If you read my review of Toronto MC/producer Muneshine’s awesome last record, There is Only Today, you know the Mune is the man to see if you want that lush-sounding hip hop with honest and engaging lyrics. After checking his latest video for the title track, directed by Dan Jardine, I know he has what(…)
2012
Crusty Cat – Wheels’ Dad Has a Bad Moustache
I know really nothing about Winnipeg’s No Label Collective, but I know this Wheels-inspired compilation from their extensive roster of collaborators has put a smile on my face more than once today. Just look at that cover art. I can’t even definitively say if it’s juvenile or genius, but I do know I would like(…)
More Or Les – Big Sugar
January! A time for new beginnings, this month often finds many of us arbitrarily trying to leave behind those nagging vices & peccadilloes that start little campfires of regret or guilt in our collective guts. For example, I know many folks will be trying to cut back, or cut out entirely, a specific white powder(…)
Quick Hitters:: Ever Ending Kicks Notion Free
It’s probably odd to kickoff the yearly coverage with an act than lives outside of our ten provinces and three territories, but the new EP from Ever Ending Kicks dominated my holiday listening. I’d never heard of Paul Benson before he sent over the record, but seeing he played with Mt. Eerie and Karl Blau(…)
Quick Hitters:: Balacade Malaise Era
Admittedly, I’m projecting my setting and situation onto this listen (especially since the West Coast is getting more earthquakes than dumps of snow these days), but the new LP from Victoria’s Balacade sounds like the holidays did to me not so long ago. Not the warm embrace of family and loved ones you typical associate(…)
Cleaning out the closet:: Aidan Knight and Lucas Hicks
I’ll be honest with you. I’ve mentally checked out for the remainder of ’12. I’ve listened to almost nothing but Tom Waits and Shotgun Jimmie for the last week or so, and the contentedness I get from listening to music for fun, not for content is liberating. That being said, two new records keep creeping(…)
By Divine Right – Mall Santa
Usually, at this time of year, we try and post up some of the Christmas/Holiday style jamz we’re sent or manage to come across in our cyber travels. This year though, we’ve both been so busy that the hill has remained festive-tune-free. Bit of a bummer, but so many folks seem to be carrying the(…)
Holiday Madness:: Win a copy of Hey Rosetta!’s Christmas EP on vinyl
It’s getting close to Christmas, and all the year-end lists are snuggled in bed with kerchief and caps. All that’s left is awkward high school reunion like gatherings and drunken political discussions with over touchy uncles. Naturally, I’d expect you to play nothing but Boney M during this next fortnight, but if you need a(…)
Favorites-of 12:: The list
I wish I had more interest in prioritizing the records I love from the last calendar year. Normally it’s one of my favorite posts of the year, one I debate internally for hours. This year, I realized that when you write daily, documenting an arbitrary time period truly becomes (at best) vain or (at worst)(…)
Virtual Flannel – Hey There Bird
I’ve said something to this effect before, but, for me at least, it seems as though many of the most interesting hip hop-related projects we get sent from Canada are of the instrumental variety. It also seems that these folks are finding it easier to make noise in other locales versus their own backyard. This(…)
