When you are worried about something dying, like I am with Liberties, you have to turn to that which cannot die. In music, the only thing that can't die are riffs.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Friday, October 5, 2018
Hammers
Skateboarder Jim Greco, a founder and member of one my favourite teams Deathwish, recently released his newest short film Jobs? Never!!
I guess that it is technically still a skate part/video, but I also find it interesting that he chooses to call it a short film instead of a "skate part", but it's also evident why he does that. Rather than the tried and true method of pairing a skateboarder's footage with popular music the skater in question enjoys, Greco takes a more narrative-based approach.
On one hand, it's a stark contrast to basically every skate video that every company puts out and Jobs? Never!!, shot on 16 and 35 mm film, seems like an Italian movie from the 70's in comparison. This is further emphasized when you compare Greco's white collared shirt and jacket outfit with the uber-hip current skate fashion that almost everyone under 30 wears today. On the other though, the shots of Greco casually skating through Los Angeles remind me a lot of Lance Mountain's solo scenes in Powell-Peralta's first-ever video from 1984, The Bones Brigade Video Show, so at once Greco is diverging himself from the norm while also firmly rooting himself in the history of his discipline.
I really appreciate that Greco is trying hard to innovate a medium that, while immensely enjoyable, hasn't really evolved that much stylistically since the early 90's (Spike Jonze's contributions notwithstanding). Also always have to show love when somebody puts Tom Penny in a video in the 10's.
I guess that it is technically still a skate part/video, but I also find it interesting that he chooses to call it a short film instead of a "skate part", but it's also evident why he does that. Rather than the tried and true method of pairing a skateboarder's footage with popular music the skater in question enjoys, Greco takes a more narrative-based approach.
On one hand, it's a stark contrast to basically every skate video that every company puts out and Jobs? Never!!, shot on 16 and 35 mm film, seems like an Italian movie from the 70's in comparison. This is further emphasized when you compare Greco's white collared shirt and jacket outfit with the uber-hip current skate fashion that almost everyone under 30 wears today. On the other though, the shots of Greco casually skating through Los Angeles remind me a lot of Lance Mountain's solo scenes in Powell-Peralta's first-ever video from 1984, The Bones Brigade Video Show, so at once Greco is diverging himself from the norm while also firmly rooting himself in the history of his discipline.
I really appreciate that Greco is trying hard to innovate a medium that, while immensely enjoyable, hasn't really evolved that much stylistically since the early 90's (Spike Jonze's contributions notwithstanding). Also always have to show love when somebody puts Tom Penny in a video in the 10's.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
In the City There's a Thousand Things I Wanna Say to You
One of the few benefits of working a desk job in an office is that it allowed me ample time to check out music, whether it be new releases that friends are hyping up or old things that I haven't gotten around to yet. It was nice to let my interests wander and devote full days to checking out things I wouldn't have guessed that I would like, like as well as giving things a chance and knowing that it's not for me, like Todd Rundgren.
I don't have as much of a chance to do that anymore, now that I'm not on a computer for the entire day. As a result, it feels like my 2018 listening is starting to lighten (it's not, really), but there's been a bunch of newer releases that I've been into that I thought I would share.
Nothing, Dance on the Blacktop
I don't really have time for most gaze anymore, but since I loved Tired of Tomorrow so much, I figured I would be into this as well. I was right and am returning to this one regularly lately. I like that the band's interest in early British stuff isn't just limited to My Bloody Valentine; the volume, layers, and space is there, but so are Britpop hooks and a big Factory Records vibe too.
Doe, Grow into It
Punk and emo's obsession with grunge blindsided me when it happened. Doesn't everyone else realize that Pearl Jam and Soundgarden suck? That being said, I do appreciate that it made some bands centre their songs around big overdriven guitar riffs. Most make that boring, but this band Doe does it great. Nice, tight package of poppy rock songs.
Joyce Manor, Million Dollars to Kill Me
Yet again, Joyce Manor releases another gem and move further up my list of all-time favourite bands. As much poppier as Cody was than Never Hungover Again, this one is that much poppier than Cody. I purposely didn't listen to any of the songs they released ahead of the album, to save the surprise, but they announced on Instagram that they had been working with Rory Phillips (who played in two big-time Timbo favourites The Impossibles and The Stereo) as a songwriter and produced, I was bursting with anticipation. I really feel the Rory vibe on the album and love it so much. Just keep cranking 'em out boys, and I will keep loving them.
Living With Lions, Island
The older I get, the harder it is to listen to pop-punk. I find I can still return to old favourites like blink, Fireworks, or Set Your Goals, but find that most of the stuff I was an ardent supporter of in 2009-ish, I just can't get into at all anymore. Every now and then though, I get an itch that only big production, catchy pop-punk can scratch. When that comes, I like returning to a band who were once my favourite. LWL are back with, yet again, a new singer, but it still works.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, one of the best parts of having time to check out music is not just staying up to date on new things, but also getting around to old stuff that has been deemed significant in hindsight. The latest case: The Jam! Lifetime recently posted a live video of them playing "In the City" and since then, I've been on a kick, with In the City and All Mod Cons getting the spins.
I don't have as much of a chance to do that anymore, now that I'm not on a computer for the entire day. As a result, it feels like my 2018 listening is starting to lighten (it's not, really), but there's been a bunch of newer releases that I've been into that I thought I would share.
Nothing, Dance on the Blacktop
I don't really have time for most gaze anymore, but since I loved Tired of Tomorrow so much, I figured I would be into this as well. I was right and am returning to this one regularly lately. I like that the band's interest in early British stuff isn't just limited to My Bloody Valentine; the volume, layers, and space is there, but so are Britpop hooks and a big Factory Records vibe too.
Doe, Grow into It
Punk and emo's obsession with grunge blindsided me when it happened. Doesn't everyone else realize that Pearl Jam and Soundgarden suck? That being said, I do appreciate that it made some bands centre their songs around big overdriven guitar riffs. Most make that boring, but this band Doe does it great. Nice, tight package of poppy rock songs.
Joyce Manor, Million Dollars to Kill Me
Yet again, Joyce Manor releases another gem and move further up my list of all-time favourite bands. As much poppier as Cody was than Never Hungover Again, this one is that much poppier than Cody. I purposely didn't listen to any of the songs they released ahead of the album, to save the surprise, but they announced on Instagram that they had been working with Rory Phillips (who played in two big-time Timbo favourites The Impossibles and The Stereo) as a songwriter and produced, I was bursting with anticipation. I really feel the Rory vibe on the album and love it so much. Just keep cranking 'em out boys, and I will keep loving them.
Living With Lions, Island
The older I get, the harder it is to listen to pop-punk. I find I can still return to old favourites like blink, Fireworks, or Set Your Goals, but find that most of the stuff I was an ardent supporter of in 2009-ish, I just can't get into at all anymore. Every now and then though, I get an itch that only big production, catchy pop-punk can scratch. When that comes, I like returning to a band who were once my favourite. LWL are back with, yet again, a new singer, but it still works.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, one of the best parts of having time to check out music is not just staying up to date on new things, but also getting around to old stuff that has been deemed significant in hindsight. The latest case: The Jam! Lifetime recently posted a live video of them playing "In the City" and since then, I've been on a kick, with In the City and All Mod Cons getting the spins.
Monday, October 1, 2018
I, Musical Genius, Vol 2: Tales from Toronto Ska, 2004-2007
As I intimated (I chose that verb because Lil' Wayne just used in "Demon" on Tha Carter V, my current listen) in my last post, I just finished my second zine, named the same as this post. When I started to work on zines in the summer of 2015 (boy, was the first one a long time coming), I thought of them as tangible versions of the writing I do on I, Musical Genius, which is why I've kept the name on them. This site is a timeline of my life and of my progression as a writer and creative person, so it feels great to channel all of that into neatly folded blue paper booklets.
Like the first volume of the zine, this one is a collection of short memoirs dealing with one of my principle interests. This time around the theme is ska music, specifically Toronto ska in the mid-00's. There's two old IMU stories that I've spiffed up here, but also two new entries that you won't find anywhere else. I'm proud of the stories and hope that readers get some nostalgic pangs while they go through them and think about different things that meant as much to you.
As with last time, you can click on the image in the right side bar to read about getting a copy.
-Timmy
Like the first volume of the zine, this one is a collection of short memoirs dealing with one of my principle interests. This time around the theme is ska music, specifically Toronto ska in the mid-00's. There's two old IMU stories that I've spiffed up here, but also two new entries that you won't find anywhere else. I'm proud of the stories and hope that readers get some nostalgic pangs while they go through them and think about different things that meant as much to you.
As with last time, you can click on the image in the right side bar to read about getting a copy.
-Timmy
Liberties, Vol 8
As Liberties enters its 8th week of existence, Timmy's mind skips a beat while he works every day of a weekend. As he focuses on a current exhibition ending and printing and assembling zines, Liberties falls back in his mind's queue. Timmy is reminded of this on a Sunday afternoon at the gallery and immediately starts to brainstorm ideas for a possible theme for the 8th edition. Thinking of the songs "9/10" on Jeff Rosenstock's album POST-, he immediately relates it to the Antartico Vespucci song "Losing My Mind" on their debut album Leavin' La Vida Loca, thinking of "spacey, synthy songs". The rest falls into place and Liberties survives for another week, hanging on by its fingertips. But will Liberties make it out of this one alive? Make sure to tune in next week on I, Musical Genius.
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