The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

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I got the word on the street that Arcade Fire’s much anticipated album, The Suburbs, was out, so I had to get it. My impression? I love it. Its not a number one all time favorite of everything kind of album, but its an album I played front to back twice kind of love thing.

Win Butler’s voice is unmistakable, lovely, and eerie all at the same time; fitting in perfectly with the orchestra backing him. This band, which consists of Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, William Butler, Jeremy Gara, Sarah Neufeld, Tim Kingsbury just keeps getting better.

The opening title track I think was perfectly placed and sets the mood for the whole album. Not the best song on it, but oh, its a good one.

Modern Man is just stunning. The guitar riff in it is one of the ones where your dancing to it, but when you swoop, mid swoop you gotta swoop even further because thats where the song takes you. I like it!

Rococo is another good feeling song. The whole album is chalked full of songs that make you think you’ve heard them before. I just watched the movie Crazy Heart and a quote from it is: “Thats how you can tell its a good song, when you think that you’ve heard it before.”

City With No Children, Suburban War, Month of May, really, all the songs I enjoyed and like. Its just simply a great album, if you didn’t get my drift yet. Go get your hands on it any way you can. And enjoy it. And Arcade Fire, if you’re out there, I can’t wait to hear whats going to come next.

I’d love to hear what you think of The Suburbs!

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Ducati Sport Classic 1000 SE

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So, to go along with my candy apple Audi S5 I’ve previously picked out I’ve decided my next best thing to have would be a Ducati Sport Classic 1000 SE.  It comes in a few different styles, but my favorite is the Special Edition seen above with the gold highlights.

They made these bikes on a pretty short run from about 2006 to 2009, but boy are they a beautiful thing; its a damn shame they don’t make them anymore.

The engine is a L-Twin cylinder, 2 valves per cylinder Desmodromic with air cooled technology with Morelli electronic fuel injection, displacing a total of 992cc’s. This works out to around 92hp @ 8000 RPM. The torque on this sucker is 67.3lb-ft @ 6000RPM. Thats punch.

Its a 6-speeder and weighs ~ 394lb/179kg in the shop. The wheel base comes in at 1402mm, with 120mm of front wheel travel, 130mm in the back. The seat height on the stock ones comes in at 825mm.

The instruments on this thing are decent, hosting a speedometer, rev counter, high beam indicator, turn signals, oil pressure warning light, low fuel warning light, LCD clock, immobilizer.

To me, this is a thing of beauty. Its got the classic look to it with the traditional type headlight and taillights, and the open heart to see whats making the lovely sounds. I love these bikes that strip things down an leave it out in the open, but no doubt it would quickly get very dirty, thus requiring a lot of detailing, a lot of the time!

What do you think of it?

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Antidotes by The Foals

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The Foals have been around since…. well, according to their website, they’ve had albums coming out since 2007. SO, one would be led to assume sometime around then they’ve been in existence…. They should put a bio up… Not even myspace, the god of all thing bands, has anything on them…

They released an album called Antidotes on Mar 28, 2007 (yes they were exact about that).

Its an indy album, with crazy stretched out beaty rhythms. dodaloopdadoopdoop type of stuff.

For me, sometimes this Indy stuff gets a bit much when the singer starts to be a whiny type fellow, but I found that these guys kept a good song together very nicely, and it all sort of fit together. In short, I enjoyed this album.

Its not heavy, its not solo acoustic, its not country or rap, its not soul and its not classic rock. Its a different space that I really lack ability to describe accurately. But, what I can say is that I enjoyed this album. It held together a releasing escape of tension and architecture with an emotional insurgence.

Check it out if you’ve got the chance. Oh, and also check out the band, they are on tour right now.

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Movie Review: Crazy Heart

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So, I just sat down to a nice movie, something I haven’t been able to do in a while; it’s been exam season on this front.

The movie I chose was Crazy Heart, a film directed by Scott Cooper. According to IMDB, the god of all things movie, it looks like this is Scott Coopers first movie he has directed.  Jeff Bridges is the main character, who we all know from The Big Lebowski, but that is enticing distraction from the plethora of movies he has starred in. Undoubtedly a favorite actor to many, and a great actor indeed. I have not seen a movie he has been in that has failed to impress me.

This movie, Crazy Heart, was and is a great movie. If you have not watched it, watch it. Its a very heart felt movie, drama if you will, about Bad, Jeff Bridges character, who is a seasoned veteran of the country music scene, fighting to keep a handle on the new age of country music.

To set the feeling of the movie, at the start of the movie, Bad steps out of his suburban, empties the piss bottle, and stammers into a bowling alley to play a show for a group of no more than 50 people. Clearly he’s not at his prime. The movie continues on with his battle with life, the life of an entertainer. Of course there is love involved, when Maggie Gyllenhaal steps into the picture, and the story finds its way spiraling along the paths of these two.

I mustn’t forget about the cameo from Colin Farrell as the famous Tommy Sweet, once part of the backup band for Bad, but now living the big life as the country music star Bad wishes he was.

I also was impressed by the cameo from Robert Duvall, as the struggling owner of the pub that Bad was the house band at. Also, as it seemed, Bads good friend.

I enjoyed this movie, I loved the music, I’m curious if they actors wrote and sang their own stuff, or at least sang it themselves. I’m pretty sure they did sing in it, but you never do know.

As a side note, this movie won two oscars… Can’t be all that bad eh?

I’d love to know if you felt the same way as me about the movie!

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Martin Solveig and Dragonette – Hello (Smash Episode 1)

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So, I was asked to say what I think about the Martin Solveig & Dragonette song/video here:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfxC3TCDgCE]

and the result is: I think its awesome!

I need to crank my speakers up to feel this one. The starting is kinda funny, and the tennis match is also hilarious, of course based around a girl, but then ending leaves us knowing there will be more parts to this.

The song itself has got beats, nice mixing, solid groove and rhythm that will get an entire stadium shaking their booties in unison.

I think its the fact that Dragonette is in this, whom, if you’ve read any of my previous posts, know that I am very fond of her/their work to date, and this just adds to the list.

Well done, and I look forward to more.

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Sigma AF 150-500mm f/5.0-6.3 APO DG OS HSM

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I must have the Sigma AF 150-500mm f/5.0-6.3 APO DG OS HSM. Simply must.

I’ve been thinking for a while now, trying to decide which type of lens I want.. A macro, telephoto, a better all purpose, the list goes on, but I’ve finally narrowed it down to this miraculous feat of engineering.

Lets get right to the thick of things.

Clearly, from the name, the focal range is from 150-500mm, and has an f-stop of f/ 5.0-6.3. The OS stands for Optical Stabilizer Function, and the HSM stands for Hyper-Sonic Motor.

Taken directly from the Sigma website:

Lens Construction 21 Elements in 15 Groups
Angle of View 16.4º-5º
Number of Diaphragm Blades 9
Mininum Aperture f22
Minimum Focusing Distance 220 cm / 86.6 in
Filter Size (mm) 86
Maximum Magnifications 1:5.2
Dimensions
(Diameter x Length)		 94.7 x 252 mm/3.7 x 9.9 in
Weight 1910g / 67.4oz.
Corresponding Mounts
Sigma OS
HSM
CONV
Nikon OS
HSM
CONV
D
Canon OS
HSM
CONV
Sony/Minolta CONV
Pentax

Everybody I’ve talked to says that the lens is the most important part of the camera, and its ok to buy everything else used, but buy a new lens.

So, I’ve been hunting. I’ve managed to find this for a mere $1299.00 at Vistek, but $999.00 from Amazon… so I’ll be saving my change in my piggy bank until then!

Does anybody have this lens and would like to share their thoughts on it?

And my last question, does anybody know if this will fit on a Canon Rebel T1i?

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Love Gonna Let Me Down by Toots and the Maytals

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOhwKsaSHyI&feature=related]

I play this song on my guitar. I play it very regularly. I play it with all my dreams in mind. I play it to play my heart on my strings. I don’t usually get personal on here, but its such a good song, you all must use it to inspire you into fearing nothing. Not even the worst of demons in the world.

There is a CD Toots put out, where he has guests singing with him for the whole cd, and this is one of the songs he does with Ben Harper. The Album is called True Love.

Love Gonna Let me Down – Toots feat. Ben Harper

Every time that I see your face
Something moves within my heart
Honey, tears me to my soul
And tells me that
Love’s not gonna let me down
Oh no oh no
Love’s not gonna let me down

As I see the morning sun
I know everything, everything is alright
I could see her rushing to my door
And tell me that

Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down

I could see the morning sun
And hoping that everything, everything is alright
I can see her rushing to my door
And tell me that

Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down
Love’s not gonna let me down

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2010 Audi A5 Coupe

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So, my newest rave is an Audi A5 Coupe. I’ve decided this is a reasonable car to dream about. Currently I drive a VW Jetta, which of course we all know VW owns Audi. But, thats besides the point.

This beast has 354 Hp at 7000rpm, and 325lb-ft of torque at 3500rpm. Nothing else matters. Seriously, 250km/hr? Approx 12.1 L/100km.. Quattro All Wheel drive, with a 6 speed manual transmission. Ok, this car is simple off the hook. German engineering simply will not fail.

The exterior on this car simply looks beautiful with the factory spec 19″ wheels, and the interior looks just as amazing. Navigation system, state of the art sound system. Just looking at the inside of one of these beasts reeks of world class engineering not matched by any other cars in the world.

I’m just waiting for Audi to offer me a test drive in one of these to get the real grease of these beasts!

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Card Speaker

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I’ve been thinking about how I will need to have portable sound sooner than later, when I’m doing this and that, out and about, and when I came across this I was blown away.

I found them at The Ghostly Store, but their made by Idea Design Collection, which if you look at their website, they have a tonne of really cool things on their site. I’m an engineer, and a company like this is where I’d want to work. So much cool stuff, kinda like the apple engineers. Innovating sexy with usefulness.

$75.00 is what they go for at The Ghostly Store, if you find any where cheaper I’d love to be informed! Especially in Canada. Does anybody have these already?

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Dragonette – Surrey Canada Day Celebration

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Seeing Dragonette in Surrey for the ‘Biggest outdoor Canada Day Celebration in Western Canada’ was kind of weird.

Photo Credit to John Bollwitt

To me, it seemed like a lot of the people were there for the fair rides, or decided with the family that it was a good day to go out and socialize at the outdoor party on this particular Thursday.

But, none-the-less, Dragonette made me smile the second they stepped onto the stage, until long after they left.

I have previously reviewed their latest album, Fixin To Thrill, here, which in my mind is absolutely killer.

The guests I brought with me to the free concert in Surrey hadn’t been introduced to Dragonette as of then; needless to say, they left fans.

Photo Credit to John Bollwitt

The band came out, with the casual splendor a band getting big carries with them, exclaiming: “We’ll start as soon as Martina gets here.” I’m curious if they are starting or have always carried giant ego’s necessary for rock/pop stars… I waited patiently, which wasn’t long.

Martina’s singing was spot on for nearly the entire show, clearly showing that they were a professional well-trained band, which I was very happy to see. Some of the songs, some of the transitions and swings Martina must go through with her voice-box are truly magnificent, which is mainly the reason why I love this band so much. Her body movement on stage is what sets her and her band into a category all in its own. Yes, young pre-teen fellows were all around me, dropping their jaws.

Photo Credit to John Bollwitt

Martina mentioned at one point that they were going to do a world premier of a song, which was the only song that I didn’t feel she had down perfectly. I think she knew this, and was a bit nervous, which you could hear it in her voice, and see in her movements. Have you ever felt that feeling where you’re a little unsure, so you don’t put forth 100% because your nervous such effort would amplify your errors? The song did have a weird beat, and even weirder transitions, but did have a nice chorus. I am interested to hear it soon on their next album.

In all honesty though, this was the perfect venue to tackle a new song at, most of the people there probably hadn’t heard of her before. I’m happy somebody in the planning of Canada Day has though, it made my Canada Day a great one!

My only regret of the event was that I didn’t get myself a media pass so I could take photographs from sweet locations, they looked stunning up there.

Photo Credit to John Bollwitt

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