Articles by Stephen Carlick

Julie Byrne

Not Even Happiness

PUBLISHED Jan 25, 2017

The songs on New York songwriter Julie Byrne's second album, Not Even Happiness, feel intensely familiar, but never tritely so; like a favo...

The xx

I See You

PUBLISHED Jan 11, 2017

The xx waste no time demonstrating they're a changed band on their third full-length, I See You; from the opening, filtered horn blasts of...

How Adele, Beyoncé, Bowie and Gaga Embraced the "Personality Album"

2016 in Lists

PUBLISHED Dec 6, 2016

Pop music has a long, rich history of alter egos, character roles that musicians will assume either to mask, warp or emphasize their true n...

Inside 'I See You': Five Things The xx Want You to Know About Their New Album

PUBLISHED Nov 23, 2016

On January 13, UK trio The xx will finally return with their third album, I See You. A stark departure from the band's previous two LPs, 20...

Paupière

Katacombes, Montreal QC, November 19

PUBLISHED Nov 20, 2016

Being the first act in a too-bright venue can be difficult, but Paupière tried valiantly. After asking for smoke from the machines on eithe...

Le Couleur

Katacombes, Montreal QC, November 19

PUBLISHED Nov 20, 2016

Montréal's Le Couleur announced their set with gusto, a rush of cymbals and M83-esque synth coos propelled by hi-hats and cowbell. Their s...

​Helena Deland

Casa Del Popolo, Montreal QC, November 18

PUBLISHED Nov 19, 2016

Montreal native Helena Deland took the Casa Del Popolo stage unassumingly, holding an electric guitar and plucking palm-muted chords to a c...

Cindy Lee

Casa Del Popolo, Montreal QC, November 18

PUBLISHED Nov 19, 2016

Cindy Lee is the project of Patrick Flegel, formerly of Women. Typically a band, last night (November 18) it was just Flegel, who took the...