From Blown Speakers

Monday, June 07, 2021
i stay polite. it keeps me alive

now playing: Laura Stevenson - State

posted by Quinn @ 9:24 p.m. Comments:0

Tuesday, March 09, 2021
he offers us a ride. i reply, "no, that's alright"

What a beautiful, gut punch of a song.

now playing: Lucy Dacus - Thumbs

posted by Quinn @ 3:16 p.m. Comments:0

Monday, January 04, 2021
after those who mean it. and do it to survive

Here is some music I really enjoyed this year.

Albums:

Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher

Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Freddie Gibbs - Alfredo

Frances Quinlan - Likewise

Songs:

Laura Stevenson - After Those Who Mean It

John K. Samson - Fantasy Baseball At the End of the World

Phoebe Bridgers - Garden Song

Waxahatchee - Ruby Falls

Sun June - Karen O

Boldy James feat. the Alchemist and Benny the Butcher - Scrape the Bowl

Idles - Mr. Motivator

Tobe Nwigwe feat. Royce da 5'9" and Black Thought - Father Figure

Soccer Mommy - Circle the Drain

The Killers - Imploding the Mirage

Shows:

Frances Quinlan and Mary Lattimore @ the Fox

posted by Quinn @ 9:44 p.m. Comments:0

Wednesday, December 30, 2020
good news

I'm sure this will come up a lot as this exercise goes on, but that Bad Channels record really made me nostalgic. I actually played with them (with a different band--we just shared a bill) twice in 2012 and these days I barely pick up my guitar. Also, Brent remains a great friend and around this time last year, I "DJ'd" he and his wife Cindy's 10th anniversary party at the ANZA.

As for the music, it's exactly the type of music I think of when I think of Brent. He actually has a really wide range of things he likes, but these poppy punk songs that straddle the line between modern and classic sound like the amalgamation of what I think his favourite sounds are (minus Motorhead).

Going through all of these records in alphabetical order made me realize I actually don't own Julien Baker's sophomore record, Turn Out the Lights. I was going along thinking that I was still buying all the records I really, really liked in the era of streaming, but that was definitely one of my favourites of 2017 and I never ended up picking it up.

It's been awhile since I sat down with her debut and I honestly couldn't remember how much I'd listened to it when it was released. Turns out, it was a lot, as every song was instantly familiar. And while she's grown a lot as a songwriter in the last 5-years, it's still a strong listen front to back.

now playing: Julien Baker - Ballad of Big Nothing

posted by Quinn @ 1:37 a.m. Comments:0

Tuesday, December 22, 2020
hey meet me in the city

I have to admit that I had the Babe Rainbow EP running at the wrong RPMs, but even (not chopped, but) screwed Cam's weirdo instrumental jams are something I like a lot. It's not the type of thing I'm going to wear out nowadays, but definitely a record that I can see myself going back to more often than some of the harsh noise records that have/are yet to come.

Whenever I think of the Babies first record, I think of New York, because "Meet Me in the City" was on a playlist that I listened to more or less on repeat as I zipped around the 7 boroughs, the first time I was there in 2011. And that song in particular, makes me think of the L train emerging from underneath the East River as it rumbles into Manhattan. Which is a long way of saying, both of these albums made me feel a hit of nostalgia.

Kevin Morby's songwriting's become more refined over the decade since, but back then he could still write a helluva hook and they're all over both of these albums.

now playing: Boldy James feat. the Alchemist and Benny the Butcher - Scrape the Bowl

posted by Quinn @ 12:35 a.m. Comments:0

Thursday, December 17, 2020
in the red

This isn't the type of music I'll ever get sick of. And further to that, 10-months after the last indoor show that I've seen, listening to this pair of B-Lines records, made me long for being crammed into a sweaty venue, where beer cans are flying and beer may or may not be being spit into the air.

As I continue the march into middle age (I'm 39 tomorrow), a typical B-Lines show is the type of thing I figured I'd be less and less inclined to attend, but after being cooped up in the house for months, it'd be a dream to be able to let loose and fire back the same kind of adolescent energy that these songs are firing at you.

now playing: Chubby and the Gang - Chubby and the Gang Rule, Ok?

posted by Quinn @ 11:56 p.m. Comments:0

Tuesday, December 15, 2020
and since there's no one else around, we let our hair grow long

I remember the months before Funeral came out--or maybe even the months before it leaked--because there was so much clamour for this band from Montreal. And it's the first time I really remember music blogs driving this hype cycle that, before that, was mostly the realm of the British music press. I can't remember if I felt like it lived up to that hype, but I do remember being thrilled to grab tickets to their two shows in Vancouver, one at the Commodore and an all-ager at the Mesa Luna (RIP).

I can't remember the last time I listened to an Arcade Fire record, and while I've for sure heard songs on the radio when I'm running errands in an Evo or in the supermarket, I haven't really felt compelled to do it for years. With that said, other than When the Pawn..., it's probably the record I've enjoyed the most from front-to-back on this journey so far.

From the three today, Azure Ray's third record was the biggest surprise though. I remember it was very soft sounding and very emo and I wasn't really expecting much, as I threw it on between work meetings. But I liked revisiting the record a lot more than I thought I would and "These White Lights Will Bend to Make Blue" is a song I'd forgot about completely, but as it turns out, still love.

I don't know what else to say about the B-52's debut. It still sounds incredible. Simultaneously of a time and somehow exciting. P4K did a nice job of revisiting it a couple of years ago, so I'll leave it at that.

now playing: Katy Kirby - Cool Dry Place

posted by Quinn @ 11:55 p.m. Comments:0