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Music Roundup

Come and Get It: The Best of Apple Records In 1968, The Beatles formed Apple Corps. Ltd., a new home for the records, and of the amazing and strange records of their contemporaries. Recently released is Come And Get It: The Best of Apple Records a record that can only be described as mis-titled. This is definitely not the best of Apple, as it doesn’t feature The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” or Lennon’s “Mother.” Instead it could more aptly be titled “Assorted Single, and such.” Though The Beatles, as a cohesive unit, do not grace the record, they are still in sight. The album features Lennon/McCartney compositions such as “Golden Slumbers/Carry… Read More »Music Roundup

Music Roundup

Postcards and Daydreaming by Dan Mangan While Dan Mangan’s latest record, Nice Nice Very Nice blew me away, if I was first exposed to Mangan’s music with his debut Postcards and Daydreaming, I probably wouldn’t care too much about him. That’s not to say that it’s a bad record, but instead to say that it’s average; average average very average. Postcards and Daydreaming starts with a high point, “It’s Not What You Think It Is” which might get his fans excited that it’s up to the quality of his later release. However, the audience is left continuing on through a record of unremarkable folk music. I’m going to take this… Read More »Music Roundup

A Message from W.L. Mackenzie

Politics is the science which teaches the people of a country to care for each other. If a mischievous individual were to attempt to cut off his neighbour’s hand, would that neighbour’s other hand and feet do well quietly to permit the amputation of the limb if they could hinder it? All will say, No. This then is politics. That part of our duty which teaches us to study the welfare of our whole country, and not to rest satisfied altho’ our own household is well off when our neighbours are in difficulty and danger. The honest politician is he who gives all he can of his time and means… Read More »A Message from W.L. Mackenzie

Music Roundup

Hawk by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan This album can only be described as pure beauty. The insanely high and twee voice of Campbell’s matched with the gruff, deep, strained voice of Lanegan are perfectly matched. The album starts off with “We Die And See Beauty Reign,” a soft sober song, which brings the listener into this vocal pairing. Immediately after, it gets heavier with one of the highlights, “You Won’t Let Me Down Again.” Campbell, who wrote all but two of the songs1, isn’t afraid to play around in genre. The soul song “Come Undone” could easily fit on a Sharon Jones record, and doesn’t sound out of place… Read More »Music Roundup

Ceci est mon amant Adam. Il goûte comme les fraises, les pêches, et la girafe.

These few weeks have been guest weeks for Music Monday, YES! Today’s is coming from Adam Shanley. Adam Shanley is a musician currently residing in western New York, 430 miles West of New York City. He earned Masters degrees from the State University of New York at Fredonia in Music Theory/Composition and Classical guitar performance and is currently applying to doctoral programs in Music Theory. He writes a blog at quartertonality.com and some of his reviews can also be found at groovemine.com. Adam has also written surveys of 20th Century concert music for the Directory of Recorded American Music. In addition to writing projects Adam is currently working on a… Read More »Ceci est mon amant Adam. Il goûte comme les fraises, les pêches, et la girafe.

Johnny Guitar

I went to the Lightbox theatre on the weekend, and saw the classic western Johnny Guitar. I had never seen it, or heard about it before, and honestly I’m not much of a fan of westerns, but this wasn’t your normal cowboy film. For one thing, the protagonist is not the titular character, but instead Joan Crawford as Vienna. The antagonist is Mercedes McCambridge as Emma. Vienna has built a saloon in the middle of nowhere, with the advance knowledge that the railroad will soon be coming right by there. She’s prostituted herself to get business information and favours to help her build her saloon. However in the near town is… Read More »Johnny Guitar

Lennon Naked

I recently reviewed the film Nowhere Boy, the prequel to Backbeat. In my review I stated: Now it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Backbeat, but if I recall, the band went on to be rather big, maybe it’s time for a sequel studying that part of their career. This film did just that. The film starts in 1964, when John Lennon meets his father for the first time in 17 years. While Nowhere Boy examined Lennon’s relationship with his mother, Lennon Naked is about his relationship with his father. The film follows some key events in the life of Lennon’s up until 1971 when Lennon and his wife Yoko… Read More »Lennon Naked