Rii + Matt

R:

Matt and I became close buds over a shared love for Feist when we were both in high school. We used to listen to her on our massive iPods while working at an outdoor equipment store. What a time.  Feist was the first concert Matt and I went to together and I’m still not convinced it wasn’t a date. Anyway, it feels cool to be riiviewing this album together. It’s been a few years, and I honestly can’t say I was waiting for another Feist album (I sort of forgot about her). Nonetheless, “Pleasure” has be a welcomed treat. This album is more of the same ol’ Feist- not a bad thing, just a fact. I don’t think old fans will be surprised or shaken up by anything on the album and I don’t think Feist is going to gain any new fans with this one. I guess there’s no need to fix what ain’t broke. The title track, “Pleasure” is great. When it was released a few weeks before the rest of the album, it has be excited for what was to come. Mostly, it did a good job of reminding me that I do still like me some Feist.  Other highlights include I Wish I Didn’t Miss you and “Any Party”.  “Any Party” is just so good. I can’t think of a better testament to love than somebody telling you they would leave any party for you. It’s such a nice thing to say.  Imagine you were at a party where Kanye West was giving out free hugs, there was unlimited snacks, and everyone thought you looked the prettiest but your sweetie wants to leave and you are happy to do it. That is pretty much what this song is about. The ultimate love song if you ask me. This should be the wedding song of 2017. First dances will be weird but I’d cry for sure. “A Man Is not His Song” feels especially like it could have been on any another Feist album. Again, this is not to say it’s bad but it is to say it’s a bit whatever-ish. It’s no “Any Party”, that is for sure.  That is as critical as I’m willing to get about “Pleasure”. For a new album, “Pleasure” feels strangely nostalgic. It’s a pleasant listen and I’m happy it’s in the world. Top 3: Pleasure, I Wish I Didn’t Miss You, Any Party Rating: 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹/10

M: 

Love you Feist. Every time you allow your voice to distort, break, or let out a yelp it strengthens that love. This wasn’t what I was expecting from Pleasure, but it’s exactly what I wanted. I can barely string together a criticism, but I’m going to try for the sake of not turning this into an all out gush fest. The album starts out with the riotous thumper that is Pleasure and meanders it's way through the album's 10 the that follow. I'd challenge you to find a single track on the album not worthy or worship. The sparseness of Pleasure highlights the strength of Feist's minimal instrumentation and reveals the rock solid foundation of her vocal arrangements. Century teeters over into a bit of a comedy, and that abrupt ending is more notable than good. I don’t love Jarvis Crocker and these additional elements of the track could have been removed and resulted in the song being less distracting. In saying this I have to keep saying to myself - who the fuck am I to tell Feist what's up? You got this. Keep making great, great albums! It is important to note that if Jesus is the reason for the season, then Feist is the cause of the Riiview. If you're to trace back to the embryonic days of Rii and Matt, you'd find a Feist concert at Hamilton Place. One that I'm still riddled with guilt about to this day, because I may have or may have not inadvertently stolen the ticket for Rianka from my mom. Sorry Mom.... I hope you've found the forgiveness for me that I've clearly not found for myself. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Top 3 was really hard for me on this one, because even songs that didn't immediately grab me by the ears, get to a beautiful place by the end and grew more amazing with repeated listens. I've probably heard this album 23 times by now. Top 3: Pleasure, I’m Not Running Away, A Man Is Not His Song

R:

The lateness of this “More Life” review is totally my fault. I wrote a review after listening to the album a couple times ago that was scathing. I ripped the unreasonable length of the album, had some choice words about the fact that Drake is just a sponge who puts out tracks that sound like the cool stuff he surrounds himself with. There are some obvious appropriation issues going on here.  But, I could not publish that review. I could not be dishonest to our hundreds of readers. My first review of “More Life” made it sound like I hated the album and I really wish that was true. I want so badly not to like Drake but the fact is, I love him. I think “More Life” is amazing and I haven’t gone a day without listening to it since it dropped ( lol who says dropped?!). Kill me. Passionfruit is beyond basic. I know that. I also have it in my head most of the time. Moody Man is cool, and I like hearing him talk at the start of the track. It comforts me and also makes me feel like my appreciation for this track is warranted. 
 There is a lot of grime on this album. Even when grime artists are not featured on a track ( which feels rare), Drake raps like he was born and raised in Brixton or something. Anyway, I like all of it. Even that nerdy batman line in KMT. Teenage Fever is amazing. Was Drake just trying to get J-Lo’s permission to sample her this whole time? I think so. So much intrigue.  I also obviously like “Glow”, especially the end of the track. Kanye being Kanye, who can complain? Can’t say enough good about this album. I love it so hard. I wish I didn’t. Top 3: KMT, Passionfruit, Teenage Fever

Rating: 💙🌺🌺💙🙅🏾🔥🔥🔥 /10

M:

Wow. Fuck off Drake. You were already the worst, and then you have to go drop some 22 track, 1.5 hour nightmare into my lap. Toronto’s resident sad boy needs to stay in the dumpster where Bad Girl left him. 

Why the fuck is he calling it a playlist, it makes it sound so lazy. Can we clarify that in this stage of the game it bears no difference to a mixtape or album. Rather than More Life, he should have called this “More Grime: A Drake Love Letter to Grime”.

 I read an article once about people releasing “bloated” albums for streaming because more songs = more cash. Drake is clearly milking this cow for all it’s worth and for reference the result is about as unsettling as this weird “sexy cow”

In reality it is not so bad, but NO album needs to be 22 songs long. Björk could release a 22 song album and I would still have a hard time with it. It’s too many songs, takes too long to listen to and everything blends together. There is a few decent songs, but in a sea of banality. 

This is kind of the musical equivalent to having a dinner party with all your friends coming over, having them make the food, but taking credit because you provided the space, dishes and cutlery. 

P.S. I listening to this “playlist”, and some Sarah McLachlan came on, and I was like - OH THIS FUCKING CHANGES EVERYTHING. Turns out Spotify was just playing some games with me and Drake did not sample Sarah. You fucked up boy. 

Top 3: Passionfruit, 4422 (feat. Sampha), Fake Love

M:

Not a moment before I was going to put on I See You for the first time and saw a text from Rianka saying “Spoiler Alert: This album is awful”. Maybe not a normal reaction, but it filled me with an unexplainable giddy joy. 

I fully expected to find I See You boring, it was, but maybe a bit better than I expected. 

This album is not going to result in anyone changing their opinion on The xx. If you like them, you’re going to stay your course, if you don’t, this is not going to win you over. Jamie xx appears to have stepped up his game and as infused some excitement (used sparingly) into this album.

The xx are all Chris Isaak guitars, and low key harmonies. Romy’s voice is pleasing in the most dull way, and Oliver doesn’t sing often enough. Kind of a soft rock, absence of taste nightmare if you ask me. 

Also the song Preformance sucks. I’m never getting that 16 minutes back.

Not much else to say. As expected. 

Top 3: Dangerous, Say Something Loving, Lips

Rating: ☁️☁️💥🌥🌨 /10

R:

I’ve really been looking forward to “I See You”, and assumed I’d be writing a glowing review this week. I was so wrong. This album is not good. It’s annoying and, at times, downright hard to listen to.

The vocals throughout the album are the most frustrating. I don't know if they have somehow become worse, if my taste has changed or if the fact that there doesn’t seem to be any progression where there should be is the problem here.  In any case, I think muting the vocals would mean a bit of an improvement here. I guess I just like Jamie XX…

The cheesiest track on the album is “Lips”. It is almost as if the XX decided that they wanted to guarantee they would have a track on a second rate movie soundtrack so they made “Lips”. It sounds like a song that would play during a sex scene where Scarlett Johansson is looking at some nondescript white guy with sultry eyes before they bang around.

The tracks in the middle of the album (Performance, Replica, Brave For You) are a bit boring, and forgettable. I guess if you like listening to music to fall asleep, they are bangers. But, there’s a lot of that out there, so, I ask, who needs it?! I can’t figure out if this album is supposed to be cool, and experimental or if it’s just lazy. I think lazy. Even the blurry reflection of the band as the album art feels lazy.

Let’s hope “ I See You” isn’t a sign of things to come in 2017..

Top 3: Replica, Brave for You, On Hold (If you mute the vocals, then it’s fine)

R:

This album had some high points and some very low points. Low as in eating a box of pizza pockets in a single sitting while watching episodes of the OC, and only the ones where Marissa and Ryan are together and only the parts where they are kissing. Anyway… “Up in Hudson” is a giant, flaming, turd of a song.  Who would like this? An asshole whose favourite book is “Catcher in the Rye”, or some other basic equivalent, that’s who. The song is too long, with some garbage lyrics. No. “ Keep Your Name” and “I See You” are also not good, but not as bad as “Up in Hudson”.  The strange white guy rap/ spoken word/ whatever the fuck that was is a participially painful part of “Keep Your Name”.  It should be a rule that Naomi Klien should never come up in a song.  I don’t want to hear a church organ if there is no promise of salvation so, “ I See You” has that going against it.  My favourite track is “ Cool Your Heart”.  It is such a pleasure to listen to. A real grower too. I would have just put this track in a few times, with different names, and taken “Up in Hudson” off the album, which is really just taking up space.  I also don’t hate “Winner Take Nothing” and “Little Bubble”.  For a breakup album, I just think as a whole, this is a little melodramatic. It’s going to encourage hipster boys to walk so slowly in front on me while they think about a hilarious and goofy thing their ex used to do. This album will be uploaded on their iPod classic. I’m furious thinking about it.  I’d like to conclude by saying that Solange’s cover of “Stillness is the Move” remains the best Dirty Projector’s song I’ve heard. I really love Solange. 

Top 3: Cool Your Heart, Winner Take Nothing, Little Bubble 

Rating: 🙄🙄🙄🙄 /10

M:

The first single I heard off Dirty Projectors (2017) was Keep Your Name and I had some real reactions to his lyrical dickery. 

I kept my name 'cause we were just different Your heart is saying clothing line My body said Naomi Klein, No Logo

What I want from art is truth, what you want is fame Now we'll keep 'em separate and you keep your name

Come on Dave, climb down off the pedistal, take your head out of your ass, and calm the fuck down.

As the album progresess, you’re able to contextualize and see that these lines are emotional speak, rather than his grandiose delusions. It’s messy, interesting and only drags a bit in the middle. 

When I heard the song Death Spiral the only thing I could think of was Kayne. In reading more, I learned that David Longstreth was involved in the writing of The Life of Pablo. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that Kayne really seems to rub off on his friends/employees. Not knowing a lot about Kayne, I wanted to check in with his number one fan to see whether she noticed what I thought I did. 

[24/02, 12:51 p.m.] Matt: Hi Rianka [24/02, 12:51 p.m.] Bad Girl RiiRii : Matthew [24/02, 12:51 p.m.] Matt: This is a on on the record brief interview for use for my riiview of dirty Projectors [24/02, 12:52 p.m.] Matt: Do you hear any particular influences in the song "death spiral" [24/02, 12:52 p.m.] Bad Girl RiiRii : Ok but I actually haven't listened yet but I will by today but go ahead and ask anyway [24/02, 12:52 p.m.] Bad Girl RiiRii : ... should I still answer ? [24/02, 12:52 p.m.] Matt: Maybe you should listen to the one song real quick [24/02, 12:56 p.m.] Bad Girl RiiRii : Justin Timberlake [24/02, 12:56 p.m.] Bad Girl RiiRii : This is a terrifying game. [24/02, 12:59 p.m.] Bad Girl RiiRii : Well?! Did I get it [24/02, 1:31 p.m.] Matt: Thanks for your time Rianka [24/02, 1:31 p.m.] Matt: That's all we need for today. [24/02, 2:54 p.m.] Bad Girl RiiRii : --_--

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ oh well, what I do know, except that you won’t regret listening to this album. My favorite of the year so far. 

Top 3: Keep Your Name, Death Spiral, Cool Your Heart

A #004:

Okay folks, it's been some time since I've written a riiview but I'm ready to sink my teeth into some new music  and entertain you all (hopefully) with my thoughts on Austra's new release Future Politics. 

Austra is a band based out of Toronto and led by Katie Stelmanis, who's voice is undeniably spectacular and lends itself perfectly to the ethereal, electro-pop,  cosmic world of Future Politics. The album, for me anyways, evokes a lot of dualities. It has you both feeling like you're at some trendy warehouse party walking slow motion through the crowd or running fast in the cold crisp air of winter until you run out of breath. It's an album I feel is best to listen to alone, yet according to Stelmanis Future Politics is a statement about coming together for a better future. I don't particularly care for big optimistic statements like that, in fact they make my cynical heart cringe, but that is what is so great about this album, it allows space for interpretation.  I love you more than you love yourself  is a good example. The track has intimate and candid lyrics like "There is nothing in your soul tonight, I only see darkness" sung to a synth-pop beat that made could make you groove and cry at the same time, if you're the crying type that is.  

So comes my dilemma. I'll admit, when it comes to local acts, I'm susceptible to giving them the benefit of the doubt because you know, I want to support my Toronto homies.  On the other hand, I have never been taken so much with these new-age Kate Bush/Sinead O'Connor types, which I think is a valid comparison. After three listens I've come to this conclusions.I don't think that I will download this album, it's just not to my taste,  but Stelmanis' vocals are full of grace and work well with the catchy, dance-worthy beats on each track. Future Politics is a beautiful union between our darkest thoughts and the hope we all hold onto. 

Top 3: Future Politics, 43, I Love You More Than You Love Yourself

Rating: ✨🌩⛈🌜🌛🦄☂️ /10

M:

Happy New Year. It’s 2017 now, aren’t you glad 2016 is over, thank god we made it out of that burning trash heap alive. 

Just kidding! The states are 6 days away from the ascension of the all too real version of a corrupt comic book mayor for president. Other than that, not much has changed. I’m glad to start off the year with a discussion of some Future Politics. 

I’ve been excited for this album, especially after hearing the singles “Utopia” and “Future Politics”. Although I must say this album hasn’t grabbed me by the throat the same way “Olympia” and “Feel It Break” did. Unfortunately, the singles are probably going to be the only songs you remember off this one. 

The album certainly sounds like Austra, I mean it’s pretty much unmistakable. You’ve got your shimmering, icy synths, and Katie’s vocal aerobatics, which beg the impossible task of being imitated. Even with this winning recipe, Future Politics comes across as a bit boring. It sounds weary and devoid of the punch that was present in the last two. Rather than ending, it feels as if the album just stops being, with it’s last song “43″.

Future Politics feels like a murky cousin to ANOHNI’s HOPELESSNESS, which has regained some of it’s hope. It isn’t bad by any stretch, just not the regular quality I’m used to from Austra. 

Top 3: Utopia, Future Politics, Gaia

25. We Feel The Same - Casey Mecija

I dunno, it’s just nice. 👩‍❤️‍👩

24. Best To You - Blood Orange  

From a mostly annoying album with not much staying power “Best to You” is top track.🎵

23. Nights - Frank Ocean

Didn’t love “Blonde: but this was a highlight. 🌝

22. On The Lips - Frankie Cosmos

This is usually the kind of shit I hate, but maybe my cold shitty heart is getting soft. ⭐

21. Summer Friends - Chance the Rapper

This is pleasant to listen to and felt great on hot summer nights. 🌞

20. Shut Up Kiss Me - Angel Olsen

Just a well put together track that makes you want to come back to it again and again. 🤘🏾

19. Shutdown - Skepta

Konnichiwa, the album that Shutdown is on came out this year so it should count as a 2016 release. Anyway, what a CHUNE.💣

18. Over It - Junior Boys

Good for dancing and also Hamilton is number 1. 💪🏽

17. Fade - Kanye West

The Kardashians and sad tall Lamar Odom dancing to this Kanye played it for the first time at his fashion show at MSG still gives me chills. 

16. Higher - Rihanna

I picture bad gal smoking 400 cigarettes and then recording this short gem. FYI I can hit all these notes. 🚬🚬🚬

15. Kanye West - Young Thug

Have you seen the artwork for this track? Even rap haters can appreciate the man in that dress. Damn. 😄

14. "10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⚄ ⚄" - Bon Iver

Drums are cool.😱

13. Sister - Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen had a great 2016- this was the best track on an amazing album. Great songwriting.😇

12. Father Stretch my Hands pt. 2 - Kanye West

Better than pt.1 and another highlight of the album🙏🏾

11. Hallucinations - DVSN

Some classic RnB elevated by a dreamy voice and cool production. ✌

10. Friends (feat. Bon Iver and Kanye West) - Francis and the Lights

Sad break up song by a guy I should be more annoyed at but for some reason, this one gets me. It’s been a good year for Francis. 💔

9. Touch (Four Tet Remix) - Shura

Cool boy Four Tet did a good job with this one. It has been in my head for a good chunk of the year. 🔥

8. Blessings - Chance the Rapper

Perfect amount of gospel, this one almost made me want to go to church. Almost. 🙏🏾

7. Work - Rihanna

Work work work work work work, something something nah nah nah nah. 💦

6. Cranes in The Sky - Solange

Some sad music you can dance to- nobody does it better than Solo. 💃🏻

5. One Dance - Drake

Maybe I’m basic but there is no denying this was the track of the summer. 💯

4. Drippin’ - Young Thug

At first he might seem goofy, but Young Thug is a genius. This track was the best on a very strong album. His use of the N word sounds like a new instrument- so weird, so cool. 😎

3. Formation - Beyoncé

Duh. ✊🏾

2. FML - Kanye West

In light of recent events, this track is particularly dark now. Say what you will about the guy being a bit nuts, FML is important and captures the kind of anxiety that is symptomatic of 2016. 🌚

1. 33 “GOD” - Bon Iver

25. Bon Iver - 715 - CR∑∑KS

Thanks to Kanye and James Blake for this new distorted Bon Iver. 🌒

24. Solange – Don’t Touch My Hair (feat. Sampha)

Sampha sounds like honey dripping straight from the hive right into the centre of Solange’s track. 🙅🏾

23. ANOHNI – Crisis

ANOHNI makes it clear all that we have to repent for, and how trite those apologies are. 🌏

22. Angel Olsen – Sister

Sounds like a road trip through the desert, you can practically feel the sun on your face. 🌵

21. Chance The Rapper – Angels (feat. Saba)

Despite my usual disdain for “cutesy” language, Chance had me sold from the second he said “I just had a growth spurt, It done took so long my tippy toes hurt” 🐡

20. Lost Under Heaven – Lament

“To the powers of old, to the powers that be, you fucked up this world but you won’t fuck with me” is maybe what we all need to be saying. 💣

19. Sheryl Crow – My Favorite Mistake

So undeniability good, it doesn't even matter that this song was released in 1998. 🖕

18. Mitski – I Bet on Losing Dogs

The heartbreak is palpable on this one in a way only Mitski could pull off. 👩🏻

17. The Tallest Man on Earth – Time of the Blue

Love is hard. It’s harder when you’re depressed. This is the Tallest Man serving as a lighthouse for his love lost in the fog. 🌥

16. Radiohead – Daydreaming

The most beautiful song they've made in years, so gorgeous you can practically feel the 23 years of loss inspiring it. 🎑

15. Rihanna – Work (feat. Drake)

Even Drake being a doofus can't hold this song back. Try not to smile when you hear this. 🇧🇧

14. Jessy Lanza – It Means I Love You

This song is best described as frenetic euphoria.  Lanza knows exactly what she is doing, and makes it nearly impossible to not bounce along to this beat. 💞

13. Björk – Come to Me (Live)

This rework of Come To Me is practically oozing slime from every pore, and as inviting as that may sound – if you haven’t heard this, you’re going to want to check it out. 🐌

12. Samaris – Black Lights

I had a feeling Samaris were going to be good, but never thought they would be this great. 🌌

11. Mitski – Your Best American Girl

I can’t wrap my head around how this song wasn’t on the radio all the time. 🏈

10. M.I.A – Borders

Just a friendly reminder that Maya's still got a sharp tongue and sense of humour. 🕊

9. MØ – Final Song

MNEK, Noonie Bao and MØ came together to create a song with hooks that will get caught so deep you might never get away. 🎆

8. Angel Olsen – Shut Up Kiss Me

Angel won’t take no for an answer. You will adore her. 😽

7. Jessy Lanza – Oh No

This song takes you deep into a day-glo labyrinth, and leaves you feeling like you’ve just celebrated four minutes of Holi in the spin cycle. ⚡️

6. Rihanna – Kiss It Better

There was no line I liked better this year than Rihanna saying “Man Fuck Yo Pride” 💋

5. Jenny Hval – Conceptual Romance

It’s not possible to not love this song. Jenny Hval created a masterpiece. 👑

4. serpentwithfeet – four ethers

serpentwithfeet has marked their arrival with a monumental song and Haxan Cloak engineered cymbal crash you won't soon forget. ⛈

3. Blood Orange – Best to You (feat. Empress Of)

This song is like a well oiled machine, working in perfect unison. Good luck to anyone attempting to outshine Empress Of, because her part in Best to You is the best of any feature in 2016. 🚮

2. David Bowie – Lazarus

I don’t know if I have words. Thanks for this one Bowie. ⛩

1. ANOHNI – Drone Bomb Me

R:

Maybe this is contentious, but M.I.A.’s AIM is getting my vote as the worst album because I think it is this year’s biggest let down. I am not going to argue that Ariana Grande or Carly Rae’s steaming turds were better musically, but their shit didn’t bother me because we all knew they were going to be hot trash garbage. M.I.A. is a different story. I never thought I’d say this about a fellow brown woman who, for a long time, has put out music that has felt like it was made for me. AIM though, is just not good. At a time when people are making really important and beautiful politically charged music that matters, AIM feels uniformed and is desperately lacking subtly and affective power.

M:

Seriously, fuck you (me) for making me listen to this bullshit 3 times. I heard recent rumours of Canadian police using Nickelback to punish drunk drivers - well look no further because once that CD is worn out, Dangerous Woman is waiting for you. This very sexy baby needs to stay on the radio (and occasional YouTube rotation) and out of the album business.

5. Freetown Sound - Blood Orange

Freetown Sound is so immensely enjoyable and has so many great artists coming together to create one cohesive work. I didn’t think I liked Carly Rae and Nelly Furtado, but I was wrong. I’m still confused about all the women who didn’t get a feature listings on track list. 

4. ANTI - Rihanna

I'm will always admit when I've made a mistake and Rihanna, I'm sorry! ANTI is a masterpiece. The few occasions since ANTI came out and I didn’t have it on phone, I was immediately slapping myself. 

3. HOPELESSNESS - ANOHNI

ANOHNI has really stepped up to the plate after noodling about for the past few years. HOPELESSNESS is a most fitting name for the album that appears to distil the spirit of 2016. Truly can't wait to see what comes next for ANOHNI.

2. Oh No - Jessy Lanza

There hasn't been an album this year that I've played or enjoyed more. Rumour on the street is that Jessy Lanza has a BAD attitude, but if she keeps making music like this, who gives a fuck.

1. Blackstar - David Bowie

5. Colouring Book - Chance the Rapper

Like TLOP, this gospel on this album is what makes it so special. Damn near made me religious. 


4. Slime Season 3 - Young Thug

What a year for rap! Funnest album of the year, hands down.

3. My Woman - Angel Olsen

Olsen is a brilliant story teller. This album surprised me.

2. 22, A Million - Bon Iver 

I don’t think there is a bad track on this album. It is full of feeling to the most beautiful thing I’ve heard this year.

1. The Life of Pablo - Kanye West 

C005:

There was a time when I lauded Gaga's metamorphoses.  I loved how she could pick up and put down a persona, try on something new - no matter how ridiculous, meat covered that look was. But now I am finding the shapeshifting a bit gimmicky.  Rather than innovative or creative, I see this as attempt to stay relevant in an unkind industry that is so quick to move on and push female pop stars out.   A very poor attempt.   The country twang Joanne aesthetic might be who Stefani really is or maybe that was Born This Way Gaga...or Fame Monster Gaga (my fave)...or even Cheek to Cheek mop head Gaga...either way...as quickly as she picked up this persona, she should put it back down.  Country?  Really?  Who would enjoy this album...especially the god awful songs Grigio Girls or John Wayne...barf. Top 3: Dancing in Circles, Perfect Illusion, Hey Girl

Rating: 🍤🍤🌵🌵🐄🐄 /10

A003:

Lady Gaga is known for bring fierce and putting out fierce bangers, including “Romance”, “Paparazzi” and  “Born This Way”. Gaga is influential in our generation, she even payed tribute to the late David Bowie and is scheduled to perform the Super Bowl (2017)! So, I was excited to hear what new tunes she's been cooking.

I was invited to attend a Lady Gaga listening party in Toronto at a dive bar in celebration of the new album, Joanne.  The “real” album release party was held in New York City were she apparently use to preform at, which was a dive bar and thus the theme.

I arrive at the listening party, I spot coworkers, bar staff and her "little monsters", who were wearing the "thought it would be, but probably not" iconic pink chapeau. I haven't yet heard Joanne, apart from the single "Perfect Illusion", to which I thought, odd song to come back into the music game with, the key change in the song was all people could really talk about. I awkwardly stand at the bar and watch the TV screen, waiting for the performance to come so I can go home. Gaga shows up! She enters into the New York bar and starts to perform a few new songs to a cozy crowd. Watching her perform and seeing how talented this woman is was quite inspirational. However the songs, they aren't like any Gaga tunes that I've ever heard! What is this? Its very adult contemporary. To be honest, I did enjoyed the live performances, but that's because of the live elements and visuals enhancing the tunes. Nevertheless, I listened to the album the next few days, I changed my mind. I am not into this new Gaga. It sounds way to "broadway" to me. Lots of horns, over dramatic vocals and keys. I also am not a big fan of lyrics like:

"So we'll turn on a bachelorette Dye Ashley's hair red And then we'll have our sixth Spice girl in this bitch"

Ironically, I can't stop listening to this track - "Grigio Girls".

Anyhow, I hear that this album "grows on you", to which I will have to agree. My final thoughts, this album has lots of cheese, (like the famous "Grigio Girls"). lots of "broadway"sounding components, and lyrics that I do not fee comfortable saying out-loud for various reasons. But, I keep going back to "Grigio Girls" for a quick pick-me-up...

Top 3: Come To Mama, A-YO, Grigio Girls

K014:

I’m not too familiar with Bon Iver’s last album Bon Iver, Bon Iver and as such feel like a bit of a cheat for taking on the task of reviewing 22, a Million. That being said absolutely everyone and their ex has heard For Emma, Forever Ago and likely remember all those feelings it made us feel.

Remember those feelings? Remember how innocent the mid to late 2000’s were? Shit’s been pretty wacky lately, huh?

Well this album brings back the feels in a big way. That dang Justin Vernon sure knows his way around an emotion or two. The best way I could think to compare his progression from album to album is with a dumb seasonal analogy so buckle in for some friggin’ ANALOGIZING.

For Emma found Vernon lamenting love and loss in an isolated cabin in the dead of winter, whereas Bon Iver, Bon Iver saw him find new vitality in the blossoming musical landscape of a thawing Spring. On 22, Mr. Iver has emerged anew to embrace something far more expansive and expressive that only the warmth and life of Summer could afford.

Vernon sets down the guitar for large swathes of this record and has waded into new waters, not afraid to skip stones and electronic circuit boards alike to see what kind of patterns emerge across the surface. I’m in love with a lot of the new sounds he’s playing with here, like the flirtations with sampled loops on “33 “GOD””, skittering percussion and massive bass drums on “666 ʇ”, or the warm synth breaths that open up “____45_____”.

I found some of my favourite tracks were the handful of ambient-leaning pieces like “21 M◊◊N WATER”, in which more of the overt instrumentation is pulled back to shift the focus to Vernon as he croons his cryptic thoughts over swelling strings and synth voices that play like reflected light off of water. 22, A Million really succeeds when it makes such foreign electronic flourishes feel so organic

The only track here not doing anything for me is “715 - CR∑∑KS” where everything has been stripped entirely in favour of a heavily auto-tuned a cappella dirge that seems a bit out of place in the context of the rest of the music here. This kind of track hasn’t affected me in any real way since that episode of the OC where Marissa shot Trey. Seriously, take a trip down memory lane with me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saEzQcayEPM

Wasn’t that fun? EMOTIONS.

Top 3: “33 “GOD””, “21 M◊◊N WATER”, “____45_____”

Rating: 🌿🌾🌻🌞🌙⭐🌊🎤🙌 /10

M:

I'm going to tell you a story. It must be two years ago that I became truly and utterly obsessed with an electronic instrument called the OP-1. I would look at photos and videos of it for hours and constantly brainstorm ways that I could become a proud owner. Back to present day, I have now owned an OP-1 for a bit over a year and can't do a thing with it. Somehow I thought that the music would just come exploding out of me the second I set my fingers to this magical machine, let me tell you, I was wrong. Why am I telling you all of this? Because 2016 was the year that Bon Iver decided to stop making FUCKING BORING campfire music and started to live my dream of being a OP-1 superstar. “I think the thing I’m working with the most is the OP-1. It’s a sampler-based synthesizer, and I honestly think it’s the most important instrument that’s come into my life since I first picked up a guitar when I was 12 years old.” -- Justin Vernon - AKA BON IVER Do you want one now? Because I might want a second. PRAISE JAMES BLAKE because let me tell you he is the best friend and influence that Justin Vernon could have invited into his life. If you liked old Bon Iver, you're going to find something you like here. If you didn't care so much about him, you might start caring, because this is more interesting. It's not just pretty nonsense for people who dream of having a long lost love to write songs about anymore. 

It still has that “cuteness” that I’m not all about, such as in “33 “GOD”” when the lyrics go about as far down that path as you could go - “I’d be happy as hell, if you’d stay for tea”. FUCK THAT

The highs of this album are high, and the neutrals are - well unmemorable. If it was all "10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⚄ ⚄"s and "715 - CRΣΣKS"s we would be looking at a very different album, but alas we are not. 

Although if this is the direction he is going to keep going in - I am so excited for the next album. and for real "715 - CRΣΣKS" makes it all worth it

Top 3: "10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⚄ ⚄", "715 - CRΣΣKS", "666 ʇ" 

C005:

Whoa.  I could put this on a loop track for hours.   I have sat here burning up my retinas staring at the computer screen trying to summarize why I love this so much, but for some reason I can't put it into words. So many feelings / more of a visceral experience. The whole time I was driving and listening to Sirens, I couldn't help closing my eyes and picturing a strange hypnotic dance. Thankfully I didn't crash my car into the hwy ditch, but just like a Siren's song I found myself mesmerized and hypnotized by NJ's dark and mysterious tracks - and I could have easily crashed my ship into the rocky cliffs. I had no idea who David Lynch was before I met Matt (nor did I ever expect to have a b/w photocopied photo of David Lynch in an ornate frame on my living room wall). But this album could easily be a soundtrack for a Lynch project, and if the two ever got together - the result would be pure magic.  That kid's growl / scream to kick off Three Sides of Nazareth was so fucking cool.   Easily my favourite of the year. And like his release before this: NJ leaves me wanting more.   Top 3: No, Three Sides of Nazareth and History Lesson.

Rating: 🎷🔪⏰🔪🔮🔮🔪⏰🔪🎷 /10

M:

I’ve been listening more to Nicolas Jaar recently, and I was pleasantly surprised by Sirens. It’s a great mix of spooky Lynchian elements, with the occasional sunbaked South American beats, as well as a healthy amount of distortion and twists just to never quite make you feel as if you’re on solid ground. 

History Lesson is the track on this album that owes the most to David Lynch, it feels like an audition tape to be part of the Twin Peaks revival, which is a pretty great thing if you’re asking me. Killing Time sounds as if the stars have exploded and are raining down in some beautiful apocalypse. The album flows in such a natural way, that I can barely imagine choosing to listen to individual tracks, without the ones preceding or following each.

Chris recently missed an opportunity to buy tickets to a rapidly sold out show for Nicolas Jaar in Toronto. This really left me wondering what in god’s name is the scene for this concert going to be? Do people dance? Stand still? Mill about and have conversations? Drink exotic drinks that emanate smoke from deep within the glass? And what is Nicolas doing this whole time? I assume twisting and turning knobs, but I don’t know if I’d pay 30$ to see that.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m loving this album, I think it’s so atmospheric and creepy. I would put this on if I had guests over and wanted them to feel subtly *on edge* - but still think I was a trendsetter. This might be my go to “try not to get distracted music” going forward, but it compel me to go see it live. 

It does however make me imagine some kind of interactive haunted house, with a room representing each song. So if you’re game Nico, I am too. Just give me 100K and I’ll design you something really nice. 

Top 3: No, Killing Time, Three Sides of Nazareth

We are pleased to introduce power couple Ken Pockele as guest RiiVIEWER #014 and Rachel Hicks as Guest RiiVIEWER #015. We are so glad that they agreed to help us out with this next Polaris RIIView. Also, they don’t want you knowing their Instagram or stuff - so leave them alone. Ken:

Oof, this is not a fun album. 

I’m struggling to stick through the 30 minute run time of this bleak slab-of-the-sad’s between periods of trying to look busy at my desk. It’s hard to justify the few truly cathartic moments when there’s this much wallowing involved. I certainly don’t feel like tapping along with some #2 HB’s or lip-syncing into my Swingline. I loved It’s the Evil and Sorry but dropped out since their 3rd LP Deep Fantasy when vocalist Mish Barber-Way relocated to LA and their sound shifted from fun shots of hardcore towards metallic post-hardcore and pop-maxmimalism. Something here is getting lost in translation for me. The guitar work is technically amazing but overstuffed at times and grating at others. The songs here are well constructed and produced to a lacquered polish but there is an overwhelming sense of same-ness across the whole album. The chorus effects and swing in the solo on “Hungry”, the thrash-riff opening of “Vegas”, and sparklingly reserved lines on “Below” stand out, but these brief inventive patches are lost in the rest of these feel-baddies. Older songs like “Loose Heels” and “Viva la Rat” worked as explosions of jagged vocals and inventive riffing wound tightly in scrappy production. Gone is that tinge of optimism and punk reconstruction that accompanied Mish’s otherwise scorched-earth lyricism. On Paradise she mostly falls back on lyrical allusions that range from the violent to the sexually violent, including but not limited to: Bludgeoning, stabbing, burning, shooting, drugging, prostitution, cannibalism, drowning, defenestration, crippling, drowning, rape, drowning (in concrete), starvation, choking, drowning, choking while drowning, cancer, and drowning. Paradise indeed! Rachel told me that two of the tracks (“Sister” and “Demented”) are written about real life fun pals Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo. Weighty stuff that unfortunately comes off more on the side of tepid shock rather than feverish awe. They’re sung with a cool adolescent irreverence that reminds me of being paired with the kid in bio class who was a little too eager to dissect the white lungs out of that poor frog in an attempt to gross-out others.  In fact, a lot of this record comes across like it would play really anthemic for the black-Sharpie-fingernailed, teenaged masses. It’s all very blunt and fatalistic. Case in point: the video for “Below” wherein the band looks dower as Mish sings lyrics like “They’ll bury your beauty” to an audience of Marilyn Monroe look-a-likes who are all emoting their friggin’ beauty marks off. If I could rename this band I would call them Para-less-is-more. Go listen to Sheer Mag instead.

Top 3: Below, Hungry, Narcoleptic Rating: 💅🏼🕷💀🌧😢/10

Rachel:

I don’t have much to say…. I really can’t ever imagine myself choosing to listen to this album. Ken’s review is much more in depth, so here are just a few of my thoughts:

• I believe an angsty teen that doesn’t like people would enjoy listening to this on her way to school.   • I appreciate that you can make out some of Mish’s lyrics and that it doesn’t just sound like a woman yelling in the background on top of the music. • I don’t mind some of the synth-like sounds, mainly just in the track “Narcoleptic”, however, most of the songs (to me) sound the same. • The album cover catches my eye… the case of jewels, the top of what looks like a cute sleeping baby’s head.   • Mish kind of looks like a rougher, more punk Emily Haines • Maybe I would think differently about the album if I went back to my preteen years of wearing spiked bracelets and ++ eyeliner, but I have Rianka to thank for getting me out of that phase (she made fun of me and stole my favourite spiked bracelet when we first met).

• These girls and guy are obviously talented. I respect what they do and congrats on being short-listed for the 2016 Polaris Music Prize.

This album is not what I would call Paradise.

Top 3: Narcoleptic, Below, Hungry

R:

Let me just start by pointing out that everyone knows how to break up the syllable on the word “emotion” and so there is truly no need for Carly Rae Jepsen’s second studio dump to be called “E.MO.TION”. Emotion will do just fine. 
 This album starts with a forgettable track and is followed by 16 other forgettable tracks. Almost all of them feature the rhyme schemes fit for the dumbest of preteens. In the second track, “Emotion”, Jepsen sings: “be tormented by me babe” and this feels like a threat that she makes good on for the rest of the album.  

The best tune on the album is “I Really Like You”, a single that’s been pissing me off for months. So that’s saying something. 


I am really and truly baffled by how this album got made. What record exec was hit on the head when he was decided that “E.MO.TION” should be allowed to escape the hellish hole it came from to and be put into the ears of innocent Canadians (I assume this ass muffin did not make it past the border).  


Top 3: I Really Like You, I Really Like You (Liam Keegan Remix Radio Edit), Favourite Colour (only because it is so bad it’s funny... *Spoiler Alert* - her favourite colour is baby blue)

Rating: 😡/10



J #010:

I really like it when indie artists cover pop songs. Naturally I love Ben Howard’s cover of Call Me Maybe. In my opinion its Carly Rae Jepsen’s best work. For this reason I started listening to this album with an open heart. First mistake. Confusingly the intro for Run Away With Me sounds a lot like Africa by Toto. Even more confusingly that’s the best part of the song. The second track on the album was so miserable I had to skip through it. I Really Like you sometimes gets stuck in my head when I hear it in an Uber or blasting from the shwarma truck outside of my school. It makes me think of a falafel sandwich. Which reminds me that today is Tuesday, and you know what that means - its 2 for 1 falafels at Ali Baba’s! $4.99. It’s the best deal in the city. You can buy one for lunch today and save the second for lunch tomorrow. If someone said to me “you’ve won tickets to a Carly Rae Jepsen show plus now you own all the Prosecco in the city of Toronto” I’d say, its Tuesday, just drop me at Baba’s.

Gimme Love makes me want to scream into a pillow. I believe that Carly is trying very hard to be Taylor Swift, but where Taylor’s hooks can sometimes make you go ‘OK’ Carly makes you want to curl into a ball and quietly pass on. All That came on and I was feeling ok because I thought the album was half over. Lol wrong. There are 6 million songs on this album. Based on LA Hallucinations I would guess that Carly has never actually been to LA. I don’t think she’s ever ventured far from Mission, BC. That’s her hometown FYI. My apologies to the residents of Mission. I recently learned that it’s the berry capital of BC and home of the ‘big red strawberry’ (lol just kidding they had to drop that slogan because now they grow trees). Shoulda stuck with berries Mission. I could have been sampling some Jepsen Jam instead of listening to this tree growing garbage. 



I Really Like You the remix …. doesn’t make me want to burn down Mission. I think Carly Rae Jepsen’s tracks are being mixed by a 6 year old who recently inherited a synth.

Top 3: I Really Like You (Liam Keegan Remix Radio Edit), I Really Like You, Black Heart (I needed a third)