Spinner http://www.spinner.com Spinner http://www.spinner.com/media/feedlogo.gif Spinner http://www.spinner.com en-us Copyright 2013 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this headlines and excerpts feed are available for limited commercial distribution. You may repost this feed to your site provided you link back to the original story, do not edit the material, and do not remove this copyright notice. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Pack A.D. Say They're Adding 'Psych Rock' For Nettwerk-Backed Next Album http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/24/pack-a-d-nettwerk-psych-rock/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/24/pack-a-d-nettwerk-psych-rock/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/24/pack-a-d-nettwerk-psych-rock/#comments Filed under: , , ,


The Pack A.D. Pack AD Facebook

Vancouver's hard-touring garage rock duo the Pack A.D. -- comprised of drummer Maya Miller and Becky Black -- has been tearing the roofs off venues and grinding it out on the road for the better part of seven years.

Although the Pack has already been showered with a ton of critical praise and has a strong legion of fans coast-to-coast, the band's fourth album, 2011's college chart-topping Unpersons, has pried open a few more doors, earning the duo a Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Group of the Year and a shiny new deal with Nettwerk Music Group. ]]> Becky BlackBeckyBlackjuno awardsjuno awards 2013JunoAwardsJunoAwards2013junosjunos 2013Junos2013Maya MillerMayaMillerPack A.D.Pack ADPackA.d.PackAdThe Pack A.D.The Pack ADThePackA.d.ThePackAd Jen Zoratti 2013-04-24T16:00:00 00:00 Bahamas' Afie Jurvanen Loses to Leonard Cohen at the Juno Awards, Still Really Good http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/23/bahamas-afie-jurvanen-juno-awards/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/23/bahamas-afie-jurvanen-juno-awards/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/23/bahamas-afie-jurvanen-juno-awards/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Bahamas Afie JurvanenCanvas Media

For Bahamas "it's nice to be nominated" isn't just a press platitude. It actually really was nice to be nominated -- particularly where the prestigious Songwriter of the Year category at the Juno Awards was concerned.

"I think that's kind of the big one," Bahamas, known on his ID as Afie Jurvanen, told Spinner during a one-on-one before heading off to the Juno Awards' Songwriting Circle this weekend with Classified, David Myles, Crystal Shawanda, Danny Michel and Kathleen Edwards. "Writing songs is the most important and rewarding things to me." (His 2012 album Barchords was also up for Adult Alternative Album of the Year. He lost to Serena Ryder.)

He didn't end up win the songwriting prize -- Leonard Cohen took the honors -- the musician-for-hire for the likes of Feist and Zeus knows he did something good on Barchords. ]]> Afie JurvanenAfieJurvanenBahamasbahamas Afie JurvanenBahamas barchordsBahamasAfieJurvanenBahamasBarchordsBarchordsJuno AwardsJuno Awards 2013JunoAwardsJunoAwards2013Tamara LindemanTamaraLindemanThe Weather StationTheWeatherStationWeather StationWeatherStation Jen Zoratti 2013-04-23T15:30:00 00:00 Metric, Juno Award Winners: 'I Hope it Serves as an Inspiration For People' http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/22/metric-juno-award-winners/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/22/metric-juno-award-winners/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/22/metric-juno-award-winners/#comments Filed under: , , ,


MetricCARAS

One of Canada's biggest bands won three Junos at this year's awards on the weekend -- and no one saw it happen.

Toronto synth pop titans Metric picked up trophies for Best Alternative Album of the Year, Recording Package of the Year and guitarist James Shaw won Producer of the Year at Saturday night's untelevised Juno Gala in Regina, SK for their masterful fifth album, Synthetica. They were on a plane flying into Regina straight from Coachella when their awards were declared, so they missed out on their moment of glory.

Still, getting recognition for production was a particular source of pride for Emily Haines and often-unsung hero Jimmy Shaw, who walked the red carpet for Sunday's broadcast awards event together. ]]> Emily HainesEmilyHainesJames ShawJamesShawJuno Award winnersJuno AwardsJuno Awards 2013JunoAwardsJunoAwards2013JunoAwardWinnersJunosJunos 2013Junos2013Metric Jen Zoratti 2013-04-22T13:00:00 00:00 Junos 2013: Leonard Cohen, Metric, Grimes, The Weeknd, Drake, Carly Rae Win Awards http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/22/junos-2013-leonard-cohen-metric-grimes-the-weeknd-drake/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/22/junos-2013-leonard-cohen-metric-grimes-the-weeknd-drake/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/22/junos-2013-leonard-cohen-metric-grimes-the-weeknd-drake/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Carly Rae Jepsen Juno AwardsCARAS

The Juno Awards catch a lot of heat for being too predictable and too mainstream, but this year's slate of nominations -- and several of Saturday and Sunday's wins in Regina, Saskatchewan -- were yet more proof that Canada's Grammys are slowly getting their ear to the ground.

Plus, you gotta a love a year in which Nickelback didn't release anything and therefore couldn't cast their dark shadow over everything.

Aside from Carly Rae Jepsen and "Call Me Maybe" winning all the Junos -- three, to be exact, including Single of the Year -- synth-pop titans Metric also had a big weekend, scoring hardware for Alternative Album of the Year, Recording Package of the Year and Producer of the Year (guitarist Jimmy Shaw). ]]> Carly Rae JepsenCarlyRaeJepsenClassifiedCrystal CastlesCrystalCastlesGrimesJames ShawJamesShawJuno AwardsJuno Awards 2013JunoAwardsJunoAwards2013k.d. langK.d.LangLeonard CohenLeonardCohenMetricRose CousinsRoseCousinsSerena RyderSerenaRyderThe WeekndTheWeeknd Jen Zoratti 2013-04-22T10:25:00 00:00 Suuns 'Images Du Futur': Montreal Band Prove First Album Was No Fluke http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/21/suuns-images-du-futur/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/21/suuns-images-du-futur/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/21/suuns-images-du-futur/#comments Filed under: , , ,


SuunsSuuns

Ben Shemie, the well-spoken frontman of Montreal psychedelic art rock outfit Suuns, is well into a round of post-release press when Spinner connects with him. His band's sophomore album Images Du Futur came out on March 5 via Secretly Canadian and it's getting a lot of attention.

"It's exciting," Shemie tells Spinner. "This is new for us. Our first record, we didn't have any expectations. It just kind of got picked up and there was no build up for the release. This time felt much more... pro. It's nice to put music out there and know it's being presented as it should be. For so many years, it was just us four."

Shemie, along with bandmates Joe Yarmush, Max Henry and Liam O'Neill formed Suuns back in 2006. Their 2010 debut Zeroes QC was picked up by Secretly Canadian at the behest of their pal and producer, the Besnard Lakes' Jace Lasek. Despite having little advance buzz propelling it, Zeroes QC was a critical success and put Suuns on the scene as a major act to watch. ]]> Ben ShemieBen Shemie SuunsBenShemieBenShemieSuunsImages Du FuturImagesDuFuturSuunssuuns Images Du FuturSuuns MontrealSuunsImagesDuFuturSuunsMontreal Jen Zoratti 2013-03-21T14:10:00 00:00 Rachel Zeffira: My Bloody Valentine Covers, Horrors Side-Projects Lead to Solo Album http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/13/rachel-zeffira-cats-eyes-my-bloody-valentine/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/13/rachel-zeffira-cats-eyes-my-bloody-valentine/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/13/rachel-zeffira-cats-eyes-my-bloody-valentine/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Rachel ZeffiraPaper Bag

Had life gone according to plan, Canadian soprano/multi-instrumentalist Rachel Zeffira would be an opera star, not a critical darling poised to release her shimmering solo debut The Deserters in North America.

Luckily for us, life so rarely goes according to plan. When Zeffira was 17, she was accidentally deported from the U.K. on the eve of a concert at Cambridge University that was supposed to launch her opera career.

"Basically, I had to impress these people who were going to sponsor my schooling," she tells Spinner. "I prepared for ages -- I knew about it for a year -- and it was in all the local papers." ]]> Faris BadwanFarisBadwanhorrorsMy Bloody ValentineMyBloodyValentineRachel ZeffiraRachel Zeffira CanadaRachel Zeffira Cats EyesRachel Zeffira The DesertersRachelZeffiraRachelZeffiraCanadaRachelZeffiraCatsEyesRachelZeffiraTheDesertersthe horrorsTheHorrors Jen Zoratti 2013-02-13T14:30:00 00:00 Ron Sexsmith, Forever Endeavour: Singer Confronts Own Mortality on New Album http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/04/ron-sexsmith-forever-endeavour-death/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/04/ron-sexsmith-forever-endeavour-death/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/04/ron-sexsmith-forever-endeavour-death/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Ron SexsmithRon Sexsmith Facebook

In 2011, Ron Sexsmith raised more than a few eyebrows with Long Player Late Bloomer, a bombastic Bob Rock-produced pop album that put a critical darling into commercial consciousness. Nominated for both the Polaris Music Prize and a Juno, it was a breakthrough album for Sexsmith.

The singer/songwriter could have played it safe and gone the same route with the follow-up but, when it came to recording the songs that make up his 13th studio album, Forever Endeavour, Sexsmith weighed his options.

"I had the songs, but I didn't know where to go with them," he tells Spinner. "I thought about working with Bob, but I didn't think these songs could withstand that kind of production." ]]> Mitchell FroomMitchellFroomRon Sexmith albumron sexsmithRon Sexsmith Forever EndeavourRonSexmithAlbumRonSexsmithRonSexsmithForeverEndeavour Jen Zoratti 2013-02-04T14:10:00 00:00 To Unplug or Not to Unplug? The Best and Worst Acoustic Albums http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/28/best-worst-acoustic-albums/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/28/best-worst-acoustic-albums/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/28/best-worst-acoustic-albums/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Justin Bieber Nirvana Kurt CobainAFP | Getty

Justin Bieber is releasing Believe Acoustic this week, which will feature unplugged versions of chart toppers like "Boyfriend" and "Beauty and the Beat" from an album that came out way back in the summer of, um, 2012.

This has put us in a reflective mood about the acoustic album (the kind where artists cover their own songs, not just any ol' folk record). When music gets unplugged, it can either be soul-bearing proof that a really great song can be stripped down to its barest bones and remain really great -- or it can be a cash-grabby commemorative anniversary-type deal that's sold through Starbucks (we're unironically looking at you, Alanis Morissette).

So here are our picks for the five best and the five worst acoustic albums: ]]> acoustic albumsAcousticAlbumsAlanis MorissetteAlanis Morissette acousticAlanisMorissetteAlanisMorissetteAcousticBlack CrowesBlack Crowes acousticBlackCrowesBlackCrowesAcousticCyndi LauperCyndi Lauper acousticCyndiLauperCyndiLauperAcousticDashboard ConfessionalDashboard Confessional acousticDashboardConfessionalDashboardConfessionalAcousticErasureErasure acousticErasureAcousticEric ClaptonEric Clapton acousticEricClaptonEricClaptonAcousticFoo FightersFoo Fighters acousticFooFightersFooFightersAcousticJ MascisJ Mascis acousticJMascisJMascisAcousticJustin BieberJustinBieberNirvanaNirvana UnpluggedNirvanaUnpluggedunplugged albumsUnpluggedAlbums Jen Zoratti 2013-01-28T15:00:00 00:00 16 Best Albums Released By Musicians After They Died http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/09/16-best-posthumous-albums/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/09/16-best-posthumous-albums/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/09/16-best-posthumous-albums/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,


Kurt Cobain Nirvana Tupac ShakurHulton Archive | 2Pac Facebook

On Jan. 8, U.K. electronic outfit Broadcast released Berberian Sound Studio -- an original soundtrack to Peter Strickland's 2012 film of the same name. It'll be the last Broadcast album to feature the distinctive vocals of frontwoman Trish Keenan, who died of pneumonia at the age of 42 in January 2011.

Posthumous album releases carry a lot of weight. It's a gravitas that comes from the context of their releases -- see post-suicide works such as Nirvana's Unplugged in New York or Elliott Smith's From a Basement on a Hill -- but also from their striking finality. This is the last we'll hear from Biggie, Ian Curtis, Amy Winehouse. For fans, that's a hard pill to swallow.

These are recordings that have the power to leave indelible legacies; The Notorious B.I.G.'s posthumous sophomore album -- fittingly titled Life After Death -- stands as one of the most important hip-hop albums of the '90s. Other final sessions may never be heard; cult icon Harry Nilsson recorded the vocals for his last album just hours before he died of heart failure in 1994 and the record (tentatively titled Papa's Got a Brown New Robe) has yet to be released. ]]> 27 club27Club2pacAmy winehouseAmyWinehouseBob MarleyBobMarleybradley nowellBradleyNowellBroadcastElliott SmithElliottSmithIan CurtisIanCurtisINXSJanis JoplinJanisJoplinJoe StrummerJoeStrummerJoey RamoneJoeyRamoneJohn LennonJohnLennonjohnny cashJohnnyCashJoy DivisionJoyDivisionKurt CobainKurtCobainMakaveliMichael HutchenceMichaelHutchenceNirvananotorious b.i.g.NotoriousB.i.g.Otis ReddingOtisReddingposthumous albumposthumous album listPosthumousAlbumPosthumousAlbumListRay CharlesRayCharlessublimethe 27 clubThe RamonesThe27ClubTheRamonestupactupac shakurTupacShakur Jen Zoratti 2013-01-09T16:00:00 00:00 15 Best Musician Cameos on Teen TV: 90210, The OC, Buffy, Blossom & More http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/12/15-best-musician-cameos-in-teen-soap-operas/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/12/15-best-musician-cameos-in-teen-soap-operas/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/12/15-best-musician-cameos-in-teen-soap-operas/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,


The OC Death Cab for CutieWarner Bros

This week, Tegan and Sara appeared on the holiday episode of 90210, performing the glittery electro-pop single "Closer" from their forthcoming seventh studio album Heartthrob.

The twins join a long line of great bands that have appeared on teen soaps -- which have become a powerful marketing tool for independent acts over the past decade. The O.C., which aired from 2003 to 2007, was a trailblazer in this movement, paving the way for other shows to make indie rock a focus -- or, if you ask the show's creator Josh Schwartz, a main character.

Everyone from The Killers to Modest Mouse to The Walkmen played The Bait Shop to an adoring audience made up of tastemaking Seth Cohen (played by real-life musichead Adam Brody) and his friends -- and the exposure these acts gained during a time when the music industry was grappling with an uneasy transition into the digital age was invaluable. Rooney, the first band to play the show, told Rolling Stone it experienced a "200 percent increase in record sales" after its appearance. ]]> 90210beverly hills 90210Bif NakedBlossombuffy the vampire slayerc+c-music-factoryClone Highdawsons creekDeath Cab for CutieFlaming LipsGilmore GirlsHeavy DIsaac HayesJuliana HatfieldMarilyn MansonModest Mousemusic cameosmusical guestsmusicians on tvmusicians on tv showsmy so-called lifeNo DoubtSabrina the Teenage Witchsoap operasSonic Youthteen soap operasTegan and SaraThe BreedersThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AirThe O.C.The OCThe ShinsViolent Femmesyoung adult dramasyoung adult televisionyoung adult tv dramas Jen Zoratti 2012-12-12T17:00:00 00:00 Luke Lalonde Rhythymnals: Born Ruffians Singer's Solo Electro-R&B http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/03/luke-lalonde-rhythymnals-born-ruffians/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/03/luke-lalonde-rhythymnals-born-ruffians/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/03/luke-lalonde-rhythymnals-born-ruffians/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Luke Lalonde Born RuffiansMatthew Tammaro

Luke Lalonde was probably one of those kids that could never sit still. There's the urgent, jittery noise he makes as the frontman of Toronto's Born Ruffians, but then there's the fact that Lalonde is an incredibly prolific songwriter. He's not the type to let months go by without working on something while his band is off the road.

No, he's the type that would use his downtime to write, record and produce a full-length solo record.

Rhythymnals, which came out Oct. 30 via Paper Bag Records, started out in earnest as a recording experiment.

"I was living in Montreal on my own -- well, I was living with a girl, but I was living away from the band -- and I was writing a lot," Lalonde tells Spinner. "I would send the odd song to the guys, but I was completing a lot on my laptop and they were taking on a sound that wasn't a Ruffians sound. I wasn't sure if I was going to put it out or not." ]]> Born RuffiansBornRuffiansLuke LalondeLuke Lalonde Born RuffiansLuke Lalonde RhythymnalsLuke Lalonde soloRhythymnals Jen Zoratti 2012-12-03T14:00:00 00:00 Hollerado Tour Rider: Used Books, Dog Poo Cleaning & Homemade Hummus http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/30/hollerado-tour-rider/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/30/hollerado-tour-rider/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/30/hollerado-tour-rider/#comments Filed under: , ,


HolleradoListen Harder

Hollerado were one of the band's who played our big Flaming Lips/NXNE party this summer and it's just been announced they'll join Billy Talent, Sum 41 and Indian Handcrafts on a 17-date cross-Canada arena tour that kicks off in Vancouver on March 14 and wraps up in Montreal on April 13.

More importantly, Spinner recently learned the band has a hilariously detailed hand-written rider they give to concert promoters and we scored a copy.

Ever health conscious, Hollerado asks for "some veggies and some fruits like bananas or apples or vitamins" and organic salsa. "Chunks are awesome." ]]> band riderscrazy band ridersHolleradoHollerado band riderHollerado tourHollerado tour rideroutlandish band ridersridiculous band riderstour riders Jen Zoratti 2012-11-30T13:50:00 00:00 Blue Rodeo Organ For Sale in Kids Help Phone/Have Not Been the Same Auction http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/28/blue-rodeo-organ-have-not-been-the-same/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/28/blue-rodeo-organ-have-not-been-the-same/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/28/blue-rodeo-organ-have-not-been-the-same/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Bob Wiseman Blue Rodeo organBob Wiseman

The organ used by former Blue Rodeo member Bob Wiseman is up for auction with the proceeds going to a worthy cause.

Alongside the release of Have Not Been the Same, a 21-track compilation of previously unreleased Canadian indie rock gems to benefit Kids Help Phone, an eBay auction of items donated by the album's artists will take place until Dec. 3, with proceeds also going to Kids Help Phone.

The big-ticket item is Wiseman's iconic Ace Tone organ (bidding of which is at $234.50 Cdn/$235.61 US right now). Owning this instrument would mean owning a one-of-a-kind piece of Can-Rock history; the Model Top-5 -- painted in insane colors by Wiseman himself and lovingly held together with duct tape -- was a key element in early Blue Rodeo's sound. ]]> Blue RodeoBob WisemanChange of HeartCowboy JunkiesDiodeshave not been the samehave not been the same auctionhave not been the same bookhave not been the same compilationIan BlurtonKids Help Phone Jen Zoratti 2012-11-28T14:00:00 00:00 Godspeed You! Black Emperor Do Interview With Puppet About Pizza (VIDEO) http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/27/godspeed-you-black-emperor-chic-a-go-go/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/27/godspeed-you-black-emperor-chic-a-go-go/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/27/godspeed-you-black-emperor-chic-a-go-go/#comments Filed under: , ,


Godspeed You! Black Emperor Efrim MenuckYoutube

This is quite possibly the most amazing video you'll see on the internet today.

Montreal post-rock titans Godspeed You! Black Emperor played the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago in August and while they were there guitarist Efrim Menuck hung out with Ratso, the weird rat-that-totally-looks-like-a-dog puppet host of Chic-a-Go-Go! -- Chicago's cable-access dance show for kids of all ages.

The interview with the normally press-averse Godspeed member is hilarious and Menuck is really good-natured about the whole thing. ]]> Chic-a-go-goEfrim MenuckEfrim Menuck Godspeed you black emperorEfrimMenuckgodspeed you black emperorgodspeed you black emperor interviewsGodspeedYouBlackEmperorGYBE Jen Zoratti 2012-11-27T12:00:00 00:00 Ariane Moffatt Remixed: Poirier Enlisted By Quebec Electro Pop Star http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/16/ariane-moffatt-remixed-poirier/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/16/ariane-moffatt-remixed-poirier/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/11/16/ariane-moffatt-remixed-poirier/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


Ariane Moffatt and PoirierArianemoffatt.com

Ariane Moffatt is no longer Quebec's best-kept secret. In January, the La Belle Province's queen of electro-pop released of her first bilingual album MA -- a stunner of a release that wracked up tons of critical praise, topped Canadian charts (number one on iTunes, number two on Billboard), was long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize and bolstered Moffatt's profile in the rest of Canada.

That momentum shows no signs of slowing thanks to this week's release of MA Remix -- an EP featuring six songs dramatically reworked by Montreal DJ/producer Poirier.

"I'm super happy with," Moffatt, the confirmed non-sex addict, tells Spinner the morning after release day. "It's not a musical revolution -- it's an EP -- but the process and the result satisfied me very much." ]]> ariane moffattAriane Moffatt Ma RemixArianeMoffattDubbel DutchNautilussPoirierPoirier Ma RemixPoirier remix Jen Zoratti 2012-11-16T14:20:00 00:00