Music Reviews

U.S. Girls - Free Advice Column

Album review by CJLO Magazine contributor Chelsea Woodhouse

Self-taught musician and vocalist, Meghan Remy's Free Advice Column is a four song EP that is courageous in both tone and melody. This brief selection is a collaborative effort between both Remy and Canadian hip-hop producer Onakabazien, who also worked together on the 2011 full-length album U.S. Girls on KraaK.


Ari Swan - Symphony Plastique

Symphony Plastique is the debut solo release by Montreal artist Ari Swan. This four-track EP, recorded with Jamie Thompson (The Unicorns, Esmerine), paints a beautiful aural space that includes percussion and various effects that yield an eclectic mix of sounds and rhythms. Swan's vocals and violin weave together nicely around the canvas of sound created by Thompson giving us tracks that are fun, playful and at times intricate; a true symphonic duet.


World Psychedelic Classics 5 - Who Is William Onyeabor?

If you have no idea who William Onyeabor is, you're not alone. The information available about him is unfathomable at best, but what I can tell you is that he is a Nigerian man of mystery. 


Tamaryn - Tender New Signs

There's something to be said for control, especially when you're making a full length record. In the case of Tamaryn's new release Tender New Signs, there is a very noticeable amount of deliberate choices made, adding up to a pleasant and varied experience for the listener.


American Sharks

Album review by CJLO Magazine contributor Craig Carestia

The self-titled release from Austin, Texas stoner-punks (yeah, I just made that up) American Sharks is like a 100-mile-an-hour space cruise down a desolate desert road through the centre of bat country. The album is like punk played through amps built from used Ford Thunderbird parts. If those wizard/tiger/dragon airbrush paintings on the sides of cargo vans in the '70s could record an album of their own, American Sharks would be it.


Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe

Album review by CJLO Magazine contributor Chelsea Woodhouse

A slow car ride into a happier time?


Rhapsody of Fire - Dark Wings of Steel

Greetings one and all to the halls of metal, blessed by the gods themselves. It's Cecil here, and today I have something for all of you. Hailing from the Italian lands we have Rhapsody of Fire's latest album Dark Wings of Steel, and I'm not sick of it yet. Now, before I get started, let me just get comfortable with a nice strong drink.


Earthless - From The Ages


From The Ages is the newest release from Earthless, a San Diego trio consisting of guitarist Isaiah Mitchell, bassist Mike Eginton and drummer Mario Rubalcaba. It’s been six years since their last release, and these psych/prog-rockers have come back with an atmosphere exploding four-track LP, which runs about 60 minutes long.
 

Moonface - Julia With Blue Jeans On

Moonface's latest album Julia With Blue Jeans On is, more than anything else, insanely and ridiculously beautiful. Spencer Krug's slightly strange, lovely lyrics and a piano, letting the songs stand with honesty and strong imagery, clearer than I am used to with his previous work. 


Ty Segall - Sleeper

 

In Sleeper, Ty Segall puts down the expected electric and effects-ladened fuzz and instead picks up the acoustic guitar, resulting in an accessible and introspective LP. This is an intimate album, one in which he invites us into his most personal space, which, as it happens, is inhabited by a disturbed presence.


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