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March 6, 2008
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2008-03-06 
Reviews - CD
Baltimore Road
Mountains of Time
(Independent)

C+

Baltimore Road

Listeners old enough to remember the late '60s and early '7os vibe of Ian & Sylvia, Gordon Lightfoot, The Mamas & The Papas and early Jefferson Airplane will revel in this album from a Winnipeg four-piece that makes no excuses for its influences and favoured sounds. The 13 songs here show off a multi-faceted approach, but this Road really starts going somewhere when Pam Reilly takes over lead vocals and her bandmates harmonize sweetly behind her. Check out album-openers Shelter of You and Promises to Change and you'll understand.
— John Kendle
Bill Dowling
In the Wood
(Independent)

B+

Bill Dowling

Right from the first note, Bill Dowling establishes himself as a lyrical, highly visual storyteller. Singing about a carpenter who "shaped the flesh of a tree into a guitar" on the title track, Dowling has that innate ability of a folk singer to be able to pen seemingly simple songs that deeply resonate with a listener. He's also one hell of a guitar picker. While In the Wood occasionally has a little too much twang for this writer, this is a pretty, bare-bones collection of songs that have a rare organic feel to them - almost as though Dowling had simply picked up an acoustic guitar at a campfire and someone happened to be there to capture it.
— Jen Zoratti
Brok Homz
Wolvish Thoughts
(Independent)

C

Brok Homz

Watch out non-believers, Brok Homz is coming for you. Wolvish Thoughts tells the story of a carnivorous savior, sent from God to kill non-Christians. It's hip hop horrorcore, and it's really scary. Here's a sample: "Homosexuality, which is clearly a sin, is regarded as a natural and acceptable thing, even to the point where we have to celebrate them for what they do," Homz rants on The Mutation. Hey, whatever. I support free speech, even if it's free speech for the dumb. It's too bad, too, because sans the Evangelical bullshit, these tunes are fairly catchy, even a little bit Insane Clown Posse-ish. Final verdict? Brok Homz: Huge douche, decent musician.
— Jared Story
Deon Wysocki
This is "No Film"
(Independent)

B+

Deon Wysocki

It's clear from this outing that Deon Wysocki grew up on a steady diet of grunge and Midwestern college rock. This is "No Film" picks up where 2006's EP No Film left off - and the whole thing rocks to varying degrees from beginning to end. In Case I Forget is catchy as hell, and tracks such as Death by Radio showcase Wysocki's skills behind the board (he's a seasoned producer and engineer.) That said, this record sounds a little dated - it listens a little more like Minneapolis in 1995 than Winnipeg in 2007 - but, as groundbreaking as this isn't, This is "No Film" is still a solid, meat-and-potatoes rock record worth chowing down on.
— Jen Zoratti
Eagle & Hawk
Sirensong
(Rising Sun Productions)

B+

Eagle & Hawk

Sirensong weighs in at seven songs in just under half-an-hour, so it's not quite a full-length album. Nevertheless, this effort reconfirms that the Winnipeg-based six-piece - a perennial winner of awards in the Aboriginal music world - is more than capable of being viewed as a legitimate, non-hyphenated rock act. That's surely the goal here, as songs such as the title track, Where We Last Left Off and the beautiful Song for the Sundancer hit a comfortable, mid-tempo stride and allow for considerable tasty riffing while singer Jay Bodner (aided by bassist Spatch Mulhall) stands front-and-centre in the mix. Sirensong is a sure-footed step forward.
— John Kendle
Flo
Flo
(Independent)

B

Flo

Florence Oramasionwu is a physical therapist by day and a slick, soulful R&B singer by night. Working here with main producer Arun Chaturvedi and guests including Bollywood pop sensation Ishq Bector, Flo enthusiastically proves she may be able to leave the day gig behind sooner rather than later. Her strong voice ranges from alto to falsetto, and when presented with a real hook, as on I Believed or Alright, she works it hard. If anything, Flo is perhaps too ambitious, as its 16 songs may prove too much for one sitting. Still, there's enough material here that Flo should be shopping it around to R&B labels and producers throughout North America.
— John Kendle
The Gorgon
Corpse Whale
(Transistor 66)

B+

The Gorgon

Music needs more lyrics like "you couldn't fuck to save your life. you just fuck with every girl's head." Why should raw, flesh-chewing emotion be the sole domain of skinny boys in girls' jeans and eyeliner? Let's not confuse these three local Medusa-loving women with sad-eyed emo puppies, though. The Gorgon is a power trio with a jones for distorted Link Wray guitar, a love of P.J. Harvey in her 50 Foot Queenie phase and an attitude that's been seriously steeped in the steaming cauldron of Royal Albert rawk. Buy this album after one of The Gorgon's shows and suddenly all the bizarre antics you've seen will somehow make sense. Maybe.
— John Kendle
House of Doc
East of West
(Pacific/Warner)

B

House of Doc

House of Doc's Matthew Harder once described the band's last effort, 2005's Prairiegrass, as an "awful lot of funeral dirges." East of West, the band's latest outing, clearly comes from a happier place. Energetic as hell, the record is a sunny collection of bluegrass, old-tyme Americana and folk tunes, all backed by the quartet's strong four-part harmonies. That said, House of Doc has played it a little safe in terms of sound - which is a tad disapointing for a band that claims it's 'reinventing folk music.' To that end, the band isn't exactly as pioneering as, say, The Duhks, but House of Doc will certainly show you a good time with East of West.
— Jen Zoratti
Kayla Luky
Story of my Life
(Independent)

A

Kayla Luky

I think Linus should have hauled Kayla Luky around instead of that blanket. The young singer/songwriter's gentle voice makes me feel safe and sound, and you'll feel similarly secure after spinning Story. Recorded live off the floor, the album's very raw, which fits, because Luky is basically bearing her soul here. While heart-on-sleeve songwriters can be annoying, Luky backs up the emotion with a definite lyrical knack. "I want to make a plan to not have one," she cleverly croons on I Wanna. Throw away your blanky and wrap yourself in this album.
— Jared Story
The Liptonians
The Liptonians
(Independent)

B+

The Liptonians

In 2005, The Liptonians' founding members Matt Schellenberg and Bucky Driedger moved into a house on Lipton Street, dubbed it 'Liptonia' and got to work making music - and thus, The Liptonians was born. Although a fairly obscure name in the local music scene, this quirky indie outfit will undoubtedly enjoy a higher profile thanks to this earnest little pop-rock gem. Peppered with plenty of cheeky keyboard hooks and punchy horns, opener Charlie's Back is totally adorable, while the more serious Sing the Songs is a subdued, stripped-down affair. Musically diverse and lyrically sharp, The Liptonians is worth keeping an ear out for.
— Jen Zoratti
The Mandarins
Tiny Stages
(Independent)

B+

The Mandarins

Singer/songwriter Tanya Jonasson founded The Mandarins back in 1998 following the implosion of her former band, Swim - and it's taken seven years for a full-length record to come to fruition. Happily, Tiny Stages is worth the wait. Jonasson's vocals are hauntingly pretty, perfectly highlighting her storybook lyrics. Tiny Stages echoes the literate indie pop we've been hearing from recent releases by the likes of The Details and The Paperbacks - both of which have members that moonlight in The Mandarins. Despite the heavy cross-polination, Jonasson's project remains an obstinately unique one.
— Jen Zoratti
Marianne D'Elia
Stay Another Night
(Independent)

B-

Marianne D'Elia

Marianne D'Elia was the winner of 99.1 Cool FM's Project Cool 2006 contest, snagging $25,000 to assist in the making of a record - and this sultry jazz crooner certainly put the money to good use. Stay Another Night is the polished full-length debut from this up-and-comer, a lively collection of Latin-infused, jazz-pop numbers that nicely showcase D'Elia's smooth vocals. With contributions from local luminaries such as Christian Dugas, Gilles Fournier, Rodrigo Munoz and Murray Pulver, Stay Another Night is a well-crafted contemporary jazz record - though it isn't without its moments of commerical pop cheesiness.
— Jen Zoratti
Michael Peters
Michael Peters
(Independent)

C

Michael Peters

Peters' website name says it all. His dreamy, acoustic-based pop music sounds a whole lot like all the other sensitive-boys-with-guitars trying to do the same thing. To really stand out in that crowd, you've got to have a unique voice, tremendous hooks or something essential to say. While these eight tales of love and longing are exquisitely rendered by Peters and producer Paul James, they don't particularly distinguish themselves in any of the previously mentioned categories.
— John Kendle
Neal Pinto
21:21
(RCD Music)

C

Neal Pinto

This six-song EP is singer/songwriter Neal Pinto's first solo outing - and it's kind of a letdown. Clearly, this guy has a ton of talent - this is a very polished, techincally strong debut - but 21:21 has a sort of diet rock, Jack Johnson quality about it: The songs are pleasant and well-executed, but there's nothing here that makes you want to hit repeat, nor is there anything that's particularly memorable about the whole listening experience. In other words, it's not bad - but it's not remarkable, either.
— Jen Zoratti
Putrescence
Fatal White Pustules Upon Septic Organs
(Independent)

A

Putrescence

I like my grindcore hard, fast and sick as shit, which is why I like Putrescence. A vulgar display of vulgarity, Fatal White Pustules Upon Septic Organs pushes the gore-grind envelope, giving Carcass and Regurgitate a run for their feces. Check out these wonderful titles: Face Unfastened and Rendered into Emulsion by Claw Hammer, Self-Strangulation in a Locked Refrigerator, and my favorite, Kill Yourself, Shit Your Pants. Don't worry, these dudes aren't seriously sadists, they're just being unpleasant for your pleasure. Also includes a vomit-soaked cover of The Misfits' Green Hell.
— Jared Story
The Ramzi Helewa Sound Experiment
Disjointed Songs
(Independent)

A+

The Ramzi Helewa Sound Experiment

Sound experiment, indeed. I don't know about you, but I can't name anybody else whose songs contain ukulele, keyboards and computerized sound effects, as well as the usual suspect instruments. From indie pop, to psychedelic rock, to country-ish folk and folk-ish country, it's an unusual mix, definitely living up to its name. It's also full of quirky lyrics such as "four, five, six, those racist little kids are still picking up sticks" (Cocoa Puff). I don't know what that line means, but it gets me to thinking, and the thinking gets me to listening, which makes me think that was Helewa's intent in the first place. This is an original and engaging experiment that everybody should try out.
— Jared Story
The Savants
Reality Show
(Transistor 66)

C+

The Savants

Jordy, Andy and Sam are The Savants, a punky post-grunge act that offers up an enervating calling card with this four-song EP. Recorded pretty much live off the floor, this disc showcases The Savs as they present themselves in their shows - sweaty, energetic and not terribly concerned by such trifles as note-perfection. But this ain't style over substance, folks - these boys know that conviction trumps perfect pitch any day. Just catch the melodies on Kill Girl Kill or Black Cadillacs and Death Makeup.
— John Kendle
Sister Dorothy
Kernlieder
(Independent)

C+

Sister Dorothy

Imagine if Metallica said its next album would be full of German Mennonite hymns. Methinks it would mean Lars Ulrich's head on a drum stick. But with Sister Dorothy, people have come to expect the unexpected. She's more diverse than the Kensington Market, able to go from rock, to folk, to jazz, to classical, to yes, Mennonite hymns. Kernlieder, which means "core songs," is composed of tunes from Gesangbuch, a 1952 German hymnal. And it sounds legit, what with Dorothy's grasp of German and her obvious skills on the guitar and flute. That said, unless you eat borscht for breakfast, this probably isn't your thing.
— Jared Story
Sonic Flow
The Unexpected Fit
(Independent)

B

Sonic Flow

Sonic Flow is what happens when worlds collide. In this instrumental band you have percussionist Tony Ustel on India's tabla, Chris Van Horne on America's parlor guitar, Benji Flackman on Australia's didgeridoo and Roger Fournier on washtub bass, an instrument with origins that can be traced back to Africa. Surprisingly, Sonic Flow manages to pull this United Nations thing off, The Unexpected Fit being a stellar clash of distinct sounds, hence the album title. My only beef is the lack of vocals. I appreciate keeping the focus on the instruments, but you need seriously good weed to make it through 11 tracks with no vocals.
— Jared Story
Twilight Hotel
Highway Prayer
(Independent)

A

Twilight Hotel

Twilight Hotel's sophomore record opens with Viva La Vinyl, a bluesy romp that sounds like it could be a grittier Johnny Cash and June Carter number. From there, Twilight Hotel embarks on a sonic journey that takes you all over the musical map - from Americana and folk and alt-country to roots-rock and cabaret. Brandy Zdan and Dave Quanbury's rich harmonies are damn near perfect - but the husky Zdan often steals the show, especially on the smoulderingly sexy standout, Iowalta Morningside. Pick this one up.
— Jen Zoratti
Various Artists
Beverley Street
(Dollartone Records)

A-

Various Artists

David Essig is a Canadian singer/songwriter (and a thoroughly compelling performer) whose love of blues, roots and country music has informed more than three decades of his songs. Inspired by new friends The D. Rangers and Romi Mayes, Essig hatched a plan to record an album of his material with these young Winnipeg stars. Following on from the successful vibe of Mayes' Living Room Sessions album, producer/Ranger Jaxon Haldane recorded these 12 tracks over two days in his living room. Featuring nine players gathered around just three mics, these songs light up and glow like a cottage kitchen full of musicians and whiskey at 3 a.m. That's all that really needs to be said.
— John Kendle
Various Artists
Unity: A Tribute to Desmond Dekker
(Bacteria Buffet)

B+

Various Artists

This well-considered compilation disc by local ska imprint Bacteria Buffet Records pays tribute to Jamaican ska/reggae granddaddy Desmond Dekker with 13 worthy covers by acts from Winnipeg, New York, Toronto, Montreal, Regina and Victoria - and it's the Peg bands that stand out on the record, with The Wedgewoods' take on You've Got Your Troubles and The Afterbeat's rendition of Unity taking top honours. Bacteria Buffet is onto something here. It's cool to hear what happens when artists from six different scenes are united through the music of one of their genre's most influential players. So cool, that we can almost forgive the absence of JFK and the Conspirators.
— Jen Zoratti
X-Engine-X
After the End
(Independent)

B+

X-Engine-X

X-Engine-X is running once again. The modern metal machine sat idle for a long time, After the End being the band's first release since 2003's Inner Demons. No signs of rust here, as X-Engine-X delivers a headbanger's ball, striking the perfect balance between heavy and catchy. Think Godsmack or Hell Yeah - you know, guitar-driven hard rock delivered with plenty of groove, the kind of stuff you're just as likely to hear in the rock bar as the strip club.
— Jared Story
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