08
A RT S & CU LTU R E |
N OVEM B ER 0 9, 2017
TH E O NTA R I O N
The haunting mystery of Timber Timbre GOTHIC GROUP GOES DYSTOPIAN ON NEW RECORD C L AU D I A I D Z I K
Hailing from Toronto and Montreal, Timber Timbre sports a recurring haunting, mysterious, and gothic theme throughout their six albums. Vocalist Taylor Kirk is the mastermind behind the dark lyrics, while band members Simon Trottier and Mathieu Charbonneau use a combination of instruments to create a haunting, cinematic experience for the listener. I spoke with Charbonneau about the band’s influences and their newest album, Sincerely,
Future Pollution. Throughout the years, Timber Timbre has seen success with their previous albums. Creep on Creepin’ On and Hot Dreams were both shortlisted for Canada’s Polaris Music Prize in 2011 and 2014, respectively. With Sincerely, Future Pollution, released in early 2017, the band took a new approach. On this record, “We still came up with some songs, but it was looser in terms of the arrangement and the structures and the sounds that were being used,” said Charbonneau. “We did a lot of researching together, and we played a lot for three months, almost every day. The sounds are different from what we’ve been using. I think the sounds also influenced the writing.” The band is prone to recording albums in unconventional studios
PHOTO COURTESY OF KILLBEAT
Timber Timbre’s new record draws on gloomy current affairs.
that influence the theme of their albums. Sincerely, Future Pollution was recorded at La Frette Studios, a 200-year-old mansion just north of Paris, France. “We don’t get to go home at night and go back to our lives,” said Charbonneau. “It gives a vibe to the recording.” Along with the old-century vibe, La Frette Studios came with
an array of unexplored instruments and vintage synths, which allowed the band to experiment with new sounds. “We were using really weird machines,” said Charbonneau. Along with Oberheim synths, the band tried their hand at electronic drums. “Electronic drums is something that we’ve never had any experience with,
and we did a lot with that too.” Timber Timbre recorded their latest album during the time of the U.S. election, which inspired the dark lyrics on some of the tracks. “It was a little hard to do anything that wasn’t influenced by these events,” Charbonneau said. Throughout the album, Timber Timbre creates its own dystopian world that highlights a dark, monochromatic future. The album “was written in the fear that it would happen like this.” It’s clear that Timber Timbre will not stray from their gothic, cinematic tone anytime soon. The band has branded itself with dark themes, and the newest album definitely embraces that. Timber Timbre plays Mitchell Hall on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Weezer enjoys a Pacific Daydream WEEZER RELEASES REFRESHING NEW ALBUM K AT I E S TO K E S
Weezer frontman Cuomo loves dabbling in different styles — although fans aren’t always interested.
WEEZER’S 1994 self-titled debut, nicknamed The Blue Album, had hits like “Buddy Holly,” “Say it Ain’t So,” and “Undone — The Sweater Song” playing out of car radios and walkmans everywhere. Now, almost 24 years later, Weezer has released Pacific Daydream, which offers brand new sounds for Weezer fans. Lead single “Feels Like Summer,” released in early March, rode the charts for 26 weeks. The layers of background vocals and unique electronic style in “Feels Like Summer” make it sound almost like a dance track. It’s just one of the many songs on this album that stray from the typical genre their fans are used to hearing. Other tracks on this album, such as “Happy Hour,” follow a
similar style, with catchy choruses and echoing background vocals. “Happy Hour,” along with “Beach Boys,” provides a chill, upbeat sound that would appeal to listeners who may not have been Weezer fans before. Many pop music fans might hear some of these songs on the radio and not recognize them as Weezer. Despite the unmistakable vocals of lead singer Rivers Cuomo, the overall result of Pacific Daydream greatly differs from their most notable songs from the ’90s and early 2000s. The album definitely demonstrates the group’s range and ability to adapt to the rise of electronic pop and other genres. Fans can get a whole new take on Weezer, while still enjoying their classic albums.
PHOTO EDITED BY ALORA GRIFFITHS
THE MANY FACES OF RIVERS CUOMO
1994
“Holiday” T his Blue Album cut goes deep on Beach Boys-esque vocal harmonies, with an extended breakdown reminiscent of “Good Vibrations.”
1996
“Falling for You” Pinkerton drew from Italian opera, and this tune is regarded as one of Weezer’s most accomplished, featuring multiple key changes.
A timeline of Weezer’s weirdest moments |
2002
“Dope Nose” Not only did this Maladroit hit boast a video with loads of ridiculous motorcycle stunts, it also included lyrics like “Cheese smells so good / On a burnt piece of lamb.”
2008
“The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” “Greatest Man” switches styles every few bars, mashing up rap, metal, and rockabilly.
W I L L W E L L I N G TO N
2009
“Love is the Answer” This one takes the cake on Raditude, an album that also features Lil Wayne. “Love” features sitars, and a verse by Amrita Sen, who performed “Jai Ho” at the 2009 Academy Awards.
2016
“ Thank God for Girls” In one of Weezer’s best post-Pinkerton tracks. Cuomo word-vomits about cannolis, testosterone, and how “God took a rib from Adam [and] ... Microwaved it on the popcorn setting.”