Song, by Toad

Thanks Guys

As pretty much all of you know, Mrs. Toad and I have been away on holiday in Italy for the last couple of weeks.  In our absence Euan (from The Steinberg Principle, Trampoline and The Kays Lavelle) very kindly agreed to write Song, by Toad for me (and for you) to make sure things kept ticking over in our absence.  In this he was ably assisted by Bart (from, erm, eagleowl* and pretty much every other band in Scotland), assisted by Dylan (from Blueback Hotrod) and rescued by Tart (from Love Shack, Baby).

Apart from merely thanking them, which I genuinely do, I wanted to say what a fucking great job they did.  I knew Bart would do a fine job of the Monday listings because, before he packed it in, his Magic Marker listings page was always the first page I checked before writing my own.  Dylan’s general oversight was much appreciated as well, particularly as he wrote Toad himself for two weeks last year, so it was really nice of him to supervise generally, and provide training and the Friday Fives.  And Tart, thanks for stepping in and sorting out the filehosting issue, it really is much appreciated.

Most of all, though, it really has to be said and said again what a fantastic job I think Euan did with the site.  He and I agree on a lot of music, and disagree on a lot as well, and I think he was a little concerned that he might in some way alienate my readers by posting slightly off-message stuff.  Honestly, I think that was actually the strength of his choices.  From my perspective, and hopefully from yours, it felt a little like a fresh breeze in a dusty room – I actually thought it was brilliant that he posted slightly different stuff and gave everyone a change.

I also appreciate how much of a community we seem to have, that people are willing to donate their time for no real benefit to themselves and help out, and that really the whole site didn’t skip a beat in my absence.  I’ve been trying to think of ways to broaden the participation a little on this site, but have always been a little nervous of loosening the reins, and this was a really good sign that this wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

So thanks so much guys, Euan in particular, it really was appreciated and I thought you did a superb job.  And for those of you who want to read a little more, please go and check out Euan’s blog, because it really is worth reading.

And while we’re at it, congratulations are in order to Dylan, who has parlayed what began as ‘helping out with some pictures for the Toad Sessions’ into a first paid photography gig.  Go here to have a look.  They aren’t all his, just “most of the good ones” to quote the man himself.

Maximilian Hecker – Sunburnt Days

And just to show you that things really are back to normal:

* Bart, you should know that it pains me every single time I have to respectfully decline to capitalise the name of your bloody band.  Every damn time.

Elliott Smith. An Education For Mr. Toad

Well now, I’m in the mood for this!  Given Matthew’s admitance last week that he knew very little about Elliott Smith I thought it would be a good idea to write about him and to play some tunes by him,  for his benefit upon his return from holiday, for those of you who have little knowledge of him, and also for everyone who reads this site and loves his music.  Cause let’s be honest, there’s never a point when you can have had too much Elliott Smith now is there?

 I guess there’s no point delving into his tragic death – was it murder or was it suicide?  I guess we’ll never know, but his death shook me to my core because he was one of the most important musicians for me growing up and still is essential listening for me.  I’ve been listening to him since I was at school and there’s not a huge amount of artists I can say that about.   Whilst Kurt Cobain’s death shocked me, Elliott Smith’s death totally saddened me.  Thinking that he’ll never produce new material is quite a disappointment, but then fortunately we have plenty of amazing material to enjoy from his all too short life .  I think it was Mr Bear who said last week that there are no bad Elliott Smith albums, let alone mediocre.  And I completely agree.

The starting point for me was XO, his 4th studio album working my way back through Either/Or, his self titled album and his debut Roman Candle. I remember his 5th album Figure 8 coming out when I was living in the Netherlands and making my way to the indie record store to get my hands on it.  I remember this particularly well as Mule Variations by Tom Waits and Come On Die Young by Mogwai came out about the same time.  These 3 albums are still 3 of my favourites – though my copy of Figure 8 has gone missing since.  If anyone borrowed it off me could I get it back please, I will buy another copy, but that one had sentimental value!  And then we have his final album From the Basement On the Hill, which was never actually finished by Smith himself prior to his death.  And finally his pothumus release New Moon, a collection of rareities and b-sides from the Either/Or, XO period of his life.

None of these albums is bad.  Not one.  I love them all.  But if I had to pick one that has stuck with me then it would definitely be my starting point of XO.  This was the first time that he truly fleshed out his songs.  The bare bones and stripped back lo-fi of the first 3 albums was replaced with a more produced sound and fuller use of instrumentation on this particular album and was the change in direction that would continue on both Figure 8 and From a Basement on a Hill.  I think most fans are divided at this point.  They either love Either/Or and everything before it or XO and everything after it.  I fall into the second bracket.  However, I do love the first 3 albums as well.

Anyways, this post was never about whats better or whats worse because its a moot point.  He simply was a genius and I love everything he’s done.  His music deserves to be heard by everyone and he should be more widely credited for the wonderful albums he produced.  So please, sit back, relax and enjoy a variety of his tunes.

No Name#1 from the album Roman Candle – Elliott Smith

Ballad of Big Nothing from the album Either/Or – Elliott Smith

Waltz#2 from the album XO – Elliott Smith

Twilight from the album From a Basement on the Hill – Elliott Smith

And here’s one for you, taken from New Moon in an early state, but later used on the sound track for Good Will Hunting and nominated for an Oscar for best original song in 1997.

Miss Misery (early version) – Elliott Smith

We Sink Ships – The Ghost You Left Behind

Ok, so We Sink Ships are not a band and The Ghost You Left Behind is not the name of an album or EP.  We Sink Ships are 2 wonderfully talented photographers in the shape of Heidi Kuisma and Neil Milton and The Ghost You Left Behind is the name of their latest online exhibition that can be viewed here.  I have known Heidi for sometime now and am a big fan of her photographs regularly visiting We Sink Ships and her own photo page on Flickr to check out her latest work.  The latest online exhibition, I think you will agree, is simply stunning.  And even better knews is that the pair of them are having their first “real world” exhibition at the 13th Note in Glasgow.  And if it can get even better, they are holding a launch night at the 13th Note on Monday 6th July with live music in the form of Hindle Wakes, Call To Mind and the wonderful, wonderful Debutant.   Anyways, I thought it would be nice to let you guys explore out some quality photography over at their site.  But before you do enjoy the wonderful sounds of Debutant.

Means to an end – Debutant

Hasta La Vista Matthew

That’s Italian for goodbye for those of you who are not in the know by the way.  So, Bart, Dylan and me are now in control of the good ship toad for the next few weeks.  During this time we solemnly do pledge that we will maintain the level of cutting edge journalism that you have become accustomed to on these pages.  There may be less swearing, less controversial ramblings and far, far less gin but hopefully there will be a fest of new and exciting music for you to enjoy.  Things won’t really kick off properly until next week though because we’re all away to the pub just now.  We just thought it’d be nice to give you a taster of what you can expect in the coming weeks.

So, to finish, we thought we’d send Mr. & Mrs. Toad off on their Italian adventure with a song that carries a warm and heartfelt sentiment we can all share.

Andrea Bocelli – Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro)

And here’s the definitive live version:

Toad on Fresh Air, with Broken Records – Tuesday 26th May, 2009

This is the last Song, by Toad show on Fresh Air for this term – so the last one until about October time, basically.  As the band are long time Toad friends, and as their long (loooong)-awaited debut album is being released on Monday, it seemed only fitting that Broken Records pop into the studio and have a chat about things, talk through the album itself (read: TOAD EXCLUSIVE!!!1!1 or something like that), and generally shoot the breeze.

To tune in, go to the Fresh Air homepage and click on the big Listen Now button on the left hand side, from about 6.30pm-8pm, UK time.  As per usual, I’ll fill in the playlist below, and you can take the opportunity to leave compliments, questions and abuse in the comments section as you see fit.

01. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – Hard to be a Saint in the City (Live at Hammersmith Odeon 1975)
02. White Antelope – Wild Mountain Thyme
03. Broken Records – Wolves (Toad Session)
04. Linfinity – Holy Rain
05. Ambulances – Come With Us
06. Broken Records – Lies
07. Sparrow & the Workshop – Last Chance (Toad Session)
08. The Lovely Eggs – Have You Ever Heard a Digital Accordion
09. The Low Miffs – Dear Josephine
10. Broken Records – Nearly Home
11. Bruce Springsteen – Dancing in the Dark

Whee – pub!

Toad on Fresh Air – Tuesday 19th May, 2009

It’s that time of the week once more, when I pop over to Fresh Air Towers and pollute the airwaves of Edinburgh’s innocent student population with my ranting and rambling for a couple of hours.  Yes, I am on Edinburgh’s student radio station between the hours of 6.30pm and 8pm this evening (British Summer Time, I think)

To listen, go to the Fresh Air homepage and click on the big Listen Live button in the top left.

I’ll update this post with the playlist as I go along, and you should all feel free to chip in with comments here and there, should you have anything to add, or just generally feel abusive.  Oh, and apparently I was voted Best Specialist Show at the awards on Saturday, while I was rather ungratefully off getting pished at Trampoline so, er, sorry guys and thanks very much.

1. Monty Python Theme Song (Oh yes, yes I did!)
2. Cherry Ghost – Mathematics
3. Elk City – Los Cruzados
4. Tom Waits – Just the Right Bullets
5. Barton Carroll – Those Days Are Gone and My Heart is Breaking
6. Helicopter Girl – Cry Mississippi
7. Lucky Jim – Our Troubles End Tonight
8. Sad Day For Puppets – Little Light
9. Haunted House – Rattled Out in Makeup
10. Donny Hue & the Colors – Oh Lord
11. Tom Waits – What Keeps Mankind Alive
12. Eels – Devil’s Dog
13. Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers – Bananfish Revolution
14. American Music Club – Mantovani the Mind Reader
15. Tom Waits – Bad Liver and a Broken Heart

That’s all for this week, folks.  Tune in again next week, same time, for the last show this semester.

Toad on Fresh Air – Tuesday 12th May, 2009

It’s that time of the week once again.  At 6.30pm, British Summer Time, myself and Dylan from Blueback Hotrod will be live on Fresh Air, Edinburgh’s student radio station.  There will be no theme, no coherence and no real attempt to do anything more dynamic than just chatter about music, so please do tune in and listen to us blether.

Rather than emailing or (grrr) tweeting, I thought I might just leave this as an open thread for those who want to contribute, and I’ll add the playlist live as we go along.

Click the big ‘Listen Live’ button on this page to tune in, between 6.30pm and 8pm tonight.

01. The Bluetones – Glad to See You Back Again
02. James – Sound
03. Emily Scott – Pageant Queen
04. Frightened Rabbit – Old Old Fashioned (Live)
05. Kid Canaveral – Teenage Fanclub Song
06. Popup – Lucy, What are You Trying to Say?
07. Blur w. Francoise Hardy – To the End
08. Gene – Dolce & Gabanna or Nowt
09. Meursault – Hard On (Charles Latham Cover)
10. Charles Latham – Nite Man
11. Withered Hand – Religious Songs
12. Boo Radleys – Almost Nearly There
13. White Antelope – Silver Dagger
14. Cancel the Astronauts – I am the President of Your Fanclub and Last Night I Followed You Home

Cheers, see you next week at the same time.

Song, by Toad on FreshAir – Tuesday 5th May 2009

Mrs. Toad (malingering old bag) and I are going to be live on Fresh Air at 6.30pm tonight, and I’ll post the playlist here as we go along.  This way any foul remarks can go here and not sully Fresh Air’s fine reputation as an upstanding family station.

Click on the big Listen Live button on this page to tune in.

01. King Creosote – No-one Had it Better
02. The Japanese War Effort – St John
03. Broken Records – Wolves
04. Eels – Fresh Blood
05. Jason Lytle – Flying Through Canyons
06. Jason Lytle – On a Piece of Wood I Go
07. Jesus H. Foxx – I’m Half the Man You Were
08. Yusuf Azak – The Key Underground
09. The Wave Pictures – Canary Wharf
10. Wilco – The Jolly Banker
11. Phil & the Osophers – They Threw a Shoe at You
12. The Leisure Society – The Last of the Melting Snow
13. Alberto Veto – Through Her Teeth
14. Rock Plaza Central – Don’t You Believe the Words of Handsome Men
15. The Limes – Dead Furniture
16. X Lion Tamer – Life Support Machine

Cheers folks, been fun.  See you next week 6.30pm-8pm once again.

Botheration

Alexei Sayle – ‘Ullo John, Gotta New Motor

Toad on Fresh Air in a Bit

Greeetings once more, folks, it’s that time of the week once more. At 7pm UK time I will be making my final appearance of the year on Fresh Air, Edinburgh’s student radio station. It’s my final one because I’ve been banned for all the swearing broadcast shuts down during the holidays, presumably because students have other things to do, such as go home to their families and such like.

I’ll be back on next year I would hope, and will make more effort to have guests on and generally make some interesting shows instead of just blathering on about bollocks, as I have been doing this term.

I will not be being over Christmassy, but I might mention a couple of my favourite albums of the year, and play a couple of very vaguely Christmas-related songs (like No Christmas in Kentucky – thanks DC!) and stuff like that, but basically this will still just be a normal Toad show, except without all the swearing with which you are all so familiar.  Below, just for fun, are two songs that will not be on this evening’s broadcast, but which very nearly were, just to whet your appetites.

That image, incidentally, when I fished it from a Google image search, was titled christmasballs which, for no really sensible reason whatsoever, made me snigger like a child.  Christmasballs.  Tee hee!

The Young Republic – Oh Snow
Willard Grant Conspiracy – Christmas in Nevada