Foxymoron

NY Times = Cause?

The waves of criticism of the New York Times' article on the Toronto music scene started a few days ago when the full article (by Alissa Quart) was posted on Stillepost. I would have posted about it earlier, but truthfully, it's taken me a while to read the whole thing.

Much of the criticism is about how it's a Broken Social Scene article, not a Toronto scene article and that I agree with. I really like BSS, but I think they're a tiny bit over-hyped. Also Kevin Drew creeps me out. But from a writer's perspective, I can understand why Quart wrote the way she did. It's logical, from a structural standpoint, to write the article around BSS because all the members are scattered thought the scene so transitions from one band to another are easy. This isn't so much an excuse as an explanation based on my own assumptions. Unfortunately, music fans who keep track of such articles are also tired of this approach. We've seen it before and it's stale, much like the content of the piece. I mean, I haven't lived in Toronto for more than six months and I'm not cool enough to drop the names of my friends who run Record Label X, but even I was bored by article (which is why it took me so long to get through it). So OK, it's nothing ground-breaking for anyone who has seen a few concerts in Toronto and reads blogs. But that's the thing, it wasn't meant for us. But a journalist can never please everyone, especially not music fans so I don't envy Quart's job. OK maybe a little bit. Regardless, I dig the photography, but damn, the Toronto music scene sure is white.

Hold on Children

I couldn't stand Death From Above 1979 when I first heard them back in the day. There was something about the sound I just couldn't enjoy it. But then B sent me an awesome mix CD with this remix. I had no idea who it was since he didn't send along a playlist, but it sounded familiar. Turns out it was DFA1979 and I'm eating my previous (hateful) words to say that this is possibly the best track I've heard in 2006 (it was released on their remix record Romance Bloody Romance back in November, I'm behind OK?). Of course, I will say that the track is bouyed by the beautiful sounds of Owen Pallett's (aka Final Fantasy) violin and I've always liked him. So there. And now, ladies and germs, I give you:

Death from Above 1979's "Black History Month" (Girl-on-Girl Remix w/ Final Fantasy)

Go Spiderman

I thought I blogged about this back in June when I was Hong Kong on vacation but turns out, I didn't. But one afternoon, I was enjoying coffee and lunch in Lan Kwai Fong and on my way back to the MTR station, I found this man, Spiderman aka Matt Pearce, perced on building. It was a peaceful protest against the Tianamen massacre. The lunchtime crowd gathered in one of the city's busier intersections and was entertained for at least half an hour. I got bored and left before the firemen brought him down.

My colleague, Albert Wong writes about Pearce's appearance in court where he faces charges of causing a public nuisance. Turns out he came down only for a dim sum lunch.

What Country is This?

Because Hong Kong has no medal hopes and the sight of snow and ice scares people, finding live Olympic coverage on tv is hard. The time difference doesn't help either. But on Saturday night, I got a text message that alerted me to the hockey upset. To the Swiss? I thought it was a mean joke, but it was actually the sad reality. And now the Fins?! At least the Canadian men are definitely advancing into the next round. At least there are the Canadian women who in a couple hours play Sweden for the gold. Go Canada!

I Pay to Visit You on Rainy Sundays

This album made happy today. That, and cross-ocean MSN conversations with BWong about taking over the publishing world. Just you wait...

OK, I'm not like, obsessed with her, it just so happens that it's been a very Feist week. Two more things to add to the Feist-o-rama:

1) Nerve interviews Feist
2) Tab nominates Feist's "Inside and Out" on the CBC's National Playlist.

Note the beautiful Sarah Slean also nominates Radiohead. And FYI, in addition to her personal poetic Blogger, Slean was also blogging for Macleans.ca while she was on the road. It's still online if you're like me and way behind on the reading.

That's it for me tonight. I was going to watch some Coupling or Magnolia, but I'm much too tired for laughing or thinking. I'm a Sleepyhead...

Feistwaves

I sense Feist may soon gain the popularity she enjoys in Canada and Europe, in Asia since her voice has been been on high rotation in television commericals. It has appeared alongside two popular brands on Hong Kong television: "Mushaboom" was on a Lacoste TV commerical for men's cologne and more recently, a different version of "Gatekeeper" is heard on a TV commercial for a Christian Dior perfume (watch it here). One sad but true way to gain popularity in these parts is through advertisements. We love commericals.

Regardless, Feist is deserving. The woman can sing and she has been been on heavy rotation on my iPod (his name is Samson) since two portable CD players ago. But thanks to the generous folks on the WWW, namely a poster on Broken Telephone and Cindy at The Rich Girls Are Weeping (mp3s + good writing = worth checking out), her sultry vocals have been on extra heavy rotation. Pay it forward, they say so here are a few of my favourite Feist mp3s:

Feist - "Gatekeeper" (Do Right Remix)
Feist - "One Evening" (VV Remix)
Feist - Live at the Rivoli (200?) explaining the various definitions of "Feist" (just banter)
The New Deal - "Don't Blame Yourself" (Feist on vocals, two of my favourite acts in one awesomely bass-eriffic track)

Also, if you look through the archives I still have the mp3 of "Still True" uploaded but I'm too lazy to get the link right now. Goodnight.

The Ballad of Joyce Is Not Here

Just a quick blog before I head out into the Thursday night smog.

A few weeks ago, we (co-workers and I) headed over to Joyce Is Not Here. Ever since my discovery of the Canadian-owned bar/cafe, it has remained a favourite destination for me. Thursday night is jam night and usually it's just us who want to make (often bad) music, but it's fun.

On this particular evening, there were brothers from New Zealand, girls from Wales and other talented folks. And so, after some shyness from all parties, there were group-sing-a-longs. The police came to shut us up but then we continued.

I caught about a minute of jazzy freestyling in which one of the girls goes into "The Ballad of Joyce Is Not Here." Check out the .mov here and next time join us at Joyce is Not Here. I'm going now!

Pho Please

This week marks six months of living/working in Hong Kong. It's been a great half year and I've not regretting coming here one bit. I won't get into how long I plan to stay. Plans change and I don't have much of a plan. That said, while I'm here on this side of the world, I really ought to take the opportunity to get out of the SAR and see Asia-Pacific.

There are some great flight deals right now and I'm tempted to spend a few days elsewhere. Maybe in the spring I'll go explore. Right now, I'm thinking Vietnam. Everyone goes to Thailand, I've been to China and I can't get the images, tastes and smells that Anthongy Bourdain writes about in A Cook's Tour, out of my head. Also, Zach my co-worker who has travelled around the world and visited (almost?) all the communist countries, says it's his favourite. I don't have anyone to travel with yet, but I'm hoping Bourdain might be free. I want to travel with someone laid back and appreciates good food, including street food without fear.

(Speaking of Bourdain, which one of you has my copy of A Cook's Tour?)

Model Blogger

Right about now, Elyse Sewell is in Tsim Tsa Tsui signing copies of her book, International Adventures of America's Third-to-Next Top Model for her fans. The model, best known as the cool smart one on the first season of Tyra Bank's reality show, is now based in Hong Kong and kickin' it as one of the wittiest bloggers in the SAR.

I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing her last week and my article is out in today's Weekend Standard magazine. (Free with your Weekend Standard!) Elyse is pretty cool with a nervous energy that's kind of contagious, but those of you who know me, know I'm awkard as it is. So yeah, the article:

"About face" The would-be doctor who entered modeling as a joke is happily embracing the profession she once publicly derided, writes Andrea Chiu

Dried pork is not a snack often associated with models. Stereotypes perpetuated by the likes of Kate Moss lead outsiders to believe that drugs and booze are more commonly found circulating through those rail-thin bodies than, say, dehydrated meat.

But it's not Moss who is snacking outside the coffee shop of a non-descript office building. It is Elyse Sewell who, with slightly tousled hair and minimal makeup, is opening a plastic wrapper of dried pork. Goodness.

Odd perhaps, but for the 23-year-old best known as the edgy pre-med student on the first season of America's Next Top Model, it's not that surprising.

(Read the rest)