Arts

MAVI Let the Sun Talk (Independent) 4/5 While some artists benefit from high-budget production, Charlotte, North Carolina rapper MAVI thrives on skeletal, sample-heavy beats that allow his non-linear flow and sharp lyricism to shine through. When he’s not studying neuroscience at Howard University, MAVI constructs insightful songs detailing stories of human experience and understanding his […]

The North Saskatchewan river kisiskâciwanisîpiy flows through the heart of amiskwaciy (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory. In their new album, nipiy (Cree for “water”), Edmonton-based post-rock/ambient/pop band nêhiyawak echo the pace with which that river flows.  “When we think of nipiy, there is an intellectual and physical resource there that those waters, these rivers, have […]

Originally, I looked at Victoria author Robert Turner’s book The Klondike Gold Rush Steamers: A History of Yukon River Steam Navigation and thought, Of course they want me to write a review of a book about boats. Being in the Navy, I can’t get away from them. I looked dubiously at the book, as it […]

Jade Yumang is a Chicago-based artist who explores the concept of queer form through abstract installations, performances, and sculptures. He says that the crux of a lot of the work that he does revolves around what queer form looks like. “It’s usually kinda exercised through a lot of archival work, looking at the historiography of […]

For Vancouver-based comedians/actors/writers Aaron Malkin and Alastair Knowles—who go by the stage names James and Jamesy— there’s always time for tea. Their show O Christmas Tea uses traditional Monty Python-era British comedy, but it also breaks down the fourth wall, bringing performers and audience together. “A big part of what sets us apart from traditional […]

Kanye West Jesus Is King (Getting Out Our Dreams II/Def Jam Recordings) 2.5/5  Christianity has always been one of Kanye West’s greatest thematic inspirations. Even though Jesus Is King is West’s first deep-dive into religious music, it employs several familiar sounds.  “Follow God”’s Whole Truth sample packs a layered punch reminiscent of West’s earliest beats, […]

Headstones Peopleskills (MapleMusic) 3.5/5 With a career that spans nearly 30 years and is littered with Junos and hits, Canadian rock legends Headstones are back with their ninth album. Peopleskills continues with the same stripped-down sound present on the Toronto-based band’s previous effort, Little Army. At times on the punk side of rock, at other […]