My Canadian Idols Rearranged

Without a doubt, Theo Tams is the next Canadian Idol.
Earl Stevenson is talented with a capital T. I'll buy your record brother!
And Mookie Morris? Kid's got skills! This guy's a rock star.

My Canadian Idols Refined

This is the best Idol season yet! As of the latest performances, my Canadian Idol list looks somethin like this:

5. Sebastian Pigott - bad song choice, but I still adore him.
4. Katherine St-Laurent - super rocker! Y'all suck for casting her out.
3. Earl Stevenson - big rockin goof - love it!
2. Theo Tams - made a Bob Marley song his own - brilliant.
1. Mookie Morris - holy eff this kid rocks!! I was mesmerized!

Still waiting for my father, the avid Idol fan, to comment... bet his favourite is wussy Amberly Thiessen. *pause for reaction*

My Canadian Idols Revised

It's been a few weeks. I've lived. I've learned. My new Canadian Idol list looks like this:

5. Mookie Morris - cool, but his latest performance fell sorta flat.
4. Earl Stevenson - a big goofy dork, and I'm buying it!
3. Theo Tams - professional. polished. but verging on a one-trick pony.
2. Katherine St-Laurent - girl balls!! she's rockin that stage!!!
1. Sebastian Pigott - smart, sassy, soulful, sexy...sigh

An honourable mention to ousted Oliver Pigott; he sang Lean On Me like I've always wanted to hear it. He got heart.

Get Out Alive

Yes this is shameless promotion, but Sheena Grobb would be worth blogging about even if she weren't family.


It is a song about choosing personal integrity... despite difficult decisions and emotional battles attached. And without question, this is a song about resilience. -Sheena Grobb

My Canadian Idols

Maggie was a crankypants today, so I desperately needed moving pictures to chill out tonight. Thank you CTV for hosting your shows online! Corner Gas, Grey's Anatomy, The Daily Show...wicked! I just caught up on the Canadian Idol contestants for this season and "had" to make some snap judgments about their worth (input as relevant as the hockey fan who boos the guy that made it to the NHL!).

7. Katelyn Dawn - grow some girl balls and she could win this thing!
6. Martin Kerr - unoriginal, but the guy rocked a Peter Gabriel tune.
5. Mookie Morris - kooky and talented as hell.
4. Mitch MacDonald - he belongs on stage but he's a bit cutesy.
3. Sebastian Pigott - gravelly goodness. insanely charming.
2. Theo Tams - he's got a delicious sincerity in his voice.
1. Omar Lunan - stole my breath.

Universal Music

Children's music can be irritating and lots of it is jaw-clenchingly bad. Yes there are alternatives that market to adults, but I can't handle the amateurish plink plinking of Rockabye Baby. Shudder. I mean, look, if I want my baby to listen to U2 or Radiohead or Coldplay, I'll just play U2 or Radiohead or Coldplay.

Then I found this...











African Lullaby (lower price from Amazon.ca than Chapters.ca, and not available from iTunes) is easy on the ears without being easy-listening. It's calm enough for bedtime, but joyful enough to dance and sway with. Even if I didn't have Maggie, I would happily listen to this album (I l-o-v-e Ladysmith Black Mambazo!).

Unlikely as Pairing Chocolate and Garlic

And just as delicious.
















Rock legend Robert Plant and bluegrass queen Alison Krauss come together in the hypnotizing album Raising Sand. The tone of the whole is mellow without being sleepy, but each song feels special. The pair take us through sultry, delightful, moving, haunting, rock-and-roll, sweet . . . Their range is dynamic and they keep us interested from song 1 to song 13.

But don't take my word for it!

"she runs guns everyone wants guns she runs guns everyone wants"

"...OOOoooEEEooo......Doo doo do do dodo"

Figure that since I've been out in Vancouver for 3 years consecutively, it's about time I get to know the local music scene.

I'm starting with Jeremy Fisher. After one listen through the album here's what I have to say. His voice has hints of Bob Dylan (with much more lyricism). The rhythms grab me like my favourite Paul Simon tunes. And heck, the dude writes genuine poetry!

"Smiling with determination
Her eyes betray worries to me
Okay, nothing ain't perfect
But perfect ain't nothing anyway"

this. is. gold.

Alanis Morissette parodies Fergie Ferg. The contrast between the rich vocals of this true songstress, and the cheap lyrics/moves of that mediocre coked-out entertainer makes for some gut-wrenching goodness. Enjoy.



Special thanks to Mike for sharing his find!

american idol

Ya ya. So I watch it sometimes. I admire vocal talent. It's better than that dang Pussycat Dolls show!

Anyway, Phil Stacey. This guy is STIFLED in a pop contest! He should be the lead in an outstanding rock band. Just stick it out through the first bit cause it starts a little rough. And then BAM! What a voice!

i love regina spektor

and i think you will too.

obadiah parker

an absolutely beautiful cover of the raunchy outKast tune "Hey Ya".



www.obadiah parker.com

shut up & sing

Who knew I was a fan of the Dixie Chicks?! We got home from the movie last night, and I immediately bought Taking the Long Way off iTunes! Hurray for courageous, thoughtful, talented women!!

ladysmith black mambazo

yes. i AM going to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo in concert TONIGHT!! not sure i'll be able to sleep. might spontaneously combust when they take the stage. will keep you posted (let you know if Sarah McLachlan decides to join them for their duet of "Homeless")........i'm SO EXCITED!!!!

kaki king

thanks to Miss Angela, i was in the audience when this musical tour de force passed through Vancouver! Kaki King is touring with her new album ...Until We Felt Red, bewitching audiences with her ingenious guitar and enchanting them with her angelic voice. She'll be hitting Toronto and Montreal on October 19th and 20th! See her website for details.

sexy had been gone for so long

and then justin brought her back.


















seriously. Justified rocked my body but this single makes me sweat.
sure J.T. is the new M.J., and some people think it's blasphemous to enjoy anything popular, but crank it up and start to move ... tell me that doesn't feel goooood.

remembering my poppa

"Show me the way to go home
I'm tired and I want to go to bed
I had a little drink about an hour ago
And it went right to my head
Where ever I may roam
On land or sea or foam
You will always hear me singing this song
Show me the way to go home"

















H. E. Buchanan died September 4th, 2005.

my girl sheena

so.
i've mentioned this incredibly talented young woman in a few other posts.
sheena grobb folks.
ya.
you recognize her.
this IS a blatant and shameless advertisement.
my opinion is that sheena is fantastic! and i'm out to spread the word.