Alice Merton – Mint +4 [Review]

Tags

2019, Album, Album Review, Alice Merton, alternative, artist, Canada, indie, Mint +4, Music, Musician, No Roots, pop, singer, Single, USA

Previously posted.
Alice Merton has released her MINT +4 Deluxe LP via Mom+Pop Music.
This is after the release of her highly acclaimed debut LP, MINT. Since its release, Alice has continued her “No Roots” sentiments.
As the full-blooded musician and workaholic she is, Alice recorded four new songs for the release, “PCH”, “Back to Berlin”, “Keeps Me Awake,” and lead single “Easy.” Adding even more nuances and energy to the debut, MINT +4 is reflective of Alice Merton’s life since her breakout.
“Easy” sees Alice balancing all her new-found fame with her normal life.

Constantly moving towards new heights, new countries and new sounds these four new tracks adorn the story behind the already monumental debut.
Nice light and fluffy re-release of Mint with the 4 new tracks to tide over for whenever she will follow-up on the next album.

Gong Gong Gong 工工工 – Phantom Rhythm 幽靈節奏 [Review]

Tags

2019, Album, Album Review, band, Beijing, China, Gong Gong Gong 工工工, Group, indie, Joshua Frank, Music, Musicians, Phantom Rhythm 幽靈節奏, Rock, Tom Ng, Wharf Cat Records

Couldn’t stop playing some of the tracks on the radio.
Gong Gong Gong 工工工‘s album couldn’t come at crucial time?
I’m talking about the situation happening in Hong Kong.
While I was told that the band is shying away discussing that subject.
They just released their long awaited debut album called Phantom Rhythm 幽靈節奏 via Wharf Cat Records.
The band who consists of vocalist/guitarist Tom Ng and bassist Joshua Frank who were born in Hong Kong and Montreal, respectively which the band eschews traditional percussion in favor of string-focused, hypnotic, spitfire tracks.
Since the band is currently based in Beijing, the majority of the album is sung in Cantonese.
If you like the lo-fi jangly guitar rock sounds.
Listening to Tom sing felt like he was channeling Wong Ka Kui of Beyond or that nostalgic 80s Hong Kong music sound but in a darker rock sense.
One of the boldest and captivating albums I’ve heard in 2019!

Best tracks:

• Notes Underground 地下日記
• Ride Your Horse 騎你的馬
• Moonshadows 月後殘影
• Night’s Colour (Chongqing) 夜色（重慶)
• Sound of Love 愛歌

Living Hour – Softer Faces [Review]

Tags

2019, Adam Soloway, Album, Album Review, Alex Chochinov, alternative, band, Brett Ticzon, Gil Carroll, Group, indie, Living Hour, Music, Music Video, Musicians, pop, Review, Sam Sarty, Softer Faces

Been meaning to review this wonderful album that was released on March 1, 2019.
It is the Winnipeg’s Living Hour.
Softer Faces which is their sophomore release is out on the cool hip label Kanine Records.
The album is a blend of dream/psychedelic pop, shoegaze music.
The first time listening to Bottom Step, it bought of alot of emotions like be in a dreamy warm like state and weepy with Sam Sarty’s vocals when she sings about not having the courage to talk to that person in the party.
The whole album is filled with unrequited love and trying not to be alone in these hormonal teenage times.
Can’t think of a band that uses a trombone and trumpet and make it sounds so beautiful and haunting.
They are Canada’s answer to Beach House.
One of my favourite albums of 2019 to listen to while you are lying on your bed.
Best tracks:

• Hallboy
• Bottom Step
• I Sink I Sink
• Water
• Inside

Iron Age Mystics – Pride Before the Fall [Review]

Tags

2019, Album, Album Review, band, Canada, Group, Iron Age Mystics, Music, Music Video, Musicians, Pride Before the Fall, Review, Rock, Toronto

Iron Age Mystics is a Toronto hard rock band.
Just dropped their debut album “Pride Before the Fall” on May 19, 2019.
With what is going on in the world political wise and in the USA, this album is considered cutting edge political music.
Pride Before the Fall is loud, brash and in your face that gets us political crazy.
It touches subjects rarely put to music, again in the aim to inspire critical thinking and a call action.
While the themes can be dark and it’s a middle ground between acknowledging the change makers and exposing the claimed wrong doers. Melodies are deep and diverse, riffs are thrusting, while vocals and lyrics are a journey – ‘Pride Before The Fall’ is reclaiming meaning and purpose in Rock ‘n’ Roll.
While it is not my cup of tea listening to this album but it might be for those who is into loud rock and wants to flip the bird at politics and current events.

Quaker Parents – Our Drawing Club [Review]

Tags

2019, Album, Album Review, alternative, artist, Canada, indie, Mark Grundy, Music, Music Video, Musician, One Time Luv, Our Drawing Club, pop, Quaker Parents, Review, singer, Toronto

Mark Grundy of Heaven for Real‘s other project Quaker Parents dropped the album “Our Drawing Club” on May 10, 2019.
It is a mix of guitar minimal pop and experimental arty electro-glitchy music.
As the title suggest is like a messy drawing artwork.
A scribble there, an abstract there, and a masterpiece there.
Vocal wise reminds me of a mix between Shotgun Jimmie and John K. Samson (*gasp*)
Best tracks:

• Improbable Friendship 1999
• Never That Baked In
• One Time Luv
• No Travel
• A Better Part

This is a totally out there album!

Mac DeMarco – Here Comes The Cowboy [Review]

Tags

2019, Album, Album Review, alternative, artist, Canada, Here Comes The Cowboy, Mac DeMarco, Music, Music Video, Musician, pop, singer, USA

Album #4 for Mac DeMarco called Here Comes The Cowboy.
Sounds like he picked up where This Old Dog left off.
Mac’s songwriting is getting better but his music is getting mellower and dreary.
Maybe I still think of Mac as “Freaking Out The Neighborhood” and “Cooking Up Something Good” with the slacker guitar rock sound.
Maturity could be the reason why this album has a serious tone.
About the album as described by DeMarco:
“This one is my cowboy record. Cowboy is a term of endearment to me, I use it often when referring to people in my life. Where I grew up there are many people that sincerely wear cowboy hats and do cowboy activities. These aren’t the people I’m referring to.”
It is a decent album for Mac to tide over the fans in 2019.

Best tracks:

• Nobody
• Finally Alone
• Preoccupied
• On The Square
• Baby Bye Bye

N0V3L – NOVEL [Review]

Tags

2019, Album Review, alternative, band, Canada, EP, Flemish Eye Records, Group, indie, Music, Music Video, Musicians, N0V3L, Post Punk, punk, Review, Vancouver

Hadn’t gotten around to review this awesome debut EP by Vancouver’s N0V3L.
They certainly caught my ears with the whole post-punk revival.
The band is very influenced by the classic post punk acts like Joy Division, Television, Devo, Gang of Four and Talking Heads.
While it may not be original or edgy but it is great to listen to.
The EP came out on February 15, 2019 and I still can’t stop listening to the 8 songs!
It’s a fluorescent, freshly-scorched declaration of intent, a martial, brutalist slab of nimble melodics and group-yelped anti-capitalist mantras. Their sonic landscape recalls spring-loaded post-punk dissonance, new-wave’s downcast dance anthems, and laser-precise political funk.
While all the songs range under the 3 minute mark.
It gives you wanting more of what the band has to give!
Best EP so far in 2019 which is out on Flemish Eye and Meat Machine Records.
Best tracks:

• TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
• NATURAL
• SIGN ON THE LINE
• TAKE YOU FOR
• SUSPICION

Bleu Nuit – Le jardin des mémoires [Review]

Tags

2019, Album, Album Review, alternative, band, Bleu Nuit, Canada, Group, indie, Le jardin des mémoires, Montreal, Music, Music Video, Musicians, Review

A band you definitely need to check out is Montreal’s Bleu Nuit.
They released their long awaited debut album called Le jardin des mémoires translation means The garden of memories.
This wonderful post-punk album is a fusion of what I think sounds like Malajube and Preoccupations.
Hence the album was produced by Malajube’s Julien Mineau.
If you like the whole dark jangle pop and post-punk but sung in French, this is something you need to listen to.
Get the album which is out on Michel Records.
Best tracks:

• Trou Noir
• Le ruban magnétique
• Féminin masculin
• Concentration
• Boule de cristal

Le jardin des mémoires get:
/10

Pup – Morbid Stuff [Review]

Tags

2019, Album, Album Review, band, Canada, Group, indie, Morbid Stuff, Music, Music Video, Musicians, Nestor Chumak, Pup, Review, Rock, Stefan Babcock, Steve Sladkowski, Toronto, Zack Mykula

Pup who is becoming Canada’s Punk Rock saviours dropped their second album Morbid Stuff.
Filled with intense octane punk rocking music with easy sing along lyrics.
While the band isn’t slowing things down on the record and touring.
One of the best rocking albums to listen to in 2019.

Best tracks:

• Morbid Stuff
• Kids
• Free at Last
• Scorpion Hill
• Sibling Rivarly

Morbid Stuff gets:
/10

Nathan Shubert – When You Take Off Your Shoes [Review]

Tags

2019, Album, Album Review, Ambient, artist, Bigo & Twigetti, Canada, Classical, Experimental, Instrumental, Modern Classical, Music, Musician, Nathan Shubert, Vancouver, When You Take Off Your Shoes

I was listening to KEXP on a Sunday morning.
They have this great show called Pacific Notions which showcases modern classical and ambient music.
The DJ played this wonderful tune by Vancouver’s Nathan Shubert.
The title track When You Take Off Your Shoes just grasped me.
Very melodic that mixes field records and classical music.
It is like walking in the woods on a nice sunny morning.
Think of Nathan Shubert as the West Coast version of Jean-Michel Blais.
When You Take Off Your Shoes is a very soothing and moody album that mixes field recordings and classical music to make wonderful ambient soundscapes.
The album is out on Bigo & Twigetti.
Best tracks:

• A Beacon, a Pulse
• When You Take Off Your Shoes
• Pencils
• A Thought, Persisted
• A Breath