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By: Ryley Chorowiec February always seems to drag on and on, but these are a few things which are helping me persevere through everybody’s least favourite month of the year. 1) Billie Eilish – Bury a Friend At first, I originally took a hard pass on Billie Eilish. That is, until I heard this haunting track which has already racked up 46 plays on my Apple Music in the last week. Eilish’s stripped down vocals alongside the impeccable production result in a perfectly horrifying atmosphere and personality. Billie’s new terrifying single, off her upcoming debut album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?” is definitely my favourite track of 2019-thus far. 2.) Shameless Season 8/9 If any of you are like me,(too cheap to pay for Showtime) you’ll be pleased to know Season 8 of Shameless is now available on Netflix. I absolutely can never get enough of the Gallagher’s, so much so that I finished the complete 8th season within a day. The 9th season is currently airing on showtime, but if you have a decent anti-virus, I might know a few sites you can find it on.. just slip into my DM’s. 3.) Massive Attack – Mezzanine Massive Attacks 1998 release “Mezzanine” is undoubtedly one of my favourite releases of all time. With their upcoming tour stopping in Toronto next month, I felt it was only appropriate to get the proper moods flowing. The record sees the trio divide from their original trip hop moods into a darker electronic sound. The album in its entirety is truly mesmerizing. With astonishing vocals provided by legends like Horace Andy, and Elizabeth Frazer, if you play your cards right, you are certain to be taken on one hell of a trip. 4) Delirium Tremens I first discovered this beautiful, golden-blonde ale while travelling in Europe. Brewed in Belgium, at 8.5%, this pint sure does pack a punch. Lightly hopped and surprisingly malty, the brew holds a light and creamy head. If your into good beer, which you really should be, theres not going to be second thoughts about this one. 5.) Seattle-Style Hot Dogs After trying one of these Pacific-Northwest style hot dogs, I really can’t seem to enjoy a dog any other way. It’s pretty simple to make, however you might need to ditch your local street meat vendor and make this one at home. Besides, that guy doesn’t even wash his hands. All it is: Quality weiner or sausage. Bun toasted, coated with cream cheese on both halves. Bacon Fried onions Jalapeno Peppers Mustard or Ketchup. Never both. 6) Marius Sperlich I don’t know much about this mysterious artist based out of Berlin, other than I am absolutely in love with his work. Marius creates visual art pieces involving miniature objects and figurines, which are typically placed on a model, then photographed. The staged photographs are meant to show the human body in a new imaginative way, using the figures to depict sequences or scenes, almost like a short film in a photo. Sometimes lustful, sometimes plain odd- I really do love his work and am hoping to get my hands on some prints in the future. That’s it for this week. I hope my February remedies work just as well for you as they seem to do for me. Follow Ryley. Follow us to keep up to date with all the best content.

By: Alexandra Rodobolski It’s hard to balance your social life, work life, and school sometimes; we all know this. Some weeks are better than others, and sometimes there’s something in the air that makes everything feel so perfectly balanced. This week has been one of those weeks for me, and these are some of the things that have helped me settle myself right into that sweet spot. Spotify Discover Weekly This one doesn’t always work out for me, but this past week my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist happened to be absolute gold. I’ve been listening to some darker tunes lately because quite frankly the cold weather makes me want to light a scented candle, crawl under my covers and never come out. Sadly, I can’t do that. If you can, let me just say I’m jealous, and what’s your secret? Alas, my Discover Weekly playlist this week has helped pull me out of that extreme cold daze and look forward to warmer days. Some of the gems I found from the playlist this week are Declan McKenna’s Brazil and The Grinns’ Love Is Not an Enterprise. Let me know if Spotify has helped you discover any gems recently. Fresh Rose Face Mask Real shit, it has been downright frigid here in Toronto. I’m someone that suffers from dry flaky skin all year round, but the extreme cold weather does an especially harsh number on my face. This product has completely saved my skin from falling off entirely, I’m 100% sure of this fact. Not only does it hydrate my skin, but it feels so soothing after a hot shower, and smells amazing. You’ll be glowing like Patrick Bateman minus the whole bloodthirstiness. The Dirty Nil If you know me personally, you’d know that I haven’t shut up about the Dirty Nil this week. Why? I don’t know. They came into my mind going through some of my older saved songs, and I’ve been on a bender ever since. Not only do I always appreciate a local band, but these guys are absolutely killer. Hailing from Hamilton, the Dirty Nil just recently released their third studio album Master Volume. Some of my favs off the LP are ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ and ‘What Heaven Feels Like.’ Give it a spin and let me know what you think! Couch To 5K App Fitness is important, as much as I hate to admit it. I’ve been trying to be healthier, and get into healthier habits in 2019. One day, I got a phone call from my boyfriend telling me – to my horror – that he’d spontaneously signed up for a 10K run. Being the supportive girlfriend I am, I said “Oh, I’ll train with you then.” Why did I say that? I don’t know, love is blind I guess. I don’t run, so this app has been my saviour. It’s designed to build up your endurance over time so you don’t over exert yourself, and at the end of the 4 week program you should be able to run a 5K. If you hate running as much as I do, I highly recommend you try out this app. Let’s actually reach our fitness goals this year. Follow Alex. Follow us for all the cool content.

By: Tye Hardy 3.5/5 LA based Rock Trio Cherry Glazerr delivers their third album, Stuffed & Ready, in a pissed off manner. The music and lyrics captures lead vocalist and guitarist Clementine Creevy’s indignation for everything around her. From the opening track ‘Ohio’ to the closer ‘Distressor’, the theme is very apparent. The album keeps a steady sound throughout its entire length, yet has all of the dynamics to keep you from being bored. It starts with a great opener in ‘Ohio’, with its somber yet catchy vocal melodies. It’s a perfect throwback to the 90s, but with a modern twist. There are definately Garage Rock elements, while incorporating elements of pop, which is very prominent in the second track of the album ‘Daddi’, adding to the dynamics previously mentioned. The sounds can be compared to a ‘Celebrity Skin’ era of Hole, and July Talk, but of course with it’s own brooding vibe. Cherry Glazerr is not afraid to push any limits on this release, and are not shy of saying what’s on their mind from blasting off on the patriarchy on ‘Daddi’ to struggles with introversion on ‘Self Explained’. Overall, Cherry Glazerr raises the bar with this newest release. From the lo-fi distorted guitars on Ohio, to the pop-esque production on Daddi, all the way to the heavy smashing guitars and drums on Stupid Fish, this album has it all. Ambiguity, originality and production is everything great on this album. Favourite Tracks: “Ohio”, “Wasted Nun” and “Stupid Fish”.

By:Michael Del Vecchio We need tension in our lives. Without tension, nothing demands us to improve. The most primal way we feel tension is through fear. If we understand what scares us, we can face it, overcome it, and grow. NEAR&FAR Projects wrestled with fear, and from that, pulled out its first full-length show, Deimos X Phobos. The show – inspired by a lingering, almost year-old nightmare – as one of Alex Flack’s nightmares. Alex developed his nightmare into a concept and took it to Tavia Christina and Rachel Facchini – seniors at Ryerson University – of Near&Far Projects. The partnership saw Alex managing the tangible details like budgeting, scheduling, and artistic overview throughout the production, while Tavia and Rachel arranged the choreography and the performers. All these elements came together as Alex’s thesis project at Ryerson. Speakers pumped ambient-electronic sounds paired with primal, rhythmic percussion through the space. The audience sat at the front of the space and faced the back wall, which was made of red brick. Each of the two side walls had a row of waist-high spotlights mounted on them, which faced the centre of the room. Throughout the show, these spotlights turned on and off, manipulating and spreading the performers’ shadows across the walls. This created depth because the shadows divide the viewer’s focus. While it never became distracting, it does shake up the focus between the body and its shadow – which is a clever way to recreate the disorientation of a nightmare. The performers crawled on their hands and feet to enter the space, and opened with strong, modern floorwork. With this, the performers were able to create claustrophobia – even in such a large room – because they emphasized the negative space by staying stuck to the floor. Throughout the show, dancers utilized flashlights to create stark lighting on themselves and each other in the darkness. When they flashed those lights towards a dancer near the front of the space, illuminating the faces in the audience to lamp-shade the fear of being watched. It was the best way to silently break the fourth wall. A chunk of the choreography had one of the performers dancing near the corner of the brick wall, away from the main cluster. After some time, while she was still stuck there, a duo moved toward the audience, and the remaining performers piled up in the remaining back corner. This triangle of points, paired with the precise timing and synchronization of the performers despite the distance, created depth and scale. This formation directly countered their claustrophobic cluster during the opening. The red-light sections were contrasted with fluid, graceful motions during sections when the houselights went up. Those sections featured more solo work, and at one point only one performer was left in the space to dance. Erratic, spastic movements during the red-sections created tension, and by switching to the fluid, graceful movements during the brighter sections, the performers released that tension. The repetition created thematic rhythm. Approaching the end, the troupe lied on the floor and every light was snuffed. In this new darkness, a video was projected, splattered on to the rough, red brick wall, featuring the performers with elaborate costuming and props, in stark contrast to the physical minimalism of the main show. During talkback after the show, Christina explained that the video was a flashback that showed the characters’ progressions from the past to the point of the show. The video was an efficient and artistic way to show the passing of time. In a practical sense, it allowed the performance to include an intricate scene with props, while allowing the performers resume the routine immediately after the video ended. Most of the movement in the choreography began in the performers’ upper bodies, which allowed their feet to stay on the floor, reinforcing the feeling of being trapped. Dim, red light and repeated floor formations drove home the theme of helplessness. And when legs led movement instead, it shook up the established pattern and strengthened the choreography. The strongest moment was when the troupe hoisted up a performer who spent the red-light room sections sitting on the ground, prying her foot away from the floor. Standing together in a circle, the other performers threw her into the air, allowing her to escape the ground with strong energy. It was the emotional and physical pay-off for a character that was trapped to the floor for what felt like a lifetime. The video portion of the show was well done, even if it broke up the momentum of the performance. There were powerful moments throughout the production, but the ending was not as strong as the beginning. Maybe this is because they had eight performers working together, exploring different personal fears, and could have ended up straying away from the original vision. It’s one of the difficulties of balancing dreams with reality. When the house lights turned up for the last time, it was an unexpected ending. Deimos X Phobos showed how NEAR&FAR Projects can combine emotion, education, and skill to bring a story to life. The performers’ movements were powerful, sharp and confident, but above all, relatable. Strong choreography and design brought physicality and weight to ideas and concepts that most of us only encounter in our dreams. With Deimos X Phobos over, NEAR&FAR Projects said its next performance will tackle something completely different. Whichever path they take, it’ll be something to keep your eyes on. Costume Designer: Andrew Nasturzio Lighting Designer: Emilie Trimbee Music Designer: Diego Varela & Oshan Starreveld Performers: Shaina Gibson, Brianna Clarke Marrin Jessome, Jamie Fascinato, Hannah Robertson, Nathan Dey, Gregory Eadie Additional information provided by: Alex Flack, Tavia Christina and Rachel Facchini Follow NEAR&FAR Projects here.

By: James Dallimore So your New Year’s resolution of getting back in shape hasn’t gone exactly the way you planned. In other words, you haven’t started- and now it’s February. Everyone is going to make excuses for themselves as it’s far too easy to tell yourself you’ll go tomorrow. I’m here to tell you that, there is hope. You need motivation and I’ve got it for you. How often do you walk into the gym and HATE the music that’s playing? For me it’s one hundred percent of the time. Finding the right playlist can be difficult with all the tracks you will inevitably want to skip. I’ve found the songs that will perfectly suit the type of workout you’re doing along with the all-important cool down that follows. Cardio: Song 1). Kickstart My Heart – Mötley Crüe No, I’m not writing this for your dad. This is one of the ultimate jogging songs. Grab your headphones, throw on your sneakers, and pound that pavement. You’ll notice an increase in your pace when the main riff kicks in. Song 2). Song of Solomon – Animals As Leaders You’re on your morning jog and you approach the bottom of what appears to be an indomitable hill. You’re starving for air when this track clicks on immediately with desperately strummed chords driving you to your goal of finally reaching the top without stopping. You reach its peak when the triumphant guitar solo triggers the runner’s high as you float back down to earth. Weight Lifting: Song 1). Lost in the Static – After The Burial Work was really tough today. Next person who looks at you funny is getting stomped. That means it’s leg day. This track has a classic metalcore lead and rhythm played a perfect mid-pace for badass flexing, so you can stomp the leg press instead. Song 2). Fistfull of Steel and Freedom– Rage Against the Machine If someone was making a “Top Ten Workout Songs” list, these two tracks would be a mandatory feature as one spot on the list and are an amazing one-two punch when you hit the red zone. Wilk’s drumming and Commerford’s bass are the main drivers of what makes any Rage song great for lifting. Download these two on Spotify and add them to your playlist. Cool Down: Song 1). Lymarks – FORQ In my opinion, this is the most important part of you workout. Without proper music, your cool down will suck, to put it bluntly. Glimmering keyboard synths with a catchy smooth bass hook helps to ease you back into reality once God Mode has worn off. Get stretching! Song 2). Grace – Clairmont The Second This is the one you listen to on your way home. Grace is quiet and introspective; a perfect song for reflecting on your workout, your progress, and planning the next one. Keep at it and remember that you are loved. The tracks listed here range from a fast tempo for cardio, mid-paced heavy grooves for lifting, and slower, easier listening tracks for cooling down. I will be creating a collaborative play list for Spotify and all may add whatever tracks they like.

By: Michael Del Vecchio Throughout history, many great stories involve the life-death-rebirth cycle: Jesus, the Dalai Lama, Gandalf, Harry Potter, and Ozzy Osbourne are a few examples. Witchrot’s recent restructuring puts them in the neighbourhood of this metal-resurrection pantheon. It started in Fall of 2018, with Peter Turik’s progression from bassist to guitarist for Witchrot – Turik the Grey to Turik the White, if we’re keeping our references strictly metal. On the lead-up to that Halloween, the relatively-unknown band released its 4-song EP, Witchrot, and spent the next month promoting their louder-than-Hell, take-no-prisoners, unholy matrimony of sludge punk and doom metal. Fast forward to a nightmare before Christmas, when Turik found out his girlfriend and the band’s guitarist had committed acts of high infidelity together (they fucked). Witchrot kicked out the guitarist, the drummer moved on, and Turik dropped his (now) ex. On November 25, 2018, Turik posted this colourful information on the band’s Facebook page, and announced that Witchrot was officially on hiatus. Malleus Maleficarum Turik’s post blew up overnight. Despite the intention to help the band step away from the scene, the post snared media attention from publications like VICE, blogTO and Consequence of Sound. The following articles – some directly featuring Turik – provided context on the incident and grabbed more attention from a range of audiences. Any hiatus the band had planned was over. Witchrot shot out from Toronto obscurity and into headlining Lee’s Palace on December 28. The band found a new rhythm section and Turik resurfaced as the new guitarist. Reborn from chaos, Witchrot rose from its grave. Internet notoriety has provided initial sparks for countless bands. Can the newly-risen doom-metal quartet stand the test of time on their merits as musicians and create life from media necromancy? Witchrot at The Horseshoe Tavern Witchrot: Four metalheads; three supporting acts.; two days after January 31; one legendary tavern. Everyone was professional and on-time – a heavy task for a card that has three opening acts (Flesh Rag, Bad Waitress and Possum). Each band set up their gear, played their set, gave it their all, and cleared out for the next band. No nonsense, all attitude – everyone having a great time. I got there when Bad Waitress was gearing up to play their set. The women punctuated their wild, fast, heavy-hitter sound by showering the crowd with their sweat and screams. Each song was louder than the last one, and the intensity was so severe that eventually the drummer threw off her shirt altogether. The punk-rock four-piece pulled out a powerhouse performance and no one dared to stand still while their distorted soundwaves shrieked across the tavern’s walls. Two words I deciphered: FUCK THIS! Possum’s singer looks like Edgar Allan Poe if he had spent more time with guitars and crewneck sweaters. Their dynamic set included components of blues, psychedelic, and overall progressive rock. Phased-guitars, unpredictable melodies and a fast-and-loose approach to time-signatures gave the band the largest range out of all the bands. The vocal mixing from the venue was the most consistent for these guys, too. Two Lyrics I deciphered: THE TIGER! Bloodbath Close to midnight, the stage lights turned red, symbolically washing Witchrot’s four members in blood. Witchrot’s singer/keyboardist Lea, nursed a red-wine bottle between squeezing ambient chords out of a keyboard, or projecting wails, shrieks and infernal lyrics through a reverb-washed microphone. There were a few points were Lea’s vocals were drowned out in the mix by the blasting instruments. Although they didn’t say much to the crowd, the band interacted with the audience during the songs. When some guy at the front of the crowd held up a lighter in approval, Lea smiled and ran up to blow the flame out before launching back into the next verse. The crowd pressed against the front of the stage, hands held up in the air, waving to rhythm of unhallowed grooves. The majority of Witchrot’s songs are clock in at over 7 minutes, and throughout all that riffing and jamming and jumping around, nobody slipped up – the new rhythm section was tight. One of the last riffs in “Druid Smoke Part ii (The Sacrificer)” is a bluesy, harmonic riff that sounds like a metal wet-dream that Jack White had in a torture dungeon. Turik and Lea shared some vocal harmonies near the end of their set, all proving that Witchrot brings the melody and song-writing skills to match the pounding, shoveling, hammering sound in their book of spells. They navigated the waters of long compositions while enjoying and sharing the love of music with the audience. Two Lyrics I heard: DEVIL’S DIRT! Witchrot, still early in their metal ascension, shows a promising future. At the end of January, they made an Instagram post talking about working on new music. Witchrot full-length in 2019?

By: Alexandra Rodobolski With Toronto’s indie scene as hot as it is at the moment, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s new. Maintaining the hype and buzz around an artist can prove to be a difficult task for many, but The Darcys have conquered that feat time and time again. But this success didn’t come without a lot of hard work and dedication. I caught up with Wes Marskell and Jason Couse after their short set and Q&A at the TIFF Bell Light box supporting the #BellLetsTalk movement and opening up the discussion around creativity and mental health. Being such a staple in the local music scene, it was refreshing to see them have a raw and intimate discussion about something that affects so many. When the band first started to gain traction, their sound was almost a full 180º turn from what it is now. The reasoning behind such a drastic change? Jason Couse explains, “we felt like we had put in our time being this dark, depressing band making instrumental records about Cormac McCarthy novels and stuff like that. We were kind of through that phase.” The reality for the Darcys was that the heavy material was getting to them. As Wes Marskell put it: “The art and the reality sort of molded into one thing and it was just kind of like we were in a darker place than we wanted to be every night coming off stage ‘cause you were just living these songs for like, a really long time.” It’s hard to find fault in their choice to shift gears. Turning a hobby into a career already comes with its own set of adjustments and struggles, but consistently having to relive moments from a different part of your life is emotionally taxing. Looking at their current aesthetic and stage presence, and piecing that together with the people behind it makes so much sense. Along with a big shift in their look and sound, the band also refined their lineup from a full five-piece outfit to a modest duo. For any other group this would take a lot of adjustment, but for the Darcy it just made sense, “It all began with the two of us learning how to record music, learning how to write songs and jam, so it kinda just felt like we were rounding the bases. We were kinda back to home plate” Couse said. The retro synth-pop daydream vibe carries throughout all of the music that the Darcys have been releasing as of late, but it doesn’t stop there. At a live show, the songs come to life in a vision of neon, and that’s exactly how the band wants it. It’s not just about putting on a good show, it’s about creating an environment that says, “‘You can come here, it’s safe, everyone’s hopefully on board and you can just do you and be whoever you wanna be for an hour and then you can go back and ride the GO Train to your house and get up for your job the next day and whatever.” With this past year being such a whirlwind for the band, 2019 promises to be just as exciting. In the summer of 2018, the Darcys gave a taste of their co-writing endeavours with ‘Just Here With My Friends’ featuring July Talk’s Leah Fay. The co-creative process is valuable to them, because as Jason puts it, “It’s not like you need the help writing, but when you change the chemistry in a room, it can do a lot and it can really open you up to some new things.” And on working with Fay specifically, he continues, “to work with someone as insightful and obviously musically talented, and that we trust as a friend was really great.” So what’s next for the duo? For now, they’re living in the moment, and making music that they love, and are genuinely proud of. “I think everyone will figure it out once it’s on a record, and it’s better to be in the moment and it’s so liberating to feel excited about a song” Marskell said. The process of coming into their own as a duo has been a learning curve, but the Darcys are excited to keep trying new things. “Over a lifetime of developing our aesthetic collectively, to realize there are a whole bunch of little pockets of things that we maybe decided we weren’t gonna try,” Couse said, “and then now kind of digging them up and uncovering them and saying ‘Oh, maybe we kinda jumped to conclusions about that, and that, and that, and maybe those are cool things that we haven’t explored yet. Let’s try them out.’” Their writing process is pretty instantaneous these days. Couse hinted, “we’re recording a song and already planning the release before it’s been mixed. And it’s cool, because you’re like, ‘This is the mood I’m in. This is where we’re at.’” Marskell added in, “you master, and then the next day it goes to Spotify.” It’s not totally clear when we’ll be treated to some new tunes from the Darcys, but they’re happy making songs that feel right for them. Music can capture moments so specific yet so widely understood, and that’s exactly what we can expect from the band. Listen to The Darcys on Spotify, and give them some love on the gram. You can follow Alex here. You can follow us too on Instagram and like us on Facebook if you want..

By: Olivia Mokrzycki Following the release of their 2018 album, ‘Go To School,’ The Lemon Twigs set out on their promising North American Tour, making their tenth stop at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto. Brothers Michael and Brian D’Addario from Long Island, New York, are the superiorly talented stars behind the band. On Tuesday night, The Phoenix received a lively treat. The show began with a fun and edgy opener, sweet Jackie Cohen. A captivating artist very reminiscent of an 80’s pop-rock dream with vibrating folk-driven vocals. The memorable act warmed up the crowd for an impressive, energy filled night. After the lights had dramatically dimmed, the crowd’s cheers pulled the Lemon Twigs out from the dark, and the show had begun. The band greeted the audience in stellar rock n’ roll outfits which set the mood for an impressive performance. Brian’s glamorous white jumpsuit and golden scarf contrasted Michael’s all black leather fit which included some fancy heels. 70’s vibes roared across the stage while a loud kick drum started thumping and could be felt in your chest. It’s no surprise that the two multi-instrumentalists are seasoned and confident musicians. Everything they did was utterly perfect with a graceful edge. From their godly guitar skills, playing impressively rockin’ riffs and solos, to their immaculate vocals, the live show sounded just as flawless as the recorded songs, with a more rugged approach. As for stage presence, the band was very contagious, and the audience was all for it. Michael’s high heel kick and skinny jean squats were exciting to watch amidst the rest of his constant dancing. Brian bounced around with funky character while delivering perfect licks. The crowd revelled in all the band’s interactions as they told silly jokes and stories in between songs. Many were dancing and singing along to their favourite songs, as the band played lots off of their 2016 album ‘Do Hollywood,’ while mostly entertaining with their latest release. The Lemon Twigs truly gave everyone a performance to remember full of impressive and entertaining charm. Make sure to catch them on the rest of their North American tour and put them on your list of must-see band’s, because you will not be disappointed!

Who is Brad Stank? This interview certainly reveals some of the answers, but he is also a jazzy-psychedelic-indie artist. I would say comparable to Mac Demarco, with a bit more of a Jazz element. I was impressed after discovering the Liverpool based artist on Spotify, so I felt like we should have a chat. Here’s how it went: Do you have any New Years Resolutions? If so, what are they and why? I told myself I would be on my health more this year, but so far all that’s resulted in is that I’m poaching eggs instead of frying them haha What is your daily routine like? The first thing I do every day is drink a coffee and smoke a ciggy at my back door, maybe a bit of radio, get the news in for the day, do the dishes from last night, breakfast, then dive straight into my daily sexistential crisis, make some music, play some chess, etc. What is your favourite song to smoke weed to right now? Still obsessed with the Earl album; tried to get it on vinyl but the shipping to England was like $70 or something. But yeah, that whole album. Tell me your craziest life experience in 2018. The EP release show at the Sebright Arms in London was pretty crazy; people actually came out and made it a really special night. Who is influencing you most musically right now? I’m always listening to a lot of different stuff and taking influence from everywhere, all sorts of genres and stuff, so I can’t really say one band or artist, but I guess mainly 70s stuff; disco and soul and all that Thoughts on MTV? I don’t think I’ve had any thoughts on MTV for the past like 8 years! I used to watch the TV channel as a kid which I enjoyed, Cribs etc, but I have no idea what MTV is saying nowadays. Cats or Dogs? Why? Always been more of a dog guy, they’re just way better aren’t they? Anybody who says cats is lying to themselves. Explain “Pond Weed.” That song is a bit of a weed diss track really; I spent way too much time smoking weed in my late teens/early twenties to the point where it was just ruining my brain- took a year off smoking and it was great, I highly recommend Not Smoking Weed Every Day for sure. Stay tuned for some new music, and keep an eye on Mr.Stank on Spotify, Youtube, Instagram, and Twitter.

By: Staff It’s been just about three months since good old Mary Jane’s been legal in Canada…and we stand on guard for thee (no pun intended). Lets get wavy. Ranging in a variety of tunes from production-based lo-fi to dream-like indie to new wave hip-hop with an old-school sound, this list will have you ready to kick it with yours truly. 1.) Blunts – Shamana This one’s a mood setter for certain. Blunts crawls to a slow start, beginning with the sound of a lighter being flicked. As it progresses the layers of unique sound build upon each other. If you pay close attention you will only notice a few more subtle sounds that may be heard yourself during a typical session smoking the ganja. 2.) 4EVER – Clairo Synth, drum and snare are key elements in 4EVER. The song has a pretty basic, yet catchy and feel-good rhythm that’s easy to find yourself swaying along to. Clairo’s dreamy and easy to follow voice will have you humming along through the chorus too. This groovy track will put your head in the clouds. 3.) Warm Thoughts – Flume Taking it back a bit to 2012, Warm Thoughts is a must-listen classic from Flume’s self-entitled debut album. This one is production-based in nature, featuring remixed vocals, soothing bass and a piano-based melody that you’ll be sure to vibe with. The title of the song gives you a feel for the state of mind you’ll be in when you’re finished with it. 4.) Cosurmyne- Jungle Jungle’s got it going on with the classic groove sound heard in Cosurmyne. Another piano-based melody, Jungle also has you feeling it with grainy yet velvety vocal samples alongside some smooth brass elements. Listen closely and see if you can figure out where the song title originates (Hint: your friend who incessantly uses short-forms and incorrect spelling in text messages might be able to help you out). 5.) The Mint (feat. Navy Blue) – Earl Sweatshirt This Odd Future original member just dropped a new album in December entitled Some Rap Songs. Featured on the new album, the song entitled The Mint is a personal favourite. Earl is heard spitting rhymes with ease over an old school beat. The beat repeats over the entire course of the song but some how never gets old. A combination of chime-like sound and a gritty overlay make this track one you want to keep coming back for. 6.) STAINS – BROCKHAMPTON A Jazzy brass melody begins this song and lays the basis for what remains of the course of STAINS. It becomes easy to nod your head along as the beat drops and hip-hop group BROCKHAMPTON has you encaptured in the rhythm and the rhyme. As different members of the self-proclaimed ‘Boy Band’ lay down the lyrics over this track you’ll be ready to hit repeat, and to hit the joint. 7.) Feels Like We Only Go Backwards – Tame Impala It’s hard to imagine that people might disagree that Tame Impala is a classic band to listen to while you smoke weed. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards, with its’ slow pace and notably low bass guitar tune will surely put you in the mood and keep it going. With its’ psychedelic sounds, this track is ingenious in its simplicity. 8.) Potato Salad (feat. A$AP Rocky) – Tyler, The Creator In Potato Salad Tyler and A$AP lay down clever rhymes over the crackling of what sounds like a classic hip-hop beat being spun on a record player. This dynamic duo gets it done with their ability to get out witty verses, using specific pronounciation of words where appropriate to keep the rhymes flowing. Keep your ears open for those lyrics and check out the music video for some fun visuals. 9.) Chamber of Reflection – Mac DeMarco A fellow Canadian, this is another artist that may undeniably be a staple to pass the joint around to. Chamber of Reflection starts off with a synth type tune and continues with another ongoing synth as the song progresses. A slow tempo and Mac’s lo-fi style voice create a very specific aura. 10.) Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe – Kendrick Lamar In the creation of this list Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe was the first song that came to mind, and so it easily takes first place. It’s hard to imagine another lyric more suiting for any situation that might present itself while you’re just trying to chill out. As King Kendrick says, “I am a sinner, who’s probably going to sin again”, you might just be about to take another puff of the ‘devil’s lettuce’. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram if you want.