Articles By: Aaron Peart 
If Aaron hadn't chosen to snowboard for the rest of his life, music would easily fill that hole. Avid gig-goer when finances and scheduling allows, he has seen everyone from Del tha Funky Homosapien to the Rolling Stones to Sharon Jones. An off-the-cuff writer, he started writing after he realised he would forget main aspects of the topic he spoke about... turned out he liked it. His non-musical musings can be found at the link below where you never really know what will come up. And yes. He is related to Neil.
Cowboys on Dope – The Daily Dope album review
COD (no, not Call of Duty) are touted as a rock band, but really fall more into the country/rockabilly genre. They’ve been playing out of Germany since 1996, and The Daily Dope is the latest release. The entire album has a steampunk Americana feeling to it: fans of groups like Andrew Bird and Gogol Bordello will not be disappointed. COD are able to paint a vivid picture using their instruments and stories. For example, “The Pope Is In Town” has [...]
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Teen Daze – The Inner Mansions album review
It’s always exciting to review an artist from British Columbia. Having lived in BC for a number of years, more of the sonic and lyrical touchstones are relevant. “New Life” opens with what sounds like a public service announcement, or a HAL9000 intercom. Feels sterile, like what we’ll be listening to on Mars. This could be a transition from “All of us, Together”, a futuristic soundtrack to our utopia released earlier this year. The remainder of the album is more [...]
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Tamaryn – Tender New Signs album review
Tamaryn returns with the eagerly awaited sequel to 2010’s “The Waves”. This was the hardest review to date for me. Normally, I can find something I like about the album. Maybe I’m getting old, but I find “shoegaze” is as boring as shit. I started writing this as I listened, with the hopes that some positive review would emerge. I wanted to like this album. I really did. It sounded so promising: Narco-folk dream pop. What’s not to like? I [...]
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Paul Banks – Banks album review
This is a musical first for me, listening to the entirety of Paul Banks’ new album “Banks” via Youtube playlist. It’s unorthodox but at least there aren’t any annoying video ads before each track. Interpol has had a fairly long history on The Scene, so it’s interesting to see Banks out and about doing his own thing. Opener “The Base” is undeniably more indie than most of Banks’ work with Interpol, and it shines. Parts of it wouldn’t seem out [...]
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Anberlin – Vital album review
Christian rock has developed a bad rap over the years. You can’t help but hear the religious undertones of salvation, something that, as a self-affirmed atheist, can distract from the full experience of the music. (Let’s face it, any musical genre that can include Creed is bound to get some judgment.) Anberlin, thankfully, has not fallen into this trap with their latest offering, Vital, in part because the band keeps their faith separate from their music. “Sleepless” is a strong [...]
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Two Hours Traffic – Siren Songs EP review
Ah the humble EP. This time, it’s Prince Edward Island’s Two Hours Traffic and their Siren Song EP, an uplifting example of their self-proclaimed “pop ‘n’ roll”. They’ve upped the ante since 2009’s “Territory”, an album widely considered to be a smash, a serious home run for Canadian music. Siren Songs is anything but: the rollicking 4 tracks are a true showcase of the 3-piece’s energy. “Amour Than Amis” is like a freight train, good for hauling yourself out of [...]
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Cuff The Duke – Union album review
From their humble beginnings 10 years ago, Cuff The Duke has gained valuable insight into the world of indie rock. Their latest, “Union” was released October 2nd, and having reviewed their debut reissue “Life Stories for Minimum Wage” just 2 weeks ago, it’s apparent that they have developed as artists in the last decade. With more bombast, they sound more confident, thanks in part to their wisdom of the business. ‘Side By Side’ featuring Basia Bulat, is a sweet duet, [...]
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Neil Halstead – Palindrome Hunches album review
Neil Halstead explores relationships past in his latest, Palindrome Hunches. The former Mojave 3/Slowdive lead has struck gold with this one, sounding like Jose Gonzalez if he had grown up in England The album as a whole makes you feel like you need to call your old girlfriend, the one you haven’t seen since she moved away. The care in Halstead’s voice wraps around you like a big towel after being caught out in the rain. Palindrome Hunches is rich, [...]
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Cuff the Duke – Life Stories for Minimum Wage album review
The reissue of their debut album means 10 years have passed for the Oshawa, ON band, and with a new album coinciding (Union) this week, it’s a fitting time for fans both new and old to hear where it all started. Folk/Country groups face a tough time trying to hit the right notes with both genres, rather than neither. Upon hearing their debut Life Stories for Minimum Wage, you can tell that Cuff the Duke has been on the right [...]
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Matt Mays – Coyote Work album review
Matt Mays returns with his signature folk rock style on Coyote. Both driven and heartfelt, Mays is evocative of the animal that shares the album title: on his own time, roaming, answering to nobody. In fact, his press release explains Matt “(has) been making new music at his pace and doing things the way he wants to do them”. If that doesn’t sound like the Coyote Spirit, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better example. If you need a [...]
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