Dr. Dog
FATE
(Park The Van Records; 2008)
8.8/10

This week’s band of the week is very special. They’re a band that’ve been with me through the good times, the bad times and the inbetween times. They’re a band that I respect, admire and enjoy. They’re a band I see just about everywhere I go…because we live in the same city and like to par-tey. They’re a band called…

So in case any of you don’t know, I’m moving to Halifax in about two or so months. That’s right, sir grubbington the third is going to Kings university. Of course, regardless of where I go, there will be music, and I want know about it. I did a little looking into Halifax’s music scene and found out about a great band that released a great little album last year. That band is this week’s Band of the Week:

DOG DAY!!!

Dog Day is the quintessential indie pop band. Playful synths? Check. Female Vocals? Check-la-la. Quircky male lead vocals a la Tokyo Police Club or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah or Most Serene Republic or etc.? Checkasaurus. The requisite guitar and drum sounds + pop hooks? Checkalicious. So why listen to them? Cuz they fucking rock, that’s why! You might be like “Ah, I’ve heard it all before” but comon, it’s like the Beatles in the 60s, you heard the beatles and were like “sweet!” and then there was the zombies and you were like “okay, same shtick but still fucking sweet” and then Pink Floyd released Piper at the Gates of Dawn which was alot of the same shtick except by someone kinda insane and you were like “umm, yeah, fucking awesome”. Well it’s like that.

So on their album Night Group they basically write a bunch of snappy pop tunes featuring all the aforementioned ingredients. Unlike Tokyo Police Club though, the tunes DONT all the sound the same…as great as the sound may be. That being said, it’s not an incredibly eclectic album either, but it doesn’t need to be, especially at this stage in the game. They came out with an album that introduces their cool sound and it’s tight and consistent. So check it out. It’s catchy!

http://www.myspace.com/dogdaytheband

This week’s band/artist of the week took me by surprise. I had heard of her but I didn’t really know how. Her name was just floating around. I got hold of the album out of curiosity and when I started listening to it, I was very surprised and very impressed. This weeks artist of the week is…

KATIE STELMANIS!!!

Katie Stelmanis is a Toronto artist who is signed to/part of the Blocks Recording Club, a group/record label for experimental artists in Toronto. It was once home to Final Fantasy before he moved on to larger success. Listening to Stelmanis’ album “Join Us”, it’s unsurprising that she once shared a label with him. They have that sort of classically influenced, experimental, almost operatic or theatrical mentality. Most impressive is that I really can’t think of any artists who quite sound anything like her. Maybe an Evanescence if they didn’t suck balls.

Her album, “Join Us” is an album crafted mainly with electronics which are used to form a sound far more organic than one would expect. There’s a bit of piano and drums (which may be drum machines actually) but mainly it’s cheap electronics that are used very efficiently. She doesn’t sound overtly electronic is what I’m trying to say. Her singing is remiscent of Amber Webber (of Black Mountain and Lightning Dust) with it’s quavering eeriness that they both learned from Grace Slick. The music itself is very dark and strangely constructed like some kind of bizzare iron machine. At times it can be quit affecting and almost downright scary.

While I doubt Stelmanis’ efforts will be climbing the charts too soon, she could very easily become the next Laurie Anderson and if so, marrying the next Lou Reed might not be such a bad future.

If you’d like to hear “Join Us”, unfortunately it’s not too easy to find. Try the “Toronto Independent” section at Soundscapes. Otherwise, I’m not really sure where you’d find it without buy it off her myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/katiestelmanis

All TGMB entries can also be viewed at http://grubtunes.blogspot.com/