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Category: MusicNerd Reviews

Shaun Leblanc

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Shaun Leblanc – Kaleidoscope (Independent)

Are you ready to pop and bounce along to the full-length debut effort from Moncton’s Shaun Leblanc? It is tough not to get drawn in by Leblanc’s infectiously pop-smart melodies and his soulful vocals. Striking[...]

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Steve Earle

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Steve Earle and The Dukes (& Duchesses) – The Low Highway (New West)

I’ve easily been able to take or leave the last few records from Steve Earle. While each of his last few records had a few brilliant moments, I felt as though he had perhaps reached[...]

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The Postal Service

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of The Postal Service – Give Up (10th Anniversary Edition) (Sub Pop / Outside Music)

Since its release a decade ago, The Postal Service’s sole full-length album quietly sold more than half a million copies however despite talk of a follow-up effort, it never materialized. Consisting of Death Cab For[...]

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penny blacks

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Penny Blacks – The Silver Screen EP (Independent)

Saint John’s Penny Blacks seemed to wallow in more melancholic waters on their previous release, 2011’s wonderful Harbour. While that album had an undercurrent of optimism running through it, the first thing that struck me[...]

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The Treasures

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of The Treasures – Bring The Night Home (Universal Music Canada)

From the sounds of In The Meantime, the opening song on Bring The Night Home, Toronto’s The Treasures just might be worthy of carrying on the tradition of Gram Parsons and The Band. Sure, these[...]

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MusicNerd Reviews

Review of The Good Family Album – S/T (Latent)

Music has been running in the Good Family’s veins for decades now. Starting with The Good Brothers, The Sadies (consisting of Dallas and Travis Good) then more than capably carried on the twang torch. This[...]

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Andrew Wyatt

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Andrew Wyatt – Descender (Fontana North)

One of the first musical references that came to mind in listening to the solo debut from Miike Snow’s Andrew Wyatt was The Zombies. Recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, there is, like The Zombies[...]

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Phoenix

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Phoenix – Bankrupt! (Universal Music Canada)

After finally breaking through with their amazing 2009 record Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, France’s best electro-pop band Phoenix return with the highly anticipated follow-up, Bankrupt. The album starts with the electrifying first single Entertainment and frankly,[...]

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Free Fall

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Free Fall – Power & Volume (Nuclear Blast)

If you have a hankering for dirty, low down rock n roll, chances are you will want to check out the debut release from Sweden’s Free Fall. Comprised of former members of The Soundtrack of[...]

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Iron & Wine

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Iron & Wine – Ghost On Ghost (Nonesuch / Warner Music Canada)

Although Sam Beam first gained notoriety for a string of intimate, acoustic recordings, the last few Iron & Wine albums have delved into more experimental territory for the musician. Some might be inclined to believe[...]

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Skydiggers

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of The Skydiggers – All Of Our Dreaming: Live 1988, 2000 & 2012 (Latent)

This wonderful two CD, one DVD set from Canadian roots-rock band The Skydiggers is a thing of beauty. It captures the group in three different concerts, from very different eras of their career, each 12[...]

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Billy Bragg

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Billy Bragg – Tooth & Nail (Dine Alone / Universal Music Canada)

Is Billy Bragg mellowing with age? Recorded in a short five-day span, Tooth & Nail marks the first new solo music from the iconic songwriter in five years and shows a more reflective side of[...]

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Love For Levon

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Love For Levon (Time Music / Warner Music Canada)

If the outpouring of grief after his passing last year wasn’t quite enough, some of Levon’s biggest admirers gathered in New jersey last October to pay tribute to the musician with the Love For Levon.[...]

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Devendra

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Devendra Banhart – Mala (Warner Music Canada)

Like Iron & Wine, singer-songwriter Devendra Banhart can travel many musical paths and sound at home in any one of them. Whether it be the gentle, soft-spoken nature of Daniel, the 50’s-infused Your Fine Petting[...]

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The Strokes

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of The Strokes – Comedown Machine (Sony Music Canada)

If, like me, you were a little underwhelmed after hearing Comedown Machine’s first single One Way Trigger, I’ve got good news for you: The rest of the record is a decent listen. Sure, it’s not[...]

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Bloom-Kris+Dee_coversfinal-front_HI

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Kris & Dee – Bloom (Independent)

An appropriately titled album if there ever was one, this Kingston pop-folk duo’s sound blooms rather impressively on this, their second full-length record. Kris and Dee’s breezy, laid-back acoustic nature is well reflected on songs[...]

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mavericks

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of The Mavericks – In Time (Universal Music Canada)

In my opinion, The Mavericks have never truly received their due credit. Sure, they’ve had a handful of hits but rather than rewarding the group’s fusion of latino rhythms with country, tex mex and more,[...]

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matt costa

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Matt Costa – S/T (Brushfire / Universal Music Canada)

From the time of his 2006 debut through 2010’s Mobile Chateau, Matt Costa’s influences were getting older and older. From the McCartney-esque feel of his first two albums through the Zombies-influence of Chateau, Matt Costa[...]

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Low

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Low – The Invisible Way (Sub Pop / Outside Music)

In the same way that their former label mates Scud Mountain Boys could evoke such joyous misery from their music, Low marry beautiful melodies and minimal musical accompaniment with bittersweet, sad lyrics. Produced by Wilco[...]

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OC - WORDS - Cover 1500x1500

MusicNerd Reviews

Review of Orchid’s Curse – Words (Diminished Fifth Records)

The newest effort from Halifax’s Orchid’s Curse is a heavy metal beast. The group is so much more than a run-of-the-mill metal band though; they seamlessly incorporate progressive and brutal metal influences and that is[...]

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