Born out of a mutual appreciation for each other's contributions to Canrock's indie canon, Tommy Hawkins is a spirited side-project that pools the eccentric talents of multi-instrumentalists Thomas D'Arcy and Hawksley Workman.
Beatsteaks are one of my all-time favourite bands, so this review may come across as a tad biased. But, come ON, they are the Beatsteaks. To me, this is the best band Germany has given to the world (sorry Scorpions). Danke to you, Germany!
With each album I think, "Is this the one that is going to suck?" Each time, the answer is no. This is no exception.
Does anyone really need an introduction to Bill Idol? I don't think so. When it comes to Billy Idol, I like the hits, and he has had some good ones. But, face it, when some of these artists get older, they lose their edge and have difficulty repeating the successes of earlier releases.
It is hard sometimes to review something and not have it turn into an open love letter. That is the problem I have when it comes to discussing certain topics.
If the volume in your head phones is too loud, brace yourself. You will not be gracefully welcomed into Killswitch Engage's latest offering, Disarm the Descent. You will be welcomed to relentless screaming and pounding guitars.
When a stranger brags, "I'm in a rock band," you can imagine their sound. Self-proclaimed rockers haven't had much allure this decade. They've become the excitable inappropriate uncles of the music industry. Sudbury, Ontario's Pistol George Warren are not rockers. But they have walked a mile in their shoes.
At 56-years old, Keith Morris has dedicated the majority of his life to hardcore punk. He was the leader of Circle Jerks for three decades and fronted Black Flag for Nervous Breakdown. When his term with one band ended, he fought tooth-and-nail to keep a microphone in-hand.
Kathleen Edwards has made a career of manipulating bitterness into success. On her 2003 debut album, Failer, the dissolution of young love inspired the bulk of her creativity. Over a decade has passed since the Ottawa-native recorded her first songs at Little Bullhorn Studios.
Willis Earl Beal is an unfolding enigma. Every single line of his biography is fascinating. Beal's website simply displays his address and phone number. He offers to trade drawings in exchange for letters and sing to anyone who calls. This was inspired by the Chicago-native's homeless phase.
The Magnetic Fields' most ambitious undertakings could well be behind them. However, frontman Stephin Merritt's priorities are eccentric in their own right. Before 2010's folk-inspired album, Realism, Merritt claimed he had no desire to create big statements or epics. However, this assertion came on the heels of surrendering his synthesizers for a decade.
SBM on Social Media