Music

Buy this record:: Jawbreaker Bivouac (re-issue)

Buy this record:: Jawbreaker Bivouac (re-issue)

In terms of influence and impact, previous few stand above Blake Schwarzenbach’s career arc in my books. The intelligent angst of Jawbreaker – seriously, each record delivered gritty punk melodies that framed poetry about loneliness and growing up – and “bring you to tears” beauty of the Jets to Brazil catalog are essential listening, even(…)

Reviews:: Tyler Butler Violence

Reviews:: Tyler Butler Violence

Most of us have simple, uniform desires. To love unconditionally. To be a better person. Be in good health. Everything else seems like greed. I want all of those things – and am grateful to have found a few – but I can’t suppress the need for something more traditional. A workmanlike drive to build(…)

Quick Hitters:: Falklands Cold Favour

Quick Hitters:: Falklands Cold Favour

Friday night, I sat happily in the congregation of the Church of Plaskett. Obviously, Joel’s one of Canada’s most dedicated rock n’ rollers – both in honoring tradition and grinding like a door to door salesman in the ’50s – but as the structure of the Hamilton Place Theatre was stretched to the limits I(…)

Favorites-of ’12:: The Luyas Animator

Favorites-of ’12:: The Luyas Animator

For the first time in years, Canadian music feel important again. Obviously pop mavens like Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen move units and the figureheads of Montreal winning a Grammy give us stable footing in International eyes, but Canada (and music fans around the world) are rallying behind the most obscure and innovative bands we(…)

Favorites-of ’12:: Metz

Favorites-of ’12:: Metz

To communicate in today’s chosen method, instead of reviewing the new behemoth from Metz, I could have just linked to the amazing bio Bry Webb penned and screamed, “a million times yes!” Everything Webb wrote channels the visceral impact of these songs. The intensity, the volume, the sheer power of each impact, well Webb describes(…)