I’m pleased to announce the upcoming release of a new coffee table book I have been working on, which explores music as a romantic catalyst.

It’s titled Our Liner Notes, which is either a sensible or lazy move on my part (depending on your perspective), and will be available online and in select Toronto music and book stores starting February 13 (a full list of stores will be announced in a few weeks).

We’re also throwing a launch for the book on February 11 (just in time for Valentine’s Day) from 8 pm to 12 am at Tabula Rasa (745 Broadview Ave), which will feature performances by Spirit Oak, Foxes In Fiction and DJ Daniel Brooks (of Medallions).

A portion of the proceeds from the book will go to The Regent Park School of Music, a not-for-profit music school which provides affordable high quality music education for youth.

Here’s some more information about the book:

Written and compiled by Justin Lee, designed by Tammy Yiu, photographed by Christine Lim, and illustrated by Lauren Pirie, Our Liner Notes documents the r…elationships of 14 music-obsessed couples who share their personal experiences involving music.

These anecdotal stories provide tiny glimpses into the dynamics of their relationship and the enormous role which music has played in uniting them.

From the day they first met, to the shows that conjure up fond memories, to the dusty mixtapes that serve as musical love letters, these are their liner notes.

The last My Liner Notes post of 2010 is short and sweet — emphasis on sweet.

Two of my favourite singles this year were Big Boi’s “Shine Blockaz” and The Black Keys’ “Everlasting Light”, ranking #14 and #15, respectively. 

So it came as a welcome surprise when mashup artist Wick-it the Instigator  combined the two songs for his “Everlasting Shine Blockaz” mix.

And while you’re at it, check out the rest of The Brothers of Chico Dusty, his mashup mix of Big Boi’s Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty and The Black Keys’ Brothers.

Enjoy, and I will see you all in 2011.

It’s no surprise that Sufjan’s favourite musical genre of music is Christmas music.

A few years back he released a box set of five volumes packed full of original and traditional Christmas music.

Then as each Christmas would approach, subsequent volumes began popping up on the Interweb. However, Volume 6 was never previously available, let alone heard. Until now.

The good folks at rawkblog are currently streaming all seven songs on Volume 6 so now you’ll have a proper soundtrack for all your Christmas activities—whether you’re roasting chestnuts on an open fire, or secretly wishing the 36 people in front of you at the department store line (Readers Note: I don’t actually mean a real case filled with explosive diaherrea because that would be disgusting).

Sufjan Stevens - “Heirloom”, live at Massey Hall on October 13, 2010.

Beach House - Norway (Practice session recorded for Pitchfork.TV)