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Bios

Thom Wong

Thom Wong writes regularly about music for The Tyee. He has also been a teacher and contract specialist. With eight years of education and three bachelor degree, Thom focuses mostly on marketing writing.

Reporting beat: Music

Connection to B.C.: Thom's favourite place in BC is the giant tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park that gets decorated during winter. He thinks the biggest issue facing British Columbians is trying to avoid growing complacent.

Twitter: @thom_wong

Personal website: thesundaybest.org

Stories by Thom Wong

culture

The Return of the Great Canadian Song Debate!

It went home for a rest, now it's back.

By Thom Wong, 8 May 2014


culture

Will Bryan Adams Cut Neil Young Like a Knife?

See what we did there? Canada's song search goes on.

By Thom Wong, 8 Aug 2013


culture

Alanis Morissette Births the Perfect Plum at McDonalds

The Canadian song debate is just getting weird at this point.

By Thom Wong, 27 Jun 2013


culture

Lightfoot's All Over This One

His Early Mornin' Rain puts out Wolf Parade's Fire.

By Thom Wong, 30 May 2013


culture

The Canadian Song Debate Gets Wild

Now with added bitching, moaning and eating our own. Plus Dan Hill. And BTO.

By Thom Wong, 9 May 2013


culture

The Great Canadian Song Debate Goes Forth

Feist, Mangan, SNFU and Joni Mitchell, plus the bitter truth about Gordon Lightfoot.

By Thom Wong, 11 Apr 2013


culture

The Great Canadian Song Debate, Part Three

Tragically Hip, McLachlan, Fresh Wes, Metric, Buffy Saint-Marie -- let battle commence.

By Thom Wong, 21 Mar 2013


culture

The Great Canadian Song Debate Continues

And Stompin' Thom Wong dumps on a few more of your favourites.

By Thom Wong, 28 Feb 2013


culture

So, What's the Greatest Canadian Song Ever?

We'll tell you straight up it isn't 'Snowbird.'

By Thom Wong, 14 Feb 2013


culture

Alicia Keys, J'Accuse!

Your lyrics are terrible. But at least they led the way to TNGHT.

By Thom Wong, 17 Jan 2013


culture

Our Favourite Music of 2012

Grimes gave us 'Visions' of the future.

By Thom Wong, 20 Dec 2012


culture

Life of PSY

When bubblegum monotony rules, one weird little man cuts through.

By Thom Wong, 29 Nov 2012


culture

Broke for Free Is Your Rainy Day Chillwave

Or your acoustic hop, or whatever. It'll warm you either way.

By Thom Wong, 1 Nov 2012


culture

Caravan Palace and the New Electro Swing

Everything old is new again, just jazzed up with computers.

By Thom Wong, 11 Oct 2012


culture

A Word or Two from Jamie T

The garrulous UK songsmith demands your attention.

By Thom Wong, 23 Aug 2012


culture

Why Are Olympic Songs So Bad?

Forget that Muse atrocity, we've got a way better anthem

By Thom Wong, 2 Aug 2012


culture

Take NO for an Answer

Think The National meets Joy Division, but way harder to find.

By Thom Wong, 28 Jun 2012


culture

It's Another Folkin' Revival

Johnny Flynn and Jake Bugg spearhead the next British Invasion.

By Thom Wong, 31 May 2012


culture

The Video Game Music Master

Tunes from old school games still charm, but Jim Guthrie's new soundtrack is next level.

By Thom Wong, 10 May 2012


culture

Like a Church Bell

Holcombe Waller's voice is a holy instrument.

By Thom Wong, 5 Apr 2012


culture

Just Me, Some Music, and the Air Between Us

Julia Holter's "Marienbad" inspires a resolution.

By Thom Wong, 19 Jan 2012


culture

Music Is Not a Commodity

In fact, Iceland's Ólafur Arnalds is giving it away -- all of it.

By Thom Wong, 24 Nov 2011


culture

Gamers Let the Music Play

Indie vets like Jim Guthrie are creating beautiful music for the button-mashers.

By Thom Wong, 3 Nov 2011


culture

The Gift of the Concert Film

Sigur Ros misses the mark but Andrew Bird: Fever Year hits a bullseye.

By Thom Wong, 13 Oct 2011


culture

The 'Let's Get Lost' Approach

Great music is everywhere. Here's how you find it.

By Thom Wong, 15 Sep 2011


culture

Remembering Canada's Pioneering Two-Piece

The Inbreds were predicting the future while you were still jumping around to Ace of Base.

By Thom Wong, 25 Aug 2011


culture

Apple Tree Romance

Pearl and the Beard help keep your summer afloat, just.

By Thom Wong, 4 Aug 2011


culture

Rave About the Machine

Florence and the Machine, the big winner on new Buddy Holly tribute.

By Thom Wong, 7 Jul 2011


culture

Summer's Here, Time for Jimmy Cliff

If this little-known cut from '67 doesn't do it for you, nothing will.

By Thom Wong, 9 Jun 2011


culture

The Brothers Ivan & Alyosha

Russian literature meets Ricky Nelson in this week's Seattle buzz band.

By Thom Wong, 19 May 2011


culture

Too Cute for Its Own Good

But still great! Behold "Otis" by Vancouver's The Oh Wells.

By Thom Wong, 28 Apr 2011


culture

Lightning Bolt's Demented, Sonic Torture

You'd be amazed how good it sounds after a month of Rebecca Black.

By Thom Wong, 7 Apr 2011


culture

They Don't Make Music Like This Anymore!

Except when rising remix stars The Knocks take on Motown and Stax.

By Thom Wong, 17 Mar 2011


culture

Acoustic Version

The Dodos turn off the amps and come up trumps.

By Thom Wong, 24 Feb 2011


culture

Music, Memory, and Mom

Sonya Cotton grieves out loud on her sublime tribute to her mother, and asks for a little help from you.

By Thom Wong, 27 Jan 2011


culture

The Aching Songs of Sarah Jaffe

As lovely as it is, her "Clementine" is no campfire singalong.

By Thom Wong, 6 Jan 2011


culture

Top Three Albums of 2010

Janelle Monáe's 'TheArchAndroid' amazes. But so do Thom Wong's two other picks.

By Thom Wong, 16 Dec 2010


culture

Putting All Your Apple in One Cart

Here comes the EMI cash grab... er... sun.

By Thom Wong, 25 Nov 2010


culture

The Dance of the Epileptic Robots

Skrillex remixes a club smash into dimensions unknown.

By Thom Wong, 4 Nov 2010


culture

The Fearless Electronica of Grimes

Her bedroom recording is better than your bedroom recording.

By Thom Wong, 14 Oct 2010


culture

Derivative is the New Original

But at least The Naked and Famous don't sound like Barry Manilow.

By Thom Wong, 16 Sep 2010


culture

How Can That Be Possible?

More free musical awesomeness, this time from Karen Boekbinder.

By Thom Wong, 26 Aug 2010


culture

Consumers of the World, Unite!

You've nothing to lose but your chainstores, says Padma

By Thom Wong, 5 Aug 2010


culture

It's a Fan's World

The music industry doesn't know its ass from its elbow. Guess who benefits?

By Thom Wong, 27 May 2010


culture

Standoff!

Two indie rock giants, two albums, one victor!

By Thom Wong, 6 May 2010


culture

Enunciate and Succeed!

He's the Tallest Man on Earth, and possibly the most well-spoken.

By Thom Wong, 22 Apr 2010


culture

Music Has Charms to Sooth a Loudmouth Chump

In which our correspondent witnesses a miniature indie rock miracle.

By Thom Wong, 8 Apr 2010


culture

The Junos Don't Like You

Isn't selling the most albums its own reward?

By Thom Wong, 25 Mar 2010


culture

With Glowing Hearts

The Olympics demonstrated how little we know about our own music.

By Thom Wong, 4 Mar 2010


culture

I Will Remember You

But Sarah, Alanis, Shania? Maybe not so much.

By Thom Wong, 11 Feb 2010


culture

The Rise of the Cover Song

Some thoughts on Will Ferrell, Stereogum, and a new trend in music.

By Thom Wong, 14 Jan 2010


culture

The Aughties End

Neko Case and the Best of 2000-2009.

By Thom Wong, 24 Dec 2009


culture

Cockroaches, Puke, and Goddamn Lies

Yes, it's a column about Christmas music.

By Thom Wong, 10 Dec 2009


culture

For Those Women About to Rock, We Salute You

Meet three ladies in full posterior-kicking effect.

By Thom Wong, 26 Nov 2009


culture

Tom Waits Lives

His new concert album tells us he won't go gently.

By Thom Wong, 12 Nov 2009


culture

Effing It Up and Making It Better

Bell Orchestre releases a remix project that actually works.

By Thom Wong, 29 Oct 2009


culture

The Call of the Wild

Karen O's Magical Mystery Tour

By Thom Wong, 15 Oct 2009


culture

Everybody Wants to Get Sliimy

...Or how the Internet eats pop

By Thom Wong, 3 Sep 2009


culture

She Sings Like a House On Fire

And Shiina Ringo doesn't look too bad, either. Not that it matters.

By Thom Wong, 18 Jun 2009


culture

Something Funny About the Yoshida Brothers

"Japanese banjos and Star Trek flutes" only sounds horrible on paper, trust us!

By Thom Wong, 14 May 2009


culture

From the Basement to the Stars

Intimate concerts remind why music still matters.

By Thom Wong, 16 Apr 2009


culture

Hearing in Black and White

For bands like Loney, Dear, MP3s leave us both richer and poorer.

By Thom Wong, 12 Mar 2009


culture

Towers of Song

From theatrically inclined fake Newfies, no less.

By Thom Wong, 12 Feb 2009


culture

Andrew Bird's 'Noble Beast'

Music to soothe the savage pop landscape.

By Thom Wong, 15 Jan 2009


culture

Sustainable Music and Soul Food

Melissa Endean's tunes are simple, nourishing and grown locally.

By Thom Wong, 4 Dec 2008


culture

One Order of Pop, Hold the Product Placement

Peter Fox's German reggae is full of surprises.

By Thom Wong, 6 Nov 2008


culture

Will Darker My Love Save Rock 'n' Roll?

Its work is cut out.

By Thom Wong, 2 Oct 2008


culture

Arthur Russell's Cello Pop

Commercially unviable advertising star.

By Thom Wong, 11 Sep 2008


culture

Bringing The Good News

Vancouver collective preaches danceable indie power pop.

By Thom Wong, 31 Jul 2008


culture

Music Alchemy: Dodos and Girl Talk

What kind of mixing makes audio gold?

By Thom Wong, 3 Jul 2008


culture

Sigur Rós's 'Gobbledigook'

Captivating, accessible, Icelandic music that defies its unwieldy title.

By Thom Wong, 12 Jun 2008


culture

At the Beck and Call of Good Weirdness

Why Beck is one of the only ones to make it work.

By Thom Wong, 22 May 2008


culture

End of the Road

What to listen to when love, vacations and jobs hit the wall.

By Thom Wong, 1 May 2008


culture

Songs for the Road (of Life and Asphalt)

Escape with some sing-along, filth and a good beat.

By Thom Wong, 10 Apr 2008


culture

Spring Road Trip!

Songs for the beginning, middle and end of your journey.

By Thom Wong, 13 Mar 2008


culture

Neutral Milk Hotel

Why I checked in to their post-grunge haven.

By Thom Wong, 28 Feb 2008


culture

Schmaltzy vs. Sincere and Sexy

Good Valentine's music from Bird, Buckley and Magnetic Fields.

By Thom Wong, 7 Feb 2008


culture

Japan's Iconic Teen Song

Blue Hearts' 'Linda Linda.'

By Thom Wong, 17 Jan 2008


culture

Wong's Music Year in Review

From Radiohead and Andrew Bird to bad grammar.

By Thom Wong, 27 Dec 2007


culture

The Hives' Latest

Can random be contrived?

By Thom Wong, 6 Dec 2007


culture

Sexy and Unsexy Music

Where stars get it right and wrong.

By Thom Wong, 15 Nov 2007


culture

Music Myopia: Disease or Blessing?

And three ways to celebrate it.

By Thom Wong, 25 Oct 2007


culture

Contraband Japanese Music

You can't get Hifana on iTunes. Get it here.

By Thom Wong, 4 Oct 2007


culture

Why I'm Buying CDs Again

Three recent top finds.

By Thom Wong, 13 Sep 2007


culture

When the Truth Is Dull

Music to help create a fictional life.

By Thom Wong, 23 Aug 2007


culture

'Sound Opinions'

Three chords, two guys and the truth.

By Thom Wong, 2 Aug 2007


culture

'Romeo + Juliet' Soundtrack

Music to fall in love, be young and take poison to.

By Thom Wong, 12 Jul 2007


mediacheck

Best of the New Blogosphere

Thom Wong's current must-reads.

By Thom Wong, 27 Jun 2007


culture

Del Amitri's 'Roll to Me'

This will get the girl. Or your money back.

By Thom Wong, 21 Jun 2007


culture

1993: The Year Rap Died

Note the patterns. I say hip hop is next.

By Thom Wong, 31 May 2007


culture

BC Indie Band, The Paper Cranes

'Might fold your paper heart into a crown.'

By Thom Wong, 10 May 2007


culture

Join the avocadoclub!

German duo gives Swedish 'twee-pop' a run for its money.

By Thom Wong, 12 Apr 2007


culture

Listen to This!

'Books' is the best song I've ever heard.

By Thom Wong, 9 Mar 2007


culture

Listen to This!

Loveninjas kungfus cynical hearts this Valentine's week.

By Thom Wong, 15 Feb 2007


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The ultimate bLink!

By Thom Wong, 29 Jun 2006


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My love hate for the Interweb.

By Thom Wong, 27 Jun 2006


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Optical illusion anarchy.

By Thom Wong, 20 Jun 2006


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Online advertising: more than talking frogs?

By Thom Wong, 15 Jun 2006


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Online comics that bring bananas to your dawgs.

By Thom Wong, 13 Jun 2006


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Retro toys.

By Thom Wong, 8 Jun 2006


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Lite Brite online.

By Thom Wong, 6 Jun 2006


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How do you feel in blog?

By Thom Wong, 1 Jun 2006


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A tug on the blog heart strings.

By Thom Wong, 30 May 2006


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The 'beests' are out there.

By Thom Wong, 25 May 2006


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When movies collide with advertising.

By Thom Wong, 23 May 2006


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He's baack.

By Thom Wong, 18 May 2006


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The ultimate blogger: blog, scheme, win!

By Thom Wong, 2 Mar 2006


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How do you worship your favourite city?

By Thom Wong, 27 Feb 2006


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Unleash your inner Van Halen

By Thom Wong, 23 Feb 2006


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You have questions? Ask for Cents has answers.

By Thom Wong, 20 Feb 2006


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Celebrating the worst writing winners.

By Thom Wong, 16 Feb 2006


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What's your guerilla art fantasy?

By Thom Wong, 13 Feb 2006


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Video killed the radio star? Well, it's back.

By Thom Wong, 9 Feb 2006


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Virtual trash, real treasure.

By Thom Wong, 6 Feb 2006


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What's a geograph?

By Thom Wong, 2 Feb 2006


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A serial story that'll curl your toes.

By Thom Wong, 30 Jan 2006


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15000 photos say more than 15000 words

By Thom Wong, 26 Jan 2006


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Form and function. But can it cook dinner?

By Thom Wong, 22 Jan 2006


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Let the children dance.

By Thom Wong, 19 Jan 2006


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My House Is Your House.

By Thom Wong, 16 Jan 2006


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Connect the dots.

By Thom Wong, 12 Jan 2006


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Who's in the ruling class? Gimme names!

By Thom Wong, 9 Jan 2006


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One hundred words.

By Thom Wong, 29 Dec 2005


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Apartment therapy.

By Thom Wong, 27 Dec 2005


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The music bloggosphere

By Thom Wong, 22 Dec 2005


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Tricks, hacks and organizational heaven.

By Thom Wong, 19 Dec 2005


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Wanna change something?

By Thom Wong, 15 Dec 2005


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Think it, make it.

By Thom Wong, 12 Dec 2005


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Can you Digg it?

By Thom Wong, 8 Dec 2005


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Got modest needs?

By Thom Wong, 5 Dec 2005


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What to read next?

By Thom Wong, 1 Dec 2005


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Secret absolution.

By Thom Wong, 28 Nov 2005


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News cheaters.

By Thom Wong, 23 Nov 2005