My World 2.0 secures Justin Bieber's spot in the harmless teen idol lineup Recordings

Freshly Pressed. A new record review every weekday at 11:01 a.m.

Someone forgot to tell Crash Karma the '90s are over Recordings

Crash Karma (E1)

Surfer Blood's Astro Coast hold its own against the best in power pop Recordings

Astro Coast (Kanine)

These New Puritans' Hidden is an ambitious undertaking Recordings

Hidden (Domino Recording Co.)

Gorillaz’ vision is brilliantly broad in scope on Plastic Beach Recordings

Plastic Beach (Virgin)

With Efterklang it’s the music that matters Music Features

Written down on paper, an Efterklang lyric might seem banal. But in the context of an Efterklang song, lyricist Casper Clausen’s words read more like a map than a novel.

Sagapool expands its sound Music Features

Luzio Altobelli is excited about the music he’s going to play on his band Sagapool’s West Coast tour. And just as stimulating, he says, will be the sounds he’s going to get to listen to.

Steve Dawson spearheads a string-band tribute Local Motion

The idea of a tribute to the great string band came to Vancouver guitarist and producer Steve Dawson a couple of years ago.

The Smith Westerns are the weakest link Concert Reviews

Given the chance to schedule things all over again, Chicago’s Smith Westerns might have wisely decided to pencil in an R & R day instead of a gig at the Media Club.

Richards on Richard’s spirit reborn on Seymour Street Music Notes

It’s a few months behind schedule, but the old Richard’s on Richards owners are finally set to reopen their new club, 560, at 560 Seymour Street.

917 Main rises from the Cobalt's ashes Music Notes

The Cobalt has reopened as a venue—but under new proprietors and a new name: 917 Main.

Jazz-era legend Jeni LeGon makes the scene Music Notes

Jazz-era legend Jeni LeGon makes an appearance at the Capri Hall on March 27.

Rockers give their regards to Broadway Pop Eye

Everyone from U2 to Green Day is ripping a Technicolor page from ol’ Andrew Lloyd Webber’s songbook, treating it to a few ragged guitar solos, and getting in bed with Broadway.

Atlantic Canada on Deck show plenty indie Payback Time

You invite Matt Cooke to the music section’s weekly pickup game, and we reward you with a Payback Time T-shirt and two tickets to a Live Nation club show of your choice taking place in Vancouver within the next four weeks. Here’s this week’s winning whinge.

Instant Playlist - March 11 2010 Playlist

This week's highly subjective Straight playlist features skinny white guys dominating all sorts of things.