Is it just me or does the music you listen to sound better in the fall. What is it that makes the fall such a beautiful season? Is it the leaves? the colder weather? the grey skies? I think the reason I love fall so much is that it makes everything around you come to life. Shades of red, yellow, orange and pink colouring the world around you. Regular city streets becoming yellow brick roads right before your eyes. It’s pretty amazing when you take the time to notice. I have been looking forward to the fall for a long time now just so i could listen to all my favourite fall music. Here are 7 songs to listen to while you watch the leaves fall…

1. Department of Eagles - No One Does It Like You

I just listened to this band on my latest bus trip to New York City. My first thoughts were, “wow this band sounds a lot like Grizzly Bear”. It then dawned on me that it had to be the same singer. There’s no way their voices could be so similar. Turns out it is the same singer and he goes by the name of Daniel Rossen. It also turns out that Rossen was a member of Department of Eagles before Grizzly Bear even existed. I am really loving this band right now and this song is amazing (and perfect for fall).
(Department of Eagles Myspace)

2. Midlake - Bandits

Midlake is arguably my favourite band of 2008. It just so happens that I discovered them last fall and I associate their music very much with the season. It just seems to fit. They have a new album in the works which will most likely be called The Courage of Others. Keep your eyes out for it.
(Midlake Myspace)

3. Band of Horses - Window Blues

Band of Horses are good any time of year. But they sound especially nice in the fall. Have you seen them live? Because if you haven’t you are really missing something. I wasn’t a huge fan of the band until I saw them live and heard Ben Bridwell belting out those tunes. Ever since that fateful night I have been thoroughly obsessed with them. Apparently they are also working on a new album, about which Bridwell has said that he already has 27 songs written. I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to hear them.
(Band of Horses Myspace)

4. Grizzly Bear - Easier

Grizzly Bear’s album, entitled Yellow House, has been on repeat for me ever since I hear the opening bars of this song. Their music just drew me in right away. You really must check this band out, and they are perfect for fall. After you hear this song, take a listen to “Little Brother” my other favourite track on the album.
(Grizzly Bear Myspace)

5. Sea Wolf - Middle Distance Runner

Yeah…I kinda like this song. It seems there is a little trend emerging. 4 of the 5 bands I’ve mentioned so far have animals in their names. I didn’t do it on purpose I swear. It just so happens that my fall bands have animals in their names. I could have mentioned Fleet Foxes too but I think I speak about them enough. Anyways, this band is also one of my new finds that I have really been listening to a lot of over the past few months. Their first full length album, entitled Leaves in the River, was released last year and rumour has it they have a new album called A Wolf At The Table slated for a 2008 release. I’m very excited to hear it.
(Sea Wolf Myspace)

6. Birdie Busch - Old Fashioned Way

This is my favourite track off of Birdie’s first album The Ways We Try. I think it is such a sweet and beautiful song. Perfect for a lazy fall afternoon. I was lucky enough to get a chance to interview Birdie a few months ago and she is definitely someone to watch out for. And she, as well, has a brand new album in the works.
(Birdie Busch Myspace)

7. Nick Drake - Pink Moon

And last but not least…the King of Autumn, Nick Drake. My fall season doesn’t exist without him. It’s as if he wrote his songs tailor made for this season. If you aren’t familiar with his music you should really check him out.
(Nick Drake Myspace)

My question to you is…what do you like to listen to in the fall?

Again, I’d like to apologize for my lack of blogging lately. I have just finished most of my midterms and it was an arduous journey, but I finally have a little time to breathe. Hopefully this will result in more blogging.

Until next week (fingers crossed)…

-The Middle Distance Runner

Hello Birdies,

I hope you are all doing well. Those of you that are still in school, as I am, I wish you a good start to the semester. May your tests be easy and your essays short. For those not in school, I hope whatever you are doing is making you happy, and that there is nothing you’d rather be doing. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing than listening to music. So here are 5 songs that I have been listening to on repeat over the past week. I hope you like…

Akron/Family - Before and Again

I just discovered this band last night. Well to be honest I have been hearing about them for awhile, but never gave them a chance until last night. I saw that they were playing in Montreal for the Pop Montreal Festival so I decided to check out their myspace page for a few samples and was pretty blown away. I still don’t know them very well but this song is sounding quite nice right now.

Born Ruffians - Little Garçon

Born Ruffians have been one of my bands of the summer. They make such catchy and fun songs and they are Canadian, so they get extra points. This song is a cute little love song that you can play for your boyfriend/girlfriend/love interest in order to capture their heart. Unless they like rap music, then you should play them this.

Pinback - Wasted (Black Flag Cover)

I have been listening to sooo much Pinback lately, especially after writing that Tribute to Rob Crow. It really got me back into them. I have been listening to this song, which is actually a Black Flag cover, every night before bed for the past week. Not because it is a song that puts me to sleep. Just because I like it a lot. What makes it such a good cover is that it is so different than the original. It just goes to show how talented Zach and Rob actually are, that they can take a hardcore punk song, and make it into something so beautiful. The ending of the song is a fitting tribute to the original.

Human Highway - The Sound

Nick Thorburn is becoming quite the band hopper. From the Unicorns, to Islands, to his other various side projects. He is now teaming up with Canadian Juno Award winner Jim Guthrie, who together form Human Highway. This band is very different from anything Nick has done in the past and just goes to show how versatile he is. They make some really pretty songs, take a listen.

Midlake - Bandits

Midlake has been arguably my favourite band of the past year. I hardly go a week without listening to them. If you are not familiar with their music you are really missing something. There is something about them that makes me feel so at ease and comfortable. I’m trying not listen to them that much this summer just because I love listening to them in the fall and winter. Along with “Roscoe”, this is my favourite Midlake song. They have a new album in the works, which will most likely be entitled The Courage of Others. You can expect to see it in stores at some point before the year is out. Along with Mew’s new album, this is the album I am most excited to hear.

Well that’s all for now. I shall now go out and enjoy my last free day of summer. Is it crazy that I’m really excited for fall?

Untill next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner

I don’t know about you but there’s nothing I look forward to more than when the artists I love put out new albums. Often though, the intense excitement and high expectations that I have lead to disappointment when I actually do get to hear the new releases and they aren’t exactly what I was hoping for. Once I get over that initial disappointment however, I usually come to love the albums. The fact remains, new albums are exciting! Some great new releases that I have been listening to lately are Man Man’s Rabbits Habbits, Aimee Mann’s @#%&*! Smilers, Fleet Foxes’ self titled LP and Wolf Parade’s At Mount Zoomer. Now let’s take a look at what is on the horizon…try not to drool.

Ratatat: LP3 - July 8, 2008

I absolutely cannot wait to hear this new album by New York City duo Ratatat. Since first hearing about them two summers ago, I have been incessantly listening to their first two LPs, Ratatat and Classics. I only hope that their third LP, which is aptly entitled LP3, will have the same magic that made the first two as good as they are. I’m expecting something a little different this time around. While the first two albums were great, they were pretty similar sounding, so I think we can expect a little bit of variation.

Here’s a little taste of the new album: Shiller

CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy): Donkey - July 21, 2008

Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, you have definitely heard of CSS. I remember a time when nobody knew who they were. Until a certain Apple ad changed everything. Now, CSS is everywhere… and good for them! But the pressure is on for them to follow up their debut self titled album with something worth listening to. Here’s a sample from the new album called Rat is Dead (Rage). Sounds pretty good to me!

The Stills: Oceans Will Rise - August 19, 2008

Here’s a band that i haven’t thought of for awhile. Recently signed to Arts & Crafts Records, The Stills, who hail from my Montreal hometown, will release their third studio album on August 19th. I am very eager to hear how they have changed in the last 2 years. Their second album, Without Feathers, was much different from their first, Logic WIll Break Your Heart. Is this a sign that their new album will be much different from their second? We will have to wait and see. But for now, here are some samples from the new record:

Rooiboos/Palm Wine Drinkard

Being Here

Imogen Heap: Untitled Third Album - September, 2008

I have been waiting for a new album from Imogen for a long time now. It’s been three years since her last solo album Speak For Yourself and I think it’s about time we hear some new stuff from her. Being the awesome person that she is, she has been recording video blogs for some time now documenting the creation of her new album. You can check out her latest vblog (the 24th) below. Look for her new album to drop this September!

Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping - October 7, 2008

I have been following them for many years and I consider them one of my all time favourite bands. While their last release Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? was probably one of my least favourite Of Montreal albums, I am still reaaaally excited to hear what they have in store for us this time around. The new album, which is to be entitled Skeletal Lamping, and will hit stores on October 7th, might just be the strangest thing we have heard from Kevin Barnes and his crew yet.

Here’s what Barnes had to say about it on Of Montreal’s Myspace Blog: “I wanted to make an album that was unpredictable and, at times,startling, yet always hummable and catchy. some of the transitions are intentionally awkward. I did this to keep the listener off guard and to dismantle people’s perception of how an album is supposed to be constructed. I am so bored with art that makes sense and ‘works’. I wanted to do somethings that didn’t ‘work’.”

Metric: Unknown Title - Summer 2008

According to this article a new Metric album should be hitting stores at some point this summer. I wouldn’t expect it before the fall but this is still exciting news! I don’t think Emily Haines has ever put out anything that wasn’t great. Whether it be with her band Metric or on her own with the Soft Skeleton, her music has always been amazing and I expect no less from their new LP, whenever it does come out. Here are two new songs that we can expect to hear on the album:

Give Me Sympathy (Acoustic):

Twilight:

Here are some more albums to look out for:

Holly Throsby: A Loud Call - July 12, 2008

Midlake: The Courage of Others (Tentative Title) - 2008

Final Fantasy: Heartland - Unknown Date

Well that’s all for now. It looks like it is going to be a pretty exciting summer and fall. Lots of new music for us to live our lives to. If you have any more information about future albums from these or other artists, please let me know!

Until next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner