Eyes on the Prize: My picks for this year’s Polaris long-list
Come June 7, jurors like myself will have submitted their top five nominations for this year’s Polaris Prize. It’s not an easy task, whittling away the seventeen Canadian albums you’ve had on repeat for the past year down to a meagre handful, but I’ve managed to narrow things. Hooray, indeed, but my heart breaks for … Continue reading
Review and interview: Christine Fellows’ Femmes de chez nous
Review and interview published in Exclaim! Take a black-and-white photograph and bring it to life — that’s what Winnipeg, MB’s Christine Fellows did with her fifth and most innovative release, Femmes de chez nous. The 13-track record and accompanying DVD, Reliquary/Reliquaire, were written during, and inspired by, Fellows’ six-month residency at Le Musée de Saint-Boniface. Femmes de chez … Continue reading
My latest obsession: Jenn Grant’s Honeymoon Punch
Published online at Exclaim.ca on January 11, 2011. By Amanda Ash Jenn Grant’s music has always mirrored her emotions. Orchestra for the Moon, the Halifax, NS-based singer-songwriter’s debut, showed us her spunky, wide-eyed naivety. Then, her 2009 release,Echoes, brought us to a heavy place filled with heartbreak, loneliness and mourning. Now, with Honeymoon Punch, Grant is ready … Continue reading
My latest obsession: Kathryn Calder
In 2007, Kathryn Calder decided to explore her songwriting capabilities. Her musical talents had always been leant to a larger group ― either Victoria, BC’s Immaculate Machine or the infamous New Pornographers ― so Calder chose to experiment with her sound and style to see what would emerge. Over the past few years, Calder cut … Continue reading
Basia Bulat’s romantic interlude
“I’m kind of all over the place right now,” Basia Bulat says over the phone about her current “homeless” state. Today, the 25-year-old is fighting her way through the bitter cold Montreal weather to get to the office of her label Secret City Records. Tomorrow, she has no idea where she’ll be. Thus has been … Continue reading
Woodpigeon talks Die Stadt Muzikanten, home, and oil money
Mark Hamilton, a.k.a. the main man and foundation of folk-pop band Woodpigeon, took the time before his show at the Biltmore Cabaret yesterday to chat about his new album, Die Stadt Muzikanten. Die Stadt Muzikanten is the Calgary musician’s third release, largely influenced by Hamilton’s explorations and ruminations about his heritage. Sonically, Die Stadt Muzikanten … Continue reading
The Indie Files’ top ten albums of 2009
Well, folks, 2009 is coming to a close. Music magazines and online music sites everywhere are busy publishing their favourite albums of 2009, so it only makes sense that the Indie Files contribute its own year-end list to the blogosphere. Enjoy! Oh, and I wanna know: how does this list stack up to your personal … Continue reading
Download Brian Borcherdt’s new album Torches (& the Ward Colorado demos) for free
Brian Borcherdt, better known as one-fourth of the Toronto dance/noise band Holy Fuck, has released his latest solo record Torches (& the Ward Colorado demos), which is available to download absolutely free. Free! Want it? Get it HERE. Torches is a follow-up to his debut solo album, 2008’s Coyotes. It was recorded in Toronto, coastal Yarmouth of … Continue reading
My Sister Ocean embrace Edmonton winters, release new single “The First Snow”
If you’ve ever lived in Edmonton, then you know the city only ever experiences two seasons: summer and winter. One day it’s sunny and 30C, and the next there’s a blizzard outside your window. Now, you can either complain about the harsh prairie winters or welcome them with open arms. Holden Daniels and Eugenio Pacileo, … Continue reading
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