Reviews

Back up to an album a year, Costello seems to be tapping every unconscious notion. Each tune on National Ransom claims a time and place or ethos. For example, the jaunty strum “Slow Drag with Josephine” is set “Under the Napoleonic Code, 1921.” Huh? The most in-demand producer this year, T Bone Burnett somehow ties […]

This is an album about travel. The concept is expressed firstly in the instrumentation: a 12-piece string and wind ensemble comprised of members of San Francisco-based Magik*Magik Orchestra. This gets at the varied experiences and emotions one has away from home. But Bertelmann struggles with these multiple parts, unable to give them each a clear […]

On Darkest of Discos Cape Breton’s Slowcoaster has put together a solid follow-up to its well-received effort Future Radio. While DoD strays a bit from the reggae and funk elements that made previous albums so enjoyable, this isn’t any less of an enjoyable listen: Darkest of Discos is loaded with hooks that will be bouncing […]

Kanye West has always been the David Bowie of mainstream hip-hop, constantly changing his sound and getting into trouble in the media for his controversial persona. But Taylor Swift interruption and public breakdown aside, West has produced a record to shut all the haters up with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Originally titled Good Ass […]

The essential warmth of Frederick Squire’s guitar chords and of his vocal chords is almost overwhelming. If you have a dog and your dog looks warily out the window, hearing thunder and looking for thunderclouds, go comfort your four-legged friend (same goes for the two-legged). This is an album of comfort, giving and receiving. From […]

Despite a double billing with one of Canada’s most darling indie bands, the wonderful Falcon Lake Incident is a Jim Bryson record through and through, with his signature wit, wisdom and melodic phrasing shining brightly above all. But after a few listens, the collaborations eke out, such as the few louder, rockier passages (notably “Up […]

Switching off drums, guitars, keys and bass, the duo of David Trenaman and Colleen Collins conveys clearly place and headspace here. They live in an old house in Port Greville on the Parrsboro shore, where they recorded these eight excellent tracks. (“Nightshade” and “Public Square” are exceptionally strong.) Songs of location, being grounded in a […]

Ms. Clarke packs all the sass she can into her stilettos for Knee Deep and hits the town, stomping on any old Peaches comparisons and ties to that Maritime sound. From beginning to end, the EP is soaked with synths brighter than MJ’s socks on Off the Wall, and moaning melodies that might make you […]

A magic act, repeated, risks getting stale—especially when there are a zillion copycats ribbing the tricks. So it’s a wonderful surprise that All Day, Girl Talk’s third album since becoming a hipster household name, is every bit the joyous thrill of its predecessors. Released as a free download in the wee hours Monday morning and […]

Recorded as a gift for Dan Ledwell’s newborn niece (Siigoun in Cree means “spring”), Jenn Grant is offering this extremely limited four-song EP at her shows. Pick one up Thursday at the Paragon as a tide-over until her new record Honeymoon Punch drops in January. Each one, with its individually hand-painted sleeve (collector junkies take […]

Melissa Boraski is Eiyn Sof. As such, she uses her tenor voice, acoustic as well as electric guitar and analogue keys to moody effect. She tells stories of solitude, motherhood, love, having a place in the natural world and longing to understand it all, sometimes to get away from it all. Through layered vocals, chants, […]

The Toronto band releases the hounds, returning after a four-year recorded absence (since 2006’s Planets Conspire). It’s as though pent-up energy finally gets its release. Darcy Rego (drums) and Michael Small (bass) play with abandon, with Jason Nunes (keys/guitar) riding the wave. So, you get less melodic focus and more forceful, rhythmic playing. Now-departed member […]