Givers - Saw You First
October 31, 2011
October 29, 2011
Little Red "Rock It"
Little Red @ The Drake Underground
Aussie sensations Little Red hit Toronto Friday night as part of the band's inaugural North American tour, to a lively crowd at the Drake Underground, anxious to eat up the band's vintage pop.
October 25, 2011
Record Revue: Little Red
If there is one thing North American audiences are lacking it's a good straightforward pop band, all too often we're fed band after band of pop-punk but Australian natives, Little Red fill that void nicely. Bringing their debut album Midnight Remember across the Pacific, Little Red introduce North Americans to their simple, crisp pop-rock tunes.
EP Beat: Kimbra
A brief introduction to the Kiwi wunderkind, on her North American debut the Settle Down EP, and the love affair with Kimbra begins.
Record Revue: Coldplay
Marking Coldplay's complete assimilation into Top 40 is Mylo Xyloto, like Viva La Vida, it's palette is expansive from the Cure-esque boppy, new wave of "Hurts Like Heaven" to the sonic progressive-pop of "Paradise". Coldplay pulls from a variety of sources on their fifth studio album, making their first three records sound even more humbling.
Record Revue: Kelly Clarkson
Nearly a decade after she was crowned American Idol, Kelly Clarkson maintains the two elements that have made her successful - her five alarm voice, obviously - but more importantly her "every girl" appeal.
October 24, 2011
Record Revue: Penguin Prison
Marrying 80s synth-pop with electronic grooves, Penguin Prison mine playful pop tunes so sweet you're likely to develop cavities.
Record Revue: Class Actress
Rapprocher convincingly pulls off its noir pop aesthetic with slinky, unashamed pop tunes without venturing into sugary pop territory, thanks to classic drum beats, layered analog synths within simple melodies. Combing Elizabeth Harper's golden age film star qualities with lo-fi, '80s new wave tunes, Class Actress lives in a completely different era.
October 21, 2011
Dominant Legs Shine Despite Power Outage
Dominant Legs @ The Drake Underground
San Francisco's Dominant Legs made a note worthy debut in Toronto Wednesday night, with the band setting up to perform ahead of Portland, Oregon's Nurses, power at The Drake Hotel went out, leaving the 5 piece momentarily sidelined. Once power returned Dominant Legs tickled the audience's ears with their sunny nostalgic pop.
Video of the Week: Class Actress
Class Actress - Weekend
Class Actress' retro party track "Weekend" gets a lo-fi, noir video treatment, with come-hither close-ups, amateur home video shots seen through a cyanopsia lense. Elizabeth Harper seems to like putting her head in hand and tossing her full head of hair around. It all begins to feel a little like an amateur porn with all that exposed skin and use of door ways to slink Harper's feminine frame over. But hey, it's never to early to bring on the Weekend and a little sexy fun.
October 20, 2011
EP Beat: Body Language
Social Studies (Deluxe Edition) 3.5/5
Brooklyn's Body Language find a sweet spot between spacey funk and dancefloor grooves. Social Studies (Deluxe Edition) gives a variety of soul-flavored electro-pop that ranges from the disco synth of "Falling Out" to bouncy, playful pop of title track "Social Studies."
October 18, 2011
Single Selections: Oct. 18, 2011
Hamilton, ON's Arkells have dropped their latest, Michigan Left, with their track "Bloodlines" as iTunes Single of the Week. A pleasing jangly rock tune that's radio-ready and like cohorts Tokyo Police Club or Hey Rosetta!, Arkells seem destined for bigger and better things.
EP Beat: First Rate People
Ontario's First Rate People release their latest offering, Someone Else Can Make a Work of Art EP, easily some of the best pop of the year.
October 17, 2011
October 16, 2011
Record Revue: Blondie
It's been some 30 years since Blondie produced their biggest hits "Heart of Glass" or "Rapture," while decades have passed since their rein as punk-new wave innovators, Deborah Harry and company still have a few tricks up their sleeves.
October 14, 2011
Video of the Week: Big Tree
Big Tree - Storm King
"Storm King" is a simple concept but one S.V. can't help but love. Running along asphalt, sand, a chalkboard, grass and down walls, the video slowly reveals feet walking in the grass, playing in the sand, paint running down the wall, and a skateboard rolling along the asphalt. It's all harmless enough and yet oddly hypnotic, when set to Big Tree's gorgeous indie pop tune.
October 12, 2011
We Were Lovers Find the Right Grooves
We Were Lovers @ Horseshoe Tavern/Rancho Relaxo
Saskatoon's dance-pop darlings We Were Lovers recently embarked on their North American tour, hitting Toronto for two performances earlier this week at the Horseshoe Tavern, and Rancho Relaxo with Toronto's Freedom or Death. Since the duo's previous appearance in June for Toronto's NXNE 2011, they've added a key element to their live performances, a drummer in Brad Heck.
October 10, 2011
October 7, 2011
Jane's Party Celebrate & Gramercy Riffs Rock Out
Jane's Party @ Horseshoe Tavern
Putting on a party for the release of their self-titled EP, Jane's Party brought their fun, catchy indie-pop to the Horseshoe Tavern Thursday Night with the help of some friends The Fast Romantics, Gramercy Riffs (more on them later) and Entire Cities.
Video Of The Week: Liam Finn
Liam Finn - Jump Your Bones
New Zealand rocker Liam Finn's latest video for "Jump Your Bones" is an oddly captivating video. Simple black and white enhances the experience of Finn's intense facial expressions, wind machine in his face and the awesome ripple of the cymbols and drums in slow-motion. Not to mention is acrobatic drumming as the videos finale, it's both a good tune, and a video that's funny and cool all at once.
October 6, 2011
Record Revue: Lights
After releasing gripping collaboration "Everybody Breaks A Glass" with Shad and production by two members of indie-electro band Holy F***! it was hard to imagine what Toronto's Lights had in store for her follow up to her slick electro-pop 2009 debut.
October 3, 2011
Record Revue: Feist
2007 wasn't so long ago, yet four years ago, iPods were still the main event and Leslie Feist had capture mainstream music's heart by simply singing those breezy numbers "1 2 3 4." The Reminder was an unofficial marker that blurred the lines between indie rock and pop, it's breezy pop was clever, confident and disarmingly pleasant. Bringing Feist international acclaim and plenty of new fans.
October 2, 2011
Record Revue: Blink - 182
Blink-182 became famous as Clinton-era punks run amok in suburbia, but 2003's eponymous Blink-182 saw a shift in the bands pop-punk sound for more experimental elements resulting in the band's more mature sound. Neighborhoods, the band's first LP in eight years, picks up where they left off.
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