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By: Amanda McMillan It’s been over four years since we’ve heard from Montreal alt-rock hunks, Half Moon Run. Their first two albums, Dark Eyes and Sun Leads Me On respectively, have gathered them quite the following and with every release, they truly seem to evolve. With this new release, we see a more mature version of the band. It’s slick, very well produced, and showcases a wider range of instrumentation than we’ve heard in the past. There’s a lot of piano, some synth, heavy bass, slides, and even a baritone sax! However, the glue that holds this album together, much like all their albums, is the vocals. I’ve always been a sucker for a good harmony, and the presence of killer male harmonies (outside of redundant boy band pop songs) is hard to come by. It’s what drew me to this band when I first saw them live in 2012 opening for Plants and Animals and it’s what keeps me coming back to them. In general, A Blemish in the Great Light is a little more “radio friendly” than their previous two releases, with catchy chorus’ and well-timed bridges. They’ve come a long way since their 2012 debut. But what they’ve managed to maintain is that deeply emotional element, without ever feeling saccharine or angsty. The album opens with “Then Again,” which immediately strikes hot as classic Half Moon Run. The strings at the one minute mark create a sense of urgency, and that chorus is instantly singable. As the track progresses into the bridge, we’re met with a killer bassline that’s simple but dominant, paired a fancy little guitar scale for good measure. Then bam! Is that a baritone sax? It fits right in. Next is “Favourite Boy”, and off the top is very bass-forward, which is new for them. The strings and the choir vocals add fullness to it, keeping it from feeling to funky. It’s a little bit CSNY, a little bit 80s with the synth, all while still feeling distinctly alt-rock and identifiably HMR. This is one of the more layered songs we’ve heard from them yet, there’s a lot going on. But as only the second song in, we’re along for the ride. Next is the third single release “Flesh and Blood.” Again this feels a little more classic Half Moon Run, with its folky sensibilities. The guitar slide and keys give it a nice flare, and those gorgeous harmonies hit in all the right places. This track definitely showcases their mature, revealing some of their influences and the direction they seem to be heading in. It pairs nicely with “Natural Disaster”, which is probably the most radio-friendly song we’ve heard from the band, despite the instrumentals being a little bit of a departure from their usual sound. Black Diamond has a bit of a Lucius vibe to it, which is an apt comparison vocally. The piano gives it a bit of a Billy Joel vibe, and I get the sense based on the vocals, the lyrics, and the reprise of the slide guitar that they’ve perhaps been listening to a lot of pop-country or bluegrass. The same can be said about “Yani’s Song” that follows. As we get to the back half of the album, it feels a little more steeped in the sound we’ve come to know and love. “Razorblade” could have easily been a demo from 2015’s Sun Leads Me On that was finished with the gloss of this album. It’s a very long song, coming in at nearly seven and a half minutes. The last third of the song is very intense, and then kind of pulls itself back with a bit of a Bowie circa Hunky Dory outro. It’s a roller coaster! The remaining three tracks are lovely, one of which is a gorgeous piano instrumental performed by drummer Dylan Phillips. The album wraps up nicely with the quasi-existential “New Truth,” which could very easily be the opening credits to a dramatic post-apocalyptic TV series. What that says about what’s been on the band’s mind, I’m not sure. Fans of the band will likely be satisfied with this album, hopefully appreciating its intricacies, and the slight change in direction. There is certainly enough of the band’s sound to cling to, while also sharing new parts to them that we can get to know. Newcomers to the band might not benefit from working their way back from here. Both Dark Eyes and Sun Leads Me On are two sides of the same coin, while Blemish is a new coin entirely. Regardless, this album, as is often common with a third album, marks the start of a new journey for the band, and they’ve given us no reason not to follow them on it.

By: Amanda McMillan Scorpio season is in full swing, and there is plenty to look forward to, and look out for. After the transformative journey of Libra season, it’s time to see where Scorpio’s emotional, mysterious, ambitious vibes will take us. Yes, there’s a Mercury retrograde passing through until November 20th, so there may be some mix-ups or tech issues. But, no fear. These cycles are here to teach us patience, understanding, and to have a sense of humour when things don’t go as planned. Shit happens! An overarching theme for the month is about looking at the big picture. Get out of the details, and your own projections or reactive tendencies, star friends. Where are you headed? What are your priorities? How can you be more you this month? Look out for slipping into comfortable patterns that don’t always serve you. Stay uncomfortable, keep your eyes open, and see what Scorpio season has in store for you. You’re a little go-getter, and enjoy sprinkling your Aries magic just about everywhere. That’s what we love about you! But you don’t have to act or react to everything, dear Ram. Sit with how you’re feeling, see where your inspiration takes you, let the process take shape and guide you. It may feel like something is stuck, but instead of trying to force it free, spend some time decoding why it’s not working for you. Not everything can be tackled or understood by pure instinct. Be meticulous. But be open to shifts in perspective. It will all make sense to you soon. Recommended album: Wild – Tourist (2019) Pay attention to: “Bunny”. This is an instrumental album, but there’s something dreamy about this track. Let yourself feel dreamy, let your mind wander. Epiphanies often come to us when we stop trying to problem solve and just let our imagination take over. This month will be about trusting what you’ve learned and moving in the direction that’s best for you, dear Taurus, rather than succumbing to temptations. This may be an intense and emotional process, but keeping your eyes looking ahead instead of getting distracted is good practice for you. Can you practice patience? If so, how? Can you be present? Where do you go when you need to escape and find yourself? Think about these things, be mindful, and intentional in the decisions that you make. Don’t rush, but don’t fixate either. Things have a way of working themselves out if you wait, if you listen and most importantly, trust. Recommended album: If You Wait – London Grammar (2013) Pay attention to: “Nightcall”. This stunning cover of Kavinsky’s 2010 hit famously from the movie Drive feels more like a lullaby than a heart-stopping dance track. Notice the subtlety, the nuances, the way lead singer Hannah Reid’s haunting vocals make you feel. Search for that feeling when you want to revert to old habits. Let it guide you forward. Like the social butterfly you are, sweet Gemini, you love to try new things and get out there and do stuff! But be mindful of how much load you carry, and seek out moments of balance and tranquility. This will allow you to reconnect with your goals, and identify the areas that perhaps you need a little help with. Use your natural ability to bring people together, connect, and bond in order to create a network around you that feels unstoppable! Be intentional about who you surround yourself with. Because you’re easy to get along with, you may attract some people who aren’t quite the best fit to help you get to where you’re headed. Open yourself up to new perspectives and see how they complement your creativity and sense of self. When it feels right, you’ll know. Trust your instincts. Recommended album: Eve – Rapsody (2019) Pay attention to: “Whoopi”. This song is the definition of a mood. If this doesn’t give you confidence and have you feeling yourself, nothing will. The whole album is a collection of songs about some of the most iconic women in history. Use that as a guiding light when surrounding yourself with people who inspire you. It’s very easy, perhaps even comfortable, for Cancers to retreat into the protectiveness of their shell when things feel confusing or overwhelming. Especially when those things are related to your relationships, and drawing boundaries can feel an awful lot like retreating. Sometimes instead of searching outside of yourself to understand others’ perspectives, you may be quick to only see things through your own experience and world. Try to step out of your shell and feel the world from outside of it. You’re so lucky to have a built-in home, but you gotta get out more! You’re braver, stronger, and savvier than you give yourself credit for, friend! Get curious, ask questions, and trust that fellow scuttle-y, water sign Scorpio’s got your back. Recommended album: All Mirrors – Angel Olsen (2019) Pay attention to: “Lark.” The first minute and sixteen seconds of this song is gentle, and calming, and feels a little like being inside your own shell. But when the drums come in, and Angel Olsen’s voice crescendos? That’s the feeling to chase this month. You may be feeling like you’ve lost a little of your balance lately, feeling less like the grown ass lion you are and more like a little cub. Don’t worry your gorgeous mane any longer, because Scorpio season is here to course correct and have you feeling stable and strong once again. Take stock of your goals, your resources, and the groundwork you’ve been laying for your future. How have you been self-protecting or guarding? Where have you been generous and open? It may be tempting to sidle up to Scorpio’s mysterious ways, but you’re a charmer, dear Leo. You work so much better with others, showing off your fiery goodness. Try to let people in on your master plans, it may surprise you what inspiration can come from opening up. Recommended album: Fear/Nothing – The Belle Game (2017) Pay attention to: “Spirit”. Listen to this song with your eyes closed. What do you see? What does it do to your heart? Whatever it is, that’s what you’re looking for this month. Scorpio season promises to bring winds of change for you, Virgo! This may sound all well and good, but for people like you who crave plans, and details, and process this can be a little disorienting or overwhelming. Fret not, my Earth angels. This is set to be a time where you can allow all the deep, powerful emotions that have been whirring within guide you toward new ambitions and areas of focus. Try to avoid getting caught up in the why’s and how’s of it all, your favourite place to be, and let the road open up in front of you. Scorpio is a Water sign, after all. So let it flow! Recommended album: Morningside – Fazerdaze (2017) Pay attention to: “Little Uneasy”. Yeah, maybe that’s how you’ve been feeling. But that’s all part of your growth! And things are about to change for you. Hear it in consistency of the beat, the twang of the guitar solo, and the airiness of the vocals. Let your shoulders sway, tap your foot, throw in some air guitar. You do you! You’re definitely on to something, sweet balance-seekers! Your season brought you a sense of harmony and a deeper understanding of where you’re headed and what you’re looking to achieve. You’re learning, you’re processing, and you’re ready to conquer hunny! Try not to get swept up in appeasing everyone around you, a natural position you put yourself in. It’s okay to rely on yourself and figure things out without having to carry the weight of other people’s thoughts and feelings. Trust your instincts, and your natural sense of logic and justice to guide you toward your next adventure. The unknown can be unnerving but look inward to find the confidence you harbour – you’ve got nothing to lose. Recommended album: Oncle Jazz – Men I Trust (2019) Pay attention to: “All Night”. This song is like sitting in a warm, hot bath. Simmer in it. Let everything fade away and just enjoy your own company! Happy season, little Scorpios! We know you’re all bringing intensity to anything you put your mind to, and sometimes that means you can be reactive. This month, take time to gather information, reflect, and search for the bigger picture. The details can sometimes bog you down, a place you easily drift into in an attempt to feel a sense of control. Be mindful of this reality about yourself. If you find yourself rabbit-holing, take a step back. Breathe. Be present. Let your ambition be a leader, not a commander. Recommended album: Merriweather Post Pavilion – Animal Collective (2009) Pay attention to: “My Girls.” This entire album, and especially this song, evokes this feeling of just letting go. What would happen if you just let yourself be here, in this moment, listening to this song? Ground yourself, and let the chaos make sense. You’ve benefited from the transformative nature of this past Libra season, my fiery friend. But just because you may feel like you’ve created some space and clarity, doesn’t mean you have to fill it all up again! You harness an incredible ability to spark passion in other people, but not everything is about you! Focus on feeling the space you’ve carved out for yourself. Let there be air, let there be stillness, let there be quiet. Take the pressure of yourself to be everything to everyone, and be the person you want to be for you. Recommended album: Gravity – Pell (2019) Pay attention to: “Petrichor.” In nature, petrichor is the smell of rain after a stint of hot weather. You know it, it’s earthy, and cleansing, and fresh. Yes, a song about rain that’s upbeat instead of sad! That’s a vibe you can grab onto! If there’s anyone who believes they can handle it all, it’s you, dear Capricorn. Your trust in yourself and capacity for achievement are almost unparalleled in the zodiac. However…no matter how much you may thrive under pressure, it’s easy to forget that a lot of that pressure is that which you put upon yourself. Take a look at your to-do list (we know you always have one!) and look at it through the lens of priority; prioritize it based on head, heart, and spirit. This is where you will get to know yourself. Indulge in this way of thinking this month – honour your joys and comforts just as much as you honour your work ethic. Recommended album: French Kiwi Juice – FKJ (2017) Pay attention to: “We Ain’t Feelin Time”. Kick back, relax, let the saxophone say something you’ve never heard before. What is it? Let it put your mind at ease. There’s been a lot shifting, and changing for you this year, dear Aquarius. That’s caused you to confront some truths and perhaps even some losses that you’d wish you didn’t have to. It’s easy for you to rationalize and try to force a sense of order onto things, regardless of how abstract, irrational, or inexplicable those things are. Allow yourself the time and patience to meet your emotions, even though this is an uncomfortable ask of you. See how you can adapt to this space, what you can let go of, and what you can use to propel you forward. You have a way of existing ahead of yourself, and ahead of this world. Slow down, find your pace, take care. Your path will show itself. Recommended album: Forever Turned Around – Whitney (2019) Pay attention to: “Before I Know it.” This is a super short and simple song, and that’s what makes it so great. It’s about moving, and changing, but in a way that feels slow. It’s that paradox of seasons feeling long, but before you know it, they’re over. Everything happens in the time it’s meant to. Ah, fellow Water sign, it feels nice to be wading in the Scorpio glow doesn’t it? It can feel a little too comfortable for some of you, allowing yourself to go with the flow and guide yourself solely on your intuition and your dreams. But this month is a time for some self-reflection. Take a step back, try to see what’s happening in the bigger picture. What’s present for you lately? What direction are you heading in? Take note of your current path, and see if it’s changed or needs changing. And if it does, that’s perfectly okay! Just do it with a sense of purpose, awareness, and sense of self. You’ve got this! Recommended album: The Iceberg – Oddisee (2017) Pay attention to: “Built by Pictures”. This is a song about figuring things out using your own ability to make sense of the world around you. It’s about being resourceful and finding your own way to succeed. It’s about trusting yourself to figure it out.

By: Kevin Brown Maryland rapper IDK’s “Is He Really Touring?” tour rolled into the Mod Club Tuesday night with support from Kemba and City Fidelia. .

By: Michael Del Vecchio Today, Boston-based metal band, Ice Nine Kills, unleash their new album, THE SILVER SCREAM: FINAL CUT. Just in time for Halloween, the release wraps up the promotional campaign for the director’s cut rerelease of 2018’s The Silver Scream. The rerelease is a celebration of all things horror and metal, seeing the band and its frontman Spencer Charnas continue to champion the genre. For newcomers, the album captures stunning musicality and technicality, and not just for the metal genre. Theatrical melodies and vocals lure you in to brutal rhythms and blistering leads. Multiple hooks on this record creep into your skin and dance macabre – the chorus on A Grave Mistake does this exceptionally well. For returning ears, the rerelease adds six tracks with chilling appearances from guest musicians. The album includes an infectiously metal interpretation of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Ice Nine Kills takes on Jackson’s classic with precision – combining the original’s style, groove and danceability with their own blend of theatrics and metal to make the whole thing scream with life. Sit still at your own risk! The new song, Your Number’s Up, is based off Wes Craven’s iconic horror film, Scream. The chilling tune features a gruesome, operatic duet between Charnas and guest vocalist, singer and actress Sarah J. Bartholomew (who you might recognize from the Life is Strangevideo game series). The work put into this track proves it’s not a B-side, earning its place among the original tracks from The Silver Scream. The remaining numbers are acoustic arrangements of songs from 2018’s The Silver Scream. From a haunting live performance of A Grave Mistake on SiriusXM,to an unplugged-but-unboundSavages, Final Cutavoids scares of a rehashed sequel by laying down sensational acoustic-guitar leads and melodies. Stabbings in the Dark nowfeatures the formidable Matt Heafy of Trivium, who had previously played the original song on the website Twitch.tv. When word got out about his cover, Heafy took up the opportunity to sign his infernal finger work over to the project. Thank God it’s Friday re-emerges from murky depths, seeing Ari Lehman – who played Jason in 1980’s Friday the 13th –join Charnas as partners in crime and vocals. With the promotional campaign for the release, INK cut their teeth on horror cinematography with a series of narrative music videos. The videos follow a storyline that compile into a feature film that is equal parts a love letter, an homage, and a worthy continuation of the horror genre. The story goes: Nightmares plague Spencer Charnas during an ongoing tour with his band, Ice Nine Kills. During a therapy session, Charnas talks about his nightmares with his psychiatrist, Ian Black. Black starts to experience nightmares that line up with Charnas’ stories, and the line between dreams and reality blurs when the murders start to manifest in real life. The unscrupulous doctor succumbs to morbid curiosity and develops an obsession over uncovering Charnas’ mysterious past and any involvement in the killings. Look for clues as Ice Nine Kills’ songs lift the veil on the story leading up to a chilling conclusion. Are you ready for the truth to spill out? The order for the music videos goes: The American Nightmare (part one),Thank God It’s Friday (part two),A Grave Mistake (part three),Stabbings in the Dark (part four), andIT is the End (part five). The video for the new Your Number’s Up acts as a prequel to the story, showing ghoulish inspiration from Wes Craven’s Scream. The music and visuals draw on iconography from classic films, like Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street and IT, but it doesn’t stop there. Ice Nine Kills doesn’t coast on nostalgia – the writing and execution shows in the work. Every line, lyric and melody cuts, rips and crawls through your brain. Horror fans will recognize samples and musical motifs from film classics on certain tracks. My favourite instance was the jarring piano stings when Michael Myers attacks from 1978’s Halloweenplaying over a bloodthirsty breakdown at the end of Stabbings in the Dark. Ice Nine Kills carries on the tradition of amalgamating the love of horror and heavy music like other bands in the field, notably the icons of horror and punk, The Misfits– and Italian group, Goblin, who wrote and performed the soundtrack for 1977’s surreal horror film, Suspiria. I would love to see the band’s take on recent horror likeIt Follows, Hereditaryand Insidious. IT is the End dips into that, as Stephen King’s It wrapped up itslatest foray into the silver screen this year as well. Ice Nine Kills is in the middle of their ongoing American tour And check out the playlist for Final Cut videoshere

By: Tressa Mastroianni This new playlist is all about coin. Check it out:

By: Amanda McMillan Jimmy Eat World is the kind of band that if you were anywhere between the ages of 11 and 16 in the early aughts, you couldn’t really avoid. Their debut single “The Middle” was, and quite honestly still is, a massive hit. When I realized that they had a new album coming out, I gave ol’ Bleed American (2001) another spin. It actually stands up pretty well nearly 20 years later (feel old yet?). But over the years, Jimmy Eat World hasn’t really left a mark so much as a stain. Which is, perhaps, a little harsh, because they’re a super fun band! I really enjoyed their last album, 2016’s Integrity Blues. So I was hopeful that their newest release, Surviving, would deliver, if nothing else, something familiar. For the most part, that’s pretty much what you get. The title track has a strong guitar intro, but the drums make it feel clumsier than it needs to be. Although they’re all playing in time, the bass does help to fill in some of what’s missing when it finally kicks in at the :30s mark, but for a few seconds they’re a bit off. The song comes together by the time the first chorus is over, and the more you listen to it the more connected it feels. But for the first track, it lacks a certain synergy. Then comes “Criminal Energy,” opening with a bit of a metal energy which wouldn’t bother me if it didn’t feel a little unnatural. Jim Adkin’s vocals lightens it up a bit, but the guitar continues to be a bit too much of a nod to Iron Maiden. I appreciate what the song wants to be, but it feels out of place here. Then we do a complete 180 and arrive at “Delivery”. If I didn’t know better, I would say that this is a forgotten Deathcab for Cutie track, which is not really a compliment. Adkin’s sounds a little too much like Ben Gibbard, in that it’s a touch too whiny, and the song lacks energy, especially coming following the first two tracks. To top it off, the lyrics are lacklustre and fall short of being as philosophical as they intend to be. Ouch. Now, at “555” we start to turn around. Although this track is kind of sleepy, it has a bit of a Phil Collins vibe, which is fitting. Yes, it has a slightly repetitive melody, but the drum beat finally feels like it makes sense, and the use of synth creates more of a mood than the first three tracks do. This feels like a mature evolution for the band, and makes a little more sense when stacked up against some of the tracks on Integrity Blues. By the time we get half way through the album, starting with “One Mil” I finally feel like, ‘this is what I came for!’ The acoustic guitar intro quickly turns into an electric power chord, and that Jimmy Eat World vibe finally shows itself. It’s silly and has a taste of millennial nostalgia which is what I wanted from this album. Then with “All the Way (Stay)” there is much of the same. It gives off a notable pop punk revival vibe, with muted guitar strumming, just the right level of whiny vocals, a catchy chorus, and that double drum beat that inspired many a-high-school band in the aughts. Plus, there is a sax solo that comes out of absolutely nowhere which really brings a certain je ne sais quoi to the whole track. “Diamond” is a bit of an Awkward Kid anthem, and as adults perhaps is more accurately branded an Anxiety Human anthem, while “Recommit”, once again, has a bit of a Phil Collins, spacey feel to it. Although there is a great guitar solo, and some decent lyrics, this song makes them sound like a different band, reminding me of some other alt rock group that I can’t quite put my finger on. Foals? Young the Giant? City & Colour (even if just melodically)? The point is, it sounds like something else and it’s not Jimmy Eat World. Is that a good or bad thing? I’m not sure. This is a relatively short album, the 10 tracks clocking in at only 36 minutes. What more do we really need from Jimmy Eat World in 2019? But in just over half an hour, Surviving seems to go back and forth between a shinier version of classic Jimmy Eat World, and an overly polished ode to their 80s influences. I’m not exactly sure what it was that I was expecting to hear from a band that I like purely for nostalgic reasons, but I guess this is it. In all honesty, it’s a bit hit or miss. Surviving meanders from being forgettable, to kind of fun, to recognizable, and back again. Several tracks certainly sound like the Jimmy Eat World some of us have come to know and love over the years, but it ultimately falls a little short. Perhaps I shouldn’t have listened to Bleed American again before I listened to Surviving. Perhaps it spoiled the mood.

By: Kevin Brown Jesso Media’s Lifted Ep. 5 took place at the Garrison on October 12 with a lineup featuring Toronto artists Ojo, Deadverysoon, Tremayne, Legendofshiloh & Delon Dior, with Ty Senoj as the headliner. Check out photos below

By: Kevin Brown On the heels of the release of their new album, “There Existed an Addiction to Blood”, L.A experimental hip-hop trio Clipping. played the Garrison in Toronto with the Canadian rap duo Cartel Madras as the supporting act.

By: Kevin Brown Celebrating the release of his new EP, “Vol II”, Toronto artist Young Clancy provided his smooth R&B jams to an enraptured crowd at The Drake Underground with fellow Toronto artist Early Bird opening up the night.

By: Amanda McMillan It’s been nearly five years to the day since we’ve had a studio release from Canadian alt. rock icon Dallas Green, who graced us last year with a beautifully curated live album Guide Me Back Home. That feels like a long time, considering all of his other releases were approximately two years apart. The new album is slick, and features some more raw, hidden gems amongst the gloss. “Living in Lightening” opens the album with a strong back beat, and airy guitar before we’re met with the familiar croon of Dallas Green’s high register vocals. The major to minor transition between verse and chorus is classic City and Colour, carried by the kind of melody you find yourself humming along to from the first time you hear it. “Astronaut” has more of a country twang to it, the overall vibe of his previous release If I Go Before You. It leaves you wanting to sway gently, with a very singable chorus that will likely be a favourite at live shows. “Imagination”, and “Difficult Love” are very radio friendly songs that will likely find their way to local stations soon enough. While one is a little more distorted and the other more mellow, they have that “is this City and Colour”? vibe to them that make them hard to distinguish from their other records. Is that a good or a bad thing? It’s tough to distinguish. “Me and the Moonlight” has dreamy opening, with high reverb vocals that come in around the 0:45 second mark with “Not everything you said should be heard/ Some things should stay buried in the dirt.When there is no target for your anger, could it be that you’re the one who’s hurt? So many fucking pointless conversations about who’s right or wrong, you or me,” which is a clear commentary on what’s going on right now in the world around us. There’s a sense of exhaustion and yearning to escape, to sink into the openness and loneliness of “the pale moonlight.” There’s an easy transition into “Mountain of Madness” which is a chalk full of moody, soulful, instrumentals, drizzled with Dallas’ smooth, caramel vocals. The falsetto in the chorus is kind of achy, and pleading, in a way that’s familiar to the band’s musical style. “Song of Unrest” carries contrast between the piano and the fuzzy drum fills has the potential to be off-putting, but ends up sounding like a Phil Collins song in all the right ways. Paired with lyrics and vocals that evoke longing, and regret, this track has a ton of potential to be a deep cut favourite for City and Colour fans. The final track “Lay Me Down” can only really be summarized as melancholy anthem of despair. The piano melody seems to tell its own story, while the strings and twangy guitar fills are the sonic equivalent to the feeling of crawling into bed to cry. It’s an interesting way to end the album, but seems fitting considering the album title. The tracks have a full and clean production feel to them, a mature evolution from his earlier days. Although his grassroots, small-town cross-Canada live album gave us a taste of how nuanced and talented Dallas Green is at his core, A Pill For Loneliness sounds like the kind of album he’s probably quite satisfied with. The overall sonic appeal suits his age, which is a compliment. It’s very easy for a nearly-forty year old artist who came up in the era of Emo/Screamo to sound boring, outdated, and unable to keep up not only with the changing sound of music but staying true to their own sound. But Dallas’ gift is his ability to sound good pretty much all of the time. He’s a true songwriter, and plays to his own strengths more often than not. The result of which another well-produced album, with tight and well-crafted lyrics, centred on his distinctly high-register voice. A Pill For Loneliness is exactly what you would expect from Dallas Green, which can be arguably both a good and bad thing. For fans, there’s very little to be disappointed with. But for critics, there’s not a whole lot to dig into that hasn’t already existed before in City & Colour’s discography. There’s nothing inherently wrong with being predictable, it’s just a lot less fun. Then again, in a world that seems to be changing rapidly at every moment, on good days rapidly evolving and on bad ones crashing down around us, there is something to be said about being able to rely on old favourites sounding exactly like you expect them to. So in that sense, this album is a near perfect City and Colour release, and that’s more than we can ask for from an artist who hasn’t been in the studio since Obama was President.

By: Daniel Dortas