The buzz surrounding Halifax’s hip-hop scene is steadily growing, and if you’ve been paying any attention then you’ve likely come across the voice of R&B singer Laura Roy. Having worked with such local rappers as Classified, Quake Matthews, Kayo and Cam Smith, Roy has made a big splash in a small amount of time. Now, […]
Jeff Lawton
Posted inArts + Music
Crystal Castles
My reservations about electro-pop stem from the genre’s reluctance to offer anything beyond chilly synths or a detached melodic sheen. With its first two records, Crystal Castles subverted this formula by humanizing its songs with distraught shrieking and an unfettered adventurous spirit. This style continues on the band’s latest, III, albeit with less vigor and […]
Posted inArts + Music
Neil Young
The widespread reverence for Neil Young gets mileage from his versatility, as he appeals to fans of pretty folk, solipsistic experiments and no-bullshit hard rock. Psychedelic Pill finds Young in the latter mode, enlisting his classic Crazy Horse line-up to grind out a record that, unfortunately, is an extremely tough slog. Despite some inspired moments, […]
Posted inArts + Music
Kendrick Lamar
Regionality has always been a prominent theme in hip-hop, as rappers’ hometowns are often integral to their entire being. An example is N.W.A.’s association with Compton, CA, a city known for intense crime culture and gangster rap. For decades this reputation remained, but a new voice has emerged that challenges the city’s image. His name […]
Posted inArts + Music
WHY?
With Alopecia, art-rap group WHY? released my favourite album of 2008. That record is devastatingly emotional, radically melodic and ultimately fresh. While Eskimo Snow is modelled after its predecessor, it lacks real thrill and inventiveness. Singer Yoni Wolf has totally abandoned his rap origins for tuneful indie-pop, and the record suffers from the lack of […]