5 Tunes for the Weekend

Hi Friends,

We're that much closer to the Weeknd and in Canada it's a long one. An extra day to get out there and celebrate the summer. It also means you'll have some extra time to listen to great new music. Whether you're heading to Caribana, Drake's OVO festival at the Molson Amp or heading to Montreal for Osheaga Music & Arts Festival make sure you consume as much music as humanly possible.

Here's a few new tracks that I'd like to recommend...

• The Bees - 'I Really Need Love Now' *not really new but God damn this album is fantastic
• The Arctic Monkeys - 'The Hellcat Spangled Shalala' *this one knocked me on my ass
• Snow Patrol - 'Out In The Dark' *they are BACK:)
• Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - 'The Death of You and Me' *Never not going to be good:)
• The Sheepdogs - 'Baby I Won't Do You No Harm (Medley)' *whole album is meant for long weekends

Have a safe and happy long weekend!

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg Stewart

Television Tunes

Hi Friends,

I had a conversation about TV theme songs today and it got me thinking. It got me thinking about how many amazing, yet sometimes embarrassing, tunes there were. Cheesy or awesome they all have the power to instantly transport you back in time. For me it's back to a childhood in suburban Toronto where television reigned King. Many of these shows conjure up memories innocence and a naivety to the World.

I started writing a list, went online and I soon found myself in a worm hole of catchy jingles from my past. There were just so many classic sitcoms in the 70s and 80s. It was a time when television didn't have much competition - so the shows had to be good to make the cut and that included a killer intro.

Here's a few that I dug up including a few that bring a tear to my eye from the first note...

• The Greatest American Hero *made popular again on Seinfeld as George's voicemail
• The Wonder Years *favourite show of all time
• Welcome Back Kotter
• WKRP in Cincinati
• M*A*S*H covered by Manic Street Preachers here *listen to those lyrics . This theme reminds me of my Dad as he loves this show.
• Different Strokes
• The Littlest Hobo *Cancon
• Degrassi Jr. High
• Family Ties *what a love song
• Growing Pains *single tear

I'm not sure if it's a case of getting older - but I really don't hear that magic in theme songs these days. Maybe it's because most shows are reality based and the reality is that it's much easier to just buy a song. I guess it might also be that I'm a child of the 70s/80s - and was spoiled with great television music.

Thanks for reading/listening.

Now sing it with me..."I'm at - WKRP - in -Cin-cin-na-ti".

Gregg

Top Toons

Hello Friends,

Sometimes the music Gods come together and decide that the World needs a bunch of amazing music all at once. Well that's exactly what seems to have happened in recent days. I've been introduced to a few beauty tracks I think will be with me for the next few months in a heavy rotation.

Here's a quick list of those tracks for you to check out...

• Cults - 'Go Outside' *disturbing video but amazingly beautiful track
• Little Dragon - 'Ritual Union' *live at Glastonbury - but the track itself is awesome and makes drum n' bass accessible to all
• DJ Khaled featuring Lil Wayne, Drake and Rick Ross - 'I'm On One' *I wanna be a rapper listening to this
• The Vaccines - 'If You Wanna' *The Ramones live on :)
• Calvin Harris featuring Kelis - 'Bounce' *Calvin is Scottish and rules period.
• The Horrors - 'Still Life' *John Hughes would have loved these guys
• The Midway State - 'Atlantic' *not a new track but they played our show today and killed it

There's lots of summer left - so here's to more great music in the coming months. I hope you're having a great summer and seeing lots of live music.

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg

and the Grammy for album of the year goes to...

Hello Friends,

It's only July and I think that it's safe to say that Beyonce has just released the album of the year. Not only is she fierce (Sasha Fierce) she's angelic and simply the most powerful woman in the game. Kanye may have to do this again if Beyonce doesn't get the Grammy next February.

Like everyone - I saw the video for 'Run The World (Girls)' and knew it was again Beyonce's turn to shine. She comes in hard on each new album and gets even more gorgeous with age. She's stunning and for that Jay Z wins:)

A colleague of mine was first to jump up and down about this album when it arrived on our desks. She raved about it for days - but I always need to hear things for myself to believe it. Well this is one I believe and am totally in love with from start to finish. Thanks for pushing it Jully.

Here's my top Beyonce tunes play list for you to enjoy.

• Party *This is a massive hit from the new album
• The Best Thing I Never Had *hotness alert
• Irreplaceable
• Crazy in Love also covered by Snow Patrol
• No, No, No part 2 *this song was huge when I was in Europe in 1997
• If I Were A Boy
• Single Ladies *SNL version:)

It's funny when you look back at Boy or Girl groups - because it's clear as to who the Superstar was going to be. For Destiny's Child it was obviously Beyonce, for Nsync it was Justin Timberlake and for The Backstreet Boys it was clearly Nick Carter (or was that just me?)

There's still lots of time for other great albums to come out in 2011. God knows Adele and a few others have already released some beauties - but I think this one has got legs - along with about 5 number 1 singles to go.

Beyonce is truly the Queen at this time and I suggest you give this full album a listen.

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg