blog post Today on Lanarama: Debates & Albums & Cage Matches, Oh My!

I can't reallllly choose between Hawksley Workman's: For Him & The Girls and Last Night We Were Delicious Wolves... Lover/Fighter is when I first heard him, but Anger As Beauty's massive amount of play on Much Music INSTANTLY turned me off him...

it was Maniacs from FH&TG where I fell in love, but one of my all time (memory-linked) songs is Your Beauty Must Be Rubbing Off... so I'm all over the place.

My other debate is the Tragically Hip...I am more than partial to Fully Completely, but also love everything else theyve done...and World Container for me was great even with its newness...everyone has their favourite.

...pish posh!

Love.

yes, I have a tablet PC. I use it as my pen and paper. Given that the iPad has no pen, I don't really consider it an option. That and I wouldn't want to hear all the jokes about feminine protection that will come hand in hand with the name...

w.r.t. Hannah Georgas. Have you seen her newest video?

TWICE REMOVED all the way.

Hey Lana,

Remember when you guys did the Searchlight BEST RECORD STORE in Canada. Does that long list of all the qualifiers, Top 20 I think still exist somewhere? I searched it on the site but came up with sqawt. The "poll no longer existed' or something like that.

to wit "Also, when discussing music, who do you go to as an expert?", there is no such thing as an expert on music in matters of taste (as opposed to technicalities). So I don't go to no-one nowhere nohow.

In my opinion, people, even experts, can only hold opinions on matters of quality. That said, I would tend to respect the opinion of a professional producer, albeit of a producer I like and share tastes with.

I think I'm a One Chord To Another guy.

Here's another to consider: The Blue Album vs Pinkerton.  (Non-Canadian, but still.)

Lana, your topics kick ass.  I'm constantly battling my friends over things like this.

A real debate between us is the best Cons album.  It's hard to argue against Shine A Light, but theres a lot of support for the raw, punk rock first one.  I'm partial to Tournament of Hearts, maybe because I like the slower material.  I think it's super sweet.  Burkey from the Deep Dark Words is a firm supporter of Kensington Heights, and I think he makes a strong case.

another couple of BC bands we argue about: Black Mountain, Pride Tiger, and Ladyhawk.  They all have two albums out, and they're both GREAT.  Typically, the second one sounds a bit more polished.. but has a few more kick ass songs.  (Stormy High, the Lucky Ones, and STHD respectively).

This morning, I was tweeting a guy about Lupe Fiasco.  We both agree his first album is much better than his second, and I feel the same way about K'naan... (the reverse about Cadence Weapon though! Afterparty babies is amazing)

And lastly, the Arcade Fire.  I really like Neon Bible BUT

Fascinating, but: was it a Mythbusters, no, I think it was on another documentary show, they blindfolded people and had them try to walk straight across a really big field free of obstacles.

Nobody could do it. Some ended up circling many, many times, and always the tendecy was to come  back roughly to the starting point.

So indeed, our little piece of magnetite, it's worn or else we don't much pay attention to it!

Lana, you got robbed! Of course Twice Removed is the best Sloan album.  Didn't Rolling Stone once call it one of the most underrated alternative albums of all time?

My pals and I also debate which of the 2 Two Hours Traffic albums is better... but we seem to side with Territory of late.

I think people could argue about the Tragically Hip all day! A lot of peeps love Fully Completely because it's got all the classics, but I'm all for Day for Night!

Peace,Darren

agreed completely. Blackout restrictions (in all sports) are bogus. Yesterday, NHL.com was allowing free access to their GameCenter program (watch games online). It is beautiful video quality. HD in fact. Much better than almost every feed I can find on atdhe.net. ....BUT, local blackout rules apply. So when I wanted to watch Edmonton vs. Calgary...no dice as TSN was broadcasting it...I don't have cable..If I had cable I wouldn't need the online product!! TV broadcasters in general need to move out of the 60's...

I think Old School was asking about best Record Store instead of Best Live Venue.

Contrary to what early bloggers have said - choosing beautiful rock star women is not like Canadian Football.  Faced with your particular dilemma, I think they are more like dessert - sweet, tempting, and when in doubt - get both!

Sorry! Wrong list!

Here you go:

The Top 20 Stores in Searchlight Competition for The Best Record Store In Canada: NOVA SCOTIA Taz Records – Halifax PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Back Alley Music – Charlottetown NEW BRUNSWICK Backstreet Records – Saint John ONTARIO Atomix Records – St. Catharines, Birdman Sound – Ottawa, Criminal Records - Toronto, Compact Music – Ottawa, Encore Records – Kitchener, End Hits – Ottawa, Monster Records – Toronto, Soundscapes – Toronto, Vertigo Records – Ottawa, ALBERTA Blackbyrd Myoozik – Edmonton, Listen Records – Edmonton, Sound Connection – Edmonton BRITISH COLUMBIA Audiopile – Vancouver, Ditch Records – Victoria, Meow Records – Prince George, Red Cat – Vancouver, Zulu Records – Vancouver

No 'Rotate This - Toronto' in the record stores list?  If for no other reason than they are one of the only places I know where you can buy tickets to every show without delivery fees.  It makes a huge difference for independent artists where the ticket prices are low, but the rediculous ticketmaster fees are the same.

thanks for all the info about your tablets. I need (strongly want) to get a smart phone and I think I'm going to drink my kool-aid (OH YEAH!) and get an iPhone...but I have no idea where to turn to hit that sweet spot between laptop and smartphone...

Yeah, I'm not really thinking of it as an investment so much as wanting to have more control over my home.  This is in a six-unit co-op, so I'll have a fair bit of say in the building as well as being able to paint my walls and hang things up and such.

I take possession February 19th.  Probably moving on the twentieth.

hahahah...yes, that's exactly the kind of advice to take! (Beautiful, funny, smart Canadian indie starlets are like desserts)

dear krib - yep, I did see the video of Hannah. When I got home yesterday I skimmed through all the blog posts from the past two days and saw the link on the front page. It was probably from Jennifer...thanks for everything you always toss up Jennifer! (and John..)

Unfortunately I've converted only a few pals to Canadian indie.  I think we're still debating which Megadeth album is best, Killing Is My Business vs. Peace Sells.  I vote for Peace Sells.

Hey Lana,

It seems that since I hate the Beetles people are often appauled that I can even voice such a dislike of their beloved band.  This always ends up with my friends explaining to me how great every Beetle album is and why I should love it.

I hate the beetles!But I love you Lana,  XOXOX

Dr. Noodle.

Strombo is probably high up on the list...he's got quite the variety of musical taste and is just an insane encyclopedia of knowledge on so many subjects. (see: Strombo show on sundays)

(Case-In-Point: i brought the zolas to his attention when they were touring through, and he now plays them. excellent taste)

I'd have to say Folk of the 80s, but a close second would be "the adventures of..."

...with your 41. Funeral seems a much more cohesive "opus" album than Neon Bible. I played Funeral on my home sound system just the other month and it gave me chills all over again.

And to think I saw them perform it live!, at the Sheep (natch), when the encore that they did...

was to reprise one of the Neighbourhood cuts. Just like what an encore used to be in Italian opera*!

*The crowd, if it really liked an aria, would applaud and loudly demand it be sung again. And it used to be done! Even several times, on rare occasion.

location, location, location indeed! After seeing that price tag attached to the mini unit I realized I must be very lucky..my place is still small (450sq ft) but it's only $820/month. And I don't know that I could be in a better location...

I wish I could do with guitar solo's what used to be done for aria's. PS, I love the word reprise.

Most people know Smashing Pumpkins Tonite, Tonite, but not as many will have heard Tonite, Tonite - Reprise

edmonton with 1million people has LRT running till 1am? Same as Vancouver...I really came to Vancouver with inflated expectations of how progressive and forward thinking the transit system would be. It's ok. and getting better. but man is there so much room for improving the system

Yes to ypour comments, and this to boot: the nakedness in question is not sexy or even flattering nudity, but as pointed out, stark, gritty, having-no-clothes-on-ness. Took guts.

I'm not krib.

Also, yeah, it does.  But it has absolutely no transit of any kind after about 1 am.  All the "late night" bus routes stop running at around 1 am, then there's no busses until something like 5 am.

...if you like pop. I still "hear" them here and there in some effects or bits, these days.

LimeJello, do you happen to know (the American band from Austin) Spoon, do you like that band?

Pantera.  Spinal Tap a close #2.

Wow. I've never thought of the Thom Yorke reference! That makes a lot of sense! I've always figured him as some weird form of Neil Young, rebirthed.

What's your favorite Chad album? I'm very partial to Soft Airplane, but my buddy thinks Skelliconnection is probably the BEST album ever made. by anyone. ever.

I've shown several of my favorite Canadian indie videos to my 2 Canadian co-workers and they pretty much have the opposite opinion of them every time.  One likes it and the other does not.  Happened with La Patere Rose - La Marelle, Shad - The Old Prince, and Bend Sinister - Time Breaks Down.  And Truck Got Stuck by Corb Lund!!  How can anyone not like that video?  But they both agreed that Commes des Enfants is amazing, as we all know.

ditto :)

INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART INFINIHEART

Sorry bout that. I kinda get a bit carried away when I'm excited and skip over important details... like to whom the post is actually adressed to. haha.

You just typed what I think I've been thinking in my head for a while.  That could also explain why sometimes i think they're phoning it in... then something so perfectly RIGHT will happen out of thin air.  It even happens with track that I write off as "boring" in the past, then will come around and hit me like a ton of bricks.  Case in point, "Finer Feelings".

So ya, Girls Can Tell is their first, and probably my favorite.  though that changes all the damn time.

Funny story, when I ordered "Girls Can Tell" I also ordered albums by Girls and Little Girls.  It's kind of weird telling people you ordered a bunch of "girls" from the internet to arrive at your door.

Incidentally, not much of a metalhead at all, me. Though aware, starting with Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith in the 80s, etc. Will watch some Much metal videos to keep aware, but don't much like hatefuckviolentmetal.

Liked the Beatles a lot back when, they were my main band. Their stuff has for the most part aged well. Still replay some of their later albums, and the Anthology tome II plays really well too.

Regarding Spoon, if there's one of Kill the Moonlight and Gimme Fiction that you don't have, get it! Absolutely top drawer, both. Think I posted that opinion some months back.

you've ordered the latest Fucked Up, correct?

@Absotively - whoops..sorry :). I'm not sure how I kept the city straight, but not the person...

Vancouver has the longest stretch of automated Light Rail in the damn world (no drivers needed, all centrally controlled) and it closes at 1am...We do have night bus service that goes until 3am (i think) but I still expect more. For the Olympics, service will extend all the way until...2am. But not on the Canada line that connects the Airport/Richmond/Vancouver...

I'm all for having good paying, city jobs (SkyTrain attendants, Transit police) but we pay for too many of them without enough return on investment. The SkyTrain runs on the 'honour' system. No turnstile to get on. As such, we pay people to check tickets (which they rarely do) It boggles my mind that the city doesn't want to be able to effectively track how many people are using the system, where the take it too, where growth is occuring, on and on

I'd think they can track some of the usage without people counting.  You can look at things like where and when tickets are purchased/validated (for tickets at stations).  Or, I dunno, you could analyse security camera footage or something.

Which is not to say that they do.

If I'm a bit late for work in the morning, the busses along Whyte are always packed—no elbow room at all, and three or four people standing in front of the "don't stand in front of this line" line.  You would think they would notice this, and add some busses, but no...

Don't know what you should do, but this was my getting into Spoon: Kill the Moonlight was the first one I bought. I had heard and noticed one song repeatedly, bought Kill, and ended up loving almost all the tracks.

Later, I bought Gimme Fiction when it came out, and in short thought it was if possible even better. Every cut, every one a keeper.

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga disappointed me a little. Not as strong, I thought. But the two others I keep replaying despite having faded out the data thru repeated laser burn.

Heh, not really.

But I do like having the ceedees, as they fit into my better sound systems, the regular home one, the car one and even the portable with headphones job. Full sound, as opposed to the iMac's more limited capabilities.

same thing here for all buses during peak periods. Packed. Which is great. I want people to use our transit system. The Olympic experiment is going to be very 'fun'. TransLink has warned to expect delays of up to two hours. personally I'm really hoping that they've been liberal in that estimate, to set expectations very low. Then if delays are only around half an hour they get kudos. But, if 2 hour waits prove to be rather common, then that tells me that our system currently is very much near capacity.

Yes, they can use security/ticket vending to get some information, but it's very incomplete. The vast majority (I presume) of users have a monthly pass, so they don't buy tickets at the stations themselves, just have the pass handy to show if an attendant asks to see it. So estimates are then coming from video analysis alone. How often they do that is really hard to say. I'm trying to find numbers on the daily ridership of the Canada Line (new link connecting Airport to Downtown Vancouver) and the only number I can find is a forecast from 2008...

For years TransLink has argued against installing turnstiles, saying that a study they had conducted concluded that the cost to install the turnstiles is about the same as what they lose from people avoiding the fare. For the life of me though I can't find out if that is a comparison of fares lost in a year, or fares lost over the expected lifespan of the turnstiles. Plus I've always believed that the estimates of how much is lost from people avoiding fares is rather conservative. It never fails that anytime I do see transit police doing a ticket inspection that they are writing out a citation.

I've been dying to start doing some writing about transit, but trying to educate myself a bit first. seems like you're kinda interested in this stuff too..do you read any transit blogs that I should be aware of?

I don't know a whole lot about it, but I am a member of the Transit Riders' Union of Edmonton.  Not a great member, though; I tend to miss meetings because I forget about them.

I think ETS actually checks ridership by hiring someone to sit on the bus and count people occasionally, but I could be wrong about that.

My emusic downloads should've recharged today. I should go see if Infiniheart is up there. I really like Soft Airplane.

somewhere in my rant I forgot to mention that as our buses are packed to capacity during peak periods, we need more. Right now I'm trying to find a cost/benefit analysis of full size busses vs. the smaller community sized models...Where's Lee Hower when you need him?

For the record, Truthfully Truthfully is his best album. Most people would say Down at the Khyber or Ashtray Rock but I'm sticking to my guns.

is Nowhere With You on an actual album? I've been looking for it on emusic and it's not there

I'm no Lee Hower, that's for sure, but I did do some digging for you.

http://on.dot.wi.gov/wisdotresearch/database/briefs/05-14tranbenefits-b.pdf

If you scroll down a bit, you can see a cost/benefit analysis of public transportation in Wisconsin.  In summary, "Researchers’ cost-benefit analysis showed that investing in transit would produce a return of over $3 for each dollar spent at all potential state funding levels evaluated."

So if that's not incentive for ANY province/state to upgrade their public transportation, I don't know what is.  And that's flippin Wisconsin. (and no, Wisconson doesn't RULE!!!! haha :P)

Then to correlate it to Canada, here's a study done in Quebec.  It even shows HOW they're going to improve public transportation.  Copy and paste that shit, Brad Wall.

http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/portal/page/portal/Librairie/Publications/en/transport_collectif/transit_policy_nov06.pdf

So in summary, it seems like Public Transportation is the cats pyjama's and everyone should jump on board. Literally.

 That's hands down my most played Plaskett CD.  You can't go wrong with that one on full blast in the summer time.

Cake for You makes me want to hear Your Kiss by Prince -- if that's the title.

CAKE! Let Lana eat CAKE!

Ben: I like this. It reminds me of She & Him (who have another album coming out soon apparently!)

Krib: that's quite the fascinating read.  But it's sort of like imagining I'm in dreamland cause I doubt I'll see the day that happens here. I really do like the innovation though, it's encouraging there are actually people in the world that are in power and like change. 

I wonder what their solution to a Canadian winter would be? You can't bank on a lot of people walking still.

Yes! Why can't every band bring out a big slab cake for their audience?