Area Resident’s Stylus Counsel | Great Bands, Awful Names

I'm not sure how great a band they are — they for sure have at least one awesome song — but there's no question Fartbarf is the worst band...

Thunder Pie | After All This Time

“To love is to burn, to be on fire.” – Jane Austen Charlie crushes back into the dirty bean bag chair in front of the TV glow. I watch him...

Back Stories | My 1999 + 2011 Interviews With Jeff Beck

In a world of copycats and clones, Jeff Beck was a true original. Indisputably one of the greatest guitars in rock, the maverick musician played what he wanted, when...

Now Hear This: Bob Gaulke | The Humanities (Part 1 + Part 2)

Sorry, James Brown fans: There's a new artist vying for the title of Hardest-Working Man In Show Biz. Or at least Hardest-Recording Man In The Bronx. His name is Bob...

Area Resident’s Stylus Counsel | Rockin’ The Suburbs

As we were driving through the suburban sprawl spreading into Ottawa's outskirts, my partner started singing something about the "ticky tacky" houses. I had no idea what she was...

Area Resident’s Stylus Counsel | Headband On The Run!

When we think of 1980s fashion accessories, we think of leg warmers, zipper ties, Swatches and fingerless gloves. But a vintage KISS advertisement about their 1980 album Music From...

Thunder Pie | Wintersong

The rain is coming down in sheets. As I turn the corner by the church down the street from the house, I see this young mom with an umbrella...

Area Resident’s Stylus Counsel | Chorus, Schmorus

A little while ago, a buddy of mine brought me a box of records he wanted me to sell for him, in exchange for a small fee — plus...

Area Resident’s Stylus Counsel | Kazoo-Recorder Overdrive

Everybody dislikes the sound of some musical instrument. My girlfriend hates bagpipes. I don't care for the saxophone in rock music (though it's awesome when used for jazz). I...

Rewinding 2022 | Tinnitist’s Top Albums (Part 1: A-M)

The older I get, the harder it is to put together a year-end list. Not because I'm getting more musically discriminating in my dotage. Quite the opposite. Every year,...

Rewinding 2022 | Tinnitist’s Top Albums (Part 2: N-Z)

The older I get, the harder it is to put together a year-end list. Not because I'm getting more musically discriminating in my dotage. Quite the opposite. Every year,...

Rewinding 2022 | Tinnitist’s Top Music Videos

I have said it before. I am saying it again: If there's one thing I've learned from running this site, it's that people love music videos. Here's the proof:...

Rewinding 2022 | Tinnitist’s Top Interviews

I spent about 30 years interviewing musicians the old-fashioned way: Talking on the telephone, transcribing the tape (or digital recording) and turning it all into a story or Q&A....

Rewinding 2022 | Tinnitist’s Top Posts

Sometimes I spend hours (OK, minutes) labouring over a thoughtful review that nobody reads. Other times I dash off a couple of sentences, throw together a roundup, edit a...

Rewinding 2022 | Tinnitist’s Top Albums: The Long List

Another year, another bajillion albums, EPs, box sets, compilations, anthologies, retrospectives, soundtracks, bootlegs and vinyl reissues. Here's every new release that found its way into my ears and onto...

Now Playing | Best New Music

The Shuffle Button