Sled Island Rock Lotto, Boy Golden, and Charles Spearin
Various Artists
The Sled Island Rock Lotto // Independent
An ambitious undertaking to say the least, the Sled Island Rock Lotto randomly paired 45 musicians from across Canada to form one-off bands and tasked them with writing and recording a brand new song within a month. So, full disclosure - it’s crunch time at Cups, and with a busy weekend schedule I had roughly about as much time as this alarmingly good compilation (especially considering the random nature of the collaborations) took to listen to to write my review. In the interest of Zenlike brevity, I quickly squeezed out haiku reviews for each track over the course of its runtime. Please don’t hate me, Jeff.
Lollipop - “Don’t Go”
Audible fructose
Baroque harmonies abound
Spector would be proud
Sender - “See You There”
Hella 90’s Jam
The sax didn’t make me puke
Color me surprised
Russian Bots - “Nothing Comes to Mind”
Damn, Evan Resnik
That voice is fucking catnip
Blithely sinister
Casual Fridays - “Sure Thing”
Lush 80’s damage
Cocaine on the Rio Grande
With a broken heart
Snail Slime - “U Kno”
What even is this
Can we get Grimes a copy?
She might dump Elon
Quick Citrus - “They Won’t Win”
This beat is gangster
Post-punk riot on guitar
Synths rain broken glass
Heartbeat City - “Phases”
Femmes are killing it
Sorry dudes, I love you too
But they slay these jams
Samurai Loco - “Theme From Samurai Loco”
Break out the nitrous
It’s time to get loose in here
cosmic stoner grunge
Hurly and the Havok - “Marsquakes”
This some nerdy funk
Squelching wah wahs fart and blat
Really just chaos
- Shaun Lee
[Editors’s Note - Sled Island returns this year with very limited programming but if you’re near Calgary from Aug 19th-21st, we urge you to attend Camp Sled Island.]
Boy Golden
Church of Better Daze // Six Shooter Records
Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to speak of the almighty glory of tasty music and the heavenly strength of good times. Come forth to learn the teachings of Boy Golden and the Church of Better Daze. Blasphemy aside, this album slaps. Released July 16, 2021 through Six Shooter Records, the album brings forth nothing but positivity, big dreams and living life to the fullest. I’m even lucky enough to get the occasional text message sermon from the Founder, Mr. Boy Golden himself. The last one I received had this deep thought:
“Boy Golden here - this weekend, make sure you go outside and smile at the sun. It sounds a little cheesy, but it feels good to be grateful for a little sun”.
Yes. Yes it does. Now that’s some light in my day that I can get behind. I look forward to these random, weird little text messages out of the blue.
The presiding minister of Better Daze is Liam Duncan who has built his congregation in Winnipeg, accompanied by his acolytes of amazing musicians. We got ourselves an enigma of a front man.. chipped tooth, crooked mustached smile, gold nudie suit...Boy Golden. Accompanying Mr. Golden is Mama Tizzy and sweet Brother Roman along with a group of wandering minstrels, one of which being Joey Landreth who plays slide guitar on the bluesy toe-tapper “I Wanna Know”. Boy Golden gives us a tight band that makes their love of music, positivity and good humour very apparent. They get together to bring us some beachy folk-rock with a twangy country edge. It's what the minister himself describes as "crispy". Soaked in a rootsy laid-back style, Church of Better Daze has been the soundtrack to my summer. Weed references abound throughout and it's definitely brought a hazy, feel-good vibe to the whole album.
The first single, “Church of Better Daze/Eggs Benediction” brings in the full meal deal with the addition of fiddle and steel pedal. I dare you not to shimmy your body when you first hear it. From "Eggs Benediction" to an ode to "KD and Lunch Meat", the album speaks of the brighter, sillier side of life including good weed and good friends. While not taking themselves and life too seriously, the album displays a level of professionalism and effortless musicianship that dispels the stoner stereotype that you can’t have a clear vision and work ethic while enjoying the herb.
I love everything about this band and Boy Golden himself. His leanings on life makes me feel good and his message of “Follow your heart / Make good art / Call your momma / Work real hard” are words to live by.
Amen.
- Mo Lawrance
Charles Spearin
My City of Starlings // Arts & Crafts
“Is this how we feel when we’re alone
With our faces glowing from our phone
We can’t help but want to leave our homes”
This is not a pandemic album first and foremost.
My City of Starlings the new LP by Charles Spearin (Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think) is more of a quiet contemplative offering by this multiple Juno award winning musician and composer. Released through Arts & Crafts on August 13th, 2021. My City of Starlings is like finding peace in watching nature. Simple pleasures like going for a walk, and being barefoot in the grass. Watching birds. I heard Spearin has a recent appreciation for birds. Are we like birds mimicking our environment with our chatter? Repeating what we hear and say? But birds also sing. They greet the day and sing the sweetest songs. Maybe it’s time to get quiet and just listen. Listen to the birds. Listen to the layers of introspection and sounds that Spearin brings forth. Less chatter. This album certainly allows for one's mind to quiet, think, and imagine.
There are 2 videos for “Portrait Of An Artist As A Thursday.” One is a 12 hour loop and the other a short. Both a brilliant animation by Jared Sales. It has a wild day in the life of feel but it also carries the Groundhog Day repeating loop of insanity. It feels reminiscent of this Bizarro world we’re living in. Times keep getting stranger and stranger. Not all is dark and bleak though. You choose what you focus on everyday. Switching my focus up a little. When I see musicians such as Charles Spearin, I see a mastermind of music. Creating a song from start to finish is not an easy feat! Playing each instrument. Laying down each track. Spearin has enjoyed writing and recording in his backyard studio. Sometimes he’s not sure who he is writing for or who he’ll pitch it to. Each song has its place and It will find its place. Truly nice to have a glimpse into the songwriting process. I feel the same for some of my songs. Recently a song I wrote 14yrs ago finally came to life and found its place. I never gave up hope on that one.
“Diaspora” begins with the chatter of Blue Jays. Greeting the day. Saying hello. Blue Jays are one of my favourite birds. Clever and cunning. After the chatter subsides you are seduced by a sultry piano and a cool clarinet. The slow guitar picks up to a steady strum. Maracas keep the sensual tone going.
“Rutting Season” struts in like an Elk or a Bison. Taking charge. That lover call. I used to work at National Park golf course. There were daily encounters with wild animals, we always had to be careful. Unpredictable. Stay the fuck away from them in the fall. Rather let this this song take for the wild ride you are seeking. It’s got that strut feeling and it’s definitely that swagger you’re after!
Sometimes music doesn’t need words. All the dynamics and sound of different instruments create enough emotion and feeling if you listen. There is a little spoken word though. That’s enough. It’s simplistic yet has some improvisational jazz. It’s a work of art to be experienced. Thank you for this Charles Spearin! My City of Starlings came to me at the right time. I have a deep appreciation for this one. I hope you’ll go experience this one for yourselves!
Music and Art.
Love Always,
Green Noreen
