After almost 55 years of career, the old rock 'n rollers return with a new album, 11 years after A Bigger Bang. The Rolling Stones entered the studio to record and came out three days later with a blues record of 12 tracks under their arm, their best recording in a long time. It was after recording a rather successful version of Little Walter's "Blue and Lonesome" that the band decided to record more Chicago blues. There are songs of Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Reed, and others. The band is more united than ever and you can hear that on Blue & Lonesome which remains solid from beginning to end. It must be said that it is a return to roots for the Rolling Stones whose inspiration came from the blues. Will Blue & Lonesome be the last album by the Rolling Stones? Maybe not, but if the rumors about it are founded, we can say that they will have made their exit by the front door, closing the loop in a great way. Note the presence of Eric Clapton on two tracks, Clapton who was recording in the next studio. (January 2017 Featured Review)

Sebastian Kole was first recognized as an excellent songwriter who wrote hits for Alessia Cara ("Here"), Jennifer Lopez, Demi Lovato, Maroon 5 and Brandy. He now releases his first album, Soup, a skillful blend of R&B and urban pop with southern influences. Kole offers a fusion between Adele, Coldplay and John Legend, with several ballads, but also energetic and entertaining songs. He also has a powerful and very pleasant voice. Note that three of the songs on the album can be heard in ABC's Grey's Anatomy TV show. (January 2017 Featured New Artist)

After the excellent Forever for Now in 2014, the Los Angeles singer returned with a prominent album at the very end of 2016. Lost on You includes among other things her greatest radio hit to date with the unforgettable title-song. Laura Pergolizzi offers several songs with a more pop trend than on her previous recordings, which may allow her to finally reach a large audience. Despite everything, she never loses her creative abilities while she offers us compositions of high quality that have nothing to envy her past work. She seems to be assuming herself a little more than before. Here is a very solid record that will propel LP to superstar title. (January 2017)

Music Video: « Lost on You »

Mosquito-B is a Quebec band formed nearly 20 years ago by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Daniel L. Moisan. They offer pop rock music inspired by The Beatles and The Cure. After two albums in French, the band returned with two albums in English and they were able to make their way in the British market. Mosquito-B are back with their fifth album, Use Less U, mixed and co-produced by Paul Northfield (Rush, April Wine, Dream Theater) and mastered in London by Ray Staff (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Muse). Oriented to the new music market, the group offers its album online only at the cost of one pound (about $1.70 CDN), a strategy justified by the fact that the total amount will go to the band which represents more than the profits via a record contract. Musically, Moisan and his band are faithful to their roots in British rock, with also elements of comparison with REM and Tragically Hip. Mosquito-B offer several excellent compositions from the 14 tracks of Use Less U ("Not Easy", "The Neon Riders", "The Room", "I Don’t Know", the first single "Left for Love", etc.), for a very pleasant album to listen to until the end. (January 2017)

Music Video: « Left for Love »

The Toronto R&B singer returns with a new album and the hit title song, featuring French duo Daft Punk. On Starboy, The Weeknd is amusing about his recent popularity and all the paradoxes it involves. He presents some high quality songs in addition to the title song ("Party Monster", "Rockin'"). On the other hand, he also offers several pieces without personality, which can leave frankly indifferent. And it's not his sampling of Tears for Fears in "Secrets" that comes to save the bet, since it only looks weird. With the ballad "True Colors", he really shows us his true colors in an extremely annoying ballad. In short, if the new album of The Weeknd may seem interesting at first, it turns out rather very disappointing later. (January 2017)

Music Video: « Starboy »

After the mega hit "Uptown Funk" with Mark Ronson in 2014, Bruno Mars returns with a new solo album. Four years after Unorthodox Jukebox, he comes to us with a third record much more coherent from one end to the other. Mars explores more than ever his funky side, definitely where he is at his best, with still this background of R&B and soul that is characteristic to him. It is rock, new wave and reggae that disappear completely here, leaving at the same time songs much more compatible together for a more solid album along its length. This was the main problem of his previous record which nevertheless contained great hits including the inescapable "Locked Out of Heaven". On XXIVK Magic, Bruno Mars pays tribute to the black radios of the 1970s and 1980s, with obvious influences from Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie and of course James Brown in the funkiest moments. Mars unfortunately plays the bad boy's card in most of the nine songs, which he does not need to do. It is still his best album to date. (December 2016 Featured Review)

Music Video: « 24K Magic »

With only one song, "Cake By the Ocean", Joe Jonas (from the Jonas Brothers) new band became a worldwide sensation in less than a year. Flanked by Cole Whittle (Semi-Precious Weapons) on bass and keyboards, South Korean JinJoo Lee on guitar and Jack Lawless on drums, Jonas now arrives with the debut album of DNCE. In addition to "Cake By the Ocean", the record contains the recent hits "Toothbrush" and "Body Moves", in addition to other infectious tracks ("Doctor You", "Naked"). The quartet offers a mix of pop and dance rock, always funky and energetic, with choruses revisiting disco. At times we can compare them to Maroon 5, but DNCE is above all an alternative to disposable and interchangeable pop music, proof that pop music can be of quality. Will it pass the test of time? Several songs on DNCE are likely to succeed this tour de force, with not only unforgettable melodies, but also rich enough compositions to remain interesting during several new listenings. Even the ballads offered ("Almost", "Truthfully") remain pleasant to listen to avoiding many clichés. It is therefore an extremely pleasant album that offer us Joe Jonas and his band! (December 2016 Featured New Artist)

Music Videos: « Cake By the Ocean » - « Toothbrush » - « Body Moves »

The Quebecer releases his third album with Summer Is Gone. Produced by Martin Terefe (Mike Posner, Shawn Mendes, James Blunt), the album once again offers soulful pop rock songs, all delivered with Bazini's unique voice. According to the first single, "C'est là vie", the artist seems determined to take back where he left two years ago with the successful album Where I Belong, with a song with an unforgettable melody that should have no difficulty in conquering radios. For the first time, Bobby Bazini collaborates with authors and composers for writing, which adds a very interesting external opinion on several songs. He managed to preserve his influences of the past while modernizing his sound to bring it up to date. This is again a very good record that proposes Bobby Bazini, a great evolution for him. (December 2016)

With This House is Not for Sale, the band from New Jersey releases its 14th album in more than 30 years of career. Bon Jovi takes an important turn with this album since it is the first one without Richie Sambora, the guitarist who occupied an important place in the group and who left in the middle of a conflict. The band is far from being pitiful about its fate when it returns to an energetic and aggressive rock sound, without too many tearful ballads. In this sense, this new recording reminds fairly Have a Nice Day released in 2005, the first record produced by John Shanks who is back here for a sixth collaboration. Without returning to the style of their best years in the 1980s, Bon Jovi manage to refresh their sound with a pleasant album to listen to as a whole. (December 2016)

Music Video: « This House is Not for Sale »

The Australian artist has never hesitated to visit the darkest corners of the human being, and it is still the case on Skeleton Tree, his 16th album. It must be said that Nick Cave lived a huge drama during the preparation of this new record: his 15-year-old son died tragically in July 2015 after falling from a cliff. This drama stained the whole of Skeleton Tree which becomes at the same time perhaps his most touching work to this day. It is a modest album of eight tracks and 40 minutes, with a black cover. Overall rather intimate, the album does not contain large orchestral parts. Most of the pieces give the feeling of an author's reading on a background of ambient music. Skeleton Tree contains a very special atmosphere, dark, touching and captivating. This is again an excellent record for Nick Cave and his band. (December 2016)

Opera singer Joyce DiDonato has won numerous Grammy Awards as well as being recognized for her charisma and her social engagement. But she is above all one of the greatest opera singers in the world. On this album containing 15 Baroque arias exploring human nature, she tries to find out how to find peace in the midst of the current world chaos that has found its climax with the terrorist attacks of Paris and Brussels. She is accompanied for the occasion by Baroque ensemble Il Pomo d'Oro directed by Maxim Emelyanychev. The album is divided into two parts: “War” and “Peace”. Most of the works presented are from Purcell and Handel, but there is also Monteverdi and world premieres of Leo and Jommelli. Here is a great album for any opera fan. (December 2016)

If we ignore their project with Lou Reed five years ago for Lulu, it took eight years for a new album by Metallica. Hardwired... To Self-Destruct is the logical continuation of Death Magnetic which marked a return to their sound of the 1980s. Here, not only can we easily compare the band to what it did at the time of …And Justice For All, but it offers in addition long songs between 6 and 8 minutes. With 12 tracks, it is thus nearly 78 minutes of music that are offered to us, oddly on two CDs whereas the space was sufficient on a single one, probably to remind the years of the double vinyl. Several tracks of this new album have a drum that is shooting us and an unleashed guitar, but the band also slows down the rhythm on many occasions, as if they could no longer sustain the pace throughout a double album. It must be said that after 35 years of career, Metallica is part of the veterans of metal and may not have the same energy than the new generation. However, there are enough moments to satisfy their fans from the beginning, while not forsaking those who arrived later. The band pays tribute to the late Lemmy Kilmister, who died a year ago, on "Murder One". Only the title track is limited to three minutes, but it is certainly the fastest song with Lars Ulrich seeming particularly in good shape behind his drums. Other interesting moments include "Moth Into Flame", "Dream No More" and "Spit Out the Bone" in conclusion. A very effective album! (December 2016)

Music Videos: « Hardwired » - « Spit Out the Bone » - Other Music Videos

With 57th and 9th, it is a return to pop rock that Sting performs after various explorations. Named because of the street corner in Manhattan that he was going through every day to get to the studio, 57th and 9th always revolves around the themes of travel and moving. In its first half, the CD presents several energetic songs with even rock 'n' roll. On the other hand, Sting greatly slows down the tempo in a much more introspective second half. On the whole, the former leader of The Police offers very good compositions, so that he has lost nothing of his pop touch. (December 2016)

Music Video: « I Can’t Stop Thinking About You »

The French pianist pays a great tribute to Rachmaninov on this new album, accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Alexander Vedernikov, a specialist of Rachmaninov. Tharaud first presents the masterpiece of "Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18". He continues with "Cinq morceaux de fantaisie, Op. 3", "Vocalise, Op. 34" (with singer Sabine Devieilhe) and two rare "Pieces for six hands" (Romance and Waltz). Tharaud remains dazzling throughout this 66-minute album on which he does not hesitate to explore somewhat more obscure works of Rachmaninov's repertoire. (December 2016)

With Let It Play, David Usher presents a concept-album on which one can discover all his admiration for the music from Quebec. He adapts 10 contemporary Quebec hits in English, while trying to preserve their original essence. We can hear songs from Alex Nevsky, Dumas, Ingrid St-Pierre, Karim Ouellet, Daniel Lavoie and many other well-known artists in the French province of Canada. We also find the French version of his hit "Black Black Heart" in duet with Marie-Mai. Obviously, we can say that his versions are a little too close to the original, but it is very interesting to rediscover these great hits of Quebec music in the language of Shakespeare. This is where we realize all the quality of this music that could very well travel around the world. (December 2016)

Montreal's Martha Wainwright is back on record after releasing the soundtrack of the French TV series Trauma three years ago, as well as an album with her sister Lucy last year. On Goodnight City, she still presents this clever mix of folk and alternative pop, with her unique voice filled with emotion and her endearing personality. This time on the other hand she goes a little further with energetic heartbreaking songs that recall the punk side of Patti Smith. She co-wrote "Look Into My Eyes" with her aunt, Anna McGarrigle, then her brother Rufus offers her "Francis". She also sings a song written by Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards, "Take the Reins". On Goodnight City, Martha Wainwright goes a little further in her creation with an album that must be discovered with patience and openness. A great evolution for her! (December 2016)

After the ambitious project of three albums by Green Day in the fall of 2012 (Uno, Dos and Tré), Billy Joe Armstrong has been admitted into rehab, forcing at the same time the trio to take a break. They are now back strong with a title that seems inspired by The Clash, Revolution Radio. There are several energetic songs that recall the best years of the band, such as the first single ("Bang Bang"), "Say Goodbye", "Bouncing Off the Wall" and the title track. They alternate with little more pop songs, some of which are somewhat breaking the rhythm of the whole to make us realize at the same time that Green Day don’t do concept albums anymore, to our regret. Obviously, this is not an easy task to redo a record the quality of American Idiot. But a clearer guideline certainly lacks to Revolution Radio. Nevertheless, the group has sufficient energizing songs to make us want to go see them in concert again. (November 2016 Featured Review)

Music Video: « Bang Bang »

Kirsten Scholte (aka Kirty) is a singer-songwriter from Orillia, Ontario, now based in Toronto, who gives us her second album. On this self-titled album, she offers an essentially folk sound with very good pop melodies and traces of rather soft rock. She has several solid compositions including the remarkable "Letting You Down" and "Be Here", not to mention the first single, "That's Not Me". Kirty has a lovely voice that manages to seduce us quickly. Thus: after having started listening to the album, it is rather difficult not to go to the end of the 10 tracks. So, this is a very pleasant album to discover! (November 2016 Featured New Artist)

22, a Million is the third album from Bon Iver, but the first in five years. Justin Vernon again redefines the indescribable indie sound of Bon Iver with a mixture of electro and folk, rock and experimentation. Rather difficult to approach, it's an album that we must listen carefully and a few times, to grasp all the subtleties. Its complexity can also be a disadvantage as the frustration of having difficulty understanding what is happening can take over. Among the experiments, there are the voices that are regularly modified or accelerated, jerky synthesizers and treated saxophones. The whole is accompanied either by a soft guitar or a piano. There are also some passages of R&B on the album that certainly prove it is very creative. (November 2016)

The Canadian crooner celebrates 15 years of career by presenting a new album truly to his image. On this ninth record, he indeed offers mostly jazz standards, interrupted by little more pop songs. Among the highlights of the CD, there is a beautiful duet with Meghan Trainor, "Someday", on which the two singers are accompanied by ukulele. Also to check out, his version in the Sinatra style of "My Baby Just Cares For Me". The new songs "Today Is Yesterday's Tomorrow" and "Nobody But Me" prove that Bublé can also offer quality new original material. His fans should be satisfied again. (November 2016)

The prolific songwriter and pop rock singer is back again with a new album, the 26th of his career. A Better World takes a thorough look at the current world and its major issues through a mixture of energetic pop rock pieces, like the first single, "Bethlehem", and more adult ballads. Many grandiose orchestrations and arrangements come envelop the whole around his deep and powerful superb voice. This is a record with many good times that should appeal again to his faithful audience. (November 2016)

After releasing his first album at the age of 20, Brent Cobb took a 10-year break before returning now with Shine on Rainy Day. In fact, he mostly wrote for others during that period: Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, etc. But, being more comfortable in Georgia than Nashville, he decided to go back to his roots in the deep south. There are still country keys in his music that remind Nashville, but the essence of his style is folk and roots. He offers 10 effective songs that will appeal to both country and folk fans. (November 2016)

Montrealer Leonard Cohen began his musical career later on when he was well into his thirties. 50 years later, he thus releases only his 14th career studio album as he is now 82 years old. Otherwise, recent years have been particularly creative for the one who first started as a poet. After the excellent Old Ideas in 2012 and the inevitable Popular Problems two years ago, here he is back with another prominent album. Announced as his last album, You Want It Darker appears as an exceptional conclusion to his ultimate trilogy. Produced by his son Adam, the record offers once again great compositions, performed with his superb voice increasingly low. He concludes it with a cover, "String Reprise / Treaty", which beautifully puts an end to this too short 36-minute CD. (November 2016)

The Toronto electro-pop trio is back on record four years after the excellent Bodyparts. On this fourth album, Martina Sorbara and company present again this catchy pop music which has made their success in the last years, a sound that can be compared in part to Icona Pop and Gwen Stefani. Mostly inspired by the separation between Martina Sorbara and bassist Dan Kurtz, the record remains sunny despite the main theme. After collaborations with Basement Jaxx, Kaskade and Martin Solveig, Dragonette is ready to remain at the forefront of the Canadian pop dance scene with once again a very effective record, perfect for dance floors. (November 2016)

The British Piers Faccini is back with a sixth folk album, but more mixed than ever of influences of different world music. His French and Italian roots are certainly for something about it, but he goes much further, making a complete Mediterranean tour to the Middle East. These influences probably come from that island he dreamed about, in a way a new country that encompasses several cultures. The artist deals with tolerance, terrorism and Donald Trump (very topical). Obviously, the fans of Faccini will not be so disoriented, but they will discover a little more about him. (November 2016)

After a duet album with Billie Joe Armstrong in 2013 to pay tribute to the Everly Brothers (Foreverly), the jazz singer is back with her sixth solo album. On Day Breaks, Norah Jones drops the ambient music of Little Broken Hearts (2012) to return to a more straightforward jazz pop sound on piano, closer to her debut on the now classic Come Away With Me. She mainly offers original songs, but also three carefully chosen covers to form a uniform and complete whole. Her reinterpretations include her remarkable bluesy version of Neil Young’s "Don’t Be Denied". The other covers are from Horace Silver ("Peace") and Duke Ellington ("Fleurette africaine (African Flower)"). Such tracks are supporting in a beautiful way her original songs, as they all seem to stick to her skin. Day Breaks has depth and demonstrates all the talent of the artist. So it is a great record, a jewel for her fans! (November 2016)

Music Video: « Carry On »

For their seventh album, Kings of Leon landed in Los Angeles to work with producer Markus Dravs (Florence + The Machine, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons). The result is a major production where each instrument is perfectly highlighted, including singer Caleb Followill. This scale contrasts sharply with the garage sound of their debut, but is fine in the sense that the band was moving in recent years. Already customized for arenas, the group now has many potential radio hits with good pop rock, full of energy. WALLS keeps us interested until the end, its main mistake being to be too short with only 10 tracks. Here is a very good album by Kings of Leon. (November 2016)

Music Videos: « Waste a Moment » - « WALLS »

With their 12th career album, the nu metal band goes back in time with a rawer metal sound, worthy of their first recordings, until Issues and Untouchables at the turn of the new millennium. From the first songs of the album, fans of the first hour will be delighted with especially aggressive guitar riffs, a voice that alternates between guttural and melodic, and a rhythm section upsetting your neighbors. In fact, Korn perform what they do best without putting pressure on themselves or attempting to reinvent everything. The band has a unique sound, so why not exploit it completely. Most critics will say that the group looks more backward than forward, but after all, those were their most creative years when they were able to take the forefront of a metal industry in full revolution. Those who regretted those good years will finally rediscover what had ignited at first. In addition, Jonathan Davis sings better than ever and the band seems to play perfectly together again. (November 2016)

Music Videos: « Rotting in Vain » - « Take Me »

On Joanne, Lady Gaga takes a more pop rock turn than on her previous much more danceable albums. She even seems to get inspiration from country on a few occasions, including on the title song which appears as a nod to Dolly Parton’s "Jolene". The singer can count on surprising collaborators from the rock industry: Father John Misty, Beck, Florence Welch and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age). By the way, Homme has co-written two of the best songs on the album, the energetic "Diamond Heart" and "John Wayne". It’s rather the fusion between genres that makes Joanne somewhat unsettling. Between pop rock piano ballads, disco rock, country and dance pop, you’re questioning yourself. This is an album to listen to piece by piece rather than as a whole, which is a shame because it includes several effective compositions. (November 2016)

Music Video: « Perfect Illusion »

Following the success of GO:OD AM in 2015, the Pittsburgh rapper is already back with a new album. On this fourth record, Ariana Grande introduces Mac Miller, while his grandmother concludes the CD detailing her relationship with his grandfather. So, he wanted to make a room for women on The Divine Feminine. But, in between, Miller remains fairly macho, boasting of his aptitude in bed to anybody who wants to listen. It is therefore better to quite quickly override the theme of femininity and instead focus on music. The Pittsburgh kid was surrounded by a leading team of producers that have managed to extract the best of him. He therefore has a rich sound that goes well beyond rap. He can also count on renowned collaborators. Besides Ariana Grande, his new flame, you can hear the piano of Robert Glasper, as well as the voices of Anderson Paak, Kendrick Lamar and CeeLo Green. It's still a solid album that offers Mac Miller, a perfectly logical follower to GO:OD AM. (November 2016)

Music Video: « Dang! »

Following the success of her first album in 2012 (Our Version of Events), the British singer is finally back with Long Live the Angels. Emeli Sandé presents again a mix of poignant songs, between adult pop and R&B, mostly ballads (inspired by her recent divorce), but also more energetic songs. Collaborations are rare on this record, but we can still hear her father, that she went to visit in Zambia, as well as a local children's choir on "Tenderly". Overall, the album focuses on the voice of the singer who needs little artifice, especially with such solid compositions. Only a gospel choir adds some interesting vocal harmonies. It is a particularly successful album that proposes Emeli Sandé who passes easily the test of the second album. (November 2016)

After five years of waiting, the pop punk Ontario band finally has a new studio album, its sixth. Admittedly, Deryck Whibley almost died two years ago as the result of alcohol abuse, and when he was out of the coma, he had to learn to walk and play guitar again. Now he's better, but he has to tell his story throughout the CD. The group still offers some impulses of metal or hardcore punk, but the whole remains rather melodic, deeply rooted in pop punk. After a first half filled with rage, Sum 41 become wiser in the second half with songs full of hope. String arrangements are surprising on a few occasions and help to add richness to this short 10-track album. The record may seem somewhat dramatic at first, but the band managed to create a coherent and pleasant package to listen to. 13 Voices is therefore a very good album. (November 2016)

After six years of absence on record, the Scottish indie band is back with possibly its best album in 20 years. This tenth album still contains elements of rock and pop, but this time with a certain folk touch that suits them particularly well. Recorded in France and Glasgow, the record offers a rather soft organic sound. The choruses remain as catchy and Here contains undoubtedly music greatly pleasant to listen, which can be discovered slowly. Its main defect is perhaps to be a little too uniform, which can become wearisome for those who like less this melancholic acoustic style. It remains that Teenage Fanclub has lost nothing of its pop touch, after almost 30 years of career. (November 2016)

It took nearly 20 years for the band of Jacksonville, Florida to release a self-titled album, their 10^th, which would also be their last before retiring. In addition, it turns out it is probably their best record to date. Yellowcard still offer their pop punk sound, but more mature and with more nuances than before. The band also offers its most varied album to date with very few songs that are comparable. They go from energetic songs dominated by electric guitar, to more introspective songs without becoming boring ballads. They even allow acoustic incursions as in "I'm a Wrecking Ball". While the album gives us many pleasant surprises along the way, it keeps getting better for a strong final with the energetic "Savior's Robes" and the ultimate anthem "Fields & Fences". It is with this great conclusion that ends the career of a contemporary band that was important for more than one. (November 2016)

Music Videos: « Rest in Peace » - « The Hurt is Gone »

On her fifth album, the London rapper born in Sri Lanka seems to return to her legacy as a refugee, including the first single, "Borders", which addresses this new refugee crisis. Musically, she merges again hip hop and electro with sounds from the Middle East. This is particularly the case in her new single, "Go Off", produced by Skrillex and Blaqstarr, which offers a powerful bass accompaniment to her staccato voice. Unfortunately, the album is quickly running out of steam later while M.I.A. seems to be somewhat lost in various more or less successful experiments. She remains creative, but she loses some of our interest in several tracks, including the stripped down and frankly boring "Jump In". Rumors ran to the effect that A.I.M. would possibly be her last album and we could have expected more for the occasion. The album features many interesting elements, but it also includes too much filling, especially in its 17-track deluxe version. Longtime fans of M.I.A. should still find something they like. (October 2016 Featured Review)

Music Videos: « Borders » - « Go Off »

Goldroom is a danceable electro trio formed in Los Angeles in 2011 by songwriter and producer Josh Legg (former NightWaves). Their music is based on synthesizers and pleasantly goes between introspection and the dance floor. Their music may seem slight at the base, but it remains both intelligent and entertaining. Produced by Josh Abraham (Velvet Revolver, Courtney Love, Limp Bizkit, Orgy, Linkin Park, etc.), West of the West is an album that is particularly pleasant to listen to, without disturbing us at any time. A perfect blend of pop and more ambient music to listen to in the background of an evening with friends. A beautiful discovery! (October 2016 Featured New Artist)

The trio The Balconies was formed in Ottawa in 2007 as a side project for singer and guitarist Jacquie Neville and her brother Steve on bass. Now a quartet, they release their third album in a quite easy to reach indie rock style, enough to conquer radios. Bands like Metric may come to mind even if a darker side reminding Interpol could also be heard on occasions. (October 2016)

After the excellent album Old issued three years ago, the rapper is back with Atrocity Exhibition, whose title was inspired by a Joy Division song. Obviously, the comparisons stop here. Brown pursues the same previous path with extremely rich hip hop music. Otherwise, themes are rather dark, depicting the atrocities of today’s world. Only "Dance in the Water" manages to give us a break about that. Collaborations are rare on the album, the more interesting one being certainly that of Kendrick Lamar in "Really Doe". Without being able to fully compare the new album to his previous one, we can consider that Danny Brown still manages to offer a high quality album that will surely please his fans. (October 2016)

Virtuoso guitarist Thomas Carbou joins percussionist Patrick Graham for the presentation of Impulse, an album that fuses genres as jazz mixes world music and electronic music. The two musicians are used to play together and it shows on several occasions when they are as one, remaining totally at the service of music. Completely instrumental, Impulse makes us travel through Africa, Brazil and India with unique soundscapes and infectious grooves. The duo offers us a great contemporary jazz album! (October 2016)

The rapper from Compton, Los Angeles, California issues his eighth album with 1992. He pursues in gangster rap inspired by his youth, but also by various past events which took place in Los Angeles, such as the OJ Simpson case. The Game takes an Ice-T classic, "Colors", to transform it in his own way in "True Colors/It's On". He also offers the excellent "92 Bars" that flays Meek Mill and some other rappers along the way. In addition, he offers his biggest radio hit in five years with "All Eyez", featuring Jeremih. The Game remains true to his reputation on 1992, without major surprises. (October 2016)

Music Video: « All Eyez »

For this EP, the Brazilian offers a collection of four songs in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French that run somehow her personal history. It is only with her cello that she introduces us to works of Beirut, Violeta Parra, Lupicinio Rodrigues, as well as Jacques Brel’s "Les vieux". The songwriter and performer of great talent likes to cover songs of others occasionally. She gets pleasure out of Cantando with songs that marked her youth. It is only a pity that the CD lasts less than 13 minutes. (October 2016)

Toronto's Barbra Lica is a rising star of the Canadian jazz scene. With this third album, she definitely makes her entry among the greats. She managed to charm us from the opening track, "Coffee Shop", and her beautiful voice carries us like a ray of sunshine to her attractive cover of the Cardigans’ "Lovefool". The singer-songwriter hooks immediately a smile to our face with her optimistic attitude that exudes joy of life. Her jazz pop songs have all these irresistible melodies that make us want to sing along with the singer before she becomes our best friend. Here is the ultimate refreshing album! (October 2016)

Lowlands is a folk rock band from Guelph, Ontario, which is led by singer and guitarist Gordon Auld. Following their debut album, Huron, they come back with Erie in their series of albums dedicated to each of the five Great Lakes. Produced by Gavin Gardiner, the album contains a folk sound in which banjo and pedal steel guitar are featured. The voice of Auld also stands out from the whole that is rather nostalgic. You can hear very effective songs, but some tracks a little more boring can force us to accelerate the pace until the end. (October 2016)

For their third album, the Quebec quintet formed in Saint-Eli-de-Caxton in 2008 plays in their own way songs that characterize New Orleans and the African-American culture. Misses Satchmo remain firmly rooted in the jazz style of the 1930s. The band offers standards like "It Ain’t Necessarily So", the soft "Why Don’t You Do Right", the entertaining "Ol Man Mose", "Jonah and the Whale", and the medley "My Babe / Muddy Water". They manage to interpret better than anyone else this essential music of another era. (October 2016)

The Danish artist is back with her third album, three years after the success of Aventine which brought her to global recognition. Recorded in Berlin, Citizen of Glass admirably pursues the work begun on her previous records. She offers us very smooth chamber pop music in which the violins and piano are featured, in addition to adding this time some discrete electronic elements and vocal modulations. On some tracks with a gothic trend as "Trojan Horses", Agnes reminds us of a fusion between Enya and Nick Cave. Several songs are sure to seduce you, like the first single, "Familiar". On this new album, Agnes Obel succeeds in giving a modern twist to her style with influences of distant times. This is again a very good record, even if it requires a special atmosphere to truly enjoy it. (October 2016)

Five years after the success of What We Saw from the Cheap Seats, Regina Spektor is back with Remember Us to Life. She offers her songs mostly piano and voice with great softness and perfect phrasing. Otherwise, one can also hear full orchestrations for often theatrical pop music, more interesting than the ballads. She even explores hip hop with "Small Bill$". Her highly theatrical trend can sometimes annoy and we can imagine her easily on a Broadway stage. Remember Us to Life appears somewhat uneven, despite great times. She still remains anyway an artist with an original style. (October 2016)

The Irish new wave band returns with their third album, the first since Beacon in 2012. Two Door Cinema Club have a little more dancing tangent on Gameshow with synth pop and several disco songs. Scissor Sisters and the Bee Gees can come to mind on tracks like "Bad Decisions" and "Fever". If at first this new direction may be disturbing for the fans of the first hour, they quickly manage to convince us that this is a nice evolution for the band that keeps looking forward despite influences from the past. Gameshow is much more energetic than the last one and that's good like that. But above all, the trio manages to offer us new compositions of very high quality. This results certainly in their most accessible album, but also the most complete and successful to date. To discover! (October 2016)

Music Videos: « Are We Ready? (Wreck) » - « Bad Decisions »

Following the disappointing Britney Jean in 2013, Britney has felt the need to give a boost to her career. First a residency show in Las Vegas and now back on record with Glory. She presents a modern pop sound with influences of hip hop, R&B and electro, while remaining always danceable. One can easily make comparisons with Justin Bieber on several occasions, but Britney does not deny what she did before, especially on the Blackout and Femme Fatale albums, her two most interesting of the last 10 years. The pace is a little slower than the average of her records, but you can still hear some energetic tracks on which she doesn’t take it too seriously, as "Clumsy" and "Do You Wanna Come Over?" for example. So there are several interesting elements on Glory which has enough contemporary hits to bring back the blonde singer to top 40. A beautiful blend of maturity and madness! (September 2016 Featured Review)

Music Video: « Make Me… » (feat. G-Eazy)

DJ and producer Kevin Louis Célestin (aka Kaytranada) was born in Haiti but raised in Montreal. On this first album, he offers a mix of electronic music tending to house, contemporary R&B and hip hop. He is surrounded by collaborators throughout the CD while he only signs four songs alone among the 15 offered. His solo exploration includes a return to 1980’s R&B, but he remains generally really of his time, working with full modern technologies. Merges with BadBadNotGood and Karriem Riggins allow to discover an instrumental smooth side, at the limits of trip hop. The mixture of singers and rappers, which may seem unsettling at first, is proving to be rewarding in the end. A highlight of the record comes to us towards the end with the excellent collaboration with the Montrealer Shay Lia for "Leave Me Alone". 99.9% is an album of one hour that remains pleasant to listen to from beginning to end. (September 2016 Featured New Artist)

Music Video: « Glowed Up »

With their third album, the quintet from Los Angeles continue their journey in a pop rock sound that has all it takes to please radio stations. The record was again produced by drummer Ryan Rabin (son of Yes’ Trevor Rabin), even if Phil Ek (Band of Horses, The Shins) also participated for a few songs. The band seems to have had a good shot of maturity during their tour of the recent years. The result is that Big Mess proves to be more solid and consistent than their previous ones, as if Grouplove had finally really adhered to their own style, which is somewhere between MGMT, Fun and Katy Perry. But above all, what we discover quickly while listening to Big Mess is the pleasure and joy of living that emerge. It's a smart album of high quality, offering in addition great entertainment. So this is the best of both worlds! (September 2016)

Music Video: « Welcome to Your Life »

No Filter is the 11th album by the Canadian virtuoso pianist and singer. There is a mix of original songs and instrumental pieces, always in his own style. He remains indeed difficult to categorize, flirting with jazz, pop music and classic songs. His varied influences are the foundation of this musical eclecticism. Produced by Kaeshammer himself, the album was recorded live in the studio in just two days in Toronto. The first single, "Everybody Catches Sometime Love", was written with James Bryan of the Philosopher Kings, and you can hear Randy Bachman on guitar. Kaeshammer seems to discover himself as lyricist on No Filter, admitting that the lyrics usually come before the music. After 20 years of career, the artist born in Germany seems more comfortable than ever in this musical style he made evolve. (September 2016)

The specialist of musicals, who also lent her voice to Elsa in the Disney success Frozen, returns with her fifth album of original songs. She offers again highly polished adult pop music in which it is her voice that occupies all the space instead of average and often uninteresting music. We still find a few electronic elements, and occasional guitar, but nothing to dominate the voice of the singer who takes on the center stage, as in a blockbuster Broadway production. In fact, it lacks only the visual to believe in such a show. Still, one can feel that Idina perhaps has her most personal album to date. Otherwise, the lack of detachment from the scene that she was born on is still more than evident. It is an album for those who followed her for a long time or who have fallen under her spell on stage. (September 2016)

The folk and indie rock singer already has her fourth album. Less acoustic than her previous records, My Woman offers a broader palette with distorted guitars and even electronics. Recorded live in the studio in Los Angeles, the CD offers a rather raw and unusual energy. Through a majority of rock songs, Angel offers us more varied moments like jazz rock ("Those Were the Days") and even a piano solo at the end with "Pops". Besides leaving aside her acoustic folk sound, there is also country that completely disappears from My Woman. Otherwise, it is a highly interesting turn for this complete artist with boundless talent. While fans of the first hour may wince, Angel Olsen releases possibly her best album to date, the most complete and entertaining album. (September 2016)

Piano Cameleons is a Montreal piano duo formed of Torontonian John Roney and versatile Matt Herskowitz. On this album, the duo confronts their piano virtuosity in fusing jazz and classical music. They perform works by Chopin, Bach, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin and even Brubeck. They can also be heard with the great Oliver Jones for Christian Petzold’s "Minuet in G major". These peerless improvisers manage to perfectly mix jazz standards with immortal pieces from the classical repertoire. A great confrontation! (September 2016)

The singer and songwriter from Toronto was uprooted for his new album moving to the east, to the country. Inspired by the beauty and serenity of his new rural environment, he composed his seventh album on his way to Halifax, Nova Scotia where he recorded, for the first time outside of Toronto. It contains a little less the touches of country that characterized him until then, except maybe a little tinged country pop music on "The Old Oak" and "Blue Jeans". Rutledge mainly explores new styles, even incorporating elements of gospel ("The Great Ascension") to his introspective rock sound. His voice always remains cozy, to the service of the lyrics, and perhaps EAST turns out to be his most accomplished album to date. A very good record, very pleasant to listen to and to taste slowly! (September 2016)

Following the unexpected success of the first Zomba Prison Project album in 2015, Ian Brennan and his wife, Italian filmmaker and photographer Marilena Delli, returned to the maximum security prison of Malawi to record 14 songs included on I Will Not Stop Singing. It is once again prisoners and prison officers who are honored with several extremely touching songs, starting with "I Will Not Return to Prison", sounding like a hymn. Agnes Chiwisa also offers exceptional performances, while Elias Chimenya, a lifer, is bloodcurdling with "Sister, Take Good Care of Your Husband". "I Will Never Stop Grieving for You, My Wife" was born from a writing workshop led by Brennan on his last day recording in prison. It explores the emotions of the composer following the death of his wife and mother of his four children. It’s another moment of great emotion for a record that takes us in a particular atmosphere! (September 2016)

Four years after the excellent Dead Silence, the Canadian band is back with their fifth album. Afraid of Heights is possibly their most varied record to date, exploring different styles and including piano, synthesizers and acoustic guitar. This is the first album without drummer Aaron Solowoniuk forced to stand due to multiple sclerosis. He was replaced by Jordan Hastings (Alexisonfire). Guitarist Ian D'Sa made a monumental work in the production of the record while Billy Talent sounds better than ever. The band reminds us Metallica’s "The Unforgiven" with "Rabbit Down the Hole" while it's Muse that comes to mind with "Horses & Chariots". The group takes position in "This Is Our War", which further expands a little more their palette. Otherwise, the centerpiece of the album remains the title track, which is found as a reprise at the end of the CD. With Afraid of Heights, Billy Talent demonstrate the full range of their talents, both as composers and as musicians. This therefore results in a complete album on which each song has interesting elements, which thereby makes us want to listen to it until the end. A very good record! (August 2016 Featured Review)

Music Video: « Afraid of Heights »

Jamie Kilstein managed to become known as a standup comic, but now it’s as the leader of an alternative rock band that he is getting discovered. Effective on guitar, it's mostly as a singer that stands out Kilstein with lyrics vigorously denouncing injustices such as homophobia, sexism, racism, irresponsible parents, economic injustices, etc. In several songs he is speaking to deliver his corrosive lyrics, more as a rapper/poet than as a humorist set to music. Otherwise, the best texts and music assemblies come when he truly sings, is a little less sharp and is not necessarily addressing to an audience supporting his ideas. Because it must be said: if you are not of the same opinion as Kilstein, you are likely to have a very long time! Same thing if cursing is bothering you... This is a good album for those who like artists who stand for their ideas with an energetic and interesting indie rock sound. But it is mainly for Jamie Kilstein to communicate his messages in another way than alone on a stage behind a microphone making the crowd laugh at all costs. (August 2016 Featured New Artist)

Music Video: « Fuck the NRA »

On his new album, pianist Nicholas Angelich plays three works by Liszt, Schumann and Chopin that were dedicated to one of the other two. First, we find Liszt’s "Sonata in B minor" dedicated to Robert Schumann. Then it was the turn of Schumann to dedicate "Kreisleriana, Op. 16" to Frédéric Chopin. Finally, Chopin dedicated his "Études, Op. 10, nos 10 & 12" to Franz Liszt. With this 78-minute album Angelich pays a great tribute to these three pianists and composers born 18 months apart, which vowed admiration and mutual respect. (August 2016)

Here is a side project by Paul Banks (Interpol) and RZA (Wu-Tang Clan). The duo introduces a mixture of new wave, indie rock and rap. One can certainly compare them to Gorillaz and the Beastie Boys. The album includes collaborations with Kool Keith, Method Man, Masta Killa, Ghostface Killah and Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine). They managed to give us a greatly varied and dynamic album that will seduce many by its energy. In fact, it seems that both artists stood in the presence of each other to become an indestructible force, as if they were made to play together. After an energetic and entertaining first half, the duo slowed the pace to take a trip hop path, equally interesting. This is a very good album that offer these two talented artists. (August 2016)

Six years after Emotion & Commotion, the legendary guitarist is back with a new album of original music. Jeff Beck uses this time a different path with the help of singer Rosie Bones and guitarist Carmen Vandenberg. He presents sometimes a heavy rock sound with blues and funky trends. He explores fairly and the two collaborators bring a fresh perspective to this album that blends the past with more contemporary music. Several interesting elements furnish Loud Hailer, allowing Jeff Beck to remain on the page despite 50 years of career. (August 2016)

After a long period of uncertainty, the guys from Blink-182 finally release their seventh album, only their second in 13 years. They seem to have regained their form of the good old days because they offer us an energetic and inspired pop punk sound. It must be said that we have here a third incarnation of the band with the addition of guitarist Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio), replacing founding member Tom DeLonge. So it's a fresh breeze blowing on Blink-182 and it restores at the same time some of their youth and teenage recklessness. Skiba was able to skillfully integrate the group and we still find the riffs and other Blink characteristic elements. In addition, the group gives us 16 tracks in less than 43 minutes, so they are short and effective songs that can be heard on California. Producer John Feldmann (Goldfinger) has kept the group in an excellent focus for a record with a great guideline, worthy of their best years. The energy is finally back in Blink-182, 15 years after soaring! (August 2016)

Music Video: « Bored To Death »

After 33 years of existence, the American alternative rock band possibly presents its most original album in 25 years. Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not stands out because of its boundless creativity, alternative music reminiscent of their best years, with a touch of Hüsker Dü and the Goo Goo Dolls in their early days, not to mention grunge and garage folk. No surprise really, Dinosaur Jr. managed to prove that they still have a communicative melodic sense. J. Mascis and Lou Barlow offer some of the best songs from the Dinosaur Jr. repertoire, going several years back, well before their comeback in 2007. (August 2016)

Formed in Nashville in 2013 by dobro master Jerry Douglas, The Earls of Leicester is a tribute to Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs of the band The Foggy Mountain Boys. They have a second album with 17 tracks of the Flatt and Scruggs directory. Faithful to the original songs, The Earls of Leicester are unfortunately not able to carry this classic bluegrass music to another level. However, the production of high quality by Douglas manages to give some luster to Rattle & Roar which we did not find on their first record. The group thus managed to evolve in a big way, while remaining true to those bluegrass classics. (August 2016)

The prodigious pianist and excellent pop rock singer from Winnipeg is back with her sixth career album, her first studio recording in seven years. She offers a new adult pop sound with elements of rock and beautiful arrangements. The melodies remain highly effective and Chantal delivers these melodies with a powerful voice. Unfortunately, with only 10 tracks totaling just over 35 minutes, Hard Sail seems incomplete. It still offers good times. (August 2016)

Music Video: « Into Me »

The post-grunge quartet from Memphis now based in Nashville was installed for 20 years and presents its tenth album. The Christian band still has a powerful rock sound with a positive message of hope. Musically, it is a major album that has everything to appeal to a broad audience including fans of Nickelback. At times they can remind Muse, but some other times quite aggressive lead us almost at the feet of Slipknot. The group even managed to get a glance at the cover of "Blue Monday" by Orgy on "Burn It Down". The arena anthems are legion on Unleashed which will easily translate on stage with boundless energy. This is certainly the best album of Skillet in 10 years, since Comatose. (August 2016)

Music Video: « Feel Invincible »

The prolific band from San Diego already issue their 10th album in 20 years of career. They show the different sounds explored throughout their careers for a varied album that will surely join a wide audience. There is a bit of the pop punk of their debut, blockbuster rock of the early 2000s, new wave inspired of the 1980s and electro. Moments a little more pop will certainly not miss to catch attention, as in the first danceable single, "Float". Dance rock also returns at different times of the CD, especially with "If the House Burns Down Tonight" and "Healer of Souls". Switchfoot succeed in addition to surprise us with a foray into the world of hip hop: the bluesy "Bull in a China Shop" and "Looking for America" ​​with rapper Lecrae. The album will perhaps seem too varied, with a guideline a bit fuzzy, but we hear enough quality compositions for wanting to listen to the entire CD repeatedly. This is the best Switchfoot album since The Beautiful Letdown released in 2003. (August 2016)

Music Video: « Float »

At 68 years old, the leader of Aerosmith strangely releases his first solo album. He traveled to Nashville to record a rock album, but tending to country. There are many pop ballads, always with a touch of country in the background. Tyler managed to find a guideline that suits him well, but unfortunately it is not all the songs that are newsworthy. Actually, the most interesting ones remain those that compare a little more to the rock 'n' roll of Aerosmith. The album concludes with two fairly useless covers: "Janie's Got a Gun" (of Aerosmith) and "Piece of my Heart" (with The Loving Mary Band). (August 2016)

The Californian indie band release their third album with Home of the Strange. Young the Giant seem genuinely to find themselves this time with music with sophisticated arrangements and irresistible funky rhythms. For the occasion, they worked with producers Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson) and Alex Salibian (Elle King, Mikky Ekko). Their pop trend brings them into the territory of OneRepublic, while retaining a little something of Coldplay. But above all, the group manages to offer us various musical ideas which keep our interest until the end, despite a much more corporate direction. With this new album, Young the Giant seem to succeed finally settle into a niche of their own. Home of the Strange therefore easily distinguishes from the previous ones to become the iconic album for the band. (August 2016)

Music Video: « Something To Believe In »

For their 11th album, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have decided for the first time in years not to work with producer Rick Rubin. It’s rather Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse) who takes that responsibility. The band gains maturity and offers an album full of nuances with soul and funk influences of the 1970s. Several songs offer some sweetness that is very pleasing to the ear and the whole follows a great guideline. Subtle influences of disco (the title song) or electro ("Go Robot") prove their versatility and still show creative abilities. We can also hear influences of The Beatles ("The Longest Wave", "Feasting on the Flowers"). While we recognize the style of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, they managed just enough to surprise us. Note a huge collaboration with Elton John playing piano in "Sick Love". With The Getaway, the Red Hot Chili Peppers return to their place among the largest bands in the world. (July 2016 Featured Review)

Music Video: « Dark Necessities »

Kaleo is an Icelandic band that was formed four years ago. On this first album, they offer an indie rock sound with influences of blues and folk. From the opening track, "No Good" (heard in promotion for the Vinyl series on HBO), we think about the garage blues sound of The Black Keys. But the group then slows down the pace for the excellent "Way Down We Go". The album produced by Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, City and Colour) has this nice mix of ballads sometimes folk and more energetic riffs throughout the 10 songs totaling 42 minutes. This is an excellent first record the quartet is offering us, a highly addictive CD and varied enough to keep our interest until the end. (July 2016 Featured New Artist)

Music Videos: « All the Pretty Girls » - « No Good » - « Way Down We Go »

Ana Alcaide is a Spanish songwriter and performer. On this album, she was inspired by mythology and feminine legends from Spain, Europe and elsewhere in the world. She plays her favorite instrument, the Swedish nyckelharpa, that she accompanies with voices, flute and singing birds. The result is unique world music with influences of folk, jazz and classical. A beautiful tribute to women in general! (July 2016)

BadBadNotGood is a Toronto band founded in 2010. They first came forward with their jazz versions of hip hop songs. They now have a fusion of jazz, electro, funk and R&B. After working with Ghostface Killah last year for the album Sour Soul, the group returns with their fourth album on their own. They now welcome full-time saxophonist Leland Whitty as the fourth member and are changing at the same time their sound. This is especially electro that takes up more space and you can also hear some little more sustained rhythms. Also, many guest vocalists add a new color to the music of BadBadNotGood. Although jazz remains at the forefront, the album features an eclectic mix of styles that remains pleasant to listen to. (July 2016)

Trumpeter Alison Balsom explores a mix of classical and baroque since the early 2000s. Recently, she tries to discover especially contemporary French songs. With her longtime collaborator, pianist Tom Poster, she presents pieces by contemporary artists including George Enescu, Paul Hindemith and Leonard Bernstein, in addition to Maurice Ravel and George Gershwin. The Balsom / Post duo just seems in perfect fusion as the whole seems inseparable. This is certainly an excellent album! (July 2016)

The Dexys Midnight Runners had their heyday in the 1980s thanks to their ability to skillfully combine rock, new wave, soul and Irish folk. In 2012, singer Kevin Rowland was back with a new version of the band simply named Dexys. On this second album by his new band, Rowland plays classic Irish folk, but also more pieces by known artists as Bee Gees’ "To Love Somebody", Rod Stewart’s "You Wear It Well", Johnny Cash’s "40 Shades of Green", LeAnn Rimes’ "How Do I Live" and Joni Mitchell’s "Both Sides Now". The result is a good mix of soul and folk, as only the Dexys can offer. (July 2016)

Four years after Gratitude, the Canadian jazz singer and double bassist returns with her third album in a trio with experienced pianist Harold Mabern (80 years old) and legendary drummer Joe Farnsworth. In addition to her favorite instrument, Brandi begins on cello in "When The Mood is Right". The entire Blue Canvas proves to be quite varied, in moods, tempos and atmospheres. Among the highlights of the album there are their interpretation of Clifford Brown’s rhapsody "Daahoud", and Mabern’s "Beehive". The album concludes 45 minutes later with the cool cover of Ann Ronell’s "Willow Weep For Me". This is again an excellent record Brandi Disterheft offers us with Blue Canvas, an album that certainly does not have a lack of virtuosity. (July 2016)

Strange Little Birds is the sixth album from Shirley Manson and her band, and it represents a milestone in the career of Garbage, following their return in 2012. We find again the sound that made them famous in the 1990s, but they manage to go a little further with captivating atmospheres on many occasions. Shirley sings better than ever, and even if she deals with sociological or personal problems, she captures us to the point of forgetting the themes. Despite the recognition of the past genre, Garbage managed to keep us in an atmosphere of the 2010s with a sound that remains generally well contemporary. In fact, Strange Little Birds is so pleasant to listen to that going back in time, we realize that this is perhaps their best album since their self-titled debut in 1995, the same one that propelled them as superstars. (July 2016)

Music Video: « Empty »

Le groupe métal français présente son sixième album en 20 ans de carrière. Ils laissent finalement tomber le death metal pour plutôt se concentrer sur un métal plus mélodique avec des chansons courtes et accessibles. Ils se rapprochent en fait du métal alternatif en de nombreuses occasions, malgré quelques moments toujours aussi extrêmes comme dans la 3e piste par exemple, « The Cell ». Un album plus simple pour Gojira conserve tout de même son lot de complexités et de pièces progressives. Certains journalistes parlent de Magma comme du Black Album de Metallica. La comparaison est facile et assez juste, mais n’a rien de honteux, puisqu’il s’agit peut-être de l’album qui leur permettra enfin de rejoindre un auditoire plus large, hors des inconditionnels de métal. Un très bon disque! (July 2016)

Vidéoclips : « Stranded » - « Silvera » - « Low Lands »

Reuben Hollebon is a British songwriter and performer. Until now, he mostly worked as sound engineer for artists like Nitin Sawhney and Courtney Barnett, as well as with the London Symphony Orchestra. He releases his first album on which he offers alternative folk rock music. With the integration of an organ and a piano, his sound sometimes takes a different direction becoming hypnotic background music, among others in "Fields, For Fields". Terminal Nostalgia can be quite difficult to approach at first, but it has several interesting elements if we manage to avoid going into a deep sleep... (July 2016)

Jadea Kelly candidly admits that this third album was her most difficult to create, by its dark background of infidelity and heartbreak. Despite the hard process that Jadea had passed, Love & Lust shines with honesty, intensity and emotion. In fact, the Ontario artist seems to have reached the pinnacle of her career as a songwriter. She has a nice mix of folk and contemporary indie pop, as an amalgam of Patsy Cline and Feist. Here is an album to discover! (July 2016)

Two years after Love Letters, Joe Mount and his band are back with Summer 08. True to its title, the album looks back on the summer of 2008, right after the release of the Nights Out album. This is a happy album with lots of disco and funk rhythms. The set is pleasant to listen to with Mount managing to remain still as creative. Note the presence of Robyn on the song "Hang With Out to Dry", a more than interesting addition to this beautiful album by the English group. (July 2016)

Music Videos: « Old Skool » - « Night Owl »

Japanese singer Mitski Miyawaki is now based in Brooklyn, New York and is making her debut on the American independent label Dead Oceans after three other albums. She offers an alternative rock sound with some punk injections and an attitude that recalls Patti Smith. Her lyrics are often hard and depict the ups and downs of her generation. They come with a powerful and bewitching voice that can be downright impressive in the bass. Sometimes scratchy guitar riffs accompany in a beautiful way the voice of this young artist with a remarkable talent. The set of 11 tracks totaling only 31 minutes shows you the full extent of that talent with a nice mix of rock songs and power ballads. Puberty 2 is a beautiful album that is only lacking one or two outstanding tracks to make a historical record. (July 2016)

Music Videos: « Your Best American Girl » - « Happy »

The English experimental band returns with a new album that pushes back a few boundaries. Moulettes have a highly exploratory alternative rock sound with elements of electro and progressive folk, so a perfect mix of genres! Otherwise, we must certainly get used to their somewhat disjointed style that goes in several directions. After a few songs, one comes to understand their guidelines and then we can truly appreciate. Preternatural is an album that will be most effective in the context of background music, during a dinner with friends for example. But, to listen to it carefully will make you discover some rather interesting parts. (July 2016)

With their sixth album, Needtobreathe tackle head-on commercial music with custom made songs for pop radios. More than ever they make us think of Kings of Leon and OneRepublic with totally unforgettable pop melodies. Even the voice of Bear Rinehart is perfectly comparable to that of Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon. That said, Needtobreathe still manage to keep their own personality, to make sure not losing their loyal fans. Hard Love will only make them reach a broader audience and potentially win radio airplay. This is their most accessible album to date, but it also has several high quality songs for a very efficient record in the end. (July 2016)

Music Video: « Happiness »

Thom Yorke and his band are back on record, five years after The King of Limbs. Probably unable to agree on a logical order for the 11 tracks of the album, they have simply placed them in alphabetical order. Another oddity from Radiohead that leaves us the choice to listen to it in our favorite order. Also note that some of the songs have been worked for a long time. For example, the band has started to work on "Burn the Witch" in the early 2000s, while "True Love Waits" appeared in concert as far back as 1995. Otherwise, we do not feel at any time that this is an album of rarities or rejected tracks, as if it was just the right time to offer them to the public. A Moon Shaped Pool surprises by its consistency and solidity to the end. Electro sound is still part of the group's music for ambient music that can sometimes seem heavy, but it is never uninteresting. Yorke continues to mesmerize us with his voice over background music of a quality little heard since Kid A. Less experimental than their last recordings, Radiohead still progresses in maturity and depth. (July 2016)

Liz Stringer is an Australian female singer who comes to us with a very good pop rock album. The soul in her low voice also brings a very special feeling. We can as well detect influences of folk, especially in the second half, but the whole is dynamic with a good assembly of rhythmed songs. For her energy, it reminds us especially of the 1980s with a little something of Blondie and the Pretenders. So, it is a satisfying album that can be discovered with All the Bridges. (July 2016)

The Quin sisters are back with a new album, three years after Heartthrob. The more pop direction of that album made some fans to leave, but they were able to find many new fans too. Tegan and Sara continue in the same path with Love You To Death, again demonstrating their huge talent of melodists. Produced once again by Greg Kurstin, the album presents a superb blend of pop rock, new wave and romantic ballads. Their lyrics remain deep and honest, but they reach a larger target than before. With Love You To Death, Tegan and Sara show more than ever that pop music can be both entertaining and intelligent. (July 2016)

Music Videos: « Boyfriend » - « 100x » - « U-Turn »

The pianist born in New Orleans died in the fall of 2015, but not without leaving us this tribute to American music. This is producer Joe Henry who completed the album, left unfinished by the death of Allen Toussaint in November 2015 while he was on tour in Madrid. On American Tunes, Toussaint resumes to explore jazz like he did on The Bright Mississippi in 2009. Otherwise, jazz standards count for only a part of the new album which also features versions of his own repertoire and some more contemporary songs. There are two Duke Ellington songs, one of Bill Evans, one of Earl King and Paul Simon’s "American Tune" to conclude the CD. Whether unaccompanied at the piano or accompanied by guest singers, Allen Toussaint impresses by his solidity at the piano that gives new life to the songs performed. Note especially the outstanding vocal performance of Rhiannon Giddens for the two Duke Ellington covers, "Rocks In My Bed" and "Come Sunday". (July 2016)

The Virginmarys is an English indie rock trio that formed in 2009 and they now issue their third album. They have a well assumed hard rock trend with a particularly dynamic rhythm section and great guitar riffs. A somewhat aggressive attitude in the genre of Billy Talent or garage punk reminiscent of The Hives do not prevent the band to have effective melodies and rhythms custom made for the stage. They are certainly very entertaining to see in concert. Here is a group to listen to with the volume turned up, but watch out for speeding on the road! (July 2016)

The sixth album by Beyoncé was preceded a few months ago by her unavoidable presence at Super Bowl halftime, thereby creating some expectations. On Lemonade, Beyoncé definitely does not feel the need to please at any cost and to invade commercial radios. She is concentrated to do what she does best: to produce remarkable songs by their creativity and demonstrating her strong woman personality. She defends with conviction black women, while denouncing men’s infidelities, but she also takes a social and political position. She avoids all clichés, still managing to surprise musically and on several occasions, such as in "Don’t Hurt Yourself" where she is accompanied by Jack White leading Beyoncé into so far uncharted territories. After a constant construction, the album concludes with the inevitable strength of "Freedom", "All Night" and "Formation". Guest artists include The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar and James Blake. You can see a darker side to the artist on Lemonade, but it is an important addition, even essential, to her discography. A couple of plays are strongly suggested, but Lemonade will certainly be among the best albums of the year. (June 2016 Featured Review)

Music Video: « Formation »

For his third album, the country singer takes a direction a little more rock, inspired among other by the 1980s. In fact, John Mellencamp comes quickly in mind. Frankie Ballard also does a version of Bob Seger’s "You'll Accomp'ny Me", one of the few ballads on the album, which releases energy for most of it. Ballard has several great songs, all simple, but highly effective. The sound of El Rio reminds perhaps John Mellencamp, but his most memorable material including Scarecrow. With this new record, Frankie Ballard offers his most coherent and effective recording to date. (June 2016)

DJ Champion (aka Maxime Morin) is back with his fourth album of original compositions. The CD begins perhaps gently with "I Can’t Let Go," but it quickly turns then into an album to party and, right from the second song, "Life Is Good". These two tracks and two others had not found their spot on his previous album, fitting less in the mood, but on Best Seller, it was time to introduce them. In addition to his energizing beats and the ubiquitous electric guitar, Champion still considers voice as important since the performance of Betty Bonifassi on "No Heaven", the hit that has made him famous. Here, the guest singers are Lou Laurence, Marie-Christine Depestre and Anna Frances Meyer all offering outstanding performances. Even with very few words, Anna Frances Meyer manages to impress in "Boy Toy". This is a solid album that offers again Champion, a perfect record for the summer season. (June 2016)

Music Video: « Life Is Good »

For his 23rd album, Eric Clapton returns to producer Glyn Johns, the very one who had produced Slowhand in 1977. Otherwise, Clapton is not at all at the same spot on I Still Do with a majority of sweet and touching songs. There are a few moments of pure blues, as with the first track, "Alabama Woman Blues", but that is no longer at the heart of his work. The CD contains a majority of covers, blues, pop and folk standards with songs from J.J. Cale, Robert Johnson, Skip James, Bob Dylan, etc. The only two original songs by Clapton, "Spiral" and "Catch the Blues", come to beautifully complete the set. Some might say they would rather hear an album of original songs, but the play of Clapton and his interaction with Johns are simply magical. The result is a highly enjoyable album to listen to that will find its significant number of fans. (June 2016)

Daniel Smyers and Shay Mooney decided to form a duo in Nashville in 2012. Four years later, they release their second album, Obsessed, a country pop record for a wide audience. In fact, with the number of ballads that is included on the CD, Dan + Shay fall more easily into an adult contemporary territory than country. The duo is wrapped in sumptuous and syrupy arrangements, that are a little too present since they remove all the intimate side of the duo that might be interesting. After the successful "All Nighter" and "Road Trippin'", Obsessed becomes rather filled with annoying and uninteresting ballads. (June 2016)

Two years after a remarkable first album, Paul Deslauriers is back with a new record of energetic blues rock. This time, the whole trio was put to work during the creative process. These are 10 original songs that offer Deslauriers (guitar, vocals), Greg Morency (bass) and Sam Harrisson (drums), with lyrics by Paul Deslauriers, assisted by Alec McElcheran. The contagious energy of the trio on stage is transposed to perfection on this album which will certainly be among the best blues albums of the year. (June 2016)

Awaited for a long time, here is the new album by the Toronto rapper. Unfortunately, Views quickly leaves the impression of a damp squib. First, it never seems to start with the endless "Keep the Family Close" of 5 minutes 30. Then there is a clear lack of catchy melodies, the sound is sometimes old and especially, we know we have 20 tracks for a total of 81 minutes in front of us! Even the most patient fans will struggle to get to the end of this challenge, but it's still at the very end that are probably the best times with the title song and the hit "Hotline Bling". The only other entertaining part arrives at the 16th track with "Too Good", a duet with Rihanna in a dancehall trend. It is often said, but the foundation of music is to provide pleasure. When it becomes difficult, it’s because they missed the goal... Even for the lyrics Drake gets back with his recurring theme of his love stories that go nowhere. Who cares? Drake had a successful debut which created excitement around him. But frankly, it is probably time to get over him as he proves more and more that he cannot be compared to the best Americans (Kendrick Lamar and others). (June 2016)

Music Video: « Hotline Bling »

On their two previous albums, the Los Angeles band had rather retro R&B and soul influences. On this self-titled album, Fitz and the Tantrums turn to a contemporary pop sound. Danceable and generally perfect for radios, their music is certainly very pleasant to listen to, with infectious anthems like the hit "Handclap" and "Complicated". For this record, Michael Fitzpatrick and his band collaborated with author Sam Hollander (Katy Perry, Panic At The Disco, Neon Trees). He has certainly contributed significantly to the group by his sensitivity and ability with energetic programmed beats. Producer Jesse Shatkin (Sia, Tegan and Sara) has surely something to do with it too. An excellent album of dance pop! (June 2016)

Music Video: « Handclap »

Since the late 1990s, a new album by the Goo Goo Dolls is no longer creating much excitement. Now a duo formed of John Rzeznik and Robby Takac, the Goo Goo Dolls release their eleventh album on an environmental awareness background. Otherwise, it is certainly the only modern element to the album that has a sound from another era, a common pop rock of 20 years ago. There are a few rhythms that can recall the hip hop of Twenty One Pilots, but they are not very persuasive essays. The whole remains mostly focused around ballads and mid-tempo tracks that characterized the group for almost 20 years. So we are again far from the aggressive alternative rock sound of their early years. Some interesting melodies will probably manage to capture the attention of a certain audience and by the way some radio stations. But Boxes contains nothing more remarkable than what the group has offered since the turn of the millennium. (June 2016)

The Floridian is back with her third album. Now well established as a mature singer, Ariana Grande offers a very nice mix of classic soul, 1990s pop and contemporary R&B. Producer Max Martin and his Swedish colleague Ilya certainly have something to do with this sound combining the present with the past. It is in the dance songs that Ariana truly stands out, like with "Be Alright". A little heavier R&B songs are also greatly interesting. Among the collaborators there are Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Macy G and Future. With Dangerous Woman, Ariana is able to offer us a more consistent album than her previous one. (June 2016)

Music Videos: « Dangerous Woman » - « Into You » - « Let Me Love You »

The trio from Wales releases their third album, which they recorded at home after a long tour, probably in a desire to reconnect with their early influences. But musically, The Joy Formidable don’t really go away from what they offered before, with their indie rock sound straight from the 1990s. They may have some gothic influences with references from the past, but it remains they manage to offer us very good melodies. Without equaling their previous two albums, Hitch is an honest record their fans will probably appreciate. (June 2016)

After the very successful Blueprints two years ago, the songwriter and guitarist comes back again with an album that is somewhere between blues and folk. Adam Karch has a mix of solo songs and in trio with his cronies Marc-André Drouin (bass) and Bernard Deslauriers (drums). We hear many original compositions, but also surprising versions as Bob Seger’s "Night Moves", Keb 'Mo’s excellent "City Boy" and Warren Zevon’s "Werewolves of London". Karch redoes also one of his own songs in a very groovy version of "Did You Get the Latest News", going back to 2002 and that could be heard on his debut album, Crossroad Diaries. Recorded in Montreal, Moving Forward shows Adam Karch at the top of his game, a strong maturity gained in recent years on tour. Again, this is an excellent album that has everything to please fans of authentic music. (June 2016)

The indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island issues a fourth album that is full of ideas and experiments, unfortunately not always successful. Several songs are quite cacophonous and become difficult to bear over their entire length. For example, "Ozzie", which starts yet aggressively, almost rock 'n' roll, is being slowed down for no apparent reason in the middle to add all kinds of irrelevant and especially uninteresting effects. This tribute to the Ozzfest could easily have become the anthem of the album if they had not massacred it. The Low Anthem definitely take aside folk to rather get lost in a progressive rock sound of the 1970s mixed with electronic experiments reminding of Radiohead (in quite less successful). Their break of the last five years was definitely not beneficial for the band that dangerously strayed from what they did best. If they had a profound desire to experiment, they had to propose a parallel project, not a new album by The Low Anthem that will only make their fans of before to get away. (June 2016)

On his new album in a trio version with Larry Grenadier (bass) and Jeff Ballard (drums), pianist Brad Mehldau plays seven standards of jazz, blues and pop ballads. There are titles by Buddy Johnson, Cole Porter, Charlie Parker, etc. One can even hear The Beatles’ "And I Love Her" and Paul McCartney’s "My Valentine". Everything is played in an extremely soft acoustic jazz style. Without being as audacious as some of his previous records for the choice of songs, Mehldau has still made wise choices that align perfectly for 55 minutes. The album is listened with pleasure to the end, providing excellent ambient music. (June 2016)

The Monkees are celebrating 50 years of career this year. So it's a good time to issue a new album, 20 years after their last studio recording. It is possibly their last album, but if that's the case, what a good way to end a career like no other! Good Times shows the style that made them so popular in the mid-1960s with catchy songs that give us the desire for singing in chorus. The quality of the compositions is impressive and even if the style refers to the past, the sound remains well anchored in its contemporary time. It's an album that is pleasant listening to the end, with a smile and a certain nostalgia for the golden age of pop music. Note collaborations of Rivers Cuomo and Noel Gallagher, both fans of the band. (June 2016)

Mudcrutch was formed in 1970 with a 17-year old only Tom Petty. Popular in bars, the band broke up before they recorded a full-length album and they would pave the way for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. The five musicians reunited in 2007 to record their first album and they are now back with its follower. We quickly recognize the style of Tom Petty with a pop rock sound tending to country and sad ballads. Unlike the previous record, it only features original songs by each of the musicians, although with a domination of Petty who wrote seven of the 11 tracks. One of the highlights of the CD is offered by Tom Leadon with "The Other Side of the Mountain". But the whole offers a nice consistency and remains strong from beginning to end. This is actually the best material by Tom Petty in years. (June 2016)