Foxymoron

The essential Canadian songs of the 1990's

Jian Gomeshi was at the Rivoli on Thursday, not as a part of the happenin' fundraiser, but just chillin in the front with a lady friend. I happened to be outside when he left and proposed my essential Canadian tracks of the 1990's. He must get stopped by listeners like me all the time but he was graceful and polite enough to nod his head. This week, he and Sounds like Canada host, Shelagh Rogers debate the 1990's in Canadian music on 50 Tracks. Starting tomorrow, we will hear from panelists Liisa Ladoucer, Jemeni and the columnist we love to hate, Leah McLaren. I've been listening to 50 Tracks somewhat participating in the great discussion, but since it was only in the 90's that I started paying attention to music, it's only now that I feel passionate enough to join the debate.

While I'm obviously biased towards this decade, I really do think the 1990's was an important time for Canadian music that set the stage for an even stronger lineup of Canadian talent in the 2000's. Chart's Top 50 Canadian Albums is out on newsstands now and it's interesting to point out that of the 50, 32 albums were released int he 1990's or later. Is it just a reflection of the people surveyed or are we really creating better music? I think it's the latter.

Please join the discussion, we can't leave it up to Chart (aka Sloan's unofficial fan 'zine) and the Moxy Fruvous guy. So here we go, my top songs of the 1990's, in no particular order...

Bah

I've been a bad, bad blogger. But you know how it is, I've been busy with the fundraiser (thanks to all who attended), writing, editing, fact-checking, etc.

I've put almost everything else in my life on hold, from apartment hunting to blogging since I can't even think about things outside of the pesky RRJ. So I'm sorry, I assure you there are lots of things I'd like to write about once I get the time and energy...

The great shark hunt is over

I should be putting together my fact-checking package but I had to pause when I learned of Hunter S. Thompson committed suicide in his Colorado home on Sunday. I've been reading The Great Shark Hunt on and off since the fall and always found him to be an intriguing character.

He's best knownn for popularizing "gonzo journalism" — a very subjective, personalized form of writing, often in a stream of consciousness style. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is his best known work in which he documents his drug-induced adventures in the Nevada city. The book was later adapted into a feature film with Johnny Depp as Thompson.

Earlier this week, he wrote about his new sport, shotgun golf, for ESPN. Some people hate the guy, but we probably won't ever see someone like Thompson again.

(x-posted in RRJ)

THE Party!

Come support the future journalists of Canada. All money raised will go to the production of the Ryerson Review of Journalism (new website to lauch very soon). In addition to a screening of the Oscar-nominated film, Ryan and a performance by the Harlettes, there will be superfantastique DJs and prizes you probably won't find anywhere else. Also, I'd be very grateful for your company. Please join us.

C'mon, everyone's doing it, even the cooler folks at THIS magazine.

I found my bike

It was sitting outside of Rosedale station tied up with rope. I'm not sure why, do you know?

This week or last week, I don't really care about it anymore

At some point this week, I got sick and slept for 17 hours straight (with one pee break and one break to call in sick to work). I think I lost a whole day, which is why I'm so disoriented. I'm not sure what day of the week it is right now.

It started with Sunday. I spent the night scrambling in the dark to make the deadline for an assignment, which led me to Sneaky Dee's, a place I previously reserved for guacamole. My first Wavelength experience included Ghostlight (messy with unlikable saxophone), The Two Koreas (enjoyable but the fake British accent is annoying) and The Blow, which was my favourite act of the night, mainly for the fun onstage antics of the next geek girl musician to win over hearts, Khaela Maricich.

And tonight, Tegan and Sara performed at the Phoenix. It's mostly a haze due to the unfortunate combination of cold medication and a dinner time pint. I finally met the friendly and talented Emy. Tegan and Sara's set was so short, I don't think it was more much more than an hour. They played mostly songs from the latest album, So Jealous, and although I love the record, I can't seem to get into the live performance of the new songs. I much prefer the old stuff, especially tonight's performance of "Living Room" and as always, "This is Everything." Overall, I place tonight's performance above the Lee's Palace show from a couple years ago, but definitely below the Mod Club and Call the Office shows.

As far as music venues go, the Phoenix is probably my least favourite in Toronto. It's hard to find a good view and sounds is subpar. Plus, I tend to have bad crowd experiences there. Still, I'm going to see The Stars and The Organ there in April, because I have no choice.

Kids these days

When I interviewed Globe columnist, Christie Blatchford, she said "I think crime is inherently sensational because it deals with death or rape or pedophilia or whatever. You're dealing with things that are unpleasant and stark and gripping but does that mean you shouldn't write about them?"

We spoke at the end of January when the Johnathan trial was still going on. This morning, I awoke to news that Justice Watt declared the trial a mistrial because the key witness, a 15-year-old girl, made posting on the web site, VampireFreaks.com, that contradicted her testimony.

I was getting a little tired of Christie's three or four columns a week about the trial but this startling turn has made it far more interesting and reeled me in again. The story of poor Johnathan's murder is truly stranger than fiction and with its sensationalization it has all the makings of a feature film to further glamourize the situation.

(x-posted to RRJ Blog)

Need home

Hi Torontonians,

I'll be moving out of my sublet in April. I started looking for one bedrooms because the possible friends/roommates are unpredictable, but the one bedroom apartments I saw last week were less than satisfactory (I need windows!). Thus, I am flirting with the idea of answering "shared accomodations" ads because I'm curious about how people live and have the naive hope that maybe I can make new cool friends. Also, it's a LOT cheaper and the places are nicer because Jesus, it's expensive to live on your own.

Anyway, if you know someone who is looking for a roommate and/or a reasonably priced place in the city, please let me know. I don't want to pay more than $650 inclusive and I'm looking in the Queen to College, University to Dufferin area.

Thanks in advance.

Illustrators wanted

We can't draw (or print letters apparently). The Ryerson Review of Journalism needs one or two more illustrators for the summer 2005 issue. We've yet to assign illustrators for a couple stories, including mine, and if you or someone you know is talented artist, we want to see their portfolio ASAP.

This is a great opportunity to get published in an award-winning, nationally-cirruclated magazine. The RRJ casts an unflinching look at the practice of journalism in Canada. It is produced by final-year students, like me, in the Magazine Stream at Ryerson University's School of Journalism.

Please don't make me do my own drawings (see above), we'll even pay you!

Year of the cock

No more monkeying around, we rang in the lunar new year, the year of the rooster with lots of food and lucky money (free money in little red pockets). I don't mean to boast, but I have to say my people sure know how to celebrate: Chinese food and money. It's the one time of year all my non-Chinese friends express their desire to be Chinese. Of course, if they only knew the other traditions they'd have to participate in if they were Chinese: getting picked on in elementary school, automatic "bad driver" stereotypes, pressure to become a doctor/lawyer/CEO/all three, forced piano and/or violin lessons, Kumon for the first 15 years of your life...what they say is true: there's no such thing as free money.

If you want to forget January and start the year fresh, find out what zodiac animal you are and what you can expect in this Chinese New Year.