Empyria

Empyria CD review: LONG ROAD HOMEBy: Dan Brisebois Hailing from the nation’s capital, The Adopted are comprised of Cheetah Davy Lai on vocals & guitar, drummer Ryan Dunford and Anthony Way on bass. They’ve been making waves in the INDEPENDENT seas since ’87, putting out a number of self-financed discs and tapes. Some of their …

Kid Koala

Kid Koala Artist reviewBy Gord Westmacott It’s hard to imagine how a 25-year-old Chinese Canadian from Montreal could possibly be at the cutting edge of hip-hop, but that’s exactly the position scratch DJ Eric San, aka Kid Koala has found himself in. “I just sort of do what I do,” he explains in a low-key, …

Lazarazu

Lazarazu CD review: FLOODLITBy Dan Brisebois Consisting of Tom & Julie Ferris and Kevin Kane, Vancouver’s Lazarazu is a unique blend of sonic rhythms, intricate melodies & uptempo beats. Their debut album ‘Floodlit’ has been unleashed. What was becoming a stale techno sound is about to have some new life breathed into it. Following his …

HWY 63

HWY 63 CD review: SONGS FROM THE OIL PATCHBy: Dan Brisebois The debut album from Calgary’s HWY 63, SONGS FROM THE OIL PATCH is a pleasant contradiction – at times a throwback to a forgotten time, when the soul of a country song was a slide guitar solo and fiddle bridges. But the slick production …

Inner Surge

Inner Surge Artist ReviewBy: Dan Brisebois Raw punk/metal power with a slick edge best describes Inner Surge. This Calgary quintet consists of Steve Moore on vocals and guitar, guitarists Rob Spencer and Scott Taylor, Jason Rees on bass and drummer Bryan Sandau. They’ve built a loyal following with their intense sound and have released 2 …

Judy & David

Judy & David CD Review: PIGMANIA & GOLDIROCKSBy Sherri Paterson Toronto-area children’s duo Judy & David have been entertaining kids since staging their first concert with their All Together Now Band in 1993. Judy & David produce CDs that defy pigeon-holing: their musical influences range from rock to country to Gilbert & Sullivan to even …

Naomi Carmack

Naomi Carmack CD review: InhibitionBy: Dan Brisebois Edmonton’s Naomi Carmack got her first big break in ’91, when the then 12 year-old entered her song “Be My Baby” in a local radio station contest, placing second runner-up and later being featured on their subsequent homegrown talent CD. The same song also landed her a nomination …

Lee Lindsey

Artist: Lee Lindsey CD Review: ABOVE THE MADDING CROWDBy: Dan Brisebois Her ability to change musical directions from soothing pop into a journey of songs spanning several genres full of emotion and personal experiences drives Lee Lindsey’s ABOVE THE MADDING CROWD. The Vancouver native has produced an album that varies stylistically – a rich combination …