en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal The Last.fm journal for j_morrison. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/06/09/4fcqoe_devin_townsend_project_-_deconstruction_%5Breview%5D Thu, 9 Jun 2011 00:40:39 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/06/09/4fcqoe_devin_townsend_project_-_deconstruction_%5Breview%5D Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction [Review!]

My track by track thoughts on the new Devin Townsend Project album, Deconstruction!]]> http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/02/08/47g3en_top_10_songs_from_the_white_stripes_(1997-2011) Tue, 8 Feb 2011 07:16:17 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/02/08/47g3en_top_10_songs_from_the_white_stripes_(1997-2011) 10. Hotel Yorba

9. Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine

8. My Doorbell

7. Icky Thump

6. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground

5. The Hardest Button to Button

4. Fell in Love With a Girl

3. Ball and Biscuit

2. The Denial Twist

1. Seven Nation Army

Some other favorites include:

- Hello Operator
- Conquest
- One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below)
- Black Math
- Little Acorns]]> http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/01/02/44v9lm_top_50_albums_of_2010 Sun, 2 Jan 2011 07:14:54 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/01/02/44v9lm_top_50_albums_of_2010 50. Broken Bells – Broken Bells

49. Beach House – Teen Dream

48. Free Moral Agents – Control This

47. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor

46. Deftones – Diamond Eyes

45. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker

44. Tyler, the Creator – Bastard

43. The Black Angels – Phosphene Dream

42. Cancer Bats – Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones

41. Avi Buffalo – Avi Buffalo

40. Kylesa – Spiral Shadow

39. Rosetta – Determinism of Morality

38. Two door cinema – Tourist History

37. deadmau5 – 4x4=12

36. Rusko – O.M.G!

35. Hot Chip – One Life Stand

34. Felix Cartal – Popular Music

33. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

32. Screaming Females – Castle Talk

31. The White Soots – The White Soots

30. !!! – Strange Weather, Isn’t It?

29. Teebs – Ardour

28. Kids & Explosions – Shit Computer

27. Miami Horror – Illumination

26.My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

25. Chromeo – Business Casual

24. New Young Pony Club – The Optimist

23. Delorean – Subiza

22. Best Coast – Crazy For You

21. Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid

20. Girl Talk – All Day

19. Cee-Lo – The Lady Killer

18. Magic Man – Real Life Color

17. Gorillaz – The Fall

16. Sleigh Bells - Treats

15. Wolf Parade – Expo 86

14. Yeasayer – Odd Blood

13. The Drums – The Drums

12. Klaxons – Surfing the Void

11. The Black Keys – Brothers

10. Wavves – King Of The Beach

9. MGMT – Congratulations

8. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

7. Gorillaz – Plastic Beach

6. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quartet – Sepulcros De Miel

5. The Roots – How I Got Over

4. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

3. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today

2. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles (II)

1. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma

Honorable Mentions:

Woodhands – Remorsecapade

Black Mountain – Wilderness Heart

Teengirl Fantasy – 7AM

M.I.A. – MAYA

Circa Survive – Blue Sky Noise

Swedish House Mafia – One

Daft Punk – Tron Legacy

Parlovr – Parlovr

Surfer Blood – Astro Coast

Plants and Animals – La La Land

Wick-it The Instigator – The Brothers of Chico Dusty


Disappointments

The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards

of Montreal – False Priest

Ra Ra Riot– The Orchard

Massive Attack – Heligoland

No Age – Everything In Between]]> http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/01/02/44v381_top_50_songs_of_2010 Sun, 2 Jan 2011 03:37:24 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/01/02/44v381_top_50_songs_of_2010 50. The Roots - The Fire

49. Kanye West - All of the Lights

48. MGMT - Congratulations

47. Black Mountain - Let Spirits Ride

46. Surfer Blood - Swim

45. Flying Lotus - Zodiac Shit

44. Crystal Castles - Not in Love

43. Janelle Monáe - Tightrope

42. Walsh - Westworld

41. Klaxons - Venusia

40. Arcade Fire - Month of May

39. Kanye West - Devil In A New Dress

38. The Drums - Let's Go Surfing

37. Cancer Bats - Sabotage

36. Flying Lotus - ...And The World Laughs With You

35. Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill

34. Big Boi - Daddy Fat Sax

33. Crystal Castles - Celestica

32. The Roots - Doin' It Again

31. Wavves - Baseball Cards

30. Best Coast - Boyfriend

29. Rusko - Woo Boost

28. The Bloody Beetroots - Domino

27. MGMT - Flash Delirium

26. Broken Social Scene - World Sick

25. Chromeo - Night by Night

24. Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

23. Gorillaz - Rhinestone Eyes

22. Crystal Castles - Vietnam

21. Janelle Monáe - Cold War

20. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round

19. Kele - Tenderoni

18. The Drums - Down By The Water

17. Kanye West - Lost In The World / Who Will Survive in America

16. Rifoki - Zombie Attack

15. The Black Keys - Everlasting Light

14. Danger - 4h30

13. Tyler, the Creator - Bastard

12. Dom - Living In America

11. Janelle Monáe - Locked Inside

10. Big Boi - Shine Blockaz

9. Daft Punk - Derezzed

8. Big Boi - Shutterbugg

7. Flying Lotus - Kill Your Co-Workers

6. The Black Keys - Tighten Up

5. Kanye West - Runaway

4. The Dead Weather - Blue Blood Blues

3. Flying Lotus - Galaxy in Janaki

2. Kanye West - Power

1. Cee-Lo - Fuck You


Honorable Mentions:

Hot Chip – One Life Stand

The Roots – Radio Daze

Sleigh Bells – Rill Rill

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti– Can’t Hear My Eyes

Hot Chip -I Feel Better

Wavves – King of the Beach

Girl Talk – Oh No

The Black Keys – Next Girl

The Roots – The Day

Arcade Fire – Ready to Start]]> http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/01/02/44v183_top_10_eps_of_2010 Sun, 2 Jan 2011 02:47:50 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2011/01/02/44v183_top_10_eps_of_2010 10. Bad Tits - Garbage Nights EP

9. Rifoki - Sperm Donor EP

8. How to Destroy Angels - How to Destroy Angels

7. Holy Ghost! - Static On The Wire

6. Superhumanoids - Urgency

5. Danger - 09/17 2007

4. Walsh - Smoke Weed About It

3. Flying Lotus - Pattern+Grid World

2. Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

1. Dom - Sun Bronzed Greek Gods EP

Honorable Mentions:

Zola Jesus – Stridulum II

MillionYoung – Be So True EP

J Dilla – Donut Shop

Cave – pure moods]]> http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/12/06/435a1m_miley_cyrus_is_colonizing_the_youth_of_today_with_fevered_egos Mon, 6 Dec 2010 05:57:39 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/12/06/435a1m_miley_cyrus_is_colonizing_the_youth_of_today_with_fevered_egos Every generation has that one pop star that symbolizes everything that is wrong with the world. More so with North America. The 1980s had Madonna, the 1990’s had Britney Spears, the 2000s had Ashlee Simpson, and in this new decade we have dozens; the likes of Justin Bieber, Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, and Ke$ha. But there’s one pop artist that stands higher than the ones already mentioned. This person must be impressively oppressive. So who can it be? Well it’s none other than the mighty Miley Cyrus of course!
We thought we had seen the last of the Cyrus’ when Billy Ray disappeared, but no. His cracker seed made its way through a women’s body and produced the mutant offspring known as Miley nine months later. It’s a shame that comedian Bill Hicks never had the television show that he wanted. It was to be called “Let’s Hunt and Kill Billy Ray Cyrus” where he would release the hounds of hell to chase him all over the globe until he was finally caught so that he can surrender to a shot gun. But alas, that show never made it to air. I wonder why? Anyways, the new Cryus on the block is Miley. She’s the latest product churned out by Disney.
Her music career began with the television series Hannah Montana, where children across North America fell in love with her. She even toured as the character, selling out hockey arenas across the globe. But soon, Miley felt that it was time for a change. Yes, she decided to stop being a character and decided to evolve into a puppet. Whilst having her corporate masters pull her strings, the artists known as Miley Cyrus was born. No more Hannah Montana, Miley was here to take over the world. Kind of like Disney. Children growing up watching her old show followed her on to her new path, as did the younger children who were siblings of her followers. So while Miley ‘partied in the U.S.A.’, her listeners were taking notice, and pretty much doing exactly what she was doing.
It wasn’t long before Miley, like most pop stars before decided to go slutty however. She hiked up her skirts/shorts, grinded, and even pole danced! Unbelievable right? The number of pole dancing tweens rised from a modest number, to sky rocketing to a number I can’t even pronounce. And now Miley Cyrus has been releasing songs like “Can’t be Tamed” (ironic title, no?) and be even sluttier than usual! And how have the youth of today acted? Well they’re the corrupted souls of the world; they’re the biggest prank pulled on youth culture. They have followed her as she keeps giving the younger people out there negative influences. Tell me, what is so unique, original, and soulful about this woman? Tick tock tick tock...I’m still waiting for an answer here! See, if I had kids (which I won’t ‘because I hate kids) I would want them to admire someone who had a heart. Not just a hard on for money.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/12/06/4359r7_pull_my_strings Mon, 6 Dec 2010 05:49:13 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/12/06/4359r7_pull_my_strings Are you like me, and really can’t stand that pop sensation known as Lady Gaga? Or are you unlike me and just simply adore everything she’s done? Well let me just get some things straight, and then you can make up your mind on her. Sound good? First off, I’d just like to point out that it was just 5 short years ago (2005 in case you’re bad at math) that a women named Stephani Germanotta appeared on the MTV game show “Boiling Point” where contestants are on a candid camera like prank show. This Stephani girl was being pranked in a diner, looking pretty much like any other young women. Now guess who that Stephani Germanotta is five years later? If you said Ke$ha, then you were close. But no, it’s the beloved Lady Gaga! Now what does this mean exactly? Well, it means that she’s not the avant-garde woman that most would like to think. If I were to guess, I’d say that she’s pretty much been manufactured by her record label to be seen as something different. Probably to bring artistic integrity back to mainstream culture, to make it seem as if her music is something new. Well based on her looks, you’d imagine that she’d make the most different sounding music. Maybe like a mix Bjork and Sigur Ros or something. But then you listen to her and she sounds like everything else that you hear on your local radio. Well alright, her sound isn’t so avant-garde, but her lyrics must be right? Her lyrics to her single “Telephone” are about how you shouldn’t call her because she’s too busy dancing and drinking at a club. Boy, those are some pure original thoughts, thanks for encapsulating those for us Lady Gaga! But there’s still some out there that think she’s credible because she references the likes of Queen and Def Leppard. All I have to say to that is M. Night Shyamalan did a live action film of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Do I really have to say more than that? You might bring up the obvious and say how much of a unique spirit she is because of her wardrobe. Again, she has been manufactured by her label to seem as if she is ahead of the curve in terms of fashion. Do you remember her first video? The one for “Just Dance”? The most artsy thing about her look in that video was that she had a purple lightning bolt on her face. Her wardrobe was a bit different, but nothing that you wouldn’t see at a rave. I would guess that the response was positive to her look and that she was encouraged (and funded) to push the envelope more and more regarding her looks. Another thing regarding her looks, she claims that she is all about performance art when she is wearing things such as bubble wrap or hot dogs or whatever. Well, what is performance art? What is she expressing? Or maybe, just maybe, she’s selling her body like much of the other pop stars of today. She also likes to seem like she’s really up to date on all issues, yet the only she has any knowledge of is gay rights. While yes, gay rights are a really important topic, there are other issues that also deserve talking about. So as you can hopefully tell, I am not in favour of Lady Gaga. However she’s fun to joke about. So, how does Lady Gaga her steak? Raw raw raw raw raw!]]> http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/05/08/3mde10_taylor_swift:_the_downfall_of_feminism%3F Sat, 8 May 2010 08:02:27 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/05/08/3mde10_taylor_swift:_the_downfall_of_feminism%3F When it comes to the Grammys, I never ever expect those awards to go towards a credible artist. And of course, the winner of the latest Grammys for Album of the Year was Taylor Swift. Now, I don’t so much have a problem with her as a person, but more for what she represents and the subtle yet apocalyptic influence she has on youth today. What makes her an idol worthy of such admiration? Is it because she won Album of the Year at the early age of 20, to establish herself as a musical prodigy? Leanne Rimes won a Grammy when she was 16 and look where that got her... so maybe it’s not the young age thing. It couldn’t possibly be how well she constructs her songs right? I mean, she’s no Tool, (as in the band anyways). Maybe it’s her song writing. Her songs seem to speak to the younger women out there and tell their story. And that story (in every single song of hers) is about boys. Whether it is about how wonderful they are or about how dependent girls are on them, it’s always about boys. Now, I don’t hate her music because it doesn’t tell my story. Among the reasons I hate her music is because it’s unoriginal, boring, tells the same high school stories over and over and devoid is of any artistic merit. If you look at most of her lyrics, the theme of boys is abundant. In one of her songs, “Fifteen”, she sings about how her friend had sex with a boy and gave him all she had right before he left her. So all she was good for was sex? Okay, maybe I’m nitpicking, but she also sings about how girls love the guys with cars, football players, how the first boy she dates she wants to marry, blah, blah, blah. All those clichés that put down women pretty much. Is a woman not capable of having dreams that don’t involve bearing Mr. Quarterbacks’ children? You might say that her songs are the voice of those not heard out there, but is what she saying at all that unheard of or even original? Her image of being seen as a girl who is good, pure, a virgin, etc is putting down women because it sends the message that you’ll be rewarded for knowing your place as a delicate object. Oh and another thing, she keeps singing about being the outcast in high school. STOP THAT, TAYLOR! You wear high heels, you’re glammed up like a Barbie, your father is a stockbroker who got you where you are, and you were home schooled. Now anyways, if you were to ask me, I’d say Swifts material is manufactured by a crazy Christian-conservative propaganda group to further promote fiscal conservatism and to repress the feminist movement in a nation that’s on its path to self destruction, but hey, that’s just one man’s opinion.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/04/12/3k49sk_mgmt_-_congratulations_%5Breview%5D Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:27:20 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/04/12/3k49sk_mgmt_-_congratulations_%5Breview%5D One of 2010’s most anticipated releases is finally here. MGMT’s follow up to the incredibly successful debut album “Oracular Spectacular” has arrived; it’s entitled “Congratulations.” If it was my guess, I’d assume that they named this album “Congratulations” because of how well their first album has done and that this is their reply to all the hype that they’ve released since then. But if you think that MGMT are still making pop songs like “Kids” and “Time to Pretend”, boy, are you wrong. Instead of just making an album full of singles, they made an album. The sound of this album resembles surf rock mixed with a couple thousand pounds of LSD inspired psychedelica, all while maintaining a sense of folk rock throughout. For those that want or were expecting “Oracular Spectacular”, you won’t enjoy this album as much, for there aren’t really any singles on this album, it’s a full album experience. The band has now evolved into something new and unique, a twisted prototype created by of Montreal and The Flaming Lips, which is what a good artist always, does, evolve their sound over time, rather than churn out the same stuff over and over. The album starts with “It's Working”, which oozes of surf rock of the 60s and wonderfully shows how this album is different from any previous efforts. The following two songs “Song For Dan Treacy” and “Someone's Missing” continue this change in their sound, with surf rock meeting psychedlica , creating excellent harmonies in the music. “Flash Delirium” is the closest thing that will be a single on this album, it has some catchy moments throughout the song, yet is still just bat shit crazy in terms of everything that’s going on, so many layers on this track, yet it still manages to sound wonderful. The album takes a breather with the very gentle and melodic “I Found a Whistle”, right before everything goes crazy with the 12 minute “Siberian Breaks”. Throughout this entire song, it undergoes so many movements that it might as well be a classical piece. It goes from folk, to rock, to psychedelic, to electronic and then progresses to a close. The Brian Eno tribute song too aptly titled “Brian Eno” is a fun old rock and roll style song that declares just how awesome Brian Eno is, with a fun chorus throughout which will make that song a fun one to hear live. The title of the next song “Lady Dada's Nightmare” is just a play on words with Lady Gaga and Dadaism, which is just a quirky little fact. It’s the albums only instrumental song and serves as the bridge from the fun “Brian Eno” to the album closer “Congratulations”. On the last song, we are given a nice ambient acoustic along with some soft synths to ease us back into reality and out of MGMTs amazing album. It’s a smooth and relaxing album, although it does have some truly crazy moments, it will leave your foot tapping and a big smile on your face.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/03/29/3ivesr_billy_talent_in_montreal Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:40:10 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/j_morrison/journal/2010/03/29/3ivesr_billy_talent_in_montreal Wed 24 Mar – Billy Talent, Alexisonfire, Against Me!, Cancer Bats

March 24th was a night for alternative listeners to rejoice at the Bell Centre, as Billy Talent headlined an amazing line up for the evening. The line up consisted of the hardcore punk rockers Cancer Bats, the “best American band” according to Billy Talent singer, Ben Kowalewicz, Against Me!, Canadian hardcore favourites, Alexisonfire and last but not least, Billy Talent. The doors opened around 5pm, and Cancer Bats were on stage around 6:15, playing a 30 minute set. They sounded just as heavy as Alexisonfire, but added their own punk style to the mix, even doing a cover of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage.” Against Me! was up next, having to follow up an impressive performance by Cancer Bats, but they didn’t disappoint the massive crowd in attendance, showing that they too know how to whip a crowd into a frenzy. By around 8pm, Alexisonfire hit the stage, being met with a thunderous applause from the crowd. They played songs from each of their past two albums, seemingly ignoring their early work. However, the songs they chose were perfect, as it was what the fans there wanted to hear the most from them. Favourites like “Young Cardinals”, “We Are The Sound”, and “Boiled Frogs” were performed, before closing with their most popular track, “This Could Be Anywhere In The World.” An intermission that seemed to last forever made the crowd get restless, but when the lights went out, the place erupted, as the opening notes to “Devil In A Midnight Mass” were echoing throughout the arena. The lights came back on and there they were, Billy Talent at last. Songs ranged from their three albums, but didn’t seem to be too heavy on the new stuff, and played what the fans were hoping to hear. Songs like “Line And Sinker”, “The Ex”, and “Saint Veronika” put the crowd in the right frame of mind and everyone was jumping like jack hammers. Singer, Kowalewicz proved to be a good (and humble) front man, as he regularly took a time out to talk to the crowd, whether it be about Montreal music, Sidney Crosby, and just sheer appreciation for coming to the show. Following their first single “[track artist=Billy Talent]Try Honesty”, they retreated backstage. But it wasn’t too long before they came back for a three song encore, much to the delight of the fans cramming the Bell Centre. “Devil on my Shoulder”, “Fallen Leaves”, “Red Flag”, were the closers for the evening. Leaving the audience with a great ring in their ears to take home.]]>