LINKS, LINKS, AND MORE LINKS

So, I've missed my show the past couple of weeks due to sickness and funerals, but I will be there this week. Expect the unexpected... actually, I'm sure I'll be playing stuff from the Fiery Furnaces, the new Final Fantasy and set up the Pink Mountaintops show coming up on Monday at the Albert.

The Pink Mn'tops show should be a blast. I saw him last fall as Black Mountain, and two summers ago along with Destroyer and Frog Eyes. The former was a great Black Sabbathesque rock out session (so many 'I can't believe they're rockin' this hard' moments it wasn't even funny) while the latter was much more lo - fi. I've had mixed feelings about his latest Axis of Evol album. When it's on, it's really on. But is definetly has its weaker moments. Nonetheless he always seems to put on a pretty decent show.

The Winnipeg Jazz Festival is fast approaching. Looking at the schedule, it seems to be a bit of a lackluster festival with very few interesting acts coming through town. I will hope to see at least one of Elliott Brood free shows at the Old Market Square as well as maybe the Novillero show.

The show that has the most potential of the festival is Seu Jorge (although the write-up on him on the Festival website is awful). Jorge is that portugese dude from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou who sings the Portugese David Bowie throughout. He is also know as the actor who plays Knockout Ned in City of God one of my favorite movies from the last five years. His show should consist of some of his Bowie covers as well as material from his stellar album Cru and should be equall parts bossa nova and lo-fi, which is always a good thing. It all happens at the Pyramid on June 24th and is $20.

In celebration of losing their bassist Chris Cohen, Deerhoof has released this ep of covers and live recordings (no Daniel Smith stuff though) which is easily worth a listen.

Also Will Butler guest posts at Said the Gramophone on Czech music, while the Fiery Furnaces have this atmospheric video for 'Benton's Harbour Blues' which is quickly becoming one of my favorite songs of the year.

Other than that, all there is to do is keep cheering for the Oil. I have a comanding lead in my hockey pool (25 pnts to be exact).

ON OILER'S, PiL'S AND FALLING

Lately I've been getting the feeling that I've been born about twenty-five years late. The postpunk movement from 77-84 (Simon's definition, not necessarily mine) seems to be overtaking my life. First of all, I spent friday afternoon ooogyling over these videos by Pere Ubu, Devo and the Fall over at the youtube, and reading over with keen interest this article at K-punk on the Fall's 'peak' period from 80-83. This resulted in me running over to Music Trader to pick up Hex Enduction Hour (why did it take me so long to buy this album). Then on Saturday I caught myself at Into the Music holding copies of Pere Ubu's Song of the Bailing Man and PiL's Second Edition. Ultimately I went only for Second Edition, as I have enough Pere Ubu for now. This music's taking over my life!

I can't help it either. I'm absolutely fascinated with its messianic elements, it's willingness to destroy all that it has acomplished, only to take it into new directions, a willingness that is suspiciously absent in most independently produced music (especially indie-rock). I can't help but appreciate what groups like Pere Ubu, Devo, Throbbing Gristle, Joy Division, and of course the Fall, have signified. Namely a recognition that any attempt to place music anywhere (be it punk, indie-rock, or even postpunk), ultimately undermines the significance music has on who we are. Music isn't about seeing some form of music that seems to float your boat, and then just slotting yourself seamlessly within it. Music is about destruction, about constantly pointing to new possibilities of which it is not yet. This is why I feel like burning my Broken Social Scene Records in favour of more Destroyer and Final Fantasy albums. Why those who went to see this Strokes this Friday instead of Frog Eyes and Sunset Rubdown made a HUGE mistake. This is why much of the music from 77-84 is dissapointingly underappreciated. Anyways, sorry for the rant, I just had to get this off my chest.

Hockey also has been taking over my life as the Oilers just wont give up. Naturally, this is resulted in me kicking ass in my hockey pool (I'm actually in first as Brent doesn't really exist). Watching yesterday's game, I was suprised that the San Jose fans booed the Candadian national anthem as a sign of their distaste for Edmonton. Little did they realise that that very act made them that much more Albertan (let's forget the rest of Canada and just rely on ourselves ... I say this as an Albertan displaced in Manitoba of course though). Silly rabbit, booing is for Albertans. Hopefully that wont happen in E-town, although I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

My show this Friday probably wont happen as I'm probably heading down to the lovely town of Winkler for a Funeral. I will be around for the Alberta Report though. Make sure you tune in.