iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

This week in the stübermania newsletter: two conversations with Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw from Metric about the debut album they were planning to release in 2002, and the totally different debut album they actually released in 2003: stubermania.substack.com/p/two-conver...

Two conversations with Metric’s Emily Haines and James Shaw from 2002 and 2003

The first chat is about the smooth cocktail-pop album they were planning to release as their debut; the second is about the indie-sleaze classic they actually released as their debut

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The Beatles - Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Second Version - Take 2 / Visualiser)

For anyone whoever thought: "Yeah, 'Norwegian Wood' is a perfect song, but it'd be even more perfect with the drum beat from The Fall's 'Hip Priest'": www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI4K...

youtube.com

YouTube video by TheBeatlesVEVO

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Two conversations with Metric’s Emily Haines and James Shaw from 2002 and 2003

The first chat is about the smooth cocktail-pop album they were planning to release as their debut; the second is about the indie-sleaze classic they actually released as their debut

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Maybe not the largest generator overall, I've always thought "Lazy Sunday" marked the dawn of the internet think-piece industrial complex

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Today at Pitchfork, I wrote about Ty Segall's latest album, where his early primal tendencies dovetail with his more recent artier inclinations to produce a blast of garage-prog: pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...

pitchfork.com

Ty Segall: Chrome

Read Stuart Berman’s review of the album.

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Reposted by Stuart Berman

Geddy Lee says “he’s not one to make public statements about politicians” before endorsing Brad Bradford. Lee, who just played four sold-out shows in Toronto and was given a heroes welcome at TIFF, says he “truly fears for the future” of the city.

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

It’s really too bad that we all burned out on mash-ups by the mid-2000s, because Ella Langley x Geese’s “Choosin Taxes” is right there waiting to become the 2026iest song of 2026

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Yeah that definitely makes the passage of time feel all the more extreme

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

According to the Meta memory machine, six years ago tonight, I attended my first post-COVID-lockdown concert, held on the rooftop of a parking garage with chairs set up six feet apart and The Sadies performing behind plexiglass. Feels like 60 years ago.

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This week in the stubermania newsletter: A 2012 chat with Feist about food poisoning, why small shows are better than arena gigs, and life after "1,2,3,4." Plus: notes on Angine de Poitrine's Polaris invasion, new music from Gilla Band and Neil Young + more! stubermania.substack.com/p/a-conversa...

A conversation with Feist from 2012

On the eve of her induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, we revisit a time when she was still adjusting to life after “1,2,3,4.” Plus: Angine de Poitrine’s Polaris invasion and more!

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The Nathan Fielder/Elizabeth Holmes doc trailer is only the second most uncomfortable thing you'll watch this week

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A conversation with Feist from 2012

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

What’s the point of having kids if you can’t dad-joke?

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I guess you could say this car is undergoing reHabilitation?

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

And the winner or the 2026 Polaris Music Prize is…

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The tits are out and bouncing for Slash Need’s tribute to Peaches at @polarismusicprize.bsky.social

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Some people wear all black because it's cool/goth/rock 'n' roll etc, I wear all black to hide food stains

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Today at Pitchfork, I wrote about the excellent new double album from Cincinnati psych-rock ensemble The Drin. RIYL: Brian Jonestown Massacre without the sitar-fight drama, Spacemen 3's unrealized folk phase, gratuitous sax and violence. pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...

pitchfork.com

The Drin: I Lost My Way for Centuries

Read Stuart Berman’s review of the album.

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

This is not a photograph… It’s a video of Roger Miller from Mission of Burma performing solo last night in Hamilton. His new album ‘The Green Man’ just came out and he’s playing Toronto on Sunday night at BSMT254. Don’t sleep on this opportunity to see a legend who’s still showing us how it’s done.

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Reposted by Stuart Berman

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This week in the stübermania newsletter: two conversations with Spoon's Britt Daniel during the band's 2001/02 rebirth. Plus: notes on the Neil Peart documentary, Jon Spencer live, and new music from The Drin, Land of Talk, Echo & the Bunnymen and more! stubermania.substack.com/p/two-brief-...

Two (brief) conversations with Britt Daniel of Spoon from 2001 and 2002

A snapshot of the Austin indie-rockers from both sides of their zeroes-to-heroes trajectory

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Two (brief) conversations with Britt Daniel of Spoon from 2001 and 2002

A snapshot of the Austin indie-rockers from both sides of their zeroes-to-heroes trajectory

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

There's a new album coming from Land of Talk, who, after 20 years, remain so slept-on, they should be classified as pillowcore. Love the extended outro on this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7C8...

youtube.com

Land of Talk - 4:44 [Official Video]

YouTube video by Saddle Creek

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Remember the good ol' days when people just pooped in the pit?

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Reposted by Stuart Berman

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

This week in the stübermania newsletter: my account of that time Interpol came to Toronto to shoot their first video a few weeks before Turn On the Bright Lights was released. Plus: notes on new music from Twisted Teens, This Is Lorelei, War on Drugs + more! stubermania.substack.com/p/a-conversa...

A conversation with all of Interpol from 2002

Weeks before they turned on the Bright Lights, the New York post-punk pin-ups spent a weekend in Toronto to shoot their first video and meet the press. This is the document of our hang.

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Jon Spencer: 61 years old, 80-minute set, zero between-song breaks, 100% fun

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Alas, I came up with "Islands of Manischevitz" after I hit publish.

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

A conversation with all of Interpol from 2002

Weeks before they turned on the Bright Lights, the New York post-punk pin-ups spent a weekend in Toronto to shoot their first video and meet the press. This is the document of our hang.

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Today at Pitchfork, I wrote about the latest blast of electro-funk freakiness from Jennifer Herrema's Black Bananas: pitchfork.com/reviews/albu...

pitchfork.com

Black Bananas: Bad Bunch

Read Stuart Berman’s review of the album.

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

This must be worth at least $3.25 now

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

This week in the stübermania newsletter: a 2002-era e-chat with Colin Newman of Wire about being post-punk pioneers in a post-punk-revival world. Plus: notes on newish music from Dinosaur Jr., Mike D, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Sharp Pins + more! stubermania.substack.com/p/a-correspo...

A correspondence with Colin Newman of Wire from 2002

The post-punk pioneer talks about rebooting his band in the midst of a post-punk revival

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

If I were to make my own Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, this would be the big reveal to show I’ve time-travelled to the 2000s

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Make corporate advertising anti-fascist again

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Volunteering my services to lead John Cena’s Best Supporting Actor campaign for Coyote vs Acme

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Nice to see @markhamillofficial.bsky.social repping for Gerry & The Pacemakers, Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, and some other Liverpudlian band at FanExpo

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Vintage-toy vendor at FanExpo has, like, 10 random used CDs for sale, and of course one of them is Monster

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

This week in the stübermania newsletter: new Ty Segall album out today, old Ty Segall interview in your inbox! A dispatch from that time when the prodigious rocker was giving up the guitar, plus new music from Lex Walton, Le Ren, Interpol, Sorry, and more! stubermania.substack.com/p/a-conversa...

A conversation with Ty Segall from 2019

With his guitar-charged new album, Chrome, out today, we revisit that brief moment when the California rocker wanted nothing to do with his preferred instrument

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

A conversation with Ty Segall from 2019

With his guitar-charged new album, Chrome, out today, we revisit that brief moment when the California rocker wanted nothing to do with his preferred instrument

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Today on Commotion, we had Allison Russell, Sarah Boesveld, and @marissarmoss.bsky.social on to pay their respects to Queen Dolly: youtu.be/QV1PNreAfIg?...

youtu.be

How Dolly Parton Made the World a Better Place

YouTube video by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I suppose it's still not too late to launch my Hip fansite, Blog at High Dough

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

October 9 is like SXSW in Hamilton, except you can bounce from club-to-club to see different Tragically Hip tribute bands

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

I had to put my newsletter on pause for a few weeks as I dealt with some Big Life Stuff, but I’m back today with the story of how, 30 years ago this month, I randomly heard a song by an obscure Toronto indie-rock band that literally ended up changing my life: stubermania.substack.com/p/a-conversa...

A conversation with Slowgun from 1996—and the story of how their music literally changed my life

Thirty years ago this month, I heard a song on the radio by an unknown Toronto indie-rock band, and little did I know that minor event would end up having major ramifications on my future career

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Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Everything you say about the old Dollar is spot-on, though I was always fond of that little rounded lip at center stage, which encourages you to perform with at least 20% more pizazz