Military Genius/Dead Ghosts/Sister Suzie
Military Genius
Deep Web // Unheard Of Hope
On the edge of downtown at dusk, the last store on the strip has its shutters drawn and the shop owner crosses the sidewalk into an awaiting car. The orange rays of the setting sun reflect off the door’s corrugated metal, sending blazing strips of light across the plaza.
A stretch of time passes where nothing moves. Dusk settles upon the square, and a chilly breeze announces the darkness. Suddenly the streetlights illuminate, one by one, and a blue cadillac floats under their spotlight.
Deep Web by Military Genius sways to the rhythm of the dank corners at nighttime. It’s the voice of negative space, what the CCTV camera picks up: an apparition in shadow cast over the archway bricks, a scavenging fox, the hobo shifting on the bench. It illuminates and animates the overlooked forms that haunt the night. Minimalist grooves shimmy down the corridors of industrial districts at 10:15. It simmers like fried oil from a project apartment, where a radio plays a candombe, and cheap perfume wafts above the click-clack of heels echoing in the courtyard. It writhes with a frenzied turbulence into the sweltering night. Propelled by its own musk, exhaling boozy breath and rounding corners to where the blue light shines. It drifts past a cluster of nighthawks seeking relief from their solitude in cigarettes and blue screens outside a bar. The breeze lifts up skirts to blow cool onto moist perineums, and raises the hair on the backs of arms. It ascends a fire escape into the euphoria of a dimly lit gathering place for lingering caresses and suggestions over a throbbing groove. It ends sober, to the skipping of the needle, on the corner of a stranger’s bed, at grey dawn.
Compiled over 4 years while performing with such acts as N0V3L, Crack Cloud, and Blanka, the first Military Genius record was entirely written, recorded and produced by Bryce Cloghesy and represents an ambitious new point of departure that expands upon previous collaborative works.
- JD Ormond
Dead Ghosts
Automatic Changer // Burger Records
When I need a little pick me up or some motivation I make coffee and throw on a record. Music fuels my moods and when you find an album so good you need to play it on repeat... you know you found a some gold! That’s what I have to say about the new Dead Ghosts album Automatic Changer.
”Freak” Is a banger to start the album off with its psychedelic sounds that emulate a 60’s free love vibe. Crazy combination of the Stones meet Earthless with its trippy guitars and keys. Long and drawn out like a good trip.
“Swiping Hubcaps” kept me all spaced out but brought fresh surf-rock guitar flavour, and the glittery keys get featured so nicely on this album. I’m happy to hear a lot more people featuring keys and organ.
“You Got Away” really struck a chord with me. That surf rock guitar gets me everytime. They even kinda remind me of the Black Keys a little. Sweet number, I’ll want to drive to this one!
You’ll even be surprised to hear a little sweet slide guitar and country rock vibe. Dive into the early Stones feel on “Turn it Around.”
No need to call the Ghostbusters. You’ll want these Dead Ghosts around. You’ll definitely want to spin it over and over. No need to blaze for this album. This album was a good trip all on its own!
Love and Music are the answer!
Green Noreen
Sister Suzie
Don’t Want To // Independent
Don’t Want To is the first full-length album by Sister Suzie, an Edmonton-based punk/rock n’ roll band. Formed in 2017 by members of Hard Pressed, Sister Suzie went on to put out three singles: “You’re a Snake” and “Faded” in 2018, and this album’s single “Destruction Desire” in 2019. Since day one, Sister Suzie’s sound established itself as a cross between punk, glam, and rock n’ roll sustained by a rhythmic sway and strong leading melodies. And within one year of releasing music, they had well-established themselves within the rock scene in the prairies and Western Canada.
Don’t Want To was digitally self-released by Sister Suzie on April 20th, 2020. As a whole, the album is faithful to what they laid out in previous singles. It opens with “What’s Her Name Again?,” which introduces Sister Suzie’s sound instrument by instrument into a smooth bluesy song – the kind that you can listen at a dive bar in a campy movie from the 80s. As the second song of the album, “Automaton” picks up a faster pace into an upbeat punk song. The titular “Don’t Want To” and “Are You Gonna (Give Me a Kiss)” capture the glam behind Sister Suzie, with strong melodic electric guitars and a catchy lyrical delivery. The rhythmic “Sheets on Gold” has a strong drum and bass with the guitars complementing that foundation, only to open up a space for one of the more dynamic solos on the album. The lyrics boast a catchy, loose attitude; “Automaton” and “Make a Mistake” touch on a rock n’ roll exploration of gaining agency over self-destructive tendencies. While “What’s Her Name Again,” and “Are You Gonna (Give Me a Kiss)” play up to a flirty and coy performance.
Overall, Sister Suzie have made an album that carries forward what they have already established on prior singles. Don’t Want To gets at what Sister Suzie is all about with its spunky, upbeat glam. Even better, as a delightful treat to their audience, the album saw an early release during the COVID-19 quarantine. And with this impressive debut full-length, we can only look forward to how Sister Suzie will develop its sound next.
- Simone A. Medina Polo
