Toronto concerts announced this week: Lykke Li, Laura Marling

Lots of shows get announced every week, here's what we heard about for Toronto over the last seven days.

• Cai.ro, Horseshoe Tavern, Aug 10
• Slim Twig, Dakota Tavern, Aug 18
• Against Me!, Mod Club, Aug 22
• The War On Drugs, Drake Underground, Augfg 24
• Empire Of The Sun, Echo Beach, Sep 13
• Weedeater, Lee's Palace, Sep 13
• Vivian Girls, Parts & Labour, Sep 16
• Laura Marling, The Great Hall, Sep 23
• The Drums, Mod Club, Oct 1
• Anika, Wrongbar, Oct 8
• Wild Flag, Lee's Palace, Oct 11
• Skrillex, Kool Haus, Oct 15
• Dar Williams, Hugh's Room, Nov 17
• The Radio Dept., Mod Club, Nov 17
• Thrice, The Phoenix, Oct 20
• Lykke Li w. First Aid Kit, Sound Academy, Nov 15
• The Airborne Toxic Event, The Phoenix, Nov 15
• The Boxer Rebellion, Opera House, Nov 19
• Austra w. Tasseomancy, The Phoenix, Dec 1

Quick Hits: tributes to The Ramones, Nirvana, and Bad Religion

As always I can't get to everything that comes my way. So here's what I couldn't get to this week:

Shonen Knife, Osaka Ramones
Dozens of cutesy indie pop Japanese bands have washed ashore in North America over the last 30 years, but there is still only one Shonen Knife.  Now the girls have decided to celebrate their 30th year with a tribute to one of their favorite bands, The Ramones.  It sounds exactly what you would imagine Shonen Knife playing The Ramones would sound like.

Various Artists, SPIN Presents Newermind: A Tribute Album
You're going to hear a ton more about Nirvana's Nevermind this year (including a 4 CD, 1 DVD set) as that landmark record turns 20 years old.  SPIN has taken the tribute album route with this record, available free for liking the magazine on Facebook.

Personally, I love the way things have come around with The Meat Puppets and The Vaselines both kicking in tunes after both were so famously covered by Nirvana back in the day.

Various Artists, Germs Of Perfection: A Tribute To Bad Religion
I had to look this one up after hearing The Weakerthans' cover of "Sanity" on CBC Radio 3.  The collection has a number of big names including Riverboat Gamblers, Tegan & Sara, Frank Turner, and Ted Leo, covering often more obscure songs from the legendary punk band's catalogue.  Surprisingly, the best cut may be Switchfoot's stripped down rendition of "Sorrow", which adds to the poignancy of the song.

It's available for free download here.

Indigo and the Bear: "Sorrow Down" (video)

Indigo and the Bear are a trio from Melbourne, Australia who recently released their debut EP Sorrow Down.  The EP was recorded and engineered by Dave McCluney who has worked previously with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.

The group have released a video for the title track.  It was created by Sudbury-native Ben Bruhmuller.  Check out the really cool clip here:

My Son The Hurricane get ready for Toronto gig

Niagara 13-piece brass/hip hop fusion band My Son The Hurricane are returning to Toronto for a show.  The group pull into the Horseshoe on August 12th in support of their album You Can't Do This.

Check out their latest video for the song "Pushing Up Daisies":

Last minute plans: Out Of The Box Music & Arts Festival

Worried that you've got nothing to do this weekend?  Well you can get a lot of bang for your entertainment dollar with the Out Of The Box Music & Arts Festival.  The festival runs tonight through Sunday at the Toronto Underground Cinema and The Great Hall.

Among those Toronto favorites performing are Olenka & the Autumn Lovers, Foxes In Fiction, Parks & Rec, The Rest, The Jessica Stuart Few, and Rival Boys.  There are a ton of other great acts and features beyond that.

Tickets are $10, or a full weekend pass will run you a measly $15.

Juliana Hatfield" "There's Always Another Girl" (album review)

The innocent voice may be a little raspier with age, and the heart may be a little more ragged and roughed up by experience, but the soul of Juliana Hatfield remains strong on her new album There's Always Another Girl. Hatfield was able to produce this record with fan donations made through a PledgeMusic campaign.

Hatfield seems less confined on this record.  She definitely adds some moments and elements that are atypical of her work.

The little-used piano is busted out for the beautifully lush and melodic opener "Change the World".  An understated keyboard helps makes the puppy "Candy Wrappers" much more of a headbopper than it's rock reprise "And Again".  "Sex and Drugs" has funky rhythms that make it a seductive little number.  Hatfield dabbles with buzz and swoop effects on "Batteries" to mixes results.

There's no danger of Hatfield alienating her long-time fans though.  The title track is a stripped-down ditty with eloquent lyrics, something she's always been adept at.  On "Don't Wanna Dance" she revisits her recurring theme of wrestling with the realities of her career and day-to-day life.

At 14-tracks in length one would expect to have some amount of filler on the album.  I could have done without "Stray Kids" and "Vagabond" as neither really made an impression.  The opening lines of "Someone Else's Problem" sound so similar to The Carpenter's "Superstar" that it tends to distract you for the rest of the song.  However, in the interest of giving fans what they literally paid for, the desire to provide more is completely understandable.

There's Always Another Girl features some of Hatfield's best guitar work to date as well.  The energetic "Taxicab" boasts one of her most memorable riffs.  A twangy lick and simple refrain make "Wasting Time" one of the absolute standouts on the album.

For her next album Hatfield has already mused about recording a covers album.  That's something I can't wait to hear.

Best tracks: "Sex and Drugs", "Wasting Time"

Track listing for There's Always Another Girl:

• Change the World
• Taxicab
• Don't Wanna Dance
• There's Always Another Girl
• Candy Wrappers
• Someone Else's Problem
• Sex and Drugs
• Stray Kids
• Failure
• Vagabond
• And Again
• Batteries
• Wasting Time
• Thousands of Guitars

7.5/10

3 More To Explore: Spit Fist, Shaun Boothe, Spectre Hearts

Here are three more acts to check out this weekend.  We've got house guest from South Africa this week, so hopefully I'll be able to pick their brains and come up with some of that country's new acts for future inclusion.

Spit Fist
For those who like: L7, Babes In Toyland

The aggressive, snarling vocals, and a punk rock attitude of this all-female Toronto quartet will bowl right over you.

Spit Fist's website

Shaun Boothe
For those who like: Kardinal Offishall

This Toronto hip hop artist has already opened for the likes of Snoop Dogg.  He just released a mixtape in conjunction with Altanta's STS.

Shaun Boothe's website

Spectre Hearts
For those who like: Superchunk, Superdrag

Hailing from suburban T.O., Spectre Hearts play an infectious brand of garage pop.  They've just dropped a double a-side single titled, Ohh Okay.

Spectre Hearts' website

Tasseomancy: "Ulalume!" (album review)

Sari and Romy Lightman are definitely in touch with what's hip in the Toronto indie scene.  Most recently they can be heard providing backing vocals on Austra's Polaris-short listed album.  The pair have re-branded their band Tasseomancy (formerly Ghost Bees) and are preparing to launch their second album Ulalume! (out August 30th).

Tasseomancy has a second 2011 Polaris connection as Taylor Kirk and Simon Trottier of Timber Timbre pitched in with the making of Ulalume!.  With that pedigree it doesn't take much to know that this is an album of ghostly neo-folk songs.

"Heavy Sleep" starts as a number typical of the genre, before slowly building up to an eerie synth whir and thump evocative of a B horror movie score.  The music takes you from sunset to daybreak over the course of "Night".  "Diana" has a medieval, dragon-slaying-minstrel aura to it.  "Soft Feet" isn't a loud song, but in comparison to the subtle pieces here it's absolutely cacophonous.

In all honesty though, the arrangements can get a bit tiresome.  The drone ("Mourning Chest") and all-too-often glacial pace ("Healthy Hands") make it a difficult record to get into.  Where the sisters excel however, is in the vocals.  The opener "Anibus" features vocals that are at the same time innocent and dark.  The haunting harmonies of "Ashkelon" provide some of the record's most compelling moments.

Everything comes together on "Up You Go, Little Smoke".  It's the only song on the album that could be described as warm and embracing.  It would've made the perfect conclusion to the album, had they chosen to sequence it there.

In the end Ulalume! reminds me a lot of Timber Timbre's debut.  There is definitely potential here, but the tendency to sprawl and wander need to be reined in.  Otherwise, the gem moments get lost among the muck. The self-editing worked wonders for Timber Timbre, hopefully Tasseomancy can follow suit.

Tasseomancy play The Phoenix in Toronto on December 1st opening for Austra.

Best tracks: "Up You Go, Little Smoke", "Heavy Sleep"

Track listing for Ulalume!:

• Anubis
• Heavy Sleep
• Diana
• Healthy Hands (Will Mourn You)
• The Darkness of Things
• Ashkelon
• Night
• Up You Go, Little Smoke
• Soft Feet
• Mourning Chest

6.0/10

Bruce Peninsula reveal details of new album "Open Flames", tour dates

Toronto indie rocks band with Gospel-leanings Bruce Peninsula have their sophomore full length album in the can.  The record, Open Flames, has been set for an October 4th release on Hand Drawn Dracula.

Check out a teaser for the track "In Your Light" here:

Bruce Peninsula - In Your Light (Snapshot) from Bruce Peninsula on Vimeo.

Bruce Peninsula has a bunch of southern Ontario shows coming up including:

• Toronto- Lower Ossington Theatre, Aug 11
• Sarnia- The Story, Sep 9
• Hamilton- Christ's Church Cathedral, Sep 10
• Guelph- Ebar, Sep 15
• London- OH Fest, Sep 17
• Waterloo- Waterloo Park / Grist Mill, Sep 18
• Kingston- Chalmers Church, Sep 22
• St. Catharines- Mansion House, Sep 29
• Peterborough- The Attic, Oct 1
• Toronto- Lee's Palace, Oct 27

New Buddy Holly tribute album "Listen To Me Buddy Holly" coming

In 2011 we celebrate what would have been the 75th birthday of rock n' roll pioneer Buddy Holly.  The floodgates of tributes has officially opened.

A couple of months ago we got the eclectic tribute record Rave On Buddy Holly (review).  On September 6th Songmasters give us their entry, Listen To Me Buddy Holly.

There's an eclectic mix of artists on this one as well.  You get rock veterans such as Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Jeff Lynne, Stevie Nicks, Ringo Starr, and Brian Wilson.  You also get a sprinkling of younger talent like Zooey Deschanel and Imelda May.  You also get, um talent(?), like Cobra Starship and Patrick Stump.

The wildcard for me is Monty Python's Eric Idle.  I can't wait to hear what he's come up with.

Joe Henry returns with new album "Reverie"

Feted musician/producer Joe Henry is coming back with a new album.  Reverie will be the 12th record from the roots/blues artist and will see the light of day on October 11th.

Henry calls in some marker on this one, with Tom Waits confident Marc Ribot pitching in, and Irish songbird Lisa Hannigan adding vocals to "Piano Furnace".

NPR is streaming the first track "Odetta" now.

Here's the track list for that album:

• Heaven’s Escape
• Odetta
• After The War
• Sticks & Stones
• Grand Street
• Dark Tears
• Strung
• Tomorrow Is October
• Piano Furnace
• Deathbed Version
• Room At Arles
• Eyes Out For You
• Unspeakable
• The World And All I Know

Twin Library drop new record "Softer Seasons"

While we're on the library tip, Edmonton's Twin Library recently released their new album Softer Seasons.  The 8-track record is the second release from the band this year and is available on a name-your-price basis from their Bandcamp page.

The group seem to take equal inspiration from Guided By Voices and The Velvet Underground for their atmospheric garage pop sound.

Library Voices: "Summer Of Lust" (album review)

Over the past couple of years I've come to rely upon Regina's Library Voices for my indie pop fix.  That's why I've been so amped up for their new album Summer Of Lust (out August 23rd).  Going in I had no doubt it would be the perfect cheery and perky soundtrack for the tail end of my summer.

The band is a little louder and a little less cutesy this time around.  The call-and-response that was the hallmark of their earlier work has taken a bit of a back seat.  In it's place is a more forceful wall of sound that leans more heavily upon keyboards, which you can hear from the very opening of "If Raymond Carver Were Born In the 90's".

Witty song titles, clever lyrics, and literary references certainly haven't been abandoned.  Just the title "Que Sera Sarah" is almost as endearing as the head-bopping song itself.   I have to admit though, tracks based on Kurt Vonnegut's work are more fun than those based on Yates or Joyce.

While I disagree entirely with the sentiment behind "The Prime Minister's Daughter", it doesn't stop it from being incredibly infectious.  One cannot help but be impressed by the talent it takes to turn the phrase 'Parliament's making cuts' into a catchy chorus.

"Regina I Don't Want To Fight" is a nod to the band's home town, albeit a much peppy one than The Weakerthans' ode to Winnipeg "One Great City".  On "Be My Juliette Gréco, Paris 1949" yearns for a simpler time before Photoshop, collagen injections, and drunk dialing.

There are a pair of songs that don't really connect.  The concept is right for "Reluctant Readers Make Reluctant Lovers", but it lacks the charm of the rest of the album.  "Me, Myself, And ID" suffers in a similar way.

It's really the catchiness of the songs that make Library Voices so endearing.  Hook-laden tracks like "Generation Handclap", the bouncy kinetic "Traveller's Digest", and "Anthem for a New Canada" with it plucky Jam-style bass line, will have you clamouring for more.

Library Voices play the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on October 28th.

Best tracks: "The Prime Minister's Daughter", "Traveller's Digest"

Track listing for Summer Of Lust:

• Intro
• If Raymond Carver Were Born In the 90's
• Generation Handclap
• Reluctant Readers Make Reluctant Lovers
• Que Sera Sarah
• Traveller's Digest
• Be My Juliet Gréco, Paris 1949
• The Prime Minister's Daughter
• Me, Myself, And ID
• Anthem for a New Canada
• Regina, I Don't Want To Fight
• Outro

8.5/10

Library Voices' website

Pearl Jam to premiere 20th anniversary film at TIFF

Pearl Jam has chosen Toronto to launch their 20th anniversary mayhem.  The band will be premiering the film about the band, Pearl Jam 20, at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.  The Cameron Crowe-directed documentary will run on September 10th.

Watch the trailer here:

Pearl Jam Twenty from Pearl Jam on Vimeo.

A wider theatrical release will hit select city (check here) on September 20th.  The film will also air on PBS on October 21st at 9:00pm.  The DVD gets released on October 25th.

An accompanying book is slated for a September 13th release with the soundtrack coming out on September 20th.

Got all that?

Pearl Jam play the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Sept. 11th & 12th, Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Sep 14th, and Copps Coliseum in Hamilton on Sep 15th.

Spiral Beach's Daniel Woodhead and Maddy Wilde are Moon King

Moon King is the new project from Daniel Woodhead and Maddy Wilde, both of Spiral Beach.  They recently released the 6-song Bog Dumb Blue Angel EP.

Watch the video for the peppy title track here:


The video raises some questions in my mind about copyright, but Matt Groening has enough money as far as I'm concerned.

You can get a free download of the track, and more, here.

Moon King have a bunch of local festival dates coming up, including:

• Whippersnapper Gallery’s Trash Art Music Festival, July 31st 8:30pm, FREE
• The Garage w/ Hooded Fang, Aug 12th 8:00pm
• Wavelength's ALL CAPS Festival on the Toronto Islands w/ Julie Doiron, Jennifer Castle, Aug 13th
• August 19 Feast In The East IV at the Dickens Street Theatre, Aug 19 9:00pm 

The pair are also planning a split release with Hooded Fang for the fall.

New releases for Jul 26th: Vanessa Carlton, Hooded Fang

It's a big week for new albums.  Check out these noteworthy records:

• Vanessa Carlton- Review
• City Lights
• Hooded Fang- Review
• The Horrors
• Little Dragon- stream
• Milk Carton Kids- stream
• Debbie Neigher- stream
• Rival Sons

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds release first video "The Death of You and Me"

As you know by now, Noel Gallagher is releasing his new project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, on November 8th.  He's just posted the first video from that album.  It's for the track "The Death of You and Me".

Watch the clip now:


It's not Oasis at it's peak, but it's a hell of a lot better than Beady Eye.

Slim Twig returns with new 12" (video)

Musician/actor/renaissance man Slim Twig is returning with a new 12".  The record will be a split between the Toronto-based artist and US Girls.  Fans will be able to get a hold of it starting August 16th.

Check out the self-directed video for the track "Priscilla":

Slim Twig: 'Priscilla' from Palmist Records on Vimeo.

Mr. Twig is working on his second full length album which will come out on Paper Bag Records in the (hopefully) not too distant future.

Slim Twig plays the Dakota Tavern in Toronto on August 18th.

Neil Finn, Martha Wainwright, Angus & Julia Stone, and more cover Nick Cave

The Sydney Opera House has put together an incredible video for what they are calling The Ship Song Project.  The project sees artists performing Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' "The Ship Song", and features a video of those performances spliced together.

The list of participants is impressive.  It includes performances by Neil Finn, Angus & Julia Stone, Martha Wainwright, The Temper Trap, and Silverchair's Daniel Johns among many others.

Watch the video here:

Cai.ro get ready to release self-titled EP

Whimsical Toronto indie rock outfit Cai.ro are getting ready to release a self-titled EP. The band will be launching it with a CD Release show at the Horseshoe Tavern on August 10th.

Also on the bill that night will be Oceanship and The Central Nervous System.

What better way to spend a Wednesday night?

Domestic Crisis Group cover Gordon Lightfoot

Montreal folk/country duo Domestic Crisis Group had one of my favorite EPs of 2010.  Now they are back with a new single, a cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "Song For A Winter's Night".

The track appeared on Herohill's tribute album to Lightfoot.

You can hear the song here.

I managed to catch Domestic Crisis Group when they came to Toronto for CMW.  You can read my impressions here.

This week's entertainment picks: Gillian Welch

Another week is upon us.  There's not a lot happening music wise, maybe it's time to head to the cottage.  If you are in town this week, try one of these on for size:

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Phoenix, Jul 25
Alt rock royalty come to town in the form of this inseparable pairing.  Welch is promoting her new album The Harrow & the Harvest.

Gillian Welch's website

...also this week:

• Graveytrain, Jul 25
• This Century, Jul 26
• Obscura, Jul 26
• Emm Gryner, Jul 27
• Jesse Malin, Jul 27
• Phantogram, Jul 28
• An Horse, Jul 29
• Death Cab For Cutie, Jul 29
• Valencia, Jul 30
• Daniel Tosh, Jul 30
• Kid Cudi, Jul 31
• Drake, Jul 31

Toronto concerts announced this week: Primus, Olivia Tremor Control, Dan Mangan

We've got concerts.  Newly added to the schedule in Toronto this week are:

• Honeymoon Suite, Sound Academy, Aug 1
• Northern Pikes, Sound Academy, Aug 4
• Ralf Wiggum, Lee's Palace, Aug 4
• Ralf Wiggum, Bread & Circus, Aug 6
• Paul Jones, Sound Academy, Aug 11
• Goddo, Sound Academy, Aug 25
• Saga, Sound Academy, Sep 1
• Wagons, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 6
• Helix, Sound Academy, Sep 8
• Mudhoney, Horseshoe Tavern, Sep 10
• Olivia Tremor Control, Lee's Palace, Sep 16
• Burton Cummings, Massey Hall, Sep 29
• Primus, Massey Hall, Oct 5
• Jonathan Richman, Revival, Oct 5
• Jonathan Richman, Revival, Oct 6
• Ra Ra Riot w. Dinosaur Bones, Lee's Palace, Oct 6
• Matt Nathanson, Opera House, Oct 6
• Wakey! Wakey!, Drake, Oct 6
• Braids, Horseshoe Tavern, Oct 14
• Portugal. The Man, Opera House, Oct 18
• Yngwie Malmsteen, The Phoenix, Oct 19
• Moby, The Phoenix, Oct 24
• Dan Mangan, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Oct 28
• Mat Kearney, Opera House, Nov 9
• Hey Rosetta!, The Phoenix, Nov 24
• VNV Nation, The Phoenix, Dec 2

Reptar: "Oblangle Fizz Y'all" (EP review)

Every once in a while there's a band that comes along that gives you a mixture of musical styles that you've really never contemplated before.  Reptar is one of those bands.  The group, hailing from Athens, GA and environs, are set to release their debut EP Oblangle Fizz Y'all on August 2nd.

There are a lot of sounds and influences going on here.  The lead track "Blast Off" gets things going with an obvious nod to the New Wave and World music fusion of Talking Heads.  The rhythms are irresistible.  "Rainbounce" has both a relaxed feel as well as a subtle tension, making it sound like a wound up Vampire Weekend.

Electronics play an important role in the music as well.  Sometimes it works, as on the MGMT-esque "Stuck In My Id".  On other occasions, such as "Context Clues", the electronic sounds come off as sterile, lifeless blips and bloops.

The vocals add yet another level of interest to the music.  They are often sung, occasionally hip hop-influenced, and from time-to-time utterly nonsensical noises (think Dirty Projectors).

Oblangle Fizz Y'all is a record that needs to be heard to be completely understood.  So through it on and get ready to dance in that awkward hipster way.

Reptar play the Sound Academy in Toronto on October 1st opening for Foster The People.

Best tracks: "Blast Off", "Rainbounce"

Track listing for Oblangle Fizz Y'all:

• Blast Off
• Rainbounce
• Context Clues
• Stuck In My Id
• Phonetics

7.0/10

Quick Hits: Matt Lashoff, Cameron McGill & What Army

I can't get to everything. This week's victims are:

Matt Lashoff, Living On Heart
This comes from one of the unlikeliest of source, Toronto Maple Leafs' defenceman Matt Lashoff.  The album consists mostly of guitar-based pop rock that isn't usually my cup of tea.  However, between Lashoff's surprisingly restrained raspy vocals and the gritty songs, there's definitely something to recommend here.

The standout for me is Lashoff's twangy guitar take on "Hockey Night In Canada".

Matt Lashoff's website

Cameron McGill & What Army, Is A Beast
In between plying his trade as the keyboardist for Margot & the Nuclear So-and-Sos, Chicago's McGill had time to create this record.  It's an indie rock album that tints the typical indie rock sound with the appropriate psychedelia and dissonance.

Cameron McGill's website

Feist teases new album release

It looks like we're going to be getting some new music from Feist soon.  The Toronto-based singer who hit it big with The Remainder (can you believe four years ago now?), has posted a video teaser for her new studio album.

Judging from the site, it looks like we're going to be getting a series of these videos, with the next one being posted on July 25th.

No other details (release date, title, etc) have surfaced yet, but I guess that's why they call it a teaser.  If we're getting a new teaser each week, we can extrapolate a September 27th release date, but there's nothing to confirm that.

Josh Ritter: "Bright's Passage" (book review)

As a songwriter, Josh Ritter is known for his poetic verse and highly descriptive narratives.  It's not a huge leap, therefore, to imagine him penning a full length novel.  Well with Bright's Passage, he's done just that.

Set in the months following the end of World War I, the novel follows the story of Henry Bright.  Returning from the conflict, Bright takes up a wife, who dies in childbirth in the first few pages, leaving him with an infant son.

That's where things get weird.  Enter an angry father-in-law bent on vengeance and his two dullard sons, a raging forest fire (accidentally triggered by Bright), horrific WWI flashbacks, and an angel/talking horse, and there's a red-hot story that unravels before you.  All of that in just under 200 pages.

The shortcoming of the novel is the pay-off.  While the crazed storyline keeps your mind churning over the possibilities, the actual conclusion of the tale is a tad unsatisfying.

That said, Ritter definitely keeps you turning the pages, especially if you liked Nick Cave's And The Ass Saw The Angel.

Teenage X: "Drink Dance Destroy" (album review)

Drink Dance Destroy is the self-released debut album from punk-inspired Toronto quartet Teenage X.

The record is an interesting balance of raw punk and refined power pop that you don't hear much nowadays.  While most of their contemporaries tend to skew too far in one direction or the other, Teenage X finds a stable equilibrium.

The punk rock influence manifests in the high octane assault of a track like "Say What You Want", and the careening "Fast Machine".  The band The title track's pummeling drums and wafer-thin guitar and bass is reminiscent of 7 Year Bitch.

There is a pop sensibility that dominates more than one song.  It's clear from the opening cut "The Signal" that singer Sarah Page's vocal style is more Kristin Hersh than it is Kathleen Hanna.  Peppy hook-filled numbers like "Losin' It" and "On the Outside" evoke memories of female-fronted power pop groups like Letters To Cleo or Jale.

From a lyrical perspective, things are a little predictable.  The songs tend to be angsty and deal with your typical teenage situations.  I suppose between the band's name and the album's title that I shouldn't be surprised.  Unfortunately, their lack of sophistication is the weak point of the album.

Teenage X play the Bovine in Toronto on August 12th.

Best tracks: "Drink! Dance! Destroy!", "On the Outside"

Track listing for Drink Dance Destroy:

• The Signal
• Fast Machine
• Boom
• Drink! Dance! Destroy!
• Losin' It
• Say What You Want
• On the Outside
• Chelsea Horror Hotel
• Wasted

6.5/10