by Tiana Feng

Rating:

Release Date: April 23rd, 2013
Label: Independent

Montreal fuzzy pop rockers Reversing Falls released their self-titled debut last month. Co-produced by Mark Lawson and mixed by Howard Bilerman it really doesn’t sound like Arcade Fire, the band whose credits both sound men have in common. Continue Reading

by Tiana Feng

Rating:

Release Date: April 2nd, 2013
Label: Cordova Bay Records

Victoria BC’s Acres of Lions released their third album Homes(s) last month. The release is full of 90′s emo pop-rock influences (“Miserable Together”.) The main difference between Home(s) and 2011′s Collections is the production sounds like it was geared towards sounding live.

Highlights include the sugary and welcoming title track and the glock/piano accompanied “Prairie Fire”, an addictive tune you can see the crowd singing along with at shows.

For the most part the songs are earwormy with superficial to-the-point lyrics which lend themselves to a concert setting. While tunes like “Never Let Me Go” are enjoyable, the band will find themselves struggling to compete with similar sounding bands.

by Tiana Feng

Rating:

Release Date: May 7, 2013
Label: Blackbox Music

In Northcote Matt Goud from post-hardcore band Means, drops the noise for bright and upbeat alternative indie-pop. Continue Reading

by Tiana Feng

Rating:

Release Date: April 30th, 2013
Label: Kanine Records

Valleys debut Sometimes Water Kills seems bleak and thin compared to what they have going on in their latest album Are You Going to Stand There And Talk Weird All Night?. This time the Montreal group have given up acoustic guitars for a more heavily produced, beat heavy electronic than before. Continue Reading

by Tiana Feng

Rating:

Release Date: April 16th, 2013
Label: Outside Music

Full disclosure: I had my share in funding Folly and the Hunter’s Indiegogo campaign after falling in love with their underappreciated album Residents of 2011. To be honest, after not hearing much on the album after my donation I thought I had funded a lost cause. A year and a half later Tragic Care arrived at my doorstep (quite literally). Continue Reading

by Tiana Feng

Rating:

Release Date: April 23rd, 2013
Label: File Under: Music

Vancouver’s The Crackling consists of members of Dan Mangan’s touring band. With Mangan’s music wavering with emotions, The Crackling is expected to tug on some heart strings and they do in their sophomore release Mary Magdalene. Continue Reading

by Tiana Feng

Rating:

Release Date: April 23rd, 2013
Label: Mexican Summer

Following up on 2010′s Ghost Blonde, No Joy proved themselves more than just shoegazers with this year’s release of Wait to Pleasure. In fact it’s really hard to be gazing off while listening to this masterpiece in cacophony. Continue Reading