A long, long time ago people started doing something called, “live television.” It wasn’t called Survivor, Big Brother or anything else… it was just live television and that was all that was on. As the years have passed, that has changed to the absolute polar opposite. Today, every show that is on is pre-taped and then edited to be as catchy and marketable as possible.
Take a robot head, a dead guy, a hot chick with lizard blood and add a total wimp and you’ve got the lineup for Lexx, a fresh, totally unique and wonderfully strange show set in the furthest reaches of space. It doesn’t take long to really get into the show but if you don’t go for quirky and dark sci-fi then you’re probably going to think this is the stupidest show you’ve ever seen. It isn’t Star Trek, Red Dwarf or anything in between, but it is one of the most interesting, and cheesy shows I’ve ever seen.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve become untrustworthy on the subject of Annie Dufresne. With most artists I can maintain a certain amount of objectivity, but for the past 6 months I will admit to being a hardcore Annie fan. It’s not just about her looks though (although, come on… most heterosexual males would be hard pressed to say she isn’t a ‘babe’). She’s got enough talent in her baby finger to make Celine Dion look like a 3rd rate annoyance.
“I want to make sure that artists get paid the royalties that they need to exist. You know if you’re in the cottage industry and you make bedroom sets that’s a different story, but when you try to do rock music like my band does or REM… or whoever else, those types of records will become obsolete, or an endangered species if they are just downloaded without regulation. So regulation is needed.”
The 2000 Juno Awards were held over two nights at two different locations. The second night was the live telecast event on CBC and it was at the Skydome, which was an interesting choice of locations that wasn’t exactly easy to get around. However, it was interesting, and we have some of the pictures from the event, along with an interview with Jeff Martin from the Tea Party.
Toronto’s Edge 102 is perhaps one of the more intelligent alternative stations you’ll ever get a chance to hear. Not only do they play some of Canada’s lesser known artists but they also feature “The History of New Rock” with Alan Cross.
Sarah Hope Slean has dreamed of driving with J.D. Salinger, lusted after cellists, had her version of “Julia” played by Our Lady Peace, and was recently signed to a major record label deal with Atlantic Records (in the U.S.) and Warner Music (in Canada). Her music is a thoughtful mix of melody and inspiration that is as much act of love as passion. She builds each song up like an urban concerto, more so than many of her counterparts. So what’s next for Miss. Slean? It looks like stardom.
Hailing from Forest, Ontario, Emm Gryner has launched her third album, Science Fair, and is already receiving critical acclaim for her best work yet. Some people may have wondered what would happen after she lost her record deal to the Universal take-over of Mercury Records, but they needn’t have worried. She’s going to do it herself.
