Tyr’s Day Music Review: David Usher’s The Mile End Sessions

Wake Up and Say Goodbye (2008) had not been out for very long when David Usher announced on Facebook, the most trusted of media outlets, that he was going to start working on an acoustic album. “I like acoustic albums!” thousands of his Facebook friends agreed. He even created a space on his website for fans to vote on songs they’d like to hear reworked acoustically. My vote is not on the album—but, in all fairness to David, I suggested a song from his Moist days…and in greater fairness: who the hell am I to decide?

The Mile End Sessions, named after his neighbourhood in Montreal, still does well even without my input. Continue reading


On the Occasion of Your Engagement

Congratulations follow in your wake

Like tropical fish on parade to greet

A passing snorkeller, swept off her feet

By waves of flitting fins outstretched to shake

Her hand and glisten with her ring—but make

Way! New arrivals tread the tide to meet

With her and pay their social dues. Repeat

Until she knows everyone knows. I take

My turn and sink into the tidal gloom

Past memories of dying coral reefs

And sea anemones that will not bloom

Now. They did last year, but I was a thief

In my own mind and stored those all away

Behind a door marked X barred shut today.


Tyr’s Day Music Review: Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs

When Arcade Fire’s Funeral came out in 2004, it took me several listens to appreciate it and several more to love it. I never had the same adoration for Neon Bible, but the final track on that album made my body a cage for three years as I waited for the Montreal based band’s next effort. The Suburbs has blown me away.

I immediately liked the sound of a lot of the songs, but it wasn’t until I sat in isolated contemplation with the lyrics that I fully grasped the masterpiece of this story of the suburban war. Continue reading


Cross-Canada Playlist: Son

On the road again!

Spanish Banks, Vancouver, BC

I knew my dad would snag older songs for his cross-Canada playlist, so I included more contemporary artists on mine. Continue reading


Cross-Canada Playlist: Father

My dad and I are about to begin a road trip  from coast to coast! I’m moving to Halifax, but we’re going all the way to Newfoundland first. Packing didn’t take us very long…but choosing our definitive Canadian playlists did!

Take off eh, you hoser.

We each made a playlist of 13 songs Continue reading