February 21, 2014 · 1:49 pm

the next annoying thing

Our long musical nightmare continues.

ukulele sales, it says here, doubled between 2010 and 2012, and as 2014 hits its stride, interest in the choice of Hawaiians and hippies alike, continues to be strong. This is good news for hipsters on a budget; not so good news for music lovers.

Oh, I’m not saying the ukulele has not brought joy to thousands. Moreover, it is an instrument budding ukuleleists are encouraged to make at home. This gives it a considerable edge over the grand piano. And, granted, the ukulele can sometimes be a force for good. Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Music

February 15, 2014 · 12:20 pm

flagging tradition

Today is National Flag Day, it says here. For some, it’s an opportunity to celebrate the pennant that has represented Canada for nearly 50 years. To me, though, the day represents a missed opportunity for what could have been the coolest Canadian tradition of all. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Ottawa

February 7, 2014 · 11:38 am

sorry girls, he’s married

Today is the day.

Fifty years ago this afternoon, everything changed. The Moon landing? The fall of the Berlin Wall? Reaganomics? (Sad, really, that the spellcheck recognizes Reaganomics as a word. It does not, however, approve of the word spellcheck.) KFC’s double down? The bath salts menace? (Remember bath salts, kids?) Oprah? The Polar Vortex? The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman? All can be directly attributed to the defiant head-shaking of George and Paul on national television. And, we’re told and told, it all began on this date in 1964, when The Beatles’ plane touched down at the newly-christened JFK airport in New York City. Distraught and directionless American teens, stunned by the death of the leader they had embraced, turned as one to the British quartet for solace. Evidently, The Singing Nun, to whom they had previously looked for answers in the weeks following the assassination, just wasn’t cutting it.

And so we celebrate 50 years of a brave new world created by a pop group. And as celebrations go, for The Beatles, the third time appears to be the charm. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Music

February 5, 2014 · 2:04 pm

even better than the real thing

Been hearing some great new sounds lately. But, for me, the best album to hit the shops in recent months is the debut release by The White Labels. Meet The White Labels has it all: cool-looking vinyl; killer song titles like New Slacks, Same Haircut; plus, no Side Two to tarnish the awesomeness of Side One.

Best of all, it doesn’t exist. Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Music

February 3, 2014 · 4:59 pm

changing the history of music forever

Never cared much for that phrase. It is my opinion that it is simply too soon to know whether history has been changed forever. Forever is a long time.

But last week, the history of rock and roll may have turned an important corner. At the very least, a great opportunity presented itself to the geriatric rocker population. And for that, we can thank Mötley Crüe.

Yes, the Crüe. For in a brilliant PR stroke late last week, the veteran band expelled all Liberal Senators from their caucus. No wait, let me check that… OK, it says here the quartet announced its farewell tour. Moreover, (see brilliant PR stroke, a few words back) the Kickstart My Heart combo made it nice and official — by signing what sure looked like a legal document proclaiming that this tour will well and truly be it for the Girls Girls Girls group. Thank you. Cheque, please. Good night. Goodbye. Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Music