Month: February 2004

By Andrew Ross

In order to convey the magnitude of what I’m about to say, let me give you some context. I have been reviewing albums for four years now. While I estimate I have reviewed around 50 CDS in that time, I have given no more than a handful of reviews that were even a little bit… Continue reading The Cooper Temple Clause

By Garth Paulson

Breaking this album/video game/monstrosity into its constituent parts seemed to be the only way to adequately review it. Who needs style anyway? Production: Oh dear God! Now, I’m in no way opposed to the DIY ethic, but this is ridiculous. It honestly sounds like four guys with instruments were dinking around in front of a… Continue reading Tetrix

By Peter Hemminger

P:ano’s When It’s Dark and It’s Summer was a promising collection of chamber pop that sounded far too mature for a debut. The Den, the second album from the Vancouver quartet, is similarly baffling. This is not the sound of a band discovering itself, this is a band with a firm vision that knows how… Continue reading P:ano

By David Gemmell

Sweatshop Union is back and headed up in a big way. Natural Progression is solid from start to finish, delivering a laid back hip hop experience that transcends the pitfalls of modern urban music. Sweatshop Union (Kyprios, Dirty Circus, Creative Minds and Innocent Bystanders) are four independent units who came together, combining a distinct anti-establishment… Continue reading Sweatshop Union

By Andrew Ross

It looked like another mindless, uninspired cash-grab–er, gangsta rap album–and the first few tracks, “Feel my Pain,” “Bang Bang Boom” and “Respect my Gangsta,” only served to confirm that impression. By the time I got to the halfway track, “I’m A Ryder,” I was already starting to figure out another way to say “this is… Continue reading Drag-On

By Peter Hemminger

Dear record-buying public,We’d love it if you bought our album. We know there are a lot of choices out there right now, but ours is the best one. Its chock full of guitars and drums, but we try not to play them too hard. We wouldn’t want to get you riled up and angry, we… Continue reading The Special Goodness

By Garth Paulson

Three years ago my most cherished albums were by bands like Pulley, Millencollin, Goldfinger and Strung Out. Those glorious soundtracks to teenage discontent are presently gathering dust; they’re nothing more than relics from the past. Three years ago, a cross between Pennywise and early No Use for a Name would have seemed like the next… Continue reading 1208

By Peter Hemminger

So this band, they sound kind of like the Beta Band because they mix nice acoustic guitars with pretty wicked basslines and sound like they’re probably on some kind of drugs. But then they also sound a little like the Postal Service because of the glitchy electronic sounds they like to mix into the background.… Continue reading Panurge