In Continuum.

Without actually noticing, we've already come to the seventh edition of Sonics! I really do deserve column all to myself for the purpose of sharing the music that I have been listening to lately. But who really cares, anyway, nobody likes to be told what to listen to and what not to listen to. It's not like I truly enjoy reading musical reviews in newspapers and magazines anyway, they usually really only focus on the mainstream bands anyway. It only really matters when they are "popular" and "cool", the quality of their music is secondary to most reviewers out there. I think we deserve a better set of music out there in our airwaves right now, and I am glad I am not contributing to the funding of the radio stations in any way. Four years without the radio and going, let's hope that this continues before the world officially runs out of good music. 

Something For All Of Us... by Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning
Broken Social Scene is back with yet another side project under the "Presents..." title. Kevin Drew's shot at a solo project with the band backing him up last time was a success, through and through, no questions about that. Spirit If definitely is a Kevin Drew album, and yet you find traces of Broken Social Scene sprinkled all over the album like pepper. This time around, bassist Brendan Canning is taking his own shot at the lead vocals, and I must say that the effort, though commendable, falls just a little short of Kevin Drew's amazing vocals and, catchier tunes. This album still has the signature Broken Social Scene brand, with the messy and almost chaotic instrumental arrangement and the momentum in between songs that never seems to allow the listeners to breathe. I particularly like the first single off this album, Hit the Wall. It has one of those hypnotic quality that kinda forces the lyrics into your skull. The best part is, the lyrics along with the riff gets stuck there for the longest time. I'd listen to this song over and over and mouth the words to myself even in crowded places - it's great. Snowballs and Icicles is a surprisingly sweet and mellowed down song, varying far from the general theme of the album. Love Is New, too, has a strange disco and retro feel to it that is signature to most of the other Canadian bands under the same label, but not Broken Social Scene. Brendan Canning's voice is a little flat, perhaps a little too nasal for my liking, to be completely honest. However, I think he did a fantastic job in pulling off this solo project of his, and it'd be interesting to see who else Broken Social Scene decides to dish out the next time around. 

Albums by the band:

1) Something For All Of Us... (2008)

Urban Angel by Natalie Walker
Natalie Walker came to me like how A Fine Frenzy did: a pleasant surprise. I noticed her album mainly because the cover attracted me over at the iTunes Store, however shallow that reason may be. The thing is, however, the songs are so much more than the pretty album design. Natalie Walker reminds me somewhat of Beth Orton somehow, and her song writing style is along the lines of Alison Sudol. She has brought her down tempo and trip-hop roots into this pop album, with electronic elements present in most of the songs. However, they do not intrude into her territories, as her voice and lyrics takes over for the most part of the album. Her voice is smooth as it is soothing, the first couple of songs captures your attention almost instantly. I must admit that this album does suffer somewhat from a mid-section slump, whereby the songs do not exactly live up to the brilliance of the first couple of songs. Urban Angel is comfortable while Rest Easy calms you down like a good rub down. Quicksand is heartbreaking, and the highlight of the album for me is definitely Colorblind, the cover of the original song by Counting Crows. Natalie's bright and crisp voice is both innocent and honest, and it lends to the song a different depth not found in the original version. This is definitely a very solid album, despite the slight flaws here and there. 

Albums by the band: 

1) Urban Angel (2006)

2) With You (2008)

In Finite by The Broadway Project
Dan Berridge is the real name behind The Broadway Project, a DJ famous for his cinematic compositions in the electronica world. He masterfully combines elements of jazz, hip hop, ambient and electronica into his pieces, making his songs atmospheric and overwhelming. You would expect these songs to be played in a high end lounge, with the occasional piano punctured by heavy drum beats. Unlike a lot of electronica albums out there, this album is surprisingly melodic, and it sees to follow a theme that I have yet to grasp very well. Either way, this is the song to listen to when chilling out in a cafe alone, or just walking down the street alone with the earphones plugged into your ears. The truth is, there is something in a moment of the day that suits this album, you really only need to press play to realize that I am right. I haven't actually tuned into this album and found that it does not sit very well with the current situation around me. This album is flexible, very versatile in the kind of mood it commands you to have, and very arresting in that very sense. Blood in the Temple is definitely the song to get your pulse going at two hundred beats per minute, not because of beats that go by like some annoying techno song. The deep bass just makes your heart bound an extra beat every single time, and you just feel like committing a crime when you are listening to this song. Besides, with this album playing, it is impossible for you to get caught, for sure. 

Albums by the band: 

1) Compassion (2000)

2) The Vessel (2003)

3) In Finite (2008)

Ma Fleur by The Cinematic Orchestra 
OK, The Cinematic Orchestra isn't actually an orchestra in the traditional sense. It does use a lot of strings like cello and violins, but it is still essentially a trip-hop and down tempo band. It's kinda like Zero 7, only more mellowed down and not exactly suited for the bar or lounge type of environment. This album feels more like a lavishing mansion with no one in it, just you and a muted television show. I am making up music videos again, but that is the kind of imageries that this album evokes in my head. The first song, To Build A Home, definitely fits the bill perfectly. Patrick Watson's voice is haunting and beautiful at the same time, so perfect for a song about leaving a comfortable home built for two lovers who are no longer together. Patrick Watson isn't exactly in the band, but he is a guest vocalist like Sia is to Zero 7. The rest of the album is filled with simple tunes by minimal involvement of instruments, just allowing each other remaining instruments to shine while the rest takes more or less a supporting role. Guest vocalist Fontella Bass has such a beautiful voice as well, and she certain lends to the beauty of this album as a whole. This is a calming album, something fitting for a rainy day at home all alone, when you feel that you are far away from your comfort zone at the same time. 

Albums by the band:

1) Motion (1999)

2) Remixes 1998-2000 (2000)

3) Every Day (2002)

4) Man With A Movie Camera (2003)

5) Ma Fleur (2007)

Bring Me Your Love by City And Colour
City And Colour, or Dallas Green, is folk music at best. It is difficult to believe that Dallas is actually a part of the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire. His voice is so beautiful that it sent chills down my spine when I heard the first word of the song "Waiting..." This album is an acoustic album, with little to no supporting instruments throughout. It is just his voice and a few other guitars mostly, and the occasional soft drums here and there. It is a very minimal album, but I suppose herein lies the beauty of it all. The lyrics are very simple, gentle, honest, and most of all they convey a certain message that only folk songs can tell. You know, the kind of words you can only say in a dark room at the beach alone with somebody else. The Girl is a nice and happy song about, well, the girl. Waiting kind of digs into your bone marrows and then takes everything out. You kind of feel empty by the end of the song, but you feel completely comfortable with that fact. Dallas Green probably has one of the best voices I have ever heard, and it certainly carries his songs very well all the way through. Believe me, listen to this man's voice to induce hyper level of goosebumps. 

Albums by the band:

1) Sometimes (2005)

2) Bring Me Your Love (2008)