SOUND BITES

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

(NOTE: This is not a review of the original 1997 release of OK Computer . That is one of my all time favourite albums, a stone cold classic, and nothing this reissue could do was going to change my feelings on the main album. Under review here is only the bonus material included with the reissue. Those who simply cannot go forth without knowing my feelings on the original release of OK Computer can catch up right here .) The crossroads Radiohead found themselves at in the wake of The Bends ' success is well documented; after touring heavily (including some well attended North American dates opening for Alanis Morissette) in support of that album, the group were poised for superstardom; all they had to do was build on the momentum, bang out a hit single or two, and that would be enough to make them household names. They'd done well with The Bends  though and, as such, were given free reign to make their next move however they liked. Well, anyone with even a passing famili...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

Fans of Portugal. The Man have had to endure what feels like an eternity waiting for the Portland via Alaska band's eighth album. The four year gap between it and previous album Evil Friends doesn't feel so egregious in this day and age, but when you're dealing with a band whose first seven albums were released over a span of just over seven years (and whose longest gap between albums previously was a paltry 23 months), Woodstock feels a very long time coming. The company line is that P.T.M. shelved an album that had pretty much been completed, opting instead to take their time and ensure top quality for Woodstock . It's a sensible and understandable strategy, as the group must have been feeling some pressure; after toiling in the fringes for years, Evil Friends and the moderate success of singles Purple Yellow Red and Blue and Modern Jesus helped earn them some long overdue attention. As such, it also makes sense that Woodstock finds P.T.M. looking to build o...

When you're a young band and you make it big with your debut, especially in the UK, there is a special kind of pressure in approaching what to do next. On one hand, you've got all of these new fans and corporate interests (read: your record label, management, advertising agencies etc.) pleading to stay the course, don't fix what's not broken and ride your momentum all the way to the bank. On the other hand, there's often the temptation on the artists' side to grow the sound, reach for the fringes and fulfill an artistic destiny that couldn't happen the first time out for whatever reason, be it financial limitations, immaturity or otherwise. So, what of Royal Blood, then? Hailed in certain circles as saviours of rock and derided as pale imitations of superior bands in others, there's a strong case for both sticking with what brought you to the dance and proving to the naysayers that you're more than a derivative amalgam of Death From Above and Que...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

To commemorate my homeland's 150th birthday, I wracked my brain for a while and came up with a long, long list of Canadian rock artists with the intention of doing a playlist of some kind. Well, because I seem to have too much time on my hands and a nagging tendency to rank things, I decided to take this to the next logical step of making a Top 150 Canadian Rock Songs of All Time. What have I done? Before we get into this chart, allow me to set a couple of ground rules. First, there are no repeats, by which I mean I've limited it to one song per artist (there may be a teensy bit of overlap here and there in terms of solo artists vs. their bands, but no more than one song by the same solo artist or band). Secondly, I didn't get hung up on technicalities, by which I mean it doesn't matter if the artist wrote the song themselves, if they recorded it in Canada or if they currently live in Canada; my only prerequisite is that the artist performing the song is or has been a...

As far as punk rock goes, it's hard to name a hotter hot streak than the trio of records Rancid cranked out between 1995 and 2000; the star making ...And Out Come the Wolves , the far-reaching Life Won't Wait and their balls-to-the-wall second self-titled album solidly positioned Rancid as leaders of the second generation of punk. It also preceded a period of slow progression, as Rancid would take eleven years to release their next three records. By the time ...Honor Is All We Know came in 2014, many fans (myself included) had to wonder whether or not this was the end of the road. Such concerns are handily dealt with on the closing track of the standard edition of their ninth record, the positively punishing This Is Not the End . Well, okay then, that's sorted. Now, what of this new record? What do we make of the use of their original logo on the cover, a logo that hasn't graced a Rancid record in 25 years? Is this a throwback to the band's heyday, a new begin...

This album has been a long time coming for Walrus. The Haligonian band started up five years ago, releasing a couple of EPs and touring extensively (including some opening dates for Wintersleep, which is how I first heard them) before finally getting around to this debut record. Listening to Family Hangover , it's clear that great care was taken in their first full-length statement. While rooted in psych-pop, there are several styles at play over the course of its ten tracks; there are splashes of new wave, power pop and modern indie rock throughout, and its dreamy and full-blooded soundscape feel both methodical and organic. Take the slow burning, jangly lead track Later Days , the sun kissed balladry of the title track's opening section, or the rose-colored R.E.M. jam Step Outside ; all tunes that can be lazily pegged as psychedelic, but upon further inspection these songs aren't mere callbacks to the days of free love and LSD or blatant Beatles worship. There's ...

Former member of revered heavy bands Norma Jean and The Chariot Josh Scogin first launched '68 with drummer Michael McClellan in late 2013, with their debut album In Humor and Sadness coming the following summer. A restless, unhinged record, In Humor and Sadness proved Scogin a skilled songwriter with a penchant for wild detours and wild performances. Two Parts Viper more or less picks up where that album left off, with the incendiary salvo Eventually We All Win and the scuzzy groovefest Whether Terrified or Unafraid . Differences start to emerge on following track Without Any Words (Only Crying and Laughter) , a more standardized hard rocker with its quirks kept under the surface; that said, it's no bid for stardom, rather a sweaty and nocturnal interpretation of grunge as filtered through, say, Death From Above. This Life is Old, New, Borrowed and Blue is the album's madcap masterpiece, a groove-laden crowd pleaser that gets from Point A to Point B using the mo...

The music on Benjamin Booker's second album is quite a dramatic shift from the raw, ragged noise of his first. While Witness , his new 32-minute set is bookended with its most fervent moments (the fiery opener Right On You and the tense closer All Was Well ), the majority finds his songs taking a more soulful, mature tone. It takes some getting used to since it's a completely different look and feel compared to that self-titled debut just three years ago, but given time and repeated listens Witness reveals much more substance and nuance in addition to a thicker and more vibrant production; a variety of backing vocalists (including legendary soul singer Mavis Staples) and some tasteful orchestration lend the tunes a depth that would have been drowned out by the gnarled guitars from the previous record. With those guitars blended into the whole rather than running the show, it results in some soaring, majestic songs; The Slow Drag Under, Believe and Overtime are particularl...

Well, if nothing else, Alt-J's third record is odd. After taking the indie rock world by storm five years ago with An Awesome Wave and putting it to sleep two years later with This Is All Yours , Relaxer sets out to do whatever the hell it wants, whether that's bringing in a string section, referencing binary code in its lyrics, delivering a somber quasi-cover of House of the Rising Sun , tossing off a garage rocker that includes counting in Japanese and a barrage of F-bombs (yet curiously censors "fisting"), or getting right with the lord. Suffice to say, there's a lot to unpack on this record, which works both to its benefit and detriment. On one hand, there are genuine thrills to be had; 3WW comes off a bit self-important but is undeniably endearing. After a few listens, In Cold Blood begins to reveal itself as a damn fine single. Deadcrush dresses its odd subject matter with the most infectious beat they've employed since their debut. Last Year i...

Upon making their recorded debut 25 years ago, Headstones were positioned for a quick rise in the ranks of Canadian rock. Rough-and-tumble cousins to hometown pride The Tragically Hip, Headstones were the bloody knuckled alternative that fit in so nicely in that angsty time known as the early '90s. Sure enough, their first three albums ( Picture of Health, Teeth & Tissue and Smile & Wave ) solidified them as tried and true hit makers, amassing a string of rock radio staples and building a loyal fan base through their intense live shows. Like most bands of the era, Headstones' star faded around the turn of the century, and their career petered out with a couple of well-crafted records that unfortunately didn't rouse much interest outside of the devoted. Resigned to fate, they called it a day and went their separate ways until about a decade later, when they reconvened and went the grassroots route for sixth album Love & Fury . Funding the project through fan...