Surf music's prodigal son returns

Jack Johnson's "Sleep Through the Static" neither sleepy nor static

I've been a fan of Johnson's since I first heard "Middle Man" on the surf movie, Loose Change. The best thing about his music is that critiques of it are pointless - at least more pointless than most. The nature of the man is laid-back, and he makes music that reflects it...

Garage Bands Gone Wild

Three Vancouver bands prove age doesn’t matter in rock 'n' roll

By Paige Thomas

A trio of up-and-coming bands from the VSAA are showcasing their Vancouver-bred talents at the PistolRoom on April 12. Often seen as a fleeting high school rite of passage,these young musicians are proving that high school garage bands canmake music worth taking seriously...

Dylan Redux

Paying homage to the almighty Dylan on the I’m Not There soundtrack

By Paige Thomas

One look at the album’s track list and Dylan’s multi-generational appeal and scope of his influence is evident—the contributing musicians range from Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Richie Havens, and Eddie Vedder to Jack Johnson, Mark Lanegan, Sufjan Stevens, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and Willie Nelson...