Magazine

Independent, provocative, now! The CJLO Magazine is the resource for features, reviews, and interviews. Established in 2004, and run by dedicated CJLO volunteers, the magazine covers the latest and best in local and international music, art, theatre, film, festivals, and more!


Cadence Weapon on His New Album, Social Media, and Politics: “I Like to Stay Uncompromised”

Rapper, producer, author, and former poet laureate Rollie Pemberton - better known as Cadence Weapon - released his sixth studio album, ROLLERCOASTER, this spring via MNRK Music.

Having emerged as an artist who gave voice to issues of systemic inequality and racial disparity, particularly among Canada’s Black communities, with his 2021 Polaris Prize-winning fifth album Parallel World, Cadence Weapon returns with an urgency, addressing the dizzying contradictions of modern culture and technology with both precision and irreverence.


MIKE and Crew: Theatre Fairmount hosts an abstract hip-hop marathon

When I first heard MIKE in 2020, I was, as most first-time listeners are, surprised. At first glance, MIKE seems to be not much more than your average abstract hip-hop artist. Slurred bars laid over disjointed, chopped-up soul samples fill most of the rappers' tracks, but after a few minutes, it seems to transform. MIKE’s flows seem almost spiritual like he is nonchalantly tapping into a higher power to put any listener into some sort of jazz-rap trance. There is a friendliness buried in the soul chops and introspective bars, like a warm hug from someone you've known since childhood. With all this, it's easy to see how MIKE has hugely influenced the hip-hop scene.


Monday Nights are for Psychedelic Rock with the Allah-Las

The Allah-Las, alongside their opener Maston - who is also their keyboardist - brought over some soothing and nostalgic sounds to a receptive crowd at the Beanfield Theatre. On a chilly Monday night in Montreal, the audience immersed themselves into the Californian psychedelic rock band’s one-hour set. A musical oasis for those who have been lucky enough to stumble upon them, the Allah-Las leaves their listeners with a sense of nostalgia for a time and place most have never experienced, but long for through the band’s music.


The People's Joker Film Review

One of the most anticipated movies of the year, the sequel with the promise of a few musical numbers, is Joker: Folie À Deux starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck (Joker) and Lady Gaga as Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn). After watching the trailer multiple times, there are some interesting elements at play that are reminiscent of musicals like La La Land and All That Jazz. Fear not, I say, because to tide you over until the October release date we have Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker arriving in select cities and theatres. It will be playing in Montreal at Cinema Du Parc on April 28th at 9 PM. 


Oneohtrix Point Never Returns to Montreal

The last time Oneohtrix Point Never played a show in Montreal was 2018. Suffice to say, a lot has changed since then.


PinkPantheress Redefines Pop for a New Generation at Theatre Beanfield

Pop music seems to be in the midst of a revival of sorts. Every month, a new “internet queen of pop” seems to emerge from the constant content explosion that is TikTok, from Renee Rapp to Chappell Roan. While these artists are all pumping out fantastic back-to-back cuts, one consistently stands out from the crowd: PinkPantheress. I was introduced to PinkPantheress, as much of her fanbase was, in the summer of 2021. Breaking onto the scene with a generational run of five back-to-back singles within 3 months, it felt like nowhere on the internet was safe from her frightfully catchy hooks.


Tiny Habits at Studio TD: A Trio Whose Unparalleled Vocalization Has Created a Folk-Pop Music Group Like No Other

Imagine meeting your three best friends in post-secondary school, sharing and exploring mutual passions during the dawn of adult life and two years later turning friendly amusement and aimless conversation into a full-blown career and lifeline. Standing on stage, hand-in-hand in front of a venue of sardined-audience members was such a journey of the ever-growing, Tiny Habits. 


Destroyer Plays an Intimate, Sold-Out Set at Bar Le Ritz

Dan Bejar’s Destoryer is one of Western Canada’s biggest names in indie rock. Recording music for over twenty five years, Destroyer’s lush instrumentation and whimsical lyricism has seen many different genre shifts over the years, spanning from indie-folk to synth-heavy art pop, as Bejar and band navigate shifting inspirations and moods. 


Alice Phoebe Lou Blossoms at La Tulipe

Alice Phoebe Lou’s solo show at Montréal’s La Tulipe was certainly not one to miss, one of the best concerts I’ve ever attended. The sweetness and soulfulness that emanate from her raw vocals and lyrics are embodied by the person she is, a winsome presence who is tooth-achingly sweet, and oozes love and emotion.


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