wake up, it's going to be a good day!

Oh. my. god.

You have to check out this blog "Simply Breakfast" because it is actually orgasmic, if breakfast foods are your thang. And if you are in the slightest an art admirer, then you will surely appreciate the aesthetic of the dishes as well as the photography!

Here's a couple taste-bud teasers:

Mmmm, to die for! The pictures have such a great rustic quality to them. The colours are so vibrant and everything is arranged to perfection. I love them. From a bird's eye view, they wonderfully exhibit these mouth-watering meals, beautiful plates and mugs and really cute napkins. The lady behind this breakfast photo diary is Jennifer Causer. You can check out some of her other photography on her website! It is all quite lovely.

It's the most important meal of the day, so here's a little inspiration! Start your day the right way and master of the art of breakfast everyone!

http://simplybreakfast.blogspot.com/

Holay shiat. Sujfan Stevens + Montreal + me = euphoria.

I know what you are thinking, you thought he fell off the face of the planet as well. But alas, our Sufjan withdrawal is over! Well only for those who can make it to this year's Pop Montreal festival September 30-October 4. I read the news on Pitchfork, where they confirmed that Stevens is a confirmed performer in the festival!! Date, times and venues haven't been disclosed but either way, I'll be there. Plus, I haven't ventured to Montreal since I was 14 so this is simply too good to be true.

I knew I needed to see him perform live about a year ago after I stumbled across this uh-maaazing video.

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the first days of spring in the last days of summer

Noah and the Whale's sophmore cd hits store August 31st!!!! I can't fucking wait. Especially because I initially got a small taste of what's to come from their show in Toronto back in April this year. I have also been religiously overplaying their two posted singles- "The First Days of Spring" and "Blue Skies" from their myspace as well as a couple remix mp3s that you can download off their official blog. How very nice of them.

http://www.natwofficialblogspot.com/
www.myspace.com/noahandthewhale

But for real, I don't remember the last time I was truly this excited about an album release? It very well could have been when I was 9 years old and I begged on my knees (literally) and promised and pinky swore my dad that I would never ever whine to him about being bored and having nothing to do if and only if he bought me "Backstreet's Back" (I guess I thought I was doing him a favour or something.) Thank god my cd purchases are no longer reliant on my father's money or approval or else I really wouldn't doubt it if history were to repeat itself on August 31st.

I am particulary lusting this new work of theirs because it is a piece of art in so many ways- music, photography and film all bundled into one sweet, sweet package. The album comes with an additional 50-minute film also titled, The First Days of Spring directed by the band's mainman Charlie Fink. Even though I am guilty as charged when it comes to internet piracy and the whole downloading frenzy (as is virtually everyone living in the 21st century), I really do hate what it is starting to mean for musicians and the music industry. That's why I think The First Days of Spring is so great because the accompanied film is a genuine incentive for fans to start buying records again and really supporting and treasuring the music they love and the artists that make it. Merci, Merci.

I can't give a full review until after I've given the album and film and fair listen and viewing. For now, all I can do is encourage you to do the same. So watch the trailer below! It doesn't hint much at the premise, but it's intriguing nonetheless in it's cinematography and various glimpses of characters. NATW blogged and posted pictures of the film in the making and said that they are resisting "the term 'feature length music video' as it is a narrative film but its backbone is the soundtrack. The narrative of the film and the narrative of the album are not the same but they are complimentary." Even better.

http://vimeo.com/5743677

The infamous Vincent Moon is a true NATW fan and thank God for that. This fourth (or fifth?) take away show of his is also a really wonderful preview of a couple of Noah and the Whale's new stuff. I can't even imagine sitting in that loft of theirs. The atmosphere is so intimate and calm and casual and perfect. The absolute ideal setting to listen to, appreciate and sing along to such great music. Unfortunately my computer is being stubborn and not allowing me to embed videos into this post. However, the link below leads you right to where you can watch it. You're welcome.

http://vimeo.com/4818316

Laslty...I had to share a couple pictures from NATW's show at Glastonbury taken by James Robinson. He's been a huge part of the band's various projects. I really do love the photography he has done for them. As far as his other work, I am only beginning to look into it since he has only recently started up a personal photo blog. You can see more from this concert there as well!

Ever since that fateful evening back in April seeing NATW front row center, it was only natural that quite the healthy... obsession ensued. I have now come to realize that Charlie Fink is in fact my soulmate. Marry me, please?

nice, nice, very nice

After an unintentional and lengthy hiatus from this space, I am back a changed woman. And by that, I really just mean I'm legal baby. Alas! No more fuss with stressful fake ids that look nothing like me and certainly no more walks of shame. Now that I am in my last 365 days as a full-of-life-care-free teenager, I have realized that it is time to get my act together and start accomplishing a bunch of small, but brooding aspirations. Or rather, it is more like a long-term to do list (things I want to introduce to my life and things I just simply want to do more often). First step: write them down. Check. As for the rest, I'll keep you posted on my progress, mainly for my own sake.

Moving on! Please allow me to rekindle with my blogging life and provide you with an outpour of music entries. Someone tell me what it is about summer and music? I think it's the eons time to discover new artists, to get your hands on dope album releases, to see live shows and festivals (ones which I can only read reviews and depressingly long to have been there) and of course to dance and drive to fun, catchy summer anthems. But it must also be the sunshine, porches and backyards, starry nights and the friends and family you get to share it with? Absolutely.

I suppose I'll jump into this with my current musical fixation. If any of you have yet to discover how absolutely sensational itunes podcasts are, I fervently suggest you to do so immediately. They are free and offer hours and hours of literally anything you could possibly want. Music, live or recorded, video clips, social commentary on pop culture, history and other subjects, guitar lessons, even you know, explicit porn podcasts......whatever strikes your fancy. It had been a long while since I updated and loaded some of the newer music podcasts and it wasn't until my dearest sister told me about all the truly amazing Canadian artists she was hearing on the CBC Radio 3 sessions. Specifically Dan Mangan, an acoustic, indie folk musician from Vancouver BC and Danny Michel, a folk rock, guitar-looping king from Waterloo ON. CBC 2 broadcasted the show the two of them put on in Ottawa this past April titled "Danapalooza." It is an hour and a half podcast of poetic and musical brilliance, to say the least. I fell in love instantly and I am giving you a plethora of ways to do the same. You can listen to each of their myspaces/website playlists and you can download the CBC podcast free from itunes. Free? Free. FREE! !

www.myspace.com/danmangan

http://www.danmanganmusic.com/

www.myspace.com/dannymichel

While both sets were outstanding, Dan Mangan won me over. His distinctive, gruff voice is endearing and soothing. When its paired with his lovely guitar melodies and wise, profound lyrics, Dan Mangan will truly melt your heart. Or make you want to cry. Yes cry. But one of those really wonderful cries because you just listened to something so beautiful. It's simply extraordinary how he manages to accurately articulate and express certain dynamics of every day life in the most penetrating way.

A couple of Mangan's songs feature Shane Koyzcan's spoken word, a guest performer and renowned poet for his wit, his passion and for his sincere words taken directly from the heart, for the heart. His lyricism alone is moving, but layered on top of Dan's guitar and coupled with his vocals, Shane's verses leave me breathless everytime. And man, he brings out the hopeful romantic in me, I must admit. Makes me long to see the day where someone loves me the way the he loves whomever he wrote these poems about. Please just listen to the podcast I tell you! If you still are not convinced by my two big thumbs up or atleast intrigued by Dan Mangan's striking resemblance to Seth Rogan...read this exerpt from "Fair Verona." It is a small glimpse at Shane's brilliance.

I dreamt once,
that even though we aren't related,
even though I'm a boy and you're a girl,
I dreamt once that we were siamese twins.
We spent most of our days brushing each other's hair
and playing scrabble.
It was awesome.
And then one day a doctor told us he could change our lives forever.
Filled our heads with ideas like privacy,
so we said yes.
So their wield us into the operating room,
and put us under ...

Then I had a dream within a dream,
I dreamt that I was running,
swiftly,
and with a grace I have never known,
ducking and rolling to avoid sharp branches.
I took lessons from Jesus Christ, lizards,
and learned to step lightly upon water
then ran across oceans,
stopping to catch my breath on the backs of whales that came up for air.
I ran so fast and so far I felt like a lawman trying to capture the escaped convict of my own breath.
Later I woke and discovered that we had been placed on opposite ends of the recovery room, you were sitting up in your bed crying.
So I asked you,
what's wrong?
And you asked me,
why did you run away?
So I limp toward you,
Climbed inside your bed, ran my hand through your hair and told you,
I didn't.
I was running to find you.

You can check out a lot of Shane's work (music, poems, books, biographies etc.) here at his main website:
http://www.houseofparlance.com/koyczan/index.html

Up Next:
I'll be giving a little love and promo to the fabulous Noah and the Whale.