recipes.oriyaonline.com This is my mother’s easier and healthier version of the classic Indian spinach dish that can be adapted to suit whatever you have in your kitchen. Paneer is an Indian fresh cheese that is fully vegetarian and a good source of protein. If you want a vegan alternative, substitute[Read More…]
Articles by Manisha Aggarwal-Schifellite
Mother Mother: Eureka
Eureka, the third album from Canadian rock band Mother Mother, really packs a punch. Full of dance hooks, swelling harmonies, and heavy percussion, the first four tracks showcase what the five-piece band does best. The pop and rock elements are spot-on, and the addition of heavier synth beats makes the[Read More…]
The new prince of Canadian hip-hop
deconrecords.ca Nowadays, the words “Canadian hip-hop” usually lead to a discussion of Toronto hitmaker Drake, whose surge in popularity has earned him fans all over the world. But Sunday’s Juno Awards saw Drake lose Rap Recording of the Year to Vancouver-based rapper Shad, whose 2010 album TSOL has also been[Read More…]
Carrot-Zucchini bread
This zucchini-carrot bread uses the healthiness of vegetables to create a guilt-free alternative to your average brownie. Quick and easy to make using any fruit and nuts you have lying around, it’s easy to tweak the recipe for a range of dietary restrictions. The best part is that the veggies[Read More…]
Eisley: The Valley
Indie darlings Eisley’s third full-length album, The Valley makes no bones about its subject matter. Reportedly inspired by singer Sherri DuPree’s split from Chad Gilbert, of emo band New Found Glory, the album pulls out all the stops and vocalists Sherri and Stacy DuPree don’t hold back when it comes[Read More…]
Do you want to be a rock & roll star?
shannonheather.com When talking about the best and brightest of Canadian indie music, Saskatoon rock outfit the Sheepdogs may not be at the top of your list. The band, who has been touring and recording for over five years, has quietly risen in popularity and recently caught the attention of Rolling[Read More…]
Bright Eyes: The People’s Key
It’s hard to listen to a Bright Eyes album without comparing it to what many reviewers and fans call their best, I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning—the folk half of a 2004-2005 double release. The band has continued to embrace a folk sound in the six years since the release of[Read More…]
Album Review: Adele – 21
British soul singer Adele's second album, 21, is conscious of its status as a make-or-break sophomore record. But while 2008's 19 was an album full of heart-wrenching confessions of love and regret, 21 doesn't wear its heart on its sleeve in quite the same way. The songs are still romantic[Read More…]
Sparkle and glitter for Diamond Rings
aux.tv This week, Toronto-based performer Diamond Rings will open for Scandinavian dance-pop giant Robyn as part of a multi-city North American tour that promises to be anything but boring. Diamond Rings, also known as John O’Regan, has become famous in recent months for his outlandish costumes, energetic performances, and infectious[Read More…]
The King’s Speech
Many of the films that will be contending in this year’s Academy Awards were released during the holiday season. For this reason, we bring you a rundown of the best movies from December 2010 that you should be sure to catch in theatres before school starts taking over.
Local band makes their mark
chartattack.com If you haven’t been paying attention to Canadian independent music for very long, you may not have heard of the Mark Inside. The Toronto band recently released an EP titled False Flag, its first album in over three years. False Flag is a follow-up to the band’s debut[Read More…]
Zooming in on the magic of the everyday
(3.bp.blogspot.com) In his current exhibit at the McCord Museum, Hungarian-born photographer Gabor Szilasi documents “The Eloquence of the Everyday” over 30 years and two continents. Through both black and white and colour images, Szilasi focuses on a variety of features that make up the everyday: urban and rural architecture, private[Read More…]
The Details: The Original Mark EP
Winnipeg band The Details’ The Original Mark EP is a six-song collection of tracks that will go on their second full-length album. Produced by Stephen Carroll of the Weakerthans and recorded by Brandon Reid, who has worked with the National, the EP announces the band’s presence on the independent music[Read More…]
The Unexpected Appeal of Teen Mom
I’ll admit it: I love MTV’s Teen Mom. I’ve been addicted since season one of 16 and Pregnant, thinking that the show would be exactly the mind-numbing hour of reality television I would need to carry on with my life. But three seasons later, I’ve come to appreciate the show[Read More…]
Belle and Sebastian – Write About Love
Belle and Sebastian Write About Love is the Scottish group’s eighth album in 15 years, and their age is starting to show. Unfortunately, while their signature sound remains intact, the overall message of the album isn’t as obvious as previous releases. Frontman Stuart Murdoch doesn’t wear his heart on his[Read More…]
Toronto’s Cuff the Duke show off stripped-down style
cufftheduke.ca Sometimes it pays to have good friends. Or, if you’re Toronto’s Cuff the Duke, good friends who are also Canadian rock legends. Last year, Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor approached the band and invited them to record some songs with him. “He came to us and said, ‘Let’s just record[Read More…]
Experimentation, Collaboration, and Dance
This fall, Canadian musician Dan Snaith, also known as Caribou, is embarking on a three-month world tour across North America, South America, and Europe in support of his sixth studio album, Swim. The tour, comprised of 10 European festival dates and over 80 cities worldwide, will showcase Caribou’s explosive live presence, as well as his talents as a solo artist.
Luke Doucet and the White Falcon – Steel City Trawler
The eighth studio album from Luke Doucet, and the second to feature The White Falcon, Steel City Trawler is an unabashed portrait of the magic in the everyday. The album’s straightforward guitar riffs and upbeat melodies, combined with Doucet’s earnest lyrics, form an enjoyable and thoughtful record.
CD REVIEW: Luke Doucet and the White Falcon – Steel City Trawler
The eighth studio album from Luke Doucet, and the second to feature The White Falcon, Steel City Trawler is an unabashed portrait of the magic in the everyday. The album’s straightforward guitar riffs and upbeat melodies, combined with Doucet’s earnest lyrics, form an enjoyable and thoughtful record.
Summer Entertainment Report Cards: Movies – Despicable Me
Despicable Me was touted as Universal’s answer to Pixar’s steady stream of successful, adorable, and quirky animated films including Up, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles. While the style of Despicable Me may resemble that of Pixar, and the characters are of the same eccentric variety, Despicable Me offers a new and interesting story for children and adults with a villain whose sole desire in life is to make others as miserable as he is.
Toronto bands unite for Arts & Crafts triple threat
This spring, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Jason Collett and indie bands Zeus and Bahamas unleashed “The Bonfire Ball” in North America. The three-in-one tour has been travelling across the continent since the beginning of March, and has even been as far south as Mexico City, playing a show for the one-year anniversary of record label Arts & Crafts’ expansion to the region.
CD REVIEWS: She & Him: Volume 2
She & Him’s Volume 2 makes a slight departure from 2008’s Volume 1. Actress Zooey Deschanel and singer-songwriter M. Ward’s second album is full of Beach Boys-inspired harmonies and twangy California guitar, maintaining the duo’s penchant for a retro sound.
CD REVIEWS: Plants and Animals: La La Land
Montreal-based Plants and Animals’ newest release La La Land is a fun, upbeat record that showcases why the band has been gaining recognition in the indie music scene for a few years now. Their first full-length album, Parc Avenue, was nominated for two JUNO awards in 2009 and was short-listed for the Polaris Music Prize in 2008.