By David Kenney
Somewhere Woody Guthrie is smiling. Not only has his legacy endured everywhere from Bob Dylan to Ani DiFranco, but it’s been reborn again. Mermaid Avenue Volume II continues the same inspiring interpretation of the folk legend’s lyrics set to music by Billy Bragg and Wilco. And this time it’s edgier. Tense vocals and gritty folk… Continue reading Billy Bragg and Wilco — Mermaid Avenue Vol. II
Queens of the Stone Age were born out of the death of Kyuss, one of metal’s best underground bands. What’s most refreshing about Queens is their lack of pretension. Founder and guitarist Joahua Homme seems to view the band as a vehicle for making music, not a medium to force his personal neurosis and sappiness… Continue reading Queens of Stone Age — Restricted
By Todd Jackson
Sunday, 1 p.m.: Good, but not great. I had a more pensive direction in mind for this album–you know, a subtle judgment of millennial Canada. Tragic but not as tragic as Day for Night almost the poetic stance of Phantom Power but more mature. Tuesday, 9 p.m.: Hold it, guitars arguing–yeah, yeah. Grind, grind! Work,… Continue reading Tragically Hip — Music @ Work
By David Kenney
"There’s no parole, there’s no escape," fumes Alice Cooper on the title track of his new album Brutal Planet. How true. Once, Alice’s tales of the world’s creepy crawlies stood for dark carnival intrigue. Now, an older Alice just sounds like a misguided high school counsellor bawling over the mean old world. Sorry Alice, preaching… Continue reading Alice Cooper — Brutal Planet
Never heard of Bowling For Soup? You will–just hang in there. With two independent albums under their belt, Let’s Do It For Johnny!! marks their debut on a major label (Jive/Silvertone). The band can best be described as the pop/punk love child of Green Day and Cheap Trick. This album is a grab bag of… Continue reading Let’s Do It For Johnny! — Bowling for Soup
Whitney Houston fans will be happy to know that this two-CD volume is a well compiled greatest hits album. The first disc includes all of Whitney’s hits and the second features dance remixes of those hits. Sprinkled in are new duets with superstars Enrique Iglesias and George Michael as well as Houston’s Super Bowl rendition… Continue reading Whitney Houston — The Greatest Hits
By David Kenney
Making music-influenced noise since 1981, Sonic Youth has had a penchant for twisting distortion around lyrics. Sonic staples like "Sugar Kane," " Bull in the Heather" and "Teenage Riot" showed that yes, even Sonic Youth can pen and perform coherent rock songs. Alas, Thurston Moore and company usually delve towards the obscure with sometimes bland,… Continue reading Sonic Youth
By David Kenney
Sometimes a trip down the highway is all you need. And with The I-10 Chronicles, you don’t even need to leave home to take a spur of the moment adventure. Featuring road-worn veterans Willie Nelson, Cuban guitar legend Eliades Ocoha and Bill Hearne, each song is a journey stretching one road to the next. And… Continue reading The I-10 Chronicles
By Nicole Kobie
Veruca Salt are finally back, and it’s too bad they are. Their latest release, Resolver, is a departure from their earlier bubbly pop songs. The new songs have more of an edge; the band rocks out more on these tracks. The change may be because of the exit of Nina Gordon, who was a primary… Continue reading Veruca Salt
By Nicole Kobie
Apparently, it’s not mission impossible to make a decent soundtrack. Music from and Inspired by M:I2, Hollywood’s latest contribution, sounds more like a compilation than soundtrack. The famous Mission: Impossible theme gets the Limp Bizkit treatment, who create a fresh sound from an old favourite. Another excellent cover is Pink Floyd’s "Have a Cigar," courtesy… Continue reading Mission Impossible Soundtrack