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February 2 2022
Dec 8 2017
Here we go again...my new book Still Competition: The Listener's Guide to Cheap Trick is now available to order!
Hardcover, paperback and ebook editions can be ordered from the online Friesen Press Bookstore.
UPDATE: We're having a book launch event at The Caledonian Pub in Toronto on Jan 30 2018. Come by for a chat about Trick, a wee dram and pick up a signed copy of Still Competition.
It'll be so good to see you!
Dec 18 2017
This Side of the Tracks 2017 Top Ten List:
-Broken Social Scene "Hug of Thunder"
-Cheap Trick "The Epic Archive"
-Alice Coltrane "The Escatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasancitananda"
-Bob Dylan "Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series vol 13 1979-1981"
-Little Steven "Soul Fire"
-Graham Parker "Mystery Glue"
-Prince "Purple Rain 30th Anniversary Edition"
-Harry Styles "Harry Styles"
-Venom Inc "Ave"
-Roger Waters
Sep 1 2016
It's official, Razama-Snaz! The Listener's Guide To Nazareth is out and available for ordering! You can get it from the publisher's online bookstore http://www.friesenpress.com/bookstore/bestsellers or on Amazon.com
Thanks to eveyone who contributed to this project!
Jan 19 2016
Welcome to 2016 and our New Year's announcement.
We're proud to announce the first book to be published under the This Side Of The Tracks brand.
Razama-Snaz! The Listener's Guide to Nazareth will be out early April.
Watch this space as well as www.facebook.com/thissideofthetracks for updates and ordering info.
And if a book about Nazareth isn't your cup of tea, first of all what's wrong with you and second, don't worry. I've already started work on a second book.
Aug 27 2015
Here are a few of the 2015 updates that didn't get mentioned here on the front page:
-Mayhem w/ Watain Jan 13 concert review here.
-Jesus and Mary Chain May 1 concert review here.
-1349 June 2 concert review here.
-Deranged article updated to include the latest blu-ray release here.
Stay tuned for a major This Side Of The Tracks announcement soon!
Dec 28 2014
It's that time for the this side of the tracks Top Ten Albums of 2014. As usual we have a mix of archival releases and newer titles (some folks don't think archival titles belong on lists like this, I do and I've been making these lists since 1994, that's twenty years ferchrissakes!) representing various genres.
So, in no particular order:
-Humble Pie Performance: Rockin' The Fillmore The Complete Recordings. 4 CD boxed set.
-Elvis Presley Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis 2 CD Legacy Edition.
-Miles Davis Miles At The Fillmore 1970 4 CD set.
-Band Of Skulls Himalayan.
-Carlene Carter Carter Girl.
-Rosanne Cash The River & The Thread.
-1349 Massive Cauldron Of Chaos.
-Mayhem Esoteric Warfare.
-Cult Of Fire The Ascetic Meditation Of Death.
-John Coltrane Offering: Live At Temple University 1966.
Oct 24 2014
Let's kick the weekend off with another great Rheostatics show from the This Side Of The Tracks vaults!
This recording is from April 23 1994 at The Palladium.
Some notable moments: after "Rain Rain Rain" Dave & Tim talk about working as extras on various Canadian films, this is the only show I am aware of where they played only the second part of "The Ballad Of Wendel Clark, the weird guitar solo in "Legal Age Life At Variety Store" was played by a left-handed audience member using Martin's guitar and after "Shaved Head" the band leaves the stage except for Martin who creates a neat instrumental coda to the evening.
Check it out here: http://www.rheostaticslive.com/Palladium-23Apr1994.shtml
Oct 3 2014
We're proud to annouce that our pal Darrin's terrific Rheostatics website www.rheostaticslive.com is now hosting four different shows from the This Side Of The Tracks Archives!
Visit Darrin's site for full audio recordings from Aug 11 1994 at The Horseshoe Tavern ( http://www.rheostaticslive.com/Horseshoe-11Aug1994.shtml ),
Oct 7 1994 at Bathurst Street Theatre
(http://www.rheostaticslive.com/Bathurst-St-Theatre-07Oct1994.shtml ),
Aug 24 95 from The Horseshoe again
( http://www.rheostaticslive.com/Horseshoe-24Aug1995.shtml )
and Oct 24 96 at the band's Etobicoke high school
( http://www.rheostaticslive.com/EtobicokeCI-24Oct1996.shtml ).
There's lots of other great Rheos stuff there too and there will be a lot more coming from This Side Of The Tracks!
July 4 2014
We celebrate the U.S. Independence Day with an article about the movie Survive (yeah, I know there's no connection there). Dig in here.
This piece was on the site previously but now has been completley rewritten and expanded upon.
June 9 2014
This one has been in the works for awhile but finally we have the brand new 1,920 word article about one of the 70's most controversial films ever Snuff (aka Slaughter).
Check it out here
July 10 2014
The Snuff article got a little tune up today bringing the final word count to 2,195.
June 1 2014
We're kicking off summer with a brand new 1,630 word article about one of Black Sabbath's most controversial eras: 1983 the year Deep Purple's Ian Gillan joined the band
You can read all about it here.
March 12 2014
Today we've got a brand new 2,030 word article about the movie RoboCop, it's various sequels and multiple home video releases.
You can read all about it here.
Feb 18 2014
Hey everyone, We're trying something kinda new for us. this side of the tracks is now on Facebook!
I'll be using this account purely for promoting the site and letting people on FB know about updates.There will be no vacation photos (unless they involve checking out record stores)!
So if like millions, you are on Facebook, "Like" us on Facebook !!