April Come She Will Artist: Simon & Garfunkel Album: Sounds of Silence Released: January 17, 1966 The light flurry of fingerpicked guitar that opens this track is a sonic representation of the feeling that comes over you when you realize for the first time that winter is truly over. Although[Read More…]
Music
McMorrow remains calm during Post Tropical storm
Dublin-born singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow has been gaining positive critical attention for his latest album, Post Tropical, but when I talked to him, he was just another guy standing on the side of the highway. “Something exploded in the engine,” McMorrow explains, chuckling softly. “I’ve just been standing outside like[Read More…]
Deep cuts: sound bites from Seattle
Thank You For Tonight (feat. Eliza Young) Artist: Sam Lachow Album: Brand New Bike Released: January 1, 2011 This rapper begins his nostalgic track with trademark smooth vocals, which he proceeds to layer over rhythmic percussions, rich keyboard cadences, and mesmerizing saxophone samples. He paints an evocative scene—“Green eyes sitting[Read More…]
Various artists—Catch the throne
In the weeks leading up to the anticipated Season Four premiere of Game of Thrones, some HBO executives apparently thought it was a good idea to spend a chunk of their marketing budget on commissioning a mixtape project called Catch the Throne. The somewhat bizarre rationale for the project was[Read More…]
Osheaga: the small stage
There comes a time each year when it seems as though every other day sees another festival lineup released. As we crawl towards the end of winter, dreaming about weekends in the summer filled with music makes the final stretch a little more bearable. The headliners of these festivals don’t[Read More…]
Dale Boyle finds musical success by sticking to his roots
After enough predictable PowerPoint slides and monotonous note-taking, it’s easy to find yourself wishing for a teacher like Jack Black in School of Rock to come and shake up your lecture with an unconventional musical component. If that’s the case, then you should try taking a class with McGill’s homegrown[Read More…]
Run River North—Run River North
California based indie-pop group Run River North’s self-titled debut album exudes youthful passion and creativity that flows over kempt beats and calming lyrics. The six-member ensemble hailing from the San Fernando Valley area has perfected their unique brand of orchestral pop, trotting out one whimsical ballad after the another. The[Read More…]
Deep Cuts: Songs to cure your insomnia
Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey Artist: John Mayer Album: Born and Raised Released: May 22, 2012 This peaceful track off of John Mayer’s fifth studio album stands out as a thoughtful lament, ornamented with simple harmonica and sparing guitar. Mayer’s soulful vocals create a comfortingly repetitive effect, evoking feelings of both melancholy[Read More…]
The Fray—Helios
The Fray is back! Just over a year since releasing the commercially-successful Scars & Stories, the alternative rock band from Colorado have returned with their fourth—and ultimately, fairly predictable—studio album, Helios. The first 10 seconds of the opening track “Hold My Hand” are as brilliant as anything they’ve previously released,[Read More…]
Spring—Celebrations
In listening to Celebrations by Sprïng, a band that self-identifies as a “psychedelic rock band,” it’s hard to determine whether the multifarious tracks are true exemplifications of intelligent prog-rock, or if they’re too distracted and overdone to make a serious impression. Although the latter may be true for the average,[Read More…]
