Articles by Michael Barclay

• 

  Alejandro Escovedo

  A Man Under the Influence

  PUBLISHED May 1, 2001

  Escovedo's resume is stacked with influential roots rock and punk bands, such as Rank and File, True Believers, and the Nuns - bands that a...

• 

  Old Reliable

  The Gradual Moment

  PUBLISHED May 1, 2001

  Most people who fall in love with musicians would be flattered if an album was dedicated to them. Sadly, the girlfriend of Old Reliable's M...

• 

  Cookie Duster

  Cookie Duster

  PUBLISHED May 1, 2001

  It was always a bit surprising that Change of Heart, for all their diverse musical talents, kept a tight focus on hard-driving rock'n'roll....

• 

  John Hammond

  Wicked Grin

  PUBLISHED May 1, 2001

  It's strange enough that Tom Waits accepted a production gig, it's stranger still that he produced a tribute to himself. The smooth-voiced...

• 

  Kevin Quain

  Tequila Vampire Matinee

  PUBLISHED May 1, 2001

  On his second album, Kevin Quain - a weekly fixture at Toronto's bohemian Cameron House - takes some baby steps away from an all-too-obviou...

• 

  Bangs

  Sweet Revenge

  PUBLISHED Apr 1, 2001

  The sheer rock'n'roll exhilaration provided by this Olympia trio is summed up perfectly in the 47-second opening track, "Fast Easy Love." B...

• 

  Binge

  Il Cattivo

  PUBLISHED Apr 1, 2001

  In the Canadian tradition of Shadowy Men and Huevos Rancheros, this is an instrumental outfit (although with one more guitarist than either...

• 

  Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire

  The Swimming Hour

  PUBLISHED Apr 1, 2001

  Andrew Bird's first two albums were impeccable, traditional hot jazz records that naturally got lumped in with the swing revival, right alo...