The debut album from Montreal duo Purity Ring defies definability. Airy, synth-pop, electro: each label is only a piece of the puzzle. The picture only becomes clear once one listens to their tracks. “Obedear” is a subdued single full of the swirling, jangling pop that Purity Ring is known for.[Read More…]
Music
Mother Mother: The Sticks
Ever since the release of their debut album Touch Up in 2007, BC’s indie rock darlings Mother Mother have been know for their catchy rhythms and haunting harmonies. Three albums and a whirlwind global tour later, they have returned with The Sticks. The Sticks aims for a cohesive theme, a[Read More…]
Iron and Wine: Kiss Each Other Clean
Stepping out of his element, Samuel Beam—a.k.a Iron and Wine—broadens his musical approach on his latest album, Kiss Each Other Clean. As in his previous work, Beam maintains his whispery vocals throughout the album, making it clear that this is an Iron and Wine record. Kiss Each Other Clean should[Read More…]
Talib Kweli: Gutter Rainbows
Alternative rapper Talib Kweli’s Gutter Rainbows displays the best qualities his subgenre has to offer. The lyrical flow is fast-paced, the message isn’t overly materialistic, the production is heavily inspired by neo-soul, and Kweli’s attitude is, as he puts it, “cool like Fonzie.” Throughout Gutter Rainbows, Kweli touches on the[Read More…]
Braids: Native Speaker
The name Braids will be a familiar one to most McGillians. These four Montreal locals (originally from Calgary) were one-time students here before dropping out to pursue music full time. After the successful release of their debut album, Native Speaker, on Kanine Records on January 18, it looks like things[Read More…]
Sparkle and glitter for Diamond Rings
aux.tv This week, Toronto-based performer Diamond Rings will open for Scandinavian dance-pop giant Robyn as part of a multi-city North American tour that promises to be anything but boring. Diamond Rings, also known as John O’Regan, has become famous in recent months for his outlandish costumes, energetic performances, and infectious[Read More…]
Local band makes their mark
chartattack.com If you haven’t been paying attention to Canadian independent music for very long, you may not have heard of the Mark Inside. The Toronto band recently released an EP titled False Flag, its first album in over three years. False Flag is a follow-up to the band’s debut[Read More…]
Montreal’s Stars shine bright
youarestars.com Celebrating their 10th birthday, Canadian indie-pop act Stars are proving that their success hasn’t been a fluke. Currently based in Montreal, Stars—a four-man, one-woman act—recently released their fifth full-length album, The Five Ghosts, the band’s first release on its own label, Soft Revolution. After a summer-long tour testing and[Read More…]
Mary Halvorson Quintet: Saturn Sings
This is tense, spooky music with a delightfully playful side. In Saturn Sings, her second album on the Firehouse 12 label, Mary Halvorson adds alto saxophonist Jon Irabagon and trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson to her already formidable trio with drummer Ches Smith and bassist John Hébert. Without Halvorson, that combination[Read More…]
Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Before the release of his latest album, few doubted Kanye West’s ability to one-up himself given his talent, money, and endless supply of industry connections. So it should come as no surprise that My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is just as spectacularly excessive as we could have hoped. There[Read More…]
