the (tentative) playlists for April

Several people have asked how I come up with the stuff on the show, not unlike somebody asking Margaret Atwood at the UofR last Monday the inevitable question of "where do you get your ideas". (The best answer remains Harlan Ellison's, who usually replies "Poughkeepsie".)
There really is no set way of doing it, other than what comes over the metaphoric transom, who might be playing a show soon (usually in Toronto), or whatever the boss decides to leave. I tend to ask for stuff that has some buzz and won't get larger airplay, and, in the case of my recent Toronto trip, seek out labels who I actively watch for great stuff from. I also have a friendly rivalry with Jeff of First Impressions to try and play stuff way ahead of him (I doubt he knows this!). It then all gets sorted and moved around for a few weeks depending on whatever factors, and the show itself takes up to about two hours of prep time (not counting listening to the damn things!).

But you know what? I'm having a pretty good time right now with it, even after 18 years (I'm still aiming for twenty). But there's almost too much stuff out there right now, and way too many ways to listen to it, and still have time for my myriad guilty pleasures and what-not. So time will tell, though after visiting the labels up in TO like the great Arts & Crafts or Paper Bag, it looks like the ride will be continuing for a bit.

So with further ado: April's playlists:
4/2: You Say Party! We Say Die!, ADULT., Young Galaxy
4/9: Stars, Junior Boys, Rosie Thomas
4/16: The Moaners, Pink Nasty, Aqualung
4/23: The Acorn, Feist, Kathy Diamond
and in the hopper: Captain, Bat for Lashes, Lou Rhodes (all imports from last year that slipped under the domestic radar and are worthy of showcasing).

I know that the lists are Canada-centric, but that is how the show and my tastes have evolved, and there's no questioning there is some amazing stuff flowing out of the north. We're all close enough to have some affinity and access to it at this point anyway.

More to come. Great to see the sun shining once again....