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Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

Posted by Vish Khanna on Dec 02, 2009

Hello everyone and welcome to an early segment of the first line of my blog post that is due to end shortly so I can get on with the true nature of my radio show today, which I can now explain since I am totally prepared to end this introductory sentence.

My Album of the Week is Don't Die by Montreal's Boo Hoo. I will concede that part of my love for this record stems from the fact that it took me completely by surprise. I still recall having my head turned when I first heard "The Future" streaming on this very station. Something about it's invigorating Archers of Loaf-meets-the Minutemen style spoke to much of what I enjoy about music--that rare mix of passion, proficiency, and mysterious spirit. As it happens, the whole of Don't Die is gritty and inventive -- a sinewy blend of dynamic, artful post-punk that takes bold turns without flinching. As the band themselves suggest on their website, it's not always easy to derive signficance from what's being sung. But nevertheless, there's great weight to the songs Boo Hoo conjure on Don't Die--my pick for the sleeper Canadian album of 2009.

Have you had a chance to check out Don't Die by Boo Hoo? Old or new, Canadian or otherwise, what is YOUR album of the week? 

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  1. MikeV
    01

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by MikeV

    Well good morning to everyone. I thought you might be picking this album as you mentioned many times you really liked that song. I haven't had the chance to give this album a listen yet but I shall do so one day.

    As for my album of the week I am picking The Send Off by Rose Cousins. It's just a very lovely album that I have grown very fond of over the last little while.

  2. daa1982
    02

    Staying Inside and Not Talking to People

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by daa1982
    Kudos to you Vish. I wish more people would advocate this...
  3. Vish Khanna
    03

    @MikeV

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Hey, that's good to know Mike. I've heard mixed things about this Rose Cousins record so I'm now more keen to check it out myself...

  4. Vish Khanna
    04

    @daa1982

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    I do what I can my friend. I do what I can.

  5. Vish Khanna
    05

    Overlooked

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    So, as I've said, this Boo Hoo record seems like kind of a sleeper hit for me.

    Does anyone else wanna mention any overlooked Canadian gems from 2009? Please speak now...

  6. daa1982
    06

    Candian Gems

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by daa1982

    Don't think I would consider her over looked, but Julie Faders album is a favourite.  It was nice to see all the R3 support she got.

  7. aaadamaa
    07

    Lack of an album of the week.

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by aaadamaa

    I found a couple of radio stations that do a lot of internation news that have been amusing me, and I havn't gotten any new cd's lately.  (And the car is really the only place I listen to them), So I don't really have an album of the week this week...

  8. dawn.h
    08

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by dawn.h

    I'm intrigued now.. by Vish's description of the album. But I'm still having trouble with the R3 player at home so I am listening to the stream-through-a-media-player URL and the blog. But that means no listening to artists on the fly. If I get on the blog during the day (aka at work) someone remind me to take a minute to look up Boo Hoo.

    My album of the week is, again, The Genius of by King Khan and the Shrines. I feel the need to back-pedal on my comments from last Wednesday - I like it much more now that I've listened for another week in the car.

     

  9. cathyort
    09

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by cathyort

    I love the Boo Hoo album--the Future definitely ranks as my song I'm not sick of yet-- and am especially impressed by Marc-olivier's drumming prowess.

  10. Vish Khanna
    10

    @dawn.h

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Yeah, that Genius record is swell. I wanna check out Invisible Girl but haven't had a chance yet.

    Sorry you have such trouble with the R3 player. Maybe it's yr computer or something?

  11. Vish Khanna
    11

    @cathyort

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Yeah, that's what really gets me about Boo Hoo. They sound like ridiculously good, tasteful musicians. Spicy! They've got the flavour!

  12. MikeV
    12

    @Vish

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by MikeV

    Are you planning on eating Boo Hoo?

  13. Vish Khanna
    13

    @MikeV

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    I will not be eating Boo Hoo, no. Thanks for checking.

    I would like to eat with them though. Maybe for breakfast. Hey, that should be a show I do.

  14. cathyort
    14

    @Vish

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by cathyort

    Yes to a Boo Hoo breakfast show!

  15. dawn.h
    15

    @Vish

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by dawn.h

    Thanks. I started having issues after a Windows update. I knew I shouldn't have bothered. You guys might want to find out why Microsoft is messing with your website.

  16. MikeV
    16

    @dawn.h

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by MikeV

    Have you tried to stream it as an MP3 through winamp or another player?

  17. aaadamaa
    17

    @dawn.h

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by aaadamaa

    Microsoft doesen't like content for free :P

  18. cathyort
    18

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by cathyort

    Is anyone else amazed by how much this Po' Girl song sounds like Jill Barber?

  19. dawn.h
    19

    @MikeV

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by dawn.h

    Yeah. That's what I ended up doing this morning. It takes a while to buffer but is a good solution. No listing of songs gone by or coing up, though.

  20. Bio Spice
    20

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Bio Spice

    good morning lovelies,

    hey vish! some numbered items:

    1. i picked up exclaim! at my local hippy-esque grocery store last night.  because of you.  way to spread the good word.  

    2. this playlist of yours this morning is rocking (gently). 

    3. I haven't heard Boo-Hoo, and I'm afraid to go to their page and listen for fear that the R3 live-stream won't come back (definitely an issue with my slow/limited computer or server). 

    4. Rose Cousins... still need more listens of her new album. her first album for me is the ultimate in comfort albums/indulge myself and cry on a grey Sunday morning kind of albums.  beautiful, beautiful songs.  but the thing about the Rose Cousins experience is having seen her live and knowing that this introspective heart-wrenching songs are coming from one of the funniest people I've ever seen perform folk music.

    5. you don't have to write an introductory sentence/paragraph for us, do you?  I mean, if you wanted to dispense with the pleasantries, no-one would stop you, would they?

    ooh! Rose Cousins! time to listen.  happy day to all!

  21. suckamc
    21

    from Toronto

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by suckamc

    I put a bunch of albums that I bought during the craziness in Charlottetown the last couple months.  Most I haven't even listened to once, so I will be enjoying a lot of new music on this trip.  Yesterday I reaffirmed my love for Carbon Dating Services new album Reliquiae.  So that will be my album of the week.

    Meeting an old friend for lunch today, then off to Hamilton to meet up with more friends.  So far nothing really exciting has happened to report on for the tour diary, but if it comes down to it, I'll *make* the news!  ;)

  22. aaadamaa
    22

    @Vish

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by aaadamaa

    Don't even think about dispensing with the introductory sentences.

    *glare*

  23. MrGorcey
    23

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by MrGorcey

    @dawn.h

    Hey ! I used to work with you !

  24. Bio Spice
    24

    vish is right again!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Bio Spice

    yes, i like this Boo Hoo song.  i like the lyrics. nutritional percentages. can't go wrong with that.

    okay, so aaadamaa might stop you from dispensing with pleasantries.  (in stage whisper: but aaadamaa, i was just trying to use reverse psychology... it seemed like the first sentence of the blog post was tiring our Vish out...)

  25. novascotiatim
    25

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by novascotiatim

    I'm still having trouble with my player as well. I get a "could not find autocompleter.js" message.  I've contacted the CBC help people, but had no response.  Judging from other posts I've seen it is a problem that started on Thursday. 

    I'm listening through MediaPlayer but can't add songs to playlists and all that good stuff.

    Any ideas? Vish??

    First time poster. Big fan BTW!

  26. mynameismoe
    26

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by mynameismoe

    i stumbled from bed, refreshed radio 3, and rose cousins was playing. she is just so wonderful! it made me smile. then a couple of songs later, a new kinnie starr song! (at least, i think it's new?) i adore her. she makes me want to pump my fist in the air and exclaim awesome statements about strength of mind and things. her other recent song was sort of wishy washy radio friendly, which made me kind of sad. this new one is more in the style of her old album - tidy, which is an awesome album. it was the first album i ever bought at a show (and one of the first shows i ever went to! the scrappy bitch tour with oh susanna & veda hille! 1998 i think!).

    the album that i haven't been able to put down has been the  most serene republic's ...and the ever expanding universe. this made me dig around my old back up files to dig out my folder of underwater cinematographer, so i've also been listening to that album.

    i'm really sad because every time they play charlottetown, it's to about 10 people. their show last week was no exception, complete with loud douchebags by the bar yelling and screaming at random intervals. actually, this makes me angry, not sad, because they are so freaking good! i don't understand how they haven't caught on by now.

  27. mattyjames2001
    27

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by mattyjames2001

    1. Rose Cousins - If you were for me.  I'm a bit late on the Rose train I guess, haven't heard the new one, but if my mom's opinion means anything to you guys she prefers the first.

    2. King Khan and/or bbq show.  I was rockin these pretty hard last week in anticipation of going to see him on Friday.... went to the Grey Cup instead.  Poor decision :(

    3. Raekwon - Only Built for Cubin Linx II.  Vish, I sure hope you've heard this one.  It's amazing.

    4. Drive By Truckers - The Fine Print.  It's a solid collection of covers and rarities, and honestly worth the price just to hear their cover's of Tom Petty's Rebels and Bobby's Like A Rolling Stone.

    5. Some random Ike Reilly compilation. I forget what it's called, but this dude is sooooo underrated.  And American, so we can't even pump him on here.

  28. novascotiatim
    28

    R3 Issue

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by novascotiatim

    I'm still having trouble with my player as well. I get a "could not find autocompleter.js" message.  I've contacted the CBC help people, but had no response.  Judging from other posts I've seen it is a problem that started on Thursday. 

    I'm listening through MediaPlayer but can't add songs to playlists and all that good stuff.

    Any ideas? Vish??

    First time poster. Big fan BTW!

  29. novascotiatim
    29

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by novascotiatim

    sorry don't mean to SPAM.  It said my post was unsuccessful so I tried again.

  30. Benoit from Ottawa
    30

    @ mynameismoe!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Benoit from Ottawa

    I also saw the Scrappy Bitch tour some ten years back, and quite the show it was. I've since seen all three again a few times (Oh Susanna in particular, before and since).

    The Most Serene Republic: our crowd was better than that, at Zaphod's, a few weeks ago: both in numbers and behaviour. Too bad about yours, TMSR do deserve respect, IMO.

    And they do sound very good in person, don't they? I was mightily impressed at how their three guitars make no more noise than one.

    Later,

  31. Benoit from Ottawa
    31

    @ novascotiatim

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Benoit from Ottawa

    Computers are lying to us. Skynet's time is coming.

    In other news, Windows 7 seems subject to a black screen of death.

    So maybe Skynet is still forestalled.

  32. fumblebee
    32

    Album of the week

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by fumblebee

    I haven't really had time to get any new music what with the exams and such happening so I have been revisiting old favorites. I think that my album of the week this week is Who will cut our hair when we're dead by The Unicorns. I can still remember when I got this album because it was like, a year and a bit ago. It blew me away and then I found out they were broken up after I went questing after Unicorns are People Too. That sucked but I found out about Islands and then at Sappyfest I found out about Clues (did I ever), The Unicorns probably shaped my current taste in music and WWCOHWWD is probably one of my favorite albums of all time.

  33. fumblebee
    33

    @mynameismoe

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by fumblebee

    Was that only last week? I feel terrible that I didn't go now.

  34. cathyort
    34

    @fumblebee

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by cathyort

    Glad I'm not the only who keeps discovering" an artist here only to find they are no more as a band! Oh well, doesn't make the music any less better!

  35. Vish Khanna
    35

    @fumblebee

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone. I mean "Dead" is just so final...

  36. BRANDO79
    36

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by BRANDO79

    I didn't think it was possible to enjoy 2 completely different Canadian songs called 'The Future' . Leonard Cohen and now Boo Hoo's. Love it.   YES!!  The interesting solo-ish / reverb-ish guitar work near the end of the Boo Hoo's 'The Future' gets me p-r-e-t-t-y fired up.

  37. Vish Khanna
    37

    @BioSpice

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    I'm very, very pleased that you made the effort to pick up a copy of Exclaim! It really means a lot and I hope you enjoy it. And maybe even learn something?

    I like introductory sentences just fine. I was just having some fun. Or trying to; it wasn't as much fun as I'd hoped it would be...

    Thanks!

    vk

  38. Vish Khanna
    38

    @novascotiatim

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Hey, thanks for the kind words!

    I'm not sure what to tell you about the R3 player. I use it on a Mac and a Dell and they both work fine for me. I know John P, our web tech dude, checks the blog a lot so hopefully he's already on it. I'll e-mail him too and try and let you know what's up.

    thanks again,

    vk

  39. Vish Khanna
    39

    @mattyjames2001

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    The Raekwon album is definitely my favourite hip-hop record of 2009. It's killer. Also on the list:

    D-Sisive - Let the Children Die (Urbnet)

    Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3 (RocNation)

    Mos Def - The Ecstatic (Downtown)

    Classified - Self Explanatory (Warner)

    Bike for Three! - More Heart Than Brains (Anticon)

    The Slew - 100% (Ninjatune)

    Grand Analog - Metropolis is Burning (Urbnet)

    Lee Reed - Introductory Offer (Independent)

    D-Sisive - Jonestown (Urbnet)

    Plague Language Compilation (Plague Language)

  40. mattyjames2001
    40

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by mattyjames2001

    hey vish, that could be a good idea for a show.  Best introductory lyrics?

  41. mattyjames2001
    41

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by mattyjames2001

    well that's random.  I didnt' think you were still around. 

    I literally can't stop listening to Jay Z and I've heard a lot of the canadian ones but I'll have to give them a more serious listen.  The Mos Def one slipped right under my radar.

    Wu Tang's chamber music had some killer tracks, and some duds, but man are the good ones good.  I like the live jazz band int he background, so I can forgive them for being uneven.

    I also really enjoy Q Tip's Kmaal The Abstract that finally got released.  Not sure if you have heard it before.  And obviously J Dilla's Jay Stay Paid kicks ass.  Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon is different in a good way.

    To end this long post, I think Brother Ali's new album could be a good contender for album of the year too.  It's GREAT.

  42. Vish Khanna
    42

    @mattyjames2001

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Cool, thanks for the heads up.

    I've heard the Tip record and I like it and can see why it might have confused some record label people. I haven't heard the Chamber Music thing and actually never picked up Jay Stay Paid; I should do that today. And the Brother Ali too.

    Again, thanks for the tips.

  43. mattyjames2001
    43

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by mattyjames2001

    No worries Vish! You've only given me about a zillion things to pick up, I can forgive you for missing like, two. haha.

    And for the record, Jay Stay Paid is kind of a rip off if you aren't a Dilla fan.  There's nothing really groundbreaking to make new fans but it'll keep the old ones happy.

  44. Vish Khanna
    44

    @mattyjames2001

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    I'm a big Dilla fan so I'm sure I'll like it.

    Hell, he made the Raekwon record what it is really; the quality of his posthumous output is truly mind-boggling...

    Also, check these out:

    http://vodpod.com/watch/2583281-twitvid-jose3030-mos-def-talib-kweli-ft-the-roots-jimmy-fallon-show-11252009

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuwVP1WoIhg

  45. BRANDO79
    45

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by BRANDO79

    Ya, probably my favourite album of the year,...and maybe it's overlooked,...i dunno,...is Bahamas 'Pink Strat'.  It's way up there for me. Recently saw Bahamas (aka Afie Jurvanen) at the Cameron House in Toronto (Opened for Matt Epp) and you just can't help but pay attention to this talented guy.   He played a solid set of Pink Strat material (not a bad cut on the CD), and alittle bit of new stuff.  And I've gotta tell ya, if his new stuff is any indication, I’d say he's got a bright future ahead.  My 2 cents.

  46. Bio Spice
    46

    vish...

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Bio Spice

    oh, i knew you were having fun.  it (your first sentence) made me have fun. my responses to it were in the spirit of fun... but the limitations of blogging being what they are... that may not have come across.

    and yes, i am certain to learn something from Exclaim! issue 200.  So far, I have learned that Tony Dekker loosened his grip and allowed creative influences from the band on the current Great Lakes Swimmers album...

  47. Vish Khanna
    47

    @BioSpice

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Haha! Did you learn that from the pull quote?

  48. Vish Khanna
    48

    @BRANDO79

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Good call there; that Bahamas record is a swell one.

  49. Bio Spice
    49

    pull quote...

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Bio Spice

    i don't totally know what that means, but no, i actually read the article...

  50. Vish Khanna
    50

    @Bio Spice

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Vish Khanna

    Oh, sorry! The pull quote is like the highlighted blurb in an article that floats in large font within the piece. Maybe it's not called a pull quote but I think it is. You know what I mean?

  51. Bio Spice
    51

    yes, i guessed that's what it meant!

    Posted on Dec 02, 2009 by Bio Spice

    and will start using that term in daily use.  well, maybe i won't, but if it were appropriate, i sure would.

  52. francois_payen
    52

    re: Wrath of Khanna's Album of the Week: Don’t Die by Boo Hoo!

    Posted on Dec 19, 2009 by francois_payen

    I saw Boo Hoo play in Québec city in 2007 and I've been a fan ever since. I agree with your Archers of Loaf meets the Minutemen comment (that's two of my favorite bands right there).  When I first heard them I immediately thought of Sebadoh with a bit of Swervedriver thrown in the mix...catchy songs with a noisy edge, and the low-fi, I-recorded-this-at-home-on-my-Mac vibe of the first album doesn't get in the way of the songs at all.  My copy of "Don't die" is in the mail...

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