SOUNDTRACK: RHEOSTATICS-Static Journey Volume 1: The Beginning (2009).
This is the first disc from the massive 9 volume
set available for FREE here. It features several different early incarnations of the Rheos. There’s a couple of very new wavey/discoy (those bass lines are very disco!) tracks. There’s a totally bizarre new wave (skinny tie, as they call it) version of The Who’s “My Generation.” And there’s several tracks with the Trans Canada Soul Patrol a horn-infused version of the line up that was dissolved around the time that Martin Tielli became a full time member.
There’s a few tracks from Greatest Hits, which work well in context, but the highlight is the tracks from the CBC Brave New Waves Show (“Good on the Uptake” and “Crystal Soup” which are unavailable elsewhere (well, the whole show from this radio broadcast is available at the more than complete Rheostaticslive.com). In fact, just a little research shows how much music is available for free from the Rheos. It is a pretty amazing collection of stuff that seems to go beyond tape trading trees of live shows, as the available material is rare and largely unavailable in any other format.
These early incarnations of the Rheos are pretty vastly different from the later quirky, wonderful band. And, with the absence of Martin on vocals, sometimes its even surprising to realize they are the same guys. But it’s their history and it’s rather fun. Plus, there’s a number of interviews, most of which allow you to hear the word “Etobicoke” spoken aloud several times.
[READ: January 4, 2010] “My Pain is Worse Than Your Pain”
I’ve enjoyed T.C. Boyle for years now (back when he was called the preferable (if pretentious) T. Coraghessan Boyle). Although I haven’t really read much from him recently (I have a copy of his short story collection that I haven’t read yet).
So this was a nice re-introduction to the man. I was surprised by the setting of this story (snow covered desolate mountain cabins) as I think of him as more of a desert/southwestern writer.
This story is about a fairly despicable character. On a drunken bender one night, the narrator sneaks over to his recently widowed neighbor, Lily, to “surprise” her. It’s pitch dark and freezing cold, so he’s in a ski mask slinking around on her roof. Oh, and just to make it worse, he’s currently married. (more…)

SOUNDTRACK: RHEOSTATICS-Static Journey 1980-2007 (2008).
I just stumbled upon
SOUNDTRACK: RHEOSTATICS-The Nightline Sessions (1998).
This is a fascinating document for any Rheostatics fan. I wound up buying it at the same time as Double Live, even though I couldn’t tell exactly what it was because it was really cheap.
SOUNDTRACK: RHEOSTATICS-Melville (1991).
This fantastic Rheostatics album was one of the last ones I bought for some reason. It came after their debut, Greatest Hits, and is quite a departure for that more simplistic disc.
SOUNDTRACK: SONG OF THE SILENT LAND (2004).
This is a compilation from Constellation Records. It features mostly unreleased tracks and turns out to be a great sampler for both the fan of the label and the novice.



SOUNDTRACK: DANKO JONES-Never Too Loud (2008).
Danko Jones is a hard and fast rock band, with a one track mind and a straightforward sound. They deal in excessive cliches (album titles include: Sleep is the Enemy, We Sweat Blood, Never Too Loud, etc) and play mostly short songs. And despite all that apparent negativity, I enjoy them beyond reason.
SOUNDTRACK: THE TREWS-House of Ill Fame (2003).
After listening to the new Trews disc, I popped in their first disc. Mostly because I thought their first one sounded rawer. And it does.
SOUNDTRACK: THE TREWS-No Time for Later (2008).
I was surprised by this disc. The cover is mildly shocking, but more just tasteless (and one that I won’t leave lying around), but it’s mostly shocking because it is so inappropriate for the music contained within. The music is such basic rock and roll–the kind that I didn’t think anyone made anymore. It’s almost retro in its boogie woogie Black Crows style of rock.