In the last few years, female artists have taken an incredibly strong stance on feminism, creating art that focuses on the tense dialogue surrounding gender, race, and identity. Whether this requires a change from their old style or leans into their existing art depends on the artist: For someone like[Read More…]
Tag: pop
Album Review: 25 – Adele
Some singers shoot for critical reception; others for commercial success. Some aim for none, some for both… and then there’s Adele. The British sensation—officially Adele Laurie Blue Adkins MBE (yes, she’s an order of the British empire now), literally started from the bottom. Born in Tottenham, U.K., and raised by[Read More…]
Album Review: Art Angels – Grimes
Grimes (the stage name of ex-McGill student, Claire Boucher) is not your dream girl. In a music industry that wants to turn performers into a unified brand, Grimes falls into an odd position. She defies easy characterization: She is too weird to be a true pop artist, but is too[Read More…]
Album Review: Fading Frontier – Deerhunter
Last December, Deerhunter’s lead member, Bradford Cox, got hit by a car while crossing the street. The incident was the beginning of a paradigm shift for the songwriter that led him to seriously consider the idea of settling down. He has since acquired a dog, and bought a house in[Read More…]
Pop Dialectic: Ryan Adams, Taylor Swift, and 1989
Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams has released a track-by-track cover of Taylor Swift's megahit, 1989. What does this mean for Swift, Adams, and the world of pop music in general? Click each perspective to read more Taylor Swift doesn't need anyone's help Hailey MacKinnon On Sept. 21, Ryan Adams released his 15th studio[Read More…]
Album Review : Caracal – Disclosure
Three years ago, house-pop duo Disclosure took the reins of the U.K. house revival movement by dropping the one-two punch of singles “Latch” and “White Noise.” Their major-label debut, Settle, ended up being nothing less than a feature-studded masterpiece that redefined dance music. By mixing both past and present Disclosure[Read More…]
Album Review: Lana Del Rey – Honeymoon / Interscope & Polydor
“All I want to do is get high by the beach,” Lana Del Rey croons on the lead single to her newest album, Honeymoon: It’s an aloof and somewhat carefree sentiment that rings true throughout the entirety of the album’s lazy state. Del Rey told[Read More…]
Album Review: Carly Rae Jepsen – E-mo-tion / Interscope
The line between art and artist is thinly drawn—one that becomes increasingly obscure the more you attempt to define where the boundary lies. For Carly Rae Jepsen’s new album, it’s a necessary evil. E-mo-tion ultimately sees Jepsen charging back into the music arena in full-force[Read More…]
Osheaga 2015 recap: Day three
With the sun shining high in the sky, thousands of fans eagerly made their way through Parc Jean Drapeau to their favourite acts. With a fabulous set of artists lined up, festival goers appeared in good spirits, dressed in tanks, shorts, and rocking their pair of raybans—the final day of[Read More…]
Album Review: Brandon Flowers – The Desired Effect
By now, channelling sounds from another era and successfully executing them using modern day influences and themes is both often-used and difficult to get right. However, in Brandon Flowers’ new album, The Desired Effect, The Killers frontman does just that, defying a simple rehash of[Read More…]