Carly Ray Jepsen - “Call Me Maybe”

I have a not-so-secret soft spot for all the latest teen-pop sensations.

Wait for the ending!

Cap’n Jazz - “Oh Messy Life”

You either really, really love Cap’n Jazz, or you really, really hate Cap’n Jazz.

I really, really love Cap’n Jazz.

I first discovered them after finding their one and only album (Analphabetapolothology, a double-disc set with basically all their recorded material) in Blackbyrd Myoozik circa 2001. By that time, Cap’n Jazz was very much gone, its members having moved on to more well known projects such as The Promise Ring and Joan of Arc. I always felt very sad that I’d never seen/heard them in the moment. (The were done in 1995.)

Tonight, I was like, “Some dude MUST have set up a rad VHS video camera to capture this crazy band play in their high school gym, and has recently discovered the tape and uploaded it to YouTube.”

The sound quality of the video is of course not great, so here’s an audio-only rip from the album of the same song.

Also highly recommended: “Theme from 90210” and a beautiful “Take On Me” cover.

BreakBot - “Baby, I’m Yours” (featuring Irfane) - Siriusmo Remix

This is something I think you might enjoy…

(Also check out the re-remix by Cadence Weapon and Shad on TRON Legacy: The Mixtape.)

Yelle - “À cause des garçons (TEPR Remix)”

An oldie but a goodie. I love this video. See also: Tecktonic

Teen Daze - “Let’s Fall Asleep Together”

One of the more pleasant discoveries of the past few months…

Was a treat to catch him opening at the Toro y Moi show recently, where he played some of his more dancey stuff.

You can get the EPs on the Teen Daze Bandcamp page.

Har Mar Superstar - Tall Boy

The story behind this song is that he tried to sell it to Britney Spears, but her management rejected it. That may have been awesome, but the fact he got to keep it is awesomer:

Featuring Alia Shawkat, Eric Wareheim, and Eva Mendes (?!). I highly recommend the fullscreen 720p HD experience if you click through to the YouTube page.

Probably NSFW, unless you work somewhere awesome.

Toro Y Moi - “Still Sound”

Absolutely loving this. Amazing in just about every way a song can be amazing. Drums! Bass! Keys! Vocals! Dancing! Yesssssssss!

Weight and Measures - “The Love That You Share Is Making Everyone Else Sick”

In case you were wondering (I know you were), I’ve been doing a purge of my iTunes and coming across all sorts of forgotten gems.

One of them: Weights and Measures. I saw these guys in Edmonton at the Likwid Lounge in the early 2000s, opening for North of America. I believe I had seen Kepler not long before and since W&M was two-thirds Kepler members, thought I should check it out. (All three bands were excellent, by the way.)

So, here, a video of them from their final show in Toronto back in 2004:

I know, maybe not your speed, but as user “JWRONG1996” so wisely noted on an associated Tigers video, “More people need to appreciate post rock.”

CONSIDER IT.

Lit - “My Own Worst enemy”

Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh, to be 19 again…

Man, the late ‘90s and early ‘00s kinda sucked. We can’t even really enjoy that era ironically these days. Or maybe, yet. We can’t enjoy that era ironically yet.

Maylee Todd - “Summer Sounds”

Maylee - Tunog Ng Taginit (Summer Sounds) from Jared Sales on Vimeo.

Great song, crazy video.

Seriously though. I’ve very excited about Maylee Todd. Buy her stuff.

Germans - “Sovtek My Heart”

Germans, my favourite obscure band that you’ve never heard of, are apparently poised to release a new album. It’s rather difficult to get information on these guys, but they do have a secret MP3 player up with four tracks from the new album. It is really worth clicking through, in my humble tastemaker opinion.

You can buy their first album on the iTunes: Cape Fear by Germans

(Disregard the review on the iTunes page. Germans sounds nothing like Weezer, and given that band’s excruciatingly drawn out downfall, the comment is nothing but insulting. The reviewer is high. All you need to know is that it’s awesome and you should buy it.)

Sorry! Couldn't embed the MP3 player!

French Horn Rebellion vs. Database - “Beaches and Friends” (Hey Champ Remix)

Maintaining my status as a trendsetter isn’t easy. Here, I bring you a pleasant electro track, which fell into my lap via a close pal and another pal halfway around the world in London, England.

(And this too. I love slo-mo club dancing:

)

The Futureheads - “Danger of the Water”

In my opinion, this was the best song on their first album. Then “Meantime,” then “Hounds of Love.”

Sorry! Couldn't embed the MP3 player!

Ladyhawke - “Paris is Burning”

LADYHAWKE “Paris Is Burning” from bobafettich on Vimeo.

The video isn’t much to look at, but I love the song so much. I listened to it three times yesterday.

Natural Elements - “2 Tons”

A forgotten gem from 1999. Beautiful. Textbook.

Robyn - “Dancing On My Own”

Robyn ‘Dancing On My Own’ (Official Video) from Robyn on Vimeo.

Around the APT, we’ve been arguing about whether she is saying, “I’m not the guy/girl you’re taking home.” I’m convinced she says “guy” despite what the lyrics claim.

Well, enjoy anyways…

“Crazy For You” by Groove Armada

Normally, covering Madonna is a sort of sacrilege. But this is actually really nice.

“Society” by DVAS

More info

Get more DVAS

Check out, especially, the “Ambient Room SymbolOne Remix” on their MySpace page.

“Odessa” by Caribou

CARIBOU - Odessa from Caribou on Vimeo.

Off to see Caribou at the Rickshaw tonight!

“Empoisonne la fourmilere” by Rhume

Rhume is probably my favourite French-Canadian musical act. About a week ago, I saw that Rhume was giving away their entire discography for free on Bandcamp. I thought you should know about it.

This here is my favourite Rhume track. The descending piano chords around 0:52 just kills me every single time:

(The title translates, apparently, to something like “Ant Poison.” Who knew? Other classy track: Caline de Binne)

“Are You Ready To Fly” by Rozalla

Still as great as the first time I heard it on Dance Mix ‘93 ‘EXTENDAMIX,’ right between Dr. Alban and BKS.

“Are You Ready To Fly” by Rozalla

“Walkabout” (featuring Noah Lennox) by Atlas Sound

“Walkabout” (featuring Noah Lennox) by Atlas Sound. Not the official video, but it’s chalk full of spaceships!

“Instinctual” by Imagination

“Instinctual” by Imagination (David Morales remix) (NSFW)

Cherries, water, gravity, female parts, choreographed dancing, falsetto, fans and a kitten. It has all the right ingredients.

“I Am Love” by the Jackson 5

Here’s the Jackson 5 (plus 1), circa 1975, on the Cher Show, including a teenage Michael, a slow-motion breakdown, and a brief intro with a very young Janet: “I Am Love” by the Jackson 5

Jermaine’s lisp at 0:52 is great (”... the eyes of love ...”).

“Making A Scene” by Fritz Helder & The Phantoms

Beautiful!

“Making A Scene” by Fritz Helder & The Phantoms

They look like fun. A little behind the scenes on the MuchMusic blog.

Fritz Helder & The Phantoms (blog)
Fritz Helder & The Phantoms on MySpace

“Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap

Super into this track featured on the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack from Australia’s The Temper Trap. Feels a little like old U2…

“Sweet Disposition” by The Temper Trap

They had a nice spot on Jimmy Kimmel too.

The Temper Trap official site

“Hustler” by Simian Mobile Disco

Simple concept, nice execution. NSFW.

SMD official site

“No Limit” by 2unlimited

Those who know me even a bit know I have a serious soft spot for early ‘90s techno. Thusly, a Dance Mix ‘93 classic, performed on a “glass harp”:

CDEFGABC from lernert Engelberts on Vimeo.

I thought after three pretty dry posts, you could use a break.

(Totally scammed from Chris Jones’s Facebook Links. Always fresh.)

“Slip Away” by Get Famous!

Winnipeg is pretty well known for producing good sounds, but this is one of the nicest ones in a while.

Also featured in part 4 of Mike Winters’ captivating Girlfriend series (NSFW).

Get Famous! on MySpace

“It’s Not Fun and Games Unless Someone Loses an Eye” by Oh No Forest Fires

Listen to it at CBC Radio 3.

Mmmmm. Chorus does it for me every single time.

ONFF on MySpace
Buy The War On Geometry on iTunes

“Take Yo’ Praise” by Camille Yarbrough

This excellent soul/R&B track will probably sound pretty familiar to you.

Found on an excellent mix by Linger & Quiet on the weekly Beats In Space podcast from 24 March 2009. (Here’s a Linger & Quiet Nightclubbing mix sponsored by Allez-Allez.)

“Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell” by Das Racist

Plus, an interview with these two masterminds from the Village Voice.

“Free Love is a Sales Technique” by the Famines

A good friend of mine from Edmonton, Raymond Biesinger, fronts a two-piece band called the Famines, whom I saw at the Astoria on Saturday night at the B-Lines record release show. It was a very, very loud show.

Raymond wears many hats in addition to being a musician, among them internationally published illustrator, head organizer for the quarterly Royal Bison Craft & Art Fair, and head of his own independent publishing house. I also hear he’ll be launching a new project in late August/early September. More on that then.

This track is from their new 7” release which boasts the fantastic artwork above. When perusing the Famines back-catalogue, be sure to check out “TWA Flight 553” as well.

“Free Love is a Sales Technique” by the Famines

“Around the Bend’ by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

Danish group makes music in the wrong decade! Some of their stuff reminds me a little of Smashmouth to be honest… Sigh…

TAGT on Wikipedia
TAGT on MySpace (“official” site)

“Warrior” by Andy Calwell

Heard on the most recent Free Movement to Music. FMTM is a pretty solid podcast that I highly recommend. Each show is quite long (1.5-2 hours) but they’re infrequent enough that it’s easy to keep up with. Consider it! (Caldwell will be at Ginger 62 in Vancouver on 1 August 2009 if this toots your horn.)

Andy Caldwell official site
Andy Caldwell on MySpace
Andy Caldwell artist page at UNO Recordings

“Quiero Que Me Quieras” by Gael Garcia Bernal

Heard on KCRW:

“Get It Done” by Birdapres

Like he says.

Birdapres @ Myspace (check out the newest single, “Toothpaste”)
Birdapres @ CBC Radio 3
Birdapres @ Peanuts & Corn Records

“Hazel” by Junior Boys

This track has been keeping me occupied on/off for about a month now. Hamilton’s Junior Boys do “Hazel”:

“Keewatin Arctic” by Record of the Week Club

A product of the generally fantastic Record of the Week Club, “Keewatin Arctic” is a collaboration between John K Samson (of the Weakerthans), Nikki Komaksiutiksak (an Inuit throat singer) and Blunderspublik (electronic artist). Have a listen.