Articles by Helen Spitzer

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  Calgary On the Rise

  SCENE

  PUBLISHED May 1, 2004

  The last year in Calgary could serve as a primer for any Canadian town looking to revitalise its music scene. Falconhawk, the Fake Cops, th...

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  John Vanderslice

  Cellar Door

  PUBLISHED Mar 1, 2004

  Something is burning in John Vanderslice, and it comes tumbling out like fury or sexual desire. On previous records he's encoded his life a...

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  Slomo Rabbit Kick

  Bass Monster Lives in the Bass Forest

  PUBLISHED Feb 1, 2004

  Just the idea of a concept record is enough to make me all weak in the knees — it's the nerdy absorption required to assemble all the narra...

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  Dagons

  Teeth for Pearls

  PUBLISHED Dec 1, 2003

  Another guitar/drums duo, but plying their trade in ways that sound completely original, despite musical touchstones like the Cramps and Bl...

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  Manishevitz

  City Life

  PUBLISHED Nov 1, 2003

  Adam Busch is lurching towards full-on rock star histrionics, on this, Manishevitz's third full-length. Last year's Private Lines EP marked...

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  Lederhosen Lucil

  Tales From The Pantry

  PUBLISHED Oct 1, 2003

  Our hoser fraulein returns, with a sophomore record that shows off more of what's going on behind those flaxen braids. While her debut burs...

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  Portastatic

  Autumn Was A Lark

  PUBLISHED Oct 1, 2003

  The idea behind this EP is somewhat better than its execution. It won't convert any stalwart supporters of Mac McCaughan's Superchunk, whic...

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  Andrew Bird

  Weather Systems

  PUBLISHED Sep 1, 2003

  Andrew Bird must be endlessly puzzling to all but his most dedicated fans. With this intoxicating new disc, however, he stands to gain a fe...