Lifestyle Radio Sampler - Spring 2003
Wednesday, March 5th, 2008One of these things is not like the other things. That’s one way of describing this 2003 sampler from Toronto’s tiny Lifestyle label. It has folk, bluegrass, first nations, and a dash o’hardcore. I will let you decide which one is not like the others. I was hoping to have a detailed post of the various artists, but unfortunately the only info I could find was on Bloodwurm, from metallian.com:
Frontman Vince used to describe the band’s sound as ‘Southern Fried Devil Rock!’ He had replaced Chris Bailey in Infernal Majesty and sang on that band’s Creation Of Chaos demo. He had also laid down vocals for Infernal Majesty’s return album. His sessions were eventually erased when Bailey returned to front Infernal Majesty once again. Cold Dead Stare was an EP on Lifestyle Productions and was limited to 100 copies. It was followed by a red vinyl 7″ in 1998. The band hailed from Toronto and was compared to Gwar and Motorhead. Things came to an end when Vince died of a heroine overdose on October 13, 2001 during a Toronto radio interview. Vince was previously once incarcerated for alleged vampire activity and sucking blood from human volunteers and again later for assault charges.
The signed CD insert says it all for me: “Be Dangerous, it’s careful out there!” That’s some pretty quaint sarcasm coming from someone who died from an overdose of smack.
I don’t know about the “Southern Fried” business, but the near-perfect ghoul vocals place Bloodwurm firmly in the devil rock category. You can check out more on Bloodwurm by visiting CBC Radio-3 and/or you can watch | download their “Pit” video.
As for the others:
If J. Rowley really had the girlfriend he described in his song, then he should have left the studio and made a run for it. Brady Jenkins goo will stick to your ribs, and then dance sadistically on your chest, thanks to one of the worst mixing/mastering jobs I’ve ever heard. Note to Jenkins: Next time don’t let your bass player near the mixing console.
Lastly we have Brad English and Red Wind, who performed the most interesting track on the EP. The little time I spend listening to radio is increasingly reserved (pun intended) for aboriginal music. The new music coming out of Canada’s first nations is some of the most creative work around.
Tune in daily to Canada’s Aboriginal Voices Radio Network:
- Vancouver 106.3 FM
- Calgary 88.1 FM
- Edmonton 89.3 FM
- Kitchener 102.5 FM
- Toronto 106.5 FM
- Ottawa 95.7 FM
- Montreal 106.7 FM
Track List:
1) J. Rowley - She’s Crazy and She’s Trying to Kill Me (folk, 2001)
2) Brady Jenkins - A Little Bit O’The Goo (bluegrass, 1995)
3) Greg English and Red Wind - Turtle Bay (first nations, 2003)
4) Bloodwurm - Erase the Past (hardcore punk/metal, 2003)
I am not sure if they are still operating, but you might be able to reach Lifestyle Records in Toronto at lifestylerecords@yahoo.com or by phone at 1-416-763-8515.
