SOUND | You Say Party Reassembles for New Album

"Slow dancing toward this moment."

You Say Party (formerly You Say Party! We Say Die!) has risen again with more than a few (ch-ch-ch-)changes. That is to say, the former Abbotsford dance punk rockers have reassembled long enough to release a brand new, self-titled album full of welcomed new material released on Paper Bag Records.

You Say Party Leaves the 'Prom' Early

"Becky, Derek and I are announcing the immediate cease to activity as YSP. Call it a hiatus. Call it a break. Call it whatever you want..."

I really do love You Say Party. They were/are one of my favourite bands. Obviously, it's been a rough go for them. I was looking forward to seeing perform again on tour before they had to cancel once again.

Ch-Ch-Changes: You Say Party

"Out of respect for Devon [Clifford] and the evolution of life, today we announce that we will no longer be known as 'You Say Party! We Say Die!' but instead as simply 'You Say Party'."

New wave Abbotsford band (formerly known as) You Say Party! We Say Die! have released their first formal public statement and interview since the tragic death of their beloved friend and bandmate, Devon Clifford:

2010 Polaris Music Prize Picks

It is that time of year again. Yes, the Polaris Music Prize celebrates the absolute very best in Canadian music every year based solely on artistic merit as Canadian music artists compete for the top prize of the album of the year award. This year's list of nominations will be announced on June 17 with a shortlist to follow on July 6.

In preparation for my fall internship at CBC Radio 3, I have been boning up on the latest and greatest in all things Canadian music. It is truly a great time for the Canadian music scene right now. So, below is my humble, but far from comprehensive, top five list of picks for the best Canadian albums of the past year. Hopefully, one day I will be esteemed enough to have an official vote on the Polaris panel of jurors.

Fun fact: I have seen four out of five of my picks perform live. Two Hours Traffic is the only one I have yet to see.

New Music: Petroleum By-Product

Petroleum By-Product is a Vancouver new wave band of twenty-somethings that use their music to spread their socially conscious message, advocating a "plastic-free" ideology.

Mixed Feelings (Or "Responsible Journalism"?)

"You come to me in the dark days."

Life is full of many sudden twists and turns and how you react to them reveals exactly who you are and what you are made of and I continue to be reminded of the futility and fatality of life and loss. To those you love, tell them often and always, young and old.

The sad beauty in life is its tragic circumstances. You are what you love and sometimes you must lose what you love. Loss is essential to life to make it special, but it really sucks anyway. Hopefully, you can go out doing what you love surrounded by those you love.

Over the weekend, I broke my first real news story on the world wide web as a blogger and sort of journalist, but with extremely mixed feelings. As a journalism student with just a year of training under my belt, I am only partially pleased with myself. Sadly for more obvious reasons, I feel much more terribly about it and wish I never got the opportunity at all.

Where I refrained earlier from relaying my more detailed sad feelings as an individual, reporting aside, I sincerely offer my sincerest condolences and thoughts for anyone blessed enough to be touched by the music of and/or the person that was Devon Clifford, may he rest in peace.

On Friday night, my friends and I were very much looking forward to an evening of live music. I have written in the past about my admiration for the music of Abbotsford rockers, You Say Party! We Say Die! (now called You Say Party) I attended their free show they did a couple months ago and was thoroughly impressed being a fan of their music. When it was announced that they would come here again on their North American tour, I quickly trekked over to Zulu Records to get tickets for all my friends and I. I am pretty we are responsible for the most sales from that concert considering we bought five tickets, four t-shirts, and five beers.

R.I.P. Devon Clifford (1979-2010)

"It is with absolute sadness to report that our dear friend Devon Clifford passed away just hours ago in a Vancouver hospital surrounded by his family and friends. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him. I request that we respect the family’s privacy during this incredibly difficult time." — Paper Bag Records

Drummer Devon Clifford of the Abbotsford band, You Say Party! We Say Die!, sadly past away early this morning after collapsing on stage during a performance on Friday night at the Rickshaw Theatre in the Downtown Eastside.

Concert: You Say Party! We Say Die! x Rickshaw Theatre

You Say Party! We Say Die! with Petroleum By-Product and Makeout Videotape live in concert at the Rickshaw Theatre on April 16, 2010.



Before the unfortunate collapse of drummer Devon Clifford, Abbotsford rockers You Say Party! We Say Die!, were well on their way to putting forth another stellar, solid performance, belting out their dance punk hits with drive and purpose. Their great set at the Surrey Celebration Site during the Olympics compelled me to see them once again at the Rickshaw Theatre last night.

You Say Party! We Say Die! Drummer Collapses on Stage

Devon Clifford, drummer for You Say Party! We Say Die!, collapsed on stage forty minutes into the Abbotsford dance punk band's music set just before midnight on Friday night.

CBC Radio 3: Women That Rock

I recently applied for the Alexis Mazurin Award at CBC Radio 3. This required that I submit a project pitch (read below) for their production. I decided to pitch a music series based around Canadian bands with female lead singers/vocalists and frontmen. In addition, I produced and recorded my own sample podcast for it. Check it out and give it a listen. (Right-click to download.)

FULL VERSION (37:13)

SHORT VERSION (7:39)

Concert: Surrey Celebration Site

Hey Rosetta!, You Say Party! We Say Die!, Tokyo Police Club, and Wintersleep at the Surrey Celebration Site in Holland Park on February 27, 2010.

New Music: You Say Party! We Say Die!

My favourite band of the moment is probably Abbotsford dance rockers, You Say Party! We Say Die! Their intriguing new wave sound is joyous and powerful to rock out to.

Their latest album, XXXX, which stands for "love" is laced with danceable tunes mixed with a rough rock sound and ethereal lyrics. Every track is infused with a kind of energy and raw appeal that is refreshing and highly enjoyable. Each song on XXXX conveys its own story and momentum in creative ways. I hate to make musical comparisons, but there is an undeniable quality that resembles the magic of Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. My affinity for rock bands featuring female lead singers with reckless abandon continues as You Say Party! We Say Die! has refined their unique sound to new heights.

You Say Party! We Say Die! will be playing for free at the Surrey 2010 Celebration Site in Holland Park on February 28 and head out on a tour of Canada in April.