Having spent nearly half of his life as a professional musician, Hayden knows a thing or two about life on the road—passing through the vast and varied communities of suburbs, cities, sleepy towns and the desolate miles in-between. The ever-longing Paul Hayden Desser (known simply as Hayden), recently returned from a European stint to be […]
Shannon Webb-Campbell
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Hayden
[image-4]Published January 31, 2008.HaydenIn Field & Town(Hardwood Records)Whether hes hibernating in a rural or urban setting, Hayden consistently delivers a flawless collection of bedroom-turned-campfire songs. Partially inspired by his geographical surroundings, the reclusive observer views life through the lenses of city dwelling, country living and unrequited love. Opening his seventh album with the self-titled track […]
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Gordon B. Isnor w/The Just Barelys, On Film
Celebrate the end of Christmas at Gus’ Pub on December 27 as local artisans gather to raise their baby pints high above the booze-stained carpets and give cheers to the tail-end of the overly jovial, commercial holiday season. Wild rover and former local legend Gordon B. Isnor is also rolling into town for a Boxing […]
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Julie Doiron
Julie DoironWoke Myself UpKillbeat MusicPerhaps her most upbeat work yet, Julie Doiron crafts music for those who sway from side to side and call it dancing. Part confession, part documentation, her lethargy is crafted into a colloquial retelling of reoccurring heartache. Woke Myself Up relays a period of inward questioning, love both lost and found.Shannon […]
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Feist
FeistThe ReminderArts & CraftsAs fierce as the woman behind the monosyllabic name, The Reminder is unforgettable. From the wildly evocative guitar licks and handclaps of “Sea Lion,” to the sultry tempo of “My Moon, My Man,” Feist is the ultimate myth-maker; she remains the reigning queen of indie-land while selling out to Starbucks.Shannon Webb-Campbellcategories: Best […]
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Modest Mouse
Modest MouseWe Were Dead Before The Ship Even SankEpicHardly known for their optimism, Isaac Brock and his coy rodent pseudo-superheroes never fail to create an album worthy of their omnipresent media-hype. Whether softly weaving through a melodic transgression of solitary longing in “Little Motel” or shifting gears with the dance-floor call-to-arms “Dashboard,” Modest Mouse remains […]
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Tegan and Sara
Tegan and SaraThe ConVapor/Sire/SupercloseTegan and Sara aren’t tricksters as their fifth release The Con suggests. Flip-flopping lyrically from anxiety to elation, the album is as Gemini-like as the twins themselves. Each track is a portrait of pop-infused brilliant neurosis. Borderline personalities aside, the dense instrumentation, drum beats and seamless production are thanks to producer Chris […]
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Chad VanGaalen
Chad VanGaalenSkelliconnectionSub PopSomehow Chad VanGaalen’s clamouring vocals and experimental musicianship results in brilliance. The haphazard album was a patchwork of a year’s work of songs; he narrowed his 100-track repertoire to 15 artful explorations of sound. The longest track ranks in just under four minutes, while the shortest snippet barely clocks in at 27 seconds.Shannon […]
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Woman of steel
Brace yourself for Sontiago. The Portland, Maine, resident recently released her sophomore full-length Steel Yourself on Endemik Music. Sonya Tomlinson, AKA Sontiago, the lyrical MC, finds herself Halifax-bound with her wordy playmate Dilly Dilly on December 8 for a gig with Ghettosocks at Hell’s Kitchen. “Performing together is really fun,” says Tomlinson, calling from her […]
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The Novaks
The NovaksThe NovaksSonicThe Novaks have ditched their personas and delivered an honest and notable rock ‘n’ roll debut. These Newfoundlanders originally dragged their tunes around Atlantic Canada under the alias Persona, but they’ve shed their indie skins and have proved they can rock out with the best of the The (insert one-syllable band name here)s. […]
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Hawksley Workman
Hawksley WorkmanTreeful of Starling(Isadora)Hawksley Workman has crafted a wistful, humble and uncluttered album by stripping down his eccentric cabaret songwriting approach and dipping into his antique collection. This is a phonographic recording, laced with images of hope, honesty, sobriety and nostalgia for a way of life lived long ago. “When These Mountains Were the Seashore” […]
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Spirit in the sky
With a family tree like Cara Luft’s, it’s no wonder she’s a songwriter. The Winnipeg-based illuminated optimist comes from a long line of talented folk musicians; her parents performed professionally as a duo in Calgary during her childhood, her grandpa was a big-band guitarist and teacher, not to mention her great-grandfather, who was a renowned […]