Arts

New Fries Is the Idea of Us (Telephone Explosion) 4.5/5 One way to be a successful musician is to create music that goes against expectations. A good example of this is Toronto experimental band New Fries’ exquisite new album, Is the Idea of Us. By parting from our idea of what an album should be, […]

Eventually, society adjusts—this is true across generations and ages. The Free-B Film Festival, now in its 22nd season, is no exception. The three differences between this year and past years are that you need to sign up prior to the film you want to see, occupancy is limited to 50 people per movie, and the […]

Monograms Only a Ceiling Can Stay Inside Forever (PaperCup Music) 4.5/5 The greatest hope any musician has for their work is that the music they make resonates with all who hear it. Monogram’s new album, Only a Ceiling Can Stay Inside Forever, does indeed just that: it resonates with its audience, big time. When made […]

After lockdown hit in March, there was a brief period of time where local performers, artists, and audience members found fulfillment in doing online shows. But the excitement over performing online faded quickly, says Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) director of community engagement Rebecca Hass, so POV did what Hass says artists need to do to […]

The Real McKenzies Beer and Loathing (Fat Wreck Chords) 4.5/5 Vancouver punks The Real McKenzies’ 11th album, Beer and Loathing, transforms Celtic punk’s aging horse into a gelding made of bagpipes and distortion. Beer and Loathing comes out like combat boots having gone for a shoemaker’s resole: broken in yet soles new, shiny, and black. Vocalist Paul McKenzie […]

Dave Monks On a Wave Goes Wild (Dine Alone Records) 4.5/5 When asked about their goals with their work, every musician I have talked to has said something along the lines of this: “I want to build a lasting piece of work that leaves a indelible impression.” Tokyo Police Club vocalist/bassist Dave Monks has moved […]

Enterprise Earth Foundation of Bones (eOne) 3.5/5 Spokane, Washington-based deathcore band Enterprise Earth’s 2019 album Luciferous was great. The shows supporting the album were cancelled due to COVID-19, but the virus can’t prevent the band from releasing new material in the form of the Foundation of Bones EP. With its five tracks, Foundation of Bones […]

Bob Dylan Rough and Rowdy Ways (Columbia) 4.5/5 Strange times are these in which we live. Where do we go for answers when our heroes are at home in quarantine? The last time the threads of the empire were frayed and apocalypse neared, an unlikely hero was created as Bob Dylan’s music morphed into something […]

Bananagun The True Story of Bananagun (Full Time Hobby) 4/5 After dropping a pair of damn good 7” singles in 2019, Melbourne’s Bananagun is ready to release their first full-length record, The True Story of Bananagun. There is no angst or sadness here, and it’s incredibly refreshing to hear rock ’n’ roll that brings fun […]

Permanent Collection Nothing Good Is Normal (Strangeway) 4.5/5 Making a great album is like taking a shot in the dark: although you can’t see what’s in front of you, you know that with luck you’ll hit your target. After a seven-year absence, Jason Hendardy scores a bullseye with his wonderful shot-in-the-dark comeback album, Nothing Good […]