Dave Hayden

SnailhouseLies on the Prize(unfamiliar)Why is it that the most original and influential musicians in this world labour in relative obscurity, squeaking by on a pittance, while lesser artists get all the acclaim? It shouldn’t take a shout-out from someone like Elvis Costello (who famously name-dropped Ron Sexsmith) or being on a movie soundtrack (few knew […]

Robert ForsterThe Evangelist(Yep Roc)After Grant McLennan’s sudden 2006 death, many fans waited eagerly for a statement from fellow Go Between collaborator Robert Forster. Now, our patience has been rewarded. The Evangelist, Forster’s first solo record in years, is a wonderful display of wholehearted songwriting—especially when Forster deals head-on with his longtime friend’s death. Incorporating McLennan’s […]

JewelPerfectly Clear(Open Road) While Jewel’s foray into dance pop on 2003’s 0304 was all wrong—right from the start—one cannot completely dismiss this attempt to redefine herself as a new-country singer. Except for the genre’s cliched production qualities, the songwriting here isn’t too far off what she abandoned after three very successful folk/singer-songwriter albums. Especially “Love […]

Bonnie “Prince” BillieLie Down in the Light(DRAG CITY)Will Oldham’s music is always inspired. It’s reassuring to see that even after 34 releases—21 EPs and 13 full lengths—he can still unravel the human psyche with an honesty few dare approach. Aside from a superb touch with melody, it’s unfiltered candour that makes his writing so alluring […]

Times New VikingRip It Off(Matador)Scrappy. Distorted. Occasionally frustrating, yet insanely catchy and exhilarating. That is how this Times New Viking album (the band’s third but first on Matador) can be summed up in 10 words or less. And such brevity is probably how TNV would want it, since the band blazes through 16 fuzz-laden tracks […]

Matthew BarberGhost Notes(Outside)If Ghost Notes is any indication of what it might be like to walk a mile in Matthew Barber’s shoes, then it’s a pretty nice world he lives in. While there is no doubt he must have moments of strife, very little of that appears in his songwriting. Instead, he focuses on the […]

[image-4]Published May 15, 2008.The Constantines Kensington Heights(Arts and Crafts)What is there not to love about the Constantines? Since their earth-shattering unveiling in 2000, the Constantines have always been solid, if not downright brilliant—critically lauded darlings of the blogosphere, but too pensive and daring for mass appreciation. Their fourth album, Kensington Heights, is the first since […]

[image-4]Published May 01, 2008.Steve Malkmus & The JicksReal Emotional TrashMatadorSteve Malkmus has never made a bad album. It’s debatable as to whether the last Pavement albums did the band’s legacy any justice, but so far his solo output has been solid. Real Emotional Trash is no different, seamlessly using a wide range of incongruent influences […]

Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago(Jagjaguwar)For those of us lucky enough to catch the recent Bon Iver set (opening for Black Mountain) we likely witnessed one of the finest displays of music-writing this town will see this year. Using a near-falsetto delivery (not unlike Chad Van Gaalen’s), lead singer Justin Vernon took us on his […]

Nordic NomadicNordic NomadicBlue FogEx-Deadly Snakes guitarist Chad Ross released a greatly under-appreciated solo record a few years back under the moniker Ghoststory. Now he goes by Nordic Nomadic. This record continues where the last one left off—softly sung, mid-tempo, neo-folk rock conjuring up images of abandoned western landscapes and quiet reflection. The lead track, “The […]