Whitney K, Midnight Peg, The Besnard Lakes, and Julianna Riolino
Whitney K - Bubble
The latest album from Whitney K further solidifies his position in the upper echelons of Canadian, singer-songwriter superhero. Rich compositions and his sultry baritone make him the modern-day embodiment of Reed or Dylan. On Bubble, he and longtime collaborator Josh Boguski deliver their cleanest sounding record to date. Tweedy-esque perfection runs through these songs as Whitney’s cryptic poetic musings keep you hitting repeat, attempting to decipher the underlying themes hidden within his soothing voice.
Midnight Peg - Skinning
Edmonton post-hardcore act Midnight Peg are all grit, snarl, and sass on Skinning. Ripping through twelve tracks with ferocious tenacity, Midnight Peg sounds more cohesive than ever. A pummelling rhythm section paired with exalting post-hardcore guitar shredding are the canvas for Raquel (Rocky) Mann’s intense portrait of sleaze and filth. Her delivery is triumphant, bringing to mind the unrelenting qualities of my favourite female vocalists of all time like Poly Styrene or Corin Tucker.
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes are the Ghost Nation
Soft and subtle psychedelia wraps you up in a cozy blanket by the fire and kisses you on the forehead. The Besnard Lakes return with a new album of blissful retreat from the non-stop negative feedback loop being fed to us on a daily basis… until you decipher that the lyrics may be about this very loop. But dig in deeper and you’ll hear the positivity in these words and you’ll become warm and cozy once more.
Julianna Riolino - Echo in the Dust
On the sophomore album from Julianna Riolino, the southern Ontario singer-songwriter opens up about relationships in her life and the way they affect personal growth. It’s a highly introspective album that’s set to some of the finest Rock & Roll mashed Americana to come out of Canada in years.
