TRACK/MP3: Billy Talent – “Viking Death March”
It’s been three long years since Toronto-area punks BILLY TALENT released their final record in their self-titled trilogy and the band have finally uncaged a new recording. “Viking Death March” is a fitting title to curb stomp any skepticism if they can still write songs as the ringing guitar line and hook stab their alternative sound with the rampant urgency they used to tear a hole in 2003. Album number four is slated for a July... Read More
GOING LIVE: Santigold
SANTIGOLD, THEOPHILUS LONDON KOOL HAUS, TORONTO / MAY 15TH From the boom of the new dancehall snarl “GO!”, it was clear at her Toronto gig that SANTIGOLD is on a mission. It may be claimed as a strong attempt to stir up radio’s short-term memory attitude but it’s really to make noise through individuality which her performance did through footwork slamming pop, synth-tinged dub and sentiments drugged out on redemption and dominance.... Read More
REVIEW: B.o.B – “Strange Clouds”
[May 1st 2012 - Warner Music Canada // Find it at: iTunes | Insound] ______________________________________________________________ Being a recording artist can be a gift and a curse and the Georgia-grown rapper is a testament to that. On a hyped label debut, B.o.B instituted the idea of being eclectic, brushing off different strokes that underlined his voice box as an MC and italicized the ingenuity of Bobby Ray, and as much as Strange Clouds tries... Read More
TRACK/MP3: Feist – “Black Tongue” (Mastodon Cover)
One of our main highlights for Record Store Day 2012, the rather strange split 7″ of MASTODON and FEIST basically screams out musical beauty and with the audio now available, it’s evident: the world is about to explode. Mastodon show off their guitar chops with a flesh-ripping guitar solo and grime chugging chords on their cover of “A Commotion”, but it’s Feist’s dreamy industrial rock take on “Black Tongue”... Read More
INTERVIEW: Mastodon
Thanks to a technical muscle that flexes with each crushing riff and howl, it’s hard to file comparisons next to metal outfit MASTODON. Between five albums, the Georgia four-piece have ripped through the evolution of alternative, forcing instrumentals to become poetic post-rock compositions with a bite, and – as their latest collective piece, The Hunter, emits – they’ve also been able to transmit a class of metal that’s... Read More
VIDEO: The Swellers – “Inside My Head”
One of the stand-out tracks from their latest album Good For Me, “Inside My Head” embodies the cuts-like-a-knife pop punk attitude THE SWELLERS are known for, and wraps it up in an irresistible hook. The video on the other hand is like Blink-182 meeting MTV for the first time (remember “Josie”?) with the Michigan four-piece trying to be “big brothers” to younger kids (the Living With Lions nod is genius). Credit... Read More
TRACK/MP3: Theophilus London & ASAP Rocky – “Big Spender”
On the eve of when one of hip-hop’s biggest new faces is supposed to take over Coachella on a Saturday night in California, Brooklyn hip hop artiste THEOPHILUS LONDON finally unveiled his effort with fellow New Yorker ASAP ROCKY. In all honesty, it’s what you expect. “Big Spender” isn’t really overly flashy but the smooth, swagged out track – pieced together by a tricked out 1960s’ Bob Fosse/Shirley Bassey... Read More
INTERVIEW: THE MARS VOLTA
In the course of more than ten years, El Paso outfit THE MARS VOLTA have never stopped experimenting. Their grasp of psychedelia and complexity is unmatched, which is a fair thing to say given their last three records are as sonically thick as their first three, not to mention other projects/releases such as prestigious live recordings. With their latest disc, Noctourniquet, set to be unraveled this month, we caught up with guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez... Read More
Q&A: Jack’s Mannequin
Life can be as dismal as it is beautiful and sometimes you have to sift through the obstacles to find something meaningful to hang on to. Since the first JACK’S MANNEQUIN album was released almost seven years ago, Andrew McMahon has been an inspiration of sorts to listeners as well as fellow musicians through his songs and personal life. While on tour in support of his latest release People And Things, the 29-year-old songwriter opened up about... Read More
INTERVIEW: The Swellers
The money, the girls, the fame. It’s three components that make up the rock star dream, but with the reality being how you get there is entirely dependent on the choices you make. Michigan pop punk four-piece THE SWELLERS have spent the past ten years trying to piece together their golden ticket but on the contrary it’s not a concern. While on tour in support of their 2011 release Good For Me, the group touched on their DIY ethic, how... Read More