Reviews

It’s been five years since Smith’s major-label debut, The Cricket’s Orchestra. Where that one bent jazzy, swingy, adult contemporary-y, Have A Heart, produced by Jason Mingo and Ron Lopata, is a straight grab for a piece of the pop pie. Propulsive beats, synopated, repeated phrases and clapalongs abound, along with fun jaunts like the torchy […]

Linguists could get lost in the words of Radio Radio: Acadian French, Franglais and invention as befits rhythm. On the title cut, a hockey fan might swear he hears “Crosby” but it’s “cross-breed,” of a panda with an iguana, no less. Two fellows from Clare, NS and one from Moncton constitute the group’s core. In […]

It would appear Joel Gibb now is The Hidden Cameras. A changing cast of players pitches in on Age. Intermittently, we get spirited violin and cellos, sometimes a dozen voice choir. Then, on “Gay Goth Scene,” here’s Mary Margaret O’Hara reprising beyond-Yoko yelps she performed for the mutant in the film Splice. “We conditioned you […]

By now, most of us have caught the semi-viral and completely thrilling performance Future Islands gave on Letterman to promote Singles. The dance moves, the growl, the polished synth-pop along with the slow realization that there was nothing ironic or gimmicky happening on screen caught everyone–including Letterman himself– off-guard. On Singles, Future Islands is operating from […]

For a combination of storytelling, rocking out and keeping it fresh, this Southern band may be the most reliable in the world. Originators Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley carry on after 15 years and numerous personnel changes, swapping songs and licks on their handcrafted guitars. Drive-By Truckers is the beaker where Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Replacements […]

The motto for Ghettosocks’ newest release, For You Pretty Things, his third studio album, might as well be let’s get weird. The Halifax-based rapper mixes odes to greasy late night gourmet and slow jams about getting sexy in a Burger King bathroom with beats that are half Contra soundtrack, half Odd Future. Ghettosocks brings along […]

I pick you up at sunset in an ’86 IROC-Z blasting eight new excellent tracks by Judge Bitch (Dartmouth’s Adam T. Burke). Stallone, already in the car, growls that Gridiron is metallic and prismatic synthwave with dark and evil throwbacks. This is Judge Bitch’s third release on France’s arcade-retro Aphasia Records and speed-chase jams “Anaconda” and […]

Sleazy genius-boy Mac DeMarco returns with the follow up to his wildly successful breakout album, 2. This collection, rather than being a “difficult third album,” sees DeMarco breezing effortlessly into more mature territory. Sonically, the songs are expectantly weightless and roomy; replete with plenty of clean, chorused guitar work. Lyrically, DeMarco’s usual cheekiness is subdued […]

Cape Bretoner Stone took his act to Toronto and got some sheen from producers Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene) and Howie Beck. The most BSS-sounding track is “Signs of Life,” with thundering drums, gentle horns and tendency to run long. Some touches, like prominent looped handclaps on the title song, run counter to the east […]

Hip-hop and African artists fire up their games to create a unique, arresting alloy. Driscoll is a US-born, UK-based rapper and beatmeister. Guinea native Kouyate steps out from his family band, Ba Cissoko, to drive the kora into new dimensions. His instrument, a West African harp, benefits from varying degrees of tension and amplification. Kouyate’s […]

With the Dinner is Ruined Band, Canada’s most disturbed singer-songwriter has extra propulsion behind his missives. Armageddon Blues may be his angriest, most political set, following up a bracing 2012 rant, “Lucky For You.” One can imagine Harness doing research on Toronto’s Bay Street, getting steamed at the smug suits and speculators, then writing it […]

For all the jerks who didn’t like Real Estate the first two times around, there is little consolation to be found on Atlas. In fact, in addition to remaining unfailingly “chill”, there is a distinct air of “mope” on Atlas. What’s worse (for those jerks) is that Real Estate is sooo “chill” that it’s actually […]