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Song of the Day: The Spinanes – Sunday

Posted on
15 Jun 2025
by
Paul

It’s Sunday. Often a day reserved for a little rest and relaxion, possibly a bit of reflection if you’re in a pensive mood. “Sunday” is also the title of a song that’s been in fairly regular rotation for me as of late, from a long gone ’90s band that I’ve only really started getting into quite recently – The Spinanes.

Started back in 1991 by Rebecca Gates and Scott Plouf, The Spinanes put out three albums and one EP before ultimately calling it quits in the early 2000s. Plouf also played with Built to Spill for several years while Gates continued on as a solo artist following the band’s dissolution but doesn’t appear to have done too much in recent years.

As I said, I’d never really listened to The Spinanes the first time around and only delved into their discography after a random purchase on their 1993 debut album Manos on CD for just a dollar – yes, I do still own a CD player and yes, this was a very solid purchase.

Check out the video for “Sunday” below.

Song of the Day: Dorio – Everyday Feels Like Tomorrow

Posted on
14 Jun 2025
by
Paul

“Everyday Feels Like Tomorrow” is the latest single from Austin duo Dorio, taken off their upcoming album Super Love 3, out June 20 on Earth Libraries. Check it out.

Song of the Day: Robbie Williams – Rocket

Posted on
13 Jun 2025
by
Paul

When I clicked on the video for Robbie Williams‘ latest single “Rocket” (off his upcoming new album BRITPOP) and saw Tony Iommi ripping a guitar solo, it was a bit unexpected, to say the least. Sure, Robbie’s flirted with rock throughout his career and he is all decked out in punk rocker cosplay in the video, but a collaboration with the legendary Black Sabbath guitarist does certainly come as a bit of a surprise.

Then again, no one really expected Robbie to make a CGI monkey biopic covering his rise to fame, so I suppose nothing’s all that surprising with him anymore.

Song of the Day: The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up

Posted on
12 Jun 2025
by
Paul

While the late Brian Wilson’s lasting legacy will surely be the absolute perfection that is 1966’s Pet Sounds, there are obviously so many more gems in The Beach Boys’ discography, from their early hits to the post-Pet Sounds albums such as Friends, 20/20, and Holland that continued on with the sonic adventurousness of that landmark album. So today, in his memory, we turn our attention to a song from one of their classic ’70s albums, the title track off 1971’s Surf’s Up.

RIP Brian Wilson.

Song of the Day: Karma Glider – Wait for You

Posted on
11 Jun 2025
by
Paul

“Wait for You” is the latest single from Montreal indie rockers Karma Glider, taken off their upcoming debut full length, the excellently titled From the Haze of a Revved Up Youth. Check out the video for “Wait for You” below.

From the Haze of a Revved Up Youth is out July 11 via Mothland.

Concert Review: Dragged Into Sunlight, June 9, Lee’s Palace

Posted on
10 Jun 2025
by
Paul

While there may be all sorts of wonderfully poetic language one could use to describe the sound of a band, sometimes it’s best to keep it simple and straightforward. So in that spirit, let me just say that the sounds emitted by Dragged Into Sunlight at Lee’s Palace on Monday night could best be summed up in one simple word – heavy. Utterly, crushingly heavy. 

Following a lengthy introductory soundscape that sounded like a dark extended remix of the THX Deep Note, the band took to the stage to begin their set. In concert, Dragged Into Sunlight do things a little differently than most. Eschewing the typical tropes of a live performance, they started out their set with backs turned and stage lights dimmed, the stage decorated with some heavily antlered deer heads atop the stacks of amps and a massive candelabra front and centre to draw the audience’s attention.

Their backs would remain turned to the crowd for the duration of their set to maintain a certain aura onstage. Because it’s not about them, it’s about the music. No stage banter either, of course – just the sound of old movie samples between songs if you wanted to hear a regular human voice. I’d also heard that they used to wear balaclavas onstage to help keep thing mysterious but I guess they ditched that gimmick. Probably gets too sweaty on stage. Cheaper laundry bills while on the road too, I’d imagine. 

When you call yourselves Dragged Into Sunlight, it implies a certain intensity, like some shadow dweller being forced into the harsh light of day, kicking and screaming all the way. And well, there was screaming, both in the form of vocalist T’s intense performance and. to a lesser extent, in the form of the occasional “Woo!” from the crowd. But let’s be honest – this isn’t a band you typically “woo” at. This is a band that’s puts on an intense show, with a sound that’s dark, dismal, immersive and, yes, heavy. It’s a vibe for sure, and their unique performance style suits that vibe perfectly.

As I’ve said, ‘heavy’ is really the only word needed to describe this band and they did indeed keep things suitably heavy over the course of their roughly one hour long set. And frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am quite glad, however, that I remembered to bring earplugs.

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