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Halifax’s Walrus announce tour in support of debut album ‘Family Hangover’

Ava Muir

May 26, 2017

Canadian psych-rockers Walrus are set to release their debut full-length Family Hangover on June 9 via Dan Mangan’s own Madic Records.

In advance of the new record, the group shared a slew of forthcoming tour dates including a European run next month alongside fellow Canadians Wintersleep. Walrus will also perform at Toronto’s Field Trip Festival next weekend.

See below for a full list of dates and watch the video for Family Hangover‘s lead single “Regular Face”, a laid back jam that spoofs Bob Ross’ The Joy of Painting.

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‘True Care’ by James Vincent McMorrow

Ava Muir

May 26, 2017

RELEASE DATE: MAY 26, 2017

GENRE: ALTERNATIVE/R&B

rating 7/10

Just over a week ago, Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow dropped the news that he would be releasing True Care this Friday May 26. His fourth full-length album follows closely on the heels of September 2016’s We Move, the LP marks McMorrow’s first step in transitioning from his folk roots to a more minimalistic R&B approach, co-producing alongside Nineteen85 (Drake’s producer) who also lent his musicianship to the record. The collaborative nature helped encourage McMorrow to reach new depths of his craft and delve into different genres. True Care continues down this path, reminiscent of Bon Iver’s latest 22, A Million. Both Justin Vernon and McMorrow expanded on their sound to infuse elements of an array of genres – soul, electronic and R&B fittingly set the background to their meaningful lyrics and haunting vocals.

Speaking on the record’s opening track, “December 2914”, McMorrow states that he: “…had this date, December 2914, which [he] was writing towards. Not in a specific, ‘what will it be like in the future’ kind of way.” Set against evocative background vocals, the thoughtful lyrics paint a picture of self-reflection and awareness rather than that of a futuristic world. Title track “True Care” emphasizes McMorrow’s masterful abilities as a storyteller, his words conjuring vivid imagery with each clap of the beat. “Thank You” is a playful, electronic track whose sound would best amplify and resonate throughout the crowd of a summer music festival.

Sometimes less is more, but not in McMorrow’s case. Wasting no time between his latest releases, he has sharpened his skills as both a songwriter and musician, with True Care serving as a strong testament to that.

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Premiere: “Leave The Light On” by CHANCES

Ava Muir

May 25, 2017

Montreal trio CHANCES released their first offering “Shine” earlier this year, garnering praise and buzz for their hauntingly, ethereal vocals intertwined with catchy, percussive background beats. Today, they return with their second single “Leave The Light On.”

Radiating with optimism and hope, the vocals of CHANCES’ singer songwriters and pianists, Chloé Lacasse and Geneviève Toupin, are lifted by otherworldly melodies and emphasized with each pound of drummer Vincent Carré’s kit.

To CHANCES, “Leave The Light On” is about “trusting that you’ve got some things to learn along the way from the connections in life that may be fleeting yet beautiful.” The track is rich in confidence and positivity, serving as a strong follow-up to CHANCES’ debut and hinting towards a bright future for the trio.

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Dine Alone Records shares tour compilation featuring unreleased material

Ava Muir

May 24, 2017

Canadian rockers The Dirty Nil and The Flatliners are set to embark on a cross-country tour alongside fellow Dine Alone label mates Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs. Kicking off tomorrow in The Nil’s hometown of Hamilton, the stretch of dates will take them throughout Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, while briefly dipping down to the States for stints at Howell, MI’s Bled Fest and Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, MN.

To help generate even more pre-tour excitement, The Flatliners and The Dirty Nil both premiered new songs today as part of an exclusive Dine Alone Records tour compilation. An unreleased track by The Flatliners entitled “Moves Too Fast” and The Dirty Nil’s cover of “Mod Lang”, originally by Big Star, will be available on 12-inch, teal coloured vinyl at shows throughout the Dine Alone Tour and as a part of the VIP ticket bundle.

Stream the compilation above and check out the list of all upcoming tour dates to find the closest show to you!

DINE ALONE TOUR DATES: May 25 – Hamilton, ON – Club Absinthe May 26 – London, ON – Rum Runners May 27 – Howell, MI – Bled Fest May 28 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club May 31 – Regina, SK – The Exchange June 1 – Calgary, AB – Nite Owl June 3 – Vancouver, BC – Venue Nightclub June 4 – Whistler, BC – Garfinkel’s June 7 – Edmonton, AB – Needle Vinyl Tavern June 8 – Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina June 9 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre June 10 – Thunder Bay, ON – Crocks June 12 – Timmins, ON – The Working Class June 15 – Waterloo, ON – Maxwell’s June 17 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace

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‘Pollinator’ by Blondie

By Ava Muir

May 15, 2017

Blondie's career has spanned over 40 years, over which they've solidified their place as a staple of the early American new wave and punk scene. For their 11th album, the band recruited an A-list team to help push their trademark sound in a bolder direction. John Congleton (Angel Olsen, Modest Mouse, Sleater-Kinney) took the helm on Pollinator's production, while a list of guest contributors includes Sia, Dev Hynes, Charli XCX, David Sitek (TV on the Radio), Nick Valensi (The Strokes) and Johnny Marr. While enlisting the songwriting of outside artists could have easily backfired for the classic group, it gives Pollinator a dynamic and unique edge. The album wastes no time, ripping into opener "Doom or Destiny" where Debbie Harry's vocals pleasantly intertwine with those of guest Joan Jett. Songwriting duties on the incredibly funky, disco-esque "Fun" were split four ways and feature the touch of David Sitek, while "Long Time," written by Dev Hynes and Harry, paints the 71-year-old frontwoman in a delightfully youthful glow. Each collaboration is thoughtful and tastefully executed. While Pollinator gets a little repetitive at times, it's a solid effort from a legendary group who have proven that they're not finished yet.

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American Lips announce debut album ‘Kiss The Void’ + share “Beyond the 7 - 11″ video

Ava Muir

May 23, 2017

Montreal/Los Angeles-based three-piece American Lips, featuring Sebastien Grainger of Death From Above 1979 on drums, singer/bassist Jessica Bruzzese and singer/guitarist Adrian Popovich, have shared details of their forthcoming debut record.

Kiss The Void is set for release on June 16 via Ancient Fashion Records and American Lips have shared the first single/video from the LP in advance. “Beyond The 7 – 11” makes for an enjoyable first listen from the trio, whose video was written, directed and edited by Grainger.

Kiss The Void will mark the inaugural release from Ancient Fashion Records and was recorded by Popovich at his own studio in Montreal, which has produced the likes of Duchess Says, Solids and Steve Adamyk Band. Grainger mixed the record in Los Angeles last year during time off from touring with DFA 1979.

In support of the debut album, American Lips will embark on a short stint of shows that feature performances at Ottawa Explosion and Sled Island. See below for a full run of dates and watch the video for “Beyond The 7 – 11”.

American Lips Tour Dates: Friday May 26th – Toronto – Baby G Saturday May 27th – Montreal – Turbo Haüs Saturday June 17th – Ottawa Explosion Festival Saturday June 25th – Calgary – Sled Island Festival Sunday June 26th – Calgary – Sled Island Festival

Kiss The Void Tracklist: 1. Definition 2. Heat Wave 3. Kiss The Void 4. Knock Knock 5. Depreciate 6. Beyond The 7-11 7. Lionz 8. I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight 9. What Haunts You 10. Turn It Off

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The National share “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” video

Ava Muir

May 11, 2017

After teasing the public with a mysterious series of posters and video clips, The National have officially announced their follow up to 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me. Sleep Well Beast, the band’s seventh album, is set for release on September 8 via 4AD and the acclaimed indie rockers have already dropped it’s first single and video, “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”. Directed by Casey Reas, the erratic imagery serves as a fitting accompaniment to the song’s frantic and fast paced tone.

If all of this wasn’t good enough news already, The National have also unveiled a massive world tour that will see them playing intimate venues across Canada, the United States, Europe and the UK. Watch the video for “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” above and see below for all upcoming tour dates.

THE NATIONAL TOUR DATES: 06-21 Glastonbury, England – Glastonbury Festival 08-12 Copenhagen, Denmark – HAVEN Festival 09-16 Cork, Ireland – Cork Opera House 09-17 Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street 09-18 Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street 09-20 Edinburgh, Scotland – Usher Hall 09-21 Edinburgh, Scotland – Usher Hall 09-22 Manchester, England – O2 Apollo 09-23 Manchester, England – O2 Apollo 09-25 London, England – Eventim Hammersmith Apollo 09-26 London, England – Eventim Hammersmith Apollo 09-27 London, England – Eventim Hammersmith Apollo 09-28 London, England – Eventim Hammersmith Apollo 10-05 Boston, MA – Wang Theatre 10-06 New York, NY – Forest Hills Stadium 10-11 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl 10-12 San Diego, CA – CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre 10-14 Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre 10-21 Hamburg, Germany – Elbphilharmonie 10-23-24 Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom 10-25 Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live 10-28 Lisbon, Portugal – Coliseum 10-30 Brussels, Belgium – Bozar 10-31 Brussels, Belgium – Bozar 11-02-04 Paris, France – Pitchfork Music Festival Paris 11-04 Stockholm, Sweden – Annexet 11-05 Stockholm, Sweden – Annexet 11-06 Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene 11-07 Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene 11-27 Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall 11-28 Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre 11-29 Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre 12-01 Vancouver, British Columbia – Queen Elizabeth Theatre 12-02 Vancouver, British Columbia – Queen Elizabeth Theatre 12-04 Philadelphia, PA – Verizon Hall 12-07 Montréal, Québec – Metropolis 12-08 Montréal, Québec – Metropolis 12-09 Toronto, Ontario – Sony Centre 12-10 Hamilton, Ontario – Hamilton Place Theatre 12-12 Chicago, IL – Civic Opera House 12-13 Chicago, IL – Civic Opera House

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Girlpool shares “Powerplant” video

Ava Muir

May 10, 2017

LA born and bred duo Girlpool have shared the final sneak peek from their second album Powerplant with the video for the title track.

Depicting members Cleo and Harmony as the live band in a bowling alley, the camera pans to take us into the separate worlds of fellow attendees before the idyllic bubble is harshly popped by the shallow and overbearing director. Insisting for them to “put smiles on (their) faces” and exclaiming that “it’s just rock ‘n roll!”, he serves as the last kind of person you would ever want tampering with your creative vision.

Video director, Philip Steiger says the “music video is a meta-narrative nightmare exploring the power dynamics and manipulation behind an insincere candidness.”

Watch the video for “Powerplant” and look out for the album on May 12 via Anti Records.

Girlpool have also announced a full European tour in September. See below for a full list of dates, including previously announced North American gigs.

GIRLPOOL TOUR DATES: May 23 Teragram Ballroom Los Angeles, CA May 24 The Chapel San Francisco, CA May 25 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR May 26 Neumos Seattle, WA May 27 Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, Canada May 31 7th St Entry Minneapolis, MN Jun 02 Empty Bottle Chicago, IL Jun 04 El Club Detroit, MI Jun 05 The Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, Canada Jun 07 Brighton Music Hall Allston, MA Jun 09 Warsaw Brooklyn, NY Jun 10 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA Jun 11 Rock & Roll Hotel Washington, DC Jun 13 The Pinhook Durham, NC Jun 14 The Masquerade Atlanta, GA Jun 15 Republic NOLA New Orleans, LA Jun 16 Walter’s Downtown Houston, TX Jun 17 Barracuda Austin, TX Jun 18 Club Dada Dallas, TX Jun 20 The Rebel Lounge Phoenix, AZ Jun 21 The Irenic San Diego, CA Jun 22 The Glass House Pomona, CA September 6 Thekla (UK) Bristol September 7 Village Underground (UK) London September 8 Gorilla (UK) Manchester September 9 Stereo (UK) Glasgow September 11 Rotonde Botanique (BE) Brussels September 12 Paradiso (small hall) (NL) Amsterdam September 14 Artheater (DE) Köln September 15 Golem (DE) Hamburg September 16 Berghain Kantine (DE) Berlin September 18 Zoom (DE) Frankfurt September 19 Rote Fabrik (Clubraum) (CH) Zürich September 20 Freakout Club (IT) Bologna September 22 BAM festival (ES) Barcelona September 23 Moby Dick Club (ES) Madrid September 26 Espace B (FR) Paris

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Video Premiere: “Thrill Me” by Lou Canon

Ava Muir

May 10, 2017

On the heels of releasing her second full-length Suspicious, last month through Paper Bag Records, Toronto electronic artist Lou Canon is back today with a hauntingly trippy new video for the track “Thrill Me”. Jerky, stop and go imagery perfectly accompanies the track’s eerily distorted vocals.

Director/editor Michele Ayoub offers her own take on the video, “The video is inspired by the aesthetics of silent films from the 50’s and renaissance paintings, with a contemporary twist using low-fi graphics you would get from old webcams or cell-phone recorded videos, digital processing and animation. The imagery for the video mimics the intimate feelings of the song with a slightly voyeuristic approach.”

Lou Canon says, “This song is about finding love within the mess, within the imperfect. It’s about a stagnant heart that’s looking to feel. These are the quiet, lonely thoughts behind closed eyes. The voices in the dark spaces are like the distances between stars.”

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Montreal’s TOPS release new track “Dayglow Bimbo”

Ava Muir

May 9, 2017

Montreal’s TOPS recently announced the forthcoming release of their third record Sugar At The Gate, out on June 2 through Arbutus Records, and shared the lead single “Petals”. Following this wave of news from the foursome, they have returned today to share the latest taste from the new album.

“Dayglow Bimbo” shimmers with reverb and highlights frontwoman Jane Penny’s hauntingly beautiful vocals. Of the song, singer Jane Penny says, “When (guitarist-songwriter) David (Carriere) came up with the guitar part for ‘Dayglow Bimbo’ the song came together almost immediately. It brought me back to being a young girl in Edmonton, how independent I felt at that time but also the struggle that I went through when I was confronted by my own sexuality and myself as a sexual object. There are some dark aspects to the song but I hope that it’s ultimately liberating.”

Sugar At The Gate was recorded in California, where the band relocated for the album and produced themselves. Next month, TOPS will cross the ocean to Europe for a slew of shows that kick off in Bristol on June 2 and conclude in Krakow on June 12. See below for a full list of dates.

TOPS EUROPEAN TOUR DATES: 6/2 – Bristol, GB @ Southbank Club 6/4 – Manchester, GB @ The Ritz 6/5 – Brighton, GB @ The Joker 6/6 – London, GB @ The Dome 6/7 – Paris, FR @ Point Ephemere 6/8 – Amsterdam, NL @ De School 6/9 – Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefaehrlich 6/10 – Berlin, DE @ Roter Salon 6/11 – Warsaw, PL @ Cafe Kulturalna 6/12 – Krakow, PL @ Klub RE

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Camp Wavelength announces 2017 lineup with Deer Hoof, Dilly Dally, Jessy Lanza + more

Ava Muir

May 9, 2017

Camp Wavelength is set to return to Toronto Island for its third consecutive year and today, the festival has unveiled a lineup that is sure to see the return of past attendees and the arrival of many new ones.

The three-day event, taking place from August 18-20, will feature headlining performances from noise rockers Deerhoof, Toronto’s beloved Dilly Dally and electronic artist Jessy Lanza. Others slated to perform include Rich Aucoin, DJ Shub, Duchess Says, The Luyas, Un Blonde, Loji, Ice Cream, DATU X HATAW, Emilie & Ogden, Bedroomer, Can You Feel It?, Exit Someone, Germaphobes, M.I. Blue, Os Tropies, SlowPitchSound, Witch Prophet and Zuze.

A limited number of Early Bird Camping, Festival and Lodge passes are available for sale now. Prices go up in June so act now for an even sweeter deal on one of the city’s best summer festivals.

Head over to the Camp Wavelength website for more festival details and updates and watch the official trailer for #CampWL below.

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Waxahatchee announces North American Tour Dates

Ava Muir

May 8, 2017

This morning, Katie Crutchfield unveiled additional, full-band Waxahatchee tour dates to her already hefty schedule in support of the forthcoming new album Out in the Storm. The North American stretch of performances kicks off on July 14 at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA and wraps up at Boston, MA’s Royale on August 19. Additional support will be offered on select dates by Cayetana, Snail Mail, Palehound and Outer Spaces. See below for a full list of tour dates, including those previously announced, to find a show near you.

Waxahatchee recently released “Silver,” the first single taken from the fourth full-length LP, alongside its accompanying video. Out in the Storm is set for release on July 14 through Merge Records.

WAXAHATCHEE TOUR DATES: May 21 New York, NY – Vulture Fest w/ Allison Crutchfield Jun 21-25 Calgary, AB – Sled Island * Jul 14 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer Jul 15 Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw Jul 18 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom Jul 19 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall Jul 20 Madison, WI – High Noon Jul 21 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Jul 24 Seattle, WA – Neptune Jul 25 Vancouver, BC – Imperial Jul 26 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom Jul 28 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore Jul 29 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Aug 01 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom Aug 02 Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf Aug 04 Dallas, TX – Club Dada Aug 05 Austin, TX – The Mohawk Aug 06 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall Aug 07 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jack’s Aug 09 Birmingham, AL – Saturn Aug 10 Athens, GA – Athens Pop Fest Aug 11 Atlanta, GA – Terminal West Aug 12 Raleigh, NC – North Carolina Museum of Art w/ Superchunk & Ex Hex Aug 13 Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle Aug 14 Nashville, TN – Third Man Records Aug 15 Columbus, OH – Park Street Saloon Aug 16 Detroit, MI – El Club Aug 17 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace Aug 18 Montreal, QC – Fairmount Theater Aug 19 Boston, MA – Royale Sep 01 Gdansk, PL – Soundrive Festival Sep 03 North Dorset, UK – End of the Road Festival Sep 04 London, UK – The Garage Sep 05 Manchester, UK – The Deaf Institute Sep 06 Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club Sep 07 Brighton, UK – Komedia Sep 08 Heer, BE – Deep in the Woods Sep 11 Paris, FR – Le Batofar Sep 12 Lyon, FR – Le Periscope Sep 13 Düdingen, CH – Bad Bonn Sep 14 Zürich, CH – Rote Fabrik Sep 15 Capri, IT – Mattatoio Sep 16 Milano, IT – Biko Sep 17 Munich, DE – Milla Sep 18 Ljubljana, SI – Gala Hala Sep 19 Vienna, AT – Arena Sep 20 Prague, CZ – Klub 007 Sep 22 Schorndorf, DE – Manufaktur Sep 23 Hamburg, DE – Reeperbahn Festival Sep 24 Lund, SE – Mejerit Sep 25 Göteborg, SE – Pustervik Sep 26 Stockholm, SE – Obaren Sep 27 Copenhagen, DK – Vega Sep 28 Berlin, DE – Musik & Frieden Sep 29 Groningen, NL – Vera Oct 01 Amsterdam, NL – Bitterzoet *solo performance

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‘As Long as Your Eyes Are Wide’ by Said The Whale

By Ava Muir

March 29, 2017

When Vancouver group Said the Whale announced their latest record As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide, they also shared that they'd parted ways with two of their members, and were now operating as a trio. The news left fans feeling a sense of loss and hesitance  — but they never had anything to fear. With Tyler Bancroft and Ben Worcester still sharing co-writing duties and Jaycelyn Brown behind the keyboard, As Long as Your Eyes Are Wide serves as their most mature and finely tuned effort to date. The record features production by Cayne McKenzie of fellow Vancouver outfit We Are the City, who bathes each track in a shimmery new sound that had yet to be explored on previous releases. While each track maintains the sound that Said the Whale have come to be adored for, the band dip their toes into heavier narratives here, from fighting for your relationship to grieving and the pain of loss. Having mostly rid themselves of the acoustic instrumentation that had become a staple of their sound, shiny synth melodies breathe new life into upbeat tracks like "More Than Ever" and "Confidence," and evoke melancholy on the record's most heart-wrenching numbers, "Miscarriage" and "Emily Rose." With As Long as Your Eyes Are Wide, Said the Whale prove that even seasoned, decade-old acts can face new hurdles with grace. Here, the band transition into a refined new era while remaining true to themselves. 

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Dinosaur Jr., Public Access T.V. at the Danforth Music Hall (3/10)

Review by Ava Muir, photo by Benjamin Bush

March 21, 2017

The legendary rock outfit that is Dinosaur Jr., featuring their original lineup of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph, returned to Toronto, ON in order to properly celebrate their latest release Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not, their eleventh studio album that dropped last August through Jagjaguwar. The show speedily sold out in advance, filling the Danforth Music Hall’s floor and balcony to a comfortable capacity.

New York City rockers Public Access T.V. were first to take to the stage on the night of March 10, making for an enjoyable and accessible opening act. The young boys performed cohesively and appeared to genuinely enjoy themselves under the glow of the Danforth’s stage lights; swaying around the stage and jamming out on their guitars. As Public Access T.V. wrapped up their set, the air grew thick with anticipation for Dinosaur Jr. The crowd was made up of longtime fans, some of whom had easily been around since the band’s formation in 1984. The band took to the stage with a stoic yet impalpable energy, balanced between the silent and introverted Mascis and the incredibly energetic Barlow, whose long mop of hair whipped around furiously with each chord he hit on his bass. Evening out everything in the back, Murph held down the drum kit with intense force and expert precision. The six stack of Marshall amps that towered behind Mascis were massive; both in appearance and sound, creating excellent tones that reverberated throughout the Danforth.

The crowd was treated to an appropriately balanced set of both cuts from their early days in the eighties, as well as choice takes from Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not. Comprised of middle-aged and millennial fans alike, the raucous energy of tracks like “Goin Down”, “Freak Scene” and “Out There” prompted energetic and excited responses from everyone. If you have yet to see Dinosaur Jr. in their element, it is highly recommended that you treat yourself to the spectacle that is their live show.

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‘Why Love Now’ by Pissed Jeans

By Ava Muir

February 28, 2017

Philly punk outfit Pissed Jeans return after a four-year gap with Why Love Now, a raucous and unsparing take on the monotony of modern life. While the ferocity of Pissed Jeans may not be for the faint of heart, their intensity is justified; in his guttural growl, frontman Matt Korvette sings of the frustrations of desire, masculinity and mundane office life throughout the album's 12 tracks, a background of thunderous drum hits, heavily distorted bass tones and thrashing guitar riffs. If you can where Korvette's gravelly wail is in full force, Why Love Now's second track "The Bar Is Low" packs an anthemic punch in its lamentation of the low standard set for "good" men these days. The album's focal point comes at the halfway point with "I'm a Man," featuring the spoken word of author Lindsay Hunter narrating the thoughts of a greasy, creepy colleague who you would do anything to avoid being alone at the water cooler with. The thunderous pounding of drummer Sean McGuinness helps to amplify the intensity of the lyrics. Why Love Now shows Pissed Jeans' songwriting reaching new peaks of awareness and focus, all the while remaining true to their brand of dissonant punk. 

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‘Sick Scenes’ by Los Campesinos!

By Ava Muir

February 22, 2017

Welsh outfit Los Campesinos! make their striking return to recording in the form of Sick Scenes, their sixth album and first since 2013's No Blues. The seven-piece stay true to cathartic, anthemic form, riddling their songs with the same feelings of angst, heartbreak and general confusion that resonated with fans before. Album opener "Renato Dall'Ara (2008)" kicks off in perfect LC! fashion with melodic, cheery riffs and a cheeky chorus that you'll find courage in singing along to: "All I want tonight is a friend with a fight / Say it to my face if you say she ain't your appetite." Lead vocalist and songwriter Gareth David has always channelled his pent-up frustration into Los Campesinos!, and they reroute it into a joyful celebration on Sick Scenes. The urgency of David's emotions drive the album forward, with centrepiece "The Fall of Home," a wistful piece about moving on, descending perfectly into "5 Flucloxacillin," about a young person combatting mental illness. Los Campesinos!' brief hiatus has resulted in one of their strongest releases to date; Sick Scenes is an eloquent testament to the triumphs and trials of adulthood.

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‘Space Race’ by The Sad Birthdays

By Ava Muir

January 28, 2017

The Sad Birthdays are composed of Colin Spratt, Peter Viereck and brothers Thom and Jon Bell, whose paths crossed as university students in Montreal. After leaving the band Fleece following the release of their debut album Scavenger, Jon and Colin moved in together, where the latter began assembling a professional apartment studio. The collaboration between the long-time friends has resulted in an effortless-sounding debut album that is 100% DIY, free of any outside tinkering or opinion. Space Race is a dynamic collection of tracks that will appeal to rock fans of eras both past and present. Silly, lighthearted vocals, reminiscent of experimental rock legend Frank Zappa, are seamlessly intertwined between gentle guitar riffs and the backing of a trombone, French horn, flute, and flugelhorn. These additions help the record to stand out as more than a rock'n'roll album. The Sad Birthdays fluidly weave together elements of the genre, though: "Memories" oozes '90s grunge, while "Radio" is perfectly punk, ending with a burp. "Does it matter?" he asks, and "Let's keep doing some more!" is the reply, encapsulating the goofy and genuine nature of the band. 

Space Race by The Sad Birthdays