Singer-songwriter Cass McCombs has always been a compelling storyteller and Tip of the Sphere, his latest work, might just be his magnum opus. The album, released on Feb. 8, is a whirlwind of fantastical world-building, deft lyricism, and cathartic melodies. The songs are a subtle departure from the spare, folksy[Read More…]
Album Reviews
The hollow girl bossery of ‘thank u, next’
My interest in Ariana Grande was piqued by 2018’s Sweetener, a critically-acclaimed jazz-infused love letter to then-beau, comedian Pete Davidson. thank u, next is the antidote to Sweetener, a cryptic dissection of the infamous broken engagement that has been met with similar praise. And yet, it is at this juncture that I[Read More…]
Girlpool evokes the pain of transition in ‘What Chaos is Imaginary’
Contemporary indie bands tend to follow a well-worn formula based on monotonic, parched vocals delivering angsty lyrics over a simple, distorted guitar. Fans and critics likely expected little else from Girlpool’s newest release, What Chaos is Imaginary. The band fits all of the criteria—two teens from L.A. who got their[Read More…]
Fired up with Fireball Kid
Just over halfway through Fireball Kid’s “Be Friends” (with Magi Merlin, Ura Star, and Big Friends) a distorted guitar solo rips through the production. Sparkly pop textures, autotuned falsetto verses, and Magi Merlin’s lush, commanding hook suddenly fall off, and, for a second, it sounds like someone tripped over a[Read More…]
Sharon Van Etten is ethereal in ‘Remind Me Tomorrow’
Sharon Van Etten has never shied away from vulnerability. Her music is often associated with a certain melancholy and is characterized by honest lyrics on love, inevitable heartbreak, and the self-reflection that follows. However, on her newest record Remind Me Tomorrow, Van Etten shifts away from her usual brooding depictions[Read More…]
Album Review: ‘Music Inspired by Illumination and Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch EP’ by Tyler, the Creator
Following the critical and commercial acclaim of 2017’s Flower Boy, Tyler, the Creator—the now reformed enfant-terrible of the softboi hip-hop world—opened a world of artistic possibilities for himself. Given his disregard for public opinion, it isn’t entirely surprising that his next artistic endeavour would be a new rendition of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” for the recent remake of the children’s classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and an accompanying EP inspired by the green man himself.
Hot take: Greta Van Fleet’s debut album is a rock n’ roll throwback
The world of music journalism is full of takes: Good takes, bad takes, medium takes, and even hot takes. Here, in the Arts & Entertainment section of the The McGill Tribune, we try to supply the hottest takes around. Recently, Pitchfork lambasted Greta Van Fleet’s newest album. In the article, Jeremy[Read More…]
Lakes of Canada blends eclectic influences in ‘We Will Outlive the Sun’
While up-and-coming indie rock bands often attempt to mimic genre-defining groups such as Arcade Fire or LCD Soundsystem, Lakes of Canada has proven itself capable of carving its own path in the music world. Their new concept album, We Will Outlive the Sun, adds innovative flavour to the industry. The[Read More…]
Album Review: Kurt Vile ‘Bottle It In’
Halfway through Bottle It In, Kurt Vile’s newest album, he covers country veteran Charlie Rich’s “Rollin With The Flow.”
Cher’s ‘Dancing Queen’ divides fans
As if her lacklustre performance in this summer’s Mamma Mia 2! Here We Go Again, wasn’t enough, Cher has released an album of ABBA covers. The A&E team is here to deliver the verdict: Does Dancing Queen redeem the Goddess of Pop? Does the diva do justice to her ‘70s-disco Swedish[Read More…]