SoundBytes

VANCOUVER
QUICK & DIRTY: PINK MOUNTAINTOPS
He may be better known as the frontman for Black Mountain, but Stephen McBean's got plenty going on with his other band, Pink Mountaintops, too.

- Larissa Primeau -

CALGARY
QUICK & DIRTY - SECRET BROADCAST
Calgary's Secret Broadcast make sexy music for sexy people, but still spend more time writing danceable rock than hooking up.

- James Callsen -

CALGARY
QUICK & DIRTY - MATT GIGG AND THE INTELLECTUALS
They may not have a proper album or EP, but Matt Gigg & The Intellectuals are keeping themselves busy in Calgary — and even taking some time out for charity.

- David Ball -

LONDON
PLAYLIST - NICOLE KAI KOBILANSKY'S SONGS OF 2008
Our Content Editor for the United Kingdom streams a playlist of some of her favourite songs of the year, including tracks by Foals, Razorlight, Ladyhawke, and Dizzee Rascal.

- Nicole Kai Kobilansky -

MONTREAL
ALBUMS OF 2008 - HONOURABLE MENTION: ATTACK & RELEASE BY THE BLACK KEYS
With the help of hip hop-raised producer Danger Mouse, the Akron, Ohio-based duo have put forth their most adventurous record to date while showcasing their blues heritage.

- Jason Giammaria -

TORONTO
ALBUMS OF 2008 - HONOURABLE MENTION: THE WAY I SEE IT BY RAFAEL SAADIQ
Even if you're not a fan of Motown, the music Saadiq has created is playful, catchy but not over the top or too cute.

- Stephanie Cloutier -

TORONTO
SONGS OF 2008 - HONOURABLE MENTION: OH, MOJAVE BY THE RUBY SUNS
Guitars strumming, percussion thumping, voices echoing – "Oh, Mojave" is the definition of a catchy tune that should find itself on repeat for all.

- Michael Shaw -

TORONTO
SONGS OF 2008 - HONOURABLE MENTION - ABCS BY KNAAN
K'naan brings a much-needed balance to hip hop's current repertoire, promoting resilience, authenticity, and a perspective unmatched by many MC's I've heard to date.

- Katrina Lopes -

TORONTO
SONGS OF 2008 - H. MENTION: LUCIFER'S ROCKING CHAIR BY THE CANCER BATS
When I reach an age where I'm wearing mom pants and my breasts have fallen victim to gravity, I will still be listening to "Lucifer's Rocking Chair", bobbing my head with my middle finger in the air.

- Andrea Dyer -

TORONTO
PLAYLIST - ADAM BUNCH'S SONGS OF 2008
Our Editor-in-Chief streams a playlist of some of his favourite songs of the year, including tracks by Fleet Foxes, She & Him and Spiritualized.

- Adam Bunch -

TORONTO
PLAYLIST - CODY MCGRAW'S SONGS OF 2008
Our Canadian Content Editor streams a playlist of some of his favourite songs of the year, including tracks by Young Rival, She & Him, Bloc Party and Santogold.

- Cody McGraw -

TORONTO
DVD REVIEW - HAPPY MONDAYS: CALL THE COPS
Manchester's 1980s bad boys take over America in this DVD chronicling their 1990 tour.

- Stephanie Cloutier -

TORONTO
BATTLE OF THE BANDS - JAMES BLUNT VS. JOHN MAYER
James Blunt takes on John Mayer in the most gross-out walk-of-shame Battle of the Bands SoundProof has ever posted.

- Karolina Rous -

TORONTO
PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE
Rambling and a bit too dreamy, Patti Smith: Dream of Life still offers an intriguing look at the queen of punk.

- David Ball -

TORONTO
QUICK & DIRTY - YOUNG RIVAL
In this day and age, it's nice to find a band who know that "indie" can still stand for independent. And these sophisticated garage rockers know just that.

- Andrea Grassi -

TORONTO
DVD REVIEW - JOE COCKER: CRY ME A RIVER
Rock icon Joe Cocker is in mid-career top form on this DVD of an appearance on Germany's seminal concert TV show, Rockpalast.

- David Ball -

MONTREAL
QUICK & DIRTY - ADAM & THE AMETHYSTS
Having left his hometown of Thunder Bay for Montreal, the Amethysts' Adam Waito has turned his homesickness into some catchy, poppy, buzz-generating music.

- Jason Giammaria -

HALIFAX
QUICK & DIRTY - HEY ROSETTA!
How do Newfoundland indie rockers Hey Rosetta! feel about their hometown scene? Well, home means different things to different people - and Newfoundland music isn't just about squid-jiggin' and reels.

- Alison Lang -

TORONTO
DVD REVIEW - WU-TANG CLAN: LIVE AT MONTREUX 2007
Since the Wu-Tang Clan rarely perform together live, fans can get a sense of what they've been missing all these years.

- Ama Scriver -

TORONTO
ART ON OUR SLEEVES - MANTHERS
There's a growing pandemic in the world and this time it isn't a disease. It's the "manther" or male cougar. Escaping from their natural habitat (the sports bar), they've made it onto the covers of some famous albums!

- Cody McGraw -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF'S CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST 2008
Some undeniable classics and new personal favourites, including everything from Louis Armstrong and The Beatles to Sufjan Stevens and Weezer.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
YOU SHOULD ALREADY OWN - THESE CHRISTMAS ALBUMS
Three records that will actually have you wishing the holiday season lasted even longer.

- C.T. Heaney, James Callsen, Stephanie Cloutier -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
PLAYLIST - SOUNDPROOF'S TOP 20 SONGS OF 2008
After plenty of hand-wringing and even more spreadsheets, we've picked our Top 20 Songs of 2008. And we've got them all in a streaming playlist.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - DEC. 14
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: Axl Rose, Michael Jackson, auto-tune and 808s. Plus, why you need to start working on your first symphony right away.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - DEC. 7
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: Gwar and Joan Rivers, Axl Rose and the Chinese government, John Lennon and the Pope, and Bono and Africa. Plus, Canadian women rock.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - NOV. 30
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: Stephen Colbert, Flight of the Conchords, the Elephant 6 Collective and a long-lost Beatles’ epic. Plus, John McCain is a jerk.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - NOV 23
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: Obama, rock posters, Tin Pan Alley and fine European cheeses. Plus, John Lennon and Paul Simon get a surprise visit.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - NOV. 16
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: Blur, Queen Latifah, Neil Young, Devo, and the inexplicable, quiet distance that can grow between two people. Plus, is that a four-track in your pocket?

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - NOV. 9
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: gorillas, anthrax, MGMT and drug-taking opera singers. Plus, why you should always check your pants for wildlife before putting them on.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
HOT AIR FROM HEAD HONCHOS: WELCOME TO SOUNDPROOF USA
SoundProof USA is live! Yeeehaw!

- Chris Stevenson, Scott Mckean -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - NOV. 1
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: Joe the Plumber, Michael Jackson, a six-second drum loop and how Alan McGee is a big fat quitter. Plus, the saddest thing we’ve ever heard.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF'S SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN 2008 MIX TAPE
Looking for a dead-good mix tape for your Halloween throw-down/virgin sacrifice, but don't want to get buried in the details? Look no further, pretties....MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
ART ON OUR SLEEVES: ALIEN ALBUM COVERS
SoundProof takes a look at one the greatest album-art genres ever: Alien Album Covers.

- Karolina Rous -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - OCT. 25
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: vinyl, protest songs, Johnny Rotten, and how the major labels are like goblins. Plus, John Lennon and Bob Dylan high in the back of a cab.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - OCT. 18
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: James Brown, Pavarotti, twee, heavy metal in Islam and the most unforgivable Grammy snubs of all-time. Plus, Janis Joplin is dead. Again.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - OCT. 11
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: Dylan gets rejected, Jack White's Bond theme, and ways in which Chris Martin is like Jesus Christ. Plus, music by Iraq War veterans and the greatest music video of all-time.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - OCT. 4
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: sleevefaces, Lester Bangs, Guitar Hero and more Guitar Hero. Plus, David Bowie and Marianne Faithful making complete fools of themselves.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
QUICK & DIRTY - TJ KONG AND THE ATOMIC BOMB
The duo have practically exploded onto Philadelphia's indie scene thanks to their bluesy, boot-stomping, '60s folk rock.

- Cheryl Stornelli -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SOUNDPROOF LINKS - SEPT. 27
Our weekly round-up of the best (and worst) from around the web. This week: haircuts, censorship, bagpipes and Kanye West's Connect Four obsession. Plus, we all have very, very bad taste in music.

- SoundProof Magazine -

TO THE FOUR CORNERS
SASSY SIGNS: LIBRA - SOUL
What's your sign, baby? We here at SoundProof couldn't help but wonder how each music genre matches up with the astrological signs. Find out if your favourite music shares the same traits as you!

- Karolina Rous -

AUCKLAND
SONGS OF 2008 - HONOURABLE MENTION - FOR EMMA BY BON IVER
Oh, Bon. Poor, sad, broken-hearted, Bon. You might not have made our Top 20, but that doesn't mean we don't love you.

- Alexander Gandar -

LONDON
QUICK & DIRTY - APOCALYPTICA
Life's not always easy when you're a classically trained cello quartet who got your start playing Metallica covers.

- Chris Montgomery -

LONDON
TEN SONGS ABOUT - DOGS
The cat people will always have that musical, but us dog people need something to listen to as well. SoundProof gives you ten canine-related ditties.

- Nicole Kai Kobilansky -

LONDON
A.V. CLUB - JUSTICE: A CROSS THE UNIVERSE
The French DJ duo are elevated to rockstar-sellout status thanks to a self-indulgent promo film Trojan-horsed as a documentary. Despite being a cult phenomenon, they're still only Daft Punk Jr.

- Nicole Kai Kobilansky -

LONDON
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: LONDON'S HARD ROCK CAFE VAULT
Feel like life won't be complete until you've seen an authentic pair of Lennon glasses? Lying awake at night trying to figure out exactly what makes rock rock? Jimmi, the vault master, can help you out.

- Alexander Gandar -

LONDON
QUICK & DIRTY: RA RA RIOT
Having rebounded from tragedy, Ra Ra Riot are now hitting British shores high on the wave of their newly released LP, The Rhumb Line.

- Gareth Meade -

LONDON
A/V CLUB: SHINE A LIGHT
The new Rolling Stones concert film from Martin Scorsese is as big as it is bad.

- Alexander Gandar -

LONDON
AV CLUB / UP THE SHAMBLES
This early footage DVD gives a whole lot of rock 'n' roll but not a whole lot of glitz. It was never meant to. Doherty staggers but never falls down and the guitar work blows away much of the competition.

- Robert Lake -

LOS ANGELES
ALBUMS OF 2008 - HONORABLE MENTION: THA CARTER III BY LIL WAYNE
I know it's cool to hate on hip hop and pretend that you're so hip that you only listen to socially conscious rappers. But seriously people, Lil Wayne is the shit.

- Hunter M. Daniels -

BOSTON
ALBUMS OF 2008 - HONORABLE MENTION: THE BEDLAM IN GOLIATH BY THE MARS VOLTA
If you have never heard the Mars Volta, they're like a Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis, Al Di Meola, Jeff Buckley, and 24-7 Spyz burrito wrapped in a Hector Lavoe tortilla with a side of Bad Brains dipping sauce.

- Daniel McDermott -

CHARLESTON
QUICK & DIRTY - THE EXPLORERS CLUB
Bringing the 1960s Southern California sounds to modern South Carolina, The Explorers Club emulate the Beach Boys with flying colors.

- Melissa Bessey -

LOS ANGELES
TEN SONGS ABOUT MASTURBATION
As Woody Allen once said: "Don't knock masturbation. It's sex with someone I love."

- Hunter M. Daniels -

SAN DIEGO
QUICK & DIRTY - DELTA SPIRIT
Fresh off the road, Delta Spirit's soulful, folksy, indie rock frontman Matt Vasquez talks about touring, his band's excellent debut record, and mystical encounters in railway stations.

- Budd R. Phly -

NEW YORK
QUICK & DIRTY - BISHOP ALLEN
What do you do if you've already graduated from an Ivy League school, released twelve records in a single year and appeared in a major motion picture? You get to work on the next album.

- Hunter M. Daniels -

WASHINGTON
THE REVOLUTION WILL BE YOUTUBED
SoundProof delves into the funny, depressing and oh-so-corny world of YouTube's American election videos.

- Katrina Lopes -