New Music Revue: Redspencer relaxes, Rykka brings the partyRedspencer Perks (Deaf Ambitions) 3/5 While Redspencer is based in Melbourne, Australia, the indie-pop band’s members grew up in northern New South Wales; the influence of that area’s sunny weather can be heard from the first chord on Perks. This, Redspencer’s debut album, is the perfect soundtrack for day trips in the summer, gazing at […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: John K. Samson, Aloonaluna, Flower Girl, SparrowsJohn K. Samson Winter Wheat (Anti- Records) 4/5 Winter Wheat is the second solo album (third, if you count 1993’s split release Slips and Tangles) from John K. Samson, former vocalist/guitarist of popular indie rockers The Weakerthans. In true Samson style, the album is dripping with Canadian and prairie images and is an homage to […] Continue Reading |
Twin Rains get extreme with their dream popTwin Rains take the sounds of pop to extreme places on their debut album, Automatic Hands. But not extreme in a loud or heavy way; instead, they go the other direction. They’ve been called “dream pop,” if that’s any indication as to what their sound is like. And it makes sense that they want to […] Continue Reading |
Victoria’s Evan Crofton brings Busty and the Bass homeVictoria’s Evan Crofton fell in love with hip hop and rap at a young age. From listening to records as a teenager to touring the UK and mainland Europe with his band Busty And The Bass (who are based in Montreal, where Crofton lives now), music and performance have always been his life. After being […] Continue Reading |
Donovan Woods brings Canada to NashvilleToronto folk musician Donovan Woods knows when to admit his songs aren’t up to par. After Woods released his fourth LP, Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled, earlier this year, he released the They Are Going Away EP, which he says consists of tracks that weren’t quite ready to be included in the full-length album. “They just […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Dean Ween returns with The Deaner AlbumThe Dean Ween Group The Deaner Album (ATO Records) 3/5 Best known as half of alt-rock duo Ween, Dean Ween is not one to sit idle between gigs. Since Ween’s breakup in 2012, he’s been jamming with friends, and it’s culminated in The Deaner Album. Opening with “Dickie Betts,” a southern-rock ode to the Allman […] Continue Reading |
New book looks at Canadian history in rich detailDerek Hayes’ Canada: An Illustrated History (Douglas & McIntyre) is a thorough and entertaining glimpse into Canada’s past and what led us to today; this 296-page behemoth is great for those who are interested in our country’s history. The book starts with the discovery of North America by Aboriginal peoples and ends with Justin Trudeau […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Scenic Route to Alaska deliver comforting sounds on Long Walk HomeScenic Route to Alaska Long Walk Home (Butler Records) 3/5 Edmonton indie-folk-pop band Scenic Route to Alaska has come out with a sweet and nostalgic sound on their fourth LP, Long Walk Home. Lead singer Trevor Mann’s voice has a unique sound to it that makes each word he sings cut through all the instruments […] Continue Reading |
Vinyl lovers come together at Victoria record fairIt might seem hard to believe, but there is a demographic of people who don’t open MP3 files to listen to music. Instead, they prefer to listen to tunes the old-fashioned, tangible way: on vinyl. Ryan Wugalter, organizer of Vinyl Supernova—a large record fair happening on October 22—says that there will be more records for […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Slothrust’s intelligent lyrics shine on new albumSlothrust Everyone Else (Dangerbird Records) 3.5/5 Jazz- and blues-influenced rock is not my usual genre of choice, but Slothrust kept me interested on their third album. The songs have very interesting titles, which always pulls the listeners in and is very fitting for this album. Personally, I would have preferred the first song, “Surf Goth,” […] Continue Reading |
