timinganddelivery soundcheck #5

For some reason I found myself thinking earlier today about my late grandfather, my family cabin at Victoria Beach, our old record machine, and listening to The Black Watch on a rainy summer afternoon. Yeah, I know, weird.

But let me tell you something, son, that’s a pretty powerful memory and if you’ve ever listened to The Black Watch (you will have if you’re Irish or Scotish), it’s haunting! Speaking of powerful music, hopefully of the non-haunting variety, let’s get straight into timinganddelivery soundcheck #5:

Death Cab For Cutie (Narrow Stairs) - What can I say? It’s been three long years since the boys from Seattle laid some tracks down. I was a big fan of their last album, Plans (Soul Meets Body, Underwater), but this latest release, I think, has redefined their sound once again. Released earlier this week, Narrow Stairs captures some heavy emotions and shows a lot of signs of maturity (read: isn’t necessarily all ‘bright n’ poppy’). My favourites so far, include: Cath, No Sunlight, I Will Possess Your Heart, and The Ice is Getting Thinner.
Sam Roberts (Love at the End of the World) - Although not released officially until early next week, how could this Montreal’r NOT put out another power-packed album? Chemical City blew me away (Uprising Down Under, Bootleg Saint). Then again, Sam and the boys had ’something to prove’ with album #2. With album #3 soon to fire out of the gates, we’re all expecting big things. I’ve taken listens to: Them Kids (interesting message and Dirty Water (featuring K-OS) and he’s delivered, again. Can’t wait!
Joe Dassin (The Darjeerling Limited Soundtrack - Les Champs Elysees) - I’d be remiss, and not keeping up with the timinganddelivery soundcheck theme if I didn’t include something French in this review. I stumbled into Joe Dassin during the closing credits of The Darjeeling Limited (hilarious Napoleon Dynamite/The Royal Tenenbaums kinda of mish-mash) and his rendition of this French classic, which I haven’t probably heard since grade 8. I gotta be honest with ya, it made me feel good….and in the mood to run out and buy a baguette and visit the bibliotechque. Enjoy!