Apostle of Hustle speaks to me…

If you go to an Apostle of Hustle show just to see a charter member of Broken Social Scene, you've done both yourself and Andrew Whiteman a disservice.

In its own right, Apostle of Hustle have produced three albums of compelling music that eat their way out of the darkness of being known as a member of the baroque pop orchestra, Broken Social Scene. Apostle of Hustle stands on its own, not as a side project of the larger machine, but a home for Whiteman's artistic prowess to take the lead.

Apostle of Hustle dropped into London (London Music Club) to kick off a short tour in support of Eats Darkness , the third LP on Arts and Crafts for Whiteman. Flanked just by percussionist Dean "Deaner" Stone, the packed room were delighted with songs and showmanship, that included Blackberry, Eazy Speaks and Snakes, highlights from new album, as well as old favourites My Sword Hand's Anger from National Anthem of Nowhere.

It's easy to see why Apostle of Hustle shows are legendary not just for the musical side, as Whiteman's quirky appearance and delivery, are offset by weirdly hilarious between-song prose. And he has a definite flair for presentation with a show includes a flag (presumably for Nowhere), a mask, and some sort of water ritual that includes territory marking and a sky high spit take.

And while most of the show will leave you transfixed on this enigmatic presence, you are equally drawn in to the beats of Dean Stone. Spending equal time between his traditional kit and his makeshift beat studio centre stage 'Deaner' creates these primal, tribal beats to drive the frenetic guitars of Whiteman home.

It's hard to make a live show stand alone, and have as much meaning and impact as an album, but some do. Apostle of Hustle is one of the ones that can. And will.

But, don't take my word for it – catch them on the rest of the mini-tour at:

• Wednesday November 18th, 2009 – Peterborough, ON at Montreal House
• Thursday November 19th, 2009 – Toronto, ON at Lee's Palace
• Friday November 20th, 2009 – Wakefield, QC at The Black Sheep Inn
• Friday November 27th, 2009 – Montreal, QC at Il Motore
• Saturday November 28th, 2009 – Kingston, ON at The Grad Club

New Video: The Most Serene Republic - Heavens to Purgatory

This video for "Heavens to Purgatory" from the Most Serene Republic's album ...And the Ever Expanding Universe was posted to Pitchfork.tv and was tweeted by @tmsr so I guess it's the official one and the one below it is unofficial (though it's still good.) Take your pick.

Heavens to Purgatory



also Heavens to Purgatory

New Video: Still Life Still - Pastel

Brand new video from Still Life Still - look carefully and see if you can spot Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning ; )

Still Life Still - Pastel

Amy Millan covers Death Cab for Cutie

Over at Stereogum they've posted a great countrified cover of Death Cab for Cutie's "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" done by Amy Millan from her forthcoming album "Masters Of The Burial"!

You should really go grab it!

This Movie Is Broken

Dear Toronto,

Bruce McDonald, Arts & Crafts and Broken Social Scene are looking for your footage (in any format) of the things that make Toronto great. They are not looking for footage of Broken Social Scene - they have that, but they are looking for your best images of the city that produced the band.

You can get full details on the project at thismovieisbroken.com and you can watch the trailer here.

Believe it or not, this is not the first collaboration between McDonald and Broken Social Scene. BSS scored Bruce's film "the Tracy Fragments" starring Ellen Page and Slim Twig. If you haven't seen this - seriously get on it, you're falling behind.

Amy Millan Album Details Announced

Acclaimed solo artist and Stars vocalist Amy Millan is set to release her new album 'Masters Of The Burial' on September 8. Today Arts and Crafts released a track listing for the album - which is kinda mean since we can't actually hear any of it yet - but it's Amy Millan, it will be brilliant and will get people talking about Polaris 2010 before Polaris 2009 has even been announced (it's pretty much on the long list without even hearing it.)

If you absolutely can't wait and are, or can be, in Toronto July 25 Amy will be playing a free show at the Harbourfront Centre, with labelmate Gentleman Reg. A fall tour is in the works and will be announced shortly.

The track list goes:

‘Masters Of The Burial’
1. Bruised Ghosts
2. Low Sail
3. Old Perfume
4. Towers
5. Day To Day
6. Bury This
7. Finish Line
8. Run For Me
9. I Will Follow You Into Dark
10. Lost Compass
11. Bound

Video: Most Serene Republic - The Old Forever New Things

A "fan video by Jerome" that Arts and Crafts like enough to include it in their YouTube Channel - from the (as yet unreleased) album ...And The Ever Expanding Universe available July 14, 2009

The Most Serene Republic - The Old Forever New Things

Elsewhere in the Blogosphere

Ohbijou wants you to know that you can go get Beacons now!

Tokyo Police Club has a new blog.

Spiral Beach talks NXNE

Herohill talks Whale Tooth and Wax Mannequin

Pop Montreal has an interview with Jane Vain and the Dark Matter

Now weighs in on Polaris

there was no sound on NxNE

Herohill on The Got to Get Got

Chartattack has info on the upcoming Islands release.

Arts & Crafts gets ready to release Still Life Still debut.

Chart is talking about Said the Whale

Chart grades DD/MM/YYYY

"This Book is Broken: A Broken Social Scene Story"

"This Book is Broken" by Stuart Berman (House of Anansi Press) documents the history of Broken Social Scene. Berman had a unique perspective, having been friends with the nucleus of the group from the get-go, living in the same building that connected the band's founders, Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning as it grew in acclaim. The result is better than a fly-on-the-wall vantage point of how Broken Social Scene came to be, and a forthright and honest account of the highs and lows of being in a dynamic, organic, and many-membered band.

Calling it a daunting task collecting quotes, photos, and assembling the many perspectives into one, cohesive history that encapsulates the band's story is an understatement. Especially when you consider that Stuart was — and still is — friends with the group.

His 'visual and oral history' is as textured and juxtaposed as the band's songs, while adhering to the linear path of time and is what makes this such an engaging read. Berman takes care to discuss not only what was going on within the band at the time, but also what was influencing them externally. The story is fleshed out with quotes from interviews at the time, as well as those reflecting back. And the binding to the whole project is the inclusion of photos, set lists, and artwork — many never seen before outside the circle of the collective.

Stuart took the time to sit down with yours truly, via web chat and discuss the book and some of the questions that were raised by the book:



The book is a compelling and easy read. It documents a very important time period in Canadian music that has given way to the amazing and rich pool of talent that we are now proudly boasting globally. We've reached a place, because of bands like Broken Social Scene, where we're exporting as much music as we're importing. This book serves a document to the shift in thinking, creating and producing that betook the industry and served to put indie artists from Toronto on the global vernacular. And it's all done with little editorializing, and editing to make a more flattering snapshot. The book is forthright, frank, and remarkably honest.

But don't take our word for it, get your own copy and be treated to this important piece of our musical history.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

The book has been available in stores since May 16th, but its official launch is tonight in Toronto at the Arts & Crafts NXNE showcase at The Courthouse (57 Adelaide Street E). The book's publisher, House of Anansi Press has made one copy available to NxEW.ca to give away to one lucky reader. Send an email to "teeterboy3[at]gmail[dot]com" with "BSS Book Giveaway" in the subject line and one randomly drawn winner will get their very own copy of the book!