Bios
Thom Wong
Thom Wong writes regularly about music for The Tyee. He can also be found ruminating about the state of menswear at The Sunday Best.
Stories by Thom Wong
Just Me, Some Music, and the Air Between Us
Julia Holter's "Marienbad" inspires a resolution.
Music Is Not a Commodity
In fact, Iceland's Ólafur Arnalds is giving it away -- all of it.
Gamers Let the Music Play
Indie vets like Jim Guthrie are creating beautiful music for the button-mashers.
The Gift of the Concert Film
Sigur Ros misses the mark but Andrew Bird: Fever Year hits a bullseye.
The 'Let's Get Lost' Approach
Great music is everywhere. Here's how you find it.
Remembering Canada's Pioneering Two-Piece
The Inbreds were predicting the future while you were still jumping around to Ace of Base.
Apple Tree Romance
Pearl and the Beard help keep your summer afloat, just.
Rave About the Machine
Florence and the Machine, the big winner on new Buddy Holly tribute.
Summer's Here, Time for Jimmy Cliff
If this little-known cut from '67 doesn't do it for you, nothing will.
The Brothers Ivan & Alyosha
Russian literature meets Ricky Nelson in this week's Seattle buzz band.
Too Cute for Its Own Good
But still great! Behold "Otis" by Vancouver's The Oh Wells.
Lightning Bolt's Demented, Sonic Torture
You'd be amazed how good it sounds after a month of Rebecca Black.
They Don't Make Music Like This Anymore!
Except when rising remix stars The Knocks take on Motown and Stax.
Acoustic Version
The Dodos turn off the amps and come up trumps.
Music, Memory, and Mom
Sonya Cotton grieves out loud on her sublime tribute to her mother, and asks for a little help from you.
The Aching Songs of Sarah Jaffe
As lovely as it is, her "Clementine" is no campfire singalong.
Top Three Albums of 2010
Janelle Monáe's 'TheArchAndroid' amazes. But so do Thom Wong's two other picks.
Putting All Your Apple in One Cart
Here comes the EMI cash grab... er... sun.
The Dance of the Epileptic Robots
Skrillex remixes a club smash into dimensions unknown.
The Fearless Electronica of Grimes
Her bedroom recording is better than your bedroom recording.
Derivative is the New Original
But at least The Naked and Famous don't sound like Barry Manilow.
How Can That Be Possible?
More free musical awesomeness, this time from Karen Boekbinder.
Consumers of the World, Unite!
You've nothing to lose but your chainstores, says Padma
It's a Fan's World
The music industry doesn't know its ass from its elbow. Guess who benefits?
Standoff!
Two indie rock giants, two albums, one victor!
Enunciate and Succeed!
He's the Tallest Man on Earth, and possibly the most well-spoken.
Music Has Charms to Sooth a Loudmouth Chump
In which our correspondent witnesses a miniature indie rock miracle.
The Junos Don't Like You
Isn't selling the most albums its own reward?
With Glowing Hearts
The Olympics demonstrated how little we know about our own music.
I Will Remember You
But Sarah, Alanis, Shania? Maybe not so much.
The Rise of the Cover Song
Some thoughts on Will Ferrell, Stereogum, and a new trend in music.
The Aughties End
Neko Case and the Best of 2000-2009.
Cockroaches, Puke, and Goddamn Lies
Yes, it's a column about Christmas music.
For Those Women About to Rock, We Salute You
Meet three ladies in full posterior-kicking effect.
Tom Waits Lives
His new concert album tells us he won't go gently.
Effing It Up and Making It Better
Bell Orchestre releases a remix project that actually works.
The Call of the Wild
Karen O's Magical Mystery Tour
Everybody Wants to Get Sliimy
...Or how the Internet eats pop
She Sings Like a House On Fire
And Shiina Ringo doesn't look too bad, either. Not that it matters.
Something Funny About the Yoshida Brothers
"Japanese banjos and Star Trek flutes" only sounds horrible on paper, trust us!
From the Basement to the Stars
Intimate concerts remind why music still matters.
Hearing in Black and White
For bands like Loney, Dear, MP3s leave us both richer and poorer.
Towers of Song
From theatrically inclined fake Newfies, no less.
Andrew Bird's 'Noble Beast'
Music to soothe the savage pop landscape.
Sustainable Music and Soul Food
Melissa Endean's tunes are simple, nourishing and grown locally.
One Order of Pop, Hold the Product Placement
Peter Fox's German reggae is full of surprises.
Will Darker My Love Save Rock 'n' Roll?
Its work is cut out.
Arthur Russell's Cello Pop
Commercially unviable advertising star.
Bringing The Good News
Vancouver collective preaches danceable indie power pop.
Music Alchemy: Dodos and Girl Talk
What kind of mixing makes audio gold?
Sigur Rós's 'Gobbledigook'
Captivating, accessible, Icelandic music that defies its unwieldy title.
At the Beck and Call of Good Weirdness
Why Beck is one of the only ones to make it work.
End of the Road
What to listen to when love, vacations and jobs hit the wall.
Songs for the Road (of Life and Asphalt)
Escape with some sing-along, filth and a good beat.
Spring Road Trip!
Songs for the beginning, middle and end of your journey.
Neutral Milk Hotel
Why I checked in to their post-grunge haven.
Schmaltzy vs. Sincere and Sexy
Good Valentine's music from Bird, Buckley and Magnetic Fields.
Japan's Iconic Teen Song
Blue Hearts' 'Linda Linda.'
Wong's Music Year in Review
From Radiohead and Andrew Bird to bad grammar.
The Hives' Latest
Can random be contrived?
Sexy and Unsexy Music
Where stars get it right and wrong.
Music Myopia: Disease or Blessing?
And three ways to celebrate it.
Contraband Japanese Music
You can't get Hifana on iTunes. Get it here.
Why I'm Buying CDs Again
Three recent top finds.
When the Truth Is Dull
Music to help create a fictional life.
'Sound Opinions'
Three chords, two guys and the truth.
'Romeo + Juliet' Soundtrack
Music to fall in love, be young and take poison to.
Best of the New Blogosphere
Thom Wong's current must-reads.
Del Amitri's 'Roll to Me'
This will get the girl. Or your money back.
1993: The Year Rap Died
Note the patterns. I say hip hop is next.
BC Indie Band, The Paper Cranes
'Might fold your paper heart into a crown.'
Join the avocadoclub!
German duo gives Swedish 'twee-pop' a run for its money.
Listen to This!
'Books' is the best song I've ever heard.
Listen to This!
Loveninjas kungfus cynical hearts this Valentine's week.
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The ultimate bLink!
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My love hate for the Interweb.
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Optical illusion anarchy.
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Online advertising: more than talking frogs?
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Online comics that bring bananas to your dawgs.
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Retro toys.
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Lite Brite online.
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How do you feel in blog?
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A tug on the blog heart strings.
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The 'beests' are out there.
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When movies collide with advertising.
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He's baack.
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The ultimate blogger: blog, scheme, win!
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How do you worship your favourite city?
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Unleash your inner Van Halen
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You have questions? Ask for Cents has answers.
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Celebrating the worst writing winners.
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What's your guerilla art fantasy?
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Video killed the radio star? Well, it's back.
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Virtual trash, real treasure.
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What's a geograph?
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A serial story that'll curl your toes.
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15000 photos say more than 15000 words
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Form and function. But can it cook dinner?
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Let the children dance.
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My House Is Your House.
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Connect the dots.
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Who's in the ruling class? Gimme names!
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One hundred words.
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Apartment therapy.
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The music bloggosphere
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Tricks, hacks and organizational heaven.
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Wanna change something?
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Think it, make it.
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Can you Digg it?
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Got modest needs?
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What to read next?
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Secret absolution.
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News cheaters.
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- With Obama’s new foreclosure deal big banks win again
