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!

METAL MONDAY: Between The Buried and Me's "Colors" - A Perspective After 10 Years

March 26 2018 // Phil Aveline // Magazine // Music Reviews

This article is an analysis and perspective from Phil's listening sessions over time, since the album was released in 2007; it has been hard to decipher themes and lyrics in order to understand the album and its concept as a whole. 

Between the Buried and Me has been a raging force for metal as the face of progressive metal since their very early days, but has proven to grow as a band over time. In 2007, the band released an album that revolutionized the genre all around.

Colors, the monumental metal epic, was released on September 18th, 2007. It was highly praised by critics and metalheads alike.

METAL MONDAY: Heavy Metal Book Club: Sebastian Bach, 18 & Life on Skid Row

March 26 2018 // Angelica Calcagnile // Columns

*Find out how to a copy of this book at the end of this review!*

METAL MONDAY: Beating the Ghost of a Dead Horse: Sex & Religion in a Post DTP World

March 19 2018 // DJ Spacepirate of Burnt Offerings // Columns

I guess to some attentive people, Transcendence was an obvious sign of the end-times. The third album was in excess of the original intended four for Devin Townsend Project (making it the seventh down the line), and the notorious sonic tyrant decided to let the Project half in on the writing process, as if they were some kind of band. My pattern-assigning monkey brain is telling me even the title was a clue. Fortunately, I am not some attentive people, so I'm just figuring this out now for your amusement.

METAL MONDAY: Heavy Metal Book Club: “What Does This Button Do?” Bruce Dickinson, An Autobiography

March 12 2018 // Angelica Calcagnile // Columns

*Find out how to win a copy of this book at the end of this review!*

I'm never one to turn away a good music-related auto/biography. Just as with music documentaries, most are surprising and sometimes, surprisingly edifying. Bruce Dickinson, of Iron Maiden fame, has entered the fray with his autobiography, and I'm pleased to say it ticks both boxes, despite being quite the strange creature.

Album Review: "Happy Season" by PHANGS

March 7 2018 // Jennifer Zipper // Magazine // Music Reviews

Mentioned in BuzzFeed’s list of “18 Emerging Artists To Watch In 2018”, PHANGS has amassed a serious core group of fans despite being a fairly new independent artist. Fans, or “Pham” as they call themselves, have gone above and beyond to hype up his music. Last year, they even rallied together to organize a string of shows across America amongst themselves. This later became known as The House Tour, which consisted of acoustic shows in fans’ living rooms.

Concert Review: Intervals @ Café Campus, February 22, 2018

March 6 2018 // Phil Aveline // Magazine // Concert Reviews

Thursday, February 22nd brought us to Café Campus, where Intervals performed on their North American tour alongside Nick Johnston, and Jason Richardson.

Needless to say, the anticipation was quite high for when I was about to go to this show. It had been ages since I had been to a show since my injury in early July, where I dislocated my elbow, and I was not able to go anywhere for months. It is good to be back in the live music world. 

Making my way to the venue, I was listening to The Way Forward again to get a refresher of the songs, and as well preparing for my interview.

CJLO is going to South by Southwest!

March 5 2018 // CJLO // Magazine // Features

CJLO is going to South by Southwest! From March 14-17, four of our music directors will be in Austin, TX, to attend an incredibly wide variety of concerts and events. Here's what they're expecting from the 2018 SXSW experience.

Zach Carriere, a.k.a. Zakary Slax, is CJLO's Head Music Director, and hosts Slax Trax, every Tuesday from 5 to 6 PM.

METAL MONDAY: 5 Amazing Metal Bands I Saw in Australia

March 5 2018 // Chris the Frog (Sewer Spewer) // Columns

Back in December, I took a trip to the land down under. I loved almost everything about Australia—the intensely hot weather, the accent, the creative cursing inserted into casual conversation. The only downside was the beer being twice as expensive. I spent most of my time in Melbourne, a city with wide-ranging arts scene. In many ways, it was like the Montreal of Australia. During my time in Melbourne, I was able to check out a handful of shows, where I fell in love with Australian’s heavy scene. Here are my picks of the best Australian metal bands that I saw live.

King Parrot

Concert Review: "This Isn’t About the Perfect Black T-Shirt" - Porches & Girl Ray @ Théâtre Plaza, Feb. 18, 2018

February 26 2018 // Jasper Cobb // Magazine // Concert Reviews

It seems to be my thing to go to concerts of bands that I’ve never heard of before. This has been my third time taking part in this tradition and by far it has been the best one. Going into this, I was really expecting lo-fi, chill indie vibe-y music that the crowd would sway back and forth too. I wasn’t wrong, but I was definitely missing a significant part of the concert.

Album Review: "The Moonlight Club" by The Moonlight Club

February 18 2018 // Evan Clarke // Magazine // Music Reviews

The Moonlight Club’s most recent effort, the self-titled full-length album, is their most consistent and cohesive work to date. Recorded over a nine-day period at Breakglass Studios with David Smith (Patrick Watson, Elephant Stone, Leif Vollebekk), the album showcases the band’s authentic blend of folk-rock and 80’s new wave. With tight, impressive drum work and guitar tones that Johnny Marr would be proud of, the Moonlight Club have created a strong, diverse album that takes the listener on a journey from energetic rock to sweeping balladry. 

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