Research

The Dears - <i>Gang of Losers</i>

PUBLISHED Jul 23, 2007

Luring the listener with a self-depreciating title has always been risky business, but, here, it was an important move. After the grand epi...

Chad VanGaalen- <i>Skelliconnection</i>

PUBLISHED Jul 23, 2007

Skelliconnection is a window into Chad VanGaalen’s weird and wonderful world of Viking rainbows, pterodactyls and headless corpses, a bit s...

The Besnard Lakes- <i>Are The Dark Horse</i>

PUBLISHED Jul 23, 2007

"Baby I’ve got some words for you …” Propped up by pillowy acoustics and tender trumpets, these few lyrics encapsulate everything that the...

Arcade Fire- <i>Neon Bible</i>

PUBLISHED Jul 23, 2007

Before anyone heard a note from Neon Bible, fans imagined what it would be: an intricate album full of extravagant musical performances wit...

Importing Our Own

The World Wants Canadian Music, But Is Our Industry Woefully Unprepared?

PUBLISHED Jun 20, 2007

A balmy June day in Toronto, and a trip to local College Street CD retailer Soundscapes on "new release Tuesday” is in order. Undoubtedly s...

A Canadian Punk Revival

As Punk Turns 30, Canadian Pioneers Reunite

PUBLISHED May 29, 2007

A bubbling crowd bounces at the front of the stage as the first raw, pop-addled lick chokes out across Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern. Fists ri...

Sweden’s Hour

International Success Helps Swedes Bring It All Back Home

PUBLISHED Mar 28, 2007

On the last night of January this year, a funny thing happened in Stockholm. At the Grammis, the annual Swedish music industry awards cerem...

Loaded Words

How Hip-hop Has Embraced and Rejected the Firearm

PUBLISHED Feb 23, 2007

Way back in 1982 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released "The Message,” one of the very first commercially successful rap tracks, a...