Best albums/cds of 2004

Well I decided to jump on the bandwagon and post my favourite top 10 cds/albums of 2004: Starting with the 10th and moving to number 1.

10 Wilco - A Ghost is Born

9 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell

8 Boy - Every page you Turn

7 Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News

6 Gwen Stefani - Love, Angel, Music, Baby

5 Futureheads - Futureheads

4 The Killers - Hot Fuss

3 Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

2 Arcade Fire - Funeral

1 Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters

Honorable Mention

11. Blues Explosion - Damage

13. Cat Power - You Are Free

13 Jet - Get Born

14. The Organ - Grab that Gun

Christine

.Happy New Year everyone!

Alive and Kicking 4 - Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark

In the Fall of 1979, Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark (also known as OMD) released their first single which contained the catchy sound of a synthesized xylophone. Here were four guys from Liverpool with delightfully British names: Paul Humphreys, Andy McCluskey, Martin Cooper (sax, Keyboards), and Malcolm Holmes (drums), creating a unique wall of sound from minimal instruments. The band has had at least three different music directions in its surprisingly long and varied history. First was the highly experimental and very influential Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark during the early 1980s; the ready-for-America pop OMD of the late '80s, and the Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark of the early 1990s. It is a sad statement that most music lovers only learned of the band in the mid eighties, when the movie, Pretty and Pink, put them into the spotlight. Moreso in the spotlight were Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys.

OMD's founder, Andy McCluskey noted that the band became popular in North America, just as their popularity was waning in England. England briefly showed a renewed interest when they released their fundamental (at least for their pocketbooks and for contractual obligations) "Best of" album in 1990, and they also reissued two of their other albums (Architecture & Morality, Organization) in 2003. The 1990 release was unusual as A&M has already released a Greatest Hits in 1989, but the band felt the 1990 release was better and since A&M had reverted back to Virgin, they felt a need to remaster and tidy up the disc.

McCluskey is aware that OMD has been influential for today's synthpop scene. There was a time in the late '80s and early '90s where synthpop was frowned upon, but it too is reemerging.

McCluskey feels frustrated when he thinks back to the eighties. Whenever OMD had a hit song, people would accuse them of selling out. Then when they were selling out, and were a hit, most people in the media had no idea about the OMD's history. They just chalked uthe band up as this fluff new pop band. McCluskey feels that, at least for a while, they tried their best to be cutting edge, ie: the song Enola Gay. "But after awhile you get stuck on a treadmill and it's hard to write good songs. You try to please people instead of trying to please yourself." People criticized the song, "If you Leave" yet McCluskey is very proud of that song and the effort that went into creating it.

By the end of 1989, OMD disbanded. McCluskey and his longtime band mate Paul Humphreys decided to go their separate ways. It was a difficult time for Andy because he was coming off a drug dependency, and was over a million £ in debt. Humphreys attempted to restart OMD without Andy, but Andy said no to the use of the name. Virgin records assured McCluskey that he was the one they wanted the album from. The resulting album was entitled Sugar Tax. He purposely didn't put any names on the album so that people wouldn't realize Humphreys was gone.

For now, OMD has been laid to rest with no chance of resurrection. As McCluskey notes "I enjoy being retired, and not having to fit into the OMD jacket.'

As for the Alive and Kicking moniker, it appears OMD is simply treading water as debts and writer's block stop any forward progress.

Christine

Vancouver has, for the last ten years or so, been known as the 'No Fun City' due to the town councilors'' fears of - who knows?  They're just scared, so they don't let no one do nothin'!

Anyway, always ahead of the curve is local musician David M.  He has fronted the band No Fun since the late 1970s, and although the band had gone through many line-up changes since, singer songwriter David M. and guitarist (and sometime accordion player Paul Leahy) have remained constants for years.

Thursday night's Christmas theme gig was a three-hour long extravaganza, where David, Paul and guests pulled out all the stops to give us a really crowd pleasing, interactive show.  Originally one of Vancouver's first punk bands, No Fun has evolved and covers a wide range of songs as well as performing original songs by David M., long recognized as being one of Vancouver's most prolific song-writers.

Paul also plays in a band called Pleasure Suit, who were playing the Railway Club last night.  If it was anything like the No Fun show, I'm sure it was great.

The Secret Garden

The play based on the children's classic The Secret Garden has become a Christmas classic.  Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marsha Norman, the original play opened in 1991 and won both Tony and Drama Desk Awards in 1992.

The play is a departure from the book in that it is presented in a non-linear fashion; ghosts and spirits abound, which served to totally confuse a group of audience members seated in front of me.  In the story, the garden is a metaphor for the grief and loss felt by the characters and reflects their road to healing.  This play is a musical, which is not my favorite type of play, and the songs started to all sound the same by the end.  There was a live orchestra which was lovely, and the sets were good.  I felt that the final transformation of the garden could have been presented a bit more better, but aside from that, it was fine.

The Gateway Theatre in Richmond is a beautiful venue, and will continue to show the play until January 2.

Timjams and the Doughnut Wars

In the lexicon of Lezah, a Timjam is what I encounter every weekend morning as I drive around one particular corner near my house.  A huge traffic jam blocks the intersection every single weekend - all so that people can get their Timbit fix at the local Tim Horton's Doughnuts.  For the last few years, Tim Horton's has been marketing themselves as a Canadian institution, as Canuck as maple leaves and beavers.  And perhaps they are - Tim Horton's outlets are as common as Canadian geese in a park these days.  Every town, no matter how big or small, has a Tim Horton's and now they're opening up in malls and gas stations, too.

I started to worry about old Tim this spring, however:  Krispy Kreme was invading us from the south.  Apparently Krispy Kreme has been in Ontario since 2001, but the first Krispy Kreme to open in BC did so to much fanfare earlier this year.  People were lined up days before the store opened, and the lines continued for days.  What craziness!

Well, it seems that all my worry was for naught.  It looks as though Tim has nothing to worry about - at least, not from Krispy Kreme.  It appears that Krispy Kreme is currently in trouble with the tax man south of the border for late filing of their quarterly 10-Q reports; it seems that the company has just posted their second losing quarter this year, most recently showing a $3 million loss in the last quarter.  Their stocks are down 70% of their value from earlier this year, and they are not only shutting down a new $4 million factory in Ohio due to lack of demand for their product, they are also slowly pulling out of Ontario, shutting three of their nine outlets.  CBS Marketwatch has just named Krispy Kreme's CEO Scott Livengood as the worst CEO of the year.  Falling sales have been blamed on an over-aggressive buyback of franchises in conjunction with a more diet conscious consumer in our post-'Super Size Me' world.

Krispy Kreme is now going farther afield, opening new stores this month in South Korea.  With other stores already established in the UK, Mexico and Australia, perhaps this former Wall Street Darling will be able to turn things around somehow.

All I know is, both Tim Horton's and Krispy Kreme are facing a new, even bigger threat which is looming on the horizon:  beware those New Year's resolutions!  

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

I had not read the books, and it's probably a good thing - usually I am disappointed by book-to-movie conversions.  Likewise, I was prepared to dislike this film as I am not a big fan of Jim Carrey - that whole face stretching thing got old a long time ago.  However, I was extremely impressed by this film for a number of reasons.

First of all, the story:  like a more modern version of Grimm's fairy tales, this story deals with the age-old theme of orphans, bad luck, adults who never listen to children... you get the picture.  An especially good plot device here was the use of a narrator in the form of the book's author (played in silhouette by Jude Law).  Alternately funny, scary, witty, suspenseful, sentimental and sad, the movie makes you remember exactly what it was like to be a child.  I can't wait to read the series now!

Next, the actors:  in a word, they were superb.  Like I said, I am not a fan of Jim Carrey - usually - but this role is custom-made for him.  He completely owns it, sans the usual over-the-top facial contortions.  As well, the children who play the Baudelaire orphans are wonderful in their respective parts -completely believable - and that baby is SO cute!  Meryl Streep and Billy Connolly also appear, and Connolly is especially noteworthy in his ability to make the audience like his character almost immediately, something very essential to the plot.

Finally, the direction:  the director does an excellent job keeping the plot moving.  Compared to the Harry Potter movies, where J. K. Rowling's influence is everywhere, in this film, the author wisely turned creative control over to the screen writer and director.  The result is fantastic:  the movie borrows heavily from Gothic films; as well, the influence of Terry Gilliam's Brazil is apparent; and through-out, there is a sprinkling of Rocky Horror Picture Show (especially in Carrey's very Richard O'Brian/Riff Raff take on Uncle Olaf).

Overall, a great film for adults and children alike.  I give it a 10/10.

My name is Lezah and I am a book-aholic.  Last week I was in the mall and I saw a book store - I've been so good lately, but one book was just calling my name.  I couldn't resist... the next thing I knew someone had lent me a book, and then for Christmas I was given three more.  I just started reading and couldn't stop!  The last few days are nothing but a blur - I don't remember what I did, or where I was...

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but I do like books.  And I like books even better if they don't cost me $35 or $40 a pop.  That's why I like to haunt used book stores.  You don't always end up with the books currently topping the best seller lists, but often-times, you'll end up with something that is even better.  Here is a list of my favourite book stores:

Hay-on-Wye, England:

Hay-on-Wye is a village on the border between England and Wales. If you go to this charming place you will find not one, not two, but close to fifty bookstores, new and used, in a town about the size of your local mall.  About twenty years ago the townsfolk got together and in a Ray Kinsella/'If you build it, he will come' moment, decided to focus the town's tourism dollars towards attracting a book-loving clientele.  A number of people opened bookstores in addition to those already present, and the people do come - in droves.  This is a very popular destination:  the town is lovely, the selection and variety of stores is mind-boggling, everything is within walking distance - it's really a must-see experience.

Powell's City of Books, Portland, Oregon:

Powell's City of Books isn't exactly a city, but it does take up a whole city block in the heart of Portland, one of the prettiest towns on the West Coast. Basically, at Powell's they just kept expanding - first into the store next door, knocking out the wall between, and then again, and again, until the store took up an entire block.  Walking from section to section is an almost magical experience, and the stock is arranged thematically.  Billed as the biggest bookstore in the world, this one is not to be missed!

Henderson's, Bellingham, Washington:

Henderson's is a book store on a much smaller scale than the above two, quiet and unassuming. And, I've got to say, probably the neatest and cleanest used book store I've ever been in!  Well stocked and well organized, offering new and used books as well as records, this store is one of those picture-perfect little places that you usually only see in movies.

McLeod's, Vancouver, BC:

McLeod's in Vancouver (on the corner of Pender and Richards) is also like a store you see in movies, but on the opposite end of the spectrum from Henderson's. That 'old book' smell is the first thing that greets you as you walk through the door, and you have to be careful not to upset the towers of dust-covered books that are piled, leaning wildly, all through the store. But what selection!  Absolutely unbelievable!  The sheer number of books that pass through their hands yearly is overwhelming, and they have sections for almost everything.  Definitely worth a look.

Surreptitious Books, Langley, BC:

located at the Rainbow Mall right by the bus loop and down the road from Kwantlen College, this recently opened store has incredible stock.  Owner Ian Mutch has spent the last ten years working as a book scout and consequently has amassed an incredible collection of rare and hard-to-find books, as well as a good collection of current and popular works.  This one is definitely a hidden treasure!

The Bookman, Chilliwack, BC:

This store has doubled in size over the last ten years and has a good selection of current and popular works.  Less easy to find are those rarer works, as the owner does a lot of trade over the internet. This store is very well organized - I especially like the drawer system they employ under the more conventional display shelves.

Hotel Hell/Hotel Happiness

I've stayed at a few 'posh' hotels recently, and I'm happy to report that none of them fall under the 'Hotel Hell' heading.  Here is what I found.

The Westin Bayshore

It used to be that if you were a 'somebody' and you were going to be staying in a hotel  in Vancouver, you would find yourself at one of two places:  either the Hotel Vancouver, or The Bayshore.  The Hotel Vancouver, with its chateau style, exudes old world charm, and was always the stopping point for the Queen (yes, THE Queen!) when she was in town.  The Bayshore, on the other hand, was the hip and happening place in the fifties and sixties, home to the famous Trader Vic's restaurant and a favorite place for the Hollywood set to bunk down.  Times have changed and Vancouver's hotel boom in the eighties changed the playing field completely:  the Queen now prefers other digs when in town, and there is a lot more variety when staying downtown.  However, the Bayshore is still there, and has recently undergone a huge renovation.  Trader Vic's is no longer there, but frankly, it doesn't matter.  What I liked the most about the Bayshore was the setting:  you are a two block walk from Robson Street and the shopping district, and yet situated right on the shore of Coal Harbour, overlooking the yachts, Stanley Park, and the mountains behind.  You couldn't ask for a better view.  Because we were there on Christmas, some of the yachts were decorated with Christmas lights, making the night view even more magical.  Inside the hotel was magical:  both the lobby and rooms were beautifully appointed, the beds were heavenly, and our dog was welcomed like one of the family!  The next morning I had the best buffet brunch I've ever had, complete with a chocolate fountain as part of the dessert table.  What more could you ask for?

Metrotown Hilton

Last month I stayed at this hotel for a conference, and I had been looking forward to my stay all year.  Unfortunately, like going to see a movie that everyone is raving about, I went and was ... disappointed, I guess.  Nothing was terrible, but the blandness of the place was so all encompassing:  from the lobby to the rooms, the decor and colour palate used was uninspiring.  The other disappointment for me was the breakfast: each day we were served a continental breakfast, and fortunately I wasn't on the Atkin's Diet at the time, or else I'd have starved to death: muffins, danishes and croissants was all that was offered, along with the usual coffee, tea and - pop?  Whoever dreamed up giving us pop for breakfast must have been out of their mind.  This hotel is anchored by its own two-storey mall underneath which caters to Asian tourist groups, and is situated next to the Metrotown Mall, which is rapidly becoming Vancouver's new Chinatown for the younger Asian generation.  In spite of good staff service, my stay at this hotel was a let-down.  Paris and Nicky, you've got some work to do!

The Harrison Hot Springs Resort Hotel

Located about an hour's pleasant country drive from Vancouver, the Harrison Hot Springs Resort Hotel is situated on the shores of Harrison Lake at the site of the Hot Springs, which were discovered by European explorers in the 1800s.  The first hotel opened up in the late 1880s and has grown ever since.  A mix of architectural styles, there was obviously no effort ever made to blend the many additions in any sort of aesthetically pleasing way. The interior of the hotel reminds me of the setting of the Jack Nicholson movie 'The Shining' and although a bit of a maze at times, that just adds to the whole experience.  In each room, guests are provided with complementary robes, and all over the hotel you will see people on their way to or from one of four hot springs fed pools, or the Healing Springs Spa. The rooms are nice, but the lobby is what I love: it speaks to all the natural influences of the area with its slate floors and natural wood pillars. Every afternoon complimentary afternoon tea is offered, and dinner can be an experience like stepping back in time at the Copper Room Restaurant, probably the only place in the Lower Mainland that still insists on a no runners/no jeans/no casual clothes dress code.  But truly, the best experience is sitting at night in the hot springs pool complete with waterfalls, lights, and covered pedestrian bridge, and looking up at the mountains that flank the hotel, and just - relaxing...             � �      

Yup, that's right - Cat-pooh brew.  In the Pacific Northwest's coffee crazy major cities, cat-pooh coffee is on the menu in some people's homes - so if you are the least bit squeamish, be warned.
Now, I heard about this stuff last year, and thought, it can't last.  It's a novelty - people will drink it for a little while and then that's the last we'll hear about it.  And at $300 a pound, who can blame them?  Well, once again I'm wrong - wrong, wrong, wrong.

Civet coffee is still out there and selling like mad - what little there is available.  This coffee apparently (I haven't tried it, personally) has a rich, chocolately flavour without the bitter aftertaste that is so common in many coffees today.  Only 550 pounds a year are produced, hence the high price.  This bean is grown in the Indang region of the Philippines, and when the ripest coffee cherries are eaten by the native Civet cat (kind of looks like a fox, and is cousin to the mongoose) the beans work their way undigested through the animal's digestive tract and then are pooped out. From there, the beans are harvested (just imagine the job posting:  cat poop strainer needed immediately, salary negotiable, commensurate with experience) and shipped to North America, where we silly people drink it.  Hmm......

Good bye, PJ!

At a Paris concert last weekend, PJ Harvey announced that she will no longer tour.  She has been on tour in support of her seventh and most recent album, 'Uh Huh Her'.  Harvey's concert at Paris club Studio 287 is said to be her last ever.

Well, if that's what she really wants, let's hope she sticks to her guns - how many other bands and singers have we heard make that pronouncement?  I can remember meeting The Who in Toronto in '82 when I was a sweet young thing. At the time, they were on their 'final world tour', and Toronto was their 'last concert ever'.  Fast forward twenty years and many tours later, when they lost John Entwhistle to a heart attack while on tour. Maybe PJ knows what's up after all...   

I went down to the heart of Vancouver's shopping district, Robson Street, on Boxing Day this year.  I was there after lunch, and was amazed to see crowds still lined up outside almost every store along the stroll, even at that time of the day. Mexx, Armani Exchange, Banana Republic, Lush, The Body Shop.... everywhere you looked, sales signs proclaimed 50-75% off, velvet ropes were in place with people of all ages lined up behind them, security guards prowled about, huge bouncers wore hands-free walkie talkies and let customers into stores five at a time...  Madness!  An estimated $1.6 billion was spent across Canada on Dec. 26 alone, making Boxing Day officially the busiest shopping day of the year.    

Christine

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Christine

Did you know that our immune system is located in our gut, and we have around a trillion “bugs” teeming in there? When you let out temporary digestive relief in the form of a burp or fart, your body is actually telling you there’s something wrong? You body is signaling trouble with your digestive system, and hence, trouble with your immune system.

Also, that winter dry skin you’re experiencing is your body crying out for essential fatty oils! Well, you can undo this embarrassing condition (or for some people - the louder the noise, the prouder the person) by eating enzymes with your meal. Forget Beano - the natural aid of choice is Udo’s Choice Oil Blend at http://www.florahealth.com. By ingesting this, you help your skin and you curb any future embarrassing noises. Makes for a good Boxing Day gift for those friends of yours who seem oblivious to their condition. Don’t blame the brussel sprouts - blame your lack of enzymes.

Christine

Close to $130, 000 in grant money has been returned to the Youth Outreach Unit by the town of Blue Springs, Missouri (population 48, 000) after it was deemed that the Goth culture posed no risk to the town's teens.  Just under two years ago the town was awarded a grant of $273, 000 in order to eradicate Goth culture from the town; however, after extensive meetings, it has been determined that Goths are harmless.  What a relief - they had me worried for a minute there!

Steve Zim has released a book called Hot Point Fitness (Perseus publishing) that guarantees to give you those washboard abs you see on the likes of Usher, Elizabeth Berkley, et al.

He came across hot points when he was researching why people who do plenty of exercise still aren’t getting the bodies they want. Using an MRI, he could see what exercises affected what muscles. He found that the regular exercises used only 30-40% of the muscle targeted.

Zim went on to develop a workout that affected targeted muscles 100%. He now has the “Hollywood set” climbing aboard his bandwagon with good results.

Zim, owner of the gym, A Tighter U, will no doubt see his clientele double with people wanting this personal trainer’s touch.

Christine

As opposed to a title such as “Where are they now?” we’ve chosen “Alive and kicking” with the assumption that the artists are still doing something productive.

Although Fine Young Cannibals only released two cds - “Fine Young Cannibals”, and “The Raw and the Cooked”, their songs dominated the airwaves from 1985 to 1990. FYC was one of Britain’s most popular bands of the eighties and their unique name was taken from an obscure 1960 film, “All the Fine Cannibals”. FYC consisted of Roland Gift (br 1962), Andy Cox (br 1956) and David Steele (br 1960) (Both formerly of the band, English Beat). Roland was responsible for the group’s lyrics and melodies, while Dave and Andy would add guitars/ drums etc. and arrange/ flesh out the rest of the song.

In 1990, Gift shocked the music industry by refusing, on the band’s behalf, two Brit awards, claiming the event had “become a photo opportunity for the Tory government”. FYC tried to make a third album, but it wasn’t to be, especially since Gift decided to go off with a traveling theatre group halfway through recording, angering his colleagues. After languishing without an album, the band was dropped by their label in 1996. That made Gift more determined to release a solo album.

Roland Gift was/is exceptionally good looking, with a voice to match. His singing style was unique; stretching his mouth for every vowel, and rolling his tongue around every consonant, resulting in a raspy, melancholic and soulful sound. He has since done some acting and modeling, but mostly just stayed out of the limelight. Gift has his own official website and had released a self titled cd (with the help of Andy Cox) in March of 2002 to mediocre reviews. Some comments declared that The Fine Young Cannibal’s “fire was missing”, and called the cd “Bacharach pop”. Not the best reviews to hear after being off the charts for 12 years. (but still being productive by raising his two children).

Andy Cox, with FYC, performed in the movie, “The Tinmen”. He has also lent his guitar/ cello/ drumming/ photography/ arranging/ producing talents to REM, Gabrielle, “Big Monster Bash”, Tribute to Cole Porter, “Fairport Unconventional”, Al Green, English Beat, “Gourmet de Funk”, Ranking Roger, Roland Gift, and ”Best of Music & Rhythm”.

David Steele formed Two Men and a Drum Machine with Andy Cox, and had also been active as a studio backup for other artists as well as for soundtracks. He has lent his vocals/ bass/ keyboards/ drumming/ mixing/ and producing to: Loverboy, Cher, “Down to Earth”, “Truth About Cats and Dogs”, Motley Crew, Al Green, Annihilator, Alison Moyet, and Tribute to Cole Porter.

It appears that Cox and Steele are still alive and kicking, but Gift may require some nudging to get out there and continue pursuing his love of drama and singing.

Christine

Tapas Dance

What's that hottest new food trend in North America?  Well, according to The New York Times Magazine, Spain is the new France, and tapas is the new way to eat.

Tapas started in southern Spain in the 19th century, when workers stopping off at bars on their way home would order quick, easy to prepare appetizers to munch while they were having their drink. In North America the term tapas is used a little more loosely and can refer to seasonal foods or be an offshoot of an established restaurant. The common denominator to all tapas bars, aside from food with a Spanish twist (to a greater or lesser degree), is the smaller portions, and an informal, more social atmosphere than one might find in your favourite restaurant.

In Vancouver, Rob Feenie has opened a much touted tapas bar next to his illustrious formal dining room Lumiere.  My personal favourite, however, is stuck in a strange, out of the way place.  Previously a residence, then a trucker's road stop, Spanish chef Aguilar opened La Masia Restaurant on Fraser Highway near the Langley/Surrey border over twenty years ago.  Sitting up on the hill, it seems out of the way but by night has a beautiful view of the Langley City lights and offers even better food.  Close to ten years ago they opened their tapas bar to great success.

Anyone who's that far ahead of a trend HAS to know what they're doing!  

The Nutcracker

That perennial Christmas favourite, The Nutcracker, just finished its run at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.  Performed by the dance companies Ballet BC and the Alberta Ballet, the Nutcracker only featured six Ballet BC dancers this year. Once again, local children danced many of the smaller roles, while the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra accompanied.

The sets were lovely, especially the damask-heavy 19th Century European living room.  Likewise, the choreographer's child-friendly interpretation of this classic ballet was welcomed by the audience.  Particularly crowd-pleasing was the moment when the cannon rolled out and shot the Rat King.

Overall, the dancing of Talia Evtushenko as Clara was accomplished, as was that of the rest of the cast. All in all, it was a good night.    

Over the last two weeks I have attended seven different concerts, five of which were Christmas related. The one I saw on Friday night, in particular, was especially good.

Held at the Chandos Pattison Auditorium in Surrey, the First Capital Chorus hosted a number of different local musical groups at their annual extravaganza to benefit the Langley Christmas Bureau.  I had never realized it before, but over the seven years that they have hosted this concert, the First Capital Chorus has raised just under $45,000 for the Langley Christmas Bureau. That's no chump change!

Now, for those of you not in the know, the First Capital Chorus is - wait for it - a group of Barbershop singers.  Yikes!  Now, for me, Barbershop Quartets rate right up there with clowns on the scare-o-meter.  Something about 60 to 70 year old men making weird hand and facial gestures, singing these horrible songs and reaching out, out, out - toward me!  It's all I can do to stop myself from running screaming from the building.

Fortunately, the night was fairly light on the Barbershop and featured a variety of other acts.  Surprisingly, the one I enjoyed the most was the Langley Ukulele Ensemble. That's right - ukulele. Now, I was fully prepared to hate this group, having gone through a school system that forced me to play ukuleles for two years during Grade 6 and 7.  Now, if there's anything to make a person grow up and hate music in general and ukuleles in particular, it's the kind of experience I went through.  Anyway, there I sat, prepared to hate - and instead, I loved! Yes, I loved the Ukulele Ensemble, and I'm big enough to admit it!

So, what did I love so much?  Well, the ensemble is led by a man called Peter Luongo, and he is a very energetic, enthusiastic conductor who injects a lot of humour into what he does.  The ensemble is comprised of a group of about twenty 12-18 year olds.  One boy plays the cello, and another plays a conventional looking ukulele - which also happens to be electric.  The rest all play triangular shaped ukuleles, and sing.  And boy, do they sing!  They performed a variety of songs, from 'In the Mood' to 'The William Tell Overture' to 'The Hungarian Waltz #5', as well as 'Sing Low Sweet Chariot' and a selection of Christmas songs like 'Carol of the Bells' and 'Walking in a Winter Wonderland'.

It turns out that the Langley Ukulele Ensemble is quite well known and plays concerts all over Canada and the US - in particular, they are invited to Hawaii every year to perform there, as apparently the ukulele is a dying instrument.

The Langley Ukulele Ensemble is hosting their own concert in April; I'm going to make every effort to be there.    

One of the bands I try to see every time they come to town is Sloan.  Sloan is a Canadian band, originally from Halifax and now based in Toronto, who were touted as being the next Nirvana early in their career.  That didn't happen, of course, but they remain popular in North America and release albums and tour regularly.  Sloan started off as a punk bank and have remained true to their indie roots.  Over their career, Sloan has released a number of albums and each has its own distinct sound and flavour.  With four different songwriters in the group, Sloan is able to offer tunes that cover a variety of influences. The thing I like best about Sloan are their lyrics.  'Coax Me' from the album 'Twice Removed' might just be the only rock song to use the word 'cajole' in it - of course, I could be wrong.  Likewise, never before has the pain of unrequitted early-teenage love been expressed more poignantly than in Jay Ferguson's 'Snowsuit Sound':

Pushed off the silver swing, I got my braces full of sand,

Never got to tell you, that I was your greatest fan.

You're the sizzle teen, and you're older than me.

I'm just walking around; I make that snowsuit sound,

It's all up to me now...

Wow.  As well, their use of internal rhyme rivals that of slam poets and hip-hop artists, although Sloan's music has a very strong pop sensibility.

Sloan's success has translated into good fortune for other Maritime based indie bands, as Sloan started up their own label, Murderecords, and has signed up a number of bands.  Look up The Superfriendz and Local Rabbits for some good tunes.

Finally, about Sloan's shows: if you ever want a high energy, rockin' show that would be safe enough to bring a ten year old to, Sloan's the group to see.  Sloan likes to play all-ages gigs, so they tend to book into theatres and halls (like Vancouver's Vogue Theatre or the Croatian Cultural Centre) where alcohol is not served.  Twice in the last three times I've seen them, lead singer Chris Murphy has had obnoxious drunken louts ejected from the show because these individuals were obviously there for the drink-and-get-wasted element that goes with most concerts - and that's not what Sloan's all about.

For more information, go to http://www.sloan.com or www.murderecords.com.      

(Part 1)

We'll it's that time of year again - yes, coming up to New Year's Day; newspapers and magazines are full of lists of the tops songs, the biggest events, who died - so we're jumping on the bandwagon, too.  Yes, here we will have an on-going tribute to those involved in the music industry who has left us in the year 2004.  May they rest in peace.

Johnny Ramone

Predeceased by his 'brothers' (note quotation marks!) Joey Ramone in 2000 and DeeDee Ramone in 2002, Johnny Ramone left this mortal coil on Sept. 15, 2004 after a long battle with prostate cancer, surrounded by family and friends (including Eddie Vedder, Rob Zombie, and Lisa Marie Presley, to name but a few). Johnny was not only the leader of the punk group The Ramones but also their guitarist, their protector, and their soul.  Described as 'king of the low-slung guitar', Johnny had an incredible energy and love for music.  He is said to have seen over 500 concerts before starting his band - he studied, took notes, and tried to observe and memorize every detail.  A self-professed lover of musical history, he both knew and honoured his rock 'n roll roots. Over The Ramone's 22 year history, the band played over 2,200 shows, starred in the movie Rock 'n Roll High School, and had many songs that have gone down in musical history - certainly not a 'top ten' act, The Ramones made their own way and that's why we remember them today.  Johnny, we'll miss you.

John Peel

John Peel was the biggest champion of new bands and independent music we have ever had.  His Peel Sessions were famous for giving studio time to acts we may never otherwise have heard; he himself was famous for putting bands on the airwaves that would never have been played otherwise. For close to forty years, John Peel lived music, and we thank him.

For more information, see swanktrendz October archives. http://www.swanktrendz.com/sw...

When Austin Powers talked about losing his Mojo, audiences giggled/smirked/nodded knowingly.  Mojo, for me, has a totally different connotation.  When I hear the word, I think music - specifically, music magazine.  Mojo is a British music magazine - no, let me correct myself there:  it's the best of all music magazines.  I used to be a fan of NME (New Music Express) and still am, but Mojo is in a league all by itself.  A large glossy (usually running just under 200 pages), it has articles about the up-and-coming, the currently famous, as well as those from the past.  The weekly concert ads are enough to make any music lover drool.  The graphics are great, and it's always full of pictures.  They cover all musical genres (well, most), and basically, the bottom line is this:  if you want to know who's hip, who's hot, and who's coming up, go to Mojo.  They know all.  For more information, go to http://www.mojo4music.com

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NHL - Love of Money, or Love of Fans?

As of Saturday, Dec 18th, the players have been locked out for 94 days, have missed 67 days of the season, lost 11 games today and the total games missed is 449.

The NHL rejected a players' association proposal and had its own counteroffer turned down during a 31/2-hour session on Dec. 14. No new talks are scheduled.

There has been a lot of grumbling on both sides of the lockout. People are annoyed at the salaries the players get, and the players are opposed to a wage cap.

I do not profess to know everything about hockey, but I do know that I like to watch the game. I understand the players' points of view as it was management that went hog-wild with the salaries and turned the NHL teams into the "haves" and "have nots". Then again, hockey is business, and management wants to make a profit, not a loss, so rather than look internally at management and potential downsizing, they want the players to make the concessions. Frankly, both players, managers, Owners and CEOs make far too much money as it is.

Which brings to mind the purpose of hockey. It was not invented to make money, but rather for the love of the game. Thanks to the lock-out, the junior teams are receiving record-breaking arena crowds.

I predict that if this standoff continues, the NHL players will begin to play smaller arenas around the country for people who normally wouldn't get a chance to see them live. It will return to its grassroots; players busing around to different rinks, trying to make some money on ticket sales after the overhead costs, and people will be lining up to buy tickets.

Perhaps the NHL just needs an overhaul in the form of grass roots hockey, and both players and management will have to accept this new trend, and check their egos at the door.

Christine

The Beauty Myth

Girls and women are told to embrace themselves and accept their bodies. They are also told to treat their body as if it were a temple (via Oprah). This is all good advice. I believe everyone has beauty within and without, and that my version of beauty will be far different than others'. That's what makes life and love connections so intriguing. How bland and tasteless life would be if we all aspired to some beauty "ideal" and actually bought into that image.

I was skimming through a People magazine (I know, I know... I should know better) when I came across an article about women taking their children's ritalin medication because it made them more focused, able to multitask, and LOSE WEIGHT. Immediately, I shook my head and said, but why...? I only have to look at the headlines on all the tabloids at the checkout to understand. "How to lose 10 pounds in 10 days!" "How to decrease signs of aging!" "Ten things to do to keep your man happy in bed!" Excuse me? I must be living in a fog because I don't recall being told by my mother that I had to stay young, thin, and be great in bed, to be worthy. In fact, she ascribed to the "embrace yourself" philosophy.

Our society has not progressed one iota if women are still looking to outside sources to be "good" or "better". What happened to liberation? Well, we certainly can't look to the men and blame them. They sit back and shake their heads at our self absorbed quests for perfection dictated to us from some magazine that is usually written by women, for women ie: Cosmopolitan.

Here's a reality check to anyone thinking those cover girls are something we should, and can physically, attain.

1) The models are usually between the ages of 17 and 21.
2) Many of them have already had cosmetic surgery (top surgeries are nose jobs and breast augmentation)
3) They haven't had children
4) They're not menopausal
5) Their skin is airbrushed and any "lumpy" bits are digitalized out of the photo
6) They have terrible eating habits and often have eating disorders
7) Finally, believe it or not, you are just as beautiful, if not more, with your body and its life experiences.

Ignore those Beauty Myths on the covers of checkout stand magazines. Look yourself in the eye and affirm your beauty, because it is there.

Christine

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I was browsing Ebay the other evening when I noted an enormous amount of semiprecious gems/beads for auction. Then I searched for handcrafted jewelry and voila, found the need for the beads. Now, these aren’t your plastic, glass, or cheap beads, but rather: tiger’s eye, rainbow flourite, snowflake obsidian, green jade, rose quartz, bloodstone, aventurine, citrine etc. For those of you who are saying, “What the...?”, let me explain some of these stones.

Let’s surmise that you wanted a bracelet, or necklace, that would hold meaning for you. These beads allow for a personalized talisman. Suppose you were down on your luck, financially, and also had experienced heartache. The beads for you would be citrine (money), rose quartz and hematite (luck in relationships). Another scenario could be that you are an athlete who has recently experienced performance anxiety. The stones for you would be smokey quartz (athletic endurance), sodalite and aquamarine (calms anxiety). Best of all, if you are experiencing writer’s block during that great novel you are attempting, you require sodalite (cures writer’s block), tourmaline (doubles your luck) and Amethyst (makes your dreams come true).

When researching these “lucky stones”, I realized this is the modern version of the rabbit’s foot without animal rights activists getting upset. You wouldn’t even really need the jewelry, but could simply string the beads and carry them around in your pocket, or have them loose in a dish at your desk, where you could handle them, much like the old “worry stones”.

Being a tad superstitious myself, I ordered some amethyst, sodalite, garnet, and aquamarine beads which now reside in a small basket on my desk. Even if they don’t provide my desired outcome, they are an inexpensive foray into the metaphysical.

Christine

Visit our site at http://www.swanktrendz.com

Alive and Kicking Part 2 - X

Lately, Exene Cervenka’s ex husband (actor Viggo Mortensen) seems to be getting more press than she, even though she is still prolific in her song and poetry writing.

Exene was the singer for the L.A. punk band, X, along with bandmates John Doe (Exene’s first husband and bassist/singer) DJ Bonebrake (drums) and Billy Zoom (guitarist). X ruled L.A.’s punk scene and was admired by other bands struggling for recognition. Unfortunately, X never got the accolades that less ambitious bands later garnered.

X was formed in 1977 and worked steadily until 1988. Their first four albums were produced by Ray Manzarek and were musically edgy, and lyrically insightful. Billy Zoom left the group in 1986 for a disappointing solo attempt, and Dave Alvin from the Blasters was recruited (followed by Tony Gilkyson). They took a five year break and then returned with the album “Hey Zeus” in 1993. They officially disbanded in 1996, although they will sporadically perform (with Billy Zoom in tow).

Exene (br Feb. 1, 1956) has released two solo albums as well as spoken word recordings and books. (One book collaboration was with Lydia Lunch) Exene’s other major “production” is a son Henry (from her union with Viggo) who was born in 1988.

In 1985, Exene, John, Dave and Dj released an country punk album called “Poor Little Critter on the Road” under the name The Knitters. A tribute to this album was made with the 1999 release of “Poor Little Knitter by the Road” proving their musical importance amongst other recording artists.

Exene and Bonebrake also performed in a band called Auntie Christ, whilst John Doe moved on to solo performances and part time acting. Exene is now performing with a group called Original Sinners,self described as “big beat punk”. Original Sinners are touring well into 2005 which aptly entitles them to the Alive & Kicking designation.

Christine

Psychedelic Furs

Gravelly voiced Richard Butler fronted the band who sung “Pretty in Pink” which was used for the 1986 movie of the same name. The band originally assembled in the late 70’s, and continued until 1991. Artistic disagreements led to the band’s demise. The 1980’s were the glory years for the Furs; “Heaven”, along with “Pretty in Pink” kept the Furs on the airwaves. In 1994, Richard created the band, LoveSpitLove, only to disband several years later. His focus is now back on the Furs.

Recently the Furs played at Endfest13 , 2004, with the likes of Violent Femmes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, X, and Franz Ferdinand which would indicate the “Alive and Kicking” moniker is appropriate. I also noticed that the Furs have had an extensive tour date schedule for 2004. Richard has recently released (Aug/04) the song “Work it Out” (written by Vince Clark of Depeche Mode) for the children’s show, Johnny Bravo.

In August, 2004, a book about the Psychedelic Furs was released, entitled “Beautiful Chaos”.

There is talk that the Furs are in recording at this time (Winter 2004), and it is also rumoured that Richard was releasing a solo cd this Fall, but so far, no sight of it. The songs “Broken Areoplanes” and “California” will be two of the titles on the new cd. However, aside from 2002, no “new” cds (in other words, disregard greatest hits cds) have been released, and the other cds were deemed “reissued”.

Present bandmates in the Furs are: Richard Butler (vocals), Tim Butler (bass), John Ashton (guitar), Frank Ferrer (drums) and Amanda Kramer (keyboards).

Butler, (June 5, 1956) presently resides in New York with his wife and daughter and has also become a critically acclaimed painter. He is planning a full touring schedule with the Furs in 2005.

Christine

remember the ingredients are reconstituted mangosteen juice,mangosteen pulp, concentrated apple juice,concentrated pear juice, concentrated grape juice, concentrated blueberry juice, concentrated raspberry juice, concentrated strawberry juice, concentrated cranberry juice, concentrated cherry juice, citric acid, natural flavour pectin, xanthan gum,and sodium benzoate.

If anything, I really believe I have regained some of my lost energy. If you are interested just go to: http:www.swanktrendz.com/swankalert7.html

Christine

Magic 8-Ball - The Solution to My Dilemma

I was struggling to think of a gift that I could send my nephews who(m) are close in age. I didn’t want to anything electronic as I simply don’t have the cash, and I am known for giving them gifts that are both out of the ordinary, and nostalgic. In other words, I buy them gifts I liked as a child (walkie-talkie radios etc.).

Last night it hit me. The Magic 8-Ball! Instantly I am transported back to the age of 12; having an uproarious time, asking the silliest questions, and this inanimate object arbitrarily providing answers. We knew it was just fun, but sometimes the answers were just what we needed to hear, or believe, for that moment in time. I decided to find out what makes the Magic 8-Ball tick and came across a few facts:

1. The Magic 8-Ball was created by Abe Bookman of Alabe Crafts (Cincinnati) in 1946.
2. Tyco bought the toy from Alabe in the 70’s
3. Mattel aquired Tyco
4. Modern Magic 8-Balls are lightweight, whereas older versions were heavy like a billiards ball
5. Eventually the Magic 8-Balls get trapped air bubbles and will have to be replaced
6. The Magic 8-Ball is assumed to be named after the phrase “behind the eight ball” or any instance where you may feel “stuck” and require a way out
7. You can customize a Magic 8-Ball with your own answers but it is very labour intensive excellent how-to http://8ball.ofb.net/howto.ht...
8. Magic 8-Balls can be easily purchased online and have a wide variety of possibilities from a Love Magic 8-Ball ,to a Shrek Magic 8-Ball.
9. There are twenty possible answers found on the icosahedron inside the 8-Ball.

Now I am feeling happy about this year’s gifts to my nephews and I hope they get as much enjoyment from the Magic 8-Ball as I did. Hmmm, better ask one of the balls if this is a good gift to send... ah, answer is, “You may rely on it.”

Christine Thanks to http://8ball.ofb.net/faq.html...

Light Bright

There are some exciting things happening with exterior lights these days - specifically, LED (Light Emitting Diodes).

We've have LED lights around for a while, primarily in places like your clock radio; they are also used commonly in car taillights.  But it was Christmas last year when these lights really created a huge buzz.

BC Hydro had a special offer for businesses, where they were given strings of purpley-blue lights; they were so popular consumers were scrambling to get them.  2003 was the first year these lights were available to people in Canada, and this year BC Hydro is offering mail-in rebate coupons (due Dec. 31/04) for purchasers.  In a broader array of colours this year, and with some of the kinks from last year worked out (if one light went out, the strand was dead; that problem has been rectified with the strings sold this year), these lights are both beautiful and environmentally friendly.  They use 95% less energy, last 7 times longer than normal lights, are more durable (no glass filaments to break) and produce very little heat, thereby decreasing the risk of fire.

For year-round LED use, a company called TIR Systems of Vancouver has produced the Destiny Colour Wash, an exciting new way to look at lighting. Used mainly on exterior walls, the computer controlled lights flood walls and landscaping with different colours that can be programmed to switch at different speeds. The possibilities here are endless...

Christmas Tree Wars

Real or Fake?  Which is it in your house?  This is a point that is hotly debated in many houses across the country at this time of year - real Christmas tree, or fake?

Over the last five years, fake tree sales have gone up 30%, which of course means that real tree sales are down.  To counteract this decline, real tree growers have hooked up with producers of the movie 'The Polar Express' this year and are offering a discount for trees if you show your ticket stub from the movie. For more information, go to The Polar Express website.  

What a pleasant surprise to hear Boy getting more radio airplay, but also ranking 17th (and rising) on the hit list at Much Music (Canadian equivalent of MTV) For more info on the group go to http://www.swanktrendz.com/sw...

Christine

A Tango with Xango? The New Cure-All?

I had a bad fall four years ago (dratted ice) which resulted in a spiral fracture and eventual leg/shoulder/back/neck arthritic discomfort. I have been trying every therapy out there whilst I wait for (yet another) surgery. I’m one of those people who is game to try anything, so long as I don’t experience side effects.

My cousin sent me a bottle of something called Xango juice. It got its name because Mangosteen fruit is rich with Xanthones (some research found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/e...) At first I thought “Uh oh, if it’s good for you, it’ll taste grotty”. But then I read the ingredients and was pleasantly surprised. This is a vegan’s (and anyone else’s) delight. The amount to be ingested is minimal (2-6 tbsps a day). But what really impressed me was the list of ingredients. Note this is the actual order as stated on the bottle:

reconstituted mangosteen juice,mangosteen pulp, concentrated apple juice,concentrated pear juice, concentrated grape juice, concentrated blueberry juice, concentrated raspberry juice, concentrated strawberry juice, concentrated cranberry juice, concentrated cherry juice, citric acid, natural flavour pectin, xanthan gum,and sodium benzoate.

The listed ingredients impressed me because almost every fruit listed was also touted as a daily antioxidant requirement by leading nutritionists. So, I am fulfilling my fruit quota with a couple of sips a day, and it actually tastes good!

I read the online “testimonials” for the product and saw that people believed it cured everything from cancer to arthritis, depression to weight loss. I view these testimonials with cautious reservation as I’m a “gotta see it to believe it” gal. But, I’m going to give it a try - keep your fingers crossed for me. At least I know it’s not going to kill me... or am I allergic to fruit...hmmm

Christine

Sites to check out for purchasing:

http://www.mymangosteen.com/calbrecht" title="http://www.mymangosteen.com/calbrecht" target="_blank"http://www.mymangosteen.com/c...

or

http://www.MyMangosteen.com" title="http://www.MyMangosteen.com" target="_blank"http://www.MyMangosteen.com

The Arcade Fire, Commodore Ballroom, Dec. 12/04 - Vancouver, BC - sold out show

At last night's show we saw some interesting get-ups.  Goofy hat count:  14 (I think that exceeds the national average).  White shoes worn with dark hose/outfits: 3 (I think it's time to lobby for the labour day rule to be re-invoked).  But, enough of the superficial people-watching:  now for the important stuff...

Montreal's The Arcade Fire was upgraded from a smaller venue to the larger Commodore Ballroom for last night's sold out show, and they will be back for a second Vancouver show this Tuesday before continuing their US tour, which finishes in New York in February.

This is not a band that believes in building to a crescendo - that's where they start, and everything builds from there.  The show started off with all seven members of this eclectic ensemble bursting into an electrifying song, with everyone singing in unison.  The variety of instruments used was mind boggling - violin, keyboards, guitar, accordion, drums... the list goes on.  Many band members switched instruments between songs, which created a longer lag time than I'm used to.  Others switched off instruments mid-song, like the percussionist who dropped his drum, ran across the stage and started playing the accordion, or the lead singer who started off the song playing the guitar and ended up banging his tambourine against it.

Manic, intense and obviously passionate about both life and their music, this band's sweeping choruses, quirky stage show and impressive instrumentation speak of a diversity and worldliness lacking in many bands today. The Arcade Fire challenges its audience to keep up with them as they leap from genre to genre within the space of a song, creating an example of musical evolution in front of your eyes.  From Debussy to Echo and the Bunnymen, Bob Dylan to David Byrne, their influences are far-reaching.  Add into that mix a couple of helmut-clad percussionists who leap all over each other and drum on their fellow band mates and you have what many are calling the best live act of the year - if not the decade.  A fun live show, this band will soon be up there with other live-act legends.

Funeral is The Arcade Fire's first album (Merge, Sept/04) and Pitchfork has just given it its highest rating of the year (9.7).  For some fun pics of their live act, go to http://www.stereogum.com/arch... 

Opening for The Arcade Fire last night was Victoria's Chet. My advice:  Forget Chet.    

Dark Side of the Moon

When out at concerts this year, I've been noticing that there is a lot of Pink Floyd about.  I see many guys wearing Dark Side of the Moon t-shirts; a few bands I've seen over the past few months have done Pink Floyd covers or have a Pink Floyd sound, and even the teenagers in my neighbourhood are spraying Pink Floyd graffiti all over the place.

Now, what is this all about? Why the sudden resurgence of PF popularity?  I mean, let's face it:  this is a band from the '60s we're talking about.  Personally, I think there are a lot of other bands from the '60s who are much better and much more worthy (The Beatles come to mind) - but maybe it's because Pink Floyd kept playing right on past The Beatles and into the '80's.  But aren't The Rolling Stones still going strong (yes, I realize that is certainly arguable, but I'm trying to make a point!)?  And The Who was still touring up until two years ago.  So, how do you explain this? Please, throw me a bone here - I'm at a complete loss.

Now don't get me wrong - I don't dislike Pink Floyd.  Pink Floyd is right up there on the list of albums I bought when I was making my first forays into record stores, way back when.  As a matter of fact, Dark Side of the Moon was the album I bought in a discount bin way back in the late '70s, and I was playing (and singing along with) it incessantly for a while there.  I still love the lyrics for Money:

 
Money, it's a gas

Or something like that - whatever the case, it's a hilarious song (I always assumed they were speaking tongue in cheek).

Anyway, my point is this:  while Pink Floyd is a perfectly all right older band, I think there are a lot of other good older bands out there (I didn't even go into less mainstream bands of the time like the glam bands or ... I could just go on and on and on - but I'll spare you).  So why is it that Pink Floyd is so popular right now?   

Unna & Co.

Unna & Co. produce some exotically beautiful little soaps that look like marbles or eggs, tiger-striped and organic-looking in a wide range of colours from browns and oranges to blue. They are made with herbs, grains and fruits, botanical oils and even charcoal, which is said to detoxify the skin and regulate oil production.  They are packaged in units of two to twelve in silk boxes, and fetch a price of $35 to $175 per box.

The soaps are made by a Thai family said to be experts in herbs, and the product won the Best Product Design at the 2003 Bangkok International Gift Fair. These soaps have recently been introduced to BC and are available at a limited number of stores such as the Four Seasons Spa at Whistler and Kado and Karch at Oakridge.

Cycads and Their Worth

Well, it looks like cycads are what all the thieves-in-the-know are wanting these days.

Cycads?  Say what?

Yes, I've got to confess - I'd never heard of them either. Cycads are palm-like tropical or sub-tropical plants that are considered by some to be as lovely as a fine piece of art - and which are currently threatened with extinction. There are over 300 species of this plant, some of which have been around as long as the dinosaur.  The Cycad Society has members in over 20 countries but in spite of this plant's age and geographical range, it is now threatened, and hence becoming more rare - and valuable.

Botanical gardens, nursery owners, collectors, and homeowners lucky enough to have a cycad out in the garden are having to take extra security precautions. But when you consider that a rare cycad can cost up to $20,000, extra security seems a small price to pay.

More than 27 million of these colourful bracelets have been sold over the last nine months.

Coasting along on the popularity of cyclist and cancer-survivor Lance Armstrong, who sports a bright yellow 'LiveStrong' one, these bracelets have been one of the hottest sellers out there this year.  At $1 a piece, they certainly won't break the bank, but the question remains: is the money brought in for these bracelets actually going to support the causes they promote?

If so, that'd be great.  Breast cancer, bone marrow donations, autism, colorectal cancer, anti-smoking - all great causes, and the inspirational words (courage; believe; stand strong; embrace, engage, enable, expand, express) and bright colours make the bracelets extremely popular amongst school-age children, as well as more than a few adults.

Seven-elevens and other stores have been selling the bracelets, as have schools (as fund raisers for the causes).

Visit our site at http://www.swanktrendz.com      

Have I mentioned that I have a thing for shoes? Maybe just once or twice...Anyway, there are a a couple of exciting things happening, shoe-wise, in Vancouver these days.  The first is Gravity Pope, an Edmonton shoe store which opened in Vancouver this spring.  Said to be the country's top shoe store, they sell shoes from lines never before seen in Canada.  From stilettos to ballet flats, they have it all - over 50 different lines, domestic and imported.  For more information, drop by 2205 W. Fourth Avenue, or go to http://www.gravitypope.com.

The Zvezdochka (Russian for little star) is a shoe by Nike, designed by Australian Marc Newson, that is available in very limited quantity world-wide. Only 700 pairs have been produced, and 125 of those will be available for Vancouver consumers. Starting Dec. 12, these shoes will be priced from $290 at Headquarters at 1232 Burrard.

Daytons:  from bikers to movie stars, construction workers to students, there aren't many fashion must-haves out there that are worn by so many and so varied a populace. But these boots are all that. For a pair of tough-lookin', long-wearin' boots, jump into some Daytons, worn by the likes of Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and David Arquette.  At 872 Granville, or http://www.daytonboots.com.

Fluevog Shoes. To be fashion-forward in the '80s, you couldn't do better than to go to Fluevogs on Granville and buy some funky pointy-toed shoes.  Extreme fashion at its best, Fluevog shoes experienced great success here and expanded to Seattle and San Francisco. Still there, still funky, Fluevog is always the place to go if you want to experience the shape of things to come.

Visit our site at http://www.swanktrendz.com   

Better yet, get out and see them. Christine

Send jpg to swanktrendz@yahoo.ca

Christine, Lezah and Terry.

Pearls are big - in more ways than one!  With this year's retro-fashions, pearls are one of the hot accessories.  Regular pearls are just fine with the tweeds and the '40s and '50s looks being sported by everyone these days - but today's big news is big pearls.  Yes, South Seas pearls come in a variety of colours - off white, light pink, grey and black (more of a charcoal, really), are much larger than regular pearls, and have a price tag to match.  A  short, single strand of these babies will set you back about $3500.  Let's hope Santa has you in the column under the heading "Nice" this year...

From Punk to Anime

Planning on being in New York any time in the next three months?  If so, you might want to check this out: at the New Museum of Contemporary Arts there is a show called 'From Punk to Anime', which is a retrospective of the 'sprawling, renegade art scene' in New York's East Village during the '80s.  It is a mixed media event that not only explores the key styles of the time, but also looks at the events that spawned these works.  This exhibit runs from Dec. 9 to March 19

Another interesting piece that the museum current has on offer is a DVD called'Point of View:  An Anthology of the Moving Image'.  This DVD features eleven of the most important artists working in the field of video, film and digital imagery today.  The DVD showcases the newly commissioned works of each artist, as well as biographical material, their previous work, and an interview.  The initial print run was only 1500 and they had a  special offering which has already sold out.

The New Museum of Contemporary Art is currently operating out of the Chelsea Art Museum at Eleventh Ave.  and 22nd Street while their new premises are being built.

I love music and am open to all categories of music. When I hear a phenomenal voice, I am immediately curious about the singer, their lifestyle, and their rise to the top. Unfortunately, I have had an uncanny knack to idolize singers that are fated to die early.

When did this begin? I remember first hearing T-Rex and thinking that Marc Bolan had it all. His "Baby Strange" and "Bang a Gong" songs were played over and over in my room, and over the school's loudspeaker when allowed. Imagine my surprise, and hurt, when I heard that he perished in a car accident in 1979. So young; so sad, such a waste

When I discovered Joy Division (specifically Ian Curtis) I had an new singer to moon over. The song, "Love with tear us apart:" showcased Ian's illustrious lyrics and despondent voice as if he was nearing the end. He was. In 1980 (amidst struggling with depression) he hung himself. Another melodic voice silenced.

Kurt Cobain - what can I say? I heard "Nevermind" and was immediately a fan. I recognized that he had a drug habit, especially when watching him during interviews, but I also recognized his raw talent. All the junkie telltale signs were there, but I didn't expect him to kill himself. I spent that day watching the memorials and thinking, what a waste. (RIP 1994)

Michael Hutchence was THE MAN in my eyes. I bought every cd INXS put out as well as Michael's solo efforts. He never received the credit due him for his soulful, bluesy tunes. Many wrote him off as a pop group with Michael emulating Mick Jagger. That is not what I saw, and I could watched/ listened to him singing nonstop. It is tragic that he died by hanging in a hotel room, and it is even sadder that his lover, Paula Yates died of an overdose within the following 18 months. I wonder how their little girl will progress through this trauma as I'm still coming to terms with it, and I never met the man! (RIP 1997)

Jeff Buckley's rendition of Hallelujah was haunting and evoked an emotional response. Again, it received repeated plays in my player, and then I learned that he drowned in the Mississippi River .. say what? I'm beginning to wonder why I am drawn to self-destructive, brilliant singers. Even sadder, Jeff died in the same November (1997) as Michael Hutchence.

The Traveling Wilburys - Loved the concept of the band and I loved the tunes. Loved George Harrison( RIP 2001) and Roy Orbison! (RIP 1988) - both dead, but still playing somewhere...

Ian Drury ("the diamond geezer" of Ian Drury and the Blockheads) Sex'n'Drugs'n'Rock'n'Roll are very good indeed, His death further reminded me of my own mortality. (RIP 2000)

Kirsty MacColl's duet with the Pogues lead singer on "Fairytale in New York" was engaging, hilarious, and I promptly bought her critically acclaimed "Titanic". How ironic that she would die in Mexico a couple in a boating accident. U2's Bono referred to her as the "Noel Coward of her generation. ( RIP 2000)

Joe Strummer, lead singer of the Clash, and the Clash's music, led me through some turbulent times. Although he didn't die at the peak of his career, he died far too young. (RIP 2002)

The Ramones - what can I say? They have had a banner death year, (2003/2004) My introduction to the punk scene was Iggy, New York Dolls and the Ramones.

Freddy Mercury- Glam frontman for Queen. I could put on any cd and instantly recall all the lyrics. He had such a wonderful presence until AIDS ravaged him. Love the album, "Killer Queen" (RIP 1991)

Finally, Warren Zevon. He wrote jocose and satirical lyrics. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at some of his tunes. He ruefully noted that he had received more artist recognition since his cancer announcement than he had in his life. But Warren, I had been recognizing your talent long before that. (RIP 2004)

The point of listing singers I loved, only to have them die, is to serve as a reminder: no matter how talented one is; or whether one has the "gift" to make people stop and take notice, one's most fervent fan will eventually be Death. And for now, I shall keep the singers I love close to my chest, and not share my feelings for fear of loss.

Christine

Anti-Branding Branding

My better half and I were out shopping and he saw some slightly flared jeans in a high-end shop.  Having had a hankering for a bit of a flare for the last while, he couldn't resist going in and trying these jeans on.  He put on a number of different pairs, and promptly fell in love.  I was jealous - both because he loved the jeans, and because they looked so darned good on him!  After he had tried on a few pair, I was having a hard time keeping track of which were which.

Turns out that none of these jeans have any identifying marks - no labels, tabs, buttons or bows to advertise who the maker is.  The only way you can tell one from the other is by being cognizant of certain minor differences between the brands, which largely have to do with the amount, style and location of the processing (faded bits), and the stitching on the back pockets (which is pretty minimal to begin with).

These are the jeans of the stars.  Matt Damon and Colin Farrell wear them; they were the official jeans of the 2004 Grammy Awards.  Jean Paul Da'mage produces both Damage and Rekko jeans.  These luxurious jeans are made of 'double ring-spun cotton imported from Milan'.  They are hand-made in the US: cut, sewn, processed and washed.  The processing itself takes 6 1/2 hours by hand, compared to the usual 20 minutes of machine or stone processing one would get with other jeans.  Consequently, the price reflects this - $240 (Cdn) a pair.

But if that's what it takes to wear an article of clothing that's not an advertisement for its manufacturer, then maybe the price is worth it.

Lezah

That’s right! They’re also for immature adults as well. But let me – an inveterate snob – direct you towards a comic book that actually is for adults.

Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn and Pia Guerra is speculative fiction at its most ingenious. It opens with a terrifying event and then plays out its horrible aftermath. Now, or at some point in the immediate future, a plague of unknown origin wipes out every mammal on Earth with a Y chromosome (i.e., guys) or 48% of the world’s population. If I may quote from the comic: “495 of the Fortune 500 CEOs are now dead as are 99% of the world’s landowners. In the US alone, more than 95% of all commercial pilots, truck drivers, and ship captains died…as did 92% of violent felons. Internationally, 99% of all mechanics, electricians, and construction workers are now deceased…though 51% of the planet’s agricultural labour force is still alive…”

Get the picture? Death, destruction, disease and huge doses of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome – it’s a brave new world of ineffectual governance and anarchic groups of extremists. But at least agriculture is still humming along. Whoopee! Amongst this disorder walk the last two males on the planet Earth, a man, Yorick Brown – an amateur (immature?) escape artist, and his monkey, Ampersand. Oh, I know what you’re thinking, guys, but this isn’t a British sex comedy from the early seventies. There are actually some women who are perfectly happy to see the end of “man”-kind and aren’t so pleased about this live white male; others are curious about his resistance to the plague and want to study him; and others…well, okay, they do miss men. Alas, poor Yorick, all he really wants to do is go to Australia to find his fiancée. Add his President-by-default mother, his sister, Hero – who has taken this catastrophe rather…er…badly, secret agents – both good and bad, modern-day Amazons and a scientist who may have caused the plague and you have a riveting story firmly founded in a completely believable new Planet Earth.

Brian K. Vaughn’s writing style is beautifully unflashy – I mean that as a compliment. His writing is compact and spare, emphasizing character, but he knows how to punch up the humour and underline the tragedy. And, importantly, each issue ends with a solid, yet unforced, cliffhanger – very important in a serial.

Speaking of characters…I mean, speaking of emphasizing character, Vaughn has found a perfect partner in Pia Guerra. Her drawing style is naturalistic and expressive. I’m a big fan of her technique. She has a crisp, clean line with a perfect sense of layout and her splash panels always make a big splash. There’s quite a large cast in Y and many, many walk-ons, and, believe it or not, a lot of them are female! But, Vaughn and Guerra make each of them an individual.

Y is published by DC/Vertigo Comics and is one of the hottest phenomenons in comics today. It was voted Best Book of 2003 by Wizard Magazine and has been sold to New Line Films (and I suppose it resides in the limbo of development right now – I hope it makes it to the big screen). It was nominated for a 2002 Eisner Award and a 2003 Harvey Award for Best New Series. The early issues have sold out, but I’m happy to say they’re available in easy to purchase trade paperback collections (without the Twinkie ads). In fact, I’m sure all the collections will be available at Virgin Megastore on Friday, December 10 at 1:00 when Pia Guerra will be doing a signing. Drop in and say hi!

Visit Pia Guerra’s website or place of blog: www.hellkitty.com/index.htm where you’ll find more info and lots of fun links.

Canterbury Rap

Vancouver rapper Baba Brinkman, son of Cabinet Minister Joyce Murray, recently returned from a tour of Fringe Festivals around the world where his show, 'The Rap Canterbury Tales', was met with great success.  Brinkman writes and performs original rap and spoken word poetry and tries to 'build bridges between the worlds of rap music and literary poetry'.  Obviously a fan of hip hop and rap, Brinkman also has an MA in Medieval and Renaissance English Literature from UVic, and feels that Eminem and Chaucer are 'both wizards with words.'

On this premise he took the original Canterbury Tales and re-tells some of the stories, a la a modern-day poetry slam (think Eight Mile).  Brinkman takes four hour stories and condenses them into 20 minute raps, which were described by R. L. Brody in her review of The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in The British Theatre Guide as "the clearest retelling of Chaucer's work...ever".

An album based on his show is being released Dec. 11 at a show at the Western Front.  Brinkman also spearheads the Rap is Poetry festival held annually in Vancouver every April.

For more information, go to www.babsword.com.       

Groaners

Have you ever had those moments when you catch sight of a picture of yourself from five or ten years ago and wonder, what was I thinking?  How could I ever have worn _____ (you fill in the blank here)...  Well, don't feel bad - many of us have had little fashion slip-ups along the way.

Where I work, there are a lot of people who have just moved here from Asia.  They're into high fashion, but while fashion is universal, it does have its own continental flavour - and sometimes things just get lost in the translation.  One big Asian fashion trend from about five years ago that didn't translate in North America was the whole big slouchy socks thing. You probably missed it, since it never really caught on here, but I saw quite a lot of it - took me back to the old leg warmers in the '80s days.

A couple of recent Asian imports that do seem to be catching on here (but I'm not sure why) are:

1)  the turned up pants cuffs (is there a name for this look?  No one I've talked to seems to know).  I'm not talking the my-pants-are-too-long-and -I've-run-out-of-time-to- hem- them-so-I-have -just-turned-them -up-an-inch look - I'm talking the entire 4-5 inches at the bottom are turned up one roll only, so the hem of the pants ends up much closer to the knee than the foot. You know what I mean.  And,

2) those runners that look like wrestling boots (often worn with the turned up pants).

Now, don't get me wrong.  I think this look is just fine in a Hello Kitty - cute sort of way, but unlike Hello Kitty, I think it will be something that people look back on in a few years and go, Yuck!

Some current North American trends that I think will become groaners are:

1) weirdly faded blue jeans:  now, I even own a pair of these, but I know for sure what I'll be thinking in five years when I look back at old photos... Just call me a fashion victim.

2) Dirty looking blue jeans:  there's one store out there in particular (not mentioning any names) that had clothes displayed in the windows (particularly jeans) that just look dirty - and I'm not talking sexy-Mama dirty - I'm talking I-just-cleaned-the-barn-a nd-have-crap-all-over-my clothes-but-figure-I'll- run-into-town-and-go-shop ping-anyway dirty.  What's that all about?    

Ram Raiders

You have to imagine this being said with an English accent: "So, do you have ram raiders in Canada, then?"

My cousin asked me this question when I was in Britain in '95.  My response was, "Huh?"  We were speaking the same language, and yet what she was saying was totally foreign to me.  Ram raiders?  Was that a band?  Some fashion thing? A car?  Drink? What?  It took me back to the time my aunt asked me if we had Zebra (pronounced like Deborah) Crossings - I figured I struggled with that one for about 1/2 an hour before I figured out she was referring to pedestrian crosswalks

But, back to ram raiders.  Eventually I ascertained that ram raiders were a type of robber that was very common in Britain at that time.  Guys would steal cars and drive them through store windows, and jump out, steal the merchandise, load it into the stolen car and take off, only to abandon said car when it had fulfilled its usefulness (and was no longer drivable).  I proudly told her that, no, we had nothing of the sort in Canada.

Fast forward ten years:  Surrey, which is where I work, is now the car theft capital of North America.  The video store by my house has had to put in huge steel posts in front of the building as a theft deterrent, as has the car lot we just bought our vehicle from.  A brazen thief has been knocking off liquor stores in the area at the rate of one a night; over the last week, he has stolen in excess of $17,000 worth of Crown Royal whiskey.

So, like music and fashion, many trends make their way across the ocean from Britain to Canada - even some we don't want.  And by the way - if someone you know is giving out gifts of Crown Royal whiskey this Christmas, I know of some RCMP officers who would be interested in talking to him.

Kitchen Aid

I just got a new Kitchen Aid mixer.  This is the second mixer I've ever had, and I chose this brand because my first was also a Kitchen Aid, which I loved.  More importantly, my first Kitchen Aid was probably older than I am, and I just decided to retire it because it was looking tired, and if I wanted to mix anything I had to stand there and hold the bowl since the metal that held the bowl onto the mixer was stripped at the bottom (but that was my fault in the first place!).  So, my beloved old Kitchen Aid is going away for a little rest (I'd never, ever get rid of it - it used to belong to both my Mom, and my great-great aunt before me - it's a family heirloom now!) while the newer, younger model gets to show its stuff.
Kitchen Aids have a funky retro styling along with a number of great colours.They are also offering copper as well as stainless steel - lots of variety!

Now this company has been around for a long time.  It was started by an Ohio engineer in 1907 who was looking for a new, more efficient  machine for mixing bread dough. By the end of World War I the company was producing four mixers a day!  Wow! The price was $189.50 each, pretty steep for those days.  By the 1920s KitchenAid was producing a line that was more economical, and unsurpassed quality became its byword.  By the 50s all those funky colours were introduced. Today KitchenAid has a whole line of products from fridges and ovens to smaller appliances, but they are still best known for their wonderful, funky-looking mixers.

Being Gifted - an Oxymoron?

Whom the gods wish to destroy they first call promising,' quote: Cyril Connolly in Enemies of Promise.

It may surprise you to know that in many school districts, the population with the highest high school drop-out rate is not the learning disabled, not the aboriginal students, not those from the lowest socio-economic level - but rather, those with the highest IQ, the gifted students.  That's right, the percentage of gifted students who fail to achieve high school graduation is equal to or greater than the percentage of any other group in most regional areas (around 5.2%).  Kind of a sad statement on our society and education system, isn't it?

Many people feel that allowing gifted or exceptional children to learn at their own level and pace smacks of elitism; that gifted children who are accelerated through school are exposed to social situations they are not emotional equipped to deal with.  Personally, I think it completely depends on the individual in question and that's where the parents need to step in.  A child's education in not solely the responsibility of the school - it is the responsibility of all parties concerned:  the child, the parents, the school and any other organizations or agencies that may have a stake in it.

When a child is a gifted athlete - say, a hockey player - accommodations are frequently made.  Charter schools are springing up all over, some which cater to sports like hockey.  Public schools have created special programs to give gifted athletes and performers "study blocks"and provide teacher supervisors to ensure that these students are able to make up work missed due to practices/games/road trips that interfere with regular class time.  So, then, why is it that people are willing to make accommodations for some students, while those who are gifted intellectually are not also on the receiving end of this largesse?  Is it jealousy?  Misunderstanding?  Or something else altogether?

A few years ago I was part of a committee proposing a gifted program for a local high school.  The neighbourhood is upper middle class; the school's parents, for the most part, have both a high level of education and income; education is valued, and most of the students attending this school are not only expected to graduate, but will also proceed on to some form of post secondary education.  Well, you can imagine my shock - no, horror - at the reception we got from a number of the teachers when I found out that the program would not be well-supported by the staff.  One teacher stated that he was quite sure there were no gifted students