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january 2018:
|

This new Eminem album represents a form of evolution
for the famous rapper.
Revival contains a mix of twists about his forties and
political stances in the Trump era, which is contrasting sharply
with his misogynistic and homophobic statements of the past.
It is also an album produced after a long period in rehabilitation
and he even admits that he had to learn to rap again after his many
drug abuses.
We can also hear a difference in his flow and his way of rapping in
general, while remaining unique in the genre.
For the first time, Eminem seems nostalgic of a bygone era.
He even uses samplings like Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n'
Roll" in "Remind Me" and the Cranberries’ "Zombie" in "In
Your Head", in addition to recycling the templates of his own
classics.
("Stan", "Love
the Way You Lie").
We can hear several collaborators on the album, but oddly, only one
other rapper, Phresher.
There is Beyoncé stealing the show on the sweet piano
opening, "Walk On Water", not to mention P!nk, Skylar Grey,
Kehlani, Alicia Keys, X Ambassadors, and of
course Ed Sheeran for the excellent
"River".
The main problem of the record is a lack of good beats, one of the
main strengths of Eminem previously.
It turns out to be a lot less interesting when he becomes emotional
and looks to the past.
Revival still has its share of good times anyway among its 19
tracks.
(January 2018 Featured Review)
Music Video:
« Walk On Water » |
Aftermath / Shady /
Interscope
/
Universal
  


 |

Greta Van Fleet is a young Michigan quartet
formed of twins Josh (vocals) and Jake Kiszka
(guitar), with their younger brother Sam on bass and a family
friend, drummer Danny Wagner. The name of the band comes from
the name of one of their aunts. They offer a hard rock sound
strongly influenced by Led Zeppelin, with also obvious
comparisons with Kingdom Come and the Black Crowes.
From the Fires is introduced as a double EP, featuring the
four-track EP Black Smoke Rising and four new tracks. Even if
references to the past are far too numerous and Led Zeppelin remains
in mind throughout the CD, Greta Van Fleet offer us refreshing rock
music, which will revive the nostalgic fiber of 1970s rock fans,
while proving that the new generation can still play effective rock
'n' roll.
(January 2018 Featured New Artist)
Music Video:
« Highway Tune » |
Republic
/
Universal
  


|

After the very strong
Vulnicura in 2015, the unique Icelandic artist is back with
Utopia, produced again by Arca.
After the heartbreak portrayed on the previous record, she seems to
be coming back to life here with many bright moments.
She also returns to the instruments of her childhood, whose flute
she played being a kid.
On "Blissing Me", it is rather the harp that is in the spotlight,
offering almost angelic music.
The opening song, "Arisen My Senses", and "Blissing Me" are
reminiscent of the lightness of her hits "Venus as a Boy", "Hyperballad"
and "All Is Full of Love" that have greatly contributed to her
worldwide fame in
the 1990s. Despite its light moments, Utopia can also be
thought provoking and some passages require a little more effort to
listen to seize all the layers that compose them.
On the other hand, the effort is greatly rewarded, as it is often
the case with Björk's work.
It's an album to listen to in a very particular mood, to add
richness to the atmosphere.
Once again, Björk managed to offer us a first-rate album.
(January 2018) |
  ½


|

IsKwé – The Fight Within
IsKwé (which means "woman" in Cree) is a unique
artist originally from Winnipeg and now based in Hamilton. With
The Fight Within, she releases her second self-produced album.
IsKwé offers alternative pop music with incursions into British trip
hop, her Cree roots and R&B. There is a good deal of experimentation
and ambient music, but her catchy melodies, with her beautiful,
sweet and powerful voice, make her more accessible on several
occasions, despite powerful political lyrics. The main flaw of the
album is that it seems far too short with only nine tracks totaling
just 33 minutes. Here is a Canadian artist to discover absolutely!
(January 2018)
Music Video:
« Nobody Knows » |
  ½


|

A year after Use Less U, the Quebec pop rock
band led by Daniel Moisan is back with the sequel, Use
Less 2. And it is indeed a logical continuation with
inspirations of The Cure, Tragically Hip and REM,
as well as still present traces of the Beatles in the
background. With this sixth album, Mosquito-B offer again a quality
album that will appeal to any fan of English rock. Once again, the
band is offering their album online only at the cost of an English
pound (approximately $1.70 CDN).
(January 2018) |
  ½

|

Following her pop turn of three years ago on
1989, Taylor Swift pursues in the
same path with Reputation. More mature than ever, she offers
a rather dark album on which she is concerned about sexuality and
betrayal. Musically, the album is built on a background of electro,
with drum loops and many synthesizers. She moves away more than ever
from the country pop sound of her debut. The album seems formed of
shades of gray that make it pretty hard to appreciate quickly,
despite some very good catchy songs ("…Ready For It?", "Delicate",
"Look What You Made Me Do", "Getaway Car", "New Year's Day").
(January 2018)
Music Videos:
« Look What You Made Me Do » -
« …Ready For It? » |
  


|
december:
|

Maroon 5 – Red
Pill Blues
For their sixth album, Maroon 5 are surrounded by
several collaborators: Future, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP
Rocky, Julia Michaels, LunchMoney Lewis and SZA.
Produced by J. Kash, Red Pill Blues pursues the path
of Maroon 5 in pop music. Moreover, the group has never been as
popular, having reached the dozen top 10s in Billboard Hot 100. They
also performed in front of 2.5 million people during their last tour
only, which led them to more than 30 countries. Musically, Maroon 5
put more and more emphasis on the groove, as evidenced by the
11-minute song "Closure", a nice funk moment. Their R&B-themed pop
music is usually light, and forget about the squeaky guitars that
have been missing from the band's albums for quite some time now.
Maroon 5 again offer a series of radio hits, with good times.
(December 2017 Featured Review)
Music Videos:
« Don’t Wanna Know »
-
« Cold » -
« What Lovers Do » |
222
/
Interscope
/
Universal
  


 |

Alex Lahey – I
Love You Like a Brother
Alex Lahey is a young female singer from Melbourne,
Australia. She offers pop rock and new wave music with contagious
energy and unforgettable melodies. She even explores pop punk at
times with a certain influence of Paramore. After an opening
tour for Tegan and Sara, Alex releases her debut album. I
Love You Like a Brother includes 10 effective songs, all equally
enjoyable to listen to. A great discovery and certainly an artist to
watch closely! (December 2017 Featured New
Artist) |
Dead Oceans
  ½


|

After the excellent album
IRM in 2010, it took seven years to
finally discover a new record from Charlotte Gainsbourg. On Rest,
she surrounds herself with renowned collaborators, including Paul
McCartney who offers her a song, "Songbird in a Cage", and
Guy-Manuel Homem-Christo (Daft Punk) who co-wrote the
title track and first single. Produced by SebastiAn (Frank
Ocean, Kavinsky), the album also features Owen Pallett,
Connan Mockasin, and more. Rest presents high quality
adult pop music, with a great mix of orchestrations and electronics.
There is a bit of everything on it with dancing moments and more
ambient ones, but the whole is linked perfectly.
(December 2017) |
Because
/
Warner
  ½


|

Since its formation in 2010, Noel Gallagher’s new
band has never stopped improving. The High Flying Birds reach new
heights on Who Built the Moon. Bursting with energy, they
offer us some frankly catchy grooves. One only has to think of the
excellent "Holy Mountain" and "She Taught How to Fly" that
inevitably make us want to listen to them again and again. Some
tracks may be reminiscent of the rock 'n' roll of the Rolling
Stones ("Black & White Sunshine"), while on other occasions, the
former Oasis member and his band slow down the tempo to take
us into an enveloping atmosphere ("Wednesday, Pt. 1 (Interlude)" and
"End Credits (Wednesday, Pt. 2)"). What surprises above all on this
energetic record is the great creativity of the compositions that
seem quite new in a world of British rock which has seen a lot. Hats
off!
(December 2017) |
Sour Mash /
Universal
   


|

The popular American country singer is back with his
tenth album, which pays tribute to the beaches of Lake Texoma, close
to where he grew up and where he recorded Texoma Shore. Blake
Shelton offers a polished album where overproduction reminds us of
his status as a Hollywood superstar. The melodies are certainly
catchy, but they are much too neat. We would like to feel a little
rage on some occasions, but it will never happen during the 11 songs
of the record. Texoma Shore is a quality country pop album,
aimed at the general public, but it has nothing exciting.
(December 2017) |
Ten Point
/
Warner
 ½


|

U2 – Songs of Experience
Three years after
Songs of Innocence, and a year late, U2
is back on record
with Songs of Experience (the sequel inspired by William
Blake's collection of poems Songs of Innocence and Experience).
The lyrics of the album take the form of intimate letters addressed
to important people in the entourage of Bono. Musically, the
band favors a little less the guitar of The Edge on several
occasions and the whole proves to be pretty soft. The first single,
"Get Out of Your Own Way", is certainly the most pop and accessible
track on the album, with an unforgettable chorus. There is also
"American Soul" which has a catchy rhythm, but we get tired of it
quickly and the presence of Kendrick Lamar goes unnoticed.
Many other generic songs leave us indifferent and the whole has a
lack of cohesion. We don’t really recognize the band that dominated
the world not so long ago, but it will not stop them from going on a
huge tour.
(December 2017) |
Island /
Universal
  


|
november:
|

P!nk –
Beautiful Trauma
After the great album
The Truth About Love in 2012, P!nk
took a long break and she now comes back with Beautiful Trauma.
From the beginning, the album seems more than ever inspired by the
music of the day with the title song, the funky "Revenge" (with
Eminem) and the piano / electro hit "What About Us".
Unfortunately, the singer runs out of steam quickly and falls into
more adult territories, closer to Adele than new fashionable
singers. We understand she is now in her late thirties, but she
seems to have matured a lot in the last five years, and it certainly
is not for the better. Her folk ballads on the piano and her adult
mid-tempo pop songs are becoming more boring as the album
progresses. Most of the tracks contrast with P!nk's extravagant
personality, which stood out through her best recordings. On
Beautiful Trauma, the atmosphere is not only soberer, but it
does not have anything like what drew attention to the singer in the
past. Good luck to get to the end of this dubious proposal!
(November 2017 Featured Review)
Music Video:
« What About Us » |
 ½


 |

The singer from Kentucky releases her debut album,
in the country pop style. Her country influences are evident as she
constantly draws in more classic country music to bring it up to
date and make it contemporary music. In addition, she adds a good
dose of her luminous personality which brings her towards pop
melodies that are unforgettable. Carly Pearce co-wrote more than
half of the songs on the record, and she certainly left her mark.
Every Little Thing proves to be a great success for this
27-year-old singer who already has a lot of work behind her. Here is
a pleasant album, both in energetic moments and ballads highlighting
her voice. (November 2017 Featured New
Artist)
Music Video:
« Every Little Thing » |
Big Machine /
Universal
  


|

The former Oasis singer and the youngest of
the Gallagher brothers comes to us with his debut solo album, after
having tried his luck with Beady Eye, practically modeled on
the band that made him famous, his brother less. This time, it's
alone that he embarks on a new adventure, even if the shadow of
Oasis still hangs over him. Several songs of As You Were have
similarities with Oasis songs, already largely inspired by the work
of The Beatles. Although musically the album is rather retro,
its sound remains well anchored in the 21st century with some
rhythmic loops and other digital manipulations. We quickly recognize
the singer we much appreciated in the 1990s, with all his charisma,
but he adds scale to his singing, seeming to sing better than ever.
He issues a very good album, an energetic and entertaining one.
(November 2017) |
Warner
  ½


|

Ryan Kennedy made his mark at the fourth edition of
La Voix (The Voice in Quebec) where he reached the
semifinal on Pierre Lapointe's team. The native of the
Laurentians issues his second album today, mostly in English. There
are only the hits "Soul Digger" ("Je
cours toujours"),
"Honest Song" and "Morin Heights" that can also be heard in French
at the end of the CD. Kennedy offers folk music with a strong pop
trend thanks to very catchy melodies. He delivers his songs with a
lot of charisma and a unique voice, reminding Neil Young a
little, certainly an influence for him. With Love is Gold,
Ryan Kennedy offers us a solid album that will surely appeal to a
large audience. Very pleasant!
(November 2017)
Music Video:
« Honest Song » |
Go-Musique
  ½


|

After her appearance at the final of La Voix
(The Voice in Quebec) in 2015 and a debut album in French,
Rosa is back with a first recording in English. This is a resolutely
rock five-track EP, on which she returns to her first influences.
She is thus going to conquer new markets like the United States,
which she has already explored thanks to a tour within the
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In addition to the four energetic
tracks and the ballad "He Loves Me", all perfectly showcasing Rosa's
powerful voice, we can hear a new song in French, "Laisse-moi partir".
With Free, Rosa Laricchiuta will certainly open new doors,
having a raw vocal talent.
(November 2017) |
PUR
  ½


|

The Toronto band is back on record with If I Had
the Strength, after a year-long tour that took them all over the
world. The Lemon Bucket Orkestra draws its inspiration once again
from the folk traditions of Eastern Europe. On the other hand, this
album presents itself much more as a whole, with a solid narrative
line, rather than individual songs. It's about going back home and
not being exactly the same, which is probably what the band's
leader, Mark Marczyk, was feeling on his return from the
tour. The band is once again offering a very energetic album, which
will be very enjoyable to discover in concert.
(November 2017) |
Outside
  


|

After a few weaker years, it seems that Marilyn
Manson has found his creativity in recent years with increasingly
solid albums. He pursues in this direction with Heaven Upside
Down, his 10th career record. We find again the bluesy elements
of
The Pale Emperor,
skillfully mixed with the industrial sound that made his greatest
years and his fame. Some tracks are particularly catchy, like
"Kill4Me" and "Jesus Crisis". Manson and Tyler Bates offer us
several frankly aggressive, even disturbing songs ("Revelation #12",
"We Know Where You Fucking Live"), but they are tailor-made for
Marilyn Manson. So, we find a Marilyn Manson at his best, with music
that could serve as a soundtrack of any horror movie. Sensitive
ears, abstain!
(November 2017) |
Concord /
Universal
  ½


|

After almost 10 years of activity, Jessica Lea
Mayfield seems to have reached the peak of her career with this
fourth album. Her style is better defined than ever while she offers
an indie rock sound with sweet and nostalgic singing. Squeaky
guitars add spice to the ensemble on several occasions, including
the opening track, "Wish You Could See Me Now". Produced by John
Agnello (Sonic Youth, The Hold Steady), Sorry
is Gone has good times, even if it was written in a context of
separation for Jessica. A personal but also professional context
since her ex-husband, Jesse Newport, also produced her
previous album,
Make My Head Sing… A lot of fuzz and
echo create a very special atmosphere on this album around the voice
of Jessica. Definitely her best recording to date!
(November 2017) |
ATO
  ½


|

The so-called "Canada's Sweetheart of Swing" goes a
little further in her exploration of jazz standards of the 1920s,
30s and 40s with this new album of seven tracks. Hot Three
was recorded at New Orleans' Twerk-O-Phonic Sound studio on a 78-rpm
acetate via a Presto portable table. No error was possible, and it
was necessary to avoid any vibration, the needle risking spoiling a
recording. With her trio of musicians, we can say that Alex Pangman
really managed to move in the 1930s and feel what the musicians of
the time should feel, being always nervous to ruin everything before
the end of the recording session. Also, with this type of recording,
no post-production or addition of effect was possible. So, even on
CD, what we hear comes directly from the work done in the studio, in
a mono sound of course. The choice of songs also very well
represents the era with standards of that period. Obviously, with
barely 20 minutes, it's a bit short for an album, but it represents
the limits of the time. Even each song was limited to 3 minutes 15.
For the nostalgic of a long-gone time, here is what you need to go
almost a century back.
(November 2017) |
Justin Time /
SIX
  


|

On this first recording, Lydia Persaud presents a
unique folk style on ukulele, with a rather soulful voice. The
Toronto artist has surrounded herself with talented musicians,
including Robbie Grunwald (keyboards, bass and guitar) who
also produces it. Low Light is unfortunately an EP of only
four tracks (less than 14 minutes), but it will present itself as an
excellent introduction to this artist with unlimited talent that
will have to be watched closely.
(November 2017) |
  ½


|

In recent years, the former Led Zeppelin
singer seems more inspired than ever, in addition to having lost
none of his powerful voice. Robert Plant is back with Carry Fire
which seems to want to hypnotize us from the opening song, "The May
Queen". It's reminiscent of Led Zeppelin at the time of "Stairway to
Heaven", while retaining the unique personality that Plant has
acquired during his long 35-year solo career. We can indeed hear
throughout this album strong inspirations of English folk, which
have placed him in a box of his own in recent years. His mix of folk
and rock with Middle Eastern influences is still particularly
successful and it is difficult not to remain hooked until the end of
the 11 tracks. The presence again of the Sensational Space
Shifters is possibly for something in it. Let’s note his cover
of an old obscure song of 1958 by Ersel Hickey, "Bluebirds
Over the Mountains", which takes all its form here, as if it came
from the very hand of Plant. Carry Fire turns out to be a
complete album, without real weaknesses.
(November 2017) |
Nonesuch
/
Warner
  ½


|

The French band singing in English is back with its
sixth album, after an appetizer EP earlier this year (ApeTizer).
More than ever, Shaka Ponk merges the genres, while we still can
find this clever mix between energetic rock ("Gung Ho", "Fear Ya")
and electro-pop ("Faking Love"). The group even pushes towards metal
on "Wataman" and it marries rock and funk on "Rusty Fonky". On "Slam
& Slam'Ed", it is rap that is featured with the collaboration of
Edouard Baer. Then, the band offers us their first ballad with
"Mysterious Ways". In spite of their various explorations, Shaka
Ponk keep memorable melodies and very good beats. But above all, the
group remains well of its time, as much musically as for the lyrics.
This is a record that is once again really entertaining throughout
its length, despite nearly an hour of music. With The EVOL,
Shaka Ponk certainly present their strongest album to date, a
complete and rich album.
(November 2017)
Music Videos:
« Gung Ho »
-
« Mysterious Ways »
-
« Wrong Side » |
Tôt
ou Tard
/
SIX
  ½


|

With her second album, Subduction, pianist
and composer Julie Thériault offers us captivating instrumental
pieces, very cinematographic.
She is also a painter and she signs the canvas on the front art
cover.
The word "subduction" is defined in oceanography as a slow but
irreversible movement.
It's a bit the feeling that gives us the album with slow pieces, a
mix of shadow and light, which brings us on a long journey.
Images are virtually appearing to us.
A choir of 20 male voices is added to several pieces, as well as the
string ensemble of the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra.
We can also hear the Armenian-born violinist Nuné Melik who
enriches "Etna" and "Vlast" with her Landolfi 1750 violin. Michel
Bélanger was the artistic director of Subduction,
produced and mixed by Julie Thériault (who
also signs the arrangements) and Claude Champagne.
Here is a great record for a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.
(November 2017) |
Audiogram
  ½


|

It's been 15 years since the indie rock band was
formed in Cleveland, Ohio, before relocating to Richmond, Virginia.
J. Roddy Walston and the Business release their fourth album today.
They propose a fusion between contemporary alternative rock, classic
rock and southern rock. Their catchy melodies also make them widely
accessible to a more pop audience. They literally catch us from the
opening of the CD with the inevitable "You Know Me Better" and
"Blade of Truth", in addition to the excellent "The Wanting" and
"Bad Habits" a little later. Although the album is somewhat uneven,
it has enough catchy songs to keep our interest.
(November 2017) |
ATO
  


|

Weezer – Pacific
Daydream
After the solid
White Album last year, Weezer takes a
new turn with Pacific Daydream. Initially clearly influenced
by their native California, with titles like "Beach Boys" and "Feels
Like Summer", the band also offers literally pop songs that leave
out the abrasive guitars to face Maroon 5 and other
contemporary boy bands. They even add beats and other
electronic elements, a first for Weezer. The pop melodies may be a
tribute to the Beach Boys, but it's not very well done... Not
only will the band not join the audience of these legends, but it
lacks the freshness to excite the new generation of listeners. An
overproduction envelops everything in a nice little clean record
that is aiming who finally? Nobody!
(November 2017) |
  


|

The White Buffalo is the project of Jake Smith,
an Oregon-born Californian who started playing music at not less
than 19 years old. He offers a mix of folk, rock and country, with a
strong southern trend. Darkest Darks, Lightest Lights is his
fifth album and he continues
in the same direction with several solid songs that he sings with
his deep voice. The White Buffalo has already made his mark with
music for various movies and TV shows, but with this album, he may
well catch the attention of a wider audience.
(November 2017) |
Unison
  


|
october:
|

Jack Johnson –
All the Light Above it Too
For his first album in four years, Hawaiian Jack
Johnson offers 10 light and sunny songs, completely stripped down
and getting close to folk music on several occasions. His pop
melodies remain at the forefront for accessible music that is so
pleasant humming to infinity. Some tracks benefit from more complete
arrangements, such as "Big Sur" for example which does not fail to
catch our attention in the middle of this whole in simplicity. With
this seventh album, Johnson gives us a simple record for sure, but
so luminous and pleasant to listen to the end! We have the feeling
to be carried on a Hawaii beach to let ourselves be rocked by the
waves in background noise to the captivating music of Jack Johnson.
(October 2017 Featured Review) |
Brushfire
/
Island /
Republic
/
Universal
  ½


 |

After having formed several bands, London
singer-songwriter Jack Cooper releases his first solo album. He
gives us a rather sweet indie sound that makes an introspection on
his youth. Completely recorded and produced alone at home,
Sandgrown is filled with melancholy. The melodies are
unforgettable and his guitar play greatly supports his soft and
intimate voice. There are two instrumentals that are very pleasant,
even if one regrets his voice. With only nine tracks totaling not
even 30 minutes, the main problem with the album is that it is much
too short. So, you have to replay it in loops!
(October 2017 Featured New Artist) |
Trouble in Mind
  ½


|

Alvvays –
Antisocialites
After a critically acclaimed debut album in 2014,
Toronto's indie rock band is back with Antisocialites. The
expectations were great, but the band managed to bring back the same
indie pop sound that was quite noisy, a mix between new wave and pop
punk, with an even higher level of confidence. The result is a
package of excellent romantic and emotive songs, on a short CD of
less than 33 minutes. Arrangements are more extensive, more complete
than on their previous CD. Antisocialites is an extremely
solid album with few weaknesses and many memorable songs ("In
Undertow", "Dreams Tonite", "Plimsoll Punks", "Lollipop (Ode to
Jim)").
(October 2017) |
Polyvinyl
  ½


|

Jake Bugg – Hearts
That Strain
On Hearts That Strain, the British singer
dropped the electronics from his previous record and instead
concentrated on a folk rock style inspired by the 1960s and 1970s.
Even if he offers music that seems to come from another era, it fits
much better at Jake Bugg than anything he has been doing before. In
fact, it is as if he had really discovered his musical personality.
Producer Dan Auerbach may have something to do with it as he
invited him to Nashville to record this unique record of only 36
minutes. The voice of Bugg can sometimes irritate, but musically, it
is his best album to this day and by far, while we enjoy it until
the end. Note the presence of a guest singer, Noah Cyrus (Miley's
younger sister) who lends her voice to the magnificent "Waiting".
(October 2017) |
Virgin EMI /
Universal
  ½


|

Sylvie DesGroseilliers began late her career as a
singer, but she has since recovered with three albums, presence on
Quebec TV shows Belle et Bum and La Voix (The Voice),
as well as several musical reviews. On Women of Soul,
available in digital format, she pays tribute to several black
singers such as Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Patti
Labelle, Tina Turner, Donna Summer and Whitney
Houston. As a bonus, she sings an original song in French, "Laisse-toi
aller", in addition to the George Thurston
(Boule Noire) classic, "Aimer
d’amour", which she has so often interpreted
with her unique style. Sylvie's soulful voice is in a class of its
own to make us rediscover in her own way such great songs. In
addition, she offers us a lot for our money with over 77 minutes of
music. And with a tour to accompany the album that will land in
Montreal on November 8 at the Maison de la Culture Maisonneuve, what
a great way to prepare to celebrate 20 years of career in 2018!
(October 2017) |
PUR
  ½


|

On their ninth album, the Foo Fighters take a
certain musical turn as they move a little more towards progressive
rock, rather than the alternative and post-grunge sound that
characterized them until then. The guitars remain aggressive, but in
songs that are constantly changing, both in rhythm and atmosphere.
It is evident that Dave Grohl was inspired by Josh Homme
and Queens of the Stone Age. The occasional elements of
hardcore are interesting, but the whole is rather destabilizing and
difficult to follow. There is a refreshing side to this development
for the Seattle band, but fans may find it difficult to join this
new music direction.
(October 2017) |
RCA /
Sony
  

 |

Montreal's Lewis Furey is best known for composing
music for the films and albums of his wife, actress and singer
Carole Laure. As for Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), he is
best known for his symphonies, concertos, chamber music and many
piano works. On the other hand, he also wrote nearly 200 songs
(lieder) published in 33 collections. On this album, Lewis Furey
pays tribute to the Brahms lieder by adapting 17 of them in English
and singing them in a piano-voice version, in the purest German
tradition. We can recognize some of them, including the most famous,
"Lullaby & Goodnight".
(October 2017) |
ATMA
  


|

The charismatic American country singer returns with
his second album, Everybody. Chris Janson has a contemporary
country sound with a strong pop trend, thanks to unforgettable
melodies and good beats. The production is of quality with large
scale arrangements that give a much more urban than rural side to
his country music. We could even say that the record is sometimes
overproduced and that we might have preferred a sound a little
dirtier, more skinned. Janson clearly offers music for the radios
and arena concerts. The set is sunny and entertaining, which should
satisfy most of the fans of contemporary country.
(October 2017) |
Warner
  


|

Wyclef Jean –
Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee
Oddly enough, after having offered us the EP
J’ouvert earlier this year, which
totaled almost 48 minutes in its deluxe version, Wyclef Jean arrives
with his first full-length album in 10 years which does not even
reach 43 minutes.
Carnival III is issued 20 years after
The Carnival,
his first solo album after the Fugees.
It is a usual album for Jean, without great surprises.
Filled with positivism, it brings at least freshness in this sense.
On the other hand, it turns out to be musically without much
interest with songs that are cruelly lacking personality.
Again, he fuses skillfully genres, with worldbeat, soul, hip hop and
of course R&B.
But, nothing succeeds to truly stand out from the pack, surprisingly
tasteless.
Carnival III has a good number of collaborators, but that add
nothing more to the whole, even Emeli Sandé.
Finally, despite its inconsistencies, we can conclude that
J’ouvert
had a more interesting ensemble, especially with its cover of
Jacques Brel's "Ne me quitte pas".
(October 2017) |
Heads /
Sony
 ½

 |

Originally from Ottawa and now based in Paris, Kyrie
Kristmanson is a full-fledged artist, in the purest sense of the
word. With her haunting voice, she offers folk music with medieval
influences. She is also accompanied here by Quatuor Noce, a young
French classical band that likes experimentation. On this 10-track
album, Kyrie offers a trip to another world and another era. Rather
difficult to access, for both folk and classical fans, Modern
Ruin is an album to be discovered slowly, with a great opening.
(October 2017) |
Naïve /
SIX
  


|

Lights – Skin
& Earth

Only one year after
Midnight Machines, the prolific
Ontario singer is already back with a new album. Lights offers
particularly catchy songs that range from electro dance pop ("Until
the Light") to rather aggressive rock ("Savage"). Of course, there
are still softer songs of alternative pop, but in any case, her
voice remains in evidence. Despite the variations in styles, she
managed to create a solid guideline influenced by the comic books
she produced recently. In fact, each of the 14 songs draws its
inspiration from a chapter. She presents compositions of high
quality, charged with emotion, and powerful. A handful of producers
have managed to make these great songs glitter and make it the most
enjoyable Lights album to date. In fact, it is the weaker moments
that become scarce while the whole remains effective until the end.
We can certainly say that Lights is offering us her most convincing
album with Skin & Earth. Listen to it in a loop!
(October 2017)
Music Videos:
« Giants » -
« Skydiving »
-
« Savage » -
« New Fears » |
Universal
   


|

The Toronto band Lowest of the Low was formed more
than 25 years ago, but took long breaks along the way. So, this is
only their fifth album, the first in 13 years. The guys still offer
an alternative rock sound that balances between the 1980s and 1990s,
a sound that has rather aged! You can also hear some hard rock
moments ("The Hard Way") and pop melodies all over the album. Do
the Right Now has great moments, but it must be admitted that
Lowest of the Low is not the most creative band. Their music is
therefore mainly aimed at the nostalgic people of a bygone era in
the history of rock, when the guitars occupied the whole place
before being replaced by electronic arrangements.
(October 2017) |
Pheromone
  

 |

Winner of the Grammy for the best vocal jazz album
in 2016 for the album
For One to Love, the
Franco-American artist is already back, and with a double album of
112 minutes. Cécile McLorin Salvant does not skimp and continues her
meteoric rise, as she is only 27 years old. She offers 23 tracks,
original compositions and judiciously chosen covers, which revolve
around the theme of interpersonal relationships. Coproduced by
Cécile and Al Pryor, Dreams and Daggers was recorded
in front of an audience in New York City. In addition to her regular
trio, she is accompanied by the string quartet Catalyst Quartet
and pianist Sullivan Fortner. It is an ambitious album filled
with humor and intelligence, confirming the incomparable talent of
Cécile McLorin Salvant.
(October 2017) |
Justin Time /
SIX
   


|

The Vancouver duo is back with
a new album, less than a year after
Positive Thinking.
On Dollhouse, The Pack AD continues to move away
from its blues and punk influences that have made it abundantly
compared to
the
White Stripes and
the
Black Keys.
Becky Black (vocals
and guitar) and Maya Miller (drums) remain in an indie rock
style often squeaky, sometimes experimental, but with solid pop
melodies that make them quite accessible to a wide audience.
The Pack AD offers us once again an excellent album,
its
main problem being
to be too short with only 28
minutes.
(October 2017) |
Cadence
  ½


|

Following the huge success of his first two albums,
the German DJ is back with Uncovered, an album of 18 tracks
totaling nearly 68 minutes. Here, we still find the very pop house
music typical to Robin Schulz, perfect for both dance floors and
commercial radios. He is accompanied by renowned collaborators
including David Guetta, another DJ, for the hit "Shed a
Light". You can also hear James Blunt (on the excellent
"OK"), Rhys, Nico Santos and Cheat Codes.
Schulz certainly does not introduce as many potential hits as on his
previous records, but his fans will certainly appreciate it anyway.
(October 2017)
Music Videos:
« Shed a Light »
-
« OK » |
Tonspiel
/
Warner
  


|

With her fifth album, Annie Clark (aka St.
Vincent) presents much more personal songs, hiding less behind her
character than before. There are songs that date back several years,
taken from voice memos, text messages, melodies and notes, collected
during her travels around the world. Produced by Jack Antonoff
(Lorde, Taylor Swift), Masseduction offers a
sound more pop than on her previous records, with still a good dose
of guitars, synthesizers and other elements of often complex
electro. Several rhythms are catchy, as for example with the title
track. But it's the unforgettable melodies that quickly attract us
to this first-rate album, certainly her strongest to date. Thanks to
Masseduction, St. Vincent still secures a place among the
best albums of the year, a habit she kept for three albums now.
(October 2017) |
Loma Vista /
Concord /
Universal
   


|

Now is the first album
by the Canadian singer in 15 years, only the fifth of her career
spanning three decades. Shania Twain remains anyway the female
country singer who has sold the most albums to date (75 million). On
this new record, she allows herself for the first time to do all the
songwriting, in addition to coproduce. You can hear 16 songs with
rather varied styles while country music rubs with 1960’s and more
modern pop, contemporary adult music and several ballads. Soon we
realize that Shania lost her flamboyant and entertaining personality
of the 1990s, which made her famous indeed. Here, it is rather her
pain of the last years (sickness, separation) that emerges
throughout the CD, while she seems almost to feel sorry for her
fate, unless it is her personal therapy that she does with us. On
the other hand, there are very few exciting parts to this music
which is frankly annoying overall. Some more interesting tracks come
at the end ("You Can’t Buy Love" and the first single "Life's About
to Get Good"), but it's too little too late. Now has nothing
to do with what we knew (and liked) about Shania Twain.
(October 2017)
Music Video:
« Life’s About to Get Good » |
Mercury /
Universal
 


|

The Weather Station, it is in fact a lady, Tamara
Lindeman, a singer and songwriter from Toronto that has been
offering an indie folk sound for about ten years. Two years after
the critically acclaimed album
Loyalty, she is back with a new self-titled record. On this
new album, she reinvents herself by adding more audacious musical
arrangements to her poetic narratives. Her voice remains vibrant and
unique, but the strings that are added to the whole give it a
musical richness that is greatly appreciated.
(October 2017) |
Outside
/
SIX
  ½


|

For her new album, the Toronto jazz pianist and
singer emerges from her comfort zone as she finds herself alone at
the piano rather than accompanied by seasoned musicians. Carol
Welsman offers 16 songs that have been chosen by her fans and are
all romantic. You can hear some French songs ("Les
feuilles mortes", "Les
parapluies de Cherbourg", "Les moulins de mon
cœur"), Latin classics ("Besame Mucho", "Corcovado", "Garota de
Ipanema") and a good number of American standards. For You is
an intimate album that allows us to rediscover Carol Welsman’s warm
and sensual voice.
(October 2017) |
Welcar
/
SIX
  ½


|

Recorded in one day in Malibu in 1976, Hitchhiker
is an album that has remained in the vault of Neil Young and has
never been released, unlike Homegrown and Chrome Dreams,
its cousins
of
the same era. Finally, it is issued more than 40 years later, while
he was hesitating to consider it a complete piece until the last few
years. Produced by David Briggs, this is a real solo album,
while Young is alone on the guitar and occasionally on harmonica.
The songs sound like Neil Young's classics, but in a very bare and
relaxed version. With a little more arrangement and conviction from
Young, they could have been on most of his albums without Crazy
Horse. The only song that has been released on another record is
"Campaigner" that we heard on
Decade in 1977. Neil Young's hardcore
fans will have a great time discovering this unknown work. If you
are not, many other albums of his wide career are likely to satisfy
you more.
(October 2017) |
Reprise
/
Warner
  


|
september:
|

Five years have passed since the second album of the
blonde singer, five years during which Kesha mainly put her energy
in a legal battle with her former collaborator Dr. Luke whom
she initially accused of sexual and emotional abuse. This still
tense situation is reflected in many of Rainbow's lyrics.
Musically, Kesha is moving towards a more rock, folk and even
country sound. She offers several excellent and creative
compositions which highlight her vocal capacities. The use of pianos
and strings, especially in the title track, adds some richness to
the whole and makes it go up to the next level. Kesha also
collaborates with surprising artists such as Eagles of Death
Metal on 2 tracks, The Dap-Kings Horns and Dolly
Parton. Rainbow may not contain instant hits like "TiK
ToK", but it is much more interesting than her two previous records.
(September 2017 Featured Review)
Music Videos:
« Woman » -
« Praying »
-
« Learn To Let Go »
-
« Rainbow » |
Kemosabe
/
RCA /
Sony
  ½


 |

After the mega hit "Take My Hand" and an EP, the
Irish duo Picture This gives us its debut full-length album. You can
hear a folk pop sound with some rock moments, but especially
completely unforgettable melodies. Moreover, the recent single,
"Everything I Need", is already a favorite of commercial radios and
risks not to leave you after a few listenings. Ryan Hennessy
(voice and guitar) and Jimmy Rainsford (drums) certainly have
a winning recipe and an undeniable talent for writing songs with
great efficiency. (September 2017 Featured
New Artist)
Music Videos:
« Take My Hand »
-
« Never Change »
-
« Everything I Need » |
Island /
Republic
/
Universal
  ½


|

Jason Bajada –
Loveshit II (Blondie & the Backstabberz)
Jason Bajada has always fueled with romantic dramas.
On the other hand, in the aftermath of the excellent album
Volcano and the radio hit of "Pékin (Les amitiés)", he hit a
wall. Heart broken, friendships that collapse and betray have made
him slid towards suicidal ideas and a stay in psychiatric hospital.
If his album
Loveshit in 2009 had allowed him to chase a few demons, what
more logical than to release Loveshit II to empty his heart.
This is what Bajada does thoroughly on this 20-track double album
totaling 74 minutes. Thanks to the production of Philippe Brault
who knows how to highlight Bajada's talent as a melodist, the album
does not seem too miserable at the end, but rather looking towards
the future, filled with hope. Effective pop rock songs alternate
with mid-tempo tracks that can recall Morrissey ("The Worst
Year of My Life") or The Cure ("Painkiller"). He also offers
the poignant acoustic ballad "You Had Me at I'm Gonna Ruin Your
Life". Even if Jason Bajada sings generally dark stories, he
succeeds in making us keep our good mood, a feat in itself!
(September 2017) |
Audiogram
  ½


|

The legendary Canadian singer and songwriter is back
with his first album in seven years, followed by an impressive tour.
Bruce Cockburn will be soon inducted into the Pantheon of Canadian
Songwriters and Composers, and he continues to be as relevant with
his powerful lyrics and his unique folk rock style. This 33rd album
was produced by Colin Linden who succeeded in getting the
best of the 72-year old artist. His guitar playing remains
remarkable and is at the heart of this extremely interesting record.
The 11 tracks include "3 Al Purdys" in honor of Al Purdy who
was at the very source of inspiration for this record. With Bone
on Bone, Bruce Cockburn seems more solid than ever, in perfect
control of his art.
(September 2017) |
True North
/
SIX
  ½


|

Following the success of
One World two years ago, the Canadian
guitarist and composer returns with a new album. As its title
suggests, Jesse Cook explores more than ever world music on
Beyond Borders, a real musical journey. There is still this new
age background played with mastery on acoustic guitar, but the whole
compels a much greater opening to the world with traces of Latin
music, Mediterranean music, flamenco, and so on. So, once again,
Jesse Cook offers us a very nice album to listen to.
(September 2017) |
eOne /
SIX
  ½


|

Established in Toronto for twenty years, the pianist
native from Havana is making a great comeback on record with
Contumbao. For the occasion, Hilario Duran returned to Havana to
record at the famous Egrem studio, which he had known in the 1970s
and 1980s. He is accompanied by renown musicians for the recording
of these 12 jazz pieces with Cuban influences. One can even hear a
very special guest in Chucho Valdes, a great influence of
Hilario, who performs in an inflamed piano duet with him on the play
"Duo Influenciado". This piece was recorded in Toronto during the
Valdes tour with Joe Lovano. This is once again a
high-quality album that Hilario Duran offers us with Contumbao.
(September 2017) |
ALMA
/
SIX
  ½


|

Pianist, arranger and composer Jean Fernand Girard
only releases his second album, although he has worked for more than
30 years alongside artists such as Bob Walsh and Marie-Michèle
Desrosiers, as well as acting as producer and music director on
television and on stage. He is accompanied for the occasion by
renowned musicians, including his old accomplices, Guy Bélanger
on the harmonica and Jean Cyr on double bass. Girard
offers a pure and free jazz that leaves plenty of room for
improvisation, while highlighting the talent of the musicians who
seem in perfect control of their instrument. Jazz Waves is a
record of more than 50 minutes which remains pleasant to listen
until the end.
(September 2017) |
Bros
/
SIX
  ½


|

A versatile musician, pianist and composer
Jean-François Groulx returns to a more standard jazz style after
exploring world music. Accompanied by double bassist Adrian
Vedady and drummer Paul Brochu (UZEB), Groulx
offers eight pieces of contemporary jazz with a lively groove. The
melodies are catchy, but the whole remains sufficiently refined to
satisfy the inveterate jazz fans. Spirale is played
magnificently by the trio that seems in perfect cohesion throughout
the record.
(September 2017) |
De l'onde
  ½


|

Matt
Herskowitz Trio – Forget Me Not: Homage
to Lew Soloff
Matt Herskowitz is a world-renowned pianist and
composer who was born in the state of New York, but has adopted
Montreal for almost 20 years. He is as comfortable in classical as
jazz, but it is the later that he explores thoroughly on Forget
Me Not, originally released in 2005, but rearranged in homage to
the great trumpeter Lew Soloff. The album presents a good mix of
styles as jazz integrates contemporary classical, funk, blues and
Latin and Brazilian music. There are 10 pieces totaling 66 minutes,
some original compositions by Herskowitz, but also Nina Simone’s
"Four Women", Henry Mancini’s "Etude on the Days of Wine &
Roses", and several other covers played masterfully.
(September 2017) |
Justin Time /
SIX
   


|

The folk duo from Saskatoon is back with its fourth
album, Talk is Cheap. The 10-piece auto-produced album
contains a folk sound that is both light and lively, thanks to an
undeniable pop trend reminiscent of the 1960s. The Karpinka Brothers
are accompanied by renowned musicians: Mathieu Charbonneau (Timber
Timbre) on piano and keyboards, Jamie Thompson (Unicorns,
Islands) on drums and percussion, Sophie Trudeau (Godspeed
You! Black Emperor) on violin, Joel Kerr (Sarah Slean)
on bass and Krista Muir on backing vocals. Here is a very
good album, very pleasant to listen to!
(September 2017) |
  ½


|

Rob Lutes – Walk in
the Dark
Toronto's Rob Lutes issues his seventh album with
Walk in the Dark. There is still his unique guitar fingering as
he offers bluesy folk music somewhere between Neil Young,
Bob Dylan and Lou Reed. The album was recorded in
Montreal in just three days and it introduces greatly his soulful
voice and contagious groove. Lutes co-produced with Rob Heaney
(Cirque du Soleil) and was accompanied by renowned musicians:
Rob MacDonald (guitar), Bob Stagg (keyboards), Guy
Bélanger (harmonica), Joe Grass (guitar), as well as
Ian Kelly. Lutes explores various subjects, as well as paying
tribute to James Cotton ("There's No Way To Tell You That
Tonight") and guitarist Joseph Spence (the instrumental
"Spence"). Two tracks were co-written with American Dale Boyle
and there is a song by John Prine ("Rocky Mountain Time"). It
is a solid album from beginning to end that offers us a Rob Lutes in
great shape.
(September 2017) |
Lucky Bear
/
SIX
  ½


|

The trio led by pianist and composer Emie R. Roussel
is complemented by bassist Nicolas Bédard and drummer
Dominic Cloutier. They have had the opportunity over the past
two years to perform in 11 countries on four continents. The trio
returns with a fourth album strongly inspired by these many cultural
discoveries. The three musicians play a mix of acoustic and electric
music, but always with excellent melodies and effective beats. To
the seven pieces as a trio are added three pieces specially composed
for guests. First, there is Guadeloupian singer Malika Tirolien
who lends her voice to the beautiful soul jazz of "Away". Then, we
can hear Canadian-New Zealand trumpeter Lex French, met in
2014 in Oceania, on "De Tadoussac à Auckland". Finally, there is
Canadian bassist Norman Lachapelle, a major influence for
Nicolas Bédard, on the play "Tout le monde ensemble". With
Intersections, it is an inspired and inspiring album that the
Emie R. Roussel Trio suggests, a highly creative contemporary jazz
album.
(September 2017) |
Effendi
/
SIX
  ½


|

The band formed 15 years ago in Ottawa is already
releasing its eighth album with Under Burning Skies. The
Souljazz Orchestra of course explores jazz and soul, but also funk
that can be heard throughout this album. The band uses analog
keyboards, which add a touch of disco and boogie to their already
well-varied sound. The brass remains in the foreground, while a drum
machine gives the beat. The sextet seems more in control than ever
of its art and above all, it is still ready to go on stage to give a
breathtaking performance. Here is an excellent record from this
unique Canadian collective!
(September 2017) |
Do Right! Music
/
SIX
  ½


|
august:
|

After a rather annoying album in 2015 with
Honeymoon, Lana Del Rey
returns with a little more positivism on Lust For Life. On
the other hand, the tempo is not necessarily more energetic than on
the previous one. After all, she works again with her faithful
collaborator, producer Rick Nowels. We can hear several
well-known collaborators, including for the singles, "Summer Bummer"
(A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti), "Groupie Love" (A$AP
Rocky) and the title track (The Weeknd). You can also hear
Stevie Nicks on "Beautiful People Beautiful Problems", as well
as Sean Ono Lennon on "Tomorrow Never Came". At 72 minutes,
the album may seem long, but it is above all an atmospheric album to
play in loop in the background of a rather quiet context. Few tracks
stand out and many will seem monotonous. If she could concentrate
the album around the best compositions, Lana Del Rey would certainly
have offered a product of much higher quality.
(August 2017 Featured Review)
Music Video:
« Lust For Life » |
Polydor
/
Interscope
/
Universal
  


 |

Dua Lipa is a 21-year-old English singer who
releases her debut album. The singer-songwriter performs catchy pop
songs mostly danceable, but most of all greatly inspired. She has
spent crazy time in the studio in recent years to refine her style
and issued 6 singles including 3 top 40s in the UK. It is these hits
that provide the highlights of the record, including "Hotter Than
Hell", "Be the One" and "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)". She also offers a
duet with Miguel for "Lost in Your Light". What strikes
quickly with Dua Lipa is her unlimited vocal capacities, which are
perfectly enhanced by excellent songs. In some passages a little
slower, she turns into a soul singer of high level who has nothing
to envy to the biggest stars (Adele, Sia, etc.). The
album concludes with a beautiful minimalist ballad, "Homesick",
written with Chris Martin (Coldplay). It is therefore
a first album at the same time surprising and extremely satisfactory
that offers us Dua Lipa. This record opens the way on a very
beautiful career to follow closely.
(August 2017 Featured New Artist)
Music Videos:
« Hotter Than Hell » -
« Be the One » -
« Blow Your Mind (Mwah) » -
« Lost in Your Light » -
« New Rules » |
Warner
  ½


|

For this fifth studio album, Arcade Fire have put a
lot of efforts by hiring renowned producers to co-produce with them.
First, there are Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk) and
Steve Mackey (Pulp), as well as the participation of
Geoff Barrow (Portishead) and Marcus Dravs (who
previously worked with the Montreal band in the past).
As for the guest musicians, there are longtime friends like Owen
Pallett and Sarah Neufeld, not forgetting the legendary
Daniel Lanois who plays the pedal steel guitar on a few
tracks.
Musically, the band pursues in a pop direction where electronics
dominate largely on guitars.
On the other hand, the dark texts contrast these sounds which often
seem light.
There is only "Infinite Content" that detonates a bit through the
whole with a much more aggressive rock garage style in its first
part and soft country music in its second.
We will find a more direct rock 'n' roll sound at only one other
time, on "Good God Damn", while the whole is inspired mostly by
disco.
Arcade Fire are once again exploring new territories on
Everything Now.
On the other hand, they always seem to remain in balance between
creativity and already heard music.
It is an effective album, but it certainly will not change the face
of music.
(August 2017) |
Sony
  ½


|

Australian Kim Churchill releases his fifth album
with Weight_Falls, including the first single, "Second Hand
Car". It took him 18 months of writing to come up with this new
record following
Silence/Win issued in 2014. He was
thinking that his songs were too clean, too polished, and he ended
up throwing everything and starting over again. So, he wrote a new
version of the album in just a week, before taking two months to
record it with producer Ian Pritchett in a garage in Sydney.
The result is a varied and raw album on which you can still find
complex guitars and the effective melodies of Kim Churchill. The
surprises are mostly the energetic percussions and the creative
vocal harmonies. Churchill offers us a great album, which will
surely please his fans. (August 2017) |
Cadence
/
SIX
  ½


|

Coldplay –
Kaleidoscope EP
Even if it is the title of a track from the
A Head Full of Dreams album, this new Coldplay EP does not
contain the song "Kaleidoscope". It contains five other songs,
including the hit "Something Just Like This" in collaboration with
the Chainsmokers in a live version identified as Tokyo
Remix. There is also a collaboration with Big Sean for
"Miracles", not to mention that Brian Eno contributed to the
writing of the excellent "ALIEN". Kaleidoscope will surely
make you be patient until the next Coldplay album, while surfing on
the more pop atmosphere of
A Head Full of Dreams.
(August 2017) |
Parlophone
/
Warner
  ½


|

Cydemind is a progressive metal band from Quebec
that has the distinction of being led by the violin rather than the
guitar. On the other hand, the guitar riffs remain creative, not to
mention a rhythm section that hammers each track vigorously. On
Erosion, the band offers only six tracks, but for a total of 64
minutes anyway. It must be said that the title track alone extends
over 27 minutes in conclusion of the CD. Produced and mixed by
Chris Donaldson, a Montreal specialist in heavy metal, the
instrumental album offers a superb blend of progressive rock, jazz
and symphonic metal. A great surprise that is pleasant to hear!
(August 2017) |
  ½


|

The Dears – Times
Infinity, Volume Two
Two years after the first volume, here is the #2 of
Times Infinity for the Montreal band The Dears. It must be
said that it was recorded at the same time as the first, but that it
is only discovered now. It is therefore natural that volume 2 should
continue in the same rather intimate and widely accessible tone.
There are great moments of pop music, but also bluesy or R&B
incursions that break somewhat the general rhythm of the album.
Murray Lightburn steals the show with his voice on this record,
while he takes on influences of David Bowie on some
occasions. We may find a little less of foreground compositions than
on the first of the series, but there is enough humor and cynicism
to make volume 2 interesting too.
(August 2017) |
Dangerbird
/ Fontana North
  ½


|

On its third album, the Los Angeles trio Foster the
People offers rather funky pop music. There are also hip hop, new
wave or pop passages, somewhat more experimental. The synthesizers
are numerous, either influenced by the 1980s, or inspired by
contemporary electro music. Despite effective pop melodies, it is
felt throughout Sacred Hearts Club that Mark Foster's
band had the desire of exploring a little more, pushing its limits.
The result is more than interesting with a pleasant record to listen
to the end despite frankly cerebral parts. Very successful!
(August 2017) |
Columbia /
Sony
  ½


|

HAIM – Something
to Tell You
The three Californian sisters are back with a second
album, having conquered a large audience with
Days Are Gone four years ago. On
Something to Tell You, they seem more at ease than ever in the
1990s-pop genre with influences from Sheryl Crow, Shania
Twain and Amy Grant. One can also make obvious
comparisons with Wilson Phillips and Fleetwood Mac on
numerous occasions. Indeed, this is what will vary in opinions on
this album. Some will appreciate their refreshing pop sound with
something from another time, and others will consider that their
pastiche of yesteryears can be strongly related to copy. In short,
the Haim sisters present a good mix of both, with effective pop
songs and somewhat too striking similarities to works of the past.
They venture a little less on Something to Tell You, but they
still remain interesting.
(August 2017) |
Columbia /
Sony
  


|

This thirteenth album by the famous rapper creates a
certain break with his past.
First, there is only one beatmaker, No I.D., a rare
occurrence for Jay-Z.
The varied rhythms prove worthy of the reputation of this
experienced rapper.
You can hear on 4:44 influences of soul, funk and reggae, not
to mention electronic programs, all of which adding depth to this
short 36-minute album.
A certain emotion emerges from the whole record which seems
sometimes wanting to go into nostalgia.
In the absence of radio hits, one can especially discover perfect
pieces for quiet evenings at home.
Only two notable appearances on the album: Frank Ocean and
Beyoncé (his charming wife).
Jay-Z offers a record that is both mature and modern, a record that
can please both his long-time fans and the new generation of rap
fans. A very good album!
(August 2017) |
Roc Nation /
Universal
  ½


|

Karim Kharbouch (aka
French Montana) is a rapper born in Morocco who lives in Bronx. He
releases his second official album containing nothing less than 18
tracks. We can hear a wide range of collaborators, from Pharrell
to Travis Scott through Swae Lee, The Weeknd,
Future, T.I., Young Thug, etc. French Montana
explores in a way all the aspects of hip hop, going through almost
all the clichés surrounding that way of life. A name comes back to
mind all along the record: Drake. Several songs seem to be
too much inspired by him to remain original. Jungle Rules
suffers from some stretching in length with more than 64 minutes and
several tracks that bring nothing new to the genre. Some moments
will seem interesting, but unfortunately too little.
(August 2017) |
Bad Boy / Epic /
Sony
 ½


|

The New Yorker of Dominican origin Romeo Santos has
had a phenomenal success in recent years.
Still, he resists the temptation to take a pop turn on this third
album, as did many of his Latin American compatriots.
Santos remains faithful to his origins and presents a new style of
bachata accompanied only by keyboards and percussions with discreet
guitars.
He offers us nothing less than 18 tracks totaling 65 minutes.
He is once again accompanied with renowned collaborators, but of
Latin origin this time rather than American superstars.
We can hear the voices of Juan Luis Guerra, Daddy Yankee,
Julio Iglesias, Nicky Jam, Ozuna and Jessie
Reyez.
With Daddy Yankee and Nicky Jam, Santos presents an unmistakable
reggaetón in "Bella y Sensual", which seems to be copied on "Debate
de 4" from his debut album.
The main weakness of the album is the lyrics that always revolve
around sex, his status as Casanova, etc.
Despite a CD that is a little too long with several comparable
songs, we find on Golden a few potential hits that should
allow Romeo Santos to remain popular: "Héroe Favorito", "Imitadora",
etc.
(August 2017)
Music Video:
« Imitadora » |
Sony
  


|

After four decades with his Destroyers,
singer and guitarist George Thorogood issues his very first solo
album. He offers acoustic versions, completely stripped, of classic
blues, as well as some songs of contemporary blues. It features a
unique version of John Lee Hooker's "One Bourbon, One Scotch,
One Beer", Hank Williams’ "Pictures From Life's Other Side",
and the Rolling Stones’ "No Expectations". The CD version
also contains a 15th song in bonus, Robert Johnson’s "Dynaflow
Blues". On this album where he plays all instruments, George
Thorogood demonstrates more than ever his talent as a blues
musician, proof that all that time he did not need the artifices of
the Destroyers.
(August 2017) |
Rounder /
Universal
  


|

After the surprising
Lost in the Dream in 2014, the
Philadelphia band is back with its fourth career recording, A
Deeper Understanding, which is a logical follower. You can hear
a clever mix of indie rock and more corporate rock, with always very
effective melodies. The voice of Adam Granduciel has many
similarities with that of Bob Dylan, to the point that it is
disturbing at times. Despite the accessibility of most of the songs
on the record, the group retains some creative freedom on A
Deeper Understanding, even going as far as to deliver seven
tracks of more than six minutes (out of a total of 10) including one
of 11 minutes (the first single, "Thinking of a Place"). It was
therefore not a question of offering tailor-made songs for radio
stations for Granduciel and his band. The group gains in depth and
interest in the slower and introspective songs ("Knocked Down"). The
War On Drugs offer us again an excellent album, creative and
enjoyable until the end.
(August 2017) |
Atlantic /
Warner
  ½

 |

White Hot Guilt is a side project by Josh
Warburton (July Talk) and Toronto producer Thomas
D'Arcy (Small Sins, Tommy Hawkins). They met
several years ago and it is their desire to produce together a
little more pop music that brought them together. On this five-track
EP, the duo offers funky electro pop music in which brass plays an
important role in accompanying Warburton's falsetto voice, a set
that can remind the Scissor Sisters. But most of all, what is
retained throughout the CD is the pleasure that emerges from it,
perhaps as a therapy for Warburton who is just coming back from
rehabilitation. It is a first very successful impression for this
duo which suggests good things in the future.
(August 2017) |
TDM
  ½


|
july:
|

On
Prism four years ago, Katy Perry
reached a certain maturity with a little more adult music, except
for the dance song "Dark Horse".
It is on that song that Katy decided to build for Witness
which is much more club-oriented with energetic electro music.
Electronic beats and synthesizers dominate completely here.
But it is not always successful, on the contrary!
The only track that provides a minimum of excitement is the hit
"Chained to the Rhythm", with perhaps also "Pendulum".
Otherwise, we can hear frankly boring songs, including two useless
ballads, the worst being by far "Bigger Than Me".
Katy talks about social topics that might be interesting, but on
music so tasteless that you no longer want to listen to the end.
Witness is a weird album and would have been more relevant
early in her career, when Katy Perry lacked confidence.
(July 2017 Featured Review)
Music Videos:
« Chained to the Rhythm » -
« Bon Appétit » |
Capitol
/
Universal
 


 |

Nick Hakim arrives from Washington, DC with a rather
underground R&B style. The singer, songwriter and
multi-instrumentalist offers somewhat psychedelic aerial music with
a soft voice, atmospheric music on which one can be rocked when
playing in the background. However, to truly discover all the
subtleties on Green Twins, some effort is needed. The album
proposes more depth than the two EPs previously issued and which
allowed Hakim to be recognized. We discover the true face and all
the artistic possibilities of Nick Hakim on Green Twins, an
album that will surely bring him recognition, although popular
success will be difficult to acquire with music of such consistency.
(July 2017 Featured New Artist)
Music Video:
« Roller Skates » |
ATO
  ½


|

Baltimore's pop punk band has released new albums
with great consistency for 10 years. All Time Low are already having
their seventh record with Last Young Renegade, following the
acclaimed
Future Hearts released two years ago,
the last for Hopeless Records. This new recording also introduces a
change of orientation for the band that becomes much more pop than
rock with synthesizers and dancing rhythms. There are some hints of
the past, but this is clearly not what dominates here. The whole is
still intense and emotional, which may appeal to their first
audience, if they are ready to follow them in a new way that reminds
OneRepublic on several occasions. Note the presence of
Tegan and Sara for the very effective "Ground Control". In
conclusion, despite their pop turn, All Time Low have enough
interesting tracks to attract a large audience.
(July 2017) |
Fueled by Ramen
/
Warner
  


|

60 years ago, Chuck Berry was one of the precursors
of rock 'n' roll by releasing his debut album.
Released three months after his death at the age of 90, Chuck
is his first record of original songs in 38 years and he would
certainly have liked to be still there to present it to the public.
For more than 20 years in the 1980s and 1990s he had lost interest
in writing new songs, a desire that was revived later in the years
2000. This new album is therefore the fruit of several years
of work and it presents a legendary artist with still powerful
voice.
What we realize quickly on "Wonderful Woman" and "Big Boys" is that
he had not lost any energy with the guitar in his hand, for Chuck
Berry as we knew him well.
He later slows down the rhythm on a few songs, but the beats return
at different moments of the 10-song CD, of which "Lady B. Goode", a
nod to his greatest hit.
He also presents one of his finest poems set in song with
"Dutchman".
With Chuck, this rock 'n' roll legend proves that he could
still compete with any artist of today.
A surprising and extremely pleasant album to listen to, which loops
magnificently an incomparable career!
(July 2017) |
Dualtone /
eOne
  ½


|

Benjamin Booker is a singer and songwriter from
Virginia who plays a mix of blues and somewhat dirty rock, certainly
inspired by the garage blues sound of the White Stripes,
Black Keys and company. However, despite his hoarse voice, he
has melodies a little more pop with soul and folk tendencies. On
this second album, he is more politically and socially involved,
following the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. This mix of
committed and personal songs, accompanied by rich and varied music,
results in a complete album that is extremely pleasant to listen to,
his most accomplished work to date. A very nice surprise!
(July 2017) |
ATO
  ½


|

Cheap Trick have experienced an unexpected success
with their album of last year
Bang, Zoom, Crazy... Hello. So, it's
probably what motivated them to come back with a new album just over
a year later. We're All Alright! takes again the most
interesting of the previous one, while going a little further with
an energetic rock sound worthy of their best years, with as bonus a
real pleasure quite contagious. In fact, their sound is a little
more rock than in the late 1970s and 1980s when the band was
inspired a little more by the Beatles. On We're All
Alright!, they put more forward their hard rock side with energy
based on the rhythm section. This is an extremely enjoyable album
that offer us Cheap Trick, a perfect album to accompany your road
trips throughout the summer.
(July 2017) |
Big Machine /
Universal
  ½


|

DragonForce –
Reaching Into Infinity (CD + DVD)

The masters of power metal are back with a new
faster than lightning album, despite its 70 minutes. On this seventh
album, DragonForce welcome a new drummer in Gee Anzalone.
They present music that is still as fast and heavy with perfect
execution, but harmonies and melodies seem more accessible than
ever. Will they reach the top of the charts while continuing to
demonstrate all their virtuosity? Reaching into Infinity has
everything needed to please a large audience, if you are not too
stunned by the infernal rhythm section and the prowess of guitarists
Sam Totman and Herman Li, perhaps the best duo of
guitarists these days. Note that the band pays tribute to Iron
Maiden's "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" with the 11-minute "Edge
of the World" song. They also offer two bonus tracks ("Hatred and
Revenge" and "Evil Dead"), as well as a DVD containing songs
recorded in concert at the Woodstock Festival in Poland in 2016.
With Reaching into Infinity, it is easy to say that
DragonForce offer their strongest album in 10 years, since the
unmistakable
Ultra Beatdown in 2008.
(July 2017) |
Electric Generation /
Cadence
   


|

The Kingston, Ontario group has been around for 30
years. On this seventh album, Hugh Dillon and his band again
offer this mix of accessible rock close to Tragically Hip and
hard rock as AC / DC, with obvious influences on several
occasions from the Rolling Stones. An effective rhythm
section will surely make you stomp your feet for several songs. The
guitar remains also greatly effective with quality riffs. Despite
great entertainment, the Headstones remain often a predictable band.
(July 2017) |
Cadence
  


|

The Las Vegas rock band is definitely evolving on
their third album. There are still some dark sides a little heavy,
but the group seems to try to remain more joyful than in the past.
Evolve contains much more pop songs with the almost excessive
use of synthesizers, starting with the disco "I Don’t Know Why". At
times, Imagine Dragons seem to want to imitate Coldplay
without the same success in their turning to pop, with in addition
strong influences from the 1980s. There are still some interesting
electro rock songs, but too little to solidify this much too
disparate album. Even the mega hit "Believer", which has invaded
radios, becomes somewhat tiresome over time. Evolve is a
frustrating album at the end of the day, because we would like to
love it but we cannot. It seems we’re dealing with a band a little
bit lost.
(July 2017)
Music Video:
« Believer » |
Interscope
/
Universal
 ½


|

After
747 in 2014, the country pop trio
took a break, the time of solo albums by Charles Kelley and
Hillary Scott. Lady Antebellum now return with Heart Break,
produced in California by Busbee. The result is a slightly
softer rock and less country sound. Several mid-tempo tracks were
inspired either from the 1960s and 1970s or from adult contemporary
music. Several melodies are captivating enough to achieve some radio
success. On the other hand, there are many interchangeable songs
that are not very exciting.
(July 2017)
Music Video:
« You Look Good » |
Capitol
/
Universal
 ½


|

Lorde – Melodrama

After a debut album that got much attention in 2013,
the young New Zealander, now 20 years old, is back with Melodrama.
If
Pure Heroine already had some
creativity for this young singer-songwriter, Lorde really takes off
with this one. We can also have a very good overview with the first
singles: "Green Light", "Liability" and "Perfect Places". To change
her sound, Lorde gave production to Jack Antonoff (Fun)
and Bleachers. The result is a more mature record, but above
all more elaborate and creative than the previous one. We can hear
several textures, between interiority and catchy rhythms. But no
matter the context of the song, Lorde succeeds in captivating us and
carrying us to the end, when you would ask for even more. 41 minutes
are certainly not enough for this excellent album, surely one of the
best of the year...
(July 2017)
Music Video:
« Green Light »
|
Universal
   


|

Toronto's folk pop duo releases its fourth studio
album with The Knight Sessions. Brenley MacEachern and
Lisa MacIsaac (Ashley MacIsaac's sister) possibly
offer their most mature album so far with several successful songs.
The vocal harmonies remain at the very core of their music, and the
simple arrangements of acoustic guitar or violin only enhance them
without ever stealing the show. You will not be able to stop
yourself from continuously humming some of the unforgettable
melodies of this new record of high quality.
(July 2017) |
Passenger Sounds /
Cadence
  ½


|

Quatuor Ébène
& Michel Portal – Eternal Stories
Quatuor Ébène (Ebony Quartet) is easily transformed
between a classical ensemble and a jazz band. In the case of
Eternal Stories, the string quartet joins jazz musician
Michel Portal on clarinets, but also percussionist Richard
Héry and keyboardist Xavier Tribolet. They perform their
own compositions, including four Portal tracks. The highlight of the
album is when they play extracts from the "Five Tango Sensations", a
late work by Astor Piazzolla. Quatuor Ébène remains inventive
on this new album and it maybe also allows Michel Portal to realize
a dream, that of producing an album with a string quartet, as
Charlie Parker did in 1949.
(July 2017) |
Erato /
Warner
/
SIX
  ½


|

Paul Rossy – Jazz Poetry: The Music of Paul Rossy
Dr. Paul Rossy is a pediatrician during the day and
a singer-songwriter at night. In April, he released his first album
of original songs in collaboration with Ian Kelly,
Goodbye Sings the Wind, to support
the Montreal Children's Hospital. Following his participation at the
Montreal International Jazz Festival last year, Dr. Rossy was
inspired and wanted to give a jazz color to his songs. He again
entrusted the production to Ian Kelly for Jazz Poetry
which contains a reinterpretation in jazz version of the songs of
Goodbye Sings the Wind. Profits will
again be donated to the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation.
(July 2017) |
Sunset Hill /
Outside
  ½


|

Simon Okely is a
multi-instrumentalist from Melbourne, Australia. After being a
member of the Oh Mercy band as a guitarist, he decided to
embark on a solo career under the pseudonym Slow Dancer. In a
Mood is his sophomore album on which he offers a mix of folk and
soft rock with a touch of soul / R&B. In fact, he reminds us of a
contemporary mix between Christopher Cross and Van
Morrison. Slow Dancer plays all the instruments in addition to
singing from his powerful voice, making it softer and warm for the
needs of this record that is perfect for the bedroom. He does not
reinvent anything and seems rather nostalgic of the past, but he
nevertheless plays pleasant to listen music, a sound that comforts
us.
(July 2017) |
ATO
  


|

Styx – The Mission
After more than 45 years of career, the old
progressive rockers return with a first album of original songs in
14 years. The Mission is a concept album about a mission to
Mars in 2033. As for the sound, it has nothing futuristic as the
band returns to the sound that made them successful back in the late
1970s. Otherwise, we quickly realize that this is where Styx feels
the most comfortable with several good energetic tracks worthy of
their best years. It is rather refreshing to hear the band resume
where they left over 35 years ago. The Mission is therefore a
surprising album, very pleasant to listen to.
(July 2017) |
Universal
  


|

In 2016, producer Ian Brennan (Tinariwen,
Tasili), who is behind the projects of the Zomba Prison
Project, traveled to Ukerewe, the largest inland island in
Africa, accessible only by a ferry, a four-hour trip. It is so
isolated that people were going there to abandon their albino
children. The island has become a haven for people in this
condition. Brennan organized composition workshops, encouraging
people to express their experiences and feelings. The singing and
dancing being rather badly seen on the island, Brennan must have
been convincing to allow the group to open itself. Often ignored and
left out even by their own family, it is not surprising that albinos
have expressed themselves mostly on the themes of loneliness and
abandonment. Most of the songs on the album have been written in
Kikirewe and Jeeta, two officially censored dialects of the country
since its unification in 1964. Like the Zomba Prison Project,
Brennan allows a group not heard until then to express freely. The
result is a touching album of 23 tracks (somewhat uneven) for just
over 30 minutes. (July 2017) |
Six Degrees
/
SIX
  


|

Whitehorse –
Panther in the Dollhouse
The Quebec duo formed of Luke Doucet and
Melissa McClelland is back with a new album, only two years
after
Leave No Bridge Unburned. Less
autobiographical than the previous one, Panther in the Dollhouse
presents rather dark and imperfect characters in a more cinematic
context. With the addition of the duo of producers Likeminds
and several musicians, the sound of the band also takes some
expansion towards rock, leaving in the past their little country
side that was never far before. We can certainly say that Whitehorse
are reaching a new stage in their career thanks to this excellent
record.
(July 2017)
Music Videos:
« Boys Like You »
-
« Nighthawks » |
Six Shooter
/
SIX
  ½


|
june:
|

While Linkin Park seemed to have somewhat
creatively found itself back in 2014 with
The Hunting Party, now they are
getting bogged down again with a more than dubious pop turn. Metal
is indeed completely absent here, as are the interesting riffs, and
forget the screams of Chester Bennington which gave so much
energy to their first recordings. We now have a pop rock sound
tinged with electro, but mostly frankly lacking in character and
dynamism. There are some interesting moments, tailor-made for
radios, but they are way too rare. Even the first single, "Heavy",
does not push down any barrier despite its interesting melody.
One More Light is an album that will surely leave the fans of
the first hour indifferent, without allowing the band to get a new
audience. (June 2017 Featured Review)
Music Video:
« Heavy » |
Warner
 


 |

Scott Helman is a young pop rock singer from Toronto
who offers his debut album with Hôtel
de Ville (City Hall). More rock than
Justin Bieber, Helman presents mostly much more creative music,
bringing him immediately into a class apart. But it remains that
each melody is unforgettable and made perfectly for radios. It's
simple, the 12 tracks on Hôtel de Ville
could be at the top of the charts. Since his first EP in 2014,
Augusta, the 21-year old guy has not
stopped working his sound, going on tour around the world. It is
very easy to hear it listening to Hôtel
de Ville, which has very few weaknesses.
For quality pop music, Scott Helman is definitely a name to
remember. (June 2017 Featured New Artist)
Music Video:
« Kinda Complicated » |
Warner
  ½


|

Aliocha – Eleven
Songs
The young Aliocha is a natural, self-taught,
inspired by Bob Dylan, Eliott Smith, John Lennon
and Nick Drake, while bringing his personal touch, full of
imperfections. While traveling between Montreal, Paris and Los
Angeles, he could trace his path, especially when he met brilliant
producer Samy Osta (La Femme,
Feu! Chatterton) in Paris. After
releasing the Sorry Eyes EP in France in the fall of 2016, he
is back with an album released simultaneously in Europe and Canada.
Aliocha proposes a folk sound inspired by both contemporary folk
rock and the music of the 1960s. Some pop or more psychedelic
touches add color to an album that ultimately has a lot of
personality. A very good record!
(June 2017) |
Audiogram
  ½


|

Dan Auerbach is mostly known for his work with
The Black Keys, in a garage blues style, and he has also
produced several albums in different genres: Pretenders,
Lana Del Rey, Cage the Elephant, JEFF the Brotherhood,
Dr. John and so on. For this solo album, Auerbach goes in a
complete different way, exploring old Memphis soul and Nashville
country. He often recalls Jeff Lynne in the 1980s, in the
days of the Traveling Wilburys, a style he particularly
liked. The album contains only 10 songs totaling 35 minutes, but
they are simply refreshing, in addition to being greatly creative.
So here is a very high quality entertainment, which is missing only
two or three tracks to make the difference and carry the album to
the top of 2017.
(June 2017) |
Nonesuch
/
Warner
  ½


|

After six years of absence on record, Debbie
Harry and her band are back with a new album, Pollinator.
On the other hand, it seems that since their return in the years
2000 Blondie try more than ever to recall their glorious past while
clinging to more contemporary electro pop music. Where they were
rather successful on their previous albums, here it sounds downright
false. It is not the panoply of songwriters and guest musicians who
would make Pollinator as interesting as their albums of 40
years ago. Neither their covers of Johnny Marr ("My Monster")
and Charli XCX ("Gravity"). At the end of the day, it's hard
to understand who Blondie is talking to with this album, as both
fans of their debut and a younger audience should pay no attention
to it.
(June 2017) |
 ½


|

Faith
Evans and The Notorious B.I.G. – The King & I
Although it is announced as an album by Faith
Evans and The Notorious B.I.G., The King & I is much more an
album by Faith Evans, mostly R&B, with samplings by the late rapper.
In fact, it presents itself as a souvenir album about the duo's
relationship. Several of the samplings have already been heard often
and their use is not always judicious, even being negative for
several of the 25 tracks. We can hear several guest artists (Jamal
Woolard, Lil 'Cease, Mama Wallace, Snoop Dogg,
Busta Rhymes, Lil' Kim, etc.), but it is not enough to
restore credibility to the whole. With 72 minutes of music, The
King & I contains far too many uninteresting moments to satisfy
even the biggest nostalgic fans of The Notorious B.I.G.
(June 2017) |
Rhino
/
Warner
 


|

After a long break of six years, the band from
Seattle is back with an album of great complexity.
Indeed, Fleet Foxes still offer this mix of indie rock, folk and
country, but they add a touch of progressive rock that can recall
the beginnings of Yes.
Crack-Up is definitely their most dense, cerebral, complex
and difficult album to date.
On the other hand, it quickly turns out to be very rewarding.
The vocal harmonies remain the strength of the band, and from this
point of view they can recall the most psychedelic moments of the
Beach Boys.
As if to confirm the group's sophisticated artistic approach, they
chose to release as a first single a 9-minute song in two parts,
"Third of May / Odaigahara".
Sometimes orchestral and sometimes experimental, Crack-Up
will leave no one indifferent, representing a great challenge to the
first listening.
On the other hand, with a little patience, you will discover several
layers and musical subtleties all more interesting than the others.
Fleet Foxes therefore offer a very creative album, which requires
only a little effort of appreciation.
(June 2017) |
Nonesuch
/
Warner
  ½


|

For their second album of the year, the Australian
collective goes into science fiction with energetic progressive rock
filled with synthesizers and robotic voices. Murder of the
Universe is divided into three chapters, each telling a part of
humanity that is pushed to extinction in a futuristic world
dominated by machines. Several passages recall the Judas Priest
of the late 1980s, without the endless guitar solos. In the third
chapter, the very graphic descriptions of vomiting cyborgs and the
murder of the universe may shock some sensitive ears. But in fact,
few really interesting moments come out and one wonders if it was
really necessary to go that far. Several pieces on the album offer
the expected entertainment, but lack some creativity, staying often
predictable. Murder of the Universe is certainly their
weakest album among the last three. On the other hand, they
announced five albums in 2017, which means that they will have three
more to get better creatively. To be continued…
(June 2017) |
ATO
  ½


|

For this first album, the singer and songwriter from
Toronto comes to us with a pop sound accompanied by scratching
electric guitars. Taylor Knox reminds us greatly of the pop rock
sounds of the 1970s, but also of contemporaries like Teenage
Fanclub and Tame Impala. LOVE begins strongly with
the energetic and effective songs "Wishing Well" and "The Stars".
Several tracks will then keep your interest and make you want to
hear more. Several elements of this first record deserve special
attention to this artist in the future.
(June 2017) |
Cadence
  


|

The Canadian singer and pianist is back with a
new album of jazz standards, after revisiting pop rock classics on
Wallflower in 2015. Diana Krall
became more involved than ever before as she chose each song,
conceived the arrangements and gathered three separate bands to
record the 11 tracks. Whether in a trio, a quartet or a quintet
version, each song is interpreted smoothly, with a good dose of
romanticism. You can hear several standards of the genre such as "Moonglow",
"Blue Skies", "Sway", "Dream", as well as the first single, "Night
and Day", a Cole Porter classic. Turn Up the Quiet is
a very good late night record by this great jazz lady.
(June 2017) |
Verve /
Universal
  ½


|

Shai Maestro Trio –
The Stone Skipper
Accompanied by Jorge Roeder and Ziv Ravitz,
Israeli pianist Shai Maestro offers us a jazz album of great power
with The Stone Skipper. This is the fourth album of the trio
since their debut in 2011. The fluidity of the three musicians is
incomparable and they seem to be one (the trio takes its full
meaning). Maestro pushes the boundaries of jazz by integrating a few
electronic elements and voices coming from nowhere to blend
perfectly with his music. The 15-song album presents itself as a
storyline, and each musician has put himself at the service of the
storyline avoiding to lose themselves in virtuosity. Even Maestro
could fade at the piano on several occasions to let the work breathe
in its deployment. This is undoubtedly the most personal album of
the trio to date, with several meditative moments. To discover!
(June 2017) |
SIX
  ½


|

Meklit – When
the People Move, the Music Moves Too
Meklit is a Californian of Ethiopian origin who
offers a fusion of world music and jazz. On this new album, she
merges even more the genres in an energetic and particularly
creative ensemble. Produced by singer / songwriter Dan Wilson
(Adele, John Legend), the record carries us in all
kinds of atmospheres with rich arrangements incorporating violins,
keyboards, brass, clarinets, etc. Despite the musical richness,
Meklit's powerful soulful voice emerges very well through the whole.
The godfather of Ethio-Jazz, Mulatu Astatke, contributed to
this album when he told Meklit in 2011: "Find your contribution to
ethio-jazz and keep innovating!". The result is a festive album that
integrates both Ethiopian and American cultures. Among the musicians
who participated in the recording are Andrew Bird and
Preservation Hall Horns. An incomparable record to discover!
(June 2017) |
Six Degrees
/
SIX
  ½


|

Montreal-born with Haitian background Jowee Omicil
offers an incomparable musical mix. Jazz is obviously at the heart
of the work of this trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist, but there
are also Caribbean, African, Latin or gospel accents. The arranger,
composer and producer now established in Paris releases his new
album, his first international record, on which he intends to
celebrate. He is accompanied for the occasion by musicians of great
talent from about anywhere around the world. Omicil winks at
Aznavour, Tinariwen and Jay-Z. He even crosses the
"Bridge of Avignon" ("Le pont d’Avignon") in afro-pop, in addition
to presenting sounds close to Indian music. In fact, it is a
constant journey that we do in the company of Jowee Omicil who
really goes in all directions, maybe even a little too much we can
say after a while. He succeeds at least in putting everything in his
own style, in making it a personal work. So, it's all to his credit!
(June 2017) |
Jazz Village /
PIAS
/
SIX
  ½


|

The Under the Influence suite is a 2015 order
from the Montreal National Jazz Orchestra to saxophonist, composer
and conductor Christine Jensen. There are five parts by renowned
composers such as Kenny Wheeler, Jan Jarczyk, John
Coltrane, Lee Konitz and Wayne Shorter. Sienna
Dahlen's soft voice accompanies the orchestra magnificently.
Founded in 2012, the Montreal National Jazz Orchestra has about
twenty musicians and is already considered world-class. As for
Christine Jensen, the Montrealer is part of the jazz elite in
Canada.
(June 2017) |
Justin Time
/
SIX
  ½


|

Paramore – After
Laughter
Four years after their excellent self-titled
album, Paramore are back with After Laughter. Singer
Hayley Williams seems to have problems retaining her colleagues,
while bassist Jeremy Davis left the band for the second time.
Paramore seem more and more centered around their singer, the only
one to have been a member of the band for their five albums. In
addition, it seems that the music of the group follows more and more
the pop inspiration of Hayley. After Laughter contains
several contagious melodies and the alternative rock elements that
could remain previously now seem from the past. Their new wave
sound, which seems joyful at first, rather presents an incessant
struggle against break-ups. But this is nothing surprising since the
band's departures remain their main inspiration since their debut 12
years ago. After Laughter is still a very pleasant album to
listen to.
(June 2017)
Music Videos:
« Hard Times »
-
« Told You So » |
Fueled by Ramen
/
Warner
  ½


|

The young pianist, singer and songwriter returns
with a new album entitled Living in Twilight, from the
Weepies song that she plays beautifully. The album contains a
mix of classics from the American songbook, amazing contemporary
covers and original compositions. Among the classics, there are
Ray Nobles’ "The Very Thought of You", Cole Porter’s "So
In Love" and Chick Corea’s "500 Miles High". Her
interpretations of contemporary songs include the surprising
"Someone Like You" (Adele), "To Be Alone With You" (Sufjan
Stevens) in an instrumental version, as well as the touching "Go
Leave" (Kate McGarrigle). Some influences are particularly
evident throughout the CD, including traces of Cuban and Brazilian
music. Ariel Pocock offers varied jazz music, a soft but rich sound.
She will be visiting Quebec in early July for three concerts.
(June 2017) |
Justin Time
/
SIX
  ½


|

For this eighth album, and the first in four years,
the indie rock band took all their time, recording enough material
for a double album, then starting all over again. They worked again
with producer Mike D, but also with Danger Mouse and
John Hill. They were accompanied by about twenty musicians
and nine engineers, perhaps to recreate the collegiality of
Woodstock which was their first influence for the record. There is a
mix of indie rock and glam, but this is mainly their most pop album
to date. Just listen to their hit "Feel It Still" to be convinced, a
short song of less than three minutes that reminds Pharrell
Williams. We hear some interesting elements on Woodstock,
but unfortunately it is not the band that we knew, as if they were
lost a bit. It has anyway a good commercial potential...
(June 2017)
Music Videos:
« Feel It Still »
-
« Rich Friends » |
Atlantic /
Warner
  

 |

Royal Blood –
How Did We Get So Dark?
Three years after its debut album, the British duo
is back with another hard-hitting record. A little less heavy than
the previous one, How Did We Get So Dark still presents
elements comparable to the White Stripes in a dirty garage
style. Fuzzy guitars and a few keyboards are added to the sound of
the band that is growing. The melodies are unforgettable, on always
energetic and catchy music which will surely make you stomp your
feet. In short, even if it lasts only 34 minutes, it is a very
satisfactory album that give us the guys of Royal Blood.
(June 2017)
Music Videos:
« Lights Out » -
« Hook, Line & Sinker » -
« I Only Lie When I Love You » |
Warner
  ½


|

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