Category Archives: Early Works

Mike Trask, Jamboree, Indie

Bearly’s mainstay Mike Trask opted to step away from his usual partners in crime Mudhill to record his solo-debut Jamboree.For this album he opted to strip away everything, to create an album with DIY appeal. While this is a passion project (see the handmade packaging), one has to wonder (more…)Read More

Ryan Adams, Ashes and Fire, Capitol, Pax Am

Reclusive, enigmatic, talented are all words that can be used to describe Ryan Adams, an artist who seems to be forgedfromthe same mold as Neil Young. Ryan Adams bears an artistic integrity not found on many albums, his my way or the highway mentalitymaynotgarner him the adulation of the masses, (more…)Read More

We`re Doomed, Like a Machine EP, Indie

Fresh off of their summer stint on the Vans Warped Tour, progressive rockers We’re Doomed have unleashed their debut EP Like a Machine. The EP is an aural onslaught of technical guitar wizardry and an unrelenting percussive backbone. Over the course of the 5 tracks, they blend into each other without (more…)Read More

Tinie Tempah, Disc-overy, Capitol, EMI

It’s odd to talk about an artist that the WWE is responsible for breaking, but that’s the case with Tinie Tempah. TheUK rapper’s single “Written in the Stars” was selected as the theme song for Wrestlemania XXVII, but is actually the third single from his album Disc-overy. Tinie’s fusion of Electro-Hop (more…)Read More

AWOLNATION, Megalith Symphony, Red Bull Records

The lead single “Sail” from AWOLNATION’s full length debut is about as misleading as it could be, as it is atrack brimming with angst and atmosphere that really don’t appear elsewhere on the disc. While the album opens with a pair of intro pieces that give a concept album impression, but (more…)Read More

City & Colour, Little Hell, Dine Alone

<img class="alignright" border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.ca/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B004ZCO0SM&MarketPlace=CA&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=wwwhafilaxcom-20&ServiceVersion=20070822"><imgsrc="http://www.assoc-amazon.ca/e/ir?t=wwwhafilaxcom-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B004ZCO0SM"width="1"height="1"border="0"alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />Dallas Green has never sounded as warm as he does on his latest album Little Hell. Where Bring Me Your Love was cold and sparse, Little Hell’s 11 tracks are lush and the tone is much warmer here, but this is not to (more…)Read More

Foster the People, Torches, Sony Music

<img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-310" title="fosterthepeople" border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.ca/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B004UUKDNA&MarketPlace=CA&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=wwwhafilaxcom-20&ServiceVersion=20070822">Itmayhavebeenthe fact that their lead single “Pumped up Kicks” had the same sound and feel of fellow indie-rockers Peter Bjorn and John’s “Young Folks” that will leave some feeling cheated. Torches is an album that could be considered to be a bait-and-switch (more…)Read More

Manchester Orchestra, Simple Math, Sony Music

Manchester Orchestra’s latest album Simple Math is not one that is instantly accessible. This is an album that requires afew spins to truly appreciate the nuances. Upon wading into the disc, tracks such as “Pensacola” and lead-single “April Fools”will appear to be the sore thumbs (more…)Read More