Author: The Concordian

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Music

Quickspins: Muse, Green Day, The Mountain Goats, Bat for Lashes

Muse – The 2nd Law (2012; Warner Bros.) 

After launching their less-than-stellar album The Resistance in 2009, which sounded more like an electro-pop symphony mid-life crisis, I was beginning to fear Muse had lost their spark. That is, until the Grammy Award-winning British trio broke musical ground with the release of their sixth and most diverse studio album yet: The 2nd Law.

Muse frontman Matt Bellamy shows his sensitive side in “Follow Me” — his ode to fatherhood — which begins with the sonogram heartbeat of his unborn child, while bassist Chris Wolstenholme gives the most sincere performance as first-time lead vocalist in “Save Me” about his battle with alcoholism.

The 2nd Law incorporates a fresh blend of symphonic rock, synthetic pop, a twinge of Dubstep and a bigger emphasis on ’80s groove.

Although songs like “Madness” and “Explorers” are minimalistic in sound, Muse fans will be pleased to know that their beloved classic razor-sharp guitar riffs and grandiose vocals have resurfaced.

 

Trial track: “Supremacy”

Rating: 8/10

-Jenna Monney-Lupert

 

The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth (2012; Merge Records)

“Stay here ‘til I feel whole again / I don’t know when” of “White Cedar” properly summarizes the incredibly dark moods reflected in The Mountain Goats’ sixteenth full-length album Transcendental Youth. The album references and places heavy emphasis on pain, as if he feels he deserves what’s coming to him.

Taking ownership of one’s own demise shows a maturity that we’ve come to expect from the band’s songwriter, John Darnielle. At the same time, you wouldn’t expect this album so late in the discography, which makes you ponder the album title Transcendental Youth. Darnielle takes us on a musical journey to another period of his life. The result is an incredibly strong show of the spiritual and emotional struggles we all deal with as we grow older.

 

Trial track: “Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1”

Rating: 8/10

-Jamie Klinger

 

 

Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man (2012; Parlophone)

Last month, Natasha Khan talked to music blog Stereogum about her new album. “I felt with this one it was a constant process of adding on and stripping away,” she said. “Really only leaving the essence of the best little bits of the things I was experiencing and the people I was hanging out and playing with.” Compared to the electro beats of Fur and Gold and the deep sounds of Two Suns, her new album is relatively stripped – but when you hear the ethereal vocals and resonating lyrics, there’s no denying it’s Bat for Lashes.

Haunted Man bears her trademark sounds – soft drums and violins (“All Your Gold”), songs named after people (the piano-driven “Laura” and stripped-down “Marilyn”) – but the restlessness and inklings of desperation that permeated her last albums are replaced by controlled, calm vocals and soft sounds that lend themselves to a sense of vulnerability she has seldom showed before. Whether you choose to listen to this one lying on your bedroom floor, or you want to add a new dimension to your metro ride, this is one haunting you won’t fear.

 

Trial track: “Marilyn”

Rating: 9/10

-Sofia Gay

 

 

Green Day – ¡Uno! (2012; Reprise Records)

Green Day’s ¡Uno! is the first in the band’s upcoming trilogy of albums to be released between September 2012 and January 2013. Those dreading another of Green Day’s political, punk-rock operas can breathe a sigh of relief. Lead vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong and company offer an array of 12 songs packed with upbeat pop-punk tunes fit for arena concerts and mosh pits.

A far cry from the old days of Dookie, this album mixes the old, fun, devil-may-care Green Day attitude from Nimrod and Warning with the vocals and guitar riffs of American Idiot. In songs like “Spend the Night” and “Fell For You”, Armstrong’s lyrics are drenched with nostalgia for youth and young love. In “Let Yourself Go” and “Loss of Control” he takes a stab at critics and haters. Say what you want about the “new” Green Day, but it’s admirable how such a seminal punk band continues to reach out to their fans.

 

Trial track: “Carpe Diem”

Rating: 8.5/10

-Andria Caputo

 

 

Categories
Music

Canadians to nominate 2012 ‘folk-hero’

Michelle Ferguson — The Fulcrum (University of Ottawa)

OTTAWA (CUP) — Innovative folk music may sound like an oxymoron to some, but for Folk Music Canada, it is a reason to celebrate.

In November 2012, the organization will hand out its first ever Innovator Award at the 2012 Canadian Folk Music Awards, to be held in Saint John, N.B. According to organizers, the honour will be given to a pioneer of the folk community.

“The purpose is really to underline things that people are doing that set a new mould in the folk world,” said Tamara Kater, executive director of Folk Music Canada.

While folk music is usually described as traditional, Kater insists that it should not be considered stagnant.

“Even though folk is based on tradition, it’s something that really comes from the people,” she said. “The music of the people never really stands still.”

It’s sort of ironic, then, that the sector of music that’s been given the “traditional” tag would reward innovation, while the majority of the mainstream music industry has fought tirelessly — and often illogically — against it. One might recall earlier this year when the Recording Industry Association of America sued LimeWire for $72 trillion, which is almost all the the money that exists in the world economy.

Ridiculous claims like these are part of major labels’ vehement refusal to adapt to the age of technology and the free culture movement. But over at Folk Music Canada, the kind of innovative thinking that could straighten out the music industry — without trying to force a new generation of consumers to conform to an old school of business — might actually be rightfully rewarded.

Unlike most music awards, the Innovator Award is not centered on the art form or on a musician’s recordings. Instead, Folk Music Canada wishes to focus on the development of the folk community as a whole.

“What we’re looking for is something that is new,” said Kater. “[This] can come from any aspect of the folk community…It could be a festival that found a new way of operating, and who, for example, is not reliant on government grants.”

Ottawa, which just came off its 18th annual Folk Festival, has a thriving folk community. But, as far as innovation goes, it’s hard to tell how the city fares. There are two main institutions that promote and celebrate folk music in Ottawa, other than the Ottawa Folk Festival.

The Ottawa Folklore Centre, founded in 1976, acts as a hub for local talent and developing musicians by selling instruments, hosting events, and providing lessons for an array of unique instruments such as the Sri Lankan drum and the djembe. Spirit of Rasputin’s, an event created in 2009 after a fire burned down the iconic Rasputin Folk Café, also provides opportunities for locals to showcase their talent.

In 2010, these two organizations came together to create a series of “folkcasts” — an online concert series that could be accessed through YouTube or the Ottawa Folklore Centre website.

These “folkcasts” are the kind of effort that could be nominated for the Folk Music Canada Innovator Award. Unfortunately, they stopped being produced in 2011.

Although not the focus of the award, musicians can also be nominated. Artists who have found new ways of approaching the music or who have created a new model for collaboration are examples of potential nominees.

Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Dan Mangan, who played at this year’s Ottawa Folk Festival, is a prime example of a Canadian musician who stands on the fringe of folk. On his third album, Oh Fortune, Mangan truly pushes the envelope by collaborating with many improvisational and experimental musicians to create a refreshing sound.

In many ways, the award itself could be considered innovative; according to Kater, not only is it the first award created by Folk Music Canada, but it’s also the first of its kind.

“There are other like-minded organizations that give out awards as well,” said Kater, “but we don’t really know of anyone who is giving out recognition to a new, cutting-edge, or innovative aspect of the community.”

The nomination process is also different from most awards; nominees are chosen by members of the folk community, in the hopes that this will draw attention to efforts that may otherwise go unnoticed in such a large, decentralized body of fans.

Due to the broad nature of the award, Kater admits that she has no expectations when it comes to the list of nominees.

“It’s the first year that we are opening up to the community to bring in nominations,” she said. “So in many ways, we’re as curious as everyone else to see what is going to come in and we’re asking the community around us to identify things that they see as innovative.”

 

Categories
Music

Quickspins: Menomena, Mumford and sons, Flying Lotus, Van Morrison

Menomena – Moms (2012; Barsuk)

Portland rock duo Menomena is back after a two year hiatus with their fifth studio album, Moms. The album boasts unique and captivating intros, riveting bass lines, brass, ballads, and electric guitar fusion solos that cross soundscapes, streams and rivers.
Menomena were a complex amalgam of experimentation and structured talent from their very first album, 2003’s I Am The Fun Blame Monster! Their latest is an artificially-aged bottle of expensive wine; you would swear the process took years and would be fully shocked to see it was made just the other day. Kudos to the men of Menomena on their latest complex and fully enjoyable release, an obvious tribute to the intimate relationships with their respective mumsies.

Trial track: “Pique”
Rating: 8/10

-Jamie Klinger

Mumford and Sons – Babel (2012; Island Records)

Mumford and Sons’ sophomore album, Babel, is good, but not great. Despite the album’s huge sales, it is unimpressive and offers very little departure from their debut, Sigh No More. The band’s reluctance to try anything new might be because they were fearful of losing the fans and the success they garnered with the folk/bluegrass feel of their debut album. The tracks sound more like rejected B-sides from Sigh No More than musical masterpieces that took the band a little over a year to record. Even the lyrics on this album don’t seem to live up to the poetry fans have grown to love. Die-hard fans will recognize some stellar tracks from their 2011 tour, like “Lover’s Eyes” and “Ghosts That We Knew”. These tracks, along with “Broken Crown” and “Hopeless Wanderer” may save this album from passing into history as their sophomore slump.

Trial track: “Lover’s Eyes”
Rating: 7.5/10

-Andria Caputo

Flying Lotus – Until The Quiet Comes (2012; Warp Records)

Stephen Ellison, the electronic music producer better known as Flying Lotus, has returned with his latest work, entitled Until the Quiet Comes. The album is a collage of styles and production, with electronic, jazz, hip-hop, and dubstep. Sonically, the texture blends exceptionally well together, with ethereal vocal tracks, drum beats, synthesizers, etc. Not one track runs more than three minutes in length, resulting in a truly interesting set of temperaments and atmospheres that doesn’t seem overplayed.
Coming off the critical success of his 2010 album Cosmogramma, the album performs and surpasses his previous work. You may see more than a few samples of his music popping up in next summer’s pop hits. Flying Lotus will be at the Société des arts technologiques, on Oct. 12, as part of the tour for the album.

Trial track: “Putty Boy Strut”
Rating: 9.2 / 10

-A.J. Cordeiro

Van Morrison – Born To Sing: No Plan B (2012; Blue Note Records)

It’s been nearly half a century since Van Morrison has been active in the music business. At age 67, the Irish crooner is back with his 34th studio album, aptly titled Born To Sing: No Plan B. Self produced in his hometown of Belfast, this album is jazzier and more cohesive than previous releases. Each track follows a consistent mood, with a laidback sound that is effortless, cool and classy. Morrison weighs in on our current worldwide financial crisis, discussing “the worldwide preoccupation with money, materialism, and the greed that has poisoned society.” In the first single “Open the Door (To Your Heart)” he sings: “money doesn’t make you fulfilled / money’s just to pay the bills.” The contrast between the mellow bluesy musical vibe and politically charged lyrics makes Born To Sing: No Plan B worth a listen.

Triall track: “Open the Door (To Your Heart)”
Rating: 6/10

– Paul Traunero

Categories
Opinions

Editorial: Grow up or go back to the playground

Two members of the Concordia Student Union abandoned ship this week, leaving scathing open letters in their wake. Both letters addressed the current tensions within council, throwing out words like “power games” and “personal hidden agendas.”

Former VP advocacy and academic Lucia Gallardo, we saw coming. If you’re going out, go out with a bang. Considering she’s been ousted due to status issues, it follows that as her last act before fading out of the public eye, she wanted to issue a strong statement. And strong it was.

“I’m actually partially grateful that this ended up happening to me,” she wrote, “because I would have been embarrassed to be part of a CSU that treated any student in need by closing doors and turning a deaf ear.”

The same sentiments were echoed by now former councillor for Arts and Science, Juliana Ramos.

“It is not in my interest to sit down with a council governed mostly by individuals who play power games, but don’t realize that their potential can be used to actually serve the student community: that you can only do so by putting personal interests aside,” wrote Ramos.

So what happened? Is this just a case of hurt feelings and nothing more? We are inclined to think otherwise. Rather, we are concerned that the CSU is becoming a place where tensions run higher than ever and nothing productive can be accomplished.

A council that has lost faith in its executive is one thing, but a council that has lost faith in its ability to do good is something far worse.

Unfortunately, this is not the fault of any one individual, though some familiar names keep popping up. It’s no secret former CSU VP external Chad Walcott has been stating his opinions and using his sway on council, but that doesn’t make him a villain.

The real question is this; who do these people think they are? This isn’t the big leagues, and even if it were, aren’t we, the youth, supposed to be better? Looking at such politically engaged and intelligent young people, one would think they would have a little more perspective, especially operating in a province like Quebec where residents have seen their fair share of corruption.

As far as we are concerned, it’s about time student representatives remember exactly what they were elected to do. Anyone not going to the table with the sole expectation of trying to work towards positive change and solutions to Concordia’s growing number of problems should be properly ashamed of themselves. The CSU, though it may have faults, is not a platform for disrespectful actions and those who seek to advance themselves by tearing a strip off others need one hell of a reality check.

Categories
Arts

Do we really fear Muslim immigrants or is it a myth?

“Once again, a fever is infecting the minds of many Westerners. We must not allow history to repeat itself,” writes Doug Saunders in his latest book The Myth of the Muslim Tide: Do Immigrants Threaten the West?, which aims to show that the western population’s fear of Muslim immigrants, is nothing but a huge misunderstanding.

“In examining our own recent history along with the fast shifting cultural realities of these new immigrants, I hope we can begin to see this human tide not as a seismic and ruinous tsunami but as a regular, rhythmic movement on our shores, once we’ve seen before.”

The “Muslim Tide” is based on the idea that Muslims are migrating to Western countries in large amounts and that they are having children very quickly, implying that they may one day take over. According to Saunders, some people are of the impression that Muslim immigrants are disloyal to their ‘host’ countries and that they plan on taking over Western politics.

With the use of intriguing anecdotes, informative statistics, references to similar situations from the past, and riveting quotes, Saunders tries to teach us what people are really thinking. He strives for the true explanation of all the rumors circulating about Muslims, and explains that these worrisome feelings towards specific religious groups have occurred before.

Using statistics, Saunders is able to prove wrong some predominant stereotypes about Muslim immigrants. He shows that it is not true that Muslims are procreating more than the Western population, and that the rate of Muslim immigration is not increasing exponentially, as people seem to believe. Saunders shows that many of these immigrants are in fact loyal to their ‘host’ countries, and that they do not want to live apart from others. Finally, he attempts to disprove the idea that Muslims are more likely to take part in acts of terrorism.

Although enlightening, reading the ‘facts’ section of the book was quite tedious. Saunders illustrates his points using many different sources and statistics, which is useful in providing evidence for his arguments, however it made that part of the book a little harder to swallow.

Overall, this short yet fascinating book has the potential to really teach us a lot, not only about the myth of Muslim migration, but also about human nature. Sanders’ work meticulously inspects the social and political aspects of the immigration process for Muslims to the countries of the West and helps us comprehend how this situation could have happened in the first place. It is a great read for all those searching to understand the world a little better.

The Myth of the Muslim Tide: Do Immigrants Threaten the West? retails for $24.95 and is available at Chapters, Indigo and online at Amazon.ca.

Categories
Music

Music in the News

Beating a dead Beatle

Last week, Chris Brown albums at a London, UK store were affixed with stickers reading “WARNING: do not buy this album! This man beats women” by British feminist group Abuse Sticks Out. Now the group has a new target: John Lennon. Copies of the Beatles’ 1970  album John Lennon/ Plastic Ono Band have been spotted with the yellow and black warning labels in the UK, surprising many who were not aware of the music icon’s less than stellar history with women. In a 1980 interview with playboy, Lennon discussed the inspiration to his song “Getting Better”, saying: “I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically — any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn’t express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women.” In a much more recent statement issued to Spin magazine, Abuse Sticks Out vowed to continue their stickering protests. “With one in four women experiencing domestic violence and, on average, two women being killed in the UK by abuse each week we want to make these abusers stick out. Society ignores their abuse. We won’t. We are going to sticker every album and film made by abusers that we can.”

 

Party’s over

Lovers of infectious beats and party rocking will be disappointed to hear that LMFAO have officially called it quits. In an interview with news.com.au, vocalist Redfoo explained the reason for the split. “I feel like we’ve been doing this for so long, five or six years. And we’re kind of like saying, well, let’s just do what’s natural and just kind of explore that, instead of like forcing it all the time.” He reassured fans that the LMFAO style will still be around in his solo endeavors and that he plans to continue his own brand of upbeat party music well into the future. “All the music that I’m going to make is always going to be LMFAO-ish … I love all the topics that we talk about. I was really passionate about bringing party music to the world, so I will always be making some kind of party music.”

 

 

“Thank you, [insert city here]!”

Reggae rap artist Matisyahu was really feeling the energy at his Sept. 18 show, so much so he called out the city of Telluride, Colorado to show appreciation for his fans. This would have been a much more meaningful moment had he not been in Flagstaff, Arizona at the time.  “Last night I hit an all-time low when I called out to Telluride … only we were in Flagstaff. Three times,” wrote the Hasidic rapper in a road report for spinner.ca. “Chris, the front of house sound engineer, texted Harv, the tour manager, in the middle of the show to relay the message. By the last time the crowd seemed not to care and cheered along anyhow. ”

Categories
Opinions

Editorial: Will someone who’s a student, please stand up?

So VP academic and advocacy of the Concordia Student Union, Lucia Gallardo, is not a student. Can’t say we saw that coming. If only this were the first instance of its kind. Anyone remember Morgan Pudwell? She was VP advocacy and outreach last year and it came to light only a few months before the end of her term that she was not registered as a student.

As shocking and frustrating as these discrepancies can be, at least Gallardo had the guts to put herself and her privacy on the line to plead her case.

The statement she released following the call for her resignation was really surprising and, dare we say, refreshing. It was a bold move which CSU President Schubert Laforest could stand to learn from, considering that he chose to explain his own academic eligibility issue in closed session of council.

This was the exact type of move we have been waiting for from this executive. From the beginning, when Laforest and Gallardo first faced registration issues publically, the team was so tight-lipped, we didn’t know what to think.

This silence or, better yet, this refusal, on the part of the execs to show weakness or admit they are in trouble has led to a multitude of problems for them in the long and short-term. Furthermore, it’s hurt their credibility substantially.

If the executive were only as forward and accessible as Gallardo in this recent statement about her personal and financial struggles as an international student, then perhaps the Concordia community would feel more trusting towards them.

This ambiguous approach is the exact opposite of what students were hoping for when they elected this team, and Council is surely feeling the same sense of resentment.

As it stands right now, the division of the CSU is clear. On one side, the current executive and their few supporters, on the other, the rest of Council.

As much as we appreciate Gallardo trying to be more open with Council, and with the media to an extent, the damage appears to be already done. Unless Council decides this Wednesday to reverse their decision about Gallardo’s resignation then A Better Concordia will have learned their lesson too late and come up short, in more ways than one.

Categories
Music

Quickspins: Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé, The Killers, Kreayshawn

Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé – Barcelona (25th Anniversary Special Edition) (2012; Island Records)

A true rock opera, this 25th anniversary edition brings together the legendary Freddie Mercury (frontman of Queen) and Spanish operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé in a complete re-working of their 1988 cult classic album, Barcelona (filled with bonus demos and DVD extras). Considered Mercury’s most self-defining and personal work of his career, this special edition release was given new life thanks to a full symphonic orchestral score performed by the eighty-piece FILMharmonic Orchestra in Prague.

The title track, Barcelona was written by Mercury in honor of the 1992 Olympic games being held in Spain. The song became the Olympic anthem, though he was never able to perform it as he died of AIDS seven months before the opening. With this album, the Queen frontman was able to realize a lifelong dream of combining rock and opera, along with gospel and oriental style to create this absolutely stunning and timeless album.

Trial track: “Barcelona”

Rating: 9.5/10

-Paul Traunero

 

The Killers – Battle Born (2012; Island Records)

After a brief hiatus, The Killers have returned with their latest endeavour, Battle Born. The band consists of lead vocalist Brandon Flowers, guitarist Dave Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci.

With sessions beginning last October, the result is just over fifty-one minutes of generic, boring, alternative rock. Simply put, this is album is completely uninspiring. Even with legendary producers like Brendan O’Brien, Stephen Lillywhite, and Daniel Lanois, the lyrics and song structure is formulaic, producing a bland mixture of sound that could be any one-hit wonder band that wandered onto the Billboard 200.

“Don’t want your picture on my cell phone…I want you here with me.” The ‘profundity’ of these lyrics sums up the entire album: a band seeking to be generationally relevant, rather than trying to actually make music. Maybe their next album will bring better things. Or this album could be the catalyst to the rest of their catalog ending up in the mixed bargain bin at Walmart.

Trial track: “Battle Born”

Rating: 3.5/10

-A.J. Cordeiro

 

Kreayshawn – Somethin’ Bout Kreay (2012; Columbia)

In her debut full-length album titled Somethin’ bout Kreay, Kreayshawn unleashes a whole new beast with 13 tracks that can only be described as “so bad they’re good.”

Kreayshawn rose to fame after the YouTube video for her song “Gucci Gucci” –  which also appears on Somethin’ bout Kreay – went viral, reaching over 3 million views in three weeks.

Even though she won’t have a groundbreaking impact on the music industry, Kreayshawn brings something new to the music scene, combining different elements of rap, dubstep, pop and hip-hop.

The album has its low points; song “BFF (Bestfriend)” in which Kreayshawn ditches the rapping and ops for auto-tuned singing instead, has lyrics similar to Rebecca Black’s “Friday.”  High points include songs “Ch00k Ch00k Tare” and “Left Ey3,” where the raps and beat combine to make a surprisingly good song.

Claim to hate Kreayshawn all you want, there’s something about her spoken-word verses, ridiculous lyrics and catchy melodies that make you unable to resist.

Rating: 6/10

Trial track: “Left Ey3”

 

-Natasha Taggart

Categories
Sports

Stingers off to slow start at Western Invitational

Dominique Roy

The Western Invitational cross-country course in London, Ontario is a soft, and mushy all-grass course with constant rolling hills. Competition at this event is fierce. Only at the CIS championships will the Stingers’ cross-country team be faced with such a strong a group of runners.

On the men’s side, Ryan Noel-Hodge finished a strong performance in eighth place. He won last week’s McGill Open. Starting this run in the lead pack, he was unable to hold on to the top runners, as they increased the pace going through the second half of the eight kilometre race.

“It went well,” he said. “There was good competition up front. This is my base; I will only progress from here.”

The rest of the men’s team ran hard, but came out of the race wanting more.

The women’s team worked hard for it, with the top four running within a minute of one another. The majority of the team was happy with their performance. The women ended the race in 12th place.

“Next time, the goal will be to try to start out closer together and work to push each other throughout the race,” said coach John Lofranco.

Concordia’s next meet will be on Saturday, Sept. 29. The Stingers will participate in the Sherbrooke Vert et Or Invitational.

 

 

*We have permission to use this.

Categories
Opinions

Editorial: I can’t talk to you when you’re like this

There is no question that the current executive of the Concordia Student Union care about their jobs. They do. They clearly demonstrated their dedication and passion these first few weeks of the school year, despite some significant challenges.

There is, however, room for major improvement regarding communication and transparency, and now is the time for that change to take place.

The eight students voted into office last year, amid controversy and confusion over registration and eligibility, have been there tirelessly working to make Orientation happen. They personally served drinks to more than one of us (who was that behind the bar at The Hive handing over free booze? It was VP Loyola), they set up collapsible tables and chairs (shout out to VP Advocacy and VP Sustainability), they plugged in sound equipment and they did their best to usher drunk students, new and returning, on and off shuttle buses from one campus to the other.

There is no doubt that they are busy and they are trying. What they need to do now that the Orientation nightmare has ended, is focus on the areas they have most definitely been neglecting.

The CSU has a lot on its plate at any given time, but being available to answer questions and clarify the weekly and even daily product of the Concordia rumour mill is a priority which the CSU executive as a whole appears to have lost sight of.

While last week executives may have had perfectly valid excuses not to return phone calls for five days, or completely ignore emails and interview requests, those excuses are now all spent. We are tired of waiting patiently for our needs to be met and we, as members of the student press, are not the only ones.

With the end of Orientation and the first CSU council meeting approaching, the team should be trying to make up for lost time and make amends for the lack of transparency they have shown thus far. They have a responsibility to not only the undergraduate student population in general, but to their elected council, who will most likely be coming to the table this Wednesday with more than a few questions in mind.

People say that Concordia students don’t care about campus politics, but we think they do. They do care very much when they don’t get what they want. What we want are answers, and if our questions are not given due care, if the responses are vague and unreassuring, and if students feel they cannot rely on their CSU to be there when they have concerns, then the problem goes beyond mere availability.

There is no question that these executives care about their jobs. If they want to keep their jobs, we suggest they clean up their act before they are left without any excuses to hide behind.

Categories
Music

Quickspins

Band Of Horses – Mirage Rock (2012; Columbia Records)

Ever since landing their 2010 “Best Alternative Album” Grammy nomination for their third studio album, Infinite Arms, Band Of Horses has changed. They are no longer the melancholic indie rock band they once were. Instead, the Seattle-based quintet are embracing a change of record management from indie to major with Sony-owned Columbia Records, penning a track for the third installment of the Twilight franchise, Eclipse, and enlisting the aid of legendary producer, Glyn Johns (noteworthy for his work with Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, to name but a few). The latter does little to erase the proverbial “SELL OUT” label from their foreheads.

Mirage Rock is the musical equivalent of trying on hats. “Everything’s Gonna Be Undone” sounds like a reject Fleet Foxes track, while “Dumpster World” would be more at home as a B-side for The Moody Blues. This album is boring, forgettable and lacks any sort of artistic direction. Band Of Horses needs to focus less on vanity and concentrate on re-discovering what drove them to play music in the first place.

Trial track: “Dumpster World”

Rating: 3.5/10

-Paul Traunero

 

Grizzly Bear – Shields (2012; Warp Records)

New York-based indie rock band Grizzly Bear is probably most famous for their second album, entitled Veckatimest, which received widespread critical acclaim, including a thumbs up from Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood.

In Shields, the band continues to impress with their songwriting and unique take on art and psychedelic rock. The only thing that seems to act as a drawback is the growth time of songs. Unlike their previous effort, it takes a couple of listens before the themes and lyrics echo and reverberate through your brain. Hooks aren’t catchy, but are instead carefully crafted with the lyrics to complement the entire album, so that each individual song sounds good as a collective part of the album.

The album will please the casual music aficionado and will delight ardent fans of Grizzly Bear, as they continue their strong trend of solid, well-written music.

Trial track: “Yet Again”

Rating: 8.7/10

-A.J. Cordeiro

Stars – The North (2012; ATO Records)

Just weeks before their free, headlining POP Montreal gig at La Tulipe, Montreal’s most infamous lovesick pop-rockers dropped their sixth full-length studio album.

The North is hardly a departure from Stars’ signature soothing, affectionate indie-pop ballads. If anything, it seems as if the band has relaxed and given way to commercial inspiration. This is obvious in “Theory of Relativity,” a catchy, fast-paced electro tune with synthesizer a plenty and vocalist Amy Millan’s self-professed favorite track off the album. In “Do You Want To Die Together”, the group put a modern-pop twist on motown by pairing Millan and Torquil Campbell’s swinging, call-and-return duet with hard-rock guitar. Chances are this shift towards edgier, electro-pop-rock is due to the welcoming of their new guitarist, Chris McCarron.

Stars has been together for over twelve years. And through any and all strife, not one of their albums have been a ‘flop.’ They know what their listeners want. The North will further inspire an already dedicated fanbase and even allow it to blossom, but it’s nothing special.

Trial track: “Do You Want To Die Together”

Rating: 6/10

-Elizabeth Mackay

 

The xx – Coexist (2012; Young Turks)

With the release of their second album, London’s The xx mark a whirlwind three years. In 2009, the group released their first record, xx, to incredible critical acclaim. A few months later, guitarist/keyboardist Baria Qureshi left the band, and in 2011, band member and producer Jamie Smith gained his own praise with the remix album We’re New Here. With heaps of success emanating from a three-year-old debut album, Coexist, the band’s second full-length effort could be only one of two things: an outright flop – a victim of the sophomore jinx – or a protraction of the band’s, and its individual members’, fortunes.

What a few listens of Coexist reveal is a confident, yet conservative, group. Allowing only minor tweaks to their idiosyncratic sound, The xx effortlessly set the mood, open up spaces, and decorate the dark. Sure, there’s no song quite like “Intro,” but when Coexist’s finale arrives – the brilliant “Our Song” – try to feel anything but amazement.

Trial track: “Swept Away”

Rating: 8.4/10

-Andrew McNeill

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Editorial: Am I paying for that?

Money matters can make any person’s head spin. When it comes to understanding the financial management of the Concordia Student Union, it’s a challenge to figure out what goes where and why. For this reason we decided to go into detail about the ins and outs of this year’s 2012 budget. As boring as that may sound, here are five reasons why you, the average student, should bother to read it over.

1. To gain some context. If you aren’t aware of your finances, there will come a day when you end up in line at the grocery store and your card will be declined. It happens. If you’re wondering where all the CSU money goes and why there isn’t more for the things you care about, now is the time to find out.

2. Just because there’s a lot of it, doesn’t mean every penny doesn’t count. When the CSU spends thousands of dollars on this and that, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Reading a budget might feel like pulling teeth, but it is highly informative, so keep it all in perspective.

3. Follow the money. Want to know how much CSU executives get paid? Want to know how much money we have stowed away for that distant student centre dream? Want to know what counts as ‘miscellaneous’ spending? Numbers don’t lie.

4. We broke it down for you. It’s painless. No digging through archives, no fretting over dusty documents, no calls to your friend in economics for help. Take advantage of the explanation and learn something about the way your student union manages its money.

5. It’s your money. You have entrusted it to the CSU so that they can spend it on services that will benefit you. If they are using that money in a way that you don’t agree with, say something. Write in. Cause a fuss. Without your cooperation, there can be no CSU.

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