It has been a great year for Mother Mother. Their song “The Stand” from their latest record Eureka has caught a lot of attention.  And this band deserves more attention. They are a must listen for any fan of Metric.

When I reached Ryan from Mother Mother, he was doing the dishes at his father’s house on Quadra Island. Ryan was enjoying a bit of down time.  I am glad he was relaxed because I could ask him questions like “What does wearing women’s underwear onstage do for his swagger?” Listen to the interview for his answer and more crazy questions!

(This show goes out to Coral, a devoted Mother Mother fan who insisted that I have them on the show.)

the interview show with Mother Mother

Mother Mother “The Stand” It’s great to see your hometown team knock it out of the park. One of my favorite songs of the year.

Mother Mother “Ball Cap” Ball Cap is one of Ryan’s first MM songs and one of his most favorites. It shows the band was hitting home runs from their first record.

The Twelves were recently in Vancouver to spin a set at 560. Brazilian musicians João Miguel and Luciano Oliveira were a little too tipsy to chat at the show, but the guys were nice enough to do an email interview follow up.

The Virgins “Rich Girls” (The Twelves remix)

Scott Wood: What is your nightmare interview?

The Twelves: A nightmare interview for us is one where we answer the same questions that are asked all the time. We don’t want really random questions that make no sense, but it would be good to be asked something other than where our name came from ;-D

Scott Wood: Worst interview ever?

The Twelves: We were interviewed by a guy who kept on taking personal calls on his cell every five minutes. What should have been a 10 minute interview took almost an hour!

Scott Wood: How did you guys get together? What made you think you could work with the other guy?

The Twelves: We were playing in bands and it didn’t really feel right. There were musical differences and the band decided to go separate ways. Luciano and I always had a good relationship and shared a lot of influences from disco and funk so we decided to try it.

Fleetfoxes “Winter Hymnal” (The Twelves remix)

Scott Wood: You guys are at your best when you remix rock tracks for the dance floor Metric, Fleetfoxes, Nirvana to name a few, was this a conscious effort to stand out among remixers or just what came across your turntables?

The Twelves: The rock tracks were all about weird studio sessions where we tried to break some monotony of listening to the same samples we had been working on and decided to try something new. We like to try and take tracks that you wouldn’t normally hear on a dancefloor and make them more dance oriented. It helps the crowd because they already have knowledge of the track and attachment to it in one way or another so it is more recognisable and memorable.

Scott Wood: You guys were in a rock band before becoming “The Twelves”–how did that experience shape what you do?

The Twelves: It made us realise we didn’t want to be in rock bands. We still have a great deal of love for the genre, but for us the music lives electronically now.

Scott Wood: You guys both had previous “real world” careers to DJing. I read a quote of yours “We always wanted to do this, but didn’t have the nerves.” How did you get over it?

The Twelves: I think every now and then you need to just take the plunge. We both had normal jobs that paid good money and if The Twelves hadn’t worked out we would have been able to get the jobs back so it was a little bit of calculated risk. We knew if we didn’t try it, we would wonder about what might have been for the rest of our lives.

Metric “Help, I’m Alive” (The Twelves remix)

Scott Wood: You guys talk about drinking a lot during your sets. What are you drinking and why?

The Twelves: Hahahah! We drink beers and rum mainly. What is it they say about getting the creative juices flowing? That is basically it. We have a few drinks to lose the fear of trying something out and also to get over the nerves before a show. No matter how many times we play gigs, we are still nervous before the show, which is a good thing for us because it means we know we really care about how everything goes and want to make a good impression.

Scott Wood: You guys once said “Mistakes are the best thing to happen to production.” Can you talk about a track where this occurred?

The Twelves: It happens from time to time, but I couldn’t tell you about a specific track. Almost every time we start making a track we will try something and then realise that it is wrong and will have to start all over. When you restart it you are so conscious of not making the same mistake again that you go completely the other way, and then sometimes magic happens!

Scott Wood: Dave from Soulwax told me my interview style needed to be spicier and that I needed to ask more interesting questions. He told me to ask, “Have you two guys ever shared a woman?” (Had a 3-way?)

The Twelves: Wow! We’ve never been asked that before! I have to say no – João is married and I have no intention of having an awkward eye-catching moment with him in the bedroom. I don’t know if we would be able to be “The Twelves” any more after an experience like that.

Fever Ray “Seven” (The Twelves remix)

Scott Wood: What makes a good remix?

The Twelves: Vocals. The vocals on a track are the best indication for us that we will be able to do something with the remix. If the track has a good vocal and melody structure, then half the job is done.

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From the Winnie inbox:

Subject:     i bought a sword, i also made this remix, but seriously i bought a sword. how cool is that????

greetings

the other day i was day i was stranded in downtown phoenix. i was meeting an old friend for lunch when she texted me and said she was gonna be late.

so as i’m wandering around aimlessly and telling homeless people i don’t have any spare change,  i decided to go in to the urban outfitters and buy some pants, which i needed. (it’s important as a dj, to keep your pants game up) so i find a bunch of pants i like and go over to one of the girls who works there to give me a dressing room. and as im standing , holding a bunch of pants, waiting for a dressing room, i ask (as a joke!) “listen, i’m not wearing any underwear. is this gonna be a problem?”

anyway she didn’t find it too funny, and before you can say “barbra streisand, dooo doo do do doo doo do doooo ooo doo oo ew” the manager banned me from the urban outfitters. bullshit. now i have to buy really old looking t-shirts from jc penny’s now or something. lame

anyways, i made this metric remix, i hope you enjoy it

Metric – Twilight Galaxy (Death To The Throne Remix)

Last year we got our top of the year lists out early.

This year it seemed like everyone was trying to get their lists out as early as possible to capitalize on the potential traffic or whatever it is people compete for. We decided to sit back and let the year finish before commenting on it (read: we were super lazy).

None the less, here’s our picks for the best albums of 09′ Here’s to hoping you get 18% more lay in 2010.

20. Don Cash – Freshy Fresh

Don Cash really does wear his sunglasses at night.  This album was released as a free download, then on itunes, then re-mastered and re-released without some of my fave songs on it and there’s still talks of re-mastering it again and a label signing and release…  Either way, this is a great album with some next level jams.

Don Cash – Glam Banger

19.Tiga – Ciao!

Tiga’s collaboration with all his producer pals (James Murphy, Soulwax, Gonzales etc) made this album ironically transcend being just a dance album (mindless headfuck) and gave it some depth.  Tiga was huge in the first part of the year as the anticipation for the album grew from the first couple of singles. Then it all seemed to die down…  Not that I would ever steal anything but they were super tight fisted, blocking album leaks and maybe it hurt the album? I have no idea, maybe I’m B.S.ing but I feel like this album should have been bigger.  I also wish Tiga would do more performances with a live backing band.  Seeing him dj all of his hits was, um, err, mehhh.  I also want to see more of his alter persona come to life.

Tiga – Love Don’t Dance Here Anymore ft. Soulwax

18.Metric – Fantasies

I’ll probably catch lots of flack for this but… Whenever a band gets big in Canada there’s sometimes a bit of backlash from the people who think we live in a tiny little fish bowl and despise the band for making it big while other more “authentic” bands don’t get recognized.  I can’t see this happening in the US where there is much less of an identity crisis (albeit other ish).  In 2009 Metric decided to go their own independent route, ditched their label and management and blew up worldwide by making a great pop record that’s a solid listen from start to finish.  But then again, they are not noise punk.

Metric – Satellite Mind

17.Little Girls – Concepts

Josh McIntyre crafted this gem late at night, solo in his bedroom.  He started a myspace under the anonymous moniker, “Little Girls” (which btw is code for “little girls”) to gauge peoples reaction to these sonic experiments.  So far the response has been quite positive.

Little Girls – Concepts

16 .Mountain Man – Mountain Man

You can’t find this album on the internet for free anywhere so you should pony up the $5 pay what you want minimum for this lesser known gem.  For fans of Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Chamomile tea.

Mountain Man – ANIMAL TRACKS

15. Kap Bambino – Blacklist

I must be honest, I’m not an OG Kap Bambino fan. Apparently they made their sound a little less hardcore and a bit more poppy with this album.  Their hybrid punk/electro blend is something completely new to my ears. It kiiiind of picks up where Crystal Castles left off. Still bummed I missed their live show. I think I’m too old to go out on Sundays.

Kap Bambino – Red Sign

14. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor

It hasn’t come out yet officially in NA.  It’s out in England and I have British citizenship.  2009 was huge for them, they have won over a lot of new fans with their on point four part harmonies and the general charm of five dudes playing their hearts out.

Local Natives – World News

13. Handsome Furs – Face Control

Everybody’s fave indie rock couple lay down some guitar over drum machine loops and craft a solid follow up to Plague Park. Bow wow.

Handsome Furs – Radio Kaliningrad

12. Yacht – See Mystery Lights

Along with adding another member, signing to DFA has been a good thing.  It sounds like they added a little more New York post punk disco to their landscape and reigned in the sometimes overly experimental bits.  Pyschic City was definitely one of the songs of the year.

Yacht – The Afterlife

11.Antony and the Johnsons – The Crying Light

I really didn’t know what to think of Antony’s voice at first, it was quite shocking. It felt like a surprise reach around, if that’s something politically correct enough to say. But, the more I listened to it, the more I fell in love with the unique voice from which he speaks from and with. Their live show was one of the best of the year. Pretty much *tear* worthy (not that I would ever cry though). Do not fear the surprise reach around.

Antony & the Johnsons – Her eyes are underneath the ground

10.Peaches – I Feel Cream

Peaches oh Peaches, how I love thy teaches.  This is what Lady Gaga is ripping off and toning down for a mainstream audience.  That and maybe a lil Gwen Stefani…  Peaches is chick power to the infinite.    The best live show of the year.  All of this summed up a lot better, here.

Peaches – Talk To Me

9.Matt and Kim – Grand

Watching Matt and Kim play is like seeing two kids having the time of their life and enjoying every minute of it.  They just look so gosh darn humble you want to hug them.  While their previous self titled effort was a little too annoying / earnest / catchy / mehhh, “Grand” is an 11 track pop gem.

Matt & Kim – I’ll Take Us Home

8.Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Speaking of bands whose year it was, these Frenchies served it up like gour-met pate.  They should almost lay low for a year to let things cool off.  On the other hand there are so many hits on this album they should probably keep working it.

Phoenix – Fences

7. Neon Indian – Psychic Chasms

Bringing the psychedelic back to the dance floor.  Neon Indian makes me want to do acid and chill in a tent while watching bizarre projected patterns on the wall while practicing witchcraft.

Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer

6.Wild Beasts – Two Dancers

Falsetto bitches! I swear I hear a little Morrissey in here, that and a lot of lyrics about girls and wild forest fornication parties that I want to be at.

Wild Beasts – We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues

5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz!

“Waaaaaaah too electro!”. “What ever happened to the old YYYs?!?”  Go listen to Fever to Tell and reminisce.  It’s called progression and trying something new out.  Besides, I swear I can’t hear the difference, I’m no electro racist.  I think it worked and the YYYs are even more popular than ever.  Whether that’s a good thing or not is your call. For me they are definitely one of the defining bands of the decade.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Soft Shock

4. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Top ten lists with MPP at number #1 are soooo boring. diss.

Animal Collective – Summertime Clothes

3.Fever Ray – Fever Ray

This album grew on me all year.  I think I was a little put off wanting it to be a bit more dance’y and Knife-like.  As the great economic recession of 2009 wore on I began feeling more and more like a sad little goth boy turning to my trusty Fever Ray album for comfort.  Also one of my fave live shows of the year.

Fever Ray – Triangle Walks

2.The XX – xx

The XX came out of nowhere with this debut album.  I don’t know whether it had to do with Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim’s whispery voices or the playful male / female back and forth or the above mentioned goth factor?  It’s the perfect mix, incorporating electronics with more traditional instruments creating a somewhat electronic beat driven album that even the indie kids can dance to.

The XX – Islands

1. Japandroids – Post Nothing

How could we not champion the home town heroes? They are on to even better things. Post Nothing was not their debut and they have not peaked.  Have you heard the new song they are playing in their set?? Hot damn. These sweethearts worked their butts off on this and earned everything 2009 has brought them.  Hopefully they find some time to write some new songs about girls and summer while touring their butts off.

Japandroids – Wet Hair

You have to respect Canada’s resident indie superstars. This band has taken a lot of risks over it’s career. Metric could be on a major label easily by now. But instead, they decided to finance the new record, Fantasies, themselves.

While making the record, the guys traveled to a lot of studios, Vancouver, Toronto and Seattle, to name a few, searching for the perfect sound. I talk with Jimmy Shaw (left in the picture) about all this, and the Broken Social Scene brotherhood.

Metric on the interview show

Metric “Monster Hospital” (MSTRKRFT remix)

Metric “Help I’m Alive” (Twelves remix)

Metric are in Australia right now. They are going to make a triumphant return to Canada in October. Let’s go out and see Canada’s reigning indie superstars! Don’t sleep on this one. Several dates are already sold out.

See you at the last stop on the tour!

:)

Metric are one of my favorite groups.  Some people dislike them with passion.  I think those people are a)full of shit and, b) probably have heard like 3 songs by them or not even 1.  And how could you not love Emily Haines? Have you ever even listened to the lyrics?  I don’t even know what she’s saying when she sings in French but I know it’s probably super great.

I’m so excited for their new album which is called Fantasies and comes out April 14th. It has been mixed by John O’Mahony who just won a Grammy for mixing Coldplay’s latest album.

They even have an documentary coming out on the making of this new album which will probably be awesome.

This first track is an acoustic version of the first single off the new album.  The second is from their last album.

Metric – Help I’m Alive (Acoustic)

Metric – Poster Of A Girl

Camera Obscura are also my favorites.  They played at Richards in Vancouver last year.  It was the best show ever and made me further fall in love with Tracyanne and Carey (Aren’t those great Scottish names?).  Don’t get me wrong, i love the other 3 guys in the band as well, just not in that way…….

They have a new album coming out April 20th.  It has been produced by Jari Haapalainen who mixed thier last album as well as Peter Bjorn & John’s, “Writers Block”.

They have given out a song from it.  It’s just delightful, and sounds as good as their last album which is best ever.

Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career

And this is an Abba cover the band did.  Isn’t it dreamy?

Camera Obscura – Super Trooper (ABBA cover)