Sufjan Stevens | “For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless In Ypsilanti”

If anyone can locate a musician more gorgeous than Sufjan Stevens, please provide substantial proof and about 45 minutes of private time for me and the boy in question. If not, just give me a heaping helping of Sufjan Stevens himself. That will do. That will do very well.

(Banjos are seriously one of the sexiest instruments in the world. Sigh.)

Sufjan Stevens – Official Site | MySpace | Last.fm | Wikipedia | Amazon

Similar artists: Iron & Wine, Great Lake Swimmers, Royal City, Smog

Ben E. King | “Stand By Me”

Featuring River Phoenix & Wil Wheaton

Tell me, kids. Do you appreciate the volume of freebies you get nowadays? I knew you didn’t. What a bunch of spoiled bleepin’ whiners you are.

I tell ya, when I was your age, I nearly ruined myself staying up late on Friday nights just to watch a mediocre episode of Stu Jeffries‘ “Good Rockin’ Tonite“. I never knew what would come up, but it was more than likely a highlight video of Glass Tiger’s “My Song”. My requests for NKOTB’s “Please Don’t Go Girl” would be overlooked… every. bleeping. time. But still, I watched. It was music, and it was free.

But I suppose I shouldn’t be whining because now I’m benefiting from this media free-for-all. The elusive videos I requested as a child are now available to devour in repeat format, including this classic by Ben E. King. I remember seeing this video clip once; as a huge fan of Stand By Me the movie, as well as a devotee of both River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton, this was a huge find. It starts out quite slow, but midway through, the two leading cast members are found in the audience, “giving each other skin” like in the movie. This is great on many levels, but mainly because Wil Wheaton proves once and for all that he has less talent AND possesses no sense of rhythm.

Wonderful.

Rheostatics | “Shaved Head”, “Aliens”, “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”

“Shaved Head” – Rheostatics

Rheostatics are the only band that’s seen me through the final stages of puberty, giant glasses, secret crushes, a move away from home, the burning of my high school diaries, my first relationship and fling and series thereafter, my travels, and my ultimate move here to Vancouver. I’m sure there’ll be more chapters that need their soundtrack score, but since they’ve thrown in the towel a few months ago at their final Massey Hall concert ever, I’m left to feed on nostalgia.

They were one of the first bands I’d seen live in Toronto (at the now defunct X-Rays on Queen West), and from that moment, they plunged me not only into the mid-’90s Toronto music scene but raised the bar to make me the curmudgeony judgmental music critic that I am now. They were artistically innovative and did a fantastic job at creating and fostering community within their fan base. Even fellow Canadian musicians, including ex-Barenaked Ladies’ Andy Creeggan and The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie, got in on the game.

Uniquely Canadian. Aside from those one or two American fans in the audience, I wonder if anyone outside of this country actually “gets” their stuff. Do you?

“Aliens” – Rheostatics

This was the first track I’d heard from them. Note the young Barenaked Ladies cameo at the beginning, to which they responded by inviting the Rheostatics in for their video clip cover of Bruce Cockburn’s “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”:

“Lovers in a Dangerous Time” – Barenaked Ladies

David Hasselhoff | “Hooked on a Feeling”

Where was I when this video clip was released, and why didn’t anyone tell me about it?! This is seriously viral video at its finest.

What’s so important about this find is that it elevates my esteem for Mr. Hasselhoff to plateaus no immortal will ever reach. Rather than describe this clip, I think I’ll just shut up and let the hilarity speak for itself.

Wow.

Final Fantasy | Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy”

Pardon me as I break blog etiquette: this is my second consecutive post on a pop princess cover song. Egads! Typically this would be deserving of walking the Internet plank, but I break etiquette with purpose because, well, Final Fantasy will be on tour with Great Lake Swimmers this fall, and I think everyone should drop what they’re doing and just go and see both of these guys if you want to fall in love for an hour or so. Besides, the performance above is particularly charming and makes me want to grab Polaris music winner extraordinaire, Owen Pallett, by his plaid shirt and pinch the bejesus out of him. Oh, my lad, if only you liked girls! Sigh.

So without further ado, I present this talented boy and his infamous FF sampling/looping magic (fellow Canucks Danny Michel and Feist also do wonders with this technique), producing one sweet, sweet cover of Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy”, sans roller blades and exposed bellies:

Final Fantasy – Official label | MySpace | Last.fm | Amazon

Similar artists: Arcade Fire, The Hidden Cameras, Picastro, Andrew Bird, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone

Ukulele kid | Britney Spears’ “Toxic”

I’d say my taste in music is pretty discerning. But that sure doesn’t mean I would pass on a good pop song if it’s offered to me. So allow me to boldly proclaim that “Toxic” is one of the best dance hits to come out of the mainstream world in the last few years: Britney Spears may know crazy and ditzy, but she also knows catchy, and I ain’t gonna fight that.

There’s no need to display her overplayed video here. Instead, I present a fine ukulele rendition of the hit single, which is as contagious as the original. Get ready to dance, folk style.

Note: for more ukulele action, please see the Ukulele Orkestra of Great Britain do Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.

Panther | “How Well Can You Swim” + “You Don’t Want Your Nails Done”

“How Well Can You Swim” – Panther

I found this… somehow. And now it’s on my favourites list. I don’t know much about this Panther fellow, other than his real name’s Charlie Salas-Humara, he’s from Portland, and that he’s opened for Ratatat and The Gossip. But he is so crazy awesome that I want to eat him alive (and believe me, I don’t say that about everyone).

Here’s another goodie:
“You Don’t Want Your Nails Done” – Panther

And finally, a cameo dancing bit in a video by the Thermals:
“Pillar of Salt” – The Thermals

Panther – Official site | MySpace | Last.fm | Amazon

Similar artists: Y.A.C.H.T. | The Blow | Dan Deacon

They Might Be Giants | “Ana Ng”

You’d figure They Might Be Giants would be one of those novelty bands that would die out with one album and be known for one song, kind of like the Dead Milkmen, who will be Punk Rocking with their Girl for eternity. But 25 years later, TMBG are still at it, kickin’ out albums and soundtrack offerings galore.

“Ana Ng” is the song that initially got me into the whole TMBG game, and although my interest in them has dwindled after the release of 1996’s Factory Showroom, I still appreciate these two nerds from Brooklyn and their wonderfully choreographed videos.

Plus, I just recently discovered their ode to one of Vancouver’s best live music venues, Richard’s on Richards (Venue Songs), and it’s almost enough to make me update my library and become a fan all over again.

The Wedding Present | “Brassneck”

Some random IRC friend from my university days sent me a mix tape. The highlight, by far, was a little ditty by The Wedding Present (not to be confused with Nick Cave’s The Birthday Party, which, to this day, I continue doing) — a Leeds, UK alt-rock outfit with a singer who sounded like he was growling while gargling a cap full of Listerine. It was intense and poppy at the same time. And the drums and the guitars came along for the frantic and intense ride, too. I was in love.

Despite an extended sabbatical from 1997 to 2004, I stuck with the band, used them as my stand-by Saturday afternoon soundtrack. And finally after nine years of fandom, I was able to check out their live show here in Vancouver. Too bad it was a serious let-down: the band members had as much emotion as a bag of flour. And their music didn’t help — their newer material definitely lacks the edge of their old stuff. Maybe I’m being a music snob. But maybe I’m just bitter that I had to wait nine years to see them, and they let me down big time. Sigh.

Still, here’s one excellent song and video. If nothing else, here’s my present to you.

The Wedding Present – Official site | MySpace | Last.fm | Wikipedia | Amazon

Albert Hammond, Jr. | “In Transit”

“In Transit” – Albert Hammond, Jr.

If the hair, the clothes, and the attitude didn’t tip you off, that singing dude there on the right is the lead guitarist of the Strokes. Yep, that’s right, Albert Hammond, Jr., has gone solo. Maybe nothing legendary or innovative, but if you’re not afraid of pop, you could very well get caught in his very accessible vortex.

Albert Hammond, Jr. – MySpace | Last.fm | Wikipedia | Amazon

Daft Punk | “Around the World”

Please indulge me as I dip into my late university years, an era filled with so much electronica my ears and tummy were bursting. It was a period of all-night parties, of super-long naps in the afternoon, of Trainspotting, of watching other people spend their student loan money to really screw themselves over. And now I see these same people adding a million applications and friends on Facebook, all wizened, some of them starving artists, some of them well-off parents, and me? Well, I’m sitting here, listening to music from my past, analyzing my history like I was part of some big, long, lost movement. Yeah, I hardly think so. But whenever I hear this song, I get start tasting the sensuality of the late ’90s all over again, the people, the dress, the smells, the late-night gatherings at pubs and coffee shops. That’s gotta count for something.

Anyway, this video for Daft Punk’s “Around the World” still fascinates me, largely because of Michel Gondry’s directorial finesse — but also because it makes me believe I’m on drugs without really being on drugs (the safest and cheapest high ever). Thanks, guys.

Daft Punk – Official site | MySpace | Last.fm | Amazon