blog post RADIOGRAHAM - New Release Tuesday and Polaris Pre Party!

Yo Graham! 

@Graham: Anti-gone-ish ;)

GOOD MORNING!

Graham! It's so nice to hear you (I haven't yet... but it is inevitable). I never catch your regular show on the weekend so this is a nice treat for ol' Steph!

What's goin' on with Tokyo Police Club these days? 

Polaris - DAVID COMES TO LIFE FOR THE WIN!!!

Graham - I'm pulling for Rich Aucoin for the big prize!

axis - Have you ever been NOT kissed on kiss cam?

I'm with OldManJanes - I think Rich Aucoin released a really solid album and I believe it has a very good chance of taking the big prize.

@bengineer - Nothing like this has happened in Toronto so I don't think it should discourage you. I'm more shocked than anything. I don't understand how a situation like this can even come into being. You know... 300 people at a party on a Monday night. What the hell!? 

In other news... You're moving here (to Toronto... I pretend I live there) in May!? Cool! For what?

@bengineer - I think that most of the shootings that happen are motivated. Which doesn't make it any better, but it's unlikely that you'll just run into some guy with a gun and get shot. I like how you call them thugs... haven't heard that one in a while.

That's cool though! I'm kinda looking to move to Toronto as well.. I think. I'm not really sure. I might be done with London though, as sad as I am to say it! Best of luck with your job hunt! Stay in Canada! :)

@steph not to sidetrack the blog here but the international jobs I've been looking at so far are with big Canadian firms working on emerging markets. It's a good chance to get in and impress some folks to land good jobs higher in the food chain back here. I don't have a family to drag around, so why not?

I think Halifax is a little on the violent side actually. Maybe not murders but too many muggings. There's a musician, Kyle,  from some bands you may know- Olympic Symphonium, Grand Theft Bus and Share, who got robbed and they messed his hands up so he couldn't play for a while.

@Benoit - I understand that other people have different schedules than me and many people work through the weekend... but I'm still surprised that 200+ people do. It's just not something you hear happening on a Monday night very often. A huge party, I mean, not the shooting. Maybe I'm just jealous that this person has 200 friends.... ;)

hedge, if two guys -- you notice it's almost ALWAYS guys? -- if two guys decide to shoot at each other in a crowd of several hundred people, and remember, we're not talking about cold, trained marksmen here, well, "accidents" will happen.

Yeah, Halifax had some bad swarmings for a while. Flannel Tom was caught in one. The police kept reporting "nothing of note" in their nightly watch reports, and some of the local media is still fighting that battle.

Hedgeway: it happens when morons show up at a block party.

So... it seem hedgeway and I are the only people shocked here.... interesting.

Benoit - Thanks, yeah. I read the article I posted before posting it. :)

Steph, news has been reporting infrequent gang-style shootings in Toronto for 20-30 years now. Starting probably in the 80s.

I'm too damned informed -- read experienced, old. Nothing much ever surprises me anymore. Mild surprise perhaps, but shock?

No.

So, it's Polaris Short List Day today, eh?  Always loads of fun... good luck to all the artists on the long list today!

Benoit - Oh! I know there's lots of gang violence. Like I said... I'm more surprised by the size of this "bbq" on a Monday night than anything. And that something that happens, apparently, ever year could turn into such a tragic event. I hope I never become desnsitized to events like this... 

ANYWAY... I LIKE YOUR PICTURE!!

@hedgeway -- I think we'll find out how underwhelming it is when the short list is announced today.  I know in years past I've thought that the long list wasn't too interesting, until I saw that some of my "obvious" short list picks were bumped for some as-yet-unknown (to me) artist.

I mean, I think there are a few artists who people would consider sure-things for the short list... but will the voting jury agree?

Man I hope I'm able to be around the blog this afternoon, I love Polaris announcement shows!

Voting is a harsh mistress. Master. Whichever.

@EricR - You're saying "sure things" so I'm picking the 5 I think will make, not the 5 I want to.

Grimes - She's had too much hype even though I dislike Visions

Dan Mangan - Another person people have a love affair with. I think Oh Fortune is an improvment on NNVN

Rich Aucoin - His story of how ambitious his album is is well documented

Fucked Up - A Polaris veteran, probably the most ambitious album except for Rich Aucoin

Japandroids - Again, just based on that hype machine called the internet.

Not a huge fan of Fucked Up, unfortunately.

Also, I feel like Polaris time is also the most negative time to be on the blog. People are a lot more vocal about the songs they don't like than they usually are. (not necessarily a bad thing)

@Benoit -- I had a similar feeling towards the list, even thinking that with Drake and Grimes and Blackie/Rodeo Kings (and maybe even Feist?) it had gotten a bit "mainstream" ... but then I reminded myself that I have no idea what the general public considers indie vs. mainstream any more.  Yes, we recognize these artists, but does the average HMV- going person?

I'd think that last year with AF, Sloan and Stars etc., on it, we had more "big" indie darlings on that list than we do this year.

canada, I agree: true opinions are often shielded, here.

EricR, hedgeway, etc., I think we're all orbiting the same explanation.

EricR @ 48, quite correct, that observation, I think.

Polaris Short List announced today, then EVOLVE in 3 days!!! I'm too excited, someone help me...

Turns out I've only heard 14 of the 40 longlist albums in their entirety.

@benoit

You're doing in wrong. You have to have crack opinions about the entire album based on part of a song you sort of remember.

canadajanes:  i totally agree about the level of argument going way up on the blog around Polaris time.  Not that I don't enjoy a good debate, but it does seem more like we're trying to convince each other to dislike the things we dislike, rather than trying to let people like whatever they want and just celebrate the music in general.  I've totally been guilty of doing this, so I'm not pointing any fingers here.  But thanks for mentioning that.

Says its supposed to feel like 42 in Waterloo today.... buh.

@Bengineer -- have you visited all your potential destinations before?  I've been to Toronto (obviously) and San Fran; never Berlin, but of those two, if you could afford it, at your age I'd totally consider a few years in San Fran.  It's a wonderful city/area.

Why would you travel from London for free liquor??

@hedgeway - Hahahaha! I know! It makes no sense... I mean... I would travel that far for free booze but I have a problem... ;)

I'm taking the advice "Go outside" of Hot Panda.

Later!

I hate that I'm going to in class when the shortlist gets announced.

Is there going to be an obligatory francophone on the short list? If so, is there any way it's not going to be Marie-Pierre Arthur?

@eric I used to live in Germany, and I've seen a few openings in the three cities I've expressed interest in, but most of the spots are at headquarters in Berlin. The only one on my list I haven't spent time in is San Francisco. I think things will become more clear this fall as I begin formal talks. I don't want to say that money is no object, because obviously it is, but I know I can earn enough to live in any of those cities, especially while I'm young and single and looking for experiences.

@steph, loweeda- It's not a huge deal... I can get my computer by 2:30m so not all is lost. I also have one of those fancy phone thingys with the twitters I can keep an eye on.

bengineer:  San Fransisco is supposed to be an amazing city--full of culture, great eating, lots of stuff to do, etc.  If I were young and single and looking for experiences, I would think about living there.  

As it is, I'm only one of those things...well, two, maybe.  I'll let you guess which ones.

Okay, I'm really really really gone.

Puter off.

@bengineer: I've had lengthy visits to San Francisco the last two springs, and it's a great town: transit system is easy to navigate, the weather is sunny but cool, there's a sense of unity around the city (if only in support of the Giants), it's eclectic and interesting, offers a pretty good imitation of Halifax's (awesome, if it's your kind of thing) sushi, and the different districts (hipster/Spanish/gay) are all vibrant and welcoming. My cousin lives in Noe Valley, which is just outside the main core but still close and very livable. I'm obviously biased, but choose San Fran!

One drawback if you're straight, single, and looking: I was baffled by the lack of beautiful "Cali girls" when I was up there, until I slowly realized "hey, this is the gay capital of the world; why would any good-looking girl want to live here?" So there's that.

@opal that last paragraph could be the kicker... 

canadajanes re 87;  wow, that's so interesting to hear!  I'm very curious to know what this person looks like (ie. what I look like from the outside ;)).  if you see her again, take a pic!  It's also interesting because we've never actually met.  Maybe I look different in real life!  

which reminds me, you and Alisha should visit London again sometime soon.

@canadajanes [91] - YES. ROAD TRIP! Hahaha!

Ya!  I would love an excuse to go to Toronto!  And I don't have classes then, so I'd totally be up for it.

(and of course you wouldn't take a picture of some stranger.  I would never expect you to.  but I probably look pretty much like what you expect.  I've definitely found that about meeting R3ers in general.  Everyone looks and acts pretty much how you think they're going to, which is pretty awesome, when you think about it)

@canadajanes/loweeda - Brewery Tour!! Yeah!! I'm going to a wedding on the 24th, but should be good the rest of the weekend! Woooo!

if I had it my way we would lock Vish, Grant and Craig in the CBC studio

@Bengineer - I'm a little late to the discussion but having lived in the Bay Area, I can say that the weather is unpredictable and bizarre. As the old saying goes "The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco". The winters are beautiful but the summers can be downright frigid, especially when the fog rolls in for days on end and blocks out all the sun. We often found as much as a 30F difference between downtown SF and SFO. Having said that, what a freaking amazing place to live. Assuming you can afford it.

If I had it my way I'd lock.... nevermind.

Craig had to leave to prepare for Polaris... stuff. I don't know what his job is, but it sounded important.

@Zammy: Alright then, go away.

Craig had to sort out a bunch of paperwork

@xcanuck sounds a lot like Halifax. Just with more to do and different people than those I've hung out with my whole life, or the last five years.

111+1

@pjrocksmb[105]: I didn't wanna disagree with Graham and irk him again this morning, but I agree with you. I love Japandroids, but if you're going from the "who made the best album, artistically-speaking" this year, then that album just doesn't cut it. Great rock album - not a great artistic album, even in the way Fucked Up's was.

the stream is so sketchy today :(

steph:  enough to lock him in a room?  haha, sorry for jumping on your typo, but I couldn't resist.  

ya, it was good, but hey:  you saw Matt Mays, and No Sinner, and...I can't even remember all the other good stuff.  

@steph, ben - I'm pretty sure she too.

I left out no words.

@ canadajanes re. #8 I just got what you meant,haha. Well, I've never been refused a kiss on Kiss Cam, but I usually go to games with my 10 year old son, so we don't make it onto the big screen. I always tell him to get ready just in case, which results in lots of eye-rolling.

This song is ok

holy hot Ontario. Band practice will be murder tonight. Beer will be a must.

Hello late risers!

this week in Winterpeg it's going to feel like over 40 degrees

Is it weird that I don't find it that hot out today? 

so...holy cooking quebecers!

It was so hot in Calgary last week (about 27ish, which is way too hot for me), but we've had a lot of rain in the last few days, which has cooled everything down.

(Sorry Graham) I friggin' love this Classic Soul/R&B stream.

The song playing now is called Everybody Loves the Sunshine. Hahaha. Ahhhhh the irony.

I'll stop saying random shit now.

@Laurita - Yes! and I'm so glad. I've spent a lot of nights in the library this summer just for the AC.

@ Hedgeway-nice!

@loweeda - Special Oooccccaaaasssiiiooonnnn. 

1- Dan Mangan – Oh Fortune

2- John K. Samson – Provincial 

3- Yukon Blonde – Tiger Talk

4- Great Lake Swimmers – New Wild Everywhere

5- Bahamas – Barchords

@ Gunner-dom-is this your personal list?

@Steph - Yes, it is weird that you don't find it that hot out today ;)

my kitchen smells like a sugar shack, almost.

which R&B stream do you guys recommend? looks like there are 2.

@ Gunner-you're in O-town? right on.

Laurita

Sounds like your kitchen smells amazing.

It also sounds like your roommate is a traitor to coffee.

also, does  anyone know if the show will be aired again a t 8 PM like usual with Craig's show? I'd  love to listen later tonight and find out the list!

@ Zammy: she is heh, but also the sweeetest person ever (eh? ehhh?) so I forgive her.

I usually drink mocha if it IS flavoured, or Chai Lattes. but I agree with y'all, flavoured coffees are silly. but my roommate is not, so you know. Plus she's like at least 5 inches taller than me and could probably kick my ass.

@jdurley - This is how I feel about flavoured coffee. 

Morning blog!  I don't know who is going to win Polaris, but I'd love to see Great Lake Swimmers do it!

@laurita Yeah, that's my favourites from the list. Hoping one of those win. And yes, I'm actually from Gatineau but I work in Ottawa.

@gunner_dom: you live in Ottawa too? yay!

To the others currently listening to the R&B stream (sorry, I couldn't handle Grimes again), they are currently playing Shaft. i think I might go strut around the office like a bad mother--shut yo' mouth!

@ Jdurley-way ahead of you, sister ;)

I cannot stand the vocals in this The Weeknd song.

@ Jdurley-yay! This stream excites me quite a lot.

Rock the Casbah!

@ Jdurley-they're playing the Tanyas on Canadian  Singer-Songwriters!

@ Alsace-grumble grumble amurr'can monopolization of our technology grumble grumble.

Laurita & Alsace

Hahaha. I think the problem is the opposite of monopolisation. CBC genre streams being dedicatedly Canadian and all. =P

@ Graham: Heyyyy! Glad to hear from ya! and your prediction is probably pretty spot on. Kinda amusing that it's called 'Polaris' considering.

It's a toss up between Rich Aucoin and Dan Mangan for me. They both better make the short list!

RICH AUCOIN FOR PRESIDENT POLARIS

@kidc - Love me some SDM. :) 

Mondegreen: Rich Aucoin - IT: "We got our pants down, We got our pants down (down)..."

I'm listening to a song on Canadian Roots and I'm pretty sure I'm mondegreen-ing the lyrics. What I keep hearing the corner is We got our pants down, we got our pants down, we got our pants down; we're not runnin' now.

*hearing in the chorus. yikes.

aaaaaaaaand it's not on Canadian Roots. wow. FAIL.

@laurita - I think she may be home sick today? Here's wishing her a speedy recovery.

@Marie. Ah ha ha ha, that's hilarious.

wow, we REALLY mondegreen-ed that. it's "we've got our heads down." Huh.

@ T&C: sometimes, even when a song is available,  I can't seem to add it to a playlist. the button will come up and I'll select a playlist and then  NOTHING HAPPENS. I'm not sure why, but I find it helps to add a song when it's actually playing.

@iceman, I believe he was pumping up some kicks with his other band.

zamm, I get a message saying "it's already there; do you wish to continue?", or similar.

Old Man Luedecke actually sounds kindof sad in 'Closing Time'. I didn't know he could do that.

BfO

It may be browser-related. I think I was using RockMelt at the time...

Graham

Yesss.... Break the law on our behalf. You know you wanna.

yaaaaaaaaay Be Good Tanyas!

(flailing in my empty apartment though, so it's ok  :)

Whoo shout out for Roncesvaille, or Roncey!

OK, wish me luck - I have to go drive my daughter to her art class in this heat, with no a/c in my car.  Luckily the car has cloth seat covers.  Anyone here remember having to put your swim towel on the vinyl car seat to keep from burning your legs?  good times.

@ Jdurley: good luck!

@jdurley - The A/C on my car has been broken for more than a year. I'm not getting it fixed, unless I take it on a long trip. I can just open the windows on short trips.

Good Morning!!!

Look! I'm up before 9am! (Ive actually been awake for hours, tossing and turning. Stupid sickness!)

As for the short list. I am nervous for my ballot picks!!! Fingers Crossed!

@ CMac, that's funny, I never thought of it that way, from a juror's perspective. I believe in your taste in music.

@axis I had a good convo with Mike Devlin, the juror that did the Polaris Profile with Kathryn Calder that we had last night...while our ballots are different we agreed on each others (for the most part).

There are probably 15 albums that I could pick to be Top 10, but arghhhh. I'm nervous. As long as say, my top 2/3 are on there, I'll be content... :s

I'm sure a LOT of my picks match up with some of the R3 feeling/taste...but you never know.

@axis 235 - The first line of the Be Good Tanyas song was something like "drunk on Roncesvaille again".

@ The Iceman:  I'm  actually surprised that no one mentioned them during the mondegreen blog. It is impossible to  understand what Frazey Ford is saying, god bless her.

So... is Graham going until 10, then the Polaris Pre-show stuff kicks off?

Wow, a 5th hour? Threw me off!

I am digging Shooting Guns

@Old Abe - Me too! Also the band.

I guess Graham is using is fifth hour for punny/literalist song titles?

I want my Grant Lawrence.....

[246] Correct!

Extend-O-Graham

@CMac 247 - I guess that goes under the Mondegreen category! ;)

My wife picked 3 pails of fresh organic raspberries from her mom's yesterday.  Best food on earth.... ok with a side of fresh MB fried walleye.

I trade her mom fresh organic veggies for fish - what a great deal!

O and where I fish, I have to walk through a forest of blue berrries - god damn I love my weekends

Wait what!? Did I got back in time!? I hope not........ the day was going so well!

Steph

Everything is ruined forever.

Did you ever eat a blueberry dipped in white chocolate? ... I haven't, but I bet it would be heavenly!

Escher

Would dried count? I've had that. It was really good. Not much sucks when dipped in white chocolate.

@zamm - :( Sorry.

Rich Aucoin. Rich Aucoin, Rich Aucoin. Does this work like "Biggie Smalls, Biggie Smalls, Biggie Smalls"?

I hope Rich A makes the shortlist. In case anyone didn't get that.

Have the central/eastern folks around here not heard of Saskatoon berries? Delicious. 

Steph

Think of purple elephants.

@Marie_C - White Chocolate = impostor

Fine if you like it, but it's not really chocolate. Just sayin'.

@smallie. I love Saskatoon berries. I need to find some Saskatoon bushes in Calgary so that I don't need to pay  for my berries!

lol

@ smallie: I have I have! my dad buy's 'em all the time in Ottawa. When I was in Toronto 2 summers ago it was during the heatwave of 2010 and I was walking through Kensington Market looking for a place to eat some dinner. I found a place called Wanda's Pie in the Sky and had homemade Saskatoon berry pie with vanilla ice cream for dinner on a patio. it. was. awesome. 

@ Bengineer-so you're saying you're a Jedi and/or a cylon, then?

Iceman

An argument could be made for either side. White chocolate doesn't contain any cocoa powder but it is still made from cacao beans, specifically using cocoa butter.

You made me curious so I looked it up.

@laurita that's for me to know and you to find out.

@ Bengineer-curses!

at bengineer

it's about instagram.

(actually, it kind of it. it's more or less about using new technology to make things faux-vintage)

#288 Wanda's Pie in the Sky is heaven on earth

@pjrocksmb #256, you have your own Grant Lawrence?

I'm pretty sure white chocolate is just sugar and milk.

he's a busy beaver

Laurita

You wouldn't even know until you were awakened.

Not long left if you wish to enter the 2012 Polaris Prize Pool, International Edition! (Link)

Randomn fact - I added avocado to my usual salad and I am feeling full about 1/2 way through.

@Iceman: I support the addition of this super food. 

Also: I support the playing of "Meet Me in the Basement" as it is awesome. The extent to which I rocked out to this song in concert was embarrassing for everyone involved. 

we want to know now damn it

at alsace

the long list is announced in ONE hour. (and seven mintues)

@alsace yes. correct.

@alsace #321, that's simple, don't eat lunch :)

sure!

you chop a mango and a half (I use the smaller orange ones because they're sweeter,and I peel them), add 2 smallish avocados chopped into  chunks, add a bunch of arugula or baby spinach torn up,then toss. for dressing I chop up a green onion, add a tablespoon or so of honey, squeeze juice from half a lemon, and add some olive oil and poppyseeds. all this can be adjusted for taste.  Pour dressing on salad at your leisure and enjoy The Feelings :)

yeah DAVE

What do you think you're doing, Daaaaaave?

@laurita. Yum! Thanks

Hi Graham and Pete! the mic sounds kinda funky, though...

Network crisis. What happened? Did I miss something?