On a regular, just like every other, not so special, almost predictable, in no way stand out from any and every other work day Saturday...

The #4 - 10/22/11

The #4 - 10/22/11, originally uploaded by Luke T..

This is(I suppose) where I've been this last little while.
Not waiting for a bus, just, you know, around.
Calgary, if we need to be specific.
I'll say that I do this(blogging) in phases, and anyone that keeps up would likely agree.
Phases is a good way of roping apathy, frustration, lack of commitment and a handful of other things in to a single word I suppose.
It's not like I don't have a million ways to stay active.
Twitter.
iPhone.
Instagram.
They all talk with Tumblr and Blogger.
So why aren't I more active?
I suppose I just make the choice to not be.
I've said before "I'll change. You'll see. This time, it will be different."
It really never turns out to be true.
So I wont say it.
Though I suppose I'm dancing around it.
But it is getting colder.
...though I think I've said that before as well.
Well hell.
Here is a picture.
Take it and run.
Before I ask for it back.

Take Photos, It's Friday - 02/10/11

Take Photos, It's Friday - 02/10/11, originally uploaded by Luke T..

Or, erm, well, it was when I took them?

The Winnipeg I Know | Eat Bistro | 11/25/10

The Winnipeg I Know | Eat Bistro | 11/25/10, originally uploaded by Luke T..

Normally I rant.
I rant about how I haven't blogged in forever.
Then I rant about some cryptic stuff that no one who reads this would ever understand.
That's the norm.
I guess by that scale of things that today would be a crazy change of pace then.
Music.
I haven't blogged music in years.
Two years really.
Two years ago I ran a two hour podcast of sorts with a very good friend.
We would do a 'dance' and a 'death' half.
Everything we were stoked on or had been listening to lately.
Then we stopped.
Stuff happened.
Life went on.
But lately I've been getting myself back in to my old love of exploring new music.
I listened to a few playlists on my iPod only to realize these playlists have not changed in a year.
So I cleared everything off.
Set it to shuffle.
And have been discovering favorite tracks I had forgot all about.
New tracks I had forgot all about.
And seeking out new tracks.
I've found my favorite album of 2010.
I've found old albums of favorite bands I was unaware I was missing.
I've found great singles.
Amazing remixs.
Awful awful music.
Everything.
So music.
We'll try this out.
Blogging about music again.
I'll try and keep it brief.
But as per usual, I'm sure we've already gone beyond that point.

First up is a remix.
MIA vs Flux Pavillion.
I like when a person(s) can take a track I'm only so-so about and make it in to a track I want to listen to more and more.
That is the case with this remix of Internet Connection.
I originally heard the MIA track and just wasn't sold.
Nothing against the track, but it was just missing something for me.
The intro wasn't a good start for me.
The song seemed like it was missing one of those key elements which was just keeping it at ok for me.
Then I heard this remix.
Now we have a whole handful of elements tossed in which have just sunk their hooks in to me.
There is still things I could do without.
It's not a perfect remix(for me).
There is the very tell tale sounds of dubstep tiptoeing around the background.
There is a synth part that starts up about three minutes in that almost takes me out of it.
But those are small complaints for a remix which otherwise makes me enjoy the song a whole lot more.
I especially think it uses MIA's line of "I'm down on my internet connection" in a much better way than the original track does.
So we start with a remix.
You can grab the mp3 from Life For The Funk.
M.I.A.- Internet Connection (Flux Pavilion Remix)

Then we jump tracks for a moment.
Everyone knows Peter Bjorn & John.
Everyone.
You included.
You're all aware that they have those foot tapping head nodding songs that you want to listen to over and over again on a night in with some good friends, some good wine, a funny cat and a lot of conversation.
The track also begs for a good dance remix, but that's for another time I suppose.
But yes, they're catchy and we know it.
Well this track is no different.
If it doesn't remind you of why you fell in love with them on their first disc Writer's Block then you probably just didn't listen to it.
Or have since had some sort of head injury rendering you incapable of normal human reason, in which case I'm sorry.
Second Chance even has a brief guitar moment in it that, if you weren't listening with your full attention, might make you sit up and wonder if you just heard what you actually did or if a friends cellphone just went off in another room with a Ratatat ring tone on it.
I guess the generation older than me knows that as a definitive sign of a Queen song.
But yes, the song is catchy.
Full of great little parts which will stick in your head and make you want to annoy your friends by playing it over and over again.
Or maybe that's just me.
But that's just where Second Chance falls for me.
You couldn't make me a better indy pop track right now if you tried.
Also, you should be trying.
You can listen to the song at BlahBlahBlahScience or link on over to Amazon to purchase the track.
Peter Bjorn & John - Second Chance

Did I mention I found my favorite album of 2010?
I think I did.
Do you know Sleigh Bells?
You should.
They're pretty much what I look for in a band these days.
That's right, only two members.
Kidding.
But really, they're fantastic.
For a long time I was a little worried they were produced.
After groups of The Kills nature taking off, can you blame a guy for being a little skeptic?
Anyways, once you look in to the band you discover they most certainly are not.
Remember Poison The Well?
Yeah, it's that guy.
The sound sure does have echoes of what we've seen in a little bit more popular format lately though.
But then there is a whole lot more.
A whole lot.
In an interview with Sleigh Bells they said that they wanted to take the breakdown portion of hardcore songs and just stretch that out for three minutes.
So now we have Sleigh Bells.
I'll take it.
I eat this stuff up.
Hard, loud, sexy and vicious.
There are so many tracks on Sleigh Bells album Treats that get me pumped up in a way I haven't felt in ages.
I'll put the cd aside for February in hopes of bringing it out in April to really fuel my outdoor adventures come Spring.
So many favorites.
This is the type of disc that really does target me.
In the same way that Zack Snyder makes movies that I wasn't aware I could like as much as I do, Sleigh Bells has made an album I wasn't aware I could ever like as much as I do also.
When I'm not listening to this cd I want to be.
For the first few months after discovering this disc I found a way to slip a track or two in to every playlist, every burnt cd, every request for new music from friends.
I've learned it doesn't always go over so well with certain groups, but as far as music for me is concerned this disc is platinum.
Have I linked a song yet?
Here is a video.
Infinity Guitars.
It's a pretty fantastic track.
You should probably listen to it really loud.
I think that's the best advice I can give you.
Sleigh Bells.

The Go! Team has always been a favorite as well.
Much in the same "get pumped up" way as the last suggestion.
Only with a lot more pop backed energy.
They've often been referred to as cheer leader in style which I don't think is actually that far off.
Anyways, they have a new disc out called Rolling Blackouts.
The album has all the things you would hope and expect from a Go! Team album without feeling stale.
The album is worth your listen if you've ever been a fan before.
There are fun songs.
Fast songs.
Instrumentals.
Epic pop marches.
Movie montages.
The whole range is there.
If you favored one previous Go! Team album over another then you'll find a half dozen tracks to love on this 13 song disc.
If you've liked the whole history so far then you're in for a treat.
It's a solid cd.
Bust-Out Brigade would have been my song of choice for you to listen to(and if you can seek it out yourself I fully encourage you to do so) but because there is an official video for T.O.R.N.A.D.O I'll link to that instead.
Don't worry, it's also fantastic.
The Go! Team - T.O.R.N.A.D.O.

I'm feeling the wind come out of my sails.
I could have said much more about The Go! Team, but didn't.
I'll cut this off now with the intention of coming back with more later.

Later
-lt

Cass & COP - Dec.14th 2010

Cass & COP - Dec.14th 2010, originally uploaded by Luke T..

Just another day following around the future of Skelly.

Calgary On A Roll Of Film

Calgary On A Roll Of Film, originally uploaded by Luke T..

It's to late to write.
Well it isn't.
I actually just wrote a whole ton.
But it's to late to write anything I feel safe posting.
Well, it isn't.
But I think I know better.
I think.

Calgary On A Roll Of Film

Calgary On A Roll Of Film, originally uploaded by Luke T..

Recently I went to Calgary for just over a week.
Visited some friends.
Did some hiking.
OK did a lot of hiking.
Drank a lot of coffee.
Met some awesome people.
Pretty much just fell in love with the city.

A few days before going to Calgary I picked up a Canon 7D.
That and the 15mm fish-eye.
Obviously I took them with me.
But what I set out to do was not use them.
Well, as much as possible.
I wanted to make this a rather analog week.
Not lo-fi in the sense that most people would think, with a plastic taped up camera and expensive square film, but just going back to where my love started and sharing that experience with a new and exciting one.
I feel far to often like shooting digital is cheating on photography with technology.
Anyways.
So I took a few rolls of film, the AE-1(everyone has these) and a box of polaroid(which I will scan eventually).
I don't care about my AE-1.
I haven't cared about any of them.
I've had a few.
But I feel because I don't care about them I tend to take them out more.
That, combined with the mysteries of film, tend to produce some of my favorite shots.
This one for instance.
Anyways.
I shot just film.
Films.
It was a ton of fun.
So was the trip.
I can't wait to go back.

....find me an apartment in Kensington maybe?

Sub-Boss

Sub-Boss, originally uploaded by Luke in Progress.

Well its getting cooler outside and that means I'm out less with the camera and in more with the drawing.
No complaints there really.
Thought I'd spend some time today getting myself back and familiar with the old faces project.
Figured I'll run two side by side.
Living Dead People will go again, so feel free to get ahold of me if you want one done of yourself or a friend or family member.
15 Minute Faces are also going.
Same thing, let me know if you want one and we'll figure something out.
Got a few on the burner already, so we'll see what comes of it.
Drawing again.
Fantastic-o.

the calm before

Fringe Fire Eater - 07/25/25, originally uploaded by Luke T..

Life has been going to fast lately.
To fast.
Stuff finds a way of happening and just blowing by you.
I moved too.
But yes, I've been busy.
Here is a photo.
Also, LukeTokaryk.com is now up and running(for the most part).
I need to go back and be busy again now.

-Luke

Rainy Day Wedding Candid - 07/10/10

Rainy Day Wedding Candid - 07/10/10, originally uploaded by Luke T..

Oh weddings.
More editing.
A candid from the wedding this weekend.
We got a little rain.
Ok, we got a lot of rain.
Poured on really.
And the mosquitoes!
Oh my.
I thought this was a pretty nice candid.
More to come.