Geographer – Animal Shapes

Song takes 45 seconds to really get going. After that, it is synth pop-rock at its best.




Visit the band's website

Faded Paper Figures

Rating: 4/5
Skippable Tracks: 0
If you like: Postal Service, Owl City

Posting songs, not words

So I kind of miss blogging. But for the next month, all I am going to do is posting songs a few times a week. This is a song by Dntel, one of the members of The Postal Service -- also below. I promise to get back into it once the summer ends. For now, enjoy these songs.

My Portable Device Ep30

My Portable Device Ep29

My Portable Device Ep 28

Finally decided that it was time to post those podcasts that I've been meaning to post for the past few months. I'll also try to get back into reviewing some music. With the new construction happening at UMFM I will not be doing any more new shows for an undetermined amount of time, so enjoy these 10 shows until then.

- Miguel

Why bands should sell-out

One thing that has always bothered me a bit is when someone starts complaining that his favorite band has just sold-out. I agree that sometimes the music suffers, but I also understand that these bands are not put on earth just so I can be entertained. They need to make money too! They need to sell music.

Just look at how much one artist has to accomplish just to earn a minimum wage salary. It's ridiculous!



So if you love to pirate music, maybe think again. I'm not saying that I haven't ripped a CD from a friend. But I do support artists by attending the shows, buying shirts (no, I don't wear band t-shirts just to try to be cool), and CDs.

In fact, I gave up a few hours of studying to see Yukon Blonde -- pretty sweet show. I'll let you all know when they roll back into town.

New Stars Single

I finally found someone who posted the new Stars single, Fixed. It has a great sound, much like the Stars heard on Set Yourself on Fire.



Stars will be having a small an intimate concert at the Pyramid on May 10, 2010. Unfortunately, it sold out pretty quickly.

New album is being released June 22, 2010. I'll let you all know the moment I hear it. You'll be seeing a full review of that album for sure!

New Wintersleep

Wintersleep has finished recording its fourth full album. Currently they have only announced US dates, but I'm sure there will be a Canada tour. Make sure you stop by to check the latest news.

You can download a free track

New Band of Horses

The new single is geting very mixed reviews. The band has a new label, and perphaps a new sound. What do you think?

Portugal the Man - American Ghetto

Album: American Ghetto
Released: March 2, 2010
Label: Approaching AIRballoons,Equal Vision
Stars: 3.0
Skippable Tracks: 0
Must-listen/purchase Track: The Dead Dog

I think I forgot how do to a CD review; no, seriously! I don't know where to even begin with it.

It seems like it was just yesterday that I was enjoying a newly released album by Portugal the Man; I was. These guys just released two albums in July of 2009: The Satanic Satanist, and The Majestic Majesty. Sure, they were the same album (one regular album, and one acoustic) but it seems like they are just poppin'em out, and this album does show the consequences. This album has nothing on The Majestic Majesty and Satanic Satanist.(Check it out below. Really!)

So why Portugal the Man? According to Wikpedia they band wanted to have a bigger than life feel. "A country is a group of people," guitar player and vocalist John Gourley explains. "With Portugal, it just ended up being the first country that came to mind. The band's name is 'Portugal'. The period is stating that, and 'The Man' states that it's just one person." The name has more personal meaning as well: Portugal. The Man was going to be the name of a book that Gourley had planned to write about his father and his many adventures.

So sample some of the new, but most definitely purchase some of the old.

The Old Stuff
Satanic Satanist

A Real Estate 40 min Jam

There is not much information out there for these guys, just what is posted on Wikipedia.

Real Estate have roots in the Garden State and they’re led by singer/guitarist Martin Courtney and feature guitarist Matthew Mondanile (the latter known to some for his work in Ducktails, Predator Vision, and The Parasails) as well as Alex Bleeker on bass and Etienne Duguay (also of Predator Vision) on the drums.

I really love listening to these guys when I'm doing some homework, or just hanging around the house. It's a super relaxing 40 min jam session. Nice!

Length: 40 Min
Favourite Song: Atlantic City
Sounds like: a relaxing jam session
Stars: 5

Yukon Blonde

It’s been a long, long time I know – A while ago I promised that I would let you know about something I found that I was really enjoying, so here it is.

I’ve really been enjoying Yukon Blonde’s self titled debut album. The album is a very straight-forward rock album with a 60s vibe. The guitar riffs are not crazy and “flashy”, but rather have a crisp, tight, modest sound. This, accompanied by the great voice of Jeff Innes, and the solid base playing makes it a great album to leave on repeat.

The band is from Kelowna, BC and have been around since 2005. Yukon Blonde, formerly known as Alphababy, consists of Jeff Innes, Brandon Scott, Adam Newton, and Graham Jones and is touring part of Canada and the US. However, Winnipeg got shafted.



Download Yukon Blonde

Yukon Blonde MySpace

Something new

I know it's been a long time since I posted an actual review - really long time.
I'm working on a couple of reviews, but schoolwork has my hands tied. Really!

For now here is some really great electro-pop that you can listen to. I'm really looking forward to listening to the new Lali Puna- I know, not the best name.

It's one of my favourite elecro-pop groups, even though I haven't really known about them for that long. It's the kind of electronic music that enjoy: mellow, melodic, and a bit melancholy. The band is from Weilheim, Germany and have one member of the very popular The Notwist- that's how I found out about Lali. If you haven't checked them out, it worth a shot. My guess is that if you still check my blog, you generally like what I post. So here is another sample.



The new album is called Our Inventions and is being released some time in April 2010. It's been about five years sine they released Faking the Books.

P.S. Keep checking back, I'll try to get these two reviews finished within the next week. Trust me, you'll like what I found.

My Portable Device Ep 27

Animal Collective - On a Highway
You Say Party... - Laura Palmer's Prom
Beach House - Zebra
Blakroc - On the Vista
Vampire W - White Sky
Fu***d **- Anorak City
Real Estate - Fake Blues
Spoon - Who Makes You Money
Woodhands - Dissembler
Los Campesinos - Romance is Boring
Gentleman Reg - We're in a Thunderstorm
Swell Season - Low Rising
Bibio - Dopplerton
Haadlights Telephones
Arcade - Haiti

I wish I was a little bit taller

Oh yes, good ol' times with Skee-lo. Skee-lo released an album in 2009 to try to make some more cazash, sadly, this is still his best song.

Favourite songs of 2009

Some of our favourite songs of 2009. No, not ALL of our favourites.
These are all songs that were played on My Portable Device at some point.



I'm gonna make you listen to this one. No playlist -- feel free to request one if you would like.
P.S. Sorry about the intro: I sound childish.

My Portable Device EP25

The Christmas special. Runs until Jan 11, 2010.


SkyBox - In a Dream
Grizzly Bear Vs Dead Prez - Two weeks
Devandra Banhart - Valencia Roxy Music
Mike Snow - Black and Blue
Camera Obscura - French Navy
The Thermals - Now we can see
Wilco - Wilco (the song)
Passion Pit - Little Secrets
Blue Scholars - The inkwell
Common Market - Trouble is
Deer Tick - That isn't real
Port O'Brien - My will is good
Joel Plaskett - Extraordinary
Wolf Parade - Believe in anything
New Pornographers - Sing me spanish techno
Born Ruffians - Humming Bird

My Portable Device EP24

I thought this show ended or something...


I did not have time to lay down the voice tracks. So I did the show live.

Grizly Bear - Two Weeks
Devandra Banhart - Foolin'
James Yuill - This Sweet Love (13:58)
Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend...
Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
Mumm-ra - She's Got You High (24:50)
Meaghan Smith - Here Comes Your Man
Drummer - Feel Good Together
Acid House Kings - What You Wanna Do (34:45)
Curvise - Art is Hard
Boats - 500% (41)
Julie Doiron - Consolation Prize
Arcade Fire - Une Anee Sans Lumiere
Stars - Midnight Coward
Land of Talk - Got a Call (55:00)
Bahamas - Becking Call