The Automatik

Any discussion of 80s music will undoubtedly include names like Madonna, Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Prince, U2, Public Enemy, and Guns ‘n’ Roses, as well as one hit wonders and less mainstream bands; the decade was, after all, the genesis of “alternative music.” One band not frequently mentioned, however, is the Cocteau Twins, probably because they don’t sound stereotypically 80s. Although the 80s were the decade of the music video and the Cocteau Twins did make them, they were never a true “video band.” Nor were videos even necessary to appreciate their music; it is impossible not to be inundated with fantastical mental images when listening to them. The incredible album art, designed by 23 Envelope, certainly helped in that capacity. Read more

Top Ten Albums of 2006
(Standard disclaimer: these didn’t necessarily come out in 2006; they are the albums I loved the most out of everything I listened to this year.)
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I remember seeing the world premiere of Bowie and Jagger’s cover of “Dancing in the Street” on Friday Night Videos and being utterly terrified. I was never a big Stones fan, so Mick’s goofy behavior wasn’t that shocking, but Bowie? He was one of the first rock stars I loved as a kid, right up there with John Lennon. What the hell was he doing in this monstrosity?

Stagegay: It’s what’s for breakfast.

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The sequel to Eleven Videos That Shaped My Life. Expect additional instalments if Tarney Spencer’s “No Time To Lose” or The Tubes’ “Primetime” ever show up on YouTube.

1. Pat Benatar: I’m Gonna Follow You/Precious Time (1981)
   Pat Benatar’s makeup and outfits were basically identical to those of my mom’s dancer friends did during the same time period so I thought she was a queen. “I’m Gonna Follow You” is like some sort of Linda Blair evil twin movie in video format. “Precious Time” is essentially the definition of what early MTV felt like: sexy, weird, and addictive. The stylized editing and the scenes in the fake desert with the hourglass timers are completely non sequitur and why the hell is Neil Geraldo dressed like a sheik? The brief shot of Pat leaning against the wall with a tear-streaked face haunted me. This is also a prime example of a song that I knew was adult without exactly knowing why.

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1. The Police: Don’t Stand So Close to Me (1980)
   This is one of the first videos that I can remember seeing, pre-MTV, on a show called Video Jukebox which aired during the wee hours. I was at my dad’s house one weekend, and after this came on I remember feeling a bit odd and panicky. My dad asked me what was wrong and I told him that the video made me nervous. I couldn’t even explain why! I think I understood what the song was about without truly understanding it on a conscious level. The Police look cool yet act goofy in the video; this would set the tone for many of my crushes throughout grade school and junior high.

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Although the main characters in Ken Loach’s The Wind That Shakes The Barley may be fictional, the story of the bloody conflict between British soldiers and the Irish Republican Army in the 1920s is not. Those who’ve seen Neil Jordan’s Michael Collins will find the theme of Loach’s film familiar: brothers pitted against each other as they find themselves on different sides of the Irish struggle for independence Read more

I feel like I should say something about the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, but what can I say that hasn’t already been said, thought, or felt by everyone who has suffered or been damaged by it in some way?
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Wayne Petti
The Grates
City Field
The Meligrove Band
w/DJ Finish Him

Lee’s Palace
June 22, 2006

I cannot heap enough praise upon The Meligrove Band. Not only have they proven their exceptional talent on all three of their albums, their shows are consistently impressive since, believe it or not, they sound even better in a live setting. They are tremendously supportive of the Toronto-area indie music scene, and frequently participate in all-ages shows with unknown bands. Although they are now signed to a major label, and are in the midst of a whirlwind of a tour around the world, no matter how many people show up to a Meligrove Band gig, they always have time for their fans. Plus, they’re just good people.
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Elizabeth Sheppard Trio
Melissa McClelland
Jason Falkner
Femme Generation
Amy Millan

The Reverb (North By Northeast)
June 9, 2006

For the last five or six years, I think Jason Falkner has managed to make an appearance on every mix CD I’ve made, either via Jellyfish, his solo stuff, or his work with musician pals like Air, Roger Manning, and Brian Reitzell. Live performances have been more elusive – I had to travel to Austin, Texas when I lived in New Orleans to see him play guitar and sing for Air’s 10,000 Hz. Legend tour in 2001. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to witness a bona fide Jason Falkner show. So when I found out this past Tuesday that he was participating in North By Northeast this year (thanks Beth!), I was thrilled.
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Before my trip to New Orleans earlier this month, I was nervous and anxious. I was scared to see the real-life version of the destruction that I had only previously viewed in photographic and video form. The closest analogy to what it felt like to finally witness the devastation of the city from the failed levee floodwalls is the feeling I got the first time I boarded a plane and I exclaimed, “It looks just like it does in the movies!” Read more