Boy Golden - Best of Our Possible Lives
Best of Our Possible Lives balances the duality of incredibly heavy, philosophical lyrical themes with the ease of a man who is starting to see the world for what it really is, while still taking the time to crack a joke at every opportunity. Even the album title is a play on several literary and philosophical tropes, but in the end, Boy Golden is not trying to find anything more than love and good times.
Living Hour - Internal Drone Infinity
Internal Drone Infinity, from beloved Winnipeg shoegaze band Living Hour, is a thoughtfully crafted and deeply moving album, from the electronic fake-out opening of “Stainless Steel Dream” to the folky equanimity of “Things Will Remain.” By turns plaintive, tender, and playful, the album engages with the passing of time, the processes of healing, and the beauty preserved in the particularities of everyday life.
Fencing - Fencing Wikipedia
In the end, Fencing Wikipedia isn’t some grand reclamation of the past, and maybe that’s the point. Its nostalgia doesn’t feel clean or comforting—it’s messy, conflicted, more about disillusionment than escape. The record captures what it means to live in a digital landscape that’s too fast, too curated, too numb, yet still find yourself longing for sincerity inside it.
VVonder - Stumble On
Stumble On is a satisfying listen for anyone feeling let down by the simpler formulas of streaming-friendly music, for those still hoping for a bridge, a crafty guitar solo, a riffy interlude between verses, a surprise modulation leading back to a singable chorus.
Warming - Toil Boy
Ava Glendinning reviews Toil Boy from Winnipeg band Warming, an album that “transports listeners into a swirling nightlife alight with snapshots of triumph and mishap”.
Merin - Self-Titled
Ava Glendinning reviews the new EP from Winnipeg’s Merin, an “angsty, overdriven, and deeply enjoyable album”.