LongDogWine.ca

The online home for Long Dog Wine Services is now live!

LongDogWine.ca
Check it out for reviews, news, events, the Wine List newsletter and more!

Also live is LongDog WineBlog

Cheers!

Tofino & Ucluelet

Our pad in Ucluelet.


Terrace Beach, Ucluelt.


At Terrace Beach.


At Terrace Beach.


Tofino Harbour.


Float Plane at Tofino Harbour.


Long Beach.


Surfers at Long Beach.


Rainforest Loop, Pacific Rim National Park.


Outside Port Alberni.


Madi swimming!


Parksville beach.

new music: summer tunes!

What have I been listening to lately? Here it is:

Black Francis - Bluefinger
Frank Black's decision to release this material under his former Pixies moniker should tell you something. Indeed, this is a true "return to form" for Frank Black. Don't get me wrong, I love the recent Nashville-influenced FB records, but they lack the intensity of early FB&Cs or Pixies fast-and-furious rock records. "Threshold Apprehension" has all the markings of a "U-Mass"-syle Pixies track, complete with female backup. It's the type of song Kurt Cobain would be proud to rip off. The record continues with stellar tracks like standouts "Test Pilot Blues", "Discotheque 36" and "Bluefinger". This one isn't officially released until September 3, but you shouldn't wait that long - it's widely available on various file-sharing apps. "Threshold Apprehension" is also available on the new double disc FB best-of 93-03. 9.5/10

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Aside from the annoying title (why five "Ga"s?), Spoon's sixth album is another solid power-pop record from the Austin quartet. Typical Spoon: minimalist, rythm-driven songs, simple and catchy. Good stuff. A similar mix of dark and light as Gimme Fiction and definitely closest to that album musically, with better production values than their early albums, but the same crunchy, rythmic pop they've had all along. 8.0/10

Feist - The Reminder
Even Pitchfork likes this album. 9.0/10

Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond

If you're jonesing for some '90s grunge nostalgia this is the record for you. J, Murph and Barlow keep things simple and true to the DJ style: Loud. 7.5/10

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

After a long (for him) break, Ryan Adams has released his first album of new material since his 2005 trifecta of albums. Thankfully, Easy Tiger is more reminiscent of his Cardinals releases than of the sleepy 29. In fact, Easy Tiger ranks among Adams' best work. The majority of the songs are very well written, with a hint of the country-influence of Jacksonville City Nights, but also elements of the less-critically acclaimed Rock n Roll. It's all Ryan Adams, however, and not for those who like to bash the alt-country-americana types. Early standouts for me include "Goodnight Rose", "Two" (with a thankfully-subtle Sheryl Crow appearance), "Halloween Head" and "Pearls on a String". 8.5/10

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
A bit harder-edged than Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, but with a very similar style. "Brianstorm", "Fluorescent Adolescent", and "505" are standouts. Good listening, but not as solid as their first release. 7.5/10

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Like most WS albums, I needed to dig a little deeper than the lead-off single to properly appreciate Icky Thump. There, I found a return to the guitar-driven dirty blues that got the world hooked on White Blood Cells. Still, if I had downloaded this first, I may not have shelled out for the hard copy. 6.5/10

Also rated:

Kings of Leon - Because of the Times 9.0/10
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky 9.0/10
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81 8.5/10
Benjy Ferree - Leaving the Nest 8.5/10

Springtime in Victoria

Two shots of the Olympic Peninsula mountains looking south from Holland Point Park. Best views are early in the morning.
These were shot at 6:30am May 3, 2007. Click to enlarge.

"Wildlife" shots from Victoria's Beacon Hill Park (the dog off-leash area), May 2, 2007.
Click to enlarge.

hear this! top 5 albums of the moment

kings of leon: because of the times
released april 3, 2007
reached #1 in the UK april 8, 2007
#4 on Billboard rock album charts (#25 overall) april 21, 2007
check out Billboard for the dumbest review ever:
"...if Alan Parsons lent the Allman Brothers his spaceship..."
what the fuck?
Check out the video for On Call at the bottom of this page.

BUY OR DOWNLOAD NOW:

#1 Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
#2 Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
#3 Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall 1971
#4 Benjy Ferree - Leaving the Nest
#5 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81


am I stating the obvious? maybe. just go get them! seriously. you'll thank me. oh, and for the extra $2, spring for the dvd version of live at massey hall.

long weekend entertaining

from left: 2 bottles of oculus ('00 & '01), mike, robyn, martin & anna
saturday, april 7, 2007
click on picture for a high-res version

a good time was had by all...

Mix Disc for Mum

Hey Mum,

Here are the details of the mix disc I made for you:

1. Cat Power - Living Proof (from the album: The Greatest)
2. Benjy Ferree - The Desert (from the album: Leaving the Nest)
3. The Raconteurs - Yellow Sun (from the album: Broken Boy Soldiers)
4. The Zutons - Creepin' and a Crawlin' (from the single: Creepin' and a Crawlin')
5. Wilco - Walkin' (from the album: Sky Blue Sky)
6. Mason Jennings - Darkness Between the Fireflies (from the album: Mason Jennings)
7. Ray Lamontagne - Three More Days (from the album: Til the Sky Turns Black)
8. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Fault Line (from the album: Howl)
9. Kings of Leon - The Runner (from the album: Because of the Times)
10. Arctic Monkeys - Riot Van (from the album: Whatever People Say That's What I'm Not)
11. The Walkmen - We've Been Had (from the album: Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone)
12. Spoon - They Never Got You (from the album: Gimme Fiction)
13. Tom Petty - This Old Town (from the album: Highway Companion)
14. Magnolia Electric Co. - Hard To Love A Man (from the album: What Comes After the Blues)
15. Cowboy Junkies - Run For Your Life (from the compilation: This Bird Has Flown)
16. Tom Waits - Sea of Love (from the album: Orphans)
17. Gogol Bordello - Santa Marinella (from the album: Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike)
18. Geoff Berner - Lucky God Damn Jew (from the album: Whiskey Rabbi)
19. Kaizer's Orchestra - Rullett (from the album: Ompa Til Du Dør)
20. Kasabian - British Legion (from the album: Empire)
21. Built To Spill - The Wait (from the album: You in Reverse)

Hope you like it!

Rory

heard any good new bands lately?

Mr. Ferree, with sweet, sweet beard

BENJY FERREE

Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand have made Domino Records the hottest indie record label of the last three years, but label newcomer Benjy Ferree might be their next big thing. Fans of Devendra Banhart, Wilco, and the White Stripes will find Ferree's sweet and hooky acoustic guitar and weathered vocals instantly appealing. Leaving the Nest was released late last year and is a must-have CD. The title track, along with In the Countryside and Dogkillers are standout tracks.

THE REDWALLS

This Chicago-based four piece wears its Beatles influence on its sleeve. Thank God they prefer to rip off John Lennon 'cause we do not need another Jet. I've just been introduced to the band, and have been listening to tracks from their debut LP Universal Blues. 2005 saw the release of their follow-up album De Nova, which displays a slightly more grown-up sound with less obvious 60s-era hooks.

Heard any good new bands lately? is a new feature for passing on suggestions/reviews of bands I have recently come to know that you may not have (yet). If you have, let me know. If you hate them, let me know. If you've heard of something better, please let me know! Send me your comments by clicking the link below.

update: wino forever

check out wino forever for some notes on the victoria festival of wine, march 14, 2007. keep close tabs on that blog for frequent postings. we can't post fast enough to keep up with our furious tasting pace (check it out for proof), but you'll see many more soon.

Music News Notebook

• New Neil Young CD/DVD from his "Performance Series" to be released March 13. Check out the trailer for Live at Massey Hall 1971 here.
  
  
• It seems the new Kings of Leon album, Because of the Times, has been leaked. Check your favourite illegal-file-transfer-deelie. Have a listen if you like, but make sure you go buy it April 3. Oh, and by the way: it kicks ass.
  
  
• The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's new album will be titled Baby 81 and is scheduled for release May 1. "Weapon of Choice" will be the first single. Check out BRMC's MySpace for details and a cool new version of the track "US Government".
  
  
  
• Artic Monkeys picked up two statues at last night's Brit Awards: Best British Group and Best British Album for Whatever People Say That's What I'm Not. Their new album Favourite Worst Nightmare will be released in the UK April 23.
  
  
• An update on Wilco's upcoming release Sky Blue Sky is now available on their website. We have to wait until May 15 for that one, but the track listing is available now (woo-hoo.) Early word is that the track "Impossible Germany" is one of the band's best ever!
  
  
• Scroll to the bottom of this page to check out some videos from my new Group of the Week: The Strokes. Nothing new from the Strokes. That's OK, just listen to First Impressions of Earth again.

kings of leon news

my group of the week! this short clip is of a live performance of kol's rockin' new single on call. the new album because of the times is to be released april 3, 2007. listen to the album version of the new track here.

spring has sprung!

in bloom

502 Dallas Road, Victoria, BC

February 10, 2007 - 13 degrees today!

click on the picture for a high-res version (2mb)

ch-ch-ch-changes

there are now three distinct blogs, organized according to topic:

madison: a venue occasional ramblings by madi and her owners, robyn & rory

wino forever easy to understand drink reviews with a focus on quality and value

rory conroy rory's blog, gateway to wino forever and madison: a venue

visit the blog that interests you most. better yet, visit them all! happy reading!