Sean MacGillivray

Sarah SleanDay One (Warner)Sarah Slean’s sophomore major-label offering is a much more diverse picture of her sweeping, eclectic palate. The piano takes a back seat, and Slean adopts a grittier, guitar and drum machine-based production aesthetic, but still maintains the rollicking cabaret feel of Night Bugs. Despite occasional forays into darker subject matter, this is […]

Blood BrothersCrimes (V2)Being different isn’t a difficult feat for a hardcore band these days, and the Blood Brothers pull it off with panache. Using a variety of different instruments and vocal techniques, Crimes is a hectic and immediate patchwork of energetic, arty post-hardcore. Despite its postured crap-aesthetic packaging, the production is exquisite and slick, with […]

The FaintWet From Birth(Saddle Creek)The band that kicked out Conor Oberst drops another instantly danceable electroclash gem, in this, their fourth release. Fans of local MIDI scientist A/V will find a certain familiarity in these sordid tales of debauch, laid over retro-cool synths and live instruments. Although less consistent in terms of danceability than its […]

Mir7 Directions(AASH Records)The international appeal of this local, sophisticated pop trio is neatly mirrored in this, their third release. Self-recorded and produced by Asif and Shehab Illyas and Adam Dowling, this disc is an excellent example of artists fully in control of the creative process from start to finish. 7 Directions is a fully realized, […]

Eighteen VisionsObsession (Trustkill/Sony)Even this fan of diverse records thinks that Eighteen Visions should stick to what they do best— visceral, compelling hardcore. Obsession alternates between the band’s aforementioned strong point and a smattering of sickly, syrupy emo power ballads (“I Should Tell You”) that would easily fit on the Spider-Man 2 soundtrack. Even the hard […]

Happy KreterParadigm Lost(Global Symphonic)All the slick production and arty packaging in the world can’t save this record from its own mediocrity. Paradigm Lost, a blatant attempt by a former Gob member—yes, that is his real name—to go Dashboard Confessional is sandbagged by overwrought lyrics, bland melodies and melodramatic arrangements that ill suit Kreter’s nasal, slurpy […]

Wax MannequinThe Price (Coqi Records)Hamilton’s self-proclaimed President of Indie Rock is a one-man absurdist rock opera. His passionate, gravelly voice evokes Jesus Christ Superstar at times and allows for abnormal suspension of disbelief as he delivers ridiculous lyrics. Lines like “he cooks Christ’s medicine in his cock” and “shoot some diamonds and sparks from your […]

Fiona AppleExtraordinary MachineSonyBMGSix years after the critically acclaimed When the Pawn . . ., and after a long, drawn-out recording process (including a change of producers mid-stream), Extraordinary Machine finds Fiona Apple essentially where she left off. Most of the pro-gress is in the vocal department, where Apple explores her higher range and delivers rapid-fire […]

Greg MacPhersonMaintenance(G7 Welcoming Committee)This EP from Winnipeg-based MacPherson is a raw recording of acoustic material, including a cover of the Clash’s “Bank Robber.” Sonically sparse and tastefully under-produced, the songs are infused with a sense of urgency as MacPherson’s raspy, stoic voice reverberates off the room’s walls. The Strathspey feel of “Company Store” harkens back […]

Jonathan AndrewsHalifax Indie Rock(independent)You can’t blame us for pigeonholing Jonathan Andrews—he did it himself, with the title of this release. It certainly lives up to the name—the understated vocals channel Al Tuck, and the twangy, retro-pop guitars bring us back to the Super Friendz of days gone by. The disc features a diverse array of […]

Geoff BernerWhiskey Rabbi (Black Hen)Victoria, BC’s nouveau-klezmer troubadour continues his unrelenting campaign against boredom and his own liver on this, his third release. He slurs through the opening title track, setting the mood for the whiskey-filled romp to come. Berner’s dark humour is punctuated by his trademark drunk- en accordion button-mashing in the rollicking “Drunk […]