field music - plumb (2.5/5)

it is interesting to note that the posting of this review on twitter led to a fucking onslaught of childish behaviour from both the band and their management. even more interesting was the mini-conversation about reviewing that myself, nathan the current editor of kerrang! got into... sorta cool.

There is an old and abiding adage that people like to toss around when they make copies of something once wonderful: “everything old is new again.” And it is, when it’s new—when it’s created with purpose and when the artists have something to say. This isn’t the case with Field Music’s fourth full-length album, Plumb; instead of being interesting, rich and dynamic it is a throwaway that rests squarely on the shoulders of the giants that came before: Huey Lewis, Billy Joel and Prince.

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marry, fuck, kill #2

In which Michelle thinks about Rancid and what listening to Nickelback says about you… 
I was going to write about the Junos – they’re “important” to Canadian music after all, and eternally polarizing. I have opinions (I always have opinions) about the nominees and whether or not they are valid or deserving or etc, etc, etc…

But then at some point I realized that I absolutely do not give a shit about the Junos. And why should I? Sure, I can rage about Deadmau5′s novelty taking the spotlight from his ability or the perpetual event of Nickelback and their misogynistic-comrades-in-arms collecting award after award that beautifully celebrates mediocrity… but seriously, what’s the fucking point? I’m not going to watch the Junos and no one involved in the Junos is going to be moved by opinions and change the structure of the award shows. Cash is king and it’s all the Canadians-with-bad-taste’s fault. So, I’m over it.

Sort of…

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laura gibson - la grande (3/5)

When you listen to La Grande, Laura Gibson’s third full length album, there is little surprise. Even if you haven’t heard of her, you will know two things upon first listen: a) she is from Portland and b) La Grande has come out on Barsuk Records – THE label for west coast low-fi melodies, washed out arrangements designed for foggy afternoons, and the soundtracks for a million indie movies about hipsters in (and out) of love. La Grande is fat with all of it.

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marry, fuck, kill #1

To start we’ll keep it short. It won’t always be short, but it won’t always be long either. Time will reveal all.

This column (blog? blolumn?) is called Marry, Fuck, Kill because I really love that game and the hope is that every other week I’ll sit down and have nice conversation with someone in the biz: musicians, DJs, bloggers and whomever else I might want to talk about cutie indie rock with. And then at the end of it I will pose an incredibly necessary question: three music celebs, one to marry, one to fuck and one to kill.

And I’ll play too!

So, from the top 3 solo artists on the current CBC radio3 chart…

Kathleen Edwards MARRY
Chad Van Gaalen KILL
Rae Spoon FUCK

Ta da!

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