Begonia Provided a Gateway at Ottawa Jazz Fest
The jazz gods intervened on the first night of 2024's Ottawa Jazz Festival. After three days of sweltering temperatures there were sweaters
Luke Pearson•Jun 24, 2024
film reviews Archive
VERTTIGO Surged into the Future at Sled Island 2024
As the sun set on day two of Sled Island, the streets of Calgary's downtown core came alive. Festival-goers venue hopped down 7th Ave, mean
Em Medland-Marchen•Jun 24, 2024Irreversible Entanglements Burned Away the Apathy at Sled Island
Beginning their set abruptly with a sound that severed the bone marrow of Central United Church, Irreversible Entanglements made their
Em Medland-Marchen•Jun 24, 2024The Brilliantly Performed 'Fancy Dance' Has a Few Too Many Steps
Every year film festivals release a certain type of film — usually a drama starring an actor riding a wave of positive buzz (or established
Matthew Simpson •Jun 21, 2024Charli XCX and Lorde's "Girl, so confusing" Remix Finds Healing in Confrontation
"Girl, so confusing" is already one of the most vulnerable songs on 'BRAT.' On an album shaped by its unfiltered, plainly spoken
Kaelen Bell•Jun 21, 2024Pond Aren't Quite Sharp Enough on 'Stung!'
Can the joy of experimentation go rote? If anybody knows, it would be Australian headcases Pond. Their kitchen-sink approach
Matthew Teklemariam•Jun 20, 2024'I Am: Celine Dion' Reveals Both Frailty and Force
Like most millennial Canadians, I grew up listening to Céline Dion. It was hard not to. Even before her heart went on and on, Dion's voice
Rachel Ho•Jun 20, 2024'The Bikeriders' Rides Sidecar on a Scenic Journey Through Changing America
Between 1963 and 1967, photographer Danny Lyon interviewed members of the Chicago Outlaw Motorcycle Club and their wives and girlfriends, w
Rachel Ho•Jun 19, 2024Alcest Stay in the Light on 'Les Chants de l'Aurore'
There is something incredibly satisfying about amalgamating genres into ridiculous, Frankensteinian combinations, and there is no
Marko Djurdjić•Jun 19, 2024The Japanese House Is No Worries If Not on “:)”
While I ultimately ended up putting forth Afternoon Bike Ride's subtle "Good Company" for my 2023 song of the summer, I almost went with a
Megan LaPierre•Jun 18, 2024Cross Dog Fight the Good Fight on 'All Hard Feelings'
Turning their usual formula on its head, Peterborough's Cross Dog aren't here to play when it comes to the politically charged
Emma Schuster•Jun 18, 2024'Wild Goat Surf' Paints a Stunning Portrait of Growing Pains
A momentous directorial debut for Caitlyn Sponheimer, Wild Goat Surf is a formidable force of filmmaking. A tender and heartwarming explora
Holly Hunt•Jun 17, 2024'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Breathes Fire into the Tarnished Legacy of 'Game of Thrones'
After the catastrophically disappointing final season of Game of Thrones, the apprehensively anticipated House of the Dragon spin-off serie
Karlie Rogers•Jun 17, 2024The Decemberists Enjoy the Journey on 'As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again'
Colin Meloy's been a busy guy — his YA and children's novels have taken up a lot of his time. He didn't intend for the Decemberists' hiatus
Erica Commisso •Jun 14, 2024'Inside Out 2' Gets to the Root of Who We Are
The first Inside Out film contains a reliably imaginative foundation to work from. It also offers a more abstract concept than Pixar's usua
Josh Korngut•Jun 14, 2024Zsela's 'Big for You' Is a Luxuriant Exhale
Zsela's voice is an anchor. The NYC songwriter's deep, bottom-of-the-throat vocals pull her songs to the dusky half-light of the ocean floo
Kaelen Bell•Jun 14, 2024Cola Are Working Toward Something New on 'The Gloss'
Formed from the ashes of Ought by ex-members Tim Darcy and Ben Stidworthy, Cola started as a duo in 2019. After just one practice with Darc
Marko Djurdjić•Jun 13, 2024Primavera Sound Barcelona 2024 Provided Lessons, Vibes, and Charli XCX at Her Absolute Best
It shouldn't have taken this long, but I think I'm ready to admit it: European festivals have North American festivals beat.I'm sorry, but
Stephen Carlick•Jun 13, 2024L'Impératrice Sound More Like Themselves Than Ever on 'Pulsar'
If they were actually played in clubs this side of the Atlantic, L'Impératrice would likely be a darling. The French-French dance group mak
Matthew Teklemariam•Jun 12, 2024Rick White and the Sadies Speak to an Old Friend on Their Self-Titled Album
Following up on what their band the Unintended once intended, Rick White and the Sadies have reconvened for a lovely album
Vish Khanna•Jun 12, 2024Blackberry Wood Were Wonderfully Uncool at Music Waste
When you look around at any Vancouver music venue, you're almost guaranteed to see the usual Carhartt work pants and Doc Martens. As Blackb
Elena Massing •Jun 10, 2024Kaytranada Continues to Refine His Sound on 'Timeless'
For over a decade, Kaytranada has built his reputation as a summer staple. With his music existing at the intersection of house, dance, pop
Wesley McLean•Jun 10, 2024Lawnya Vawnya's All Ages Show Kept the Punk Spirit Alive
At the very heart of the punk movement, since its earliest whispers over fifty years ago, is the all ages show. At any given point in any g
Chad Feehan•Jun 10, 2024DEBBY FRIDAY and Friends Brought a Fabulous Freneticism to Lawnya Vawnya
Lawnya Vawnya contained multitudes on its fourth day of operation, spanning both the downtown core and the duration of the day in a noon-to
Chad Feehan•Jun 10, 2024'Presumed Innocent' Makes What Was Old Seem New Again
Already a successful movie starring Harrison Ford, Scott Turow's novel 'Presumed Innocent' receives the small-screen treatment from famed
Rachel Ho•Jun 10, 2024Lawnya Vawnya Day Two Was an Odyssey of Soul and Storytelling
After a day of music, literature and contemplative workshopping, Lawnya Vawnya's second night of programming was a decidedly dancy affair
Chad Feehan•Jun 7, 2024June Hawthorn Opened Music Waste 2024 with a Sense of Care
June Hawthorn kicked off the first show of this year's Music Waste with a bang — not by way of pounding bass or snappy drums, but with
Elena Massing •Jun 7, 2024Charli XCX Is a Pop Prophet on the Brilliant 'BRAT'
Pop music's resident party girl returns with 'BRAT,' a messy, shimmering magnum opus and an undeniable career highlight. The sixth proper
Josh Korngut•Jun 7, 2024Bonny Light Horseman's 'Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free' Is a Creaking Comfort
Bonny Light Horseman venture into the ancient woods, lantern in hand, on their third record, 'Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free.' There's
Anthony Boire•Jun 6, 2024Maya Hawke's 'Chaos Angel' Could Stand a Bit More Chaos
Maya Hawke's two albums, 'Blush' and 'MOSS,' were perfectly amenable collections of folk-pop confessionals, all united by her breathy
Matthew Teklemariam•Jun 6, 2024PONY's "Freezer" Is Impeccable '90s Cosplay
Toronto duo PONY specialize in grungry, very '90s alt-pop — and new single "Freezer" is a perfect example of them doing exactly what they d
Alex Hudson•Jun 6, 2024'Robot Dreams' Yearns for Old Friends and a Bygone New York
In his 1948 essay, "Here in New York," E.B. White wrote, "On any person who desires such queer prizes, New York will bestow the gift of lon
Nathan Chizen•Jun 5, 2024Peggy Gou Touches the Timeless on ‘I Hear You’
When creating her debut LP 'I Hear You,' Peggy Gou envisioned herself as a star from a bygone era of rave culture that didn't exist in 1990s
Chris Bryson•Jun 5, 2024'Star Wars: The Acolyte' Finds a New Galaxy Within the 'Star Wars' Universe
Star Wars has had problems for a while now. The various Disney+ series have been a mixed bag, but one thing they all have in common is that
Matthew Simpson •Jun 4, 2024'I Don't Know Who You Are' Honours Those Who Fall Through the Cracks
In a country that prides itself on its universal health care system, it's easy for Canadians to forget that not everyone has the same
Courtney Small•Jun 3, 2024On 'Everyone’s Getting Involved,' Some Should Have Sat Out
At a certain point, you stop wondering what was wrong with Talking Heads and start enjoying exactly that. Their appeal is multidimensional
Matthew Teklemariam•Jun 3, 2024Priori Opens a Portal on 'This but More'
For Francis Latreille — the Montreal producer and one-man-act behind Priori — sound has always served as a portal to new realities
Spencer Nafekh-Blanchette•Jun 3, 2024'In a Violent Nature' Brings a Whole New POV to Slasher Gore
Canadian writer-director Chris Nash's feature directorial debut, 'In a Violent Nature,' oozes atmosphere right from the opening sequence
Sarah Regan•Jun 3, 2024Prepare the Ground Closed with Considered Catharsis
Prepare the Ground closed their inaugural fest's Sunday night across three venues, ending the three-day affair at Lee's Palace. The absolut
Marko Djurdjić•Jun 3, 2024Wallows' 'Model' Slumps When It Should Soar
With two albums and two EPs under their belt, Wallows — the brainchild of Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston — have success
Karlie Rogers•Jun 3, 2024Julia Louis-Dreyfus Levels Up the Drama in 'Tuesday'
A talking parrot (or more accurately, a macaw) with a penchant for rap music and dad jokes is not your typical vehicle for the
Tanner James•Jun 3, 2024Prepare the Ground Day Two Was a Cacophony of Epic Proportions
Day two of Prepare the Ground necessitated some travel. With dozens of bands over four venues, sticking around at just one was a (meta)phys
Marko Djurdjić•Jun 2, 2024Prepare the Ground's Inaugural Day Was a Gentle Introduction
Prepare the Ground's inaugural festival opened last night across three venues (Lee's Palace, Baby G and the Garrison), bringing with it som
Marko Djurdjić•Jun 2, 2024Khruangbin Compromised Nothing in Toronto
Khruangbin are a fascinating case study in how to become a popular band without compromising anything. They're a mostly-instrumental surf
Alex Hudson•Jun 1, 2024Empress Of Brought Unvarnished Joy to Toronto
Empress Of, a.k.a. Lorely Rodriguez, is no longer just an opening act. After years of touring with pop heavyweights like Carly Rae Jepsen
Josh Korngut•May 31, 2024Bat for Lashes Welcomes New Life on 'The Dream of Delphi'
A lot has transpired in Natasha Khan's life since the release of her previous Bat for Lashes record, the neon-hued, desert-vampire concept
Josh Korngut•May 31, 2024'Handling the Undead' Is a Whole New Type of Zombie Film
In an early scene in Handling the Undead, we see a teenager ignoring their mother while playing a zombie video game. Of course, along with
Marie Saadeh•May 31, 2024'Midas Man' Seeks to Understand the Fifth Beatle
The final shot of 'Midas Man' shows Brian Epstein, who found success and fame as manager of the Beatles from 1961 until his death in 1967
Rachel Ho•May 31, 2024'Backspot' Is Worth Cheering For
Growing up, cheerleading was seen as something the popular girls did — those dainty, bubbly personalities who clapped their hands together
Rachel Ho•May 30, 2024'Jim Henson Idea Man' Revels in the Surprising Enigma of Its Subject
Jim Henson used his mother's green coat and two ping pong balls to craft Kermit the Frog. By Henson's own admission, Kermit was very simple
Tobias Jeg•May 30, 2024