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

What's Next?

Hello Friends,

I heard a great sound bite today from a Jay Z interview where he speaks about the future of the music industry. He talks about how the industry's now purging itself online and that the money just isn't flowing the same way it once was. He also says that because of this the industry will survive and be better than ever before. It's because the industry will eventually be made up of just those that are in it for the right reason and that is passion.

I for one think it's an exciting time in music. More than ever before the cream of the crop is able to rise to the top. The only way to survive is to to think creatively while creating amazing music and content alike. There's a new generation of musicians that grew up without knowing physical product and have the wherewithal to build a following on their own. It's uncharted waters - that will require them to make good music in order to stay afloat.

I've been working in the music business for over 12 years now and still love it. It's something I've always wanted to do - so I did whatever it took to get my foot in the door. It's not a sob story - it's the story of 100% of the people that work in this business. It's the only way to get in the door. I've seen this passion time and time again and it's proven itself time and time again.

In my time I've seen the launch of Napster, iTunes, 360 deals, label digital departments, digital singles, digital albums, streaming audio agreements, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Ustream and more. With the launch of these the same thing occurred each time and that was a scared industry tried to fight them. All along they should have been embracing them to form partnerships while exploring the future together - as all other ventures have failed.

It was announced this week that HMV Canada's 121 stores have been sold to Hilco UK. They plan to revamp the company and go in a more digital direction. Who knows if this will work or not - but if you've been in an HMV of late you can attest to the fact that it's more about t-shirts and headphones - so I guess they have to try something different.

So what's next? Here's a few great music services that have a good idea of what's to come...

• Rdio - This is a fairly new service that reminds me of what we all saw in Tom Cruise's 'Minority Report' a few year's back. It's a music service that allows the consumer to hear anything anywhere for a low monthly fee.

• Soundcloud - Many artists are releasing their singles on this service as it's a great way to get feedback in the form of clouds and comments instantly. It's got a deep catalogue based on the users that share this service.

• Vevo - Owned in part by 3 out of the 4 major record labels and home to their deep catalogues of music videos and original content. They look like youtube and have partnerships in many marketplaces allowing media companies the access to their music while sharing advertising revenues. It's better for most as it makes the ever changing streaming agreements easier to manage.

• Twitter - Twitter makes Facebook look old and solidifies the fact that you have no use for Myspace ever again. It's instant gratification and the World is listening.

• Spotify - Made popular in Europe a few years ago - Spotify has made its way across the pond allowing it's users access to millions of songs without taking up any space on a hard drive.

• Grooveshark - Looks very much like iTunes library - but allows you to share play lists and houses deep catalogues of music. You don't own anything - but have the ability to play it anytime and anywhere there's an online connection.

There's lots to be excited about as long as you have an open mind and love of music. Lets embrace it and create a beautiful partnership with musicians.

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg Stewart

PS - I just listened to The Boxer Rebellion's album entitled 'The Cold Still' 3 times while writing this. It's a must hear album so buy it, stream it, watch it, share it and enjoy it!

Festival Anthems

Hello Friends,

It seems that everyone I know is headed to the town of Bobcaygeon, Ontario this evening to see both the Sam Roberts Band and The Tragically Hip. I'm certain it'll be another epic night in cottage country - I just hope that the rain holds off for them.

On the other side of the pond festival goers are now on day 2 of Glastonbury Music Festival as well as Hyde Park's 'Hard Rock Calling' in London.

It's definitely summer festival time again and what better way to celebrate then with some amazing music in the great outdoors.

Here's a list of some festival anthems that will likely be heard this weekend at these 3.

• The Tragically Hip - 'Bobcaygeon' *Imagine the crowd's roar when they kick into this one:)
• Sam Roberts Band - 'Last Crusade' *One of Canada's finest live acts
• Radiohead - 'Paranoid Android' *Hit the stage as a surprise at Glastonbury last night
• The Killers - 'When You Were Young' *Headlined Hyde Park last night
• Kings of Leon - 'Sex is on Fire' *Hyde Park last night
• U2 - 'Stay Faraway So Close *Headlined Glastonbury last night

If I could give you 2 bits of advice - it would be that everyone should travel while you're young and attend as many music festivals as humanly possible.

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg

Running Playlist

Hello Friends,

I've just finished creating an epic play list that clocks in at exactly 1 hour. I had to share these 12 tracks as they work so perfectly together for the purpose of a soundtrack to any run.

There's definitely a build-up of intensity with these songs that will carry you through any run. It will also give you that extra boost at the end for a big finish. If you run - try it out. If you don't - check them out - they're magical tunes.

1. The Foals - 'Spanish Sahara'
2. Broken Social Scene - 'Sweetest Kill'
3. Guns N Roses - 'November Rain'
4. The Horrors - 'Still Life'
5. Tame Impala - 'Solitude Is Bliss'
6. The Boxer Rebellion - 'If You Run'
7. Temper Trap - 'Love Lost'
8. Kings of Leon - 'Closer'
9. Two Door Cinema Club - 'Something Good Can Work'
10. J. Cole - 'You Got It'
11. Eminem feat Rihanna - 'Love The Way You Lie'
12. Drake feat Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Eminem - 'Forever'

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg Stewart