Holy Fuck are an unorthodox band. There’s the name, the lack of lyrics, the improvised studio sessions and the revolving-door rhythm section (which has included members from stylistically divergent groups like Blue Rodeo and Wintersleep). And somehow, the band, playing Saturday at the Marquee, even found themselves touring as underground rapper Beans’s backing band. Though […]
Ian Gormely
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DJ Tittsworth w/Double A, T-Woo, Ghettosocks, Cosmo and Lucky Comix
Since its debut last October, Fast Times, the monthly DJ/art showcase at The Marquee Club, has quickly established itself as the premiere dance party in Halifax. For those of us with two left feet, dancing downtown is usually a cover band at The Lower Deck. Or if you’re a little more coordinated, top 40 at […]
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Sixtoo life
Let it be known, asking Sixtoo to explain all of his alter egos makes you sound like when your dad asks you, “What’s with all this hippity-hop music I keep hearing about?” Like the Ryan Adams of hip-hop, this guy just keeps coming up with new projects. He dropped a new Sixtoo LP in September, […]
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Hissyfit Christmas Drag Show
Looking for something to lift you out of those holiday blues? Why not check out your favourite local rockers decked out in drag for the holidays? The latest installment of Reflections Cabaret’s wildly popular Hissyfit series brings eight bands, including Die Brucke, Money Over Bitches, War Pony, The Visitation, Doug Mason and the Certified Legends, […]
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The Rentals
The RentalsLast Little LifeBoompaIn just four tracks, The Rentals reaffirm why they matter in 2007. Like brainchild Matt Sharp’s former band Weezer, the band proved that a lengthy hiatus between records only increases your stature as, and influence on, today’s indie-rock elite. One of the best-kept secrets of the year. Ian Gormelycategories: Best of the […]
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The Superfantastics
The SuperfantasticsPop-Up BookindieAn album that’s both incredibly naive and wise beyond its years. The overwhelming sense of loneliness that haunts this album is incredible. Just listen to the line, “It’s supposed to be the happiest time of year” in “Tonight Tonite” and your heart will sink and melt at the same time. Ian Gormelycategories: Best […]
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The Ataris
The AtarisWelcome the Night(Isola)Following 2003’s breakthrough So Long Astoria, the Ataris seemed poised to take over the emo-tinged, pop-punk throne. But frontperson Kristopher Roe fell into a quarter-life crisis—did he still want to be making music for disillusioned teenagers? The subsequent reevaluation of the band’s musical goals and loss of its rhythm section yielded Welcome […]
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Marah
MarahSooner or Later in Spain(Yep Roc)Marah can’t get a break. Despite heavyweight fans in Bruce Springsteen and Steve Earle, their Replacements-inspired rock has never made the band anything more than a cult favourite (though Matt Mays opened for them in New York last year). This live EP isn’t going to remedy this situation, but that […]
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Battles
BattlesMirrored(Warp)Featuring ex-members of Helmet and Don Caballero, skull-crushing grooves could be expected to make up a large portion of Battles’ debut LP. But unexpected are the number of hooks that ride those grooves and propel Mirrored from just a pretty cool instrumental record to one of the best albums of the year. Unlike the two […]
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Broken Social Scene presents Kevin Drew
Broken Social Scene presents Kevin DrewSpirit If… (Arts & crafts)Enter Broken Social Scene, the brand. With Spirit If…, Arts & Crafts finally acknowledges what we’ve all known for the past five years—there’s a certain cache that comes with the Broken Social Scene name. The “presents” tag would come off as an opportunistic cash grab if […]
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The First Aid Kit
Published November 29, 2007. The First Aid Kit Rocket Summer EP indie Five too-cool-for-school kids walk into a recording studio and come out with five blistering power-pop tunes filled with crunchy guitars, synth flourishes and ooh-ahh background vocals for good measure. Each track stands out on its own, but together these guys (and girl) are […]
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Joel Plaskett Emergency
Joel Plaskett EmergencyAshtray RockMapleMusicA story of love, loss and friendship set in Clayton Park. The fact that Plaskett was able to construct a narrative around growing up in the Halifax suburbs deserves accolades on its own considering that most of it is parkless, particle-board hell. That the record is teeming with pop-hooks and a worldly […]