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Post by Dr. Drum on Aug 20, 2007 10:07:52 GMT -5
I'm still around, Phil... Great to hear from you, Shane! So what brings you back to the city? Work, school, new romance?  |
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Post by tuneschick on Aug 20, 2007 10:35:46 GMT -5
Some yahoo made a bomb threat on one of the ferries. That was on Thursday and they still hadn't made up the lost time by Sunday, when we crossed. The next week there was a tropical storm on the Avalon and a windstorm in Cape Breton and the Gulf, which torpedoed it for us on the return trip. My brother and his wife were over last week and they still hadn't got it back on track. The new Weakerthans is quality throughout, but for all that somehow manages to come off as a lesser record than either Left and Leaving or Reconstruction Site. I'd give it a B+. Wow, that's some pretty terrible timing, Dr D... just one thing after another. Like I said though, glad your actual time over there made up for the less-than-ideal travel time. It's sort of funny that I felt disappointed when I saw that you'd only rate the new Weakerthans a B+. Obviously that'd be pretty good for most albums, but I think this is just a band that I hold to a higher standard that I do other bands. Weird. Still really looking forward to hearing it, though. Four more sleeps til Sloan! |
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Post by Dr. Drum on Aug 20, 2007 12:07:22 GMT -5
...but I think this is just a band that I hold to a higher standard that I do other bands. Yeah, absolutely, same here. I had the high anticipation/dread thing going over this record, which was only heightened the longer it took for them to actually get down to making it. So I'd have loved to have been able to say 'another masterpiece', but the vast majority of the time it isn't going to be that anyway. Most of the time, for any artist, it's a matter of keeping your hand in and the juices flowing. Which is what the Weakerthans have done here: solid record; ties up a few threads from previous albums, stakes out a little new ground to build on in the future. Not a bad day's work. |
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Post by tuneschick on Aug 21, 2007 8:19:50 GMT -5
While I guess it's a compliment to the band that I expect a higher standard from them than I do from many other bands, it's also not really fair, I'll admit. So I'll take comfort in the fact that a B+ album for them would be an A+ for the majority of artists.  Not at all. Absolutely looking forward to hearing it. What are your thoughts on the new New Pornographers disc? (hopefully this wasn't already discussed and I missed it... ?) |
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Post by Dr. Drum on Aug 21, 2007 11:29:36 GMT -5
I like it. You don't get quite the same sugar high you used to, but they couldn't keep doing that forever. I can certainly live with the trade-offs that they made on Twin Cinema, and now this one, in terms of making better paced, more complete albums. "Myriad Harbour" is one of my favourite little songs of the year.
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Post by tuneschick on Aug 21, 2007 13:26:20 GMT -5
Good to know, Drum. I think Steve is picking it up later today (we have an interesting arrangement - he owns all the New Pornographers stuff, I own all the solo Neko stuff, so that determines who buys what. Nearly 9 years together and still with the separate music collections!)
To be honest, I didn't listen to Twin Cinema nearly as often as I should have - right around the time of its release, I burnt out a bit on the Pornos, just from my own overexposure to them. I'm quite looking forward to this one though, and hoping it will also prompt me to go back and give TC a proper chance.
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Post by riley on Aug 22, 2007 4:04:25 GMT -5
Promise to catch up here soon gang. Another new job (moved back to the "Big Lion") so time is even tighter than usual. Lots of thoughts to share on CanCon 2007 thus far.
Shane - how long have you been living in Darkness?
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Post by Dr. Drum on Aug 22, 2007 5:47:34 GMT -5
Whoa, lion-dog sighting!
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Post by tuneschick on Aug 22, 2007 7:42:30 GMT -5
Ended up not buying the new New Pornos yesterday - we had it in hand when the owner of our favourite store mentioned that the special edition would be coming out in a couple of weeks, so holding tight for that. Heard some of it while we were there though... good stuff. Sounds like there are a few good Neko-led songs, huh Doc? (which really, is obviously what we all most want to hear.) |
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Post by samplestiltskin on Aug 22, 2007 8:57:47 GMT -5
shitson AND riley. i think i might faint.
what'd you do for your birthday, tunes? other than visit the record store i guess.
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Post by tuneschick on Aug 22, 2007 9:43:54 GMT -5
It was sort of a multi-day event, samps. The way birthdays should be, really. Friday, Steve and a friend of mine threw me a bit of a surprise on the patio of a Mexican restaurant/bar. Saturday my parents came into town to visit - my mom and I went for manicures, then we all went out for dinner, then to Niagaras Falls for shopping, dinner and hanging out on Sunday. Yesterday Steve took me out for dinner again, then gave me my gifts when we got home. Turning 30 is lots of fun.
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Post by samplestiltskin on Aug 22, 2007 9:51:07 GMT -5
DAMN. that is awesome. my friend just turned 30 too, we took him to Casa Bonita in denver. it's kind of legendary around here -- for little kids' birthday parties, haha.
i can't wait to turn 30. every birthday since my 18th has been pretty lame.
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Post by Meursault on Aug 22, 2007 14:20:10 GMT -5
I moved up to Dartmouth at the beginning of August. My partner is a teacher up here and was returning to her position after finishing a degree at Acadia. So i'm currently looking for a job and settling into our place.
I hope all is well with everyone.
Riley and Drum, we should meet up sometime in the next few weeks or so. Let me know how you feel.
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Post by riley on Aug 22, 2007 19:19:11 GMT -5
Sounds good Shane. Love to, but it might have to wait a bit for the new job thing to settle down. Pop Explosion in mide October might be the perfect excuse for a reunion. I trust by then you'll have moved to teh more respectable side of the harbour I also love that you call your girlfriend your partner, but it makes it sound like she's a lesbian. If so, congratulations on having a girlfriend who's a lesbian. If it's not a chick, congratulations on finally coming to terms with your gay stuff. I hope he has a huge package. You deserve it. |
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Post by strat-0 on Aug 22, 2007 19:43:06 GMT -5
LOL, Riley - you still haven't lost your touch!
Glad you're doing well, Shane!
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