From the cultural stereotypes in Madame Butterfly to the racism in Otello, the intersection of race and culture with opera has a dark and problematic history. Given this legacy, the East Asian setting and the specific Chinese cultural influences of Opera McGill’s production of Alcina is confusing, especially given the[Read More…]
Music
Album Review: We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service – A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest (ATCQ) mean a lot of things to a lot of people. The group was formed in 1985 with original members Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Their status as a uniquely positive, innovative force in the “Golden Age” of rap[Read More…]
Future funk and retro rhythm
Toronto producer Harrison—real name Harrison Robinson—is bringing a fresh sound to clubs across Canada. Harrison’s music exudes optimism while addressing some of the subtle difficulties of the experience of youth, from relationships to clubbing. His SoundCloud bio says, “Maybe it’s not so bad.” One of his singles, “It’s Okay, I[Read More…]
In celebration of Leonard Cohen
“Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” Leonard Cohen’s words resonate potently in the wake of his passing last Monday at the age of 82. He was one of the great artists of the 20th century and leaves behind[Read More…]
Pop Rhetoric: Bob Dylan, Nobel Laureaute
By now, you probably already know that Bob Dylan’s Nobel prize win is either a triumph of lyrics as literature or the harbinger of the decline of Western civilization. Over the past few weeks, the announcement has led to an all-consuming blaze of Internet think pieces. There’s been an explosion[Read More…]
In virtual reality: Entertainment and enlightenment at Björk Digital
Drifting off to sleep after attending Björk Digital, I found myself in an ontological panic. I was falling into a strange half-dream-state that had me questioning the true nature of reality. Montrealers have one week left to enter the mouth of Björk, the iconic Icelandic singer. After the Björk Digital exhibit[Read More…]
Alex Frankel of Holy Ghost! goes solo
Alex Frankel has been hard at work. In May of this year, he released the nu-disco, 80s-nostalgia EP Crime Cutz with fellow Holy Ghost! bandmate Nick Millhiser. He’s featured on the Classixx single “I Feel Numb” and has performed with the group throughout the year, including gigs at Lollapalooza and[Read More…]
Montreal music collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor performs immersive final show
On Sept. 21, Montreal-based music collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor performed their fourth and final show at Theatre Paradoxe. The show benefited local charity organizations such as the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, SPCA Monteregie, and DESTA Black Youth Network. Mainly performing pieces from their 2015 album, Asunder, Sweet and[Read More…]
Modern made vintage: A conversation with Adam Kubota of Postmodern Jukebox
As described in a 2015 interview with the group’s founder Scott Bradlee, the New York-based musical collective Postmodern Jukebox “puts pop music in a time machine.” Led by Scott Bradlee and joined by a host of talented performers, Postmodern Jukebox has gained popularity over the past few years by releasing[Read More…]
Album Review: Bon Iver – 22, A Million
Five years ago, Bon Iver released their self-titled EP to much critical acclaim. The album had stretched the boundaries of folk music, bringing an expansive tenor to a typically stripped down genre, and becoming a modern classic album in the process. Since then, Bon Iver’s[Read More…]