DIANA - "Born Again"

Awesomely relaxed song from a brand new local Toronto band DIANA.

This song crazy reminds me of "Midnight City" by M83

The Playlist: OSHEAGA 2012

The Osheaga Music And Arts Festival is a multi-day indie music festival held at Parc Jean-Drapeau right in Montreal (a music festival that could be reached by subway?! Incroyable). 2012 marked the year I went to a really big music festival and I must say, it was awesome and I would definitely make this a yearly thing.

For an "indie-music" festival, there were a lot of big names present (i.e. Justice, Snoop Dogg, The Black Keys) but what really stole the show for me was the EDM tent which was just plain fun every time  you approached it.

Well, I know its kind of late, but here is a playlist of some of the favourite acts I saw during this 2012 iteration of the festival, organized chronologically by day and time they performed (see the whole lineup schedule HERE):

FRIDAY

"I Am A Heart" by Hey Ocean!

"My Girl" by Yukon Blonde

"We Are Young" by fun.

"She's Dope" by Down With Webster [funnest performers at the place]

"Dougou Badia" by Amadou & Mariam

"Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand

"House Of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" by The Weeknd

"Rude Boy" by Zeds Dead

"Waters Of Nazareth" by Justice

SATURDAY

"The Kids Were Wrong" by Memoryhouse
"Lightshow" by Plants And Animals
"My Body" by Young The Giant
"Le Bonheur" by Dumas
"Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades" by Brand New
"Push It" by Garbage
"It's Another Day" by The Death Set
"Constant Surprises" by Little Dragon
"Gin And Juice" by Snoop Dogg


SUNDAY

"Are You Gonna Waste My Time?" by Zeus
"Post-War Blues" by Dan Mangan
"Changes" by The Airborne Toxic Event
"Take A Walk" by Passion Pit
"Ghetto Dreams" by Common
"Simple Song" by The Shins
"Kettling" by Bloc Party
"Undertaker" by Wolfgang Gartner
"Midnight City" by M83
"Lonely Boy" by The Black Keys
"Bonfire" by Knife Party

Overall, review of my time at Osheaga 2012:

• Most fun = Down With Webster
• Most out of place = The Weeknd (just sounded weird at 6:40pm)
• Best surprise = Wolfgang Gartner
• Best "mosh pit" = Bloc Party
• Best show = Justice

COACHELLA 2012 and the Amazing Lineup

Coachella, the greatest North American music festival of our time (that's right Lollapalooza and Woodstock, I said it) did it again this year with an AMAZING LINEUP filled with a mix of relevant bands (e.g. The Black Keys, Swedish House Mafia, M83) and ol' classic acts (e.g. Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Radiohead). 

Most importantly however is the inclusion of a few of my favourite bands who have reunited! That's right - Pulp, At the Drive-In, and the almighty Swedish hardcore legends Refused are all scheduled on this year's Coachella lineup.


BTW, At the Drive-In's album "Relationship of Command" is one of the best hardcore punk albums I have ever heard and Refused's album "The Shape of Punk to Come" is THE best hardcore punk album I have ever heard, and one of my favourite albums EVER.


Full lineup and some examples of reunited awesomeness after the break.

Top Ten: SONGS O' 2011

So the year is almost done, and I don't think any prominent acts are going to release new material so I think it's safe to release a year end countdown review of my favourite songs. 


BTW, if you were looking for songs more appropriate for the holidays, you can find my own personal Christmas playlist.

10. "The Years" by ††† (CROSSES)

I'm starting the list with a track from the surprisingly good Batman: Arkham City soundtrack. Apparently used as the Joker's theme, "The Years" by ††† starts with an ominous sounding slow burn but then suddenly explodes into a cacophony that oozes in sex-appeal. You can just picture all hell breaking loose when THE part in the song happens.  ††† is the side band of Deftones front man Chino Moreno.

M83 - "Midnight City"

Midnight City by M83

Awesome track from French indie artist M83.  Believe it or not, that opening riff is done using his heavily-distorted voice. So catchy.