In the crowded basement of Saint-Dominique Cathedral, it seemed as if every possible genre of author, publisher, illustrator, artisan, and their devotees were in attendance at Expozine, Montreal’s annual small press fair. It showcased 300 distinctive French and English exhibitors, ranging from established publishers like Drawn and Quarterly to obscure[Read More…]
Arts & Entertainment
Keep up to date on local art, new albums, and everything entertainment-related.
There’s no such thing as a magic bullet: Josh Hook on video games & success
Two Thursdays ago, Tokyo Police Club guitarist Josh Hook spoke to me over the phone from Whistler, BC, and warmly answered as many questions as I could muster about the band’s origins, Montreal coffee, N64 games, and advice for aspiring musicians. Hailing from Newmarket, Ontario, Tokyo Police Club first entered[Read More…]
Album Review: Andy Stott – Faith in a Stranger
Warmly lugubrious, Faith In Strangers is Manchester electronic producer Andy Stott’s follow-up to 2012’s Luxury Problems.
Deep Cuts: Turning Points
He’s Gonna Step On You Again (aka Step On) Artist: John Kongos Album: He’s Gonna Step On You Again Released: 1971 Sampling is such a staple of modern music that it has become almost an overused nuance—unless, of course, you’re Kanye West. While the origins of sampling are blurry, largely[Read More…]
Pop Rhetoric: Got Blues?
“I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley/ To do black music so selfishly/ And use it to get myself wealthy” — Eminem
Look Back in Anger
Sharing a one-bedroom apartment with four emotional young Brits for two and a half hours as they push through the most difficult part of their lives does not sound like an ideal night out, but the fluid direction and engrossing emotion of TNC’s Look Back in Anger make it a[Read More…]
How Exile Melts
Written by McGill alumnus Dane Stewart and directed by Patrick Neilson, How Exile Melts is the latest production by the McGill Department of Drama and Theatre. It follows the story of four siblings as they reunite at their old home in Nova Scotia to visit their ailing father, only to[Read More…]
Album Review: One Direction – Four
It’s hard to review a One Direction album without acknowledging the ever-familiar boy-band that created it.
Pop Rhetoric: Cereal killer—Why Usher’s promotion is wrecking his image
Besides attracting local attention for walking around the Plateau wearing a raccoon hat before kicking off his current tour in Montreal, Usher has made headlines recently for following in the footsteps of generations of toy manufacturers and announcing that his latest single will be exclusively distributed as a cereal box[Read More…]
Deep Cuts: Shoegazey gems—Diamonds on the soles of your shoes
40 Days Artist: Slowdive Album: Souvlaki Released: May 17, 1993 Maybe Brian Eno’s production has something to do with it, but this song is almost too joyful to be classified as shoegaze. Verging on dream pop, the track opens with loud and pulsing synthesizers, while a quick tempo will have[Read More…]