California born emerging electronic artist Skrillex had his official coming out party at this year’s Grammy Awards.  He won several awards which caused people to sit up and take notice.  I’m sur [ ... ]

Beginning with their name (Slove – a combination of the two words “slow” and “love”) everything about this band is clever and funky. Slove is a Parisian-based electronic music duo comprised  [ ... ]

Two of my present favourite pop songs are on this collection of 17 top hits of today.  Rihanna’s “We Found Love” and David Guetta featuring Usher’s “Without You” are both here. Unfortunat [ ... ]

In between his busy life as a full-time worker and a husband/father, Wayne Kafka managed to record this double album.  That shows some incredible time management skills and a true passion for music i [ ... ]

For 32 years Metallica has been a heavy hitter on the heavy metal musical front.  They have even gone beyond simply being appealing to heavy metal fans to become one of the most successful musical ac [ ... ]

In an interesting combination of pop and classical music, Leandra Ramm’s One Night With You showcases her amazing voice.  The 25-year-old mezzo-soprano is classically trained and in the beginning o [ ... ]

Sometimes an old dog can learn a couple of new tricks. In an obvious attempt to appeal to and stay relevant with today’s younger generation Joe Cocker has widened his bag of tricks. He has brought o [ ... ]

Using only his middle name on the stage, Drake has become one of the biggest rappers ever produced by Canada. Originally he became known as Jimmy Brooks on the television’s Degrassi: The Next Genera [ ... ]

Filled with plenty of power and guitar riffs, Lamb of God shows no signs of slowing down after having their last album being nominated for a Grammy Award.  That was Wrath and this is Resolution.  Th [ ... ]

After the whole kerfuffle concerning Lana Del Ray’s (real name Lizzy Grant) recent appearance on Saturday Night Live (people saying she was off key the whole time and cannot sing) I had to find out  [ ... ]

Fans of the rapper have been waiting a long time for this one. To be less vague they have been waiting since 2008.  TM 103 Hustlerz Ambition is the anticipated follow up to The Recession. As is the u [ ... ]

Elika is the Brooklyn based duo made up of Evagelia Maravelias and Brian Wenkebach. There are a lot of male/female duos going on now in music, right? Ok, that was an aside. Recording together since 20 [ ... ]

No grass grows underneath this lassie’s feet. As soon as she came off her world tour for her last album it seemed like new music was being released. Young people have a lot of energy. Talk That Talk [ ... ]

The band originally from Northern Ireland has been a commercial success pretty much out of the gate. Well, I mean after surviving a little misstep while signed to an indie label. After signing with th [ ... ]

Indie rock band Open Hand hails from California and have been together since 1999 when former Saosin drummer Alex Rodriguez and guitarist/vocalist Justin Isham got together. The lineup has undergone s [ ... ]

David Lynch…David Lynch…David Lynch…that name sounds familiar. Oh yeah, he’s that director of odd films like Blue Velvet and Eraserhead. And now he’s releasing albums?? Okay…then I read a  [ ... ]

On rare occasions Toronto and Montreal can get along or work together on something.  It is rare, but it does happen. Such a case is the band Sacred Balance. The electro trip rock outfit has just rele [ ... ]

This is the type of music that you don’t have to turn up to 11 (Ah, Spinal Tap) to feel the full force of. Down and dirty is how Welland, Ontario band does it. A mixture of grunge rock and punk is h [ ... ]

This foursome from Nashville had a huge hit over the summer with their song “Tonight, Tonight”.  The pop-rock song was everywhere over the summer and the video starring the band’s guitarist Nas [ ... ]

A few years ago Florence + the Machine’s debut album was a revelation selling over 3 million copies. Now she is back with a sophomore album that is no less amazing. Brit Florence is an artist at the [ ... ]

Dial back 17 years and relative unknown Mary J. Blige released her album My Life.  Today (or more precisely in November) she releases the thematic follow up to it. The first album the work of a woman [ ... ]

Some bands find a winning sound formula, one they are comfortable with and stick with it. Such is not the case with Gym Class Heroes. They are a band that is all over the place. This is doubly so on t [ ... ]

Canadian treasure (my unbiased opinion) Jann Arden released a cover album entitled Uncover Me in 2007. This was her best selling album in a decade. Now four years later she has followed it up with par [ ... ]

Wondering if you should have added The Black Keys “El Camino” to your xmas wishlist? Wondering if this album stands up to their last, fantastic, album “Brothers”? Wondering if this two man ban [ ... ]

Lights is an act that you cannot help but like. She is so genuine in everything she does. Her sophomore album sheds light (ooh! A pun!) on a young (she’s 24) artist who is trying to evolve and grow  [ ... ]

Seven short songs. It’s so much fun that I wanted more.  Dreamy.  Two female vocalists harmonizing over pop punk. It was pretty much the cat’s pyjamas for me. The sound is great and the energy t [ ... ]

This native of France really knows how to multi-task.  You can go to the movie theatre and see Ms. Gainsbourg starring Lar Von Trier’s Melancholia and then head over to HMV as of December 13 to pic [ ... ]

For film nuts out there some of you might already know this guy, but not as musician.  A graduate of the prestigious USC film school, Stu Pollard has directed, produced and written a number of films. [ ... ]

Chris Daughtry has had quite a ride over the short course of his career.  The first five years have been interesting.  His first two albums went to number one on the Billboard chart.  Daughtry’s  [ ... ]

Seal’s career has lasted over 20 years! Where does the time go?  It seems like just yesterday (actually it was 1991) that I was listening to his version of “Killer” and wondering who was the ma [ ... ]

I have a test for you. If you want to know if you are human and have all the requisite emotions that species entails then listen to this Danny Darst album.  The ten songs on American Songwriter take  [ ... ]

Bill Mumy truly is a solo artist as he has done practically everything on this album. It is a also a complete work with a theme to it.  The theme is that of one character and his struggles through ba [ ... ]

Now some of you might think I’ve been a little grumpy with my recent Christmas CD reviews and while that might be true (bah humbug!) this Christmas album by Maria Muldaur got my Grinch heart to grow [ ... ]

Each album that is released requires a tremendous amount of work from the artist(s) and countless others behind the scenes. This is the norm.  With Rich Aucoin’s We’re All Dying to Live to say th [ ... ]

Montreal has produced some decent ska bands over the years and K-Man & The 45s is another to add to the growing list.  The band has some of the best ska musicians in Montreal in the band with Patty T [ ... ]

2011 has been an interesting year for Nickelback.  Despite their popularity they are one of the most hated rock bands going. There is even a petition being circulated by Detroit Lion fans trying to s [ ... ]

The Sheepdogs are a Canadian rock quartet.  More interesting than that last fact is the one that they were the first unsigned band to be on the cover of Rolling Stone (won a competition).  By the ha [ ... ]

French electronic duo Justice (Gaspar Augé and Xavier de Rosnay) was an unknown entity for me before listening to this CD.  I went in with a completely fresh perspective.  It is their second album  [ ... ]

I’m on a roll with the Christmas albums.  I groaned when I saw that the next album in my review pile was another Christmas album.  Once I started listening to it, though, I changed my tune.  Y [ ... ]

Another Christmas album filled with traditional Christmas songs.  The whole thing is done with a jazz flair, so that makes it a little different than the others.  Definitely a low key affair.  The  [ ... ]