This isn’t a competition. It’s a collaboration.
This isn’t a competition. It’s a collaboration.
« for example »
• 95EH.CA • MOUNTOWN.SUBSTACK.COM • MOUN.TOWN/RADIO • KEGG.CA • MOUN.TOWN/EVENTS • MOUN.TOWN/FM • ET.CETERA/ETC •
--
\\ Because It’s Not a Competition; It's a Collaboration //
.
•
The latest BI-WEEKLY-ISH newsletter talks about some post-US election posts (including a David Graeber video), as well as some thoughts about theory & practice (and teachings > teachers) — but you’ll have to jump over to Substack to read in full!
Here's the 26th instalment of the bi-weekly Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks and put together a High Five For… Mix’d CD.
“My favourite thing about the internet is that stuff like someone taking audio from a 2011 Charlie Kaufman lecture (and then setting it to beautifully shot imagery and a minimalist heartbeat backbeat) is something I'm able to just find and watch again & again, whenever I need a punch in the heart gut.”
Here’s my personally subjective list of the top Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is revisiting a similar nostalgic distraction).
EPISODE 078 kicks off with Frederick Squire's take on a song about a Book Of Love, and it closes out with a newer one from the king of Mosey. And a bunch of good stuff in between.
“Kassi Valazza's voice is a red-hot nickel ball slowly working its way through a cube of ballistic gelatin. This LP is a gently wound path of close-cosmic-country with a B-side that actually defies gravity. If you thought her first release was a winner, well... engage your core and hang on to your javelinas, she's just done one better”
Hi! Here’s FIVE reason FOR why you should really consider getting a FREE local library card (especially if you also live in Kimberley, BC and can get special discounts at participating local stores for showing your KPL library card during Canadian Library Month all October)!
The latest BI-WEEKLY-ISH newsletter talks about some post-BC-election thoughts (based on the current, unfinalized results), as well as address some of the comments that came out in a now-deleted Kimberley Corkboard post — but you’ll have to jump over to Substack to read in full!
The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 1988 — featuring tunes from Pixies, Jungle Brothers, The Traveling Wilburys, Tracy Chapman, EPMD, Galaxie 500 + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘88 vintage to stick in your headphones.
The latest BI-WEEKLY-ISH EH?! mailout is a post about how British Columbians should get out and actively NOT vote for the BC Conservatives in the upcoming BC provincial election — READ HERE.
The latest edition has got stuff about AI Chatbot work, Q&As with local city councillor candidates, a list of 95eh + hi54lofi duties that I'll be playing around with during #LocalAreaElectionSeason, and… somehow even a bit more (like a picture of a hornet, for example).
"If people want someone on council who is committed to seeing Kimberley develop in a thoughtful way where we take a holistic approach, creating a thriving small business community where entrepreneurs can be successful, and ensuring we’ve got a safe and vibrant community for generations to come, then you can feel good about voting for me."
.
.
.
.
--
•
•
--
****
I had put my newslettering on indefinite pause back in May ‘24 (after deciding to shutter the shutters on The 95EH Events Calendar, again), BUT, as I mentioned in the “Happy ‘9/5 (in the USA) Day’, Eh?!” greeting card I recently sent out, I have found myself thinking about possibly testing out a different version of my ‘EH-mails’… and since I’ve already tried out a ‘WEEKLY EH?!’ and a ‘MONTHLY EH?!’, I figured it might be high time to split the difference and try out a ‘BI-WEEKLY EH?!’ version next — HOWEVER — I also don’t want to rush back into any avoidable bad blahg/life balance, SO, I will just add that by “bi-weekly” what I really mean is that I will send out two (2) newsletters each month, BUT, instead of tying myself to post on any specific day of the week (ie. like “every other Thursday”), I will instead just aim to have one newsletter sent out in the first half of the month + one newsletter sent out sometime in the second half of the month.
So here are some past newsletters to test out whether you wouldn’t mind to have this FREE newsletter sent directly to your email inbox twice a month (or you can pop over to Substack to read/subscribe over there):
||
--
***
Jump over to MOUN.TOWN/RADIO to explore this idea further + maybe bookmark that url in your brain for future revisits, as EVERY Wednesday I rotate updating the SIDE A and SIDE B Mix Tape Radio players with a new starting tape (and bump their accompanying blog posts up the reading queue). Both MTR “sides” play human-made digital mix tapes one-after-the-other all dang day, once you press play). Alternatively, you can also have a flick thru some of the most recent individual episodes featured on MTR - FRESH TAPES below (which come with clickable/listenable tracklistings for anybody’s further headphone investigating)…
Here's the 26th instalment of the bi-weekly Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks and put together a High Five For… Mix’d CD.
EPISODE 078 kicks off with Frederick Squire's take on a song about a Book Of Love, and it closes out with a newer one from the king of Mosey. And a bunch of good stuff in between.
The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 1988 — featuring tunes from Pixies, Jungle Brothers, The Traveling Wilburys, Tracy Chapman, EPMD, Galaxie 500 + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘88 vintage to stick in your headphones.
Here's the 8th installment of the bi-weekly series where I'd go back to the iTunes organizational system I had set up back when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks and put together a HI54 Mixed CD.
EPS 093 of MTR opens with Johnny Cash talking guns and before things close out with some Sonofdov wolf talk, you’ll hear: J Mascis, cardnl, Joan Shelley, and a bunch more musical niceness.
Episode 164 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the ongoing HI54 Mix CD ‘MOUNTOWN LIFE’ - ft. William Lawrence, R McClure & Tall Shadows, Odetta Hartman, derek ted + a bunch more mountain-town-flavoured headphone goodness.
Here's the 19th instalment of the Mixcloud series where I’d go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station and then shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks & put together a ewn 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.
Episode 200 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the ongoing HI54 Mix CD ‘BACKYARD BBQ - ft. Three Dog Night, Dusty Springfield, Alton Ellis, War + a bunch more bbq-flavoured headphone goodness.
The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 1996 — featuring tunes from Beck, Fugees, Counting Crows, Outkast, Sublime, Weezer + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘96 vintage to stick in your headphones.
Episode 102 opens with Open Mike Eagle trying to find the signal & before things close out with some breathing advice, you’ll hear: Elvis in the freezer, a Wilco cover, Racecar Circling into a Cycle and a bunch more musical niceness.
Here's the 6th instalment of the Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station… and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.
MIX TAPE RADIO EPS 052 kicks off with some loveliness from Sufjan, and before you get to the Benjamin Booker bookend, you'll hear tracks from Houndmouth, Dear Sister, Jon Mckiel, Dumbo Gets Mad, The Cave Singers and a whole bunch more.
The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 2016 — featuring tunes from Sonny Smith, Big Thief, KOOL A.D., John K. Samson, Margaret Glaspy + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘16 vintage to stick in your headphones.
Episode 110 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the HI54 Mix CD ‘EH CANADA’ - ft. Charlotte Cornfield, Basement Revolver, Mauno, The Tragically Hip + a whole bunch more maple-flavoured headphones goodness.
Here's the 37th instalment of the HI54 Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD to share.
EPISODE 091 kicks off with Benjamin Shaw adding bnjmnshw touches to Magana's lovely 'Inches Apart', and before things close out with a dusty gem from the underappreciated Blaze Foley, you'll get a secret taste of that sweet Sugar Rush 2 comp The Grey Estates put out last year, there'll be a short European Vacation, new Haley Heynderickx, Kevin Morby + more.
To kick this ‘THE HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series off, we’re going to go all the way back to the year of my birth — 1983. Featuring tunes from R.E.M. Violent Femmes, Aretha Franklin, Lewis Baloue, Marine Girls + a whole bunch more, it’s a nice ‘83 vintage to stick in your headphones.
Episode 124 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the ongoing HI54 Mix CD ‘EVENINGS’ - ft. JEEN., The Brian Jonestown Massacre, SALES, Wilson Pickett + a bunch more evening-flavoured headphone goodness.
Here's the 16th episode of the Mixcloud series where I’d go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.
Episode 166 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the ongoing HI54 Mix CD ‘EVERYTHING LIKED IN: INSERT CURRENT YEAR’ - ft. David Karsten Daniels, It Looks Sad, Lala Lala, Swash + a bunch more 2020-flavoured headphone goodness.
The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 2001 — featuring tunes from Gillian Welch, Gorillaz, The Strokes, The Shins, Roots Manuva + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘01 vintage to stick in your headphones.
There is a certain time of the year when cuddling and thinking about cuddling is at its highest. And during that time of the year, one can, if they so desire, bust out Episode 69 of the Mix Tape Radio Show. Because it was made with that time of the year in mind.
Here's the 29th instalment of my Mixcloud series ‘The Mix Tape Radio Mix CDs’… and this one comes with a special Xmas flavour as it ‘tis that season once again, eh?
As there is no escaping the jingles this times of year, I decided to give EPISODE 47 a little bit of a “Jesus's Birthday” vibe, albeit, more of a “JC drinking eggnog, celebrating his birthday alone” kind of vibe, but still… deck the halls and all that merry stuff.
Here's the 23rd instalment of the bi-weekly Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 95-tracks that have been rated as 'Mix Tape Radio approved' and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.
Episode 117 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the HI54 Mix CD ‘HIGH FIVE FOR… WINTER’ - ft. Lou Rogai, William Ryan Fritch, Funeral For Bird, Mountain Goats + a bunch more winter-flavoured headphone goodness.
The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with a 19-track digital mix tape + 54-track digital mix cd from the year 1991 — featuring tunes from Primal Scream, Matthew Sweet, Talk Talk, Pearl Jam, A Tribe Called Quest + a whole bunch more… basically, it’s a nice ‘91 vintage to pour down your headphones.
Episode 162 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the ongoing HI54 Mix CD ‘HI54… HALLOWEEN’ - ft. Willie J Healey, Nouvelle Vague, Being Dead, The Holy Gasp + a bunch more Halloween-flavoured headphone goodness.
Here's the 17th instalment of the Mixcloud mix series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station… and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.
Here's the 34th instalment of the Mixcloud mix series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station… and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.
\\
//
--
“I am late to Yoga, but it sure has been helpful. You don’t have to be good at it and you don’t have to do more than a few minutes to feel better.”
“This is like a reach-through-the-mirror-and-emerge-in-a-pool-of-clear-water-in-a-snow-covered-alternate-universe-style vibe. This is like if the elves in the Lord of The Rings made folk songs with bust-your-shit-open beats.”
“Stretch! You need to stretch. I'm 32 and my back reminds me every day. Stretch when you wake up. Stretch before you go to sleep. Stretch stretch stretch.”
“It feels like the internet needs a restart in some way. It's sad that all good websites turn to crap because of new owners coming in with bad ideas.”
“Get a bird. They are lowkey terrible pets. Impossible to please. Messy. Noisy. But so great. And so pretty! And stupid!”
“Find your own little rituals and totems. I've started embroidering and I find it good to have an activity that I can find meditative and calming.”
“I’m not one to preach about what one should or should not do, but, for me, cycling daily is my thing. Across the bridge and around Stanley Park or a fuller 40k ride always sets my mind straight.”
“If you're ever at a restaurant in a state or country that has a coastline and they have grilled octopus, get it. I know, it's gonna be like 30 bucks, it probably came from farther away than you'd like to think about, and it's gonna be smaller than you expect, but man it's the most delicious meal ever.”
“Hug your friends hello and goodbye. Life is super fragile and honestly pretty wasted in general. We should be spending a lot more time telling each other "I love You". Everyday there are people that change my life for the better and I want them to know that.”
“I’ve become an audiobook guy. It’s not for everyone, but some of us listen faster than they read lol. If you haven’t tried it out, give it a shot. It’s been a game changer for me.”
“We live in a world in which almost everyone expects us to act like a machine and it’s so beautiful to actually be aware that we’ll never reach that because we’re made of other stuff, human stuff!”
"Everything is subjective, nothing is superior, nothing is inferior, we all just are...everything just is."
“There are four times a year when the seasons change and you can feel the very specific sensation of being reminded how different things can be by mowed grass smell. Get coffee with your friends and walk there (or more likely drive with the windows down). Try to remember the casual joy the universe is handing out!”
“I also just generally find myself being reminded that making things is always what makes me happy. Sometimes I lose my way and get caught up in life’s distractions, but as soon as I return to making something (however big or small), everyday I realize that it’s what makes me the most happy.”
“Do something for someone else every day. It’s something I need to do more of, so maybe I’m saying it as a reminder to myself.”
“Visit your local library. They’re still around and have a lot to offer. There’s a great library where I live. They often have holds rooms or other ways to get materials to cardholders, which is nice if a person feels uncomfortable spending too much time in a public space.”
“Bathing and reading Molly Young’s recommendation for bathing and Kneipp bath oils before bathing.”
“I say quit trying so hard to get people to like you. Trying to befriend the people who don't want to be your friend is draining. Focus on people who make you feel welcomed. I promise it will make you feel much better in the long run.”
“If you live near any mountain rivers, go find a safe place to cold plunge in them. i moved to the Appalachian mountains this year and spending time submerged in icy cold streams has become my new favorite pastime.”
“I’ve been playing around with that weird state right before I wake up in the morning, when I start stirring and coming out of deep sleep. I’ll focus on feelings of universal wholeness or “imagine” the sensation of a enveloping cosmic love.
“Go for a walk every day, even if it's only 15 minutes. No phone, no music, no podcast, find a nearby green space if you can, just walk and breathe and listen and exist.”
“I think more people should talk on the phone to their loved ones more often. If you can, make that call you keep forgetting to make. It will probably make somebody’s day.”
“Apart from journaling which is my most obvious answer… my best recommendation is to subscribe for language learning apps! It’s such a good feeling when you aren’t sure what to do with yourself to exercise your brain in that way, language is so mysterious and beautiful.”
“We should all be writing and reading poetry, daily. You should also be affectionate with your friend's and tell them what you appreciate about them. I also like talking to strangers and feel like it's so important to just strike up conversations with people from different backgrounds. Taking mushrooms is good too.”
“I have become a fermenting nut since the pandemic, and I have a small garden and things are just starting to come to fruition right now, so as well as enjoying fresh from the ground, I ferment... I had no idea it was so easy and cheap ... and the experimentation possibilities are limitless.”
“I think everyone should learn to care for something, a plant, a pet, or another human being.. something to help you look outside yourself and get perspective on your placement in life.”
“My wife Amy has encouraged the practice of either listing 5 things I’m grateful for, or asking what the rose and thorn of each day is. I think any sort of mindfulness exercise would be what I suggest to folks in these high speed times.”
“I guess makin' stuff. Journaling, memes, songs, whatever. And sharing it. I'm as addicted to my phone as the next person my age, but I have more fun sharing stuff than I ever did just scrolling.”
/ \
< of “some locals' interests” >
The latest BI-WEEKLY-ISH newsletter talks about some post-US election posts (including a David Graeber video), as well as some thoughts about theory & practice (and teachings > teachers) — but you’ll have to jump over to Substack to read in full!
“My favourite thing about the internet is that stuff like someone taking audio from a 2011 Charlie Kaufman lecture (and then setting it to beautifully shot imagery and a minimalist heartbeat backbeat) is something I'm able to just find and watch again & again, whenever I need a punch in the heart gut.”
Hi! Here’s FIVE reason FOR why you should really consider getting a FREE local library card (especially if you also live in Kimberley, BC and can get special discounts at participating local stores for showing your KPL library card during Canadian Library Month all October)!
The latest BI-WEEKLY-ISH newsletter talks about some post-BC-election thoughts (based on the current, unfinalized results), as well as address some of the comments that came out in a now-deleted Kimberley Corkboard post — but you’ll have to jump over to Substack to read in full!
The latest BI-WEEKLY-ISH EH?! mailout is a post about how British Columbians should get out and actively NOT vote for the BC Conservatives in the upcoming BC provincial election — READ HERE.
The latest edition has got stuff about AI Chatbot work, Q&As with local city councillor candidates, a list of 95eh + hi54lofi duties that I'll be playing around with during #LocalAreaElectionSeason, and… somehow even a bit more (like a picture of a hornet, for example).
"Top of mind for me is infrastructure renewal, financial accountability, real budgets, environmental protection, and economic resilience. Good business principals. I look beyond this two (2) year term and my hope is to continue giving back to our City, enjoy our abundance and continue being progressive, proactive and principled."
"If people want someone on council who is committed to seeing Kimberley develop in a thoughtful way where we take a holistic approach, creating a thriving small business community where entrepreneurs can be successful, and ensuring we’ve got a safe and vibrant community for generations to come, then you can feel good about voting for me."
"It would be my obligation to ensure we create a community that is social once again, not just online but in person. I want residents, both young and old, to have a safe place to live, to fail, and to explore without prejudice. Not only "A good place to be," but "A safe place to be.""
I dusted off my Substack to send out a ‘9/5 (in the USA) Day’ newsletter update, and you can READ IT IN FULL OVER HERE.
Today marks the start of the last days of The 95EH Events Calendar :(
A highlight of happenings happening in the Kimberley/Cranbrook area for the month of May — which may just be the final week/month of EH?! I send out, okay?
An ongoing 95-track playlist of music/artists coming out of the The East AND West Kootenays (so… Kimberley, Cranbrook, Nelson, Kaslo, Revelstoke, Golden, Castlegar, Trail, Fernie, Rossland, Creston and the etc area).
I started a weekly Substack newsletter called THE WEEKLY EH?! to HIGHlight FIVE things FOR the current week in the highway 95/a area where I blahg from + 4 other things of Some Locals’ Interests!
“I am late to Yoga, but it sure has been helpful. You don’t have to be good at it and you don’t have to do more than a few minutes to feel better.”
If, like me, you happen to live in the charming little mountain town of Kimberley, British Columbia, the hot local topic lately has been the proposed ‘Marysville McDonalds’ — SO — not only does this post gather some extra info/context in one place, but City Councillor Sue Cairns also drops by for an informative 5-question Q&A!
I started a weekly Substack newsletter called THE WEEKLY EH?! to HIGHlight FIVE things FOR the current week in the highway 95/a area where I blahg from + 4 other things of Some Locals’ Interests — and you can read the latest one OVER HERE!
Forever in the search of “I can haz blahg monetization”, I recently started rolling out an idea called ‘Mutually Beneficial Employment’ as a way for local businesses/organizations to do a combination of ‘support the work that goes into running The 95EH Events Calendar’ + ‘work directly with me on work we agree to’ — and this blog post explains more!
I recently did a proper deep dive thru all 14 of The Tragically Hip's studio albums so I could officially figure out what my official subjective album rankings would be... and a part of that process resulted in the creation of a massive mix cd featuring 95 of my fave Hip songs. This is that mix cd.
“Be a good human and watch this enlightening & sobering talk from 2018 that Jeremy Rifkin gave about where the world is going no matter how much we keep stubbornly trying to delay the change by continuing to prop up our corrupt & inefficient pre-internet systems / masters. For real, find 1.5 hours somewhere for this & then let's get to collective work before another 5 years goes by.”
I started a weekly Substack newsletter called THE WEEKLY EH?! to HIGHlight FIVE things FOR the current week in the highway 95/a area where I blahg from + 4 other things of Some Locals’ Interests!
“Unpopular opinion, unless I’m on tour... half-caff at home has been great for my nervous system. We buy a bag of decaf and full to make our own because it can be hard to find sometimes.”
I started a weekly Substack newsletter called THE WEEKLY EH?! to HIGHlight FIVE things FOR the current week in the highway 95/a area where I blahg from + 4 other things of Some Locals’ Interests — and you can read the latest one OVER HERE!
EPISODE 091 kicks off with Benjamin Shaw adding bnjmnshw touches to Magana's lovely 'Inches Apart', and before things close out with a dusty gem from the underappreciated Blaze Foley, you'll get a secret taste of that sweet Sugar Rush 2 comp The Grey Estates put out last year, there'll be a short European Vacation, new Haley Heynderickx, Kevin Morby + more.
An ongoing shuffle of 95 tracks that capture some of the vibes that bounce around the air when, like myself, you find yourself kicking about in a mountain town (or 'Mountown' for short / easier hashtagging).
I started a weekly Substack newsletter called THE WEEKLY EH?! to HIGHlight FIVE things FOR the current week in the highway 95/a area where I blahg from — it gets sent out EVERY Tuesday, and you can read the latest one OVER HERE!
“Throw in the fact that the hope for the future world I'd like to live in feels easier to hold onto when surrounded by all those things I just mentioned & more (which comes with living amongst other people that are also drawn to those same things)… I think the highway 95/a area is still very much a pretty dang good place to be™!”
I started a weekly Substack newsletter called THE WEEKLY EH?! to HIGHlight FIVE things FOR the current week in the highway 95/a area where I blahg from + 4 other things of Some Locals’ Interests!
I started a weekly Substack newsletter called THE WEEKLY EH?! to HIGHlight FIVE things FOR the current week in the highway 95/a area where I blahg from — it gets sent out EVERY Tuesday, and you can read the latest one OVER HERE!
Since we’re coming up to the June 27th/28th deadline for having public comments made a part of the public record in regards to the ‘Marysville McDonalds’ proposal, I figured I’d take a break from blogging about this local issue and put my thoughts down in a letter to council — and since I have a blog, I figured I’d share my letter on here too :)
\\
***
“Kassi Valazza's voice is a red-hot nickel ball slowly working its way through a cube of ballistic gelatin. This LP is a gently wound path of close-cosmic-country with a B-side that actually defies gravity. If you thought her first release was a winner, well... engage your core and hang on to your javelinas, she's just done one better”
“Imagine a Sun Kil Moon record pressing pause on 'Inherent Vice' to grab another sixer out of the fridge and roll a joint on the back cover of a Bukowski novel.”
“This long awaited, shooting star of an album, has at last dropped into our cosmos and it is pure beauty! Every song demands presence; they conjure and set the soul aflame. Dean's talent, artistry and vulnerability is much needed in this world and his record is a gift to humanity.”
“Amidst all the chaos Quelle Chris comes through with another weird life-affirming series of beats and observations. QCs great album streak very much intact.”
“Sonny shows us that he can still kick out the classics like the old days while keeping it fresh and fun with lyrics and melodies that are forever getting caught in the folds of your brain. And is there a record with more beautiful cover art released this year? No. No there's not.”
“Bought this sucker out of the blue, not knowing nothing about who it even is. Top notch Pub Rock bard songwriting that makes me wish I was British in the 1970s. LOVE THIS MYSTERIOUS (to me) "BAND"!”
“Dan Reeder has such a soothing voice… sometimes you don't even realize that he's singing about how his lady won't give him a bj on his birthday or the flaws of a beach ball.”
“Immersed in a sea of musical textures. A million moments realized. Transported.”
“cheekface pulling thru once again with a collection of songs that make anxiety, bagels, elections and noodles seem cool af”
“Char's writing here mines memory for the sweetness only reckoning and forgiveness can bring. Her strongest suite to date, she sings with more confidence than ever on themes of certain fallibility and radical acceptance. She conveys courageously the beauty of not knowing what's next or what any of it ought to mean. With every song she sounds grateful for each breath and experience.”
“This album's got me going down Wikipedia rabbit holes about college radio stations.”
“Beautiful interplay of twin guitars, two wonderfully harmonised voices delivering songs with something to say. ‘a-sides’ has much to discover, cleverly crafted by so little. An amazing achievement.”
“Skyway Man has the kind of grooves that will have you unironically reintroducing words like ‘groovy’ back into your regular vocabulary. For example, you may find yourself telling others “this record is really groovy, man” quite often.”
“Mystifying Yugoslavian guitar pieces, its loneliness carries across space and time.”
“Going to need to hear more from this pairing, no duds on this record.”
“Feeling restless, cracked or caught in irreversible circles? Find your Tomberlin and quietly sink into life’s softer sides.”
“Pleasant surprise finding this artist. Bordeaux… who would of thought to find some of the best Country I’ve heard in a while.”
“This is delightful, brings me back to a time when music of this nature had a little fun with itself. Looking for a brief respite from the landslide of heavy weight issues, 'Continuous Portrait' will provide some off-centered, yet uplifting shelter.”
“Bella is worshiped as the goddess of nature and heart break on my home planet of Melmac.”
“A timely set of poignantly biting songs full of an extremely apparent passion for the old-time style. Excellent commentary on these surreal days we're living through.”
“All the mystery of the desert at night, compressed into a rare jewel of an album.”
“Released days before his 80th birthday, Michael Hurley's wisdom and dusty attic soulfulness is on full display on this inspired addition to his timeless collection of oddball folk recordings.”
“One of my favorite albums of all time. An amazingly produced and written album. I seriously believe Willie Ev is a pioneer in a new sound of hip hop. I have never heard beats or rhymes delivered like this before. Ever.”
“Strong Tom Petty vibes with an indie slant. Jeremy writes witty, slightly weird (in a great way) songs and sings them with an honest, no BS style. This is an underrated gem.”
“From Calgary to Glasgow via Helsinki and Reykjavik... 'you pass through, you pass through'. Loved this from the opening bars - like escaping from a prison.”
“There is this wonderful thing about Ryan's music that just makes me feel at peace with myself. Dust is no exception. Once the first note hits I'm in a different world. The perfect record for some escapism when things get a little too much.”
“Perfect for when you’re sad and you need a soundtrack to make the air hurt too.”
//
***
Here’s my personally subjective list of the top Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is revisiting a similar nostalgic distraction).
Hi! Here’s FIVE reason FOR why you should really consider getting a FREE local library card (especially if you also live in Kimberley, BC and can get special discounts at participating local stores for showing your KPL library card during Canadian Library Month all October)!
Today marks the start of the last days of The 95EH Events Calendar :(
Here’s my personally subjective list of the top Playstation One (PS1/PSX) games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is revisiting a similar nostalgic distraction).
The Buddha’s ancient advice for becoming an enlightened being (aka: becoming a kind, compassionate, mindful, wise, non-attached & content person) seems to be designed around doing the personal work needed to start helping dismantle the exploitive capitalist system currently destroying our planet. Which feels timelessly timely, no?
If, like me, you happen to live in the charming little mountain town of Kimberley, British Columbia, the hot local topic lately has been the proposed ‘Marysville McDonalds’ — SO — not only does this post gather some extra info/context in one place, but City Councillor Sue Cairns also drops by for an informative 5-question Q&A!
Because, like, WTF even is a music blahg, amirite? ESPECIALLY if they stop accepting music submissions.
Forever in the search of “I can haz blahg monetization”, I recently started rolling out an idea called ‘Mutually Beneficial Employment’ as a way for local businesses/organizations to do a combination of ‘support the work that goes into running The 95EH Events Calendar’ + ‘work directly with me on work we agree to’ — and this blog post explains more!
Welp, the time has come to officially pull the plug and start packing up all my music blogging stuff :(
"No Englishman could speak this Language adequately unless he were drunk and had no roof to his mouth"
Since we’re coming up to the June 27th/28th deadline for having public comments made a part of the public record in regards to the ‘Marysville McDonalds’ proposal, I figured I’d take a break from blogging about this local issue and put my thoughts down in a letter to council — and since I have a blog, I figured I’d share my letter on here too :)
Here’s my personally subjective list of the top Gameboy Advance (GBA) games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is revisiting a similar nostalgic distraction).
Here’s my personally subjective list of the top Nintendo (NES) games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is revisiting a similar nostalgic distraction).
The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post”-pandemic) — so here’s my personally subjective list of top Super Nintendo (SNES) games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).
The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post” pandemic) — so here’s my list of my top 25 Sega CD games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).
Here’s a rundown summary of all the parts of last night’s council meeting that touched on the ‘Marysville McDonalds’ proposal (spoiler alert: it’s going to a public hearing near the end of June).
If there ever was a year for putting together my first VISION board… it’d have to have been in 2020, right? Right.
Today is April 5th, which, in some parts of the world, is also known as ‘Hi! It’s 5/4 Day!’ — and to “celebrate” this made-up holiday, I spent some time blogging with a one-eyed cat named Maple, which includes a ‘Hi! Here’s FIVE things FOR…’ on the topic of better programming our brains for dealing with late-stage capitalism grifters + other high 5/4 brain dumpings.
Because something tells me that we’ve got the numbers on our side, we just need that one common thread to connect all the different solutions we’re gonna need for all the different problems they’ve laid out for us to get overwhelmed by.
“It's almost as if fractionally improving on each of the moving parts that come with running a blog—the writing, the designing, the networking, the collaborating, the editing, the creating, the strategizing, the putting yourself out there, the thinking and all the et ceteraing—well, it's almost as if those are some pretty useful skills to routinely work on.”
If I were in a pub or coffee shop with the person/people responsible for the excellent music currently filling my headphones, would I offer to buy them a pint or coffee? If they asked me if I could spot them a couple bucks, would I do that?
High five for getting High Fidelity’d into making a Hi54 ‘Top 5’ list about my “Do’s & Don’ts” of making a mix tape/cd playlist!
I've been thinking a lot about how I should maybe just unplug from social media for awhile, especially over these last couple months, soooo… I decided to take that as a sign that I should probably just unplug from social media for awhile.
You'll probably find that you're ignoring other people's stuff just as hard as it feels like they are ignoring your stuff. And that's pretty hard.
2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming — and since we’re now living in ‘2020 Too’, here’s my list of the top 25 Sega Master System games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).
The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post”-pandemic) — so here’s my personally subjective list of top Gameboy / Gameboy Color games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).
“Whether you’re trying to get a daily meditating, reading, and/or writing habit going as well, or whether your interests lie in learning an instrument, or painting, or PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING you can want to get better at — I highly recommend the practice of setting a timer for 20 minutes each day and doing that thing you want to improve at / do more of until the chimes start chiming.”
The path I took to realizing I could just play any old retro video game right here on my old 2009 iMac was a bit more convoluted than it needed to be, but, hey, sometimes life is a bit more convoluted than it needs to be.
The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post”-pandemic) — so here’s my personally subjective list of top Turbo Grafx-16 / PC Engine games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).
“Speaking of stretches, I recently started getting into a daily yoga routine. And since I am a total newbie that can barely hold any proper poses, I’ve found it really helpful to just embrace the fact that I am a total newbie that can barely hold any of the proper poses.”
||
*****
I’ve also been known to update my FM/TV ‘all day music videos’ playlist whenever I come across new/old music videos that catch my fancy throughout my internet wanderings (so CLICK HERE if you fancy checking that out) + I also moved the 95EH.CA domain from being associated with its own paid-Squarespace site to now being tasked with trying to use a free Tumblr-powered site to carry on the torch of trying to be a local area collaborative community online diy zine radio (so jump on over to HWY 95EH.CA to check the status on that, if you fancy… and please say “hey!” if you also happen to use Tumblr in the 2020s). And while we’re on the topic of Tumblr sites, I also help run the KEGG.CA community garden site over there.
.
.
.
.
--
•
•
--
***
But you can still explore this aborted #MountownFM idea further, just pop over to the url ‘MOUN.TOWN/FM’ whenever you fancy and have yourself a poke around (every mix should still be in a very listenable state, even if things haven’t been updated for quite some time + I also kept ongoing Buy Music Club players going that link track directly to an artists Bandcamp page & those are worth some exploration time) — OR — you can also just have a flick thru all the individual headphone flavours that are still available to peruse on the shelf below…
An ongoing 95-track playlist of music/artists coming out of the The East AND West Kootenays (so… Kimberley, Cranbrook, Nelson, Kaslo, Revelstoke, Golden, Castlegar, Trail, Fernie, Rossland, Creston and the etc area).
I recently did a proper deep dive thru all 14 of The Tragically Hip's studio albums so I could officially figure out what my official subjective album rankings would be... and a part of that process resulted in the creation of a massive mix cd featuring 95 of my fave Hip songs. This is that mix cd.
An ongoing shuffle of 95 tracks that capture some of the vibes that bounce around the air when, like myself, you find yourself kicking about in a mountain town (or 'Mountown' for short / easier hashtagging).
Did you know that it takes 400 to 450 songs—heck, let's just call it an even fourtwenty—to make a playlist that will play for an entire day without repeating a song? And did you know that I put a new 54-track mix at the top of this 420-tracks/artists playlist at the changing of every month?
Come take a musical trip thru Indie America, USA — an ongoing 95 song mixer featuring a bunch of great artists currently making some of my headphone’s favourite American “indie” music.
There is a very small window leading up to Jesus' birthday where listening to Christmas music is bearable, if not even just a little bit desirable. But it's gotta be the good stuff.
Look, I am not claiming that me having a Danish girlfriend makes me better suited to put together a Nordic playlist than your next Joe Canada, but I'm also not saying that it doesn't. I guess you'll have to listen and hear for yourself.
“There are certain songs that sound especially perfect when paired with an afternoon winding down, a cold beverage and having enough time to do nothing except enjoy that special bit of the day that comes before sleep (however you enjoy spending it with whoever).”
Every week, I shuffle the pot of what my ears have enjoyed over the years & put a new 19 track mix cd on top of this 95 track playlist. It’s the kind of playlist you can listen from start-to-finish and come back and listen again on shuffle (especially if you missed what was added the previous week).
Here's a halloween-ish mix of tunes for you to put on while you put your spooky face on or while you bop around the house feeling a little bit sinister. Your call if you only want to do that once a year.
As someone who lived in England for a good handful of years, I can tell you that it's not quite as grey & cloudy as everyone always says it is. But it almost is.
An ongoing 95-track mix of artists/music with Indigenous blood (mainly focused on North America as I live in Canada + I also have a playlist called SOUTH OF AMERICA which is mostly Indigenous too). And, yes, I also have been watching/enjoying Reservation Dogs.
The HI54 ‘Provincial Playlists’ idea continues, this time with 95 nice tracks from 95 different artists being carefully exported from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan for your listening pleasure / headphone tourism needs.
This ongoing yearly tracker archive gets filled with everything I like throughout the current calendar year (rule: only 1 track per artist). And then, at the end of the year, a '20 X YEAR' playlist is put together and then this playlist goes back to 0 to do it all over again the next year.
The HI54 ‘Provincial Playlists’ idea continues, this time with 95 nice tracks from 95 different artists being carefully exported from the Canadian province of Ontario for your listening pleasure / headphone tourism needs.
A good backyard bbq playlist should consist of the kind of songs that get heads nodding and toes tapping and maybe a few booties thinking about shaking, but it should also not be so overpowering with the 'party vibes' that it makes it hard to carry a conversation on while you go for a second helping of 'slaw. This playlist is 5+ hours of that.
“I started off with the mix title of 'Hipster Hip Hop'—because I thought that was a good dumb way to describe a hip hop playlist made by a white guy from a small Canadian town.”
The 60s is such a great mix of my favourite stuff from the 50s and my favourite stuff from the 70s, and then you throw in all the uniquely sixties stuff that was going on and, even if you’re not old enough to have ever experienced any of the sixties yourself, you can still close your eyes and get the message. |-> OPEN ON SPOTIFY
An ongoing mix of a bunch of great music coming out of the continent of Africa. — so go grab the headphones and let’s take a metaphorical musical road trip to Africa (aka: by listening to music from Africa & closing our eyes).
“A soundtrack for when you're doing some thinking, reading, studying, working, daydreaming, soundtracking an audiobook and/or just ruminating out the living room window.”
There are certain songs that sound especially perfect when paired with a quiet morning, a warm beverage, and having enough time to just sit and do nothing except enjoy that special bit of the day that exists before the actual day rears its demanding head again.
A hearty mix of a bunch of great music coming out of Ireland (and for playlist purposes + my general lack of history, this includes Northern Ireland too). So go grab yourself a bowl, because there's a tasty collection of headphone ingredients in here.
When trying to put together a playlist that "sounds like spring", sometimes it is best not to think too much about what *exactly* that means, and instead just go with what feels "spring-like". Which, admittedly, might mostly mean songs that mention rain or melting.
Sometimes, the easiest way to go back in time is to just put a time capsule collection of musical vibes in the headphones, close your eyes and let the music drift you away. You might even say that this is the only way to travel back in time (tbh I don’t know much about time travel). So, with that in mind… let’s take the soundtrack back the 1950s! |-> OPEN ON SPOTIFY
An ongoing mix of 95 tracks from 95 artists coming out of the Canadian province that is British Columbia (with accompanying available-on-Bandcamp archive + other things). Why? Well, I live in BC. But also… other reasons (one being a bigger project called The Provincial Playlists).
A Valentines Day-ish playlist that you can throw on the speakers for Valentines Day or really just any day that you're feeling like feeling some Valentines-ish feelings.
A mix cd of great music coming out ‘Far East Asia’ (and for playlist rules purposes this includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam, China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau). So go grab the headphones \m/
I’m not sure if it’s because I grew up in the 90s, so a lot of 70s culture was referenced in the movies I came of age to (aka: Dazed & Confused, Boogie Nights, etc), or if it’s just because there’s so much great timeless music from the 70s that it’ll make anyone nostalgic for the vibes, even for those who don’t have the actual fuzzy memories — this playlist captures some of that. |-> OPEN ON SPOTIFY
Here is my annual ‘20X Current Year’ feature— which features 440 great tracks from 440 different releases, all from the year 2022. Because 20 x 22 = 440 and I am a crazy music blog person that has been doing this bit too long to stop now.
The HI54 ‘Provincial Playlists’ idea continues, this time with 95 nice tracks from 95 different bands/musicians being carefully exported from the Canadian province of New Brunswick (or with past roots there) for your listening pleasure / headphone tourism needs.
.
.
--
•
.
HI54.BLOG
95EH.CA
MOUN.TOWN
•
.
--
(95EH’s Temp Intern)