So this is the clever ‘first post’ that’s supposed to justify your existence and reveal what you plan to do with it. Well, we did launch this site with a certain musical style in mind — pretty much anything you wouldn’t feel comfortable blasting out your car window. That being said, I’m sure this definition will be broadly defined and bent often. We’ve set things up as a blog but don’t worry, you definitely won’t be hearing about the mundane details of our lives.

We hope to use this space to introduce you to new and obscure music from all over the place. We’re most in touch with the Canadian scene, but we realize that good music is occasionally created in other countries. We fully encourage bands to submit to us and hope to help you get a little online exposure. By the way, have you met the monkey?

I decided that this first post should talk about the albums that I listened to while piecing the site together and then follow it up with a ‘burn this!’ mix of my current favourite tracks. You might find us going on about some of these albums in more detail in future posts.

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
I had a much easier time getting into this album than their last, Funeral. Some tracks that really rub me the right way are intervention (gorgeous dark hymn — even the steady drum beat feels like it belongs at some kind of high-production revival), ocean of noise, and keep the car running.

Peter Bjorn & John - Writer’s Block
Are songs written these days with trendy tv dramas in mind from the beginning? Young folks has already appeared on abc’s Grey’s Anatomy and several other tracks on this album including up against the wall and paris 2004 would be perfect for a long montage featuring pensive, melancholy expressions. If we add amsterdam, this also happens to be a list of my favourite tracks from a great 2006 release.

The Trews - Den of Thieves
More unapologetic key changes and tight vocal harmonies from these boys. My favourite track is number 12, montebello park, followed by poor ol’ broken hearted me and makin’ sunshine.

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
I can’t get enough of the crane wife parts 1 and 3, although part 2 is a little more forgettable. I also love the imagery and lilt of shankhill butchers and had to look up the story after hearing it a few times.

The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
Some unusual synth samples, but a good listen overall — pretty much what we’ve come to expect from The Shins. The lyrics and bird noises in a comet appears are a little soft even by our standards, but it’s still a great tune. Other favourites: turn on me and the heavily syncopated sea legs.

Metric - Live It Out
I can’t say that I’m sold on the whole album, but I really like a few of the songs like too little too late, monster hospital, and poster of a girl, which completely reminds me of a great jam song by the Jimmy Swift Band called the 80’s runway model.

Hard Fi - Stars of CCTV
Now here’s an example of a UK band that’s not afraid to let their accent come through in the vocals. Check out better do better, move on now, and feltham is singing out (and rest of the damn album).

Counting Crows - Films About Ghosts
Not a new record, but this greatest hits collection is good to throw on while working. For an interesting listen, track down the version of holiday in spain sung as a duet with the dutch band bløf.

On a final note, I’d like to thank Paul over at urban dirty for the great photography he’s made available for free use. I had a lot of fun tarting up the layout with his textures.