Taylor Swift Finds the Sunshine on 'evermore'

Published Dec 14, 2020

Just five months after Taylor Swift surprised the world with the sudden release of her eighth studio album, folklore, she decided to celebra...

David Byrne Starts Making Sense in 'American Utopia' Directed by Spike Lee

Published Oct 13, 2020

American Utopia has all the qualities of a great concert film: an accomplished director (Spike Lee), a fascinating performer with a rich mus...

Bahamas' 'Sad Hunk' Lives Up to Its Name

Published Oct 08, 2020

"Is there some trick to being happy?" asks Bahamas (a.k.a. Afie Jurvanen) on "Trick to Happy," the opening track on Sad Hunk, his fifth full...

Turning Jewels into Water Decentre Shallow Understandings of "World" Music with 'Our Reflection Adorned by Newly Formed Stars'

Published Aug 21, 2020

Turning Jewels into Water, the collaborative project between electronic musicians Val Jeanty and Ravish Momin, are a brilliant demonstration...

VQFF Review: 'Lingua Franca' Captures the Understated Nuance of Real Life

Published Aug 20, 2020

Lingua Franca, the Centerpiece Gala film at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, is beautifully understated, technically accomplished and sens...

VQFF Review: 'Cicada' Bravely Explores the Messy, Nonlinear Process of Healing and Romance Directed by Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare

Published Aug 20, 2020

Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare's Cicada is a delicate exploration of the interconnectedness of trauma, sexuality and race, and the difficu...

Phoebe Ryan Moves from Pop Songwriter to Rising Star with 'How It Used to Feel'

Published Jul 30, 2020

Phoebe Ryan's debut LP, How It Used to Feel, is an excellent showcase of the young singer's pop music expertise, skills she honed while work...

'Volition' Is a Unique and Compelling Take on Time Travel Directed by Tony Dean Smith

Published Jul 07, 2020

Tony Dean Smith's Volition is a great example of an interesting concept executed almost flawlessly. A lowkey sci-fi thriller, Volition cente...

Gordi's 'Our Two Skins' Shows the Powerful Intensity of Soft, Gentle Songwriting

Published Jun 25, 2020

Our Two Skins, the second full-length album by Australian singer-songwriter Sophie Payten (under her stage name Gordi), opens with the sound...

'You Don't Nomi' Delightfully Reveals Why People Are So Obsessed with 'Showgirls' Directed by Jeffrey McHale

Published Jun 15, 2020

As of this year, it has been 25 years since Paul Verhoeven first unleashed Showgirls upon the world. Jeffrey McHale's energetic 90-minute do...

Westerman's Feathery Folk-Pop Packs a Punch on 'Your Hero Is Not Dead'

Published Jun 04, 2020

London singer-songwriter Will Westerman (who performs under his last name) opens and closes his debut album with its title, assuring the lis...

CFF Review: 'Queen of the Morning Calm' Is a Must-See Debut from a Rising Canadian Director Directed by Gloria Ui Young Kim

Published May 29, 2020

After directing a number of impressive shorts (Vita, The Auction, Flamenco) and some delightful television episodes (Leo's FishHeads, It's M...

Carly Rae Jepsen Is So Great Even Her 'Dedicated' B-Sides Are Brilliant Pop Gems

Published May 28, 2020

A year after the release of her fourth album, Dedicated, Carly Rae Jepsen has gifted her fans with a collection of unreleased material simpl...

'Chameleon' Makes Up for Its Shortcomings with Beautiful Neo-Noir Visuals Directed by Marcus Mizelle

Published May 19, 2020

Marcus Mizelle's Chameleon wastes no time in establishing that this film takes place in a seedy, dangerous world. It is clear from the langu...

Hala Polishes His DIY Sound on 'Red Herring'

Published Apr 30, 2020

Under the name Hala, Detroit's Ian Ruhala has carved out a unique space for himself within the DIY/lo-fi indie scene. With his latest LP, Re...

Ron Sexsmith Is at His Most Playful on 'HERMITAGE'

Published Apr 15, 2020

Ron Sexsmith's HERMITAGE opens with bright piano and the sounds of birds chirping, immediately introducing the delightful and whimsical tone...

Empress Of I'm Your Empress Of

Published Apr 01, 2020

I'm Your Empress Of, the third album by Honduran-American artist Lorely Rodriguez under her moniker Empress Of,  is a collection of funky R&...

Anna Burch If You're Dreaming

Published Mar 31, 2020

After almost a full year of extensive touring, Anna Burch is back with her sophomore effort, If You're Dreaming, a subdued collection of son...

Marlaena Moore Pay Attention, Be Amazed!

Published Mar 25, 2020

Marlaena Moore confidently demands your attention with the title of her third LP: Pay Attention, Be Amazed! Indeed, Moore's honest lyrics an...

Little Dragon New Me, Same Us

Published Mar 25, 2020

Little Dragon are a band whose star power comes from their laidback cool, an image that has served them well since they started making music...