#3. Bombino - Nomad

Bombino - Azamane Tiliade

Well it's December and that means time to reflect on the past year in music. This year saw highly anticipated releases from household names such as Kanye West and Justin Timberlake, brilliant introductions from the likes of Jake Bugg and Chance the Rapper, and grizzled vets proving they still have what it takes to compete in the music biz in 2013 including David Bowie and Paul McCartney. All of these albums were great but they still could not make the cut (you'll see some in the honourable mentions section to come). So without further adieu I shall continue Some Strange Storm's Top 5 Albums of 2013.

In 2013 I discovered Bombino, aka Omara Moctar, a singer and insanely gifted blues guitarist from Niger. I wrote about him earlier this year in July. He has a crazy history of exile, executions, and the struggle for peace and I strongly recommend that you quickly check it out here:
http://somestrangestorm.blogspot.ca/2013_07_01_archive.html

Nomad is an album that commands multiple listenings. Produced by Black Keys guitarist and lead singer Dan Auerbach the album is deeply rooted in the blues and Dan gives it an electric, sonic boost. The album opens with "Amidinine", a catchy track with blazing guitar and sing-along chorus. Things tone down a bit with the chill "Ahulakamine Hulan" before kicking into another high gear for today's tune "Azamane Tiliade". This is one of those songs that instantly pumps you up. Although you can't understand a word he's saying, unless you are fluent in the Tamashek language of the nomadic Tuareg people, you know that this is a political song. Bombino sings with an intense fury that is echoed by his guitar shredding. Whenever I'm pissed off about something I turn to this track for inspiration in my writing. A brilliant song that you must check out as well as the psychedelic video that features Auerbach.

Other album highlights include the instrumental "Niamey Jam" with its buzzing organ part and choppy guitar, "Her Tenere" which must be a love song as Bombino sings with romantic passion, and the closer "Tamiditine" which is an incredibly peaceful statement song. You can hear the sadness in Bombino's voice but lurking close behind is hope; a hope for peace and happiness to his people. A brilliant desert blues song.

I won't be able to make another post til after Christmas so I'll say Merry Christmas! Be safe this holiday season and just "enjoy getting drunk and stoned with your friends and family, because that is really what Christmas is all about." - Ricky

Stay tuned for #2

TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2013

#4. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Full Album

Daft Punk - Beyond

Well it's December and that means time to reflect on the past year in music. This year saw highly anticipated releases from household names such as Kanye West and Justin Timberlake, brilliant introductions from the likes of Jake Bugg and Chance the Rapper, and grizzled vets proving they still have what it takes to compete in the music biz in 2013 including David Bowie and Paul McCartney. All of these albums were great but they still could not make the cut (you'll see some in the honourable mentions section to come). So without further adieu I shall continue Some Strange Storm's Top 5 Albums of 2013.

With the recent surge of EDM (Electronic Dance Music for those unaware), especially and finally in the USA, the undisputed Kings, Godfathers, Legends, whatever you want to call them, of the genre had been absent for quite some time prior to this year. In late 2010 the duo of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter released their first new material in over five years causing widespread hysteria in the music world. Turns out they were only releasing an original score for the Disney film Tron: Legacy which really only contained one EDM/Daft Punk song, the futuristic party-starter "Derezzed". Then three years later, in Spring 2013, word finally got out that the duo was releasing an LP of all new, original material and the industry went berserk. A 30 second teaser trailer which was played during the Coachella music festival and during an episode of SNL showed the robot-masked Daft Punk alongside R&B crooner/producer Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, guitarist and producer extraordinaire of the disco group Chic. I vividly remember being shown this while at a hostel in Thailand and it got me extremely excited for the album and that particular single, "Get Lucky", to come.

The album begins with the proclamation "Give Life Back To Music" which features fantastic orchestration paired with the instantly recognizable riffing of Nile Rodgers; a sound that thankfully graces much of the album. This is quite the statement from a group that basically created the EDM genre through blips and bleeps of computers and synths. Yet here they are ready to move past it, bringing back live instruments and production to a genre that has been loathed by many as being too artificial. Basically they're proving that they can make an incredible EDM album without computers and are moving forward, ahead of the competition. Following the opener is the 9 minute epic "Giorgio by Moroder" which features a spoken word intro by Giorgio himself as he tells of his beginnings in the discotheques in Berlin in the early 1970's. The song then goes through a whirlwind of buzzing synths and spacey beats before crashing down with gorgeous strings.

There isn't a single throwaway track on the album but other standouts include "Instant Crush" featuring Julian Casablancas of The Strokes on lead, auto-tuned vocals over a laid back groove, another epic in "Touch" which showcases the voice and songwriting of Paul Williams and includes a brilliant middle frame of exuberant horns and strings, and "Lose Yourself To Dance" and "Get Lucky" which feature vocals by Pharrell Williams and guitar from Nile Rodgers. The latter is the definition of a perfect pop/dance song. Rolling Stone named it their song of the year and by now you have heard it a million times and may be sick of it but hopefully, like me, you still can't get enough of it and turn it up every time it's on.

The track I chose for today is "Beyond", co-written with Paul Williams. This is classic Daft Punk that uses auto-tuned robot vocals over a killer groove but also reflects their new live instrumentation with flourishes of orchestra strings and beautiful pedal steel guitar fills. I struggled to choose just one song from this excellent album and didn't want to use my personal favourite track "Get Lucky" since unless you live at the North Pole you have most definitely heard it many times before. Daft Punk decided to come back into the music world just when EDM was getting its most attention, putting a ton of pressure on the masters to come through with a hit. Well they certainly delivered, in fact they went above and beyond the call. Now if only they could do an epic world tour and finally start headlining all of those festivals that they are consistently rumoured to be at. I know I'll be there.

Stay tuned for #3

TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2013

#5. Danny Brown - Old

Full Album

Danny Brown - Lonely

Well it's December and that means time to reflect on the past year in music. This year saw highly anticipated releases from household names such as Kanye West and Justin Timberlake, brilliant introductions from the likes of Jake Bugg and Chance the Rapper, and grizzled vets proving they still have what it takes to compete in the music biz in 2013 including David Bowie and Paul McCartney. All of these albums were great but they still could not make the cut (you'll see some in the honourable mentions section to come). So without further adieu I begin Some Strange Storm's Top 5 Albums of 2013.

Old finds Danny Brown at an introspective point in his career. The rapper is known for his crazy antics and wild partying which are illuminated on tracks such as "Blunt After Blunt" and "Die Like a Rockstar" from his 2012 LP XXX. On Old Danny takes a more serious look at his life and questions what he is doing. On "Clean Up" he raps about being in "hotel rooms crushing pills and menus / daughter sending me messages saying 'Daddy, I miss you' / but in this condition I don't think she need to see me." This brutal honesty proves that Danny can be an intelligent rapper and that he understands the consequences of his lifestyle. This sentiment is echoed during the hook when he proclaims "it's time for me to clean it up / I came too far to fuck it up." It's refreshing to hear an artist admit that their lifestyle is damaging to themselves as well as family and friends.

The album is split into two halves, side A and side B, with side A being more focused on introspection and personal feelings. In the opener "Side A (Old)" he laments how fans and critics want the 'old' hair-braided and dope selling Danny Brown back, telling the listener that this album is going to be different and you're gonna have to deal with it. Highlights of side A include "25 Bucks" which features vocals and production from Montreal duo Purity Ring and is about how Danny and his parents grew up without much money, the ridiculously awesome hook of "like open wide ho" from "Dope Fiend Rental" which features ScHoolboy Q, and the aforementioned "Clean Up" with its deep lyrics and excellent, haunting production.

But the brightest light of this half has to be today's song "Lonely". This song finds Brown opting to rap in a deeper voice, foregoing his higher pitched, unique style. What this does is allows the listener to really listen to his lyrics as he tells of his past and how he's lonely "'cause don't nobody really know [him]." A funny voice also states in French in the intro "well, maybe the bird / the bird sleeping inside of each of us / will rise up", alluding to his desire to change. This deeper style of rapping is brilliantly complimented with the production; gorgeous chiming guitars over a solid back beat and piano flourish plus the gospel break in the middle make for a truly beautiful song.

Side B definitely begins to stray back to Danny Brown's wild, party side as the production gets heavier and angrier. I like to compare this half to Kanye West's brilliant Yeezus which I call his angry workout album. I personally don't like this half as much and it is the main reason why it is #5 and not higher (had the album just consisted of side A it would rank as high as #2 on my list). Highlights include "Dubstep" featuring Scruffizer and some womp womp production, the after party/sesh anthem "Kush Coma" featuring A$AP Rocky and some great spaced out vocals, and the lush closer "Float On" featuring the beautiful vocals of British chanteuse Charlie XCX.

So Danny Brown's style and sound change definitely worked and I can't wait to hear what he has to come in the future. Stay tuned for #4...

Hallow Moon - Waiting For Chimera

http://neptoonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hallow-moon

Hallow Moon are a band from Vancouver, BC that features a friend of mine from way back, Dan Ross on guitar. They play bluesy garage rock with brilliant splashes of psychedelia. The band recently released their self-titled first album through Neptoon Records, Vancouver's oldest independent record store. It is available for digital download or on vinyl from the website above (also free to stream!). 

The album kicks off with today's song "Waiting For Chimera", seven minutes of cosmic stomp rock with wailing guitar flourishes. It sets the tone for the rest of the album, showing that these guys aren't fucking around. The next track, "Don't Know Why", starts out with a pulsating, lightning speed riff that is one of the best I've heard in years. This song is the only one that I had ever heard before by Hallow Moon as it is their only video up on YouTube. I fell in love with it right away, digging the catchy chorus and cool video which you can check out below. Other highlights of the album include the chilled out guitars of "Sermons" and the thumping and chiming of "Single Life". Overall it's a great album and one that can be listened to over and over. Whether contemplating serious life decisions, working hard to get something done or just relaxing with a beer and a doob, it provides the perfect soundtrack. Support these guys and purchase the album today for only $7.

Hallow Moon - Don't Know Why

Some thoughts...

- A HUGE thank you to the staff at Sportstown tavern where I left my cell phone last night (what a moron!), as it was waiting for me behind the bar when I went back to hopefully find it today.

- On a related note the ND Grizzlies (men's competitive indoor soccer) are finally above .500. After starting out 0-3-1 we have clawed all the way back to 5th place with sights set on a top 4 finish and the postseason. However, the final week of the regular season features a must-win game for us as well as some help from the teams above. Fingers crossed!

- Holy shit it's already December! My oh my how the time flies nowadays. Guess that's the case when shit is getting done faster and faster all the time.

- Made the playoffs in fantasy football for the second season in a row. Here's hoping my boy Cam Newton and triple threat RBs Jamaal Charles, Danny Woodhead and Knowshon Moreno can lead me to victory.

Midnight Runners - There's No You In Us

http://www.reverbnation.com/midnightrunners

A couple weeks ago Midnight Runners played the Friday Night Rock headlining slot at Joe's Apartment in Vancouver. The band features four friends of mine from high school who have been playing together, on and off, since those days. Rhejis Wicks is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player, Joel Harrison plays lead guitar, Andy Lee is on bass and Jesse Harder on drums. Their music is a solid mix of alternative rock and bluesy R&B. And in terms of alternative rock they definitely lean towards the "legit" alt rock bands such as Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Matthew Good Band while straying from the "popular, shitty" modern rock that used to dominate airwaves such as Nickelback and Papa Roach.

Earlier this year in June I saw Midnight Runners play another headlining gig at The Roxy in Vancouver. However that was on a random Tuesday night and the crowd, other than friends and family, was basically what you'd expect for a weeknight. The band was great, it just wasn't an ideal environment for them. This time on a Friday night there were more people there who had probably never heard of the band and were just out for a night at the bar. And I bet that many of them were pleasantly surprised with the great rock show that they witnessed.

About 45 minutes before their set, drummer Jesse told me that he was really nervous because the house drum kit sucked. The kit he's used to has a large variety of different drum types and apparently this kit was lacking much of that variety. He was now forced to simplify his rhythm and had to improvise some of the beats so the rest of the guys could follow along. Knowing next to nothing about drums and drumming I simply wished him good luck and told him he'd do fine... I hope.

The set started with ferocity as they played one of my favourites, "Neck Tie Noose", early on. The track is very hard rocking with an almost punkish vibe as Rhejis sings of the dirty tricks and trades of businessmen and politicians with a howl of bitter disgust. Until about midway through the set I had completely forgotten the conversation I had earlier with Jesse about the shitty drums. He sounded great as usual and I don't think anyone in the audience had a clue about what he was dealing with. Up next came the only cover of the night, "Everything Is Automatic" by the Matthew Good Band. This was a brilliant choice as it really showcased Rhejis' vocals and Joel nailed the guitar parts. Then they played another one of my favourites and today's song, "There's No You In Us". This song featured spot on, bluesy guitar from Joel that culminated in a stunning solo.

Towards the end of the set quite the crowd had gathered on the floor with everyone watching and listening very intently. A group of younger girls on one side were even trying to out dance and out rock an older couple across from them. I love to see shit like that and I'm sure the band dug it as well. Finally at about the 40 minute mark came the set closer "Misery River". This was a great song that I had not heard before with some great guitar soloing. It ended with the whole band chugging along to a climatic burst. The crowd really loved this one and gave Midnight Runners a much deserved ovation for an awesome show.

In my last review of the Roxy show I criticized Rhejis for his awkward comments and cheap jokes made in between songs. This time around he did no such thing, opting for the basic "How's it goin' guys?" and "Thanks to the venue/opening band" stuff. This was fine and much better than before but I'd still like to challenge him to do something more. A great story or really funny joke at a show can be an amazing, unforgettable moment for the audience. I will refer to Macklemore who I saw at Squamish Fest this summer. He was someone that I wasn't super stoked on going into the show but his charisma and brilliant story telling had me and the 10,000+ in the crowd hanging onto his every word and made us like and respect him that much more.

Midnight Runners will be playing at the newly renovated Mirage Night Club in Surrey next Friday, December 6th. Tickets are usually only $10-15 and are worth every nickel! (That sounds weird a pennies no longer exist lol). Be sure to check these guys out live as well as online at their Reverb Nation page listed above which features songs to listen to and download, cool pics, and other info.

EpiclyUnreal is no more! It was a name that I quickly came up with 2 years ago and never really liked. I have been trying to come up with something better for a while now and finally stumbled upon Some Strange Storm which is a lyric from one of my favourite songs by my all-time favourite band. More changes and betterness to come!

Missy Elliott - Sock It 2 Me (Kaytranada Remix)

So after an excellent show by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth at Fortune Sound Club last Saturday we decided to stick around for DJ sets by Jerome LOL, Groundislava, and headliner Kaytranada. Two shows for the price of one is always awesome, especially when I would have paid and seen each separately! While about half the crowd was leaving we grabbed more beers and went back to the dace floor where they were playing an excellent mix of classic hip-hop by the likes of Souls of Mischief ("93 'til Infinity") and Eric B. & Rakim ("Don't Sweat the Technique"). Then before we knew it a crowd had appeared on the stage and helming the turntables was L.A.'s Jerome LOL. I had never heard of him before but my buddy told me he was dope and dope he sure was. He played a set of house music with serious hip-hop influences, including a great remix of A$AP Ferg's "Shabba". The overall vibe was very tribal, making for some fresh grooves and a sound that I look forward to following. Click the link below for his soundcloud page:

https://soundcloud.com/jeromelol             or               http://www.jeromelol.com/songs

Up next was Groundislava, also hailing from L.A. and also who I had not heard of before. I wasn't digging his set as much as Jerome LOL, but the big guy worked the crowd well and played a solid mix of house and pop remixes. Though I certainly could have done without his Miley Cyrus "We Can't Stop" remix lol.

Finally it was time for the main man, Montreal's Kaytranada. A friend of mine introduced me to his stuff a few months ago. That stuff is a mix of hip-hop and R&B remixes from TLC and Erykah Badu to K-OS and Danny Brown. He has gained a large following recently and one can certainly see why. His chilled out remixes provided the perfect ending to a great night of hip-hop. Near the end of his set Kaytranada played his remix of Danny Brown's "Lie4" that really got the crowd going. He then ended with my personal favourite and today's song, Missy Elliott's "Sock It 2 Me". His remix is bloody brilliant, slowing down the original, upping the bass and emphasizing the horns so they sound like the horses of the apocalypse riding toward the earth and its impending doom. He also eliminated Da Brat's shitty verse which was an excellent call. He continued to play this track while some nerd from the club stood right next to him, glaring at him to stop so that No Fun City could become quiet and peaceful again. Kaytranada went on for a few minutes to the delight of the audience. The image of his goofy smile and determination to continue, coupled with the dork glowering and standing over him while he plays the dooming "Sock It 2 Me" beat was something I will forever remember. As usual, the institution won and the house lights went back on as Kaytranada announced the address of the after party.

Coming from Montreal, Kaytranada must have certainly been shocked at the lameness of the curfew hours in this city. Especially considering that it was daylight savings and was technically only 1:30am. For a supposed world class city we sure do not know how to party with all bars closing by 3 and the SkyTrain ending service at 1am! Oh well, the city definitely is much better and prettier during daylight hours.

Some thoughts...

- Arcade Fire's new album is fucking incredible. This band continues to amaze me with each new album by completely changing their sound and style while keeping the same obvious Arcade Fire sound. There's only one other band on earth that has been able to do the same, albeit an entire decade longer, and that is Radiohead.
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Andy Samberg's new police officer sitcom is hilarious and a must watch for any fan of the guy.
- Remembrance Day is almost here. Be sure to buy a poppy and where it proudly while remembering the sacrifices of those in our armed forces so that we can live like we do today.
- And a big FUCK YOU to the government/health insurance people. My grandfather served in the Royal Canadian Navy for 40 years, working as the head chef on a supply ship. He is now enduring some serious health issues and is receiving no financial help because his (along with the entire crew's) "service" is not considered "active duty". Give me a fucking break!!! That is a disgusting way to treat the men and women who risked their lives for us. I want to strangle the dipshit cocksucking cunt who came up with this!

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - The Basement

This past Saturday the legendary hip-hop duo Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth performed at Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver. They were touring behind the 20th anniversary of their classic 1992 album Mecca & The Soul Brother, playing the album in its entirety. Now these throwback/reunion shows can go one of two ways: the artist(s) simply show up to play their biggest hit songs in a lazy, just-give-me-my-paycheque-now sort of way, even making the crowd sing most of the songs. Or they can step up there and leave it all on the stage, making the audience wonder why they ever stopped making music together and put on an amazing show. Last Saturday Pete & C.L. definitely chose to do the latter. 

Holy shit can C.L. ever rap and work a crowd! The 45 year old was spitting rhymes like it was '92 and moving up, down and all around the stage, including standing on the front pillars for some intensely focused rapping. Today's young rappers can certainly learn a thing or two from the grizzled vet. And Pete was steady as ever in the back working the DJ booth like he's done countless times in the past. He came up to spit a couple verses and get the crowd going but his best moment came two thirds through the show when C.L. left the stage for a much deserved break and Rock did a mini DJ set of the classics. He spun and remixed tracks by the likes of Al Green, Dennis Edwards and the Bee Gees and the crowd was certainly digging it.

As for the rest of the set, highlights included the funky "For Pete's Sake", the sexy and smooth "Lots of Lovin'", the politically charged banger "Straighten It Out" which samples Ernie Hines' 1972 classic "Our Generation" and, of course, the final encore of the duo's most beloved track "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)". The crowd went wild when Pete played the opening sax bit from the track and C.L. got the crowd singing along to it. Then they launched fully into the song with C.L rapping with a ferocity that echoed the original. At the end of it all both guys hugged in front of the crowd and genuinely looked stoked to be there at this stage of their careers. It truly was amazing to see these guys get the respect they deserve while returning that same respect to their fans.

"The Basement" is one of my favourite tracks from Mecca & The Soul Brother. The beat is fucking ridiculously good with the short jazz horn breaks melding into the longer ones at the "chorus". The song is also only one of two tracks on the album to feature other rappers. Grap Luva, Heavy D, Rob-O and Deda all provide slick verses, making it an incredible crew cut. If you have never heard Pete & C.L. then I strongly recommend you educate yourself on classic, lyrical hip-hop and cop this album now. This was an early show and we decided to stick around for the DJ show with sets by Jerome LOL, Groundislava, and headliner Kaytranada. Review coming soon!