Juno-nominated Luke Doucet keeps things a little too cutesy on Blood’s Too Rich. Luke has a knack–or possibly a fetish–for pop, but he hasn’t quite mastered brevity. The winners overstay their welcome and quickly become cloying; there simply isn’t an idea on this record that warrants a five-minute song length, let alone seven. Contrast the… Continue reading SPUN: Luke Doucet and the White Falcon
Month: January 2008
SPUN: Jane Vain & the Dark Matter
By Amanda Hu
What does one get when they mix windy vocals, guitar riffs, electronic bass and drums and the burgeoning Calgary music scene? They get Jane Vain and the Dark Matter. The band’s first release, Love Is Where The Smoke Is, channels the laments and emotional workings of frontwoman Jamie Fooks through its 11 tracks of sultry… Continue reading SPUN: Jane Vain & the Dark Matter
SPUN: The Feminists
By Amanda Hu
The Feminists are a pretty fun band. They’ve got catchy keyboard riffs, Ben Folds-esque, articulated vocals, girl/boy harmonies, guitar solos and really fast drum fills. Their 2008 release, Can’t Scream Loud Enough, would have worked so perfectly in 1998. Unfortunately, it’s not 1998. The album’s first track, “The Beginning Of The World,” shows initial promise… Continue reading SPUN: The Feminists
Please submit to your robot overlords
Isaac Asimov’s first rule of robotics: robots can do no harm or, through inaction, cause humans any harm. Even though there are rules in place, it’d be foolish to trust a robot. There’s no soul in their hollow eyes. Local band iblamerobot has an intense dislike of those mechanical rapscallions taking over our lives, even… Continue reading Please submit to your robot overlords
Quenching his thirst for Blood
By Ryan Pike
In life, a little comfort can go a long way, which is why very few people really ever stray from their comfort zones. Quite often, filmmakers find a comfortable niche for themselves and make different versions of the same films over and over again, or actors keep rehashing an acclaimed performance ad nauseum. Nominated for… Continue reading Quenching his thirst for Blood
SU View: Funding available for your ideas on sustainability at U of C
The University of Calgary Students’ Union is consistently working to ensure environmental issues and sustainability is a priority. However, the SU is only one part of the campus community that can take an active approach to sustainability. As an undergraduate student at the U of C you also have the opportunity to make a true… Continue reading SU View: Funding available for your ideas on sustainability at U of C
Summer isn’t really that far away
People often forget the city’s soundscapes as they go about their daily grind. Sounds like the low whipping of the train while it trundles along the tracks or the revving of engines as they idle in gridlock are common sounds most tune out from day-to-day. This is the wall of noise that we live through… Continue reading Summer isn’t really that far away
Over in a New York minute
After Rudy Giuliani bowed out of the contest for Republican candidacy in the upcoming U.S. presidential race, the two frontrunners for nomination were left to argue who is the more reliable conservative. Giuliani–who previously led the polls for Republican candidacy–backed down following his poor results in Florida, endorsing instead Arizona Senator John McCain Wed., Jan.… Continue reading Over in a New York minute
Imprisoning academics isn’t write
With Europe already fussing over Turkey’s less-than-progressive freedom of expression laws, a Turkish court has decided to do the country’s hopes of joining the European Union a favour by… sentencing an academic? On Mon. Jan. 28, a Turkish court sentenced professor Atilla Yayla to a 15-month suspended jail term. He was charged with making defamatory… Continue reading Imprisoning academics isn’t write
Letter: Pulling out still is not effective
By Chris Brown
Editor, the Gauntlet, When I read the headline “Should we stay, or should we go now?” [Christian Louden, Jan. 24 Gauntlet], I expected to hear a reasoned debate over the recommendations of the Manley report on the mission in Afghanistan. While I am aware that the article is an opinion, I was surprised to read… Continue reading Letter: Pulling out still is not effective