One of Canada’s most accomplished singer-songwriters, Ron Sexsmith has returned with HERMITAGE, his first album since his move from his longtime home of Toronto to a more bucolic life in Stratford, Ontario. Ron partnered with producer Don Kerr to create HERMITAGE; the two set up in Ron’s living room to…
MT. JOY – REARRANGE US (News or Reviews)
Mt. Joy’s star rose quickly from a bedroom project to a well-oiled machine dubbed “your new folk-rock heroes” by Rolling Stone upon the 2018 release of their self-titled debut record. That same year and beyond, millions of streams piled up month after month, and sold-out crowds sang along to every…
JOEL PLASKETT – 44 (News or Reviews)
A conceptual follow-up to his JUNO-award winning triple record, Three, 44 is a visionary project comprised of four, 11-song records, packaged together and connected thematically. Four years in the making, the songs were recorded in Dartmouth, Memphis, Nashville and Toronto with 33 different musicians. The first album, 41: Carried Away, is a…
JIMMY BUFFETT – LIFE ON THE FLIP SIDE (News or Reviews)
The first studio album from Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers in seven years! 60 page booklet featuring exclusive content including lyrics, special photos from Jimmy’s collection, his stories behind the songs, and more! Parrotheads will have something special to cheer about when Jimmy Buffett’s first studio record in seven…
THE 1975 – NOTES ON A CONDITIONAL FORM (News or Reviews)
Straddling the line between hooky dance‐rock and vintage adult contemporary sophistication, Britain’s the 1975 found massive success in the 2010s with their distinctively arty, if still undeniably mainstream, pop aesthetic. Showcasing lead singer Matt Healy’s croon, they built a loyal following with their extroverted live performances and buzzed‐about 2012 single “Sex.” The…
THE WHITE BUFFALO ON THE WIDOW’S WALK (News or Reviews)
The White Buffalo is Jake Smith: singer, song‐writer, guitarist, teller of stories; an artist whose voice – an emotive timber‐shakin’ baritone – seems directly linked to a greater truth; an artist who will not be swayed by fashion or restricted by genre. And now, The White Buffalo releases new studio album,…
The Pack A.D. Go Out in Style on ‘It Was Fun White It Lasted’ (News or Reviews)
As originally published by Matt Yuyitung on Exclaim!As the title suggests, this is the Pack A.D.'s final record... kind of. The Vancouver garage rock duo of Maya Miller and Becky Black say that while they're ready to call it a day, they're not quite ready to call it a definitive…
Lido Pimienta’s ‘Miss Colombia’ Is as Diverse as the Future It Imagines (News or Reviews)
As originally published by Erin MacLeod on Exclaim!The follow-up to Lido Pimienta's Polaris Prize win for 2016's La Papessa, Miss Colombia displays an artist who has a clear vision combined with a desire to experiment with sounds. Working alongside the production skills of Prince Nifty (Les Mouches' Matt Smith), some…
‘Other Music’ Is a Bittersweet Obituary for a Record Store and Its Community Directed by Puloma Basu and Rob Hatch-Miller (News or Reviews)
Directed by Puloma Basu and Rob Hatch-Miller Starring Tunde Adebimpe, Panda Bear, Avey Tare, Matt Berninger, Benicio Del Toro, Janeane Garofalo, Ezra Koenig, Stephin Merritt, Jason Schwartzman, Regina Spektor Score:7 These days, it's great to see reminders of how important collective physical spaces are, even if the story of that…
Joel Plaskett’s Quadruple Album ’44’ Is an Impressive Retrospective of His Life and Work (News or Reviews)
As originally published by Sam Boer on Exclaim!When Joel Plaskett gathered 12 other musicians into his studio in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, preparing to track some songs for his latest project, 44, he had one request: "No matter what happens, keep going." This mentality not only defines his latest release —…
Tory Lanez Owns His Flaws on ‘The New Toronto 3’ (News or Reviews)
As originally published by Kyle Mullin on Exclaim!On the cover, he's cradling his kid, chains gleaming on their otherwise bare skin. And some of the lyrics on Tory Lanez's new album therein, The New Toronto 3, capture the essence of its stark cover art. "P.A.I.N," for instance, finds Lanez rapping and…