Human Highway - "My Beach". [Removed at label request.] Human Highway is a project by Nick Thorburn (Islands/The Unicorns) and Jim Guthrie, an Ontario songwriter we've been following for years. It's coming out now because it's summertime; this is the time of year that things ripen. Moody Motorcycle is like a plum. It's purple. It is easily bruised. No seriously it's like a plum. I'm not sure why. And "My Beach" is a love-song with a plum's colour, darker than rosy, blushed and burned. Something you'll carry all day if you have to, so you can give it to the right person. "Here's a plum," you'll say. "It's for you." Yup. "Here's 'My Beach,'" you'll say. "I saved it for you."
[order now, ahead of August 19!]
The Morning Benders - "Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love?". A Ronettes cover redrawn in magic marker, dance-steps chalked onto the floor. Take your sweetie by the hand, lead her to the living-room, and with two sets of headphones (pro-tip) - listen to this song. Side by side, cheek to cheek, slow-dancing 'til your parents come home. "Why don't they let us fall in love?", the Morning Benders ask, and they really want to know the answer. Love's great, it's fantastic, it's good. (And here's the other thing: it's too late.)
[download the entirety of the Morning Benders' covers album (including the Cardigans' "Love Fool" and Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams"!) here]
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I'm going to be starting a new music column somewhere, something I'm deeply excited about, but it needs a title. Does anyone out there have ideas? The title should be relatively self-explanatory, not something cute/obscure. In other words - "Said the Gramophone" would be bad, "Dispatches on Music from a Writer in Montreal" would be good (but way too ungainly). I'd like it to suggest music, Montreal, and the fact that it's dispatches/thoughts/meditations/comments, not reviews or song writeups. You can leave any suggestions as comments, or email me. (Thank you!)
Posted by Sean at July 31, 2008 11:19 AMI'm guessing Montreal Music Meditations is a bit too obvious? Even if it does abbreviate to MMM. But then, you don't want to be mistaken for a food blog.
You don't, right?
Posted by Ryan at July 31, 2008 12:44 PMthat morning benders song is so good, thanks sean!
Posted by jeff at July 31, 2008 2:22 PMyou know, I haven't heard that Ronettes song in ages (and maybe it's just because I'm a bit older - change of perspective and that) but somehow that cover makes the song seem about doomed teenage summer romances ("why don't they let us fall in love?" it's for your own good, chuck. you're not seriously going out wearing that, are you?)
the only thing I can come up with is ville-marie musique pensées. which is basically what Ryan said, but in grammatically lacking french, and it rhymes. sort of. not really
Posted by Bethan at July 31, 2008 2:29 PMHow about "Musical meanderings from *blank* in Montreal" Can't quite think of the blank... i'm sure you could think of something. A mezzanine in Montreal? "Musical meanderings from a mezzanine in Montreal" Hmmm too wordy. I think i just fancy the word "mezzanine". Good luck with the column Sean!
Posted by Bec at July 31, 2008 8:09 PM"Musical meanderings from a cheerless mezzanine in Montreal?" I'll just keep adding words until this baby flies! Why not.
Posted by Bec at July 31, 2008 8:14 PMIf you're looking for short(er) and sweet(ish), how about "Musicology de Montreal"?
Posted by Ryan at July 31, 2008 8:58 PMHow about "Montrealean Music Posts"?
Posted by Cameron Graham at August 1, 2008 1:23 AMSketches and Such: (Music and Musings from Montreal)
Posted by Joseph at August 1, 2008 9:53 PMTitle: Royal Mountain Music Mumbles? (Or song scribbles, maybe sound scribbles?)
Posted by Tessa Rianne McKinnell Alexanian at August 3, 2008 12:07 AMMuso musings from Montreal
Posted by adam at August 4, 2008 11:10 AMthanks for the morning benders link; that covers album was exactly what i needed this week.
Posted by Sarah at August 6, 2008 4:20 AM-Mt Royal's Musical Notes
or any inversion that may include 'from' or 'of'.
-Montreal, the Music Island
-L'Ile de la Melodie Montrealaise
and so on, and so on.
Musings In the Key of M
Posted by Simon at August 11, 2008 3:43 PMTessa's suggestion gets my vote: Royal Mountain Music Mumbles or Royal Mountain Sound Scribbles. Both are excellent.
Sean, while I'm writing, I'd like to let you know that your spoken introduction to the Fleet Foxes' "White Winter Hymnal" keeps coming up when I shuffle the songs on my iPod. It gives me a laugh every time. S-A-I-D-T-H-E-G-R-A-M-O-P-H-O-N-E-D-O-T-C-O-M. Absurd.
Posted by Julia at August 12, 2008 7:31 PMThere's Music in Montreal and I'm Writing with Pizazz
Posted by susan at August 14, 2008 6:30 PMLove the opening picture with the lions, too cool. Also, agreed with Tessa's suggestion. My vote definitely goes to Royal Mountain
Posted by Mezzanine Floor at August 26, 2008 3:10 PM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
