This year, the Arts & Entertainment section editors worked with our staff writers to come up with the best songs, music videos, albums, TV shows, and movies of 2015; however, not everyone’s favourite made the list. To let the close runners-up shine we’ve each picked our two most-beloved snubs that[Read More…]
Articles by Jack Neal
10 best songs of 2015
Here are our picks for the best songs of 2015: 10. “Sorry” – Justin Bieber Although released in November, this second single released from Bieber’s new album Purpose, “Sorry” is likely to remain a hit for the rest of the year and into the summer. The success of “Sorry” largely[Read More…]
10 Best Albums of 2015
Here are our picks for the best albums of 2015: 10. Lana Del Rey — Honeymoon Dramatically toning down the gritty sound of her previous album, Ultraviolence (2014), in favour of a more layered, ethereal, and timeless aesthetic, Lana Del Rey—one of pop music’s most divisive artist—takes the listener on[Read More…]
10 best music videos of 2015
Here is our list of the 10 best music videos of 2015: 10. Childish Gambino — “Sober” Choreographed by Ian Eastwood, Childish Gambino’s single from the Kauai EP tackles and subverts the oft-depicted ‘guy approaches girl’ scenario in a music video that comically comments on both itself and other videos[Read More…]
10 best movies of 2015
Here are our picks for the 10 best movies of 2015: 10. The End Of the Tour A film about two authors driving around the midwest on a book tour could have been a exercise in pseudo-intellectual masturbation, even when one of them is legendary author David Foster Wallace (Jason[Read More…]
10 best TV shows of 2015
Here's our list of the 10 best TV shows of 2015: 10. How To Get Away With Murder Suspenseful, sexy, and seriously entertaining, How to Get Away with Murder may be Shonda Rhimes’ best work to date. The plot twists at the end of each episode avoid the deus ex-machina[Read More…]
Album Review: Dark Sky Island – Enya
Irish singer-songwriter, Enya, is all alone. In a music industry filled with electronic, pop, and alternative sounds, each battling for their right to be heard by an audience intent on new, it’s a breath of fresh air when recording artists who sound like absolutely nothing else are still making music.[Read More…]
Album Review: 25 – Adele
Some singers shoot for critical reception; others for commercial success. Some aim for none, some for both… and then there’s Adele. The British sensation—officially Adele Laurie Blue Adkins MBE (yes, she’s an order of the British empire now), literally started from the bottom. Born in Tottenham, U.K., and raised by[Read More…]
Album Review: Delirium – Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding is no stranger to the pop music scene in which she seems so steadfastly stuck. While Halcyon (2012) was released to to commercial adoration, Goulding failed to properly carve out her own unique space within pop; unfortunately on her latest album, Delirium, she just sinks herself further into[Read More…]
Michael Angelakos’ coming out and sensationalism in media
During a recent podcast interview, Michael Angelakos—lead singer of Passion Pit—discussed his sexuality, stating that “I like girls, I like boys, everyone’s fantastic; but you know what? I’m gay. Finally.” The interview revolved around a number of other highly personal topics: His anxiety, bipolar disorder, history of suicide attempts, and[Read More…]
Album Review: American Man – The Yawpers
In the spring of 2011, Bruce Springsteen released Wrecking Ball; an ode to Americana and a critique of the capitalistic society that America had become. “No cannonball did fly / No rifles cut us down / But just as sure as the hand of God / They brought death to[Read More…]
Album Review: Blue Sky Miners EP – Blue Sky Miners
Seemingly appearing out of the woodwork, Blue Sky Miners has in fact been working on this self-titled debut EP since 2013; carefully selecting a producer—Todor Kobakov—and fine-tuning their lyrics as well as meticulously crafting their sound into self-described 'Rocky Mountain Desert Rock' end result. The sound of their music is something[Read More…]
Altering the face of history
ues change over time and so do the institutions that were created for specific purposes over various centuries. As cities expand, they are reorganized and refashioned in manners deemed suitable for the ever-evolving societies that inhabit them. Instead of knocking down and rebuilding infrastructure, many cities have repurposed oft-unused buildings[Read More…]
Off the board: Drawing the line between inspiration and appropriation
Following the release of Taylor Swift’s new music video for “Wildest Dreams”—the 5th single from her 2014 album, 1989—the singer and the video’s director, Joseph Kahn, came under fire for accusations of racism and glorifying colonialism. It is very easy to call out something as being racist or culturally appropriative—especially[Read More…]
Trib mix: Back to school edition
Add-Drop is almost over and it can’t be denied any longer—school is back in session. To celebrate the start of the new year (or mourn the impending loss of the warm weather) the staff at the McGill Tribune has compiled 25 tracks that define what back to school means for[Read More…]
Album Review: Lana Del Rey – Honeymoon / Interscope & Polydor
“All I want to do is get high by the beach,” Lana Del Rey croons on the lead single to her newest album, Honeymoon: It’s an aloof and somewhat carefree sentiment that rings true throughout the entirety of the album’s lazy state. Del Rey told[Read More…]
More than just cheap beer: A backstage look at four of OAP’s finest performers
Zoo Legacy Zoo Legacy is undeniable an anomaly. Part hip-hop, a little bit of indie, a sprinkle of rock, all mixed together to form a sound that can only be described as collaborative, but certainly not disjointed. “When we began, it was really a rock group with a rapper,”[Read More…]
Album Review: Carly Rae Jepsen – E-mo-tion / Interscope
The line between art and artist is thinly drawn—one that becomes increasingly obscure the more you attempt to define where the boundary lies. For Carly Rae Jepsen’s new album, it’s a necessary evil. E-mo-tion ultimately sees Jepsen charging back into the music arena in full-force[Read More…]
McGill 101: Finding your niche in McGill’s creative community
One of the best parts of university is that it allows you to find your niche. No matter how specific your interests are, there is probably already a club at McGill devoted to it; however, the sheer amount of variety can be overwhelming, so here are several clubs focused specifically on[Read More…]
Horst: Transcending the ages through colour photography
Horst Paul Bohrmann’s (Horst P. Horst) work has become recognized worldwide as some of the most forward-thinking endeavours in photography, and he is widely considered one of the most prolific fashion photographers of all time. Despite this recognition, not much is known about the man behind the lens. The superbly[Read More…]
The best albums of 2015 (so far)
15. Jenny Hval – Apocalypse, Girl Full of surprises, Jenny Hval’s fifth studio album delves into territory that her previous work had avoided entirely. It pushes boundaries, with noisy interludes and sharp melodies that are so well crafted it’s impossible to take all the musical arrangements in with one listen.[Read More…]
The best songs of 2015 (so far)
Here's our list of the best songs of 2015 so far: 15. Jessica Pratt – “Games That I Play” “People’s faces blend together like a watercolour you can’t remember,” sings Jessica Pratt. It’s one of the most beautifully-crafted lines written this year, and holds more weight than the combination of[Read More…]
Album Review: Ultimate Painting – Green Lanes / Trouble in Mind
Evoking a sound reminiscent of the past is a style that many artists have attempted, and subsequently failed. For while it’s easy to try to replicate, for example, the ’80s through echoing drums, reverbed vocals, and synths, in essence the replication is only a heavily[Read More…]
Album Review: Lindi Ortega – Faded Gloryville / The Grand Tour Records
Full-fledged country music has historically been dominated by those native to the southern United States. In fact, only a handful of geographically ‘outsiders’ have successfully transitioned into the genre, the most prominent on the list being Shania Twain and Keith Urban. Canadian singer Lindi Ortega,[Read More…]
alt-J on fame and staying the same
Despite being one of the most surprising success stories for indie-rock bands in the past half decade, alt-J are the definition of down-to-earth. Having released their debut album, An Awesome Wave in 2012, the band received multiple nominations at both the BRIT (2012) and Grammy Awards (2015), and won the[Read More…]
Album Review: Mac Demarco – Another One / Captured Tracks
Brooklyn-based indie artist Mac DeMarco has a knack for crafting effortless-sounding songs. His debut album, 2 (2012), and follow-up Salad Days (2014) played heavily on a hazy aesthetic that was the definition of lazy Sunday-morning music. On Another One—a ‘mini LP’—DeMarco is unable to progress[Read More…]
Osheaga 2015 recap: Day three
With the sun shining high in the sky, thousands of fans eagerly made their way through Parc Jean Drapeau to their favourite acts. With a fabulous set of artists lined up, festival goers appeared in good spirits, dressed in tanks, shorts, and rocking their pair of raybans—the final day of[Read More…]
Album Review: Tame Impala – Currents / Interscope
Tame Impala’s previous two efforts, Innerspeaker (2010) and Lonerism (2012), were widely talked about pieces of work that pushed the boundaries of psychedelic rock into previously unexplored territory. On their third studio album, Currents, lead singer Kevin Parker has perfected his knack for crafting exquisite[Read More…]
Album Review: Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material / Mercury Nashville
Since the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, Same Trailer, Different Park (2013), Kacey Musgraves has filled an odd gap between country and mainstream music. Musgraves’ follow-up album, Pageant Material, continues where her debut album began, with Musgraves lyricising witty critiques of the social[Read More…]
Album Review: Florence + the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Much of the lead-up to How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, the highly anticipated studio album from British indie-rock band Florence + the Machine, has included an overemphasis of the album’s stripped-back sound. No stranger to bombast, the band’s previous two albums were high on[Read More…]
Album Review: Brandon Flowers – The Desired Effect
By now, channelling sounds from another era and successfully executing them using modern day influences and themes is both often-used and difficult to get right. However, in Brandon Flowers’ new album, The Desired Effect, The Killers frontman does just that, defying a simple rehash of[Read More…]
Deep Cuts: Under the Sun
What A Buzz Artist: Olly Murs Album: Right Place Right Time Released: November 26, 2012 All about a nervous first date, “What A Buzz” boasts simple lyrics, an incredibly catchy chorus, and goofy vocals. “Got ketchup on my trousers and my cheeks are going red […] What a beautiful buzz[Read More…]
Album Review: Marina & the Diamonds – Froot
Welsh singer Marina Diamandis (stage-name Marina & the Diamonds) has previously been somewhat unsuccessful in cultivating her own identity within the much-crowded pop music scene. Her debut, The Family Jewels (2010), was a rather garish, cock-a-hoop record, and 2012’s Electra Heart suffered from over-collaboration due to Marina’s route-one scramble for[Read More…]
Senate discusses funding for Office for Students with Disabilities
Allocation of government funding for students with disabilities Arts & Science Senator Chloe Rourke expressed concerns regarding funding for services for students with disabilities, including the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD), in conjunction with the uncertainty behind McGill’s budget cuts. In response, Provost Anthony Masi stated that although[Read More…]
Off the board: Broadening the feminist scope – In defence of Lana Del Rey
In a now-famous interview with Fader Magazine, Lana Del Rey was quoted saying, “For me, the issue of feminism is just not an interesting concept,” and that she is “more interested in intergalactic explorations.” This resulted in backlash, harsh criticisms, and a firm ‘anti-feminist’ label on her and her subsequent[Read More…]
Album Review: Imagine Dragons – Smoke and Mirrors
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done,” confesses Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds on the opening song of the band’s second album, Smoke and Mirrors—something he should absolutely feel the need to apologize for. Whilst their debut, Night Visions (2012) was, albeit a bit of a mess, it was an exciting[Read More…]
Pop Rhetoric: Time for an Album-of-the-Year alternative
When Prince announced “Morning Phase, Beck,” as the recipient of the 57th Album of the Year award at the Grammys on Sunday, Feb. 8, the reactions ranged from stumped (the general public) to outrageously excited (Beck’s wife) to frustrated (Kanye West), to total and utter shock from Beck himself. As[Read More…]
Janet Devlin – Duvet Daze
After rising to the spotlight in the 2011 X Factor series with her awkward, charming rendition of Elton John’s “Love Song,” 16-year-old Irish singer Janet Devlin won the audience over with her quirky image, shy personality, and fascinatingly whimsical voice. Despite leaving the show after[Read More…]
Album Review: All We Are – All We Are
Recently shortlisted for both the 2015 NME and BRIT Awards, Liverpool-based band All We Are is the latest to latch on to the seemingly endlessly growing number of indie-rock bands vying for attention and supposed critical acclaim. Featuring guitar riffs, lots of drums, and rock-based production, All We Are[Read More…]
Album Review: Jessica Pratt – On your own love again
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt is only 27 years old but returns on her second studio album, On Your Own Love Again , with an incredibly mature sound, reminiscent of an era long gone. Pratt’s music has a strong ’60s folk sound and with picked acoustic guitar and raw,[Read More…]
Album Review: One Direction – Four
It’s hard to review a One Direction album without acknowledging the ever-familiar boy-band that created it.
Album Review: Jessie Ware – Tough Love
Just under a month ago, Jessie Ware, the Brixton-born singer and master of restraint, performed at the iTunes Festival where she showcased a vastly improved confidence in not only her stage presence, but in her vocals as well. Ware stated in a 2014 interview with The Guardian that her new[Read More…]
Album Review: Ella Henderson – Chapter One
After gaining worldwide attention during the 2012 season of X Factor UK, 16-year-old Ella Henderson rose to prominence due to her incredibly mature vocals, songwriting ability, and loveable personality. It is upon this supremely elevated platform that Henderson releases her debut album, Chapter One. Despite lofty expectations, it does not[Read More…]
Album Review: Jamie T – Carry On the Grudge Virgin
It’s been five long years since London-born singer-songwriter Jamie T released his second record Kings & Queens (2009) to critical acclaim, solidifying his place in the English indie rock scene. Known for his witty and clever lyrics, Jamie T has provided classic, well-written songs portraying a “normal person’s” critique of[Read More…]
Album Review: Lights – Little Machines
Five years ago, the electronic music field looked vastly different than what it is today. Since then, La Roux proved a surprising newcomer with her hit single “Bulletproof,” Skrillex was the first electronic artist nominated for major Grammy awards, and Disclosure led the modern-day electronic charge into mainstream culture. The relatively[Read More…]
Album Review: Perfume Genius – Too Bright
Conveying emotion is difficult. Conveying emotion well—and allowing people to connect to it—is even harder. However, for American songwriter Mike Hadreas, otherwise known as Perfume Genius, emotional darkness and confessions are where he thrives. His first two albums tackle incredibly personal struggles: Sexuality, molestation, and relationships, which results in some[Read More…]
Album Review: Train – Bulletproof Picasso
San Francisco band Train returns with its seventh studio album, Bulletproof Picasso, which has as much musical evolution from its previous album as the near-identical album covers suggest.
Evolving our foundations
It is hard to ignore the eclectic style of McGill’s buildings. Whether it is the imposing limestone pillars that adorn the Arts Building or the clean-cut, grille-like exterior of Leacock, McGill boasts incredible architectural diversity.
La Roux—Trouble in Paradise
Following a five-year hiatus, British electronic artist Elly Jackson—better known under her stage name La Roux—returns to the music scene with her second album, Trouble in Paradise. Focusing on the struggles Jackson dealt with during her time out of the spotlight, the album offers an interestingly upbeat and mature take[Read More…]
Lily Allen—Sheezus
A lot has changed for outspoken British pop star Lily Allen since the release of her second album five years ago, having since gained international success and initiated various controversies. While her initial style was known for being simple and relatable, she approaches her newest release, Sheezus, from a slightly[Read More…]
Lana Del Rey—Ultraviolence
Upon first listen, Lana Del Rey’s new album Ultraviolence is a complete musical departure from her 2012 album Born to Die. Produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Ultraviolence has replaced the bombastic string and melodramatic orchestral climaxes of the earlier album with pulsing guitar riffs, echoing drums, and smooth layers[Read More…]
Karmin—Pulses
After rising to global fame through their YouTube channel, the band Karmin—made up of couple Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan—was signed to record label Epic, released a string of EPs and, finally, debuted their first full-length LP, Pulses. Characterized by a unique image, Heidemann’s seemingly unparalleled rapping style, and Noonan’s[Read More…]
The Fray—Helios
The Fray is back! Just over a year since releasing the commercially-successful Scars & Stories, the alternative rock band from Colorado have returned with their fourth—and ultimately, fairly predictable—studio album, Helios. The first 10 seconds of the opening track “Hold My Hand” are as brilliant as anything they’ve previously released,[Read More…]
Sam Roberts Band–Lo-Fantasy
Having released a relatively successful string of EPs and full-length studio efforts, Quebec-based rocker Sam Roberts recently dropped Lo-Fantasy, his fifth album overall, and second since adopting the moniker Sam Roberts Band in 2011. With catchy hooks, brilliant guitar riffs, and sing-along choruses, this album doesn’t stray far from his[Read More…]
The Jezabels—The Brink
Every now and again, an artist—or band—crops up out of nowhere and absolutely stuns with one listen of their debut album. Following a string of EP’s released between 2009 and 2010, this alternative rock band from Sydney, Australia, released their first full-length effort, Prisoner, in 2011 to much critical acclaim,[Read More…]
Deep Cuts
Swingin’ Party Artist: Lorde Album: Pure Heroine—Extended Released: September 27, 2013 This sensation from New Zealand has made no shortage of headlines; however this song, embedded in her re-issue, Pure Heroine – Extended, remains relatively unknown. Singing over a smooth, pulsing beat with an unusually simple organ in the background,[Read More…]
Switchfoot—Fading West
With a rich catalogue of intricately-written songs and a 2011 Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album in their back pocket, this Alternative Rock band from San Diego has delivered yet another brilliantly uplifting album. Right from the get-go, the thundering beat of the opening track, “Love Alone is Worth[Read More…]
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings — Give The People What They Want
Give the People What They Want, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ fifth studio album—and first release in almost three years—harks back to their critically acclaimed 2007 album, 100 Days, 100 Nights. Thematically, this album is similar to their previous efforts of love and heartbreak, happiness and personal crises; however, it[Read More…]