For many, this is the concert event of the summer. Fresh off an innovative release of their most recent album – In Rainbows – Radiohead will marvel, confuse, dazzle and amaze tomorrow night at the Molson Amphitheatre.

Don’t have tickets? Unfortunately, tomorrow nights show is not a ‘pay what you want’ and tickets are sold out, so if you’re planning on getting scalper tickets, bring both of your wallets.

But one thing will be certain…this show will be worth every penny.

New York’s Grizzly Bear will open the show with their experimental/acoustic/indie brand of music. They’ll set a cool vibe…show up early.

Send your reviews and opinions – favorite track, best moment, number of beers…

Post from: Toronto Unplugged

In addition to this week’s CIMS album chart, there was a TOP 50 Vinyl chart – week ending July 20, 2008

Crystal Castles self titled album came in at a very impressive 34 – trailing the likes of Radiohead In Rainbows, My Morning Jacket Evil Urges, Wolf Parade At Mount Zoomer and Coldplay Vida La Vida.

Here is the top 20…

TW LW Title Artist
1 D METALLICA MASTER OF PUPPETS
2 22 MY MORNING JACKET EVIL URGES
3 3 FLEET FOXES FLEET FOXES
4 1 RATATAT LP3
5 4 COLDPLAY VIVA LA VIDA
6 6 RADIOHEAD IN RAINBOWS
7 68 BORIS SMILE
8 96 MGMT ORACULAR SPECTACULAR
9 2 METALOCALYPSE: DETHKLOK DETHALBUM COLLECTOR’S
10 5 PORTISHEAD THIRD
11 D NO AGE NOUNS
12 14 MUDCRUTCH MUDCRUTCH
13 17 WOLF PARADE AT MOUNT ZOOMER
14 39 FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
15 59 REATARD,JAY SINGLES 06-07
16 76 SHINS WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY
17 D MY MORNING JACKET OKONOKOS
18 35 BON IVER FOR EMMA FOREVER AGO
19 D METALLICA RIDE THE LIGHTNING
20 7 RACONTEURS SALUTE YOUR SOLUTION

About Crystal Castles…

Crystal Castles is a Toronto-based band, consisting of multi-instrumentalist Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass. Crystal Castles are known not only for their own efforts as a band, but also for commissioned remixes for number of groups, including “Hunting for Witches” by Bloc Party, and “Atlantis to Interzone” by friends, Klaxons. Crystal Castle have taken their experimental brand of random, funky rock across Canada and North America and have developed a very strong following.

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Radiohead are exploring a new way to make their next music video.  The band’s latest video, “House Of Cards,” is being done without the use of a camera.

Instead, the group is utilizing Geometric Informatics and Velodyne Lidar to create the unique video.  I’m sure everyone knows what that means…

For the non-techies, the Geometric Informatics employes a structured light scanning system to capture an image (in this case Thom Yorke and others in the scene) in 3D at close proximity.

Yorke says, “I liked the idea of making a video of human beings and real life and time without using cameras, just lasers, so there are just mathematical points – and how strangely emotional it ended up being.” …

Image Credit:  Wikipedia

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The collaboration represents an innovative and creative example of fusing musical content with MTV’s pro-social messaging. The “All I Need” video is being released globally across all platforms, and will potentially be seen in 560 million households worldwide.

The “All I Need” video was filmed in Australia by Oscar-winning Cinematographer, John Seale (The English Patient, Cold Mountain ), and award-winning director, Steve Rogers. It provides insight into the realities of trafficking, emphasizes that everyone plays a role in the issue, and provides a link to information about how to help end exploitation and trafficking. The video itself is shown in split screen: one side depicting a day in the life of a young child from an affluent, developed area; the other showing the day in the life of a child being forced to work in a sweatshop.

This is a very powerful piece, let us know your thoughts – Toronto Unplugged

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Radiohead’s

The cross-country trek is expected to make stops in the Northeast, including New York, Philadelphia, and Boston; while Southeastern cities include Washington, DC, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, and Tampa. The Midwest portion of the trek will include Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. Two shows will be staged in Texas, in Dallas and Houston; with West Coast appearances anticipated in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Seattle.

In addition, three Canadian locations are part of the lineup — Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.

The North American run will take part in two portions – one prior to and one after their UK and Europe summer trek.

Radiohead’s overseas dates begin in Ireland on June 6th.

So we know Radiohead is stopping in Toronto. Any bets on the venue? Leave a comment.

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Elite company here…Radiohead and Anne Murray???

Here are the top 10 albums sales in Toronto for the week ending January 10th:

1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
2. Alicia Keys – As I Am
3. Feist – Reminder
4. Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad
5. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
6. Anne Murray – Duets, Friends & Legends

I can’t help but think back to that segment on Sesame Street called, “One of these things does not belong here…”

That’s right Rihanna, you’re out of your element.

Anne Murray…you’ll be top 5 if I have anything to do with it.

Question…what was the last album you bought…the good ol’ fashioned way?

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Musicians, bands and management started realizing the full potential of the digital and Internet soundscape. They started realizing that the current model just doesn’t make sense anymore and began exploring options.

Stars, Prince and Radiohead wielded the biggest digital axe, but rising bands also took a toll by releasing, promoting and selling music on their own through a very simple formula – lots of hard work. Is there a valuable lesson amidst all this?

The Music Industry was divided into halves – those that had the ability, insight and freedom to pursue the new alternatives and those that were tied to their multi-billion dollar structure. One side was (and is) thriving on excitement and opportunity, while the other was (and is) trying to re-group in desperation.
The manufactured artists and bands that were once the pillar of the industry, began crumbling in the public eye and fast. However, in the wake were real bands spreading their music virally. Good music getting to you in a more legit and credible way. Very cool.

There was also the harsh wake up call for bands of old who could no longer rely on simply re-producing and re-jigging old material for a new album. They discovered that a strategically planned reunion performance/tour could be very lucrative – not to mention a great ego stroke. Welcome back: The Police, Led Zeppelin and…The Spice Girls.

The change in the industry, the breakdown of traditional structure, and the digital album releases would be insignificant if the music wasn’t there to support this revolution. Fortunately, 2007 was a solid, solid year for music. Dropping the microscope closer to the scene, it was a solid year for Music in Toronto. We have a world-class, thriving music scene in our city right now and it is intimate and familiar enough to feel unique to those who know it.

There were too many great and impacting releases this year to keep this list of Top Albums of the Year to just Toronto, but there were a few that were more than deserving to be on any list and some that just missed out, but will never leave my car CD player and IPOD.

7. The Assistants – The Assistants

Superficial similarities aside, this record is full of the jangley energy and warm vocal hooks that very much in the vein of The Byrds’ 60s psych-inflected pop. There’s good guitar work on tracks like “Free to Believe” and one of the record’s standout songs “Handful of Heaven.” The Assistants definitely have potential.

Essential Tracks: “Free to Believe” and “Planet News“

6. Kevin Drew – Spirit If

Simply put: This is an album for the ages, an album that you will covet, listen to, and live by. here comes Kevin Drew.

Essential Tracks: “Lucky Ones” and “Backed out on the…”

5. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible

The second album from Montreal’s Arcade Fire exceeds all expectations. With string and orchestral arrangements by two of the band members, “Neon Bible” is full of both half-assed punk rock mistakes and meticulously orchestrated woodwinds. Processed strings and mandolin. Quiet rumbles and loud rumbles. But mostly just eleven songs that the band thinks are really good.

Essential Tracks: “Intervention”, “No Cars Go”

4. Kings of Leon – Because of the Times

U2, Radiohead and the Strokes have all praised them. Now it’s time for the rest of the world to catch on.

ESSENTIAL TRACKS: “On Call,” “The Bucket”

3. Feist – The Reminder

You should own this album. It can be played any day anytime. We were really happy to see Feist and other BSS’er break out this year. They are leading our scene.

Essential Tracks: “Sea Lion” and “My Moon My Man” and “1234″

2. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin

My man Rhys at Underground Garage (a top notch bar in Toronto) got me on to this band. This is one of my favorite releases of the year. Band of Horses have such a great sound. Head to their Myspace page, close your door, crank the volume and light a…candle.

Essential Tracks: “No One’s Going to Love You” and “Is There a Ghost”

1. RADIOHEAD – In Rainbows

Sure, the band got loads of attention by being the first band to offer up their disc digitally via their website and letting fans pay whatever they want — but by no means are these bargain basement tracks.

Is it one of their best albums? Hmm….maybe not, but it is a very, very solid album. Plus, you cannot ignore the impact this album has had and will have on the big bad wolf.

Essential Tracks: “Jigsaw Falling Into Place,” “15 Step,” “Bodysnatchers.”

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