Every week we ask someone to pick a mood and 5 songs that put them into that mood. This week we talked to Michael TImmins from the Cowboy Junkies, only he picked albums instead of songs…fair enough!
Mood: Melancholy
I don’t have to tell you that this week DC Comics released the new look for Wonder Woman, by Don Kramer. It’s not only the comic universe that is in an uproar, but pretty much everyone that ever had a fond memory or attachment to the heroine. After all she was one of the only superheros who didn’t have a male counterpart come first. I mean, really…there wasn’t much of a need for a Wonder Man.
Just recently I started watching the original 1974 TV series with the gorgeous Linda Carter filling WW’s red leather boots. With the risk of dating myself, I remember catching episodes as a little girl and being absolutely titillated by her glossy brown hair and overt sexuality. My Mother thought she was a bit scandalous, which made me all the more interested in paying very close attention. I think for a lot of girls, Wonder Woman was the first female we had access to as a role model.
“The average American consumes a whopping 34GB of data and 100,000 words of information per day.” Holy overload Batman! Thankfully, some of that information I shot in Detroit Rock City was pretty easy on the eyes.
Photos by Dustin Downing
Road trips: the great, trusty pastime of the poor and the restless. Me, I’ve journeyed across this land more times than I can count. Before I was even old enough to drive, I traversed state after state with the aid of the cheap, but terrifying Greyhound, and now I can do it for realsies. For those of us in the States, few experiences compare to the mind-boggling variety of beef jerky, fireworks, truck-stop stimulants, and the rest of the endearing roadside oddities one encounters while driving cross-country.
Described by various critics as an ‘experimental pop rock’ outfit, Micachu and the Shapes are an eclectic bunch. Although there’s a world of difference between the two in sound, their ambition reminds me a bit of Siouxsie and the Banshees’ early days, when they were molding their own classic Bromley contingent punk rock sound into something weirder, like a fusion of punk/pop/hard rock/carnival jelly. There’s a bit of a clash between the instruments and their players, but they’re so wonderfully in sync with each others’ personalities, and that’s what makes it so fun to listen to. That clash surfaces not only in sound but in composition…these are stick close to the tried-and-true punk rock formula of short songs (many of them are under two minutes, if not shorter) and Whereas many bands like to play in harmony, Micachu cordially extends their middle fingers to any notions of what music is and should sound like. It’s a nice and refreshing twist on what I used to think pop rock should sound like. And Micachu (real name Mica Levi, who composes most of the music) ain’t no hack — she was trained at the Guildhall School of Music before deciding to go in this stranger, blatantly anti-conformist direction. You can hear her entire set on Red Bull Music Academy Radio.
Eminem just released his new album, Recovery, last week to absolute rave reviews. Personally I can’t stop listening to “Not Afraid” as well as “Love the Way You Lie” feat. Rihanna. Both have insanely infectious grooves and strong messages, no surprises there. After years of silence, threats of retirement, substance abuse, divorce, re-marriage, and god only knows what else, he’s finally stepped back in the spot light and we’re happy to see him shine.
On June 22nd, Eminem also took the stage to not only show the world he’s still relevant, but to pay homage to his roots, the MC battle. Red Bull EmSee is a new competition focused on the truest form of rap competition while highlighting the modern freestyle spirit. The event was hosted by Angie Yee. Judges Alchemist, Just Blaze and Craig G will gave their thumbs up or down to a stellar line-up of the freshest MC talent.
After a back and forth battle with the front desk at the Holiday Inn, I finally got guitarist/songwriter Michael Timmins from Cowboy Junkies on the phone. We had a lot to talk about, as the band, recently free of recording obligations, has been cranking out the music in the name of a highly anticipated project otherwise known as The Nomad Series. The project consists of four albums to be released over the next 18 months, along with a future book to coincide with the series. The first of the series, Renmin Park, made its debut on June 15 and features a collection of songs inspired by a small town Chinese village called Jingjiang. I don’t know if the band is trying to ignite themselves into a state of exhaustion or take over the world, but this is surely a project that needs a little recognition.