Happy Mother's Day from Emusic

In honor of Mother's Day 2009 Emusic is running a cool little write up in which they ask the mothers of famous indie bands which is their favorite song of their offspring's making. Here are a few of interest:

Teresa Perrin, mother of Spencer Krug (Sunset Rubdown)

My favourite song has, since I first heard it, been "Us Ones In Between." As to" why": 1) The piano that reminds me of all the hours spent hearing Spencer play when he was a teenager. 2)The images that the lyrics clearly define. 3) The quiet intensity that is indicative of Spencer's openness to others views and voices. "The Mending of the Gown" comes a very close second and for entirely different reasons.

Sunset Rubdown - "Us Ones In Between"

Narelle Scott, Mother of Mitchell Scott (Cut Copy)

I love this album so much that it is very difficult to single out just one song. The way the music flows from one track to the next makes it seem like one continuous musical journey anyway, with exciting sound bursts round every bend. I find myself moved by the emotional quality of Dan's voice in "Feel the Love" and "Far Away." The discordant phrases which lead into the beautiful harmonies in "So Haunted" make it such a strong tune for me. However, if I have to choose just one track, then it must be "Lights and Music." This is the one that makes me dance and snap my fingers, sing at the top of my voice and join in the "woo-ooo-oo"s like the best back-up singer ever. I wonder if they have a vacancy… Mitchell?

Cut Copy - "Lights and Music"

Debbie Chabot, mother of Randy Chabot (Deastro)

I am Randy Chabot's mom, Debbie. Thanks for the opportunity to respond to your Mother's Day question. I would have to say that my favorite song at the moment — and the reason I say "at the moment" is because at any moment there could be a new favorite, as Randy is always working on a new song — is "Light Powered". The reason I like this song is because there are no words — but for me, there are. They can be any words I decide to sing, and the music always makes me happy. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, whether cleaning a bathroom used by five men, cooking dinner, or my least favorite, ironing, I have so much more fun doing those things and I get them done faster it seems when I'm listening to that song. It also makes me want to dance. I'm not sure that's a good thing for everyone, but I enjoy doing it in the privacy of my own home, especially when no one is around. It also makes me marvel at the talent my son has, how proud I am of him, and how far he's come from playing "La Bamba" on his "tee-tar"( guitar). I love you, Randy, it's a privilege to be called your mom. Keep singing with all your might!

Deastro - "Light Powered"

Shari Devendorf, Mother of Scott and Bryan Devendorf (The National)

Wow, it's hard to pick just one song. Some of my favorites are "90 Mile Water Wall" and "Thirsty" (Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers), "Daughters of the Soho Riots" (Alligator),"Son" (The National), "About Today" (Cherry Tree) and "Squalor Victoria" and "Gospel" (Boxer). I love the unique sound each song has, and how the band pounds it out on one and soothes your soul with another. I love the passion that each member of the band has about their music and the friends they have made on this amazing journey. I am so proud of both of my sons. Thanks guys! Keep on drummin' and strummin.'

The National - "Gospel"

Judy Gurgiolo, mother of Lauren Gurgiolo (Okkervil River)

I really appreciate this opportunity to talk about Okkervil River, because I am a huge fan of the band, and of my daughter Lauren! Since they will be on tour in Australia over Mother's Day, this connects me to her in a special way. Okkervil speaks to me on many different levels — musically, lyrically, emotionally, and in a proud and happy way. I love all of their songs, beautifully written by Will Sheff, and my favorite changes from time to time. Right now, "For Real," a really un-motherly song, is in my head. The guitar riffs rock, the words are compelling, and the orchestration is brilliant. Thank you bloggers and You Tubers for posting comments, pictures and videos of the band while on tour — it's so fun!!!!

Okkervill River - "For Real"

The New Pornagraphers and Okkervill River Tour Together

Good News: The New Pornographers and Okkervill River are teaming up for several dates in early 2008.

Bad News: Only the Okkervill River side of this awesome coin will make it to my neck of the woods, but I will take what I can get.

04-05 Dallas, TX - Granada (Okkervill River Only)

My 10 Favorite Albums of 2007.

Wow, what a great year in music! I would say that my top 3 albums could be a #1 album in any given year, but the strength of releases this year has these great albums crowded at the top. Random Spirit Lover is easily my favorite album of the year, however, In Rainbows and Boxer might as well be tied at #2 as they are both that good. I wish I had more time to listen to all the well received albums released this year, but I can only critique the one's that found their way to me this year. Without futher ado...

1. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover

Random Spirit Lover (RSL) is the single best album I have heard in the past five years and maybe even in this decade. This album is so complex and quirky but in all of the right ways. The first several listens of RSL can be rough but it has some innate quality that makes one continually come back to it. The payoff is a musical adventure in which each song blends into the next like a true album should. Granted the songs themselves are amazing but it is the cohesiveness of the recordings as a continuous work that make this album so amazing. In my eyes Spencer Krug has become the writer of this generation and I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve next.

Best Songs - "The Mending of the Gown", "The Taming of the Hands that Came Back to Life", "Winged/Wicked Things

2. Radiohead - In Rainbows

In Rainbows was released with a myriad of attention for the way in which Radiohead marketed and sold this album, but shouldn't we be focusing on the album itself? Let's forget the hype and what we find is arguably Radiohead's best album to date. In Rainbows finds a band that is finally comfortable in its own skin. The songs here do not sound forced or experimental as some of their past releases have come off as. Instead, In Rainbows finds a Radiohead producing an effortless and natural sound all being the culmination of their past works. If this album was released in any other year it could easily be my number one album, but 2007 was just too damn good.

Best Songs - "All I Need", "Bodysnatchers", "Reckoner"

3. The National - Boxer

The National have a crafted an album that is truly a classic. Boxer is an album that will age like a fine wine and be one that will hold relevance 10 years into the future. The songs have an understated beauty that reveals itself in each listen. I have seen numerous references to Boxer as a "grower" and while this sentiment is true there is still plenty of immediacy to this album as well. Buy it, enjoy it, period.

Best Songs - "Fake Empire", "Mistaken for Strangers", "Apartment Story"

4. Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew - Spirit If...

Broken Social Scene (BSL) references are inescapable but necessary as Kevin Drew is the chief songwriter for that outfit and it is with Kevin Drew's Spirit If... one can recognize his importance to the band's success. Kevin Drew is nothing other than a extremely solid songwriter and to discount this record because he released it under the Broken Social Scene moniker is missing the point entirely. Kevin Drew's songwriting will always be inseparable from the Broken Social Scene sound because of his major role in shaping that sound, and while Broken Social Scene members contributed to this album the majority of its sound is Kevin Drew steering the ship to its ultimate destination. This album smells and tastes like BSL but with a quality of its own. Mmmmm, yummy.

Best Songs - "Safety Bricks", "Lucky Ones", Frightening Lives", "Backed Out on the..."

5. Menomena - Friend and Foe

Friend and Foe is an album that seems so schizophrenic but somehow manages to hold everything together. This dichotomy of sound weaves between intense, driving, and beautiful and its many personalities are what makes this album so interesting. Inventive and creative all while finding itself accessible Friend and Foe is an album that I can see myself coming back to in the future and only appreciating more with time.

Best Songs - "The Pelican", "Wet and Rusting", "My My"

6. Handsome Furs - Plague Park

Handsome Furs is no more than Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade), Alexei Perry, a guitar, and a drum machine. Now this statement may lack the inclusion of synthesizers, but I want to reflect the simplicity of the approach taken in Plague Park. Boeckner has stated that the album was "to be as sparse and repetitive as possible" and while this repetition is achieved in sorts the album is not sterile by any means. Plague Park takes a bit of Wolf Parade and a little bit of New Order and lets everyone know that Wolf Parade is not a one man show.

Best Songs - "What We Had", "Dead + Rural", "Handsome Furs Hate This City"

7. Okkervill River - The Stage Names

The Stage Names is a songwriter's album in that Okkervill River has no gimmicks but just great songs. The songs are naked and raw and reflect the mature songwriting that one would expect of Will Sheff. The Stage Names is not trying to slap you in the face, but is that stray dog that gently finds a place in your heart and makes a home.

Best Songs - "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe", "Plus Ones", "John Allyn Smith Sails", "Girl In Port"

8. Panda Bear - Person Pitch

The best way I can describe Person Pitch is if someone locked Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys in a room for days with only a knowledge of electronic based music/sampling and a month's supply of acid. The product is something that seems so recognizable but so new all at the same time. The only negative to this album is that it is not one that will find its way into your CD player on a daily basis. Person Pitch is a mood album and by this I mean you have to be in a certain mood to want to listen to it, but when you find that mood, it is well worth it.

Best Songs - "Bros", "Comfy in Nautica", "Im Not"

9. The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse

The two opening songs "Disaster" and "For Agent 13" are an extremely powerful opening to a great album, however, the album unfortunately cannot maintain the pace set by these great songs. Don't let this distress you though as the remainder of the album is good, but suffers from its own creation of high expectations.

Best Songs - "For Agent 13", "Disaster", "Because Tonight"

10. Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War

I am going to borrow from my review of this album as I took a lot of time in figuring out how I exactly wanted to describe this album so here it goes... Stars have always achieved a charming quality through the interaction of the voices of Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan and In Our Bedroom After the War continues this relationship without being 'rinse and repeat'. The duet of Campbell and Millan sing the gambit from feuding lovers to pop perfectionists and we are all the better for it in joining in for the ride.

Best Songs - "The Night starts Here", "Window Bird", "Take Me to the Riot"