The Ongoing History of New Music, episode 991: The History of the 2010s, part 4

It’s an established fact that music comes in many different types of cycles. A sound and style will be big for a while, reach a peak with the public, and then slowly fade out. But once established, it’s unusual for a sound to completely disappear, never to be heard from again.

The only genre I can think of is—maybe alt-rock-style rockabilly? It was big in the very early 80s with bands like The Stray Cats. But then it just kinda went away. There’s never been a rockabilly revival—at least in the sense and style and scope of what we heard way back then when it was huge for about 18 months.

Instead, after enjoying a time at the forefront of music, many of the cycle-prone rock sounds recede into the shadows, never really going away. They lie in wait until someone comes along—often a generation or two later—to rediscover and reactivate it.

When that happens, it’s usually given a sonic update and if the timing is right, the sound enjoys a new period in the sun before the cycle repeats yet again.

The longer you live and the more music you become familiar with, the more you begin to see these cycles play themselves out, sometimes over and over again. We see it every decade.

The 2010s were no different. We saw a series of revivals, rediscoveries, and comebacks, all based on the musical DNA of what had come before. Let’s examine that. This is the history of the 2010s, part 4.

Songs heard on this show:

    • Tool, Fear Inoculum
    • Tame Impala, Elephant
    • Besnard Lakes, People of the Sticks
    • The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die
    • Radiohead, Burn the Witch
    • The Struts, Body Talks
    • PUP, Kids
    • DC Fontaines, Boys in the Better Land
    • The Interrupters, She’s Kerosene

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© 2023 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

New Music Friday: 9 releases you should hear as September ends (29 Sept 2023)

Next to spring, fall is the most interesting time for new releases. Not only is this New Music Friday material out now but some of it also sets up the kind of material we’re going to get this winter.

Singles

1. AWOLNATION, Candy Pop (Eleven Seven Label Group)

Okay, so I missed this one last week so I need to make good. AWOLNATION has released this new single (and its accompanying short film) as the third part of a trilogy. Frontman Aaron Bruno describes everything as “a story about escaping from never-ending technological advancements and constant connectivity and scrutiny…The adventure of a lifetime can come from ‘tuning out.” An EP with the trilogy and more will be available on November 10,

2. Black Pumas, Mrs. Postman (ATO Records/Cadence Music Group)

Black Pumas have already been nominated for seven Grammy awards, so the anticipation for this sophomore record is pretty intense. With Chronicles of a Diamond due on October 27, Eric Burton and Andrian Quesada (along with keyboards JaRon Marshall) want to take their view of rock and soul a little further. The first advance single, More Than a Love Song, already managed some chart success, so let’s see where this piano-based song takes them.

3. Sum 41, Landmines (Rise Records)

When I spoke to Deryck Whibley earlier this year, he told me that the new Sum 41 album could very well be a double record and that all he had to do was finish the vocals. The first single from that record is now here. Deryck is still recovering from a bout of pneumonia that landed him in the hospital, but the band is still scheduled to play the When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas on October 21 and 22.

4. Depeche Mode, My Favourite Stranger (Columbia)

Depeche Mode will tour the Memento Mori album deep into the fall. This is now the fourth single form the album and was co-written with Richard Butler of Psychedelic Furs. It comes with another enigmatic video shot by Anton Corbijn. Who’s the guy in the hat? And what does he want?

Albums

1. Art Bergman, ShadowWalk (weewerk)

Art Bergman, one of Canada’s most beloved indie cult artists, has dedicated this album to Sherri, his late wife of 31 years. The album “capture the darkness, grief and desolation that comes from such a soul-crushing loss, while also offering genuine hope that life will go on.” It might make for gut-wrenching listening.

2. Bakar, Halo (Black Butter)

All right, all right. I missed this one, too. British singer Bakar is just about ready with a highly-anticipated (and inevitably difficult) second album entitled Halo. He describes it as a song “fit for the indie sleaze generation.” Maybe this has something to do about most of the record being recorded in AirBnB’s and hotels between London and LA while he was in tour.

3. Black Stone Cherry, Screamin’ at the Sky (Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group)

This Kentucky band has been enjoying some decent success with the first single from this album (Out of Pocket was released in January) and now finally have a full album for fans. The video for Nervous was shot in an old piano factory that had been turned into a production studio filled with old TV and movie sets.

4. Taproot, SC/SSRS (THC Music/Amplified Distribution)

If you remember the nu-metal era of the late 90s, Taproot was a band from Michigan that was always hanging in the shadows of Limp Bizkit and Korn. Just when it seemed that they were going to break through, the whole scene seemed to evaporate in a puff of testosterone. Taproot stayed together, however, but haven’t released an album since 2012. Is nu-metal back? We’ll see.

5. Wilco, Cousin (dBpm Records/Sony Music)

This is the thirteenth album over the Jeff Tweedy and company have been in business and early reviews point out that there’s a slight change in attitude and approach, although it has to be said that this is still very definitely a Wilco record. The record is slower than most with little that can be described as being anything more than mid-tempo. It’s helped along by Welsh producer Cate Le Bon who has a reputation of being someone experimental.

 

 

© 2023 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Ongoing History Daily: Pearl Jam bootleg overload

Back when Pearl Jam was at their height, they had the clout to do anything they wanted. Anything.

On September 26, 2000, the band released 25 double CD live albums—what they referred to as “official bootlegs”—featuring performances from virtually every show they played on European tour in support of their Binaural album. Of those 25, five immediately made the top 200 album chart. This was the first time any act ever saw more than two new albums show up on the chart in the same week.

Two other sets just missed the cut. Had they made the charts that week, Pearl Jam would have joined The Beatles, The Monkees, and U2 as the only acts to that point with seven albums on the charts at the same time.

This was decades before Taylor Swift came along.

© 2023 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Throwback Thursday: It's Immaterial and Driving Away from Home (1986)

Looking for a driving song? This one from Liverpool’s It’s Immaterial (especially in this 12-inch iteration) fits the bill. It began with a full-on country-and-western vibe recorded with the Talking Heads’ Jerry Harrison, but the band didn’t like it. They returned to England to re-record it while Harrison took his name off the project.

The song’s full title is Driving Away from Home (Jim’s Tune). The “Jim” is Jim Lieber, a harmonica player in a blues band the group saw while in Milwaukee. He’s the guy we hear on the recording.

 

© 2023 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Ongoing History Daily: Babies and live music

A question from new parents: “Should I expose my baby to live music?” The answer is “yes.”

A recent study at the University of Toronto revealed that infants have longer attention spans when experiencing live music. Sure, you might want to give them an iPad to stare at, but that apparently doesn’t work as well as live music. Videos don’t captivate them a whole lot but live music elicits physiological changes like a synchronization of heart rate to the music.

The final conclusion? “Findings suggest that performer–audience interactions and social context play an important role in facilitating attention and coordinating emotional responses to musical performances early in life.”

The big caveat? Volume. The live music cannot be too loud for those delicate little ears.

© 2023 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Blue Jays look to end scoring drought

TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays’ offence has gone quiet at the worst possible time.

After back-to-back shutout losses, the team will try to finally put some runs on the scoreboard and move closer to securing a playoff spot tonight against New York.

Chris Bassitt (15-8) is scheduled to start for Toronto in the finale of the three-game series at Rogers Centre. The Yankees will counter with Luke Weaver (3-5).

Toronto still controls its post-season fate with four games left in the regular season. The Blue Jays hold the second of three American League wild-card spots.

Toronto is just a half a game ahead of the Houston Astros and two games ahead of the Seattle Mariners.

The Blue Jays, who were swept in the wild-card round last year, will cap their regular-season schedule with a weekend series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.

Toronto’s last playoff victory came in 2016 when the Blue Jays reached the AL Championship Series for a second straight year.

Toronto won the World Series in 1992 and 1993.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2023.

© 2023 The Canadian Press

What happened to... Thai cave rescue, Part 2

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On this episode of What happened to…?, Erica Vella revisits the 2018 Thai cave rescue. She continues her conversation with diver Rick Stanton to learn more about the planning and logistics behind the rescue mission. Find Part 1 here.

In July 2018, Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, two divers from the U.K., found all 12 boys and their soccer coach alive; the team had been trapped for nine days in the Tham Luang cave.

Video captured by Stanton and Volanthen showed the boys in good spirits despite treacherous conditions.

This discovery was a huge first step, but the rescue was far from over and they needed to devise a plan to get the team out of the cave safely.

“We’re going to have to sedate them, make them inert packages, and then we can just swim them out as if they’re a tube full of camping gear or some sort of the other equipment we might take into a cave for exploration,” Stanton said.

The rescue team knew more rain was coming, and they were running out of time.

“Every weather forecast we got said that it would rain in three days’ time, and the next day it said three days’ time. So we always had that three days, but clearly that would not last forever. One day it was going to rain, so that was the biggest pressure. We had to act before the cave was in huge flood again,” Stanton said.

Josh Morris is originally from Utah, but he moved to Thailand in 2000 to teach English. In 2018, he heard about the boys trapped in the Tham Luang cave. He was an experienced rock climber and had his own business, so he lent gear and staff members to help with the search before flying over himself.

He said there was confusion between rescue groups about whether to dive, but the decision came down to one key factor.

“The only real guarantee here is that no diving means the boys will die. And diving means there’s a chance for them to live,” Morris said.

Soon after he arrived, the rescue operations experienced their first loss of life. Petty Officer Saman Gunan was a former navy diver who had been delivering air tanks when he ran out of oxygen himself.

Morris said this was a turning point in the mission and ultimately, they decided to dive.

“His death combined with me arriving at the right time, combined with people being a bit more ready to listen to certain things because there was a death, there were just all of these things kind of came together at the right moment,” he said.

The divers carefully rehearsed their plan, but there were still unavoidable question marks.

“The plan was good, except that it had never, ever been tested, as in a boy or a human sedated under water,” he said. “And that was a complete unknown element.”

Stanton felt the pressure as he worked his way through the cave’s maze of tunnels.

“The route underwater was incredibly complex and you couldn’t see, so all our processing power was really about navigating — no excess thinking capacity to think about emotion. You set off, you knew he was breathing and you were responsible,” he said.

On this episode of What happened to…?, Erica Vella speaks with Stanton about the preparation for the life-saving dive and how a team of people was able to successfully rescue the Wild Boar soccer team from the Tham Luang cave.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Person rescued from balcony after fire at Scarborough building

Toronto Fire says crews had to rescue a person trapped on a 9th floor balcony following a fire at a high-rise building in Scarborough early Thursday.

Fire officials said the fire broke out at a residential building on McLevin Avenue at around 1:30 a.m.

Crews had to use a big ladder to get the person down from the ninth floor balcony, a spokesperson for Toronto Fire said.

That person was then taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

The spokesperson said the fire was very difficult to put out as there was lots of heavy smoke that made its way through the whole building.

The fire is now out but crews are still monitoring the building.

© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Kappo Sato and Restaurant 20 Victoria awarded Michelin stars at Toronto ceremony

The prestigious Michelin Guide has added six Vancouver restaurants to its recommendations list. The 2023 edition will be revealed on Oct. 5, revealing which local restaurants earned Michelin stars.

TORONTO — Two more Toronto chefs earned feathers in their tuques Wednesday night, each receiving a Michelin star.

The tire company turned culinary kingmaker added Kappo Sato and Restaurant 20 Victoria to its list of Michelin-starred eateries at a ceremony unveiling this year’s edition of the guide.

Michelin lauded Kappo Sato, a Japanese restaurant led by chef Takeshi Sato, for its bustling atmosphere and “clever courses.”

Meanwhile, Michelin celebrated chef Julie Hyde’s Restaurant 20 Victoria for its “pristine seafood and refined sauce work.”

The organization also awarded a pair of eateries with “green stars” recognizing their leadership in restaurant sustainability.

Both Frilu, which received a Michelin star last year, and White Lily Diner, which is on the Bib Gourmand list for affordable eats, were recognized for having no-till farms that supply the restaurants.

With the new additions, Toronto is now home to one restaurant with two Michelin stars, 14 with a single star and two with a green star. There are also 21 on the Bib Gourmand list.

The Michelin Guide entered the Canadian market last year, first in Toronto and then in Vancouver.

Last September, it awarded two stars to only one restaurant in Canada’s most populous city: Sushi Masaki Saito, led by chef Masaki Saito.

Saito’s New York eatery, Sushi Ginza Onodera, earned a Michelin star in 2017 and two stars in 2018. He left that restaurant to open Sushi Masaki Saito in Toronto’s posh Yorkville neighbourhood in 2019.

Another 12 Toronto restaurants received a single star last September.

The following month, Michelin revealed that eight restaurants in Vancouver had received a star. The company will update its Vancouver guide next week.

© 2023 The Canadian Press

10 home decor ideas to impress your guests this Thanksgiving

You’ve got your guest list confirmed and your holiday menu prepared. Now it’s time to put the final touches on your Thanksgiving celebration by creating a warming and cozy ambiance for the occasion. And it only takes a few decorative details to create a welcoming autumnal home that will enliven the festive and thankful feelings.

Here are some ideas to transform your house Thanksgiving weekend.

 

They say first impressions are everything, so what better way to greet your guests – and the fall season – than with a spiffed-up door? This handcrafted, reusable wreath is decorated with wood oak leaves, acorns, berries and mini pumpkins to celebrate the season. Friends and family will immediately get into the festive mood upon first sight.
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Whether for the front porch or on the coffee table, lanterns can be a wonderful accent to not only outdoor spaces but indoor spaces as well. Yes, that special lantern glow on the front door steps is always a welcome sight, but lanterns offer many more possibilities – use them to add height to a centrepiece, fill them with gourds or pine cones for a unique mantlepiece, or use them to add cozy backyard ambiance for a fall night.[/product_listing]

 

A filling Thanksgiving feast is usually followed by relaxing on the couch, whether to share stories, play a board game, or watch football. Extend the autumnal ambiance to your living room with a colourful throw and some maple leaf cushions. Tip: Cushion covers make the swap easy and won’t take up valuable storage space.
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There’s nothing quite like decorative gourds to complete the look for the special occasion – and these mini pumpkins can be used again and again. Made from sustainability-sourced upcycled materials, these little pumpkins can be used in a multitude of creative ways for a charming accent or a grand centrepiece.[/product_listing]

 

There is something about the look of candlesticks that can equally create the feeling of an intimate occasion as well as an elegant one. Gather two or more candlesticks of equal height for a balanced tablescape display or incorporate candlesticks of different heights for an interesting and fanciful effect.[/product_listing]

 

These handwoven placemats, made from a sustainable and tropical vine, could easily become a conversation starter at your Thanksgiving dinner. Nito, a climbing fern that grows in tropical forests, is traditionally used by artisans to produce weaved baskets and trays. Tie the look together with the addition of nito napkin rings or a simple nito bread basket.
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Swap out the paper towels for these reusable napkins that lend a soft touch to any festive table. The monochromatic tones pair nicely with any harvest table – not stealing spotlight from the centrepiece but still adding to the overall table setting and warm ambiance. The cotton-jute blend makes these napkins durable yet soft to the touch.
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The vibrant fall foliage can quickly pass by. Make the most of the season by bringing the outdoors inside – think branches with maple leaves and dried berry branches. Be sure to display these colourful natural decoratives in neutral containers like this ceramic vase set of three. Simple yet beautiful, these distressed cream-coloured vases are the perfect base for all your arrangements.[/product_listing]

 

Add a whimsical touch to your abode with these plush Scandinavian gnomes with maple leaf embellishments. Display them on your mantle, bookshelf, sofa or even in the washroom! Kids and adults alike will enjoy these fun fall figures that come with rich folklore of bringing good fortune and home care.
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Want an easy way to elevate your tablescape? Add a table runner. They help ground the table setting and act like the canvas for the extra layers – the centrepiece, place settings, glasses and more. This gorgeous cream-coloured cotton-linen table runner, featuring embroidered fall leaves, is both simple enough for a casual gathering and elegant enough to suit a sophisticated holiday.
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© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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