The attention to detail and the variety in instrumentation that Ocean curates on the album is unparalleled, and his maturity shines bright in his songwriting, experimentation, vocal performance, and overall artistry.
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In many ways, she chronicles her maturation process knowing that life can end at any minute. This is represented by the skull in the cover art—death is always hanging just over her head.
KÄSE is a three-piece jazz-fusion rock band, but Cam Buie, fourth-year piano performance student and the group’s pianist, says that he would describe their sound more as “punk rock for sissies.”
Irving and his bandmates have gained a lot of experience touring since their 2012 performance at Bluesfest, and as much as he says they love the intimate shows that they have been performing at, Irving says that “nothing can match hordes of screaming fans.”
Weezer (2016), or The White Album, picks up where Everything Will Be Alright in the End left off, and continues to build upon the progress by delivering one of the most consistently strong records in the band’s massive discography. Opening with a trio of instantly classic, alt-rock anthems, the LP immediately exemplifies all of Weezer’s strengths, both reassuring long-time fans and creating new ones.
Mind of Mine is far from the toe-tapping, innocent, and catchy music One Direction has been producing since Malik left. The 18-track album, which came out March 25, is a very different sound from the almost-bubblegum pop music that made Malik famous and instead falls into the R&B genre, taking his talents in a new direction.
The compilation album’s eight tracks are equally as jazz- and funk-laden as his previous project. From a subject matter standpoint, the Compton native takes a chance to comment on the Black experience in America, the evils surrounding his hometown, and grappling with rising success.
Lissie, a rather unknown American indie-folk singer-songwriter, released her third album, My Wild West on Feb. 12. Unfortunately, with this lackluster release her name will likely remain unknown.
Although the self-described “ska-rockers” have relocated to Toronto, three of the members are originally from Aylmer, Que. and consider Ottawa their hometown. The band has toured across Canada, but play primarily in eastern Ontario, and are thrilled to be returning to one of Ottawa’s most popular live music venues, as they have played the Ottawa scene extensively.
The Vancouver natives released this 10-track album riddled with infectious beats, reverberating guitar, and dark lyrical undertones. The album tells the story of a band’s slowly growing recognition, and the intoxicating pleasures and troubles that come with it.
Apocalypso is eccentric, and not in the cute, quirky way indie music often is. We’re not dealing with whimsy here—instead, it is more of a sensual ambiguity, filled with heavy and aggressive sounds that can leave you seeing stars.
Indie singer-songwriter Béatrice Martin, more commonly known by her stage name Coeur de pirate, is a celebrated Montreal-based artist with an impressive way of connecting to her fans through movement and melodic music. As a recognized Francophone musician, she effortlessly expresses herself through both national languages of Canada, drawing in Anglophone listeners to experience French music in ways they never have before.
Using social media for promotion is commonplace in today’s world. Using a disagreement with another artist for self promotion can be a significant tool—but it can also be double-edged sword depending on the outcome.
In many ways, the album is a genuine smile and a rolling tear. Malibu sounds so comfortable and familiar, but also strikingly fresh and new.
He has always been more than just the leader of the pack, and, forty-seven years after Major Tom first went up into space, David Bowie is still lightyears ahead of his contemporaries.
Although they’ve become known as one of the biggest rock bands of the decade, their new album gives the impression that they’re ready to give up that title—A Head Full of Dreams is their most upbeat and radio-friendly record yet.
Luckily for Innes, Yukon Blonde will soon be returning to one of their favourite cities in the country with Hey Rosetta!, another well-known Canadian indie act. The two bands will be performing at the National Arts Centre (NAC) on Nov. 22.
Each song on the album has it’s own distinct sound, which showcases Ty Dolla $ign’s range and creativity as an artist. Whether the music is acoustic or produced by DJ Mustard, Ty Dolla $ign delivers on every song.
Musicians have to balance their sound, industry heads and customers Musical artist Kid Cudi took to Twitter in early October to dissuade some of his fans from purchasing his upcoming release, Speeding Bullet to Heaven. “(I)f you dont like what Im doin now, please abort the train. Do not buy my music from here on …
Hip-hop jazz trio to perform concert for Ottawa drop-in centre There are many ways that musicians get involved with charity work. Few of these artists, however, tend to get involved with charity through their mothers. Chester Hansen, the bassist of Toronto-based hip-hop jazz trio BADBADNOTGOOD (BBNG), and his group will be performing a benefit concert …
The Zolas are touring in the wake of the release of their latest EP, Wino Oracle, which came out Oct. 2. The four songs on the EP are a bit of a departure from the rhythmic experimental rock style of their first two studio albums. With its fast tempos and dance-friendly beats, Wino Oracle is much more lively and upbeat than their older music.
The album never slows down from start to finish, and it’s perfect to dance along to or pick you up if you’re feeling down. Every song can make you laugh. It does everything a peppy pop song should do, just presented in a radically different way, and across an entire album instead of one four-minute track.
The album is a joy to listen to, as the production varies in style but also remains true to the core theme of the album. The content of the record is where it’s worth truly lies. It’s comparable to a reformation of the J.D. Salinger novel The Catcher in the Rye, focusing on the alienation and the painful phoniness of the adult world. It is an exploration of those raised in the Ronald Reagan Era, tackling their skewed identity and fragmented moral compass.
Although Green is best recognized for progressions in acoustic power chords, especially on his 2008 album Bring Me Your Love. However his newest work shows a distinct change of pace in sound. Where there was once a soft linear flow of songs, there is now a forte that speaks to the audience in a transformed, sharp, bluesy thundering of songs, but is still directed by lofty introspection from beginning to end.
Time freezes in the music world whenever there is a clash of titans. In the hierarchy of today’s biggest hip-hop superstars, Drake and Future are monoliths. Two of a genre’s biggest artists coming together to release a collaborative project is not something you see every day. What a Time to Be Alive is a mixtape …
