Sandman Viper Command’s debut album, Everybody See This, is that sort of rare debut album. It’s that sort of album with just the right amount of garage pop and guitar rock, where your fingers can’t help but follow along with the beat. It’s that sort of album that you find yourself listening to on repeat. It’s that sort of album that leaves you wanting more.

It's a rare experience to sleep in the gutted church turned recording studio while creating your band's sophomore effort, but the members of Make Your Exit, who share an almost brotherly alliance, did just that. It's impossible to avoid appreciating the effort put into every aspect of the album and the emotional investment found at every stitch and corner.

When you hear "I know she didn't mean it did i do something wrong?" you get sucked into the mellow mood found in the song Kid. It only takes a few very personal words for Still Life Still to hit you hard and feel for the subject of their songs. It's personal, it's sometimes apologetic and you'll want to know why.

This is the first release by East York bred band Still Life Still. The Pastel EP is a quick premature introduction to one of Arts & Crafts freshest signings.

Earlier in the year I had heard much about the five-piece rock presence that is the Arkells. It wasn't until I followed up and checked out the work of the Hamilton based group in addition to seeing them live that I was pumped to see where these guys were heading. This anticipation was furthered after seeing them blow everyone away at their Canadian Music Week showcase at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, and then cover Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" in the MuchMusic studio at this year's MMVA Aftermath party. After all of this and personally hearing the guys in the band talk about their upcoming record, I knew I had to get a copy when it came out. That record is finally here. Released October 28th, 2008 on Dine Alone Records the Arkells' first full-length studio album Jackson Square hit stores.

You'd think after so many years in the punk rock business, Burlington’s Saint Alvia (previously known as The Saint Alvia Cartel) might want to take a break, have a sandwich, and just relax a bit. Coming off the immense success of their debut album in the spring of 2007, I’ll even argue these guys deserve a bit of laurel resting.

Yeah sure, American Idol is alright, but what about the bad singers? Like it or not, it’s the bad, or rather, unconventional singers that make the world go ‘round. Where would we be without Mick Jones’s quavering tenor? Or how about Joey Ramone’s shouty, monotonous drone? Gordan Gano’s quivering falsetto can be called unorthodox, at best, to say nothing of the tuneless cacophony of Johnny Rotten. The point is this—music, especially punk music, could not survive without bad singers.

Like any new love, Peter Katz’ and the Curious’ latest release, More Nights, brings feelings of giddiness and goose bumps as the Torontonian’s warm and inviting voice envelopes the room. Knees weaken, blood rushes and thumbs ache as they repeat repeat repeat the poetic verses on the iPods containing them.

If you've never heard of The Populars, you're may be in for a pleasant surprise. The band, made up of Dave Klym, Ernie Basiliadas and Ben Wilson has been around for six years and has enjoyed limited success. Although their 2005 debut The Vindicator LP did not receive much press, many who heard the album had been waiting anxiously for their next release.

"Hey, is this that girl from the Old Navy commercials?" my friend asked as she pondered the music that had been playing unobtrusively in the background of my apartment. Two more visitors will ask the same thing before I begin to fully understand how much one Toronto artist has penetrated the subconscious of the masses.