Album Review: Coeur de Pirate – Blonde
It is rare that a foreign language album breaks its way into the English-speaking mainstream. However, this is exactly the feat accomplished by nineteen-year-old francophone chanteuse Beatrice Martin, who is more commonly recognized by her stage name, Coeur de Pirate.
SoundBites (Sharon Van Etten, Prinzhorn Dance School, The Man Whom, John K. Samson)
Reviews for the latest releases from Sharon Van Etten, Prinzhorn Dance School, The Man Whom, and John K. Samson
Album Review: Ben Howard – Every Kingdom
Ben Howard is only 23, and spends most of his time on his acoustic guitar. He’s joined by Chris Bond, the drummer and double bass player, and the gorgeous India Bourne, who can be seen jumping between the roles of percussionist, bass guitarist and cello player. Howard is the lead singer, leaving the other two to vocally fill out the crescendos.
SoundBites (Gotye, Craig Finn, Leonard Cohen, Blunts and Roses)
Review for the latest releases from Gotye, Craig Finn, Leonard Cohen, and Blunts and Roses
Album Review: Human Switchboard – Who’s Landing In My Hanger?: 1977-1984 Anthology
The Ohio-bred Human Switchboard’s music is something astounding, often timeless, but most importantly, honest. Their lone studio album Who’s Landing in My Hanger? finally got released in CD format for the first time late 2011.
SoundBites (Kathleen Edwards, Alex Chilton, Howler, First Aid Kit)
Reviews of the latest releases from Kathleen Edwards, Alex Chilton, Howler, and First Aid Kit
The Cascade’s Albums of the Year (2011)
The Cascade’s picks for the best music albums released in the past year
Q&A: Josh Hyslop
Josh Hyslop, a local musician from this corner of the Valley, took time away from mixing in the studio to answer a few questions about his musical aspirations, style and favourite music-based film with The Cascade.
Album Review: The Black Keys – El Camino
El Camino is a lot more focused and concise than its predecessor, Brothers. Instead of a sprawling (or bloated, depending on your take) 15 tracks, the Keys have whittled it down to 11, no nonsense songs that embody a kind of self-consciously greasy party atmosphere.
SoundBites (Literature, Guided by Voices, Amy Winehouse, Esmerine)
Reviews of the latest releases from Literature, Guided by Voices, Amy Winehouse’s record label, and Esmerine
Q&A: Second Narrows
Second Narrows is a Vancouver based quintet consisting of Lucas Lawrence, Adrianna Riemersma, Brodie Tavares, Stefan Tavares and Josh Knepper. Stringing together wistfully poetic lyrics with straightforward melodies, Second Narrows seems to have captured, in song, the essence of young Vancouver life, and what it means to find pleasure in music again. The Cascade had the opportunity to catch up with Lucas and Adrianna for a chat about what it’s like to be a member of Second Narrows – a task that truly consists of living up to their Facebook page statement that “good music brings people together.”
Album Review: We Are Augustines – Rise Ye Sunken Ships
Bold and unabashedly candid is We Are Augustines, a Brooklyn-based band who has recently released their debut LP Rise Ye Sunken Ships
SoundBites (Justin Bieber, The Duke Spirit, LOOM, Death Cab for Cutie)
Reviews for the latest releases from Justin Bieber, The Duke Spirit, LOOM, and Death Cab for Cutie
An evening of Indian classical music
The lighting in the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies (CICS) was dim on Wednesday evening, November 23. Flickering candles gave a surreal mood to the room, and cushions and sheets were arranged on the floor for seating. The occasion was a first-ever for UFV: a performance by virtuosic Indian classical musicians, Pandit Manu Kumar Seen and Ustad Akram Khan.
Q&A: Jon Tobin
Jonathan Tobin is a pianist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, studying Jazz Piano at Capilano University in North Vancouver. He graduated from Mennonite Educational Institute in Abbotsford and was active throughout high school in the Abbotsford music scene, playing in venues around town such as Gourmet Gallery, Go Go Beans, City Blends, the Jam In Jubilee summer concert series, and the Olympic Live Site.
Album Review: Snow Patrol – Fallen Empires
Fallen Empires, while boasting an apparent disembarkment from the band’s typical sound, is hardly a lesson in a groundbreaking image shift. There seems to be no cohesive theme underlying on this album, which makes for a slightly erratic and unpredictable listening experience.
SoundBites (Jens Lekman, Fonda, Calexico, Angels & Airwaves)
Reviews for the latest releases from Jens Lekman, Fonda, Calexico, and Angels & Airwaves
The evolution of music: Lose the genre, gain the art
Music, now more than ever, is one: a pure representation of artistic expression, increasingly uninhibited by social restraints.
Q&A: Rags to Radio
Rags to Radio is a four-man band hailing from Abbotsford, BC, including Keely brothers Layton and Zack on guitar and keys/trombone respectively, as well as Josh Erickson on bass and Jake Holmes on drums. The Keely brothers do double duty on vocals, and Layton Keely is a graduate of UFV’s own theatre diploma program. They play a fast-paced, high-energy crossover between swing jazz and indie rock, which has been described as “bee-boppin, sock-hoppin, no-stopping,” “jive-tastic” and as having a “spunky vibe.”
Album Review: David Lynch – Crazy Clown Time
Crazy Clown Time is David Lynch’s first solo artist album. It features the lawless rock and roll vocal talents of Karen O, lead singer of the New York indie rock band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It’s weird.
SoundBites (Pleasure Cruise, The Shilohs, Topaz, Huddle)
Reviews for the latest releases from Pleasure Cruise, The Shilohs, Topaz, and Huddle
Q&A: Real Boys
A new band, with members of You Say Party! We Say Die!, Oh No! Yoko, and GSTS, are getting real. Everett Morris takes on vocals and guitar, as does Drew Riekman, while Stephen O’Shea plays bass and Liam Hamilton is on drums. They bring together their styles into Real Boys, currently playing UBC’s Campus Station CiTR‘s annual Battle of the Bands. Having won the first round, Real Boys are moving to the second, which takes place on the November 15 in Vancouver. Lead singer Everett Morris, and bass player Stephen O’Shea talked about their band with The Cascade
Album Review: She & Him – A Very She & Him Christmas
An excellent job was done to avoid being cliché in any regard on this album. It is genuine and unique. However, it appeared to be over just as soon as it started with its mere 32 minutes in length. Given that it’s Christmas and all, though, it’s alright to just throw it on repeat for background listening.
Album Review: Florence and the Machine – Ceremonials
There are definitely some highlights to the album – I recommend “Breaking Down” and “No Light, No Light” in particular as worthy of attention. The problem here isn’t that it’s a bad album, but that it’s simply below the standard that Florence and the Machine set with Lungs. The listener can still faintly hear the after-image of greatness that pounded through their first album—but it’s so far-away and distorted that it only serves to remind the listener how unalike the two albums really are—and, in contrast, how utterly disappointing this album is.
