Phil's Playlist - Songs That Remind Me of My Dad

Everything I know and love about music, I learned from my dad. He started teaching me as early as he could (Beatles songs served as my lullabies), and he introduced me to all of my favourite bands. And as I grew, I read his books about David Cross and John Lennon. I learned what I could about the stories behind our favourite songs. I memorized and dissected all my favourite lyrics. I discovered new and sometimes unusual (read: Kate Bush) artists. And I came to rely on the various albums that acted as soundtracks to our days and our rainy nights. To this day, one of my favourite things to do is turn the lights down, turn the record player up, and just appreciate the magic - something I've definitely picked up from my father. He inspired me to keep listening, keep learning, and keep discovering new music. Dad, I'm cool because of you. You've always been there to support me, and even when you're miles away, all I have to do is put on a record to feel your presence. Thank you for a lifetime of great music and unconditional love. Happy Father's Day!

The Beatles - Octopus's Garden

King Crimson - In The Court of the Crimson King

The Beatles - Come Together
Lou Reed - Take A Walk on the Wild Side
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Pink Floyd - Brain Damage

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Runnin Down a Dream
Kate Bush - Babooshka
Marianne Faithfull - Broken English
Lynyrd Skynyrd - That Smell
Dave Matthews Band - Crash Into Me
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Traffic - The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
Led Zeppelin - No Quarter

Coldplay - Politik

Fine Young Cannibals - Johnny Come Home 

Rock Out to Relieve Stress (and possibly save lives)

This post was originally written for the Hamilton Hive, and can be found here.

“You need coooolin’, baby I’m not foolin’…” Sometimes, stress really does get the best of us. Trust me, I'm the queen of anxiety, I would know. Sometimes, I don’t know how to handle it, and I know I'm not alone. And I know I'm not alone in being over some of the advice I'm given during stressful situations. Seriously, DO NOT EVER tell me to relax. It's a death wish. And I love when people shrug it off and say "I work out when I'm stressed, it totally helps". That's all well and good, but the reality of it is, I don't always have time for that. When it’s crunch time, sometimes all you have are five minutes to get your shit together. So what then?

GET THE LED OUT!

Now, I know this term seems like the exact opposite of de-stressing, especially because it is most commonly used as a request to speed things up, but hear me out. Getting the led out is also commonly how fans of the band Led Zeppelin refer to putting on their favourite album and cranking it up; rocking the hell out, and losing themselves in those five minutes of their favourite songs (eight minutes, two seconds if you put on Stairway). And they're on to something. Studies show that listening to music not only aids in stress relief, but has positive effects on our moods, and can even improve our memory functions. Most importantly, music of any genre stimulates brain activity, which aids in productivity. All it takes is one song to get you going, and it can be applied to any stressful situation, at any job, for music fans of any genre. For example:

You just can't seem to get going: You've already checked your email twice, you're out of new updates on your news feed, you're on your third cup of coffee for the day, and you still can't focus. You've got a fever, and the only prescription is a well-crafted playlist. Studies have shown that listening to music while performing repetitive tasks increases efficiency. Listening to music that’s familiar also helps you focus at the task at hand. So choose some old, up beat favourites at the start of your work day, and get ready to get things done. Try some LCD Soundsystem, Arkells, or Metric.

You have a clash with a co-worker or your boss: Nothing helps alleviate tension like a good old-fashioned sing-a-long. If you’re frustrated with a co-worker or want to avoid a confrontation with a boss, head to your car on your lunch break. Turn on your favourite song, turn it up, and rock out. Lose yourself while you’re pretending to be Debbie Harry, Jack White, or Mick Jagger. You’ll come back feeling relieved and more confident, and the increase in brain activity will help in discovering creative ways to resolve conflict. Led Zeppelin, The Strokes, and The White Stripes usually work for me.

You’re nervous before a presentation or meeting: Everyone has a certain song that makes them feel invincible. It might be that song that comes on at the end of your run that you find yourself running faster to. It could be the one that you always play while getting ready for a night on the town. Before a big meeting, if stress and nerves are taking over, step back and put on your iPod. Listen to a song you know will boost your energy and confidence. Like an athlete getting ready to take the field, you can pump yourself up before you have to perform. I used to listen to Basement Jaxx before wrestling tournaments in high school, but Public Enemy and Refused are also super helpful.

You can’t think of any new ideas: Ever hear of the Mozart effect? Well, there’s no better way to stimulate the brain than by listening to music – it stimulates the parts of the brains responsible for motor actions, emotions, and creativity. If you’re having trouble brainstorming, writing, or coming up with new ideas, throw on something classical, ambient or melodic. It has been suggested that listening to Mozart can increase the big C’s: creativity, concentration, and cognition. So turn it on, turn it up, and get those creative juices flowing! Get your Mozart on, or check out a couple of my other favourites from The National and Washed Out.

So the next time you find yourself faced with a mountain of stress, don’t run and hide. Get the led out! Reach for your headphones and partake in a little musical therapy. Your brain (and your co-workers) will thank you for it.

Songs in the key of Barb – A Mother’s Day post from The Jukebox Hero to her actual hero

Anyone who knows me knows how much I appreciate music. Growing up, there was never silence in our house; silence always provided the opportunity to put on a record. There was always a soundtrack to our dinners, to the thunderstorms that rocked Goodsir Cres, and to our afternoons spent cleaning the house (that specifically was Queen’s Greatest Hits – the one with the maroon album cover). It’s safe to say that my deep rooted love for all things rock’n’roll comes from my parents, specifically my mother. She’s the only woman I know who faithfully listens to Psychadellic Psunday. I’m so eternally grateful that my mother raised me on some of the greatest classic rock that the world will ever know (and not Garth Brooks). Lucky for me, my mom has pretty great taste in music... except for Bob Seger - let's face it, he kind of sucks. I suppose that everyone has their vices, I mean, I 'not-so-secretly' love disco and nobody gives me shit for it. But all crappy albums aside (and I do mean all... she has ALL HIS ALBUMS on vinyl), I’m so lucky to have someone support my interests so wholeheartedly. Someone who took me to concerts when I was little, someone who sang backup when I wanted to be Aretha in the car, and someone who turned her favourite Carole King album into my lullabies. I give my mother credit for a lot of things, and I regularly tell her how much I love her and how much I appreciate her unwavering support. What I don’t acknowledge regularly enough, however, is the fact that we’re kindred spirits. I couldn’t be more proud to be my mother’s daughter – I am all that I am thanks to you. So happy Mother’s Day mom, enjoy your day (and your playlist). I love you!

James Taylor – Sweet Baby James

Carole King – Tapestry
John Cougar Mellencamp - Pink Houses
The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want

Aretha Franklin – Respect

Joni Mitchell – California

The Guess Who – These Eyes

Simon and Garfunkel – America
Neil Young - Down By The River
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust

Chicago – Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is?

The Beatles – Here Comes the Sun

Buffalo Springfield – Rock and Roll Woman

Harry Chapin - Taxi

Carly Simon – You’re So Vain

Three Dog Night - Never Been to Spain
Van Morrison - Moondance

Bob Seger – Night Moves

Stay Tuned

Hello, my faithful readers! It's been all quiet on the western front lately, large in part to the fact that school got crazy for a while. But fret not, I've got a Post Graduate certificate and a boat load of ideas for future posts! Look for some new posts in the coming weeks!

Thanks again for reading. And if you have any ideas for posts you'd like to see, get at me!!

- H

5 Albums That Turn 30 in 2015

Music is timeless. It spans decades and still remains relevant. Generations of people discover old songs for the first time every day. Sometimes music gets better with age, and some bands are ahead of their time. People, however are not timeless (Unless you are David Bowie. David Bowie is IMMORTAL). Madonna isn't, Robert Smith isn't, Morrissy isn't, and I'm sure as hell not. Sure, I look fairly young (MOISTURIZE YOUR NECK, PEOPLE). I still get asked for I.D at the LCBO. But I can only turn 29 so many times before it's clear that I'm really closer to 40.

My 30th birthday is today, and in celebration of making it this far, I've decided to take a look back to the year I was born. 1985 was an interesting time for music. VH-1 was born, David Lee Roth left Van Halen, Madonna went on tour for the first time, musicians teamed up to support all of the causes (USA for Africa, Live Aid, Farm Aid), and Michael Jackson purchased the rights to all of the Beatles songs.

And while all of that was going on, a lot of great music was released. So, in honour of all things and people who came to fruition in 1985, I give to you 5 Albums That Turn 30 in 1985!



The Cure - Head on the Door 
Head on the Door was The Cure's sixth studio album, and it was released in the summer of 1985 (August 26th, to be exact), and featured the singles Close to Me and In Between Days. I was lucky enough to see The Cure on their 4tour in 2008, and while Robert Smith still sounds great, he sort of resembles Ursela from The Little Mermaid these days. Watch the video for Close to Me here.

The Smiths - Meat is Murder
Meat is Murder is The Smith's sophomore effort, released in the winter of 1985 (February 11th). It featured only one single - That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore. While this album didn't necessarily enjoy huge commercial success, it's still ranked one of Rolling Stone's 500 Best Albums of All Time. Save listening to this one for when you're feeling really blue.

Tears For Fears - Songs From the Big Chair 
Songs From the Big Chair was Tears for Fears' second studio album, released in the winter of 1985. It boasted the singles Mother's Talk, Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and my own personal favourite (recognizable from the dynamite soundtrack to Donnie Darko), Head Over Heels. Songs From the Big Chair reached number two on the UK charts, number one in the US, and remains their most successful album to date.

Kate Bush - Hounds of Love 
All of the exposure I've had to Kate Bush comes from my father, who is hands down her biggest fan. I remember not wanting to listen to this with him because it was "super weird". What do you expect from a child who didn't understand that side two of Hounds of Love was meant to be a concept album? Either way, this was Bush's fifth and best selling studio album, with the first side being made up of the singles released. Cloudbusting, Hounds of Love, and The Big Sky are all fantastic, but I think that Running Up That Hill is my favourite. It's definitely the most recognizable. It's even been covered once or twice.



Dire Straights - Brothers in Arms (Money for Nothing)

Brothers in Arms was the fifth studio release for Dire Straights, and it had monumental success. It spent weeks at the top of the charts in the UK, US, and Australia. Five of the album tracks were released as singles, and Brothers in Arms remains one of the best selling albums of all time, selling 30 million copies world wide. There's no doubt in my mind that my parents bought it when it was released in the spring of '85 and played it on repeat until the fall of '89. It goes without saying that this album reminds me of family bbq's around the pool in Chippawa, and Money For Nothing will always remind me of my Uncle Dave.




So there you have it, folks. Go celebrate my birthday by listening to my five favourite albums from 1985. Turn 'em up and join me in feeling super old today!

Under Cover Lover

I've always had a love/hate relationship with cover songs. When I was a kid, I loved being more aware of the original versions of the songs being covered. Like when Lauryn Hill and the Fugees covered Killing Me Softly by Roberta Flack. WE LIVED FOR THIS SONG. But knowing the original song suddenly became this source of credibility for me among my friends - I knew the lyrics to the song, I knew who wrote it, and I could sing along almost right away. I felt like I was on the inside, that I knew something that most of the audience didn't. It was empowering.

In high school, I flip flopped. On one hand, I got upset when people covered Beatles songs, because no matter how good they were (think I'm Only Sleeping by the Vines) they weren't as good as the originals. To everyone's surprise, at first, I HATED the I Am Sam soundtrack (I have since changed my ways). On the other hand, I loved Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies, especially their version of Nothing Compares 2 U. And Mandy. Mandy was pretty great. Those covers were fun, and served their purpose well as fuel for my teen angst.

There was also a very dark time in my listening life. A time where the Punk Goes series of compilation albums were in heavy rotation. I'm not lying when I tell you this was mostly what I listened to when I was out running... but I definitely also listened avidly in my car. In all honesty, however, the only reason I know the lyrics to Rhianna's Umbrella is because of All Time Low's version of it. We don't usually speak of this time.

Thankfully, my tastes have grown and improved. More songs have been written and subsequently covered. I don't have to fill this list with punk versions of oldies or pop songs (even though that's a pretty fun idea... and may be something I do in the not-so-distant future). But I will give you a taste of some of my favourite covers to date. I've even included links to the original! Get into it!

Placebo - Running up that Hill (Kate Bush cover)

This version is even more haunting than the original, if that's even possible. I adore this more than anything.

Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins - Handle With Care (Traveling Wilburys cover)

There's a great version out there somewhere with Connor Oberst and Ben Gibbard as the rest of the Wilburys, but I couldn't find it on youtube.

Florence and Kid Harpoon - Going Down (Bruce Springsteen cover) Such a refreshing take on an old standby. Florence can honestly do no wrong. Her version of Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love gets an honourable mention.

Rock Plaza Central - Sexyback (Justin Timberlake cover) Another one of those songs that helped familiarize me with something I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. It's a wonderful, folksy version of a song that used to make me want to drink bleach.

Hole - Gold Dust Woman (Fleetwood Mack) This song has always been somewhat of an anthem for me, and I've always held the lyrics pretty closely. Courtney Love definitely does it justice, and while Stevie Knicks is the queen, Hole's version is still pretty kick-ass.

J Mascis - Fade Into You (Mazzy Star cover) The original version of this one is so incredibly dreamy and romantic, and Mascis' attempt is no different. He makes this song his own, without compromising that distinct 90's aesthetic. Front runner for my wedding song, FYI.

Jack White - Jolene (Dolly Parton cover) If you were to tell me that this was the original version of this song, (in this instance, pretend I'm a little dumber than I really am. Maybe a little cuter too.) I'd completely believe it. Jack White channels his inner Dolly Parton, and sells it straight through till the end. I almost wish he'd wrote it himself.

SIDEBAR: This is a really rad contest the Arkells ran, encouraging fans and other artists to cover their single Leather Jacket. Check it out here! Happy listening!!!

Headphone Time Travel - November 23rd, 2002

Myself (oh boy) and Alyson (RIP), circa 2002

I kind of had a hard time in high school. Don't get me wrong - I wasn't bullied or anything, but I did feel a tad detached from the rest of my peers. There's no denying that I was sort of different. Maybe not obviously different, but perhaps more obviously than I originally thought. I'm not sure. What I do know, however, was how hard pressed I was to find those with similar musical interests as me. In a time where pop music was king, it was tough to find someone else who had "Veni Vidi Vicious" on heavy rotation. Oh sure, I had friends. Lots of whom I'm still close with today. But my real companions were Jack White, Chris Carrabba, Jim Adkins, and Julian Casablancas. So for this post, I'm going to step back in time a little bit and invite you to slip on my headphones. Here's what a day in the listening life of 17 year old Heather sounds like...

Jimmy Eat World - Your House

My sad, angsty, teenage self would ride the bus downtown to my co-op placement every day. I would listen to this on my diskman, pine over my ex boyfriend (who had a new girlfriend), and sigh while looking longingly out the bus window. This was the fuel for my sad, romantic daydreams. This is what unrequited love sounds like.

The White Stripes - Hotel Yorba

I thought the White Stripes were SO COOL (let's be real, I still do), and I thought I was so cool for being into them (I don't think that anymore). Fell In Love With A Girl was so different than what I was used to hearing at the time. It was so edgy and raw. My favourite track on White Blood Cells however, was Hotel Yorba (still is).

 The Used - The Taste of Ink

Another band I felt was edgy and angsty and loud. I would listen to The Taste of Ink every morning while flipping my hair out in the mirror. "Is it worth it? Can you even hear me?" seemed like a question worth asking every morning before school, and for me at the time, the answer was always a resounding "NO!" This song was also the song that was playing the first time I ever crowd surfed.

The Vines - Get Free

One of the bands to gain popularity during the "THE" band revolution, they were one of the bands tasked with "saving rock and roll". The Vines were another band that served it up loud and fast, and that energy and adrenaline reminded me of the punk bands I so loved. If I had to get up and face another day of hell (read: high school), this was certainly going to be my motivation to do so.

Dashboard Confessional - Saints and Sailors

I had two moods in high school - sad and angry. When I wasn't listening to the rock albums I adored, I chose to celebrate my sadness by listening to the love of my life - Chris Carrabba (He's a beautiful man.). With his pompadour hairdo, puppy dog eyes, and acoustic guitar, he had me wanting desperately to be the girl he was singing about. And when I didn't want that, it was because I was too busy trying to feel that exact same way about a certain someone else in my life. Either way, we used to listen to this song while driving around town, singing loudly and talking about our ex's.

The Strokes - Last Night

This list would not be complete without my favourite song (at that time) from my favourite album (at that time). This song was always on repeat, was always turned up way too loud, and always got me dancing and bopping around my room. I couldn't believe that more of my friends weren't as in love with this album as I was. As I got a little older, I did meet a lot of friends who had similar tastes as I did, and you know what? They all loved this album too. Who knew?

So there you have it. The songs that 17 year old me was most guilty of overplaying. It will take all of my strength not to fall into that trap again now. I wish you luck!