Bright and Vivid is a step in a new direction for New Pornographers member Kathryn Calder. This is her second solo album, and compared to her first, 2010’s Are You My Mother?, it is clear that Ms. Calder is experimenting– and quite successfully– with different sounds and eclectic rhythms. She has moved significantly from the… Continue reading Spun: Kathryn Calder
Tag: Spun
We are the city
Side one, or Mourning Song, begins by inviting all ears to an adventure in the woods on an autumn afternoon. The band does a wonderful job setting the scene for imagination to flow. It also embraces a theme that encompasses situations, feelings and words that most people have related to at some point in life… Continue reading We are the city
Dan Mangan
Oh Fortune is definitely a Dan Mangan album: clever, intelligent lyrics; dark humour; sarcasm and satire, along with Mangan’s trademark sincerity — everything fans have fallen in love with thus far. But this album is immensely different in many ways, filled with denser, richer sounds; full of experiments of texture, emotion and phrasing; stretching the… Continue reading Dan Mangan
Cuff the Duke
Maybe it’s the fact that they have been hailed as the successors to Canadian legends Blue Rodeo, or maybe it’s that I saw them absolutely kill it at a festival this summer, but it seems my expectations were a little too lofty for the fifth album by cult indie-rockers Cuff the Duke.Frontman Wayne Petti’s vocals… Continue reading Cuff the Duke
Spun: The Deep Dark Woods
As soon as I began listening to Th e Deep Dark Woods, I was instantly hooked.This album sounds distinctively diff erent from other albums of the alternative country genre, although it’s hard to figure out why. Perhaps it’s the simple lyrics, or the rich vocals of the lead singer Ryan Boldt. Maybe it’s the perfect… Continue reading Spun: The Deep Dark Woods
Spun: Darling of Chelsea
This may be Darlings of Chelsea’s second full-length album, but two albums in two years can only lead me to believe that this band’s songwriting is rushed and not up to potential. Formed in 2009, the Toronto-based quartet hasn’t wasted much time goofing around, being named Best New Band of 2009 by Mass Movement magazine,… Continue reading Spun: Darling of Chelsea
Spun: Recovery Child
A self-confessed result of the band’s road to musical evolution, Afterimage shows signs of maturity and poignant instrumentation, but also suffers from some degree of rock cliché. While the track “Welcome the Future” may feature a groovy beat that reeks of the sleaze and grittiness of rock ’n’ roll’s wild and drug-addled past, “We Collide”… Continue reading Spun: Recovery Child
Spun: Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx
By Ken Clarke
Following a lengthy stint of drug problems and jail terms, 2010 was a comeback year for American poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron when he released I’m New Here, his first studio recording in 16 years. Now, a follow-up of sorts has arrived in We’re New Here. At the helm is Jamie xx, percussionist and producer… Continue reading Spun: Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx
Spun: The Morning Benders
The Morning Benders were to perform their first show ever in Japan at the beginning of March, but it was cancelled when the horrific tsunami hit Japan. It was a significant show for the group — frontman Chris Chu, who was born in Japan, was looking forward to performing at home for the first time.… Continue reading Spun: The Morning Benders
Spun: Snoop Dogg
By Trenton Shaw
The aptly named Doggumentary, Snoop Dogg’s new album, is a shout out to all the styles Snoop has covered in his expansive career. This eclectic album traces the colourful sounds and lyrics of Snoop and his various guests. The album doesn’t replicate the glory of “Gin and Juice” or “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” but… Continue reading Spun: Snoop Dogg