Bind. Tune in: January CD release calendar 2011 kicks off in a big way By Cody Klyne, Arts Editor T's January CD release calendar is stacked. Starting the year of the rabbit off with a bang— with new discs dropping from The Dears, Iron & Wine, and Bright Eyes to name a few—here’s to hoping the whole of 2011 holds up after such a strong start. Here’re my top four most anticipated releases over the month ahead. January 11 Cage the Elephant — Thank you, Happy Birthday The sophomore release from the boys from Kentucky, all I can hope for is a further refinement of the same catchy, hard-hitting formula that made their self-titled debut back in 2009 one of my favourites of the year. While it’s a little tired of the gents to be emphasizing the 1/11/11 date of release, undoubtedly just another bullet point on their promotional - hit list, the fact that they put up the album in full on their Myspace last week more than makes up for the kitschiness. Check it out! January 18 The Decemberists — The King Is Dead By now I think it’s come to the point when you either love or hate The Decemberists. I, surprise, surprise, happen to fall into the love camp. With 2009’s Hazard’s of Love cementing the band as a force not yet spent, taking listeners on an emotionally heavy journey marked by as many rushing swells as there were gentle reprieves, The King Is Dead is shaping up to be a return, and perhaps a retooling of, a more familiar sound for the band (think more along the lines of Crane Wife and Picaresque.) Expect a review for this one sometime within the coming weeks. January 25 Cold War Kids — Mine Is Yours Relatively new to Cold War Kids, I picked up their sophomore (Loyalty to Loyaly, 2008) over a year late, there’s a strength and soulfulness to Cage the Elephant the combined vocal efforts brought to the table by Nathan Willet and Jonnie Russell that you don’t hear every day that really makes them unique. That said, backed up by quaking percussion, molasses-thick bass, and snappy guitar, Cold War Kids deserve your attention even if their vocal styling’s fail to wow you. January 31 The Go! Team — Rolling Blackouts Dear Go! Team, you’ ve been making my brain smile ever since (what must have been a freak, super secret explosion at the World Music Lab of Awesome back) in 2004 when you released your essential Thunder, Lightning, Strike. Brilliantly combining aspects of pop, rap, indie rock and more to create something new and exciting with every release; I have huge, well-founded hopes in this one. | have fallen in love with Café Deux Soleils By Matthew Visser “I’m a poet and didn’t even know it” and though sometimes true, there are those who do know it; man, do I love the people who do. But does this saying work for everyone? Well, I’m not too sure, but I do know that on Commercial Drive, if you take a gander over to 5" Street, there lies Café Deux Soleils, a place where any person can get up on stage and spit out or read a story or poem of any topic. These speakers talk, and in turn tell a little about themselves, to a crowd of eager poetry lovers who chant and cheer when they are done. From one poetry lover to next, I must admit, I support and commend anyone who gets up on that stage. With all lights on them as they stand in front of the crowd filled with eager ears waiting to hear lines, words, and sometimes stanzas, the pressure’s on. Sadly, sometimes, I think poems are meant to be read and not spoken; coming across as a [ince love the cliché saying 8 work of art that I want to hear again, but can’t. In a city as diverse and open- ended as Vancouver, let alone The Drive, there’s a kind of individual and outspoken word which carries on though the transit system to the homeless sitting on the street corners, the weed shops, and the impromptu cement nap takers. These people and more help to carry the message of the spoken word poetry slams which the little café has been doing since 1996. Deux Soleils sells beer in canning jars, plays only local music from the Vancouver area, and serves only vegetarian food. People come to speak their poetry and tell stories. Stories varying from what it’s like being gay and lesbian, being students and how the school and the education system is really pissing them off, to old people talking about how telemarketers waste their well deserved free time, to past stories of broken hearts—the single guy looking for love—and very dysfunctional families. The atmosphere at the café is uncanny to the people that attend; whether they are green, peace loving hippies, vegetarians who want to enjoy a delicious meal, people on a date, or people that are just there on Monday nights, like me, who want to hear spoken word and poetry slams. There is a sense in The Drive area that gives its residents, walkers, cyclists (which I love to see), and even the level faced hipsters who dress as if they have a tab at the thrift shops or vintage clothing stores, a want to become a part of it. It’s a feeling that, when entering the café, is only emphasized. And this fits perfectly into its “Urban Village” (The Georgia Straight) for the people who want to keep The Drive the way it has always been: away from downtown and away from its ever changing lifestyle. Where else could you want to put Café Deux Soleils? Café Deux Soleils is a place to hang out with your friends, a place to get a great meal, a place to just grab a beer when thirsty, or a place to watch and listen to spoken word and poetry slams. On Commercial Drive where the vagabonds walk and disappear and people work to make life happen; there is a small little café that on Monday night’s people get up on stage and speak into a microphone to a crowd of strangers. This is where people get to let out emotions or just talk about a problem of their past and, you know what, the listeners love it; because it takes a certain amount of courage to get up and talk in front of people who, just like me, love the act of writing and poetry, and do it with conviction and smooth lines of emotions. Because, isn’t this what spoken word and public speaking is really about? For me, it’s kind of a way of letting my voice be heard by a bunch of random strangers and have it heard all along the drive; home to the small café I have fallen in love with. There are poetry slams and/ or open mic nights every Monday. For more info Google Café Deux Soleils, or check their website (www. cafedeuxsoleils.com) for event details.