In the history of Said the Gramophone, we have posted seven songs by The Diskettes. I think this is a record. Are they Said the Gramophone's dearest band? Perhaps. They play a doowop that's sunnier than the beach, an indie pop that's cooler than the sea, a bossanova that makes me think of cute girls in sweaters and neat shoes. Dave, Emily and Maggie aren't just great musicians - they're friends. And so even though Dave B has become an official fixture at Popsheep, after months of prodding he is finally poking his head in here, to share some records that make him glad.

Dave Barclay studies oceans, but in the meantime he's also been responsible for the lunatic synthpop of The Parka 3, the pop-punk goof of Andrew Droid Webber, the percussive patchwork La Guerre des Toques (there is a CD on its way!?@!?!!), and the aforementioned Diskettes. He did sound for The Unicorns' first-ever Montreal show, had Mirah play in his living-room, and was Montreal's friendly-dopiest and most unpretentious hipster. Now he lives in San Diego. And he's still great. Please make him welcome. -- Sean

Beau Dommage - "Tous les palmiers"

Take the metro up to Beaubien. 7760 St. Vallier is on the second floor with two kitchen chairs bumped together on the tiny balcony. A few weeks after the spring melt, the roads and sidewalks are cracked and crumbling and the trees lining the street are freshly bloomed. The first song from their first record is about leaving everything and coming back to this like a giant fuck you to music, professionalism and anything other than 'home'.

[buy for CDN $6.99]

Lonely Ponies - "Ounce Dice Trice"

Basically, I wish I was the Lonely Ponies. Their 10" on Stitch-Stitch Records (18 Penfield Road, St. Werburghs, Bristol, England, BS2 9YG) is perfectly played and wonderfully recorded. They play in a million other great bands and they make really great drawings, paintings, knittings, crafts and zines. They have a party on their birthday every year and despite the fact that they're vegan, they only eat really tasty, inventive and savoury foods that would make the rest of England blush.

[more info]

Medical Mission Sisters - "Joy is like the Rain"

I have always wanted to break a record - just start off by trading around few copies to friends, maybe right a research article about it for a zine or get some CBC jockey to play it, then finish it off with a full blown reissue and a mediocre comeback show/live album. If I could choose any record to be the subject of this fantasy, it would be La Bande a Benny, but maybe Joy is Like the Rain is a more realistic pick. It is a beautiful and simple collection of minimally accompanied amateur song.

[more info]

[Sample all things Dave Barclay here. There are tapes, CDs and fun times to be had.]

(Previous guest-blogs, in and out of the Said the Guests series: Hello Saferide, Edward Droste (Grizzly Bear), Will Sheff (Okkervil River), Devin Davis, Michael Nau (Page France), artist Tim Moore, Carl Wilson, artist Drew Heffron, Brian Michael Roff, Howard Bilerman (producer: Silver Mt. Zion, Arcade Fire, etc.), Damon Krukowski (Damon & Naomi). There are many more to come.)