Leif Vollebekk Speaks to the Past on 'Revelation'
For some artists, the songwriting muse visits through acts of conscious collaboration. For Leif Vollebekk, the solitude of the
Em Medland-Marchen•Sep 27, 2024
music reviews Archive
Mustafa Takes a Profound Journey on 'Dunya'
'Dunya,' Mustafa's full-length debut, roughly translates from Arabic to "the world in all its flaws." And to be sure, there is an entire
Nicholas Sokic•Sep 27, 2024The Hives Were Electrifying in Toronto
When the Hives broke through in the early 2000s with their breakneck take on garage punk, it should have come as a surprise to no one
Marko Djurdjić•Sep 27, 2024PJ Harvey Created a Singular Now in Toronto
There was a subtle dissonance at the outset of PJ Harvey's Wednesday night show in Toronto; the crowd at History seemed struck by some
Kaelen Bell•Sep 26, 2024'Nobody Wants This' Makes the Case for TV > Movies
I'm going to put it out there that the television/streaming offerings this year have been stronger than the films. I would also suggest that
Rachel Ho•Sep 26, 2024Alan Sparhawk's 'White Roses, My God' Finds the Light in Grief
There's no wrong way to grieve, but things can get complicated when there's an audience for your grief. It's particularly tough when said
Eric Hill•Sep 25, 2024'A Different Man' Embodies Its Imperfections with a Charming Confidence
Much is made of risk and reward in 'A Different Man.' Edward (Sebastian Stan) approaches a miracle cure for his neurofibromatosis with the
Alexander Mooney•Sep 25, 2024The Cute 'The Wild Robot' Can't Quite Bring Back the Golden Age of Family Films
Lately, family movies aren't what they used to be, and Chris Sanders's 'The Wild Robot' is here to fix that. A tale of found family and
Lindsay Clarke•Sep 25, 2024Paul McCartney's Unearthed Doc 'One Hand Clapping' Reveals His Talent for the Quaint and Quotidian
Even though I had great faith in both Peter Jackson's skills as a documentarian (see: 'They Shall Not Grow Old') and the Beatles's
Matthew Teklemariam•Sep 25, 2024'The Penguin' Dons a 'Sopranos' Tuxedo in Gotham
After years of attempting to impersonate Marvel, DC seems to have found a groove. Instead of solely relying on one massive shared universe
Rachel Ho•Sep 25, 2024Vampire Weekend Attempted to Cover Rush's "Tom Sawyer" in Toronto, Cuz Why Not?
I know it's only rock 'n' roll, but Vampire Weekend really seem to like it. The overarching tone of their latest Toronto show was one of
Alex Hudson•Sep 25, 2024Gallant Has It Figured Out on 'Zinc.'
Gallant has never been shy about his major label experience. Plagued by changing personnel at Warner Bros. Records, his 2019 sophomore
Leslie Ken Chu•Sep 24, 2024Katy Perry's '143' Is So 2000 and Late
The not-so-distant past when Katy Perry was one of pop's most fun, relevant exports only feels farther away every time she returns. Since
Sydney Brasil•Sep 23, 2024The War on Drugs and the National Brought Polished Perfection and Chaotic Theatricality to Toronto
The jokes write themselves. Basically anyone I've spoken with about the National's tour with the War on Drugs has made a remark along the
Alex Hudson•Sep 21, 2024Nelly Furtado Could Use a Little More Luck on '7'
A singular voice in the urban terrain of turn-of-the-millennium Canadian popular music, international phenomenon Nelly Furtado has been
Josh Korngut•Sep 20, 2024Avril Lavigne Brought a Complicated Star Power to Calgary
It was 2003 when I first heard the riff of Avril Lavigne's "Losing Grip," the opening track of 2002's 'Let Go' that skyrocketed the Napanee
Em Medland-Marchen•Sep 20, 2024The Tragically Hip's 'No Dress Rehearsal' Tears Down the Myth While Honouring the Legacy
The Tragically Hip are truly "Canada's band" — both because of the quintessentially Canuck content of Gord Downie's lyrics, and because the
Alex Hudson•Sep 20, 2024Charli XCX and Troye Sivan Showed Toronto That There's No One Way to Dominate the Floor
Charli XCX and Troye Sivan's Sweat tour is a sort of girls-and-gays summit to cap off 'BRAT' Summer, a coming-together of two left-field pop
Kaelen Bell•Sep 19, 2024'Agatha All Along' Needs More Script Editors
One of the great struggles in modern filmmaking is what to do with great supporting characters. Sometimes, it's easy; a new series can be
Matthew Simpson •Sep 19, 2024Jamie xx Still Has the X-Factor on 'In Waves'
After nine long years, Jamie xx, a.k.a. Jamie Smith, is back to hold our feet to the dancefloor with his sophomore release 'In Waves.' To
Dylan Barnabe•Sep 18, 2024Sunset Rubdown Pick Up the Pieces on 'Always Happy to Explode'
The gap between Sunset Rubdown's last record, 2009's 'Dragonslayer,' and 'Always Happy to Explode' is three times longer than the band's
Paul Blinov•Sep 18, 2024'The Substance' Is Engaging but Awkward in Its Own Skin
Elisabeth Sparkle's story isn't a new one. In fact, the fictional actress's slow and agonizing slide into obsolescence is so timeless that
Alexander Mooney•Sep 18, 2024'My Old Ass' Will Connect with Young Asses and Old Asses Alike
Megan Park's directorial debut 'The Fallout' offered a breathtaking look at the residual, and varying, mental effects a generation faces in
Rachel Ho•Sep 17, 2024At Rifflandia, the Beaches Cut to the Feeling
As much as the Toronto pop-rock quartet have enjoyed their success in recent years, that success came from a difficult time. Their most
Alan Ranta•Sep 17, 2024At Rifflandia 2024, Crash Test Dummies Turned Back the Clock
Even at the relatively early timeslot of six p.m., legendary Winnipeg folksy alt-rockers Crash Test Dummies were a fair few minutes late
Alan Ranta•Sep 17, 2024L7 Came Out Swinging at Rifflandia
Although I came of age in the '90s, I somehow missed the L7 train. At the time of their performance at Rifflandia, I hadn't seen
Alan Ranta•Sep 17, 2024Past and Present Collide on P:ano's Achingly Beautiful 'ba ba ba'
It's a Tuesday, and P:ano have released their first album in 19 years. The day of the week is significant because, the last time the group
Alex Hudson•Sep 17, 2024Oliver Tree Brought the Weird to Rifflandia
Oliver Tree is an absolute weirdo. Like, did you know he's actually from Victoria? You don't need to look that up. He lived here until he
Alan Ranta•Sep 16, 2024Sophie Ellis-Bextor Gave Murder on the Main Stage at Rifflandia
This set took a long time to get going. Literally, English singer/songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor didn't hit the stage until almost a
Alan Ranta•Sep 16, 2024Cat Power Sang Dylan and Conjured the Past at Ottawa's CityFolk
In the indie rock sphere, there may be no better interpreter of the American Songbook than Cat Power's Chan Marshall. Throughout her
Daniel Sylvester•Sep 16, 2024Fucked Up Were Powerful and Punctual in Ottawa
After a four-and-a-half-year layoff following the brilliant 'Dose Your Dreams,' Fucked Up have launched into their "work-your-ass-off" phase
Daniel Sylvester•Sep 16, 2024Rezz Let the Bass Do the Talking at Rifflandia
Since Fyre Festival founder Ja Rule attempted to overstay his welcome, pushing a track or two beyond his set time until his DJ had to tell
Alan Ranta•Sep 16, 2024Slayyyter's Rifflandia Set Was Wet (Literally) and Wild
Stuck with a relatively early set at six p.m., it was surprising that Slayyyter was legally allowed to perform in the daylight. If you've
Alan Ranta•Sep 16, 2024Tokyo Police Club Took a Well-Earned Bow at Rifflandia
Doubtlessly one of the most bittersweet moments in the festival's storied history, Rifflandia 2024 launched the final tour of Newmarket
Alan Ranta•Sep 16, 2024The Love Was Heavy at King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard's Vancouver Show
The King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Creative Universe (KGATLWCU) reaches far and wide — from every t-shirt design to the free
Vanessa Tam •Sep 13, 2024'Relay' Drops the Baton Between Plot Twists
'Relay' begins on a high note and rides that wave for at least a third of its runtime. Unfortunately any goodwill accumulated becomes
Rachel Ho•Sep 13, 2024'Bring Them Down' Will Bring You Down — in the Best Way
Some people go to the movies to be whisked away by romance, others for laughter, many for an adrenaline rush. Me though, I like having my
Rachel Ho•Sep 13, 2024WE ARE WINTER’S BLUE AND RADIANT CHILDREN Make the Good Themselves on 'NO MORE APOCALYPSE FATHER'
"I never know how I feel on an overcast day when the sun is still bright despite the grayness and the light is very flat"
Tom Beedham•Sep 13, 2024The Dare Wants You to Free Your Ass on 'What's Wrong with New York?'
It's a great time in the nostalgia cycle for anyone who spent their formative horny years in skinny jeans. Sure, "indie sleaze" has
Sydney Brasil•Sep 13, 2024Sarah Davachi Embraces the Divide on 'The Head as Form’d in the Crier’s Choir'
Composer Sarah Davachi's The Head as Form'd in the Crier's Choir is the latest entry in an already remarkable body of modern classical work
Tom Piekarski•Sep 13, 2024The Revolution Is Ready for Prime Time on Snotty Nose Rez Kids' 'RED FUTURE'
Although their cheeky group name perhaps suggests something of a defiant, slacker attitude, Kitamaat rappers Darren "Young D" Metz
Alan Ranta•Sep 13, 2024Nilüfer Yanya Is Caught in a Thrilling Stasis on 'My Method Actor'
Conceptualizing the arch of a songwriter's artistic development can feel like an act of senseless problematization. Unlike judgments of
Tom Piekarski•Sep 13, 2024Flora Rose Transcends the Moment on "Falling Through the Drops of Time"
French indie pop singer-songwriter Flora Rose has been on my radar since I heard "You've Been on My Mind," one of the singles from her great
Megan LaPierre•Sep 12, 2024Chastity's Self-Titled Album Is Both Battle Scar and Open Wound
It's a new era for Chastity, and it starts off — quite literally — with a bang. A single, blown out tom hit is all the warning you're given
Penelope Stevens•Sep 12, 2024Porches' 'Shirt' Is a Freewheeling, Feral Portrait of Suburban America
On the darkly exhilarating sixth studio album from Porches, Aaron Maine is staring at the big sky, ditching school, climbing fences and
Amanda Thacker •Sep 12, 2024Spoon Pushed Through the Pain in Ottawa
Spoon's sustained relevance over the past 28 years was undeniable during their first-ever appearance in Ottawa. Selling out the
Daniel Sylvester•Sep 12, 2024Colin Stetson Finds New Peaks on 'The love it took to leave you'
With each new release, the superlative praise for Colin Stetson's work and abilities cements his position as a singular voice in
Eric Hill•Sep 12, 2024On 'Verbathim,' Nehmasis Is a Clear-Eyed Truth Teller
'Verbathim,' The debut album from Palestinian-Canadian artist Nemahsis (a.k.a. Nemah Hasan) marks the arrival of an impressive new voice
Vijai Kumar Singh•Sep 12, 2024'Transformers One' Is Actually Good?!
It's forgivable to be a little cynical about Transformers in the year 2024. The franchise is seven films deep — eight if we include 1986's
Matthew Simpson •Sep 12, 2024'Speak No Evil' Is a Rare Remake That Improves on the Original
The 2024 remake of Danish film 'Speak No Evil' does a lot more than the original, and leaves audiences much more fulfilled. It's a stylized
Lindsay Clarke•Sep 11, 2024