Single Selections

Jessica Lea Mayfield - Our Hearts Are Wrong   4.5/5   Myspace


Mayfield's sultry cool vocals, self-awareness is in turns powerful and vulnerable. Lines like 'The only time I miss you  is every single day', the subtle blues-rock track is genuinely moving and one of the best songs of the year so far. 

Ellie Goulding Makes Good on First Visit to Toronto

   Following the North American release of Lights, Britain's Ellie Goulding descended upon Canada, more specifically the Phoenix Concert Theatre on Sunday night, for her only Toronto engagement introducing her brand of electro-folk pop to crowd mixed with fans as well as many unfamiliar with the popular Brit's sound.

EP Beat - Girl

Girl - Self-titled EP   3/5


Myspace


For the boys of the Montreal four piece, Girl, the name says it all. Girls are the endless source for and subject of much of the band's music but their inspiration lies in the 60s rock aesthetic and sound of modern new wave, garage rock. 
   Girl, consisting of Felix Roy (vocals), Maxime St. Jean (bass), Louis Lupien (guitar) and Olivier Larouche (drums) can be found sporting their signature white suits (Beatles anyone?) while jamming out to their garage rock/new wave tracks from their FREE EP and upcoming full-length record.
  A by-product of the garage rock and new wave bands The Killers and The Hives of the early 2000s, the boys have certainly done their homework, with dancefloor ready grooves and hook driven tracks like the standout 'Lips.' Their five track self-produce EP however, is a mixed bag, both impressive in nailing the 'genre' Girl falls victim to their own formula becoming robotic and repetitive. The songs are tight, simple and slick, but a little more grit like 'New Wave' with it's Yeah Yeah Yeahs-esque shredded guitars couldn't hurt. 
  Girl's debut EP is a solid introduction but fails to differentiate the boys from other acts out there, with or without the white suits. Girl is worth the listen and perhaps with a little loosening of their tightly structured sound they could become one of Montreal's bigger exports.    
  
Key Tracks: 'Lips' & 'New Wave'

Record Review: Oh Land

Oh Land - Oh Land   4/5


Myspace


   Danish beauty Oh Land has emerged onto the music scene with plenty of buzz including February's Artist to Watch, numerous performances at this year's SXSW festival and the red hot single in 'Sun Of A Gun' in the UK. Though 'Sun Of A Gun' may suggest Oh Land to be just another pop star,  it appears to be more of a bait and switch, as for even her hit single eludes to quirkier elements that make Oh Land so unique.