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Jasper Sloan Yip unveils new album

If you wasn't at Jasper Sloan Yip's album launch party on Saturday night then you missed a hell of a party. It was held at a packed Cafe Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive which was the perfect venue for everyone to come and watch Jasper and his band perform their new album on the cafe's tiny stage.

Every Day and All at Once is the second album from Jasper Sloan Yip and his band - Mark Brichon on bass/banjo, Graham Serl on drums, Stephanie Chapman on violin and VO's very own John Tanner on keyboard. Versatile and dynamic, the five of them bring their instruments together and fuse a warm, folky sound that makes every day feel like summer. Produced at Vertical Studios with help from Tom Dobrzanski who produced bands such as Said The Whale, Hey Ocean! and We Are The City, Every Day and All At Once has to be the album of the summer…or any season for that matter.

When I first saw Jasper perform back in Summer 2008 with his first EP, White Elephant, I knew I was witnessing a great talent. In those days he would grace the stage by himself and his trusted acoustic guitar and ukulele with occasional help from Mark on banjo. Even then, you could see what a great guitarist and lyricist he was but give a musician a bit of time and a trip throughout Europe and they will always come back to smack you in the face in the form of album number two.

With the softened drumbeat on 'Transit,' soulful guitar solos on 'Today' and reggae beats on 'Back and Forth and To and Fro' show how Jasper has grown as a musician and songwriter. Besides getting hold of four talented band mates, Every Day… shows experimentation with different musical styles and lyrics that are pure poetry and don't even get me started on that voice. His voice has gained so much range and strength that he can blow an entire room away. That isn't even an understatement as he proved this on Saturday night during the encore.

Re-recorded and completely stripped down to his old roots of ukulele and banjo, 'Postcards' was one of the first songs I heard back in 2008 and now I was seeing it again as a powerful encore and an even better version of the original. With delicate ukulele strums and vocals blasting and bouncing around the room, 'Postcards' was the perfect way to wrap up an awesome show and prove to us that this is going to be Jasper's year.

Check out upcoming shows and listen to new tracks at www.myspace.com/jaspersloanyip

For more live photos from the show go the the Flickr gallery

Bear Hands at Biltmore Cabaret

I finally got to see Brooklyn's Bear Hands last week. It was an awesome show and I am so excited for the new album whenever that gets released. For now, listen to some new songs at www.myspace.com/bearhandsband

Check out the review over at Limewire Blog

More photos at Flickr

Laura Marling unveils Album No. 2

Laura Marling has unveiled details of her new album and artwork for 'I Speak Because I Can.'

Pre-orders are now available for the album, released 22nd March. The special edition includes a 45 minute DVD documentary, download access to 5 tracks, plus a 16 page lyrics booklet.
Miss Marling always knows how to spoil her fans.

Pre-order the album from Amazon and check out more info at Laura Marling's website

She will also be performing at the London Palladium on April 25th 2010. Make sure you get your tickets fast!

The Editors at Commodore Ballroom Feb 6th

The Editors played at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom on Saturday. You can find the review and photos at Limewire | Vancouver Observer | Flickr

Editors Website

Grizzly Bear cover Hot Chip

Everyone loves to cover Hot Chip. The Miserable Rich, Portastic and plenty others that I can't think of right now. Anyway, another one to add to the list is the beautiful Grizzly Bear. During their recent trip in Australia, the Brooklyn boys had time to visit the Aussie radio station Triple J for an interview and this stunningly, haunting version of Hot Chip's "Boy From School."

Spin Magazine have it streaming over at their HQ. Take a listen here

What a winner!

My winning photograph at the Vancouver Photo Marathon exhibition for the theme 'Perform.' You can see all 12 images here

Spoon 'Transference' - New album January 2010

As we all struggle with money and dread the thought of the Christmas season, new year is going to be so much more worth while in the Amplify This! camp. The new Spoon album is finally going to fall upon us and I'm pretty certain it will be one of the best albums of 2010. Transference will be released January 19, 2010 through Merge Records, and preceded by first single 'Written In Reverse' which is available digitally now.

Head to Stereogum to listen to this toe tapping two step awesomeness and try your best not to start moving. I dare you!

Top 100 Greatest Albums of the Decade...according to NME

It's that time of year again when NME release the all important greatest albums list of the year/decade/century/week...whatever. Compiled by the know-it-all NME staff and music folk such as The Killers, MGMT and Snoop Dogg. Need I say anymore.

Check out the Top 100 for yourself and feel free to contribute your thoughts or album additions.

NME's Top 100 Albums of the Decade

Amplify This! Photography Exhibition

No excuses for the length of time between the last post and this one. Working out of town and having no free time for a normal life means everything else gets pushed to the back of the closet. Besides my lame excuses, I can prove a lot has been happening over the last month or two and I am going to prove that with shamless self promotion.
Amplify This! live music photographs were showcased at Zulu Records in Vancouver, BC for the month of October. I would tell you all to go and check it out but the month of October is over but feel free to reenact the exhibition over at the Flickr page.

Muse - The Uprising NEW SINGLE!

There really isn't much for me to say besides,

7TH SEPTEMBER NEW SINGLE MUSE 'THE UPRISING'

MP3 - THE UPRISING

Social Distortion - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver July 17th

A 30 year celebration for these punk rockers with a double show in Vancouver. For more photos and the full review by my boy Cory A. Ross go to Flickr and Limewire.

Social Distortion website and myspace

Andrew WK at Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver

A super crazy show at The Biltmore for Andrew WK's stop in Vancouver. For the full review, go to Limewire Music Blog. For more photos, Flickr

Festival d’été Francophone de Vancouver

Vancouver held an incredible Francophone festival last week with some of the best music coming from Malajube, Karkwa and Pierre Lapointe. Go to Vancouver Observer for the full review and Flickr for more photos.

Shoot Your Percussion Gun

Friggin' genius. No other words needed. Besides WATCH IT!

White Rabbits "Percussion Gun" Music Video from White Rabbits on Vimeo.

Holla holla for a dollar

You heard it here first. Well, maybe not but whatever. I did. My London friends, Fanfarlo are lovingly offering their new album for a $1 download. A friggin' $1?! You can't even buy candy for that little. Get yourself over to Fanfarlo's website, provide a few details and their gorgeous album is yours....4 bonus tracks included. Now doesn't that sound delicious. Mmmmmm!

Peaches at Commodore, Vancouver May 31st

photos by Amplify This!

Leotard-wearing, sex-loving, electro-clash singer Peaches put on an electrifying show at Commdore Ballroom. For the full review head over to Big Shot Magazine

More photos at Amplify This!

No Use For A Name at Richards, Vancouver

photos by Amplify This!

Punk rockers No Use For A Name stopped by Vancouver on their huge North American tour for a powerful, kick ass show. Die hard fans had tears of joy forming at the corner of their eyes to witness their heroes in the flesh play a collection of old and new. While his mouth open in awe, my boy was there to assist me with the review which you can find at Limewire Music Blog.

For more photos of the show, go to Flickr

NUFAN website / myspace

The Stills - Commodore Ballroom May 8th

photo by Amplify This!

Live show for recent Juno winners, The Stills. Full review over at Limewire Music

More photos at AT! Flickr

The Dead Weather

photo via thedeadweather.com

Everyone loves a little bit of hype. So it would only make sense to surround that hype around The Dead Weather. Not just any new group of adolescent kids trying to get rich or get girls. The Dead Weather are a 'supergroup.' According to Wikipedia, a Supergroup is "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups." So here is the part where I fill you in. The Dead Weather consist of, vocalist Alison Mosshart (of The Kills), guitarist Dean Fertita (of Queens of the Stone Age), bassist Jack Lawrence (of The Raconteurs and The Greenhornes) and drummer/vocalist Jack White (of The White Stripes and The Raconteurs). Is that a super enough super group for you? New single Hang You From The Heavens is typically raw and dirty with riffs that are similar with all the members other bands. Nonetheless, it is pretty good and will be interesting to see how the rest of the album sounds. "Horehound" is released on May 14th worldwide and a North American tour begins 16th July in New York.

Check out The Dead Weather site for more info and to listen to the new single.