Vancouver musicians get to the heart of sex, love, and rock â��nâ�� roll

Vancouver musicians get to the heart of sex, love, and rock ’n’ roll

By John Lucas and Mike Usinger | February 9, 2012

It doesn’t matter if you’re single or in a relationship, the truth is that Valentine’s Day sucks equally for everyone.

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For Iced Earth singer Stu Block, the future looks pretty bright

By John Lucas | February 9, 2012

Stu Block is filling some mighty big shoes, and he knows it.

New video roundup: M.I.A., Neon Indian, and more

By John Lucas | February 3, 2012

We end the week with some of our favourite videos released in the last few days. Happy Friday.

Ava Luna slides a sound mashup into Ice Level

By John Lucas | February 2, 2012

You can’t always believe the genre label that gets assigned to a band, even if it’s coming from the band itself.

China Syndrome's Nothingâ��s Not Worth Knowing is for men of a certain age

China Syndrome's Nothing’s Not Worth Knowing is for men of a certain age

By John Lucas | February 2, 2012

Nothing’s Not Worth Knowing (Independent)

Shaky Snakes' Glowing lives up to its name

By John Lucas | February 2, 2012

Glowing (Independent)

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Lana Del Rey: too much, too soon?

By John Lucas | January 27, 2012

For the polarizing "Video Games" singer, the backlash started months before her major-label was released.

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Disney markets a totally not offensive-in-every-way Joy Division T-shirt

By John Lucas | January 23, 2012

Something about Ian Curtis's suicide surely resonates with visitors to the Happiest Place on Earth.

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The Oh Wells' pure geekdom proves weirdly charming at Electric Owl

By John Lucas | January 23, 2012

The headliners were at serious risk of being outshined by the middle band on this all-local three-act bill.

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New Nicki Minaj video: "Stupid Hoe"

By John Lucas | January 20, 2012

Okay, Nicki. We get it. You're the female Weezy. Whatever you say.

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New Santigold video: "Big Mouth"

By John Lucas | January 18, 2012

What does it all mean? Is Santigold suggesting that she's the new queen of pop? Will the millions of Gaga and Perry fans who have no idea who she is agree?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. sings beautifully serious songs

By John Lucas | January 18, 2012

Daniel Zott is well aware of the polarizing effect that his band’s name can have on people.

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Caged Animals go NSFW for "All the Beautiful Things in the World" video

By John Lucas | January 13, 2012

This is a nice song and all, but we all know why I'm really posting it: naked girls frolicking in the surf.

Vancouver musicians reveal their New Year's resolutions

By John Lucas and Mike Usinger | January 12, 2012

Trust us: we’re not going to sit here and judge. After all, who among us hasn’t started off a new year with the grandest of intentions and then completely blown it by noon on January 1?

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New Austra video: "Spellwork"

By John Lucas | January 11, 2012

I have no idea what's going on here, but I have a sudden craving for watermelon.

First Aid Kit goes country in new "Emmylou" video

By John Lucas | January 6, 2012

Swedish siblings offer to be the Emmylou Harris to someone's Gram Parsons and the June Carter to someone's Johnny Cash.

Skrillex gleefully mashes up genres on seven-song Bangarang EP

By John Lucas | January 6, 2012

New EP shows off impressive range of his musical influences but hints at limitations of his creative impulses

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Eric Harper's self-titled album is powerful stuff

By John Lucas | January 5, 2012

Eric Harper (Independent)

Top music of 2011: Sweet singles, cool concerts

By Adrian Mack, Gregory Adams, John Lucas, Mike Usinger, and Mish Way | December 29, 2011

Our critics look back on the bright spots in 2011's musical landscape.

Video: DJ Earworm mashes up 2011's hits for "World Go Boom"

By John Lucas | December 28, 2011

Either this confirms that 2011 was a fantastic year for pop music or it proves that we have all lost our minds.

Cat Power teams up with boxer Manny Pacquiao for "King Rides By" video

By John Lucas | December 28, 2011

The way Pacquiao's hits to the speed bag fit with the music is weirdly hypnotic.

Tunes of tinsel, trash, and class: the best (and worst) Christmas albums of 2011

By Adrian Mack, John Lucas, and Mike Usinger | December 22, 2011

We’ll admit it: we’re having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this time around.

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Prince gives Vancouver a clinic in how to be a pop icon

By John Lucas | December 17, 2011

The artist formerly known as an unpronounceable glyph delivered a refresher course in Prince 101.

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Prince shows he just might be the funkiest mofo on the planet at Vancouver concert

By John Lucas | December 16, 2011

Prince and his band have disappeared from the stage, but even after 90 minutes of solid music, this audience isn't ready to go home.

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At Vancouver's Rogers Arena, Prince is most definitely in a funk

By John Lucas | December 16, 2011

Prince is in the midst of a very long funk medley.

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Prince has Rogers Arena looking like a revival meetingâ��and his concert's only just begun

Prince has Rogers Arena looking like a revival meeting—and his concert's only just begun

By John Lucas | December 16, 2011

No one can accuse Prince of not knowing how to make an entrance.

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Top 10 albums of 2011: John Lucas

By John Lucas | December 15, 2011

In alphabetical order, because that’s how I roll.

Drawing out 2011's best graphic novels

By John Lucas | December 15, 2011

I certainly didn’t read every comic book or graphic novel published in 2011, and I don’t think I read any at all in which the characters were attired in capes and tights.

Travel Channel execs pulls the plug on Anthony Bourdain's Krampus short

By John Lucas | December 12, 2011

Executives at the Travel Channel didn't think much of Bourdain's version of St. Nick's demon companion.

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Don't worry, Skrillex fans: Sonny Moore is not dead

By John Lucas | December 9, 2011

The biggest clue that Moore is still alive came when the artist himself took to his official Twitter account and said so.

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Baths comes clean about his own youthful confusion

By John Lucas | December 8, 2011

You might not peg the track that opens the first Baths album, Cerulean as the work of a classically trained musician.

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Papercuts frontman Jason Quever has much to be psyched about

By John Lucas | December 8, 2011

Jason Quever has a curious admission to make.

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The Roots spin a tale of a life cut short

By John Lucas | December 7, 2011

undun (Def Jam)

OhGr keeps the theatrics to a minimum in Vancouver

By John Lucas | December 5, 2011

Anyone hoping for full-on Puppy-scaled spectacle from ohGr went home disappointed. Actually, scratch that. It’s hard to imagine that anyone went home disappointed.

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"The Cowboys' Christmas Ball", plus every other Killers Christmas song

By John Lucas | December 2, 2011

The video is a great opportunity to imagine what Cowboys & Aliens might have looked like if it had been made 50 years ago.

Lady Gaga's video for "Marry the Night" is epic. Too epic?

By John Lucas | December 2, 2011

Maybe if you make it all the way through this video, it proves you're a true Lady Gaga fan.

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Wrap these gifts up for the music fans you love

By John Lucas and Mike Usinger | December 1, 2011

Trust us: no matter how sincerely thrilled that person on your list might look when they open your present, no one wants white Fruit of the Looms for Christmas.

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