RSS

Concordia University executives will soon meet former professors Jack and Judith Kornblatt regarding their previous financial donations to the school.

According to CTV News the Kornblatts have decided to stop donating money to the school after over forty years.

They stated that their reason to cease their donations is because the administration uses the money for illegitimate causes.

University President Frederick Lowy says he hopes to assure the Kornblatts that money is always spent to benefit the school.

In Our Heads is Hot Chip’s fifth full-length album. And while I will on occasion selfishly pine for that seemingly made in mom’s basement, lo-fi sound I first heard years ago, it would be selfish of me to expect the band to simply revisit those sounds. This album provides us with a well-produced polished sound, with the guys keen to speak of their relationships in a light-hearted way. 

Throughout, In Our Heads offers us a nostalgic 80s synth-pop feel while mostly keeping a big pulsing beat, and interlacing sonic delights that are a pleasure to the ears. Listening to the album I found myself mentally wandering into a Hot Chip show, imagining the feel and vibe of certain songs played live. 

One of the great things about groove-oriented albums such as this is that if done right, you can simply melt into the individual tracks, making time inconsequential. Several tracks on the album do this and they stand out.

The album’s first track, “Motion Sickness”, starts off slowly then builds to that big synth sound Hot Chip does so well. “Don’t Deny Your Heart” is fantastic as it takes us from this ethereal feel encompassing the song into a head-bobbing groove Quincy Jones would be proud of, and then bringing us back again to ensure that we remember the lightness of the track. To be honest, I had this one on repeat. 

Things really take off at “Night and Day” the albums most musically interesting song with a bass line that makes the body shake and weave. “Flutes” follows nicely, a song with an infectious rhythm chant-like beginning slowly returning us to the head-bobbing state we found ourselves earlier. “Ends Of The Earth” continues this trend, transforming itself into a vehicle that will actually transport us to those very ends.

Even the slower “Now There Is Nothing” works for me because it lets us inside Alexis Taylor, who we learn spends his time in his thoughts lost in his mind, a feeling we can all relate to as well.

This album is a fun listen that will at times get you moving and shaking, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

FINAL MARK: B+

It's a first for Canada, and perhaps the world. 

The Quebec government and Cree people are forming a new joint local administration in the north of the province.

It will give native peoples more say in how natural resources are used. 

The agreement was signed Tuesday in the National Assembly. 

Cree Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come said the decision was motivated by the Plan Nord, Premier Jean Charest's ambitious plan to tap mining resources in the north. 

While Cree people will have no say in mining development, the new authority will have input on hunting and fishing in certain areas.

The Cree will have a hand in some hydro and wind power projects. 

The Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory will replace the current municipality of James Bay. 

It will be jointly run by Cree people and non-natives living in the region.  

Léo Bureau-Blouin is making the jump from the picket line to the campaign trail. 

The former head of the provincial cegep student union will run for the Parti Québécois in the riding of Laval des Rapides.

He made the announcement wednesday morning after days of speculation. 

Bureau-Blouin became one of the figureheads in the ongoing student fight against rising tuition fees before his term as FECQ president ended in June.

The 20-year-old once polled with the highest approval ratings of any figure associated with the tuition crisis.  

Deputy Finance Minister Alain Paquet has held the riding for the past two elections. 

He says he is not intimidated by Bureau-Blouin's high profile.