Saturday, April 23, 2011

A Record a Week: Nothing but Funk Vol. 3 (11 James Brown Rarities from 1963-1973)



SIDE 1.
THINGS GOT TO GET BETTER (Marva Whitney Lyn Collins & James Brown)
IF I HAD A MAN LIKE YOU (Shirley Jean & The Relations)
JUST AS SURE(AS YOU PLAY, YOU MUST PAY) (Dizzy Jones)
THERE WAS A TIME (The Dapps Featuring Alfred Ellis)
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED (The Flames)
YOUR SO SEXY (Hank Ballard Along With The Dapps)

SIDE 2.
DOIN' THE DOO (Bobby Byrd Featuring The JB's)
TUTTI FRUTTI (Lee Austin)
DADDY DON'T KNOW ABOUT SUGAR BEAR (Marva Whitney)
BABY, DON'T YOU KNOW (The Brownettes)
SOUL FOOD (Al "Brisco" Clark & His Orchestra)

This album contains a collection of songs not performed by J.B. on this record, and to be honest I'm not sure what some of them have to do with him. Tutti Frutti was a Little Richard song from the '50s and I don't recall ever hearing a version by Brown. In the liner notes he is credited as co-writing or performing in some capacity on various songs and apparently others appeared as B-Sides on some singles.

But, as the title hints at, this album is nothing but funk and that is just fine by me. Regardless of their connection with the late Mr. Brown, these songs make up a fairly solid collection of good old dancin' tunes. They have all of that original funk/soul goodness that got left behind in the later disco/funk mess. I don't know if it was the addition of keyboards or slap bass that I don't like, but something just doesn't feel the same about the later years of the funk genre.

I like this record because it gets me in a dancy mood and I now love it because it makes my daughter dance, and that's just good times.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Sunday Brunch: Crunchy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars



I got this from the side of the No Name peanut butter jar, substituting margarine for butter and using less, as well as chocolate chips for baker's chocolate and Special K for marshmallows (no vegan marshmallows available locally).

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Graham Crumbs
1/2 cup Vegan Margarine, melted
1/4 cup Sugar
1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Generous 1/2 cup of Peanut Butter
2 cups Special K cereal, or other puffed or flaked rice cereal

Combine Graham crumbs, margarine and sugar and spread across a greased 8" pan. Cook for 5 minutes at 350F and then let cool until firm.

In a double boiler or a bowl over water @ medium-low heat, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together. Add in cereal and spread over the graham crumb mixture. Cool and cut into squares.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

A Record a Week: Bread and Circuits/Former Members of Alfonsin



SIDE 1. (BREAD AND CIRCUITS)
BLOODBATH
SHAMEFUL LIBRARY
DYING BY DEGREES
NUREMBERG PRINCIPLES

SIDE 2. (FORMER MEMBERS OF ALFONSIN)
KINETIC
DEVIL'S VOCABULARY TEST
HURRICANE
MAGIC MAKER

I bought this record because Bread and Circuits had members of a band called Yaphet Kotto, whom I really liked. The record is energetic, but not very much like Yaphet. They were more of an emo/screamo fast paced band and Bread and Circuits (and Former Members of Alfonsin) are more 90's Hardcore/Punk/Melodic Hardcore. Bread and Circuits also had a guy who was in another band I liked at the time, Swing Kids. I had actually thought this was a post-Yaphet Kotto band, but research tells me they were first. Based on the sound of the two bands, I probably should have been able to figure that out.

The first side of this record plays out like your typical punk hardcore record from the 90's. Straight forward drum beats with the style of guitar and screaming you'd find in bands like Snapcase, American Nightmare, Madball, etc.

The second side is much of the same, though they make motions towards a later era of hardcore that was more tuneful, or at least in the melodic breakdowns. As well, they employ a mixture of male/female vocals which was just getting going (Palatka, 1905, etc.).

As much of the punk hardcore movement encompassed, this record has a political tilt to it. I find the better music from this style came from the revolution theme, rather than the emotional theme, though they both had their place.

As happened all of the time in the late 90s, early 2000s world of Ebullition, 31G, Troubleman bands, each of these bands released a split or two and a handful of 7"s and maybe a full-length and then broke up, only to immediately form other bands of similar sound with other members of bands from within their label or local scene. In the case of this record, it had already happened by the time of the release. In the liner notes it even says 'Bread and Circuits was' and 'Former Members of Alfonsin was'.

It's a decent 90's hardcore record that I probably wouldn't have stumbled across if I hadn't been into Yaphet Kotto. Just goes to show it always pays off to check out what else the people in the bands you like have done.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Murphy's Law Pt.4 - Journey to D.C./Baltimore

After I was done college, I went through a period where I was focused on playing music and having fun. Like most recent college graduates, I didn't have very much money and mostly just cared about playing and going to concerts. I tried to get bands I was in on to the bill at concerts I wanted to go to or hope I knew the promoters, so I wouldn't have to pay. I also ran a weekly concert series, so I tried to get the bands I liked on there too.

During this period of being completely broke, I found out that one of my favourite bands at the time, pg.99, was breaking up. They were to play their final shows over a weekend in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. in May 2003. The final show was to take place on the 24th, which I thought would be a great birthday present.

Then came the realization: I didn't have any money. I was working a little bit part time, but I spent it as it came in, mostly, and certainly didn't have the funds to finance a trip like this. However, I was determined to go and started figuring out how I might be able to make it work. First step was to find a place to stay in the area. I contacted a guy I had met up in Toronto that lived in the area and checked with him. He said that it was fine, but he was going to be on the west coast until the night of the first show. 'Perfect, I will meet you there', said I.

The following week, my cousin Russ asked me if I was interested in going down to watch the Preakness, which if you haven't heard of it, is like a horse race and Mardi Gras mixed into one. It sounded like a good time and most of all, it was in Baltimore the weekend before I wanted to be there, so I had magically figured out my way there for free! Except one thing - I didn't have anywhere to stay during the interim week.

I was so close to figuring it out that I completely refused to believe it couldn't happen. So, on a long shot, I went over to a concert of a band called Darkest Hour, who were from the D.C. area. After they were done playing, I struck up a conversation with the dudes and explained my predicament. The singer told me it would be no problem to stay with him for a few days, but that the latter half they were on tour, ending with playing the second of the three pg99 shows. They said it was cool with them if I came along on their tour bus (van).

So now I was getting excited, as I had figured out a way there and places to stay, all I needed was a way home. I thought I could probably take a bus home and suck up the money it cost to do that.

So when the time came, off we ventured to Baltimore. We had planned to drive overnight and get there in the morning, taking shifts driving. I was trying to nap in the back seat to rest up for the later driving shift when we hit the border. The guard asked all the usual questions and then said 'any of you folks on drugs?' We all answered no, and then he proceeded to flash his flashlight in my eyes and say 'what about you?' I guess in my sleepy state, I looked hopped up on something. We made it down and had a great time at the Preakness and hanging out with Russ' friend who lived in the area. Then the time came for me to head off to D.C. to meet up with Darkest Hour.

I had no idea what I was doing, for the most part, and hopped on some train that lead to D.C. area, though I didn't know how close it was to the venue I was going to. I ended up being fairly close by and was able to drag my luggage there with very little problem. The venue hadn't opened yet, so I was left outside for an hour or two until someone arrived. I was able to put my bags in the back of the venue (The Black Cat) and grab some food at the restaurant beneath it.

My travels with the band were a lot of fun until I got overtired and sick. Too much travel and some drinking will do that I guess. I popped a couple of DayQuil and fell asleep in the back of the tour van until we hit Richmond, VA. I awoke feeling much better and ready for the remainder of the trip.

After Richmond, they were heading off to another city on the other side of Washington, so they dropped me at a bus that would take me to the University where the radio show performance was going to happen. It took a long time to figure out where I was supposed to go. I couldn't find anyone who knew where it was happening and eventually ended up dragging my luggage all the way across a rather large campus to find the building that had the radio station in it. My friend wasn't there yet, so I tucked my luggage into the most convenient place I could and just sat on top of it until he showed up.

The shows were awesome. I hadn't much experienced the American 'scene' at that point and it had a really good vibe to it. I met all the bands I had been listening to at that time and even got to be pretty good friends with some of them. I even ran into an old friend of mine from the northern states and they said they'd be happy to drive me as far as Buffalo at the end of the weekend.

I couldn't believe it, I had miraculously made it down here, connected up with all the people I needed to at each point and to top it all off I had a ride most of the way home! I enjoyed the rest of my time in Baltimore and D.C., checking out tourist spots and good restaurants and record stores.

The time came to leave and we started north-bound. The trip is a long one, but the roads are fairly nice and we made decent time. And then the bad news. When we got to the Greyhound station, I realized I had lost my bank card somewhere in Baltimore. I had to call my dad in Toronto and beg him to come pick me up. He agreed to meet me in Saint Catherines the next day if I could make it that far across. My friend said it was fine to drive me across, thankfully.

I stayed overnight and caught a ride over to meet my dad in the morning, travel-worn, tired and very thankful to be on my way back home.

A lot of people helped make that trip happen and I and to this day very thankful for all of their help. One missed connection could have left me reeeeeally screwed, but luckily the stars aligned - barely.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sunday Brunch: Maple Granola



INGREDIENTS:
4 Cups Oats (non-instant)
1 1/3 cup Chopped Nuts & Seeds (Almonds, Walnuts, Pumpkin, Sunflower, Sesame, etc.)
2/3 cup Maple Syrup
1 tsp Vanilla
dash Salt
Cinnamon (to taste...app 2 tsp)
1 cup Mixed 'Other' (Toasted Coconut, Chocolate Chips, Raisins, Craisins)


Preheat oven to 350F. Mix oats and nuts in a large bowl, coat with maple syrup, salt, cinnamon and vanilla; mix with hands. Lay out on a baking sheet as thin as possible and bake until just browned (15-20 min).

Take out and add whatever extras you choose (if you use chocolate chips, wait for the granola to cool or they will melt!) Serve with Milk alternative of your choice.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

A Record a Week: Brian Borcherdt - Moth

So, it took me a long time to find information on this album. It was given to me for free at the Wavelength 10th(?) anniversary party as a freebie and there are no liner notes and scouring the internet did not produce any results at first (this post was originally littered with question marks in place of the title and song names, as I didn't think I'd be able to figure them out.)



SIDE 1.
GOODBYE VIBRATIONS
STILL WITH YOU
ME AND MARCUS

SIDE 2.
SAFE
MOTH
ME AND MARCUS (EDIT 2)

Brian Borcherdt is a former member of By Divine Right and current member of Holy F***. He expends his electronic creativity on Holy F*** and is left writing folky/acoustic/country solo material. This record has a blend of what sounds like some self-recorded clips and some studio work.

The record has hints of early Hayden and a few other artists like that, but it certainly is its own thing. It's a neat little EP and one that I didn't give much of a listen to at the time, but look forward to listening to it a bit more in depth now.

It feels like he may have written this album after a breakup, although I admit I am not familiar with his other work and it may just be his style.

It reminds me both of late 90's emo and of the Toronto music scene around the time of this records release, which makes sense as I imagine it draws from both of those things. All in all it's a short but interesting EP which I am interested in hearing more of and makes me curious to check out more material by him and also get back into Holy F***.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

A Brand New (Political) House Cleaning Product!



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(image adapted from earth911.com photo of a blank cleaning bottle. I hope they do not mind.)

Saturday, April 2, 2011

(Not) Sunday Brunch: White Bean Dip

So tomorrow I will be on the road to Toronto, and we're going out for brunch. So I won't have time to do the Sunday Brunch, and anyways, eating two brunches is redundant.

In the meantime, enjoy this dip I made yesterday to eat with nachos covered in taco seasoning prepared Ground Round, Daiya cheese and other toppings.

INGREDIENTS
1 can White Kidney Beans (or other white bean)
2 cloves Garlic
1 tbsp Tahini
1/2 tbsp Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Jalapeno (or red pepper flakes)
dash Red Wine Vinegar

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Serve with whatever you'd like! A nice variation would be roasted red peppers, but I did not have the time.

Friday, April 1, 2011

A Record a Week: History of the Bonzos



SIDE 1.
THE INTRO AND THE OUTRO
ROCKALISER BABY
SPORT (THE ODD BOY)
NOISES FOR THE LEG
KING OF SCURF
LABIO DENTAL FRICATIVE
HELLO MABEL
LOOK AT ME, I'M WONDERFUL

SIDE 2.
CANYONS OF YOUR MIND
JOLLITY FARM
YOU DONE MY BRAIN IN
MY PINK HALF OF THE DRAINPIPE
MR. APOLLO
HUNTING TIGERS OUT IN INDIAH
SUSPICION
MR. SLATER'S PARROT
LAUGHING BLUES
NARCISSUS

SIDE 3.
I'M THE URBAN SPACEMAN
BAD BLOOD
I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANSISCO
TENT
CAN BLUE MEN SING THE WHITES?
9-5 POLLUTION BLUES
BIG SHOT
RELEASE ME

SIDE 4.
WE ARE NORMAL
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
KAMA-SUTRA
RHINOCRATIC OATHS
SHIRT
MICKEY'S SON AND DAUGHTER
BLIND DATE
TROUSER PRESS
SLUSH

Putting this record on was a smorgasbord experience. Is it folk? Comedy? Dixieland? Is that a narrator? I am a walrus sounding song? Other Beatles influences?

All of these. It wasn't until after I listened to the album and did a little research that I found out that this is a record compiled of songs from the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and all of their other bands and solo projects. That certainly explained the variance more.

The album starts off sounding very fragmented, as if the songs were just recordings of band practices where they wanted to remember parts of songs they had written. Then there is a narrative during and/or between songs. Then the songs gain a bit more structure, turn to a dixieland style and have odd, but clearly comedic lyrics. Then things have a bit more of a standard rock feel (though always with horns or other backing instruments). The album took numerous cycles of this nature, and that made it a bit tough to listen to. I think it might have been a bit easier to navigate if I had gone in knowing that, however, the liner notes were either missing or non-existent so I went in with no knowledge of what was happening. In fact, I thought this was a different band called the Bonzos (though the style did tip me off to the similarities to the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band).

I did notice that the musicians consistently were very talented throughout the record and that was a major plus. I just found it distracting jumping from this style to that style so much over four sides of record. Even if the cover had been a bit more descriptive of the contents, I might have kept a keener ear out. As it is, the talent kept me listening, but the discordance kept me wondering what was happening.