My first encounter with New Invisible Joy was at a NXNE show at C’est What back in 2000. The Pittsburgh-based four-piece was the first space-rock band I ever saw live. Their music was drenched in reverb and my friend besideRead more…
The Resistance – Scars
A week or two ago, Jon reviewed the new In Flames album, and favourably too. He called the album “suitable for rock radio”, and was relatively happy with it. With all due respect to Jon, I must disagree. The newRead more…
Plastikman – EX
Still bleeping, still blooping What a long strange trip it’s been. Different names, different labels, overexposure and seeming death in the late 90s, all the way to a weird triumphal return in which the lion’s share of mainstream music hasRead more…
Harvey Danger – Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?
To many people, Harvey Danger is nothing more than their one big hit “Flagpole Sitta”. It’s a shame, really. There have been plenty of one hit wonders. Especially in the 90’s when it became commonplace for labels to push bandsRead more…
Spotify
Last week I was sent an invite to try Spotify. Spotify is a streaming music service that was started by a Swedish company in 2008. The service has just launched in Canada and is currently limited access until it’s’ officialRead more…
Black Lab – A Raven Has My Heart
I first heard Black Lab in the fall of 1997. Their first single was featured on Toronto radio station 102.1 The Edge’s “Groundbreakers” show where they introduce new songs. (two of the other artists featured that week were Black GrapeRead more…
Guitar Vader – From Dusk
In North America, Guitar Vader is best known for the soundtrack to the game Jet Set Radio (or Jet Grind Radio, depending on where you live). In the game, you play as a rollerblading gang of vandals whose goal isRead more…
Judas Priest – Redeemer of Souls
My parents wanted to make sure they raised a nice, well-adjusted child. And so they decided that I was forbidden from consuming certain media. That includes violent and graphic video games (as violent as they got back then, anyway), movies,Read more…
Mastodon – Once More ‘Round The Sun
Mastodon has released enough records to talk about the band in terms of its lifespan. It hasn’t gone through lineup changes or radically distinct stylistic shifts that might point out good markers to distinguish discrete “phases” of their career. It’sRead more…