The October issue of Toronto Life magazine had an interesting article Lament for the iGeneration by Gregory Levey. As a GenY and new media enthusiast, such subjects are of great interest to me. Having gone through college and receiving straight A’s I was particularly appalled and equally fascinated by the article explaining why he feels teaching my generation is a so-called nightmare.
He poses a lot of points that surprisingly lack any understanding of my generation. A lot of people can’t seem to understand Gen Y, and rightfully so – a plethora of characteristics that define us are substantially different from the generations that came before us. Studies prove over and over again how computer usage alters one’s brain functions and thought processes. As a technologically inclined generation, our minds simply work differently from the generations before us, creating more than a subtle evolution. We have taken a major leap to what I like to call the hybrid of the young adult.
So, I ask the question: Should the entire generation be required to change and, in a sense, dement their growth/evolution to reflect an outdated education system or vice-versa?
Personally, I don’t attend a seminar without my latop for one main reason – efficiency. I can take notes once and in the press of a button, share them with my team and online communities.
In the article, he states, “The new assumption is that knowledge doesn’t belong to any set hierarchy; information is something that everyone can share—and even change.”
The new assumption? Open your eyes – mainstream (traditional) media is collapsing and being replaced by social media. This is not a radical concept, it is the reality.
In another argument, he references Neumont University, “a school in Utah that specializes in computer science and has a reputation for turning out top-notch tech talent, has begun a multi-pronged initiative to force its students to learn how to engage with the real world, instead of just the virtual world.”
“Social media activities are associated with several beneficial social activities, including having discussion networks that are more likely to contain people from different backgrounds. For instance, frequent internet users, and those who maintain a blog are much more likely to confide in someone who is of another race. Those who share photos online are more likely to report that they discuss important matters with someone who is a member of another political party.”- The Pew Internet and American Life Project
The part that had me rolling my eyes thinking You Really Don’t Get It? “Surely for a few hours a week, I thought, they could put aside their computers and focus on one issue instead of multi-tasking. The request resulted in a lot of indignant and perplexed students. Nevertheless, they all complied, and the result was a more engaged classroom, with a higher quality of discussion.”
In my opinion, this entire article (and every similar argument) sounds like one complaint after another, pissing and whining about how this generation is inconveniencing those who, lets be honest, are simply set in their ways. My suggestion is simple and summed up into one word: Adapt.
I am reminded of a George Bernard Shaw quote, “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
Brazilian Sub-Pop group Cansei de Ser Sexy(CSS) just released their new album Donkey. It is more refined and pop-ish than their last album, a self-titled raw and artistic masterpiece. Their overall sound, however, remains the same: pop art, Warhol, turned into music. Bright, brilliant and genuinely different.
I first heard of this group last summer, rocking out to Lets Make Love and Listen to Death From Above. They were one of the first bands which lured me into the Indie Electro scene. Soon, Music is My Hot, Hot Sex played back up to an Ipod commercial and the whole world had discovered my little secret known as CSS. Life was ruined.
Top tracks off Donkey are as follows:
Believe Achieve
Jagger Yoga
Top tracks off CSS:
Lets Make Love and Listen To Death From Above
Alala
Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex
Revived
Best of Radiohead was released last month and I was excited to get more from the creators of Creep. I must preceed the next statement with a reminder that I’m an ‘86er so you must forgive me, but I actually didn’t realize how many songs I love were created by this band. Kind of like Theory of a Deadman, you think you have never heard of them but you can sing along to all their songs (*ah-hem* rethink your PR).
In addition to all the songs I already loved, I have found new favourite tracks from this time capsule.
There have been so many great remixes and reconstructions of Radiohead tracks also worth mentioning. I remember first hearing Everything In Its Right Place on a CD about 4 years ago – it was the opening song to a set preformed by Paul Oakenfold. I also can’t forget to mention Mark Ronson’s rendition of Just on the album Versions. Mark Ronson is a music god.
Others worth checking out
Crookers. They are seriously building up in popularity and I’m hearing their name more and more often.
Santogold. Check out their songs L.E.S. Artistes and Creator
Black Kids and Lykke Li
Los Campesinos! I’m still trying to appreciate them.. cool sound, not my type but they are worth checking out.
The dynamic duo known as Chromeo were just in Toronto this past weekend for the music event “Rogers Picnic” and followed with a special set at Social. I witnessed this MTL/NYC group first-hand at Shared Lofts a few months ago, and their awesomely cool parties show that these two guys are wildly growing in popularity within Toronto.
The Electrofunk music they create is unique, sexy and utterly addictive. Their DJing is a beautiful accompaniment to their musical creations and highlights their insanely gifted ear for cutting-edge sounds.
Their 2007 album Fancy Footwork shares the name of one of the best tracks on it. This hugely popular song boasts a funky fresh beat and lyrics that are hilariously awesome: “But if you let her see that fancy footwork, show her that you’re not that shy. Let her see that fancy footwork, show her you’re that type of guy.”
Think you haven’t heard it? try the Thomas Barfod remix, every club (worth being in) is spinning it.
Tenderoni – (Noun) ten*der*o*ni – an object of desire that happens to be too young: think Lolita or Jail Bait. It is also a fresh, young and tight song by Chromeo, of course.
Tenderoni is today’s equivalent of what Micheal Jackson’s PYT (Pretty Young Thing) once was. If the catchy beats don’t sell that idea, then the lyrics will. “Tenderoni” is actually used in MJ’s PYT lyrics, as follows:
Where Did You Come From Lady And Ooh Won’t You Take Me There?
Right Away, Won’t You Baby? Tendoroni You’ve Got To Be.
Spark My Nature, Sugar Fly With Me
Artists worth checking out if you love Chromeo are as follows:
The Age Of The Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets
“Affection to rent the age of the understatement
Before this attraction ferments
Kiss me properly and pull me apart”
Decided
To sneak up away from your stomach
And try your pulse
And captured
What seemed all unknowing and candid
But they suspected it was false
She’s playful
The boring would warn you be careful
Of her brigade
In order to tame this relentless marauder
Move away from the parade
And she was walking on the tables in the glass house, Endearingly bedraggled in the wind
Subtle in her method of seduction. The twenty little tragedies begin
And she would throw a feather boa in the road If she thought that it would set the scene
Unfittingly dipped into your companions Enlighten them to make you see
And there’s affection to rent
The age of the understatement
Before the attraction ferments
Kiss me properly and pull me apart
Affection to rent the age of the understatement
Before this attraction ferments
Kiss me properly and pull me apart
And my fingers scratch at my hair Before my mind can get too reckless
The idea of seeing you here Is enough to make the sweat grow cold
My favorite bands and songs of the week are a mish-mash of rock, alternative and old fashioned “indie.”
If you were a shape, what shape would you be? Me and My Friend John by The fratellis off the album Here We Stand. It is a sexy guitar riff with some yelling, catchy vocals: perfect for any party this summer. The “ahhh..ahh..ahh..’s” will have you singing along like no other.
The Last Shadow Puppets, The Age Of Understatement. The song by the same name as the album is a favourite along with the song My Mistakes Were Made For You. The songs have a subtle nostalgia to them as they remind me of a sound I have heard in a past life. The sound haunts you and takes over your your senses: back to another time, another life. Perfection.
“Lets Stay Friends” is easier said than done. Les Savy Fav make it sound effortless with their album by the same name. My favourite songs off the album are What Would Wolves Do and Kiss Kiss Is Getting Old. The latter offering a very interesting sound I would best describe as a full-pouted yet vacant voice in the verses, meet American rock (dare I say, Foo Fighters) in the chorus.
New York is offering Bishop Allen’s Folk yet upbeat sound of Rain. Think of it as the male version of Tegan and Sarah, yeah – that good. You’ll fall in love, I promise.
And of course, Bitches In Tokyo by the Stars. I really didn’t like this song the first couple of times I heard it. May be because my friend is in Tokyo modelling and hating the actual bitches in Tokyo. It grows on you. The Stars know what they’re doing with this song. Hopefully the radio won’t ruin it like it does everything else.. the way advertising does.
My favourite of the week must be Edu K- if bjork, Bonde De Role and Shinjuku Zulu had an audio baby, it would be Me Bota Pra Dancar. Spicy, loud, exotic, and with bass to knock you on to the dance floor. Its the kind of beauty you only see from the rarest of mixes. Best track of the week.
Every week I try to provide an outline on a favourite artist/album/song of the week, mainly because my picks are new or not-yet-mainstream. This week, however, it is Coldplay and their new album Viva La Vida. I’ve liked them since Rush Of Blood To The Head and officially loved them with X&Y. They are the kind of artists that make each album better and better than the last. And when I thought it couldn’t get better than X&Y, they release Viva La Vida.
Since Coldplay is a band that needs no introduction, I will provide you with an update on all things new, interesting and uninteresting in the music world.
Live
This week, I saw an “interesting” live performance by a band DethKlok. Described as “Virtual Death Metal” they sing lyrics such “Murmaid Murder” and have a cartoon playing in between songs with a story line of evil antagonists who want to kill off Dethklok’s fans and decide to do so by pirating Dethklok’s music, which will make the band go broke and no longer produce music… therefore killing their fans. While they play, cartoon videos go along with their live performance.. cartoon music videos? What bad asses. A lot of it is so ridiculous that it is rather funny: Death metal with cartoons? lyrics such as “knives? check; dagger? check; laser beams? check; Anger? check.” It sounds like something that a four-year-old watching too many cartoons would create. Laserbeams? really? Says a lot about the four-year-olds I know…
Saints Of Los Angeles?
Just when we got bored of Black Velvet and Pour Some Sugar on Me, Motle Cru saves the day by creating a new soundtrack for every strip club in the country. That’s right, one of my favourite 80’s glam rock bands, Motle Cru, is back with a new album: Angles in Los Angeles. With song names like “Chicks = Trouble” you know it will serve as perfect blast from the past, get drunk theme music. Everything from the past is coming to haunt us, including NKOTB and the Spice Girls, and I’m not excited to see grunge make a comeback.
In House Music
This week in house music, Im proud to announce that Joey Seminara’s track Just A Tip is going to be huge this summer. Other tracks building serious steam are as follows:
The Girl You Lost To Cocaine – SIA (remixed)
4 AM – Kaskade (remixed my Soha & Adam)
Shine on Me – Nick Terranova
And we see some tracks returning again this summer. They are as follows:
Bleep – Sandy W
Tocca Me Together – Mariah Vs fragma
Move It – Eric Morillo (Kaval &Mark Remix)
POP Tracks
The pop tracks of the week that I have already heard too much of, meaning they will be/are big, are as follows:
The perfect lounge playlist is essential for everyone’s music libraries because it is the only music that really sets the stage for drama and romance in fiercely chic way. This playlist is golden for dinners, cocktail parties, pre-drinks and post-drinks, and any other sexy situations you may find yourself in. The sound ranges in genres from electronic to jazz; but to me, its all lounge.
It also varies by tepos: the slower ones are better suited for winding down, the faster tempos are for getting a party started. I have multiple lounge playlists arranged by tempo to suite every situation perfectly.
Just brought someone home at the end of the night? Bitter:sweet. Girlfriends dropped in for pre-party cocktails? Hotel costes. Dinner party? Jazz and 90s/80s.
The best Lounge CD series that make a perfect start to a playlist are as follows:
Hotel Costes (i – x)
Buddha Bar (i – x)
Jazz and (80s and 90s)
Om series (mixes, various locations)
Verve Remixes (i – iii)
The best artists for a slower tempo are as follows:
Bitter:Sweet
Goldfrapp
John Legend
Nouvelle Vague
Telepopmusik
Portishead
Massive Attack
Air
Gotan Project
Trentmoller
Best Artists for a faster-paced lounge are as follows:
Kaskade
Stephane Pompougnac
Mark Farina
Parov Stelar
Blue Six
Amy Winehouse
Fiest
Soulstice
And finally, my favourite lounge songs of all time are as follows:
Koop Island Blues – Koop
Dream Machine – Mark Farina (Downtempo Mix)
All I Want – Jehro
Its You Its Me – Kaskade
Les Djinns (Trentmoller Remix) – Djuma Soundsystem
Sous La Soleil (Cuba Acoustic Mix) – Major Boys
Cleopatra in New York – Nickodemus (zim zam mix)
As The Day Breaks – Carmen Rizzo
Everything is Alright – Four Tet
Where Do I Begin (Away Team Mix) – Shirley Bassey
Diferente – Gotan Project
Loneliness (chill mix) – Blank & Jones
Metropolitan – Emmanuel Santarronama
Juice – Buddha Sounds CD
Faking The Books – Lali Puna
Paper Aeroplanes – Angus & Julia Stone
(This is Not) A Love Song – Nouvelle Vague
Our Remains – Bitter:Sweet
Adios – Zimpala
Show Me – John Legend
I’ll stop myself at 20, but let me know if there are any vital lounge tracks on your list that make your top 20 and I missed. If there is one thing I urge you to do, it is to give all of these a quick listen. You may like them all, you may like some, you may like none – but you will open yourself up to new music, which really is the greatest gift of all.
Some people can’t go a day without their cell phones, I can’t go a day without my Ipod. No more wasting money and time on whole albums, instead buying just the songs I like. This means no more clutter and no more disappointment after buying a CD for one song, while the rest of the album sucks. This also means creating playlists to suit every mood and situation in life.
Often I find myself enjoying only a couple of songs on an album; Sometimes I find myself enjoying a whole album; Rarely, I find myself enjoying the artist, wherein I enjoy many of their albums.
The Kooks are one of these rare exceptions. I stumbled upon their song Always Where I Need To Be by chance on ITunes just over a month ago. After playing it numerous times and loving it, I had to find out if their other musical offerings were at par with this gem. They were. This time I downloaded a bunch of songs off their Konk album. After playing it on rotation for a day, I realized I was addicted and needed to know more about them.
The sound is best described as beachy, catchy, singalong rock and is found in the Alternative section of ITunes. This delicious treat reminds me of chocolate, perfect any hour of the day. While its flavours are best used as a pick-me-up, it also serves as the perfect background to surfing, laying by the pool, lounging by the beach, and sunning.
I learned that they were coming to Toronto, and last Wednesday, I went to watch them live at the Koolhaus. I surveyed the crowd of the sold-out concert once inside – trendy, good looking, mid-to-late 20s. This was a good sign. The band played, the crowd sang along. When Love It All was preformed, the crowd may have been louder than the band.
My conclusion: The Kooks offer incredible music both on their albums and in their live performances. They get my five-star rating as my favorite band of the week.
My favourites off their second album Konk are as follows:
Always Where I Need To Be – The song that made me fall in love with the band
See The Sun – They preformed it live acoustically and had the whole crowd rocking side to side
Love It All - This song had the crowd singing at the tops of their lungs
My favourites off their first album Inside In/Inside Out are as follows:
She moves in her own way – The best surf and singalong rock
You Don’t Love me – Another top-of-the lungs pleaser
Naive – Great background to any foreground
Other new/hot bands worth checking out if you love the Kooks are as follows:
The Virgins
Vampire Weekend
Spoon
Kenna
The Rapture
Quote from their site:
‘The greatest records in the world can be put on in any situation: you can put them on at a party and they’re going to sound great, you could put them on in a club and they’re going to sound great, you could put them on on your headphones and listen in bed. That’s when you get a great album,’ says Luke Pritchard. ‘And that’s how I like to think of this album.’
Gen-Yer approaching my Quarter Life Crisis while embracing the role of Social Media Specialist for a tech company called SoftCom. Join me as I learn and grow - sharing the good, bad and glamorous.
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