Soul | Snapshots and Needle Drops

Top of the Drops 2012

December 30, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Music and I got off to a rocky start in 2012. Most of the new releases from early 2012 left me underwhelmed. Everyone seemed to be wrapped up in a big electro-techno wave that I was not whole-heartedly on board for. While I see these genres as great platforms for creativity and modernity, the majority of it does little to captivate me. This disheartened attitude took a turn for the better in the summer when I started discovering amazing new […]

Categories: Acoustic, Alternative, Americana, anti-folk, British, Canadian, Dance, Electropop, Experimental, Folk, Indie, Lists, Pop, Rock, Sample, singer-songwriter, Soul, Synthpop, Unsigned • Tags: 2012, Acoustic, alternative, Americana, best of, best of 2012, British, Canadian, dance, electropop, entertainment, experimental, folk, indie, list, music, photography, photos, pop, Rock, singer-songwriter, soul

Hometown, Snowbound

November 27, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Winter has arrived to my neck of the literal woods. I’ve been away for a few days and I returned to find the green and brown landscape thickly blanketed in white. For some reason, the arrival of snow every year brings about a seasonal change in my taste of music. Like switching from rosé to red wine, my music preferences become a lot heavier. My appreciation grows for a strong, honest voice and beautiful, heavy orchestration. Out with the easygoing troubadours and […]

Categories: Canadian, singer-songwriter, Soul, Uncategorized • Tags: Canada, Canadian, icicle, music, nature, Ontario, photography, photos, singer-songwriter, soul, winter

Floating Heads by Sophy Cave, Kelvingrove, Glasgow

Halloween and the Machine

October 31, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

I am writing to you… from the passsst. OooooOOOOoooooo. Okay but seriously, I’m writing this a week in advance because on the 31st I will be neck deep in Mayan clay and jumping around in the ocean. Wahoooooooo! I also have to be up in 4 hours so Imma make this brief- I CAN DO IT ALL (within reason!) My more attentive readers might remember when I did a review of Florence and the Machine’s Ceremonials last year for the […]

Categories: Baroque Pop, Indie, Pop, Rock, Soul • Tags: album review, Florence and the Machine, Glasgow, halloween, museums, music, photography, Scotland, travel

Sweater Weather

October 15, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Well it’s happened. The temperature has dropped, the leaves are falling, decorative gourds line entrances to grocery stores and I’ve been consuming pumpkin-flavoured treats with gusto. I spent a good couple hours today unpacking my sweaters and sorting through my summer things. Keep, donate, discard- I have packrat tendencies so the vast majority of my attire fell into the first category. I’m so bad that I’ve even developed a clothing “limbo” tote where I keep the clothes I’m borderline about. Every few […]

Categories: Alternative, Experimental, Hip Hop, Indie, Soul • Tags: alternative, Autumn, Canada, experimental, fall, hip hop, indie, music, photography, soul, sweaters, The Neighbourhood

Looking through the keyhole at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

October 8, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

“Skyfall” is a 13-second word in the hands of Ms. Adele. Along with producer Paul Epworth, Adele channels her inner Shirley Bassey for the theme of the next instalment of the James Bond film series. Unlike the past few themes, tackled by the likes of Madonna, Sheryl Crow, Jack White, Alicia Keys and U2, Adele’s efforts hark back to the 60s ballades with femme fetale splendour. Calm but always dynamic, the song unravels itself with the cinematic lush and grandor we’ve come to […]

Categories: Dreamwave, Pop, singer-songwriter, Soul, Soundtrack, Symphonic • Tags: 007, Adele, Edinburgh, History, James Bond, james bond film, music, photography, pop, Scotland, Skyfall, soul, soundtrack, travel, vacation

Kanye’s Point of View

October 1, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

At the moment, my friend J is one of the 500,000 or so people in the air. He’s probably just passing over the North Pole right now. As circumstance would have it, I landed at Toronto Pearson this morning and was able to catch J before he took off for a six-month stay in Shanghai. We were sitting in front of this irritating window and he cleverly says: “It’s like Kanye Vision!” I can’t think of a single international airport I’ve been […]

Categories: Hip Hop, Motown, Rap, Sample, Soul • Tags: ads, advertising, airports, Canada, hip hop, HSBC, Jay-Z, john durham peters, Kanye, Kanye West, music, Otis, photography, Sample, soul, toronto pearson, travel, vacation

Stars of The North

September 4, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

New Stars album out today!!! Stars’ schtick is to throw roses out at their audience during concerts. They’re very much about sharing the music and the adulation. “We are Stars and so are you” is often repeated during their shows. On Facebook today they addressed fans: “This record is yours.” For concert pics and a previous post on this fav band of mine, click these words! Veteran Canadian indie rockers Stars released their sixth full-length studio album today named, The North. As you might […]

Categories: Alternative, Baroque Pop, Canadian, Electropop, Indie, Pop, Rock, Soul • Tags: alternative, Canada, Canadian, electropop, entertainment, indie, internet, Montreal, music, new music, online music, photography, pop, red roses, roses, Stars, Stars (band), streaming, The North, Wilco, yankee hotel foxtrot

Close up Nagano Olympic 1998 glass, bubbles

Closing the Games

August 12, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

The Nagano Olympics were the first Games I truly remember getting into the spirit for. I still have my skiier’s bib from a themed birthday party, where I got this awesome glass. The Olympics are so freaking cool! I can’t believe the 16 days are over; they passed so quickly. Like I said in my last post, I love the games. The events display an inspirational mix of athleticism, determination, grace and cooperation. Have you all seen the facebook post the […]

Categories: Alternative, Dreamwave, Experimental, Indie, Instrumental, New Wave, Post-Punk, Rock, Soul, Soundtrack, Symphonic • Tags: 2012 Olympics, alternative, athletes, celebrities, closing ceremonies, dreamwave, entertainment, experimental, Explosions in the Sky, George Michael, indie, instrumental, london 2012 olympics, music, new wave, Olympics, photography, post-punk, Rock, soul, soundtrack, Spice Girls, sports, symphonic

Vancouver Lovin’

May 26, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

One year ago (less two and a half weeks) I posted about Moon Balloon and how she was floating her way across the country to brighten up the skies of Vancouver. Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting her, for a second time, in her beloved new city. Three days ago it was her birthday. Happy Birthday Nams! The photo above was surreptitiously snapped of the table beside us during our beachside dinner by English Bay. Nams particularly […]

Categories: Acoustic, Folk, Soul • Tags: Canada, Ed Sheeran, food, food photography, music, photography, travel, Vancouver, west coast, wine

Snapshots and Needle Drops

Music meets international photography.

Category Archives: Soul