Classic Rock Canadian Style (Part 2)

[See Part 1] Here’s some more, moving into slightly harder rockier territory… Thundermug– “Africa” (1972) So, what is a “thundermug”? It’s apparently another term for toilet.  This Thundermug, however, was formed when some high school friends in London, ON started a band called Pink Orange.  A name change (I kinda like “Pink Orange”, myself) and…

Classic Rock Canadian Style (Part 1)

When I moved to Canada years ago, I was surprised to hear a large number of songs on the classic rock radio station that I had never heard before.  And they were good songs. Definitely songs to rival the 70’s rock songs that were and still are the staple of radio in the U.S. Most…

A Bitches Brew for Guinnevere

Back in 1970, Miles Davis took David Crosby’s “Guinnevere”, the dreamy, pastoral, hippie ode to a mystical lady from Crosby, Stills and Nash’s first album and cut a lengthy psychedelic jazz version.  Decked out with sitar and exotic percussion, it was originally intended for inclusion on Davis’ seminal and revolutionary Bitches Brew album.  It didn’t…

Josh Rouse’s “La Gran Familia Espanola” soundtrack

I haven’t seen La Gran Familia Espanola, the movie attached to Josh Rouse’s soundtrack. But, chances are you haven’t either.  After all, it’s from Spain and has only had limited release in North America (under the title The Family United). This is okay, because we’re talking about a soundtrack here. Something to be listened to…

Of Refrigerators, Trunks, Tuning Forks, and Marbles

The most expensive box set ever released is actually a refrigerator. $100,000 for a refrigerator full of music and memorabilia from 40+ year old cult band The Residents – but it’s a refrigerator all the same. The most surprising thing about the box set is that it sold.  In September, a man going by the…

Expansive Ukeing on “Ashland”

It’s come to this. The best ukulele album of the year is by a death metal guitarist. It’s melodic and moving and sounds similar to what I hear in my head and unsuccessfully attempt to do when I’m plinking around on the uke myself. I’ve never even been into death metal, doom metal, black metal…