ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 16, 2003 By Steve Newton Danny Michel is a DIY kinda guy. For the most part, the Ontario tunesmith wrote, produced, recorded, engineered, edited, programmed, and mixed his new CD, Tales From the Invisible Man. He did it at his home studio and played guitar, bass, drums, and … Continue reading Danny Michel sticks with the DIY route on Tales From the Invisible Man
Tag: 54-40
54•40 walks the walk with first indie release since the ’80s
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 31, 2003 By Steve Newton Although they started out in the early ’80s as indie artists on MoDaMu Records, local guitar-rockers 54•40 have been signed to major labels since 1986, first with Warner Bros. and then with Columbia/Sony. But with its 10th studio album, Goodbye Flatland, the band … Continue reading 54•40 walks the walk with first indie release since the ’80s
Colin Linden says that Rockpile and the Clash influenced Blackie’s BARK
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 31, 2003 By Steve Newton There’s a handful of CDs that have pretty well guaranteed placement in my personal top 10 of 2003. By the Grace of God, the stunning riff-fest from Swedish hard rockers the Hellacopters, has already copped a spot; likewise Trouble No More, the bare-bones, … Continue reading Colin Linden says that Rockpile and the Clash influenced Blackie’s BARK
Neil Osborne calls 54-40’s Casual Viewin’ “the band’s feel-good groove record”
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 12, 2000 When it came to choosing a title for their latest album, Casual Viewin’, local guitar-rockers 54•40 didn’t follow previous procedures and look to their ideals (Fight For Love) or early gigging days (Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret). For their ninth studio album, they simply culled a lyric from … Continue reading Neil Osborne calls 54-40’s Casual Viewin’ “the band’s feel-good groove record”
Vancouverites eat up Hootie & the Blowfish’s overbaked passion
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 28, 1996 By Steve Newton Hootie & the Blowfish are one of those freaks of nature that show up on the evolutionary ladder of pop music every once in a while, a band that sells huge amounts of its debut recording, yet, by most critical accounts, is totally undeserving of its … Continue reading Vancouverites eat up Hootie & the Blowfish’s overbaked passion
Even Limblifter has trouble topping the Odds’ power-pop at Foxfest ’96
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 25, 1996 The folks at CFOX radio have been jubilantly claiming that “the Fox rocks!” for quite some time now, but as any Vancouverite with cable hooked up to their tuner can tell you, it’s really the stations out of Seattle that can rock you like a hurricane. … Continue reading Even Limblifter has trouble topping the Odds’ power-pop at Foxfest ’96
The Pursuit of Happiness leaves Todd Rundgren for The Downward Road
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 1, 1993 By Steve Newton Recalling the televised carnage of last year’s L.A. riots, it’s hard to believe that a happy-go-lucky Canadian band was simultaneously recording its breezy, good-time pop music within shooting distance of the scary stuff. A grungy thrash or hardcore rap band laying down a soundtrack for anarchy, … Continue reading The Pursuit of Happiness leaves Todd Rundgren for The Downward Road
54-40 thrives on new blood
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 20, 2005 During Dave Genn's last year of high school, U2's The Joshua Tree, the Cure's The Head on the Door, and the Smiths' The Queen Is Dead were discs that drew heavy rotation on his personal play list. And right up there was the self-titled major-label debut by local … Continue reading 54-40 thrives on new blood