Who better than Snoop Dogg to take you on a hip-hop tour of the west coast? (Maybe Dre, but he’s holed up in a studio somewhere toying with the ill-fated Detox record.) This compilation marks the 25th anniversary of Priority Records, the label responsible for unleashing hip-hop powerhouse NWA on the world, not to mention […]
Trevor Savory
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Ambition and Uncle Fester
With a hip-hop scene that already includes heavy hitters like Classified, Ghettosocks, Buck 65 and Skratch Bastid, the Atlantic Canadian scene better get ready to make way for this soft-spoken MC from Sackville—he carries a big mic. Ambition tears up the stage with his tight, imposing flow, his style a throwback to classic 1980s hip-hop, […]
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Julian Casablancas
Julian Casablancas reminds us of his pedigree on the opening track “Out of the Blue,” leading through the rabbit hole of his soul with Phrazes for the Young, his solo debut. Casablancas’ audio playground brings in elements of Beck, Radiohead and even ’80s ambient synth-pop, which serve to buoy the retro 1970s era garage rock, […]
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Talk of the town: best music of 2009
A History OfAction in the North Atlantic (Noyes) High-octane, Maritime-themed math rock? Yes, please. A History Of gets the Halifax music scene right, and finally gives us a full-length record. —LK Black MoorThe Conquering (Diminished Fifth) The stuff of heavy metal legend: surviving a car crash, Black Moor channels death and Kill Em All hooks making you […]
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Arctic Monkeys At the Apollo
These English gents have been at the centre of a hurricane of hype for the duration of their relatively short careers. Seeing as how Favourite Worst Nightmare dodged the sophomore jinx two years ago, this live DVD/CD package (the CD is a recording of a 2006 show at Stubbs BBQ in Texas) will get fans […]
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Pete Yorn
It’s refreshing to see Columbia supporting artists like Pete Yorn, who have yet to enjoy top-10 success and who probably won’t ever become commercially viable as a one-hit superstar. But Back and Fourth, Yorn’s fourth album, will quietly lure you back time and time again, due in part to his low-key, singer-songwriter vibe. While Back […]
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Franz Ferdinand
Blood: Franz Ferdinand, a compilation of dub versions of songs from the Scots’ Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, was originally packaged up as part of a two-disc, European limited-edition release back in January. This disc, mixed by producer Dan Carey, was finally unleashed on North American audiences as a stand-alone release in early June. As a companion […]
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Dave Matthews Band
Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is an album that finds the Dave Matthews Band at a crossroad, with the passing of long-time member Leroi Moore (the titular GrooGrux King) and the inclusion of Matthews’ longtime collaborator, Tim Reynolds. The emotions running through this album are vividly palpable, as this is clearly both an homage […]
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Eminem
Relapse marks Eminem’s return to the spotlight after a self-imposed, drug-fuelled exile. After hearing the pair of singles “Crack a Bottle” (with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent) and “We Made You,” there’s no apparent signs of rust on this Detroit MC. The trio of tracks “Déjà Vu,” “Medicine Ball” and the aptly titled “Same Song […]
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Razorlight
Razorlight’s Slipway Fires is a difficult album to listen to, as it is nearly impossible to not long for the popular Anglo-Swedish band that broke out in 2004 with such Brit-pop gems as the title track “Up All Night,” plus “Rock ‘N’ Roll Lies” and “Golden Touch.” It’s not that Slipaway Fires, their third studio […]
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The Tragically Hip
You have to wonder if these Kingston lads are attempting to justify themselves with an album title like We Are the Same (the 12th Hip studio effort). While Gord and co. continue to chisel out precise chunks of Canadiana, they have somehow found a way to condense that perfect, early summer barbecue/campfire evening into a […]
