Gillian Nicola’s first release No Place To Call is as captivating as it is solitudal. The unique lilt of her alt-country vocals alone brings to life the stories of bitter heartache and, with Oh Marie, the bizarre reality of watching an idol fall. The band creates ambient, wintery soundscapes formed through a classic pop/rock template, while breaking the mould enough to excite even a tough critic. Fans of Ingrid Michaelson, Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris will appreciate the candidness and expert use of the pedal steel guitar. Check Gillian out Nov 3rd at The Cameron House for our AFL Femme Fatale Showcase!
Category Archives: Review
Episode 36: Lisa Marie Kruchak
Unique breathy vocals paired with a rhythmic guitar technique makes Lisa Marie Kruchak‘s brand of swishy, heavy folk something to behold. Her full length release Miles of Prairie is as personal as it is accessible, especially evocative when it blends sliding bass with meditative melodies, and perfectly paradoxical criss-crossing harmonies. Check her out live Nov 3 at the Cameron House for our Femme Fatale Showcase night!
Episode 35: PUP
One of Dylan’s personal faves, we tackled PUP’s second full release, The Dream is Over. These Toronto-based punk rockers are reinvigorating the genre, making a fan out of Jesse, and managing to pull themes of depression, death, angst and acceptance into a solid and varied record. With as many complex narratives as there are straightforward loud-fun-angry tracks, it’s a safe bet to say their dream is only beginning.
Episode 34: The Brandy Alexanders
Jess is back to talk Windsor-based psychedelic rock-pop from The Brandy Alexanders. It’s steeped in the likes of Pink Floyd and middle-era Beatles, but with enough rhythmic interest and layered instrumentation to make their mark on the genre. Check them out here and stay tuned till the end of the episode for details on our next showcase night November 3rd at The Cameron House!
Episode 33: PKEW PKEW PKEW
With Jess on vacation, Dylan and his mum Loretta want you to get your skateboarding gear, drink a few beers, find your friends, and hop into the world of PKEW PKEW PKEW and their anti-social party punk rock. There’s a lot more going on than you might think on a first listen, and the live show is to die for. So much to cover! So get in the loop!
Episode 32: Clara Engel
Find your spirit guide and take a trip with us for Clara Engel’s most recent relsease Visitors Are Allowed One Kiss. It’s doom folk, “avant-blues hymns” centered on dusty, raw vocals and acoustic guitar. Hauntingly beautiful and meditiative, Engel’s international collaboration builds a dark fairytale of a record. Jess digs into themes of seduction and death’s release, and Dylan explores how depression is perfectly captured in “Once A White Owl.” Heavy but worth it, friends. Get in the loop!
Episode 30: Social Potion
After a stellar anniversary showcase, we’re back with a LOT of easy to love tunage! We tucked into Social Potion‘s first release, and is it ever a lovely take on adult alternative pop with a real Women & Songs meets Aimee Mann feel. Some things we get into: King Lear references, keeping yourself together after a breakup, pranking your drunk dad on Christmas to hit those high notes in Beatles Rock Band (Carmen can. Dylan’s dad, not so much), and what it’s like to meet your heroes. EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT ALERT so stay tuned till the end!
Episode 29: Foreign Film Star
A project apart for Jamie Reaume of Cowboys in Cardigans, it’s an atmospheric rock record called quite appropriately, The Moon Landing. One part complex and psychedelic instrumentals, one part late 90’s sexy slimy alt rock, it’s absolutely worth the trip. Jess and Dylan explore themes of depression and anxiety, and also Ridley Scott’s impossibly positive “The Martian.” Get in the loop and don’t forget to bring your friends to our showcase June 30th at the Hideout!
Episode 27: Run With the Kittens Part 2
It’s the rekittening! AFL gets into the second half of Casio Glue Bomb, Dylan praises the use of the voice as an instrument beyond lyrics alone, and Jess shares her thoughts on how musicians/lovers respect and critique each other’s work. Don’t forget to mark your calendar’s for June 30th loopers!
Episode 26: Run With The Kittens Part 1
The first band Jesse saw when she moved to Toronto, it’s part one of Run With The Kitten’s hefty release, Casio Glue Bomb. Surf rock, space noise, dronecore, lots of snyths and a cornucopia of percussive flavours, this is quite the undertaking. Check out CDbaby for this and other releases from the band, and don’t forget to pencil in June 30th for our AFL Anniversary Showcase!!!!