Our weekly (or however often) roundup of the greatest music in the universe!! Usually it’s friends of mine or just music I like. Now including “liner notes” to help guide you through this journey and hopefully introduce you to some new, great music!
IGGY POP - SUCCESS
This comes from Iggy’s Lust For Life record, which featured David Bowie. For a couple of years, David Bowie made two albums with Iggy and functioned as his touring keyboardist. This song is a total thrill ride, upbeat and creating all the atmosphere of success!
THIS MAD DESIRE – OPERATOR S ARE STANDING BY
I thought I’d revisit this song this week. This was really the song that got me thinking about making music again after a few years letting my focus drift to less interesting things. Recorded in Toronto with Mark Zubek at Zedd Records, it has been compared to everything from U2 to Supertramp to Marilyn Manson to Sisters of Mercy. It reminds me of a really good time!
ARKELLS (FEAT. COLD WAR KIDS) –PAST LIFE
As a Hamilton artist, how could I not be aware of Arkells? As a Canadian, how could anyone not be aware? Great band and new, great song.
DYNASTY FOUR -ANACHRONISTA
I just met the singer of Toronto-based Dynasty Four on Twitter the other day and now we have many common friends and causes. I wrote on Twitter that the internet was down and she offered to bring me a care package! I thought there might be something deeper than sarcasm there and I was not disappointed. Nikkole’s band reminds me a lot of Sleater-Kinney. Great female-fronted guitar rock!
YANKEE GHOST –I KNOW THE FEELING THAT YOU’VE BEEN TRYING TO HIDE
I’m friends on Twitter with one of the members of this band from Cleveland, Ohio. Lord knows how we came to be following each other. I thought I’d finally check out some of their music and it’s tuneful, great Midwestern rock.
PRINCE -1999 (LIVE)
Prince needs no introduction. This is a new live recording that just came out.
YANK AND THE BANGAS - OAK TREE
I subscribe to American Songwriter and this act was featured in the front section. There’s a funky band, meaningful lyrics, great vocal harmonies. What more do you want?
EDDY LEE RYDER – SMALL APARTMENT (STRIPPED)
One app I’m on is called Shapr which is like a Tinder for business networking. Mostly I meet Americans. In this case, I met the best friend of this singer. The best friend lives in the Boston area so guessing Eddy is also? Well-written 70s-influenced rock with a country tinge.
KARA AHARON –A BEAT OF HOPE
Just became aware of Kara. This is a very cool instrumental track, jazzy and a bit lo-fi. She is based in Israel and we have just met at Indie 101, an online conference based in Toronto.
OLIVIA PEARL –WE’LL NEVER KNOW
Olivia just joined my friend Tianda’s Discord and am I ever glad she did! Very melodic song and great voice. Apparently this is her first properly produced track. And she’s Australian! I feel like I’m surrounded by Aussies these days. My Aussie friend Leon co-wrote my upcoming single and my sister is marrying an Aussie next month. These people know how to party!
DAVID BOWIE –O SUPERMAN
Clearly we all love David Bowie, but this live track is unusual as Gail Ann Dorsey (bassist) is on lead vocals. This classic song is probably Laurie Anderson’s most “famous” song, if it could be said she has any famous songs. I saw Laurie Anderson perform this once, but also I saw David Bowie perform this twice on the Earthling tour, which I believe was the only tour this was performed. I went two nights in a row at the Warehouse in Toronto, which was a large barn-like club that could hold 1-2000 people. I’ll never forget on the second night, David Bowie said early on in the evening, “Anyone here last night?” (Everybody screams.) “Why’d you come back? It’s just the same thing again!” And it was anything but the same.
ONE OF US IS THE KILLER -TRAFFIC
Also just became aware of at Indie 101. This song has a Nine Inch Nails slower song vibe, which is why I felt it made sense coming after late 90s Bowie.
PLASTIC MERMAIDS –DISPOSABLE LOVE
My mother wrote these books called Mermaids …For Real!!, and I manage the social media accounts. I randomly came across this British act while randomly searching mermaid and ocean things on Twitter. Cool song!
CURLY C –PEG ME
NEIL GIBSON, RAQUEL REIGNS –THE DRAGONBORN COMES
These two are also both on my friend Tianda’s Discord and exemplify the wide range of music people there are making. Curly C has made a really dirty (and kind of funny) rap song. Maybe, don’t play this one for the kids. Actually, definitely don’t! And then the next song sounds like right out of Game of Thrones. I said to Neil that it makes me think of Dungeons and Dragons! Celtic-influenced, dragons, grab your sword!
BLACKOUT ORCHESTRA –UNFOUND
They describe their sound as lo-fi art-alt-post-pop-rock, which is fairly accurate. Edgy and melodic, Blackout Orchestra came onto my radar as we both had songs on the Save Toronto Music Venues Compilation CD –which you should buy at savetorontomusicvenues.com! This is their latest single and I dig it!
If you like this playlist, please share it and follow these artists. Music is the fuel that fills our soul.
If you are an artist that would like to be included in the future, reach out anywhere and I’d love to check out your tunes!
Yours in music,
Mac