By Richard Lam
Devendra Banhart’s career has produced a steady, reliable selection of soft-yet-quirky folk music. Each of his six albums– including his latest, What Will We Be– has garnered remarkably consistent and respectable acclaim, both a strength and a weakness for Banhart. There is little to be unhappy about with this newest release, but there is also… Continue reading Spun: Devendra Banhart
By Richard Lam
Guitar-heavy and politically charged, Boston-based trio/activist group State Radio returns with their third album, Let It Go. The album cover and jacket are filled with images of police, protestors, scrawled writings and newspaper clippings. Themes of injustice and power imbalance run heavy throughout, but the anger is balanced by an enduring sense of hope. The… Continue reading Spun: State Radio
T he Book of Eli tests you from the beginning. How many different ways can the title be twisted — at least three, it seems, until the very end. Eli (Denzel Washington) is a lone wanderer of the wastelands headed west on a mission. He also happens to be carrying a very valuable and powerful… Continue reading Eli is badass but preaches to the choir
Calgary’s music scene gets a bad rap. We don’t have the sheer number of bands that Brooklyn, Toronto or Montreal have. Yet groups like Steam Engine will help put Calgary music on the map. With artists like Chad VanGaalen, Woodpigeon and the impressive Sled Island festival, there is a fierce concentration of talent producing a… Continue reading Steam Engine don’t need any training
If Chris Jamieson, the manager of Radiopark music room, looks familiar to some University of Calgary students, it’s probably because they’ve spent far too much time at the Den. The manager of the new live music venue found his calling while working at the beloved campus bar. “Working at the Den influenced who I am… Continue reading Radiopark offers live music and comfortable atmosphere for students
By Ryan Pike
Twenty-five years ago, the world was a much different place. There was no internet, the Calgary Flames were Stanley Cup contenders and CJSW was a radio club that only broadcast to campus listeners. But history was made January 22, 1985, when CJSW officially joined FM radio’s ranks and expanded to the entire city. This weekend,… Continue reading 25 years on the FM dial
By Ryan Pike
Since 1985, the Darwin Awards have been doled out based on criteria from author Wendy Northcutt. The awards seek to point out astonishing levels of stupidity that render individuals sterile or deceased when previously they were mature and capable of sound judgement. Two recent news items have produced two strong award contenders — although only… Continue reading Protecting the stupid from themselves
By Kim Nursall
On December 30, 2009, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, after an unprecedented phone call to Governor General Michaëlle Jean, announced that Parliament would be prorogued until March 3, 2010. As a result, all outstanding bills progressing through the House or the Senate were eradicated and the activity of all parliamentary committees ceased. Before delving into the… Continue reading The many problems of prorogation
By Rob Siewert
It’s the New Year and even if your new professors are incredibly dry, we are here to make sure that your love life isn’t. Make your New Year’s resolution to be wetter and better! Personal lubricants of all kinds have been available for years but are often misunderstood and under-utilized in the average person’s sex… Continue reading Splish, splash… Learning all about lube!
Music industry bigwigs are complete misogynists. This isn’t a new sentiment. Label heads and A&R representatives are always looking for the next big thing by looking backward to past trends and this time they’re looking for ladies to rule the charts. With Lady Gaga’s incredible breakthrough, as well as Susan Boyle and Taylor Swift capturing… Continue reading Entering the era of Gaga