Johnston Farrow

The Long BlondesSomeone To Drive You Home (Rough Trade)A stylized band from Sheffield, England, The Long Blondes make it big, plying kitchen-sink drama and bringing a charity-shop romanticism to their tales of youth, sex and outsiders. This sounds an awful lot like the tale of Pulp, the best group from the mid-’90s Brit-pop era. Just […]

Skratch Bastid, John Smith & Pip SkidTaking Care of Business(independent)After two mix tapes, two Scribble Jam titles and a second-place finish at the Canadian DMCs last year, Halifax-bred Skratch Bastid (AKA Paul Murphy) steps into the ring as a producer in his first original full-length, enlisting Canadian MCs Pip Skid and John Smith to throw […]

StarsailorOn the Outside(EMI) Remember Travis? Starsailor sure does. That’s whom critics compared the British band to when they released their debut Love is Here behind the strength of the still-gorgeous “Good Souls” in 2001. Five years and a forgotten second album (Silence is Easy from 2004) later, Starsailor returns with On the Outside, a good […]

BjörkMedulla (Elektra)The Icelandic pixie with the big voice returns with her sparsest record to date, a collection based almost entirely on vocal tracks. Only a piano or drum accentuates the mesmerizing words and incantations of Björk and guests such as Mike Patton and the Roots’ awesome beatboxer Rahzel. Some fans may complain that Björk has […]

Gnarls BarkleySt. Elsewhere(Downtown)Few could escape the charms of Gnarls Barkley this year after the release of “Crazy,” easily the crossover single of the year. The following LP, St. Elsewhere, had it all—the talented soul vocals of Goodie Mob veteran Cee Lo, the indie cred of über-DJ/producer Danger Mouse and trippy videos. Soon, people with a […]

Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubBaby 81(RCA)After the retread of its self-titled second album and the acoustic detour of Howl, BRMC returns to form with Baby 81. Although the band doesn’t move away from the sonic template it’s become known for, this San Francisco psych-rock three-piece proves once again why it is one of the underrated singles […]

Kate MakiThe Sun Will Find Us (Independent) Sudbury native Kate Maki graced Halifax with her presence in 2002, living here for a short time while kick-starting her solo career. A tiny, blonde ball of fire, Maki wears her heart on her sleeve and sweat on her brow during her ferocious live performances. Her first solo […]

MorrisseyRingleader of the Tormentors (Attack/EMI)Over the course of his solo career, Morrissey gained the reputation of an artist incapable of following one good album with another. The god-awful Kill Uncle followed the excellent debut Viva Hate. The widely panned Southpaw Grammar came after the excellent Vauxhall and I. Following the Mozzer’s release of the triumphant […]