Published November 30, 2006. Husband/Knife Welcome Back to the Nothingness of Your Life (Divorcee) This album is absolute. From the creaky four-track recordings to the morbid song topics, the mood never sways. It’s worth every moment you can give it. Somewhere between early Elliot Smith and Eric’s Trip’s more acoustic moments, it’s like a call […]
Reviews
Posted inArts + Music
Pony Up
Pony UpMake Love to the Judges with your Eyes(Dim Mak)The Montreal indie-pop quartet makes a stunning turnaround on its full-length debut, a marked change in direction and maturity from its lo-fi self-titled EP. One of the most anticipated shows of the Halifax Pop Explosion fulfilled its destiny despite sexist wankery from jealous dudes in the […]
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Matt Mays
Matt Mays…When the Angels Make Contact(Sonic/Warner)Mays continues to follow in the footsteps of Neil Young, attempting to expand his repertoire beyond the roots/folk-rock sound, dabbling in both electronica and hip-hop. The title track reflects this new approach, thanks in part to Buck 65’s guest spot. …When the Angels Make Contact is unusual in the fact […]
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Danger Doom
Published December 08, 2005. Danger Doom The Mouse and the Mask (Epitaph) In a genre where sex, money and violence are prevalent topics, MF Doom and Danger Mouse have convened to make an album that features a talking milkshake and a song about piss so good it would make The Hidden Cameras jealous. The Mouse […]
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Metric
Published December 08, 2005. Metric Live it Out (Last Gang) Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? may have had catchier singles, but Live it Out might be the best record produced this year by any of the Broken Social Scene family. Emily Haines and company nail their synth-rock sound with punchier guitars, brighter keyboard […]
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Kanye West
Published December 08, 2005. Kanye West Late Registration (Universal) In 2005, Kanye managed to avoid the sophomore slump, releasing a great follow-up to 2004’s College Dropout while proving his mouth was as big as his ego. He caused controversy during a live Hurricane Katrina relief concert?”George Bush doesn’t care about black people” is one of […]
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Josef K
Josef KEntomology(Domino)Aside from putting out great bands like Artic Monkeys and Clearlake, Domino has been releasing some much-needed re-issues. None is needed more than Scotland’s great and sadly overlooked Josef K. Though the UK had seen the band’s rumoured unreleased debut plus its only official release in 2002, North America hasn’t been blessed with any […]
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Stars Of Track And Field
Stars Of Track And FieldCenturies Before Love And War(Wind-Up)The first major label long form release from the two guitar/drum trio from Portland, Oregon consists of seven new tunes plus three from the 2005 EP You Came Here For Sunset Last Year. Songs such as “Movies Of Antarctica,” “Real Time” and “Say Hello” show the influence […]
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Peter Bjorn & John
Peter Bjorn & JohnWriter’s Block(V2)Fans of The Concretes will recognize lead singer Victoria Bergsman’s voice on the single “Young Folks.” A guaranteed party-maker, it’s also the catchiest combo of whistling, maraca and bongo beats around. Although this album confirms Stockholm’s place as the epicentre of European malaise pop, PB&J’s sound is obviously influenced by British […]
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Jim Bryson
Jim BrysonWhere the Bungalows Roam(Kelp)If you lament the loss of the rock-out side of Jim Bryson, you’re not alone. On his 2000 solo debut The Occasionals and on parts of his second record, 2003’s North Side Benches, the music often had the muscle to push the singer-guitarist, particularly his voice, to a frayed, ragged glory. […]
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Luther Wright and the Wrongs
Luther Wright and the WrongsInstrumentality(Snakeye)Instrumentality harks back to the days when country backing groups (Buck Owens’s Buckeroos or Merle Haggard’s Strangers) would release instrumental albums without their respective leaders to show the talents of the musicians. Using a similar mode, this disc is a cut-and-paste of killer licks and ripping jams. Filmmaker Ron Mann asked […]
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The Cliks
The CliksSnakehouse(Warner)Snakehouse tries to take rock to a more primitive time. Lots of crunch and pulsating beats that recall the days before every rock band began to sound like either shitty metal (Nickelback) or punk-pop (Green Day). The sound owes a lot to Chrissie Hynde and the classic first two Pretenders records. But it’s a […]
