Magazine

Independent, provocative, now! The CJLO Magazine is the resource for features, reviews, and interviews. Established in 2004, and run by dedicated CJLO volunteers, the magazine covers the latest and best in local and international music, art, theatre, film, festivals, and more!

This is Going to be Ryan Olcott’s Year: An Interview

June 2 2023 // Kaitlyn DiBartolo // Magazine // Interviews

“I felt awkward and weird most of the time because I didn't know shit, but now I know shit,” Ryan Olcott tells me, referring to how much has changed since he and his band, 12 Rods, last released new music. “My Year (This is Going to Be)”, came as a happy surprise to a devout, yet ever-growing fan base upon its release back in April; being the first new 12 Rods single in over 20 years.  I had the opportunity to talk with the Minneapolis musician, producer, singer, and lyricist over what lapsed into a two-hour phone call to inquire about his latest album If We Stayed Alive, releasing July 7.

Piknic Electronik's Opening Weekend Knocks on Summer’s Door

May 28 2023 // Alex Menjivar // Magazine // Concert Reviews

Last Sunday everyone’s favourite summertime festival, Piknic Électronik, kicked off its 20th season with a solid line-up of some of the biggest names in the Electronic music scene; internationally and locally. Taking place from May 21 to October 1 every Sunday on Montreal’s Île Sainte-Helene, festival goers can catch numerous DJ/Producers perform on two stages. This year's line-up includes legends such as New Yorkers Louie Vega and Kerri Chandler, Montreal’s own and Piknic fan favourite Misstress Barbara, and Fred Everything.

Beach House's Become EP: a Review

May 23 2023 // Dallas Calvert // Magazine // Music Reviews

Beach House surprised the world by releasing a new EP Become, on April 22, 2023. The collection being the second EP in the American dream-pop duo’s discography, follows their 2022 album Once Twice Melody. Victoria Legrand (vocals, keyboard) and Alex Scally (guitar, keyboard, backing vocals) have been making music together since they formed the band in 2004.

Beau is Afraid: Not A Mother's Day Movie

May 15 2023 // Remi Caron // Film

Cineplex recently posted some Mother's Day movie suggestions now in theaters, one of them being Beau is Afraid. I couldn't help but feel a certain dread at the idea of Ari Aster's latest film being recommended for mothers and sons. Don’t get me wrong, Beau is Afraid, is a vast spectacle of a film that succeeds as being one of Aster's most complex robust works as a director, almost hitting the three hour mark.

Filmmakers from the Indian Sub-continent Diaspora Shine Bright at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal

May 11 2023 // Sruthi Matta // Film

South Asian Film Festival of Montreal (SAFFM) 2023, presented by Kabir Centre for Arts & Culture is back after a year of dormancy. The festival was screened with Bibliothèques de Saguenay and La Cinémathèque québécoise from April 28 to May 10. This year’s films were picked all the way from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, to Canada and the United States; aired in person and online.  Kabir Centre aims to unite communities through thought-provoking films from the Indian Sub-continent empowering the culture and the languages. 

Cats, Clutch, and Beer Torture

April 26 2023 // Hunter Walwaski // Magazine // Concert Reviews

My first experience with opening act, Amigo the Devil, was a standard affair. Their output originally came in as a mere muffled kick drum echoing around the depths of the MTELUS– a steady beat rocking the gaping porcelain mouths upstairs. Joining this heartbeat were the anguished hurls of an occupant in the next stall, whose devilish retching combined with the muffled beat in a way that would make the best black metal bands jealous. Amigo the Devil weren’t that bad.

A Rotting Christening of the new Studio TD

March 26 2023 // Hunter Walwaski // Magazine // Concert Reviews

Greek black metal legends Rotting Christ stormed through Montreal on March 7th, playing the newly refurbished Studio TD (formerly L’Astral) in the Quartier des Spectacles. Dubbed the “Under Our Black Cult” tour, the band were supported by three other ghoulish groups - Gaerea, UADA, and Carach Angren.

Canadian Speed Prevails at TraXide

March 13 2023 // Hunter Walwaski // Magazine // Concert Reviews

Ottawa speed freaks Occult Burial headlined another successful celebration of the Canadian underground metal scene this past Friday night.

CTRL ALT: FKJ Displays His Genre-Bending Abilities at MTELUS

March 13 2023 // Anika Mawa // Magazine // Concert Reviews

CTRL ALT delves into the dynamic world of alternative music; from sultry R&B to soft rock, to the unique experimentalists, to those whose tracks you just can't put in a box, and to those who make major waves in waters once still. This column chronicles concert and album reviews, artist interviews, live jazz spots in the city, Montreal's DJ scene, music news, and more. Look out for the parallel radio show CTRL ALT, airing soon! 

NAS: KING’S DISEASE III

December 5 2022 // Brooks R-C // Magazine // Music Reviews

Released on November 11th, 2022, KD3 is the third and final album of Nas’ King’s Disease trilogy, which kicked off in 2020 and has been executively produced by Hit-Boy since its start.

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