esperanza Montoya. Based on interviews recorded in early 2006 by her son, Acorn songwriter Rolf Klausener, the album is a sonic retelling of the stories from her early life in Honduras to her eventual immigration to Montreal in 1972. It remains one of my favourite CD’s in years.

If you don’t own it yet, go out and get it today. It is just that spectacular. The Daytrotter Session features a number of tracks from that release.

Up next from Minnesota Public Radio is a great studio performance featuring Antony and the Johnsons with songs from their latest CD, “The Crying Light”. The release is doing extraordinarily well across the pond and this session goes a long way in illuminating that secrets of that success.

Songs performed: "Her Eyes Are Underneath The Ground," "Epilepsy Is Dancing," and "Another World."

Lastly, an NPR World Café Session featuring the Denver-based band DeVotchKa. The band has found widespread support for its film music (in Little Miss Sunshine and others) as well as its five full-length albums, the latest of which is last years brilliant "A Mad & Faithful Telling". During this session, eclectic singer, Nick Urata talks about crafting DeVotchKa's breakthrough film soundtrack, as well as his admiration for “Old Blue Eyes”, whose songs the band often covers.

Listen here.

REMINDER: White Stripes to Play Conan's Last "Late Night" TONIGHT

Conan O'Brien and the White Stripes go back quite some time. You might recall when Meg and Jack played "Late Night" for a whole week back in 2003. Conan even made an appearance in the loopy, Michel Gondry directed "Denial Twist" video.

With Conan leaving "Late Night" tonight it seems only natural that there be a special musical send off. Sooooo, in the first White Stripes live performance since summer 2007 the tri-chromatic duo will be featured on the show's farewell episode tonight on NBC. (12:35 EST)

Stay up for this one folks you won’t be disappointed. I’m certain the show will be hugely memorable!

TV on the Radio on the Stage

TV On the Radio Announces North American Spring Tour

Over the past five years, TV on the Radio has been showing up on a myriad of Year End/ Best of Lists with stunning regularity. Not to mention their ever growing fanbase including a healthy roster of music elite. 2008 was no exception with the release of their very fine Dear Science release. 2009 is certainly showing no sign of stopping for the band as a slew newly announced live shows was announced yesterday. After performing at the Coachella Festival, the creatively savvy Brooklynites will play a series of dates in May; visiting Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. (Hey, put that in your pipe Tweedy and Co.!) ed

TV on the Radio has dropped hints of an upcoming remix EP, but that has yet to see the light of day. TV on the Radio have also been busy with a number of side projects including work on the upcoming Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’s release. I’ll pass on information to you when release dates get a little closer.

For now, the Canuck heavy tour dates:

4.18 Indio, CA - Coachella
5.12 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
5.16 Austin, TX - Stubbs
5.18 Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
5.22 Oakland, CA - Fox Oakland Theatre
5.23 Portland, OR - Roseland Theatre
5.25 Vancouver, BC - Malkin Bowl
5.27 Edmonton, AB - Edmonton Events Center
5.28 Calgary, AB - Macewan Hall
5.29 Saskatoon, SK - Louis' Pub
6.2 Toronto, ON - Sound Academy
6.3 Montreal, QC - Metropolis
6.4 Boston, MA - House of Blues
6.5 New York, NY - Central Park Summer Stage
6.8 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

Hallelujah! He’s Coming Back to You

Leonard Cohen to Tour North America

Everyone’s favourite baritone, Fedora wearin’, poet laureate, monk, and sexy senior will continue his never ending tour, this time focusing on this hemisphere of the planet. Cohen Heads rejoice, he’s playing a number of Canadian dates too!

Hot on the heels of his wildly successful 2008 world tour, Leonard Cohen will continue to grace audiences with his classy composure and truly singular talent. If you have never seen Cohen perform, this is your chance and I would highly recommend it. Tickets go on sale March 2nd.

In other Cohen news Sony Music Entertainment/Columbia Records has announced the release date of Live In London, a musical chronicle of the legendary singer-songwriter-musician-painter-poet's historic 2008 concert -- available as either a DVD or 2 CD set -- on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Dance Me to the Front of the Ticket Line, Tour Dates Below:

02-Apr-09 Austin, TX, USA The Long Center
03-Apr-09 Grand Prairie, TX, USA Nokia Theatre
05-Apr-09 Phoenix, AZ, USA Dodge Theatre
07-Apr-09 San Diego, CA, USA Copley Symphony Hall
10-Apr-09 Los Angeles, CA, USA Nokia Theatre
13-Apr-09 Oakland, CA, USA Oakland Paramount Theatre Of The Arts
17-Apr-09 Indio, CA, USA Coachella
19-Apr-09 Vancouver, BC, Canada GM Place
21-Apr-09 Victoria, BC, Canada Save On Foods Memorial Centre
23-Apr-09 Seattle, WA, USA WaMu Theatre at Qwest Field Events Centre
25-Apr-09 Edmonton, AB, Canada Rexall Place
26-Apr-09 Calgary, AB, Canada Jack Singer Concert Hall
28-Apr-09 Saskatoon, SK, Canada Credit Union Centre
30-Apr-09 Winnipeg, MB, Canada MTS Centre
03-May-09 Minneapolis, MN, USA Orpheum Theatre
05-May-09 Chicago, IL, USA Chicago Theatre
09-May-09 Detroit, MI, USA Fox Theatre
11-May-09 Columbia, MD, USA Merriweather Post Pavilion
12-May-09 Philadelphia, PA, USA Academy Of Music
14-May-09 Waterbury, CT, USA Palace Theatre
16-May-09 New York, NY, USA Radio City Music Hall
19-May-09 Hamilton, ON, Canada Copps Coliseum
21-May-09 Quebec City, QC, Canada Pavillon de la Jeunesse
22-May-09 Kingston, ON, Canada Kingston Regional Sports Centre
24-May-09 London, ON, Canada John Labatt Centre
25-May-09 Ottawa, ON, Canada National Arts Centre
26-May-09 Ottawa, ON, Canada National Arts Centre
29-May-09 Boston, MA, USA Wang Theatre
02-Jun-09 Morrison, CO, USA Red Rocks Amphitheatre

I Am Trying to Break Your Tour Van

Wilco to Tour U.S., Spain, and Portugal This Spring

In support of their forthcoming DVD, Ashes of American Flags (due out on April 18th at indie retailers for Record Store Day, two weeks later for everywhere else), the hardest working band in show ‘bidness’, Wilco has announced a U.S. tour and a jaunt through Spain and Portugal that starts in April, and lasts through June. I know, I know nary a Canadian date; I think we can count on those though when the new record is released later this year. Then again- you know you’ve always wanted to go to Barcelona…

The band's run of U.S. dates is preceded by a pair of Tweedy solo dates in March, and Akron/Family join Wilco for a pair of dates in Spain in late May.


Wilco tour dates:

03.26 Burlington, VT: Higher Ground (Jeff Tweedy solo) *
03.27 Northampton, MA: Calvin Theatre (Jeff Tweedy solo) *
03.28 Beacon, NY: Beacon High Auditorium (Jeff Tweedy solo) (Benefit for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater)
04.14 Milwaukee, WI: Pabst Theatre
04.15 Milwaukee, WI: Pabst Theatre
04.16 Bloomington, IN: IU Auditorium
04.17 Athens, OH: Templeton.Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium
04.18 Knoxville, TN: Tennessee Theatre
04.20 Athens, GA: Classic Center
04.21 Asheville, NC: Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
04.22 Birmingham, AL: Sloss Furnaces
04.23 Oxford, MS: Lyric Oxford
04.25 New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
05.23 Tenerife, Spain: Tenerife Auditorium
05.25 Malaga, Spain: Teatro Cervantes **
05.26 Madrid, Spain: Teatro Calderon **
05.29 Seville, Spain: Territorios Festival, La Cartuja
05.30 Oporto.Braga, Portugal: Teatro Circo
05.31 Lisbon, Portugal: Lisbon Coliseu
06.01 Santiago de Compostela.Galicia, Spain: Palacio de Congresos, Sala Braque
06.03 San Sebastian, Spain: Kursaal
06.04 Barcelona, Spain: Auditori Barcelona
07.11.14 Manchester, TN: Bonnaroo Festival
07.22.25 Detroit Lakes, MN: 10,000 Lakes Festival
08.21 Erfurt.Hohenfelden, Denmark: Highfield Festival

* with Pronto
** with Akron/Family

Exercise Your Civic Booty and Vote

CBC Radio 3 Narrow Down Best Live Music Club To Top 20

Following another round of voting, CBC Radio 3 has eliminated another 30 venues from Best Live Music Club competition, and Canada’s top 20 clubs have been revealed.

And this is your chance fellow Londoners to put us on the CBC map as Call the Office and the Aeolian Hall are still actively in the running. Other live music contenders such as Hugh's Room in Toronto and Zaphod Beeblebrox in Ottawa remain, with legendary clubs like Toronto’s Horseshoe and Vancouver’s Commodore officially getting the boot.

The top 20 list comes as part of the latest edition in CBC’s Searchlight series, which for the last several weeks has been asking listeners to vote on which club they think is the country’s tops for live music. Last week, the venerable broadcaster announced the top 50 venues and plans to whittle the top 20 down to the top 10 on February 18 and finally down to Canada’s number one live music venue on February 25.

To weigh in on this contest, you can vote over here on CBC Radio 3’s website.

Here’s the complete list of the top 20 best live music clubs in Canada:

Baba's Lounge - Charlottetown, PE
The Capital Bar - Fredericton, NB
George's Fabulous Roadhouse - Sackville, NB
The Blacksheep Inn - Wakefield, QC
Aeolian Hall - London, ON
Call The Office - London, ON
The Ford Plant - Brantford, ON
The Grad Club - Kingston, ON
Hugh's Room - Toronto, ON
The Phog Lounge - Windsor, ON
The Starlight Social Club - Waterloo, ON
The Towne House Tavern - Sudbury, ON
Zaphod Beeblebrox - Ottawa, ON
Lo Pub - Winnipeg, MB
Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club - Winnipeg, MB
The Royal Albert Arms - Winnipeg, MB
Amigo's Cantina - Saskatoon, SK
The Dream Café - Penticton, BC
The Duncan Garage Showroom - Duncan, BC
Habitat - Kelowna, BC

Where Love Rules, There is No Will to Power my iPod

I don’t know about you but when I think of Valentine’s Day I immediately think of surveys. I am all about the statistics. Yep. Statistics and those little red cinnamon hearts… Alas, no candy here but I do have sex and surveys. This one very, very appropriate; the results of which frankly leave me a little torn.

From NME.com

'Young people would rather give up sex than music'

Plus new survey suggests most don't think they should pay for music

A new music survey conducted by UK indie label Marrakesh Records has suggested that young music fans in the UK may prefer listening to music to having sex.

Around 1,000 people aged 15-24 filled in the survey, with 60 per cent of those who took part saying that they would prefer to go without sex for a week than without listening to music.

Those questioned on the whole felt that they shouldn't have to pay for music, with 61 per cent saying it should be free, and 70 per cent saying they felt no guilt for downloading music free.

The average amount of music in respondents' collections that had not been paid for was 43 per cent.

Despite the survey showing that most respondents downloaded music, with 81 per cent having used an MP3 player in the week running up to filling in the survey, 70 per cent said they had bought a CD within the same week.

The full results of the survey will be available to view at Marrakeshrecords.com on Monday (February 16).

Now which do you prefer a good download? Or a good download? (If you know what I mean)

(Ah euphemisms... Keeping blogs clean for maternal eyes.)

Happy Valentine's Everything is Pop Readers !

The National Announce Short Tour

One of my favourite bands in the universe, the National have just announced an eight day run of club shows this coming May. See them while you have the chance. I'm telling you, if ever there was a band destined for greatness this would be it. It all starts with them playing the Kool Haus in Toronto on May 21st and continues throughout North America.

In other the National news, the band's Bryce Dessner and his brother (and bassist) Aaron, produced the forthcoming Red Hot benefit compilation Dark Was the Night, a veritable who’s who of the indie world comprising that one. 4AD will release it in Europe on February 16 and North America on February 17. That one well worth your attentions.



The National dates:

03-08 St. Augustine, FL - Harvest of Hope Festival

05-21 Toronto, ON - Kool Haus
05-22 Montreal, PQ - Metropolis
05-23 Boston, MA - House of Blues
05-24 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
05-25 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
05-27 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
05-28 Raleigh, NC - Maymendi Concert Hall
05-29 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory

Thom ‘Bleeping’ Yorke’s Favourites

The Best Of Bleep

I have to admit I absolutely love a good playlist. I love to construct them, to analyse them, to deconstruct them and to listen to them. At best they tell us minute details of a persons psyche at worst they tell us minute details of a persons psyche. (Exactly) I was thrilled then to learn today that a number of my favourite musicians and artists would be constructing playlists for our listening and dissecting purposes for online digital boutique Bleep.com

Bleep.com was launched in January 2004 by independent music and film company Warp. Being one of the first and most innovative music download stores, Bleep has since gained a Digital Music Award for Best Music Store, had over 1.8 million downloads, and cemented a reputation as one of the best download boutique store catering to passionate music fans.

To celebrate Bleep’s 5th birthday, a select cast of people working in music were asked to pick their 5 favourite releases or tracks from the entire Bleep catalogue. These are people who are fans and customers of the store; who have worked closely with the retailer, or simply have an interesting viewpoint on music. They range from producers, musicians, journalists, designers, art directors, label bosses and even the curator of popular music at the British Library (the biggest known music collection in Europe).

Great stuff indeed, I encourage you to have a look around and discover some music that has influenced some of the artists we respect and follow. I was impressed with Thom Yorke’s eclectic selections which help to explain some of the minimalistic electronic trends in his own music over the past few years.

How about you? What are five selections that would form your personal playlist? (Remember I’ll be analyzing these and looking for uncorrected personality traits and psychological abnormalities.)

I’ll get things started with my own list.

1) The Stranglers – The European Female
2) Lou Reed – Andy’s Chest
3) Wire – French Film Blurred
4) Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – Frenzy
5) Bon Iver – Blood Bank

Discovering the Best New Music 2009

Proggy Mountain Breakdown

When I was growing up, my family often travelled north for short vacations and family visits. Roughly three hours from London, the geographical terrain is markedly different from the flat farmland that characterizes my present locale. That particular part of Southwestern Ontario, the Bruce Peninsula, is a beautiful area borne out of prehistoric glaciers and formidable natural forces. Last Friday night Bruce Peninsula, a band that takes its name from the aforementioned landmass visited me. This time in the form of an in-store appearance at my favourite independent record store, Grooves right here in lovely London. (They were in town to play that night at Call the Office with the Tom Fun Orchestra).

Like their namesake, Bruce Peninsula (the band) is a force of nature as well. I’ll say it now. This will be the band that at the end of the year when we’re all compiling our favourite music, will be sitting at the top of the list. Their short, mostly acoustic set that late afternoon was a revelation. And despite the fact that the number of band members may have exceeded the number of audience members it really felt like a special exchange. Like a turn of the century revivalist preacher, Neil Haverty led the multi-member Toronto collective through a number of songs from their brand new A Mountain is a Mouth LP; His voice, a rough amalgam of Tom Waits, Peter Gabriel and Andre Ethier. But it’s the ragged rootsy instrumentalism and accompanying female vocalists that truly adds the colour to their glorious sound.

I was fortunate to pick up the new A Mountain is a Mouth CD as I left the show and it literally has not left my Walkman since. With elements as diverse as the Carter Family to the progressive art rock sounds of King Crimson to the dynamic fervor of Arcade Fire, the music almost defies genre specifics. And that is exactly what I love about it. It leaves me wordless because it is so unlike anything I’ve really heard before. Or more correctly, I have heard elements of this before just not this particular amalgam of sounds. Gospel, folk, soul, progressive, choral- It's all there. Best of all it make complete sense too.

I’ll refrain from any more descriptions to leave it to you to discover this wonderful band. They really are such breath of fresh air. Put the A Mountain is a Mouth LP on your list of music to own. It is glorious. Click here for a sample via Pitchfork.

PPPPP

Another great musical discovery to share with you this evening is Chicago band, Company of Thieves. This Windy City trio- Genevieve Schatz (vocals), Marc Walloch (guitars), and Mike Ortiz (drums) has been generating a fair bit of music industry buzz of late and deservedly so. This is a band head and shoulders above the ordinary (and frankly somewhat tired) indie formula that does so little to inspire listeners in 2009. Rather this is a band that will engage and energize you. Vocalist Genevieve beguiles and charms with uncompromising vocals and lyrical twists; the band laying down a natural jazzy groove that brings a palpable vibrancy to the whole package.

Sometimes the “up and coming” tag can be the kiss of death for some bands. This one though is very deserving of that mark. Company of Thieves might just steal your musical heart. Download and have a listen to their song Oscar Wilde and you'll see what I mean. (Thanks Meg!)




Their new release Ordinary Riches is available on iTunes now with the hard copy arriving in stores on February 24th.

So for those keeping score we’re barely two months in and 2009 is promising to be musically exciting and relevant. With bands like Bruce Peninsula and Company of Thieves its kind of nice to be excited again.

RIP the Cramps Lux Interior

Lux Interior, the frontman for iconic punk band the Cramps, passed away yesterday, February 4th, at the Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California. Interior, born Erick Lee Purkhiser, was 62 and is survived by his wife of 37 years, Cramps guitarist Kristy “Poison Ivy Rorschach” Wallace. In a statement released by the band’s publicist, a pre-existing heart condition is named as the cause of death.

The Cramps first made their mark in the mid-1970s and early 1980’s when Interior, Poison Ivy and a revolving door rhythm section frequented the stages at famed New York punk clubs like CBGB, the Ritz, the Peppermint Lounge and Max’s Kansas City alongside artists like Television, the Ramones, Blondie and Patti Smith. The band eventually recruited drummer Nick Knox in 1977, who remained with the group until 1991. During those years, the Cramps were credited with creating both the term and musical style “psychobilly,” a synthesis of punk rock and rockabilly that was gloriously raw and over the top. The Cramps released 14 albums over the course of their career, their latest being 2004's How To Make A Monster.

The band's rockabilly-infused punk has been credited as an influence by bands including The White Stripes and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Interior was truly one of the punk rock’s greatest frontmen; the Cramps, of one of the most exciting and most original bands to emerge from the prolific era.

2009 Juno Awards Nominees Announced

The 2009 Juno Awards nominees were announced this morning at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Leading the way with five nominations is Nickelback, with Sam Roberts in close behind with four, and Celine Dion and Hedley both tied with three apiece. But fear not Canadian music lovers, the Juno’s are not awash in only major label contenders. In fact, representation is quite diverse with various elements of the Canadian music illuminati and not so illuminati all making the grade.

Leslie Feist earned a Juno Fan Choice Award nod, Kardinal Offishall is up for Single of the Year, Cancer Bats, Crystal Castles and Plants and Animals will compete for New Group of the Year.

Of course, there is plenty of talent to be found in the "adult" alternative, alternative and rap categories. Treasured artists such as Kathleen Edwards, Ron Sexsmith and Serena Ryder were recognized for their ‘mature’ alternative stylings, while Black Mountain, Chad VanGaalen and even Fucked Up managed to finagle their way in with the alternative set. (I can’t wait to see Pink Eyes acceptance speech.) Rappers such as DL Incognito, D-Sisive and of course, Kardinal Offishall were also recognized for their work.

I am still at a loss for words though as to why Celine Dion and Nickelback still rule supreme. Does a Juno award even mean anything to them anymore? Moreover, do the Juno awards have any relevance in the Canadian music industry anymore? Quite honestly I’ve got my money on the Polaris Prize.

Oh hell, I’ll probably still watch at least some of it. A guy needs to get his Buble fix somewhere. The 2009 Junos will be held in Vancouver on March 29th and broadcast on CTV. For a second year in a row, the show will be hosted by comedian Russell Peters. For a full list of the categories and nominations, click here.

Shop Drifters of the World Unite

On April 18th, music lovers will unite to celebrate a venerable global institution: the independent record retailer. Yes, that special day marks the second annual Record Store Day, and with it comes all manner of free goodies, contests, exclusive music releases, feats of strength, in-store performances, signings, meet-and-greets, occasional nudity and other assorted hoopla. Consider this an early reminder to pencil this in your calendars, PDA’s and palms of your hands.

Oh yes, and news of some of the exclusives you can pick up at your participating local store are starting to leak out on the interwebs. Matador Records is doing special limited edition (2,500) pressings of these exclusives:

Jay Reatard/Sonic Youth split 7″ - “Hang Them All” (JR) b/w “No Garage” (SY)

Sonic Youth/Beck split 7″ - “Pay No Mind” (SY covering Beck) b/w Beck - “Green Light” (Beck covering SY)

Pavement Live In Germany LP

Let’s all get out and support this one vinyl junkies and music nerds. This is one institution we can’t afford to lose.