Category: Features

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Beck’s Song Reader

Pretentious stunt or effective artistic experiment?
by Shanell Dupras

CDs, MP3s, LPs. These are the words most of us are familiar with when buying our music in the 21st century. Any other forms of music are inconvenient. In a day and age when everything is all about the convenience, Beck has decided to do a little experiment; to go back to the inconvenient; to release his next album only as sheet music. This new album, titled Song Reader, consists of 108 pages of music notation and original art. What’s intriguing is that the only way to hear the songs aloud are to both read and play them yourselves, or sign up for a mailing list to hear other fans’ renditions. The one question on everyone’s mind is: will it work? Continue reading “Beck’s Song Reader”

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Yukon Blonde Finds Success with Latest Release


by Matt Austman

With nearly a decade of history under their belt, Yukon Blonde is on course to establishing itself as one of Canada’s most acclaimed and cherished indie rock bands. Their latest release, Tiger Talk, is a departure from their previous, more laid-back 70s inspired rock n roll, and is propelling the band past the club scene and into theatres. Recently, Stylus had the opportunity to speak with the band’s chief songwriter and lead vocalist, Jeff Innes, about the band’s success, the meaning of Tiger Talk, and the personal impact of touring full-time. Continue reading “Yukon Blonde Finds Success with Latest Release”

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Mother Mother forge a new path

by Devin King

Indie darlings Mother Mother will be making an appearance at the Burton Cummings Theatre on December 4th. The tour comes after the release of their album Sticks, an album which many have identified as their darkest album to date. Sticks deals with the notions of technological infringements taking over our lives, and the desire to seek out a more balanced life. Ryan Guldmonde spoke to Stylus about the album and how some of the ideas on this album and others play out on the tour. Continue reading “Mother Mother forge a new path”
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Hillbilly Highway – Jeff Stuart & The Hearts

by Sheldon Birnie

Jeff Stuart & The Hearts are a six-piece indie roots band out of Edmonton. Two albums deep, and with a bunch of festival gigs and big-time opening spots behind them, Jeff & The Hearts are taking to the Highway to spread their sound across Canada. With a stop in Winnipeg tonight with local lovelies The Sweet Alibi, Jeff took some time out of last-minute tour prep to chat with Stylus about their latest record, Equal Parts Reason & Moonlight, and touring and writing with a large band.

Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Jeff Stuart & The Hearts”

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Corb Lund brings Cabin Fever to Winnipeg

by Sheldon Binie

Corb Lund has been around the independent Canadian music scene for over two decades now. Touring extensively in the 90s with heavy Edmonton alt-rockers the Smalls, and ramping up international success as a solo country & western artist since the late 90s, Corb Lund knows the value of hard work, good songs, and good friends. He took some time last month to chat over the phone with Stylus about his new record Cabin Fever, and his band the Hurtin’ Albertans’ upcoming Winnipeg show. While some technical difficulties appeared throughout our conversation, you’ll find the bulk of it below. Giddyup! Continue reading “Corb Lund brings Cabin Fever to Winnipeg”

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Diamond Rings :: I’m Just Me

By Adrienne Yeung

Everything about Diamond Rings (aka Toronto native John O’Regan) dazzles these days, especially when every facet of the platinum-mohawked, bejewelled musician throws back an image of the musical and visual changes that have taken place over the past two years. His second album, Free Dimensional (released Oct. 23) is obviously grown up out of Special Affections‘ (2010) sparkly DIY-esque pop: It’s polished, deliberate, and endlessly catchy.  While a phone interview sadly failed (the recorded interview is literally five minutes of mumbling, crackling, and my repeating “Hello? Hello?” into the Stylus phone), we managed to finally connect via trusty e-mail to find out what he’s got to say about his changing presence and sound. Continue reading “Diamond Rings :: I’m Just Me”

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Hillbilly Highway – Lower Companions drop new disc

by Sheldon Birnie

Since the 2009 release of their debut LP, Jason Maas & The Lower Companions have been grinding it out in Winnipeg’s roots scene. Now, on the eve of the release of their latest record, the six song Lock & Step, at the Times Change(d) this Saturday, singer, songwriter, and band leader Jason Maas got on the phone here to Stylus to talk about the band, the record, and what comes next for the Lower Companions. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Lower Companions drop new disc”

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Gwar – Ready to Destroy Winnipeg

by Gil Caroll

Intergalactic metal warriors Gwar have been ruthlessly pummeling audiences here on Earth for years now. The band and fans grieved the tragic falling of long-time guitar player Flattus Maximus in 2011, but now Gwar is ready to destroy Winnipeg once again on their “Fate or Chaos” tour. In preparation for this travelling gore show, Stylus caught up with Gwar vocalist Oderus Urungus at the band’s Antarctic HQ for a revealing telephone interview. Continue reading “Gwar – Ready to Destroy Winnipeg”