Free Music from City and Colour

City and Colour's new album The Hurry and The Harm will be released on June 4th, 2013, but right now you can get the 3rd song on the album "Of Space and Time" free!

For more information about City and Colour's new album, check out http://cityandcolour.ca

Ian Astbury (The Cult) Interview

Photo Credit: Michael Lavine

 MUSICinVancouver got to talk with Ian Astbury of The Cult this week in preparation for the band’s newest album. Titled Choice of Weapon and due to be released on May 22nd, this will be The Cult's ninth album. According to Astbury, the album honours existing fans and embraces new ones because “even though it’s raw rock ‘n’ roll [...] it’s also a very fresh, current sound.” Describing Choice of Weapon as “cohesive, resonant, deep, rich, brutal, sexual, cinematic” Astbury insists that the album gives Cult fans what they deserve while still managing to “break new ground,” something which he thinks is “evident in the songs.”  While noting that he hopes people will “ identify with the record and take something from it that maybe enhances their life experience” Astbury concedes that it isn’t about appealing to the masses. He draws inspiration from many sources including his travels, philosophical teaching, and other musicians. His only real goal is to “tell [his] story, experiences, events and observations.” The most important thing for someone to take away from their new songs is to “pay attention to your life; that life is sacred, that life is fleeting.” He urges everyone to “jump in” and “live life to its fullest potential.” And for Astbury this means working on developing his art, since his “life is music.” 

Photo Credit: Michael Lavine

Even though the band has been working hard on the album, Astbury still has time to imagine future collaborations, including artists from different genres coming together to create a “contemporary opera.” Collaborations are one of many experiences which Astbury believes “can only enhance [his music].” Whether from new people, situations, or self-knowledge, Astbury admits he has gained “a wealth of experience” that he believes allows him to evolve as an individual and as a musician. All of this experience has gone into Choice of Weapon, an album that Astbury finally finds deserving of his fans.

Photo Credit: Michael Lavine

Free Music Alert: Behind Sapphire!

One of our favourite local bands, Behind Sapphire, has released their Diamonds EP online as a free download! Make sure you share their music and keep an eye our for them in the coming year!

Dine Alone Records & Friends Summer Sampler 2011

Check it out, Dine Alone Records has released their Summer Sampler for 2011! It's available as a free download online with 17 songs from 17 different artists!

To download this free album visit: http://dinealonerecords.com/sampler/!

New Albums!

My Morning Jacket is giving away six free downloads to celebrate their new album Circuital.

They'll also be doing a show in Vancouver on June 29th at the Orpheum Theatre!

To celebrate Radiohead's new album, The King Of Limbs, Live Nation and Capitol Records are giving away 3 Radiohead fan packs! 

Featured Band: Watasun

This week we're featuring a band called Watasun! They are releasing their new self-titled album April 22nd (at The Backstage Lounge with The Ponderosas) and they gave us a sneak peek!

Before listening to the music, Joyce and I wanted a little background info on the band. We were intrigued by their unique name and wanted to know where it came from. To answer that, we'll take a look at who's behind the music: Ronni Wata and Sunny Reid. But to the pair, Watasun is more than a fusion of their names. They relish the fact that it contains these essential components of life (water and sun) and it sounds like they work off this vibe when creating their music, forming their unique style of folk music!

So, when we first listened to the album, we took note of their down-to-earth and passionate sound. For the most part, the album is full of upbeat songs that require the listener to dance. (Seriously, the two of us were moving around in our chairs in Starbucks!) The infectious rhythm and toe-tapping beat make it a really fun listen!

Although this tone is carried through most of the album, there are a couple of slower songs mixed in too. These were well executed and placed perfectly, creating a nice overall pace to the album.


We decided to interpret some of our favourite tracks: (Note: These are just our opinions/interpretations and do not necessarily reflect the artist's views)

Track 4: Right Now. There’s no better time in the world to live in but right now and even this state will pass. This is a good message to spread positivity in troubling times while ignoring the negativity: "don’t put the energy to the negativity". If you dream it, it can come true. This whole song is basically saying stop worrying about the past and the future, just live in the now, don’t put so much energy into worrying or anger. Particularly, the message is for a girl who is worrying so much about the future that she wants to go back to the past. The song suggests that we should instead take advantage of the present (Carpe diem!) and not waste time on negative thoughts.

Track 6: Believer. This song tells the story of a man's drunken father telling him to get a real job, but he says he’s had this dream all his life, so he’s not going to give it up. His dad replies, “if this is how it is, then I’m a believer, I believe you.” I think his father is also telling him that he’s putting all this work into music and it can’t help him make a living. The man explains that if he can make music that is all he needs. It's one of their slower songs and this reflects his inner struggle between the need to please his father and his desire to follow his own dreams.

Track 9: Religion. “Rhythm is religion” basically sums up this song. The line “spark the fire, ignite the heartbeat, get inspired to let the art speak”  illustrates how he wishes to inspire people with music. Then in the second half they suggest that writing music can be a spiritual experience involving the soul. He also shares how thankful he is for his musical talent and the opportunities he has been given. Good use of rhythm.

Track 11: Let’s Go Shopping. Commercials make us want to buy stuff, and make us empty. This song is a fair representation and critique of our society's consumerism. Basically shopping and materialism is our way of coping or forgetting certain situations in the world. Mommies got the blues, solution is to shop. There’s a war outside, but you don’t see it cause you just bought new blinds. I thought that was kind of funny/clever. People need food, but you’re busy shopping... Basically we use this as a distraction. It's something else to think about so we forget to worry about the suffering of others.

Track 14: Memories. There’s a girl who’s waiting for someone to tell her what she needs to hear. She knows who she is but she can’t find herself because she’s holding on to memories from a lifetime ago. So he realizes that none of this dies, we keep holding onto memories when we should let go. He doesn’t know what's on the other side, but as long as they’re together he’s glad to be alive. He’s done things that might seem wrong and he’s trying to let go but he keeps holding on. This song has a slower beat and makes a nice ending as it lets the listener ease out of the album and leaves them with lingering "memories". He wants us to let go of memories, but this ending makes it impossible to forget this album!

Overall album themes:

        -Close relationships put in contrast with our global community.

        -Music and its ability to inspire people and cheer them up.

        -Living for yourself, being in the moment, and learning to let go of the past.

This album presents some good ideas. No confusing metaphors or anything, just straightforward lyrics that clearly express the point. Their songs draw you in with the use of such a personal tone. 


Watasun also seems to be expanding their music genre by including songs like "Memories" that sound a little more like pop than folk. So if you're a fan of folk or even pop, we encourage you to buy this creative and unique album! 

And make sure you:
Check out their site for lyrics and more!

And check them out on the streets of Vancouver doing a cover of an Amy Winehouse song!
Also check out our events pages for info on their other upcoming shows.

Music is life. Enjoy it!

MCR - Download 'Save Yourself'

Sorry, My Chemical Romance have since removed this link. If you still want to hear "Save Yourself (I'll Hold Them Back)" click here.
Also don't forget to check out their new album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, which is coming out on November 22, 2010!

Danger Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, J and I are very excited about the new My Chemical Romance album coming out on November 22nd!!!!!! Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys is going to be kick-ass!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited I can't type properly :s Some of their new songs have already been released and they are amazing! Check out the MCR website for free downloads and to see the music videos...oooohhhh myyyyyy geeeeeee!!!