alternative | Snapshots and Needle Drops

Spotlights exhibit Montreal Place des Arts, Quartier des Spectacles

I Love Montreal, and Montreal Likes Me Okay

November 21, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Like Jonah inside the whale, I am writing to you from inside the belly of a Greyhound. Okay scratch that- I was writing to you from the belly of a Greyhound travelling from Montreal to Ottawa, but then we made that dreaded stop in Kirkland and the bus filled up. Between my backpack and my new seat-mate with her overly large coat, there was no room for my blogging adventures. I am now writing to you instead from my destination, the (clogged […]

Categories: Alternative, Indie, Rock • Tags: alternative, Canada, Imagine Dragons, indie, Montreal, music, night photography, photography, Rock

Gracias a la Vida

November 5, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

I have just returned from the most spectacular trip to Mexico for my cousin’s wedding. Everything was sensational. I still have the Mexican sun on my skin and hair and its sand in all my clothes and shoes. Mexico and I do have a give-and-take relationship however, and a part of me has been left there as well- flying around in what I’m sure is close to a thousand mosquitos. This is merely one of 1305 photos I took, of […]

Categories: Alternative, Americana, Indie, Pop, Rock, singer-songwriter • Tags: Air Traffic Controller, alternative, Americana, color, colour, indie, Mexico, music, photography, pop, Rock, shoes, sing-songwriter, 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

The Mumford Effect

September 24, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Three days ago Mumford and Sons released their much-anticipated second album, Babel. Okay, here’s the thing: I haven’t actually listened to it yet apart from the single “I Will Wait” and the leaked tunes from a few months ago. So… I kinda dropped the ball on that one. From what I can remember though, the songs followed the Mumford standard: start slow- then, with rustic fervour, get faster and faster and faster. Really though, you’ve got nothing to worry, it’ll just more of […]

Categories: Acoustic, Alternative, Americana, Folk, Indie, Rock • Tags: alternative, Americana, banjo, banjo style, Canada, entertainment, farm, folk, folk groups, lumineers, Mumford and Sons, music, Ontario, photography, Rock, The Lumineers

In the Sticks

September 17, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

I tend to have unrealistic expectations when a favourite band comes out with a new album. I’m always expecting to hear something that I both immediately love and is a big step away from their previous stuff. These things are rarely ever compatible. Fortunately, as these artists have already won my favour I stick it out for a few rounds on “repeat all.” For Mother Mother’s newest The Sticks, which is set to release tomorrow, it only took one additional listen before I […]

Categories: Alternative, Canadian, Indie, Rock, Unreleased • Tags: album release, alternative, British Columbia, Canada, Canadian, indie, music, nature, photography, Rock, travel, unreleased, Whistler

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

Breezy Vibes

July 22, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Last June I wrote about Bahamas, a Torontonian artist who’s real name was (and still is, actually) Afie Jurvanen. I’ve since learnt that Mr. Jurvanen was actually raised in my hometown of Barrie, Ontario! That is crazy. Do you know who comes from Barrie? Hockey players, figure skaters, Stockwell Day, that girl from Radio Free Roscoe, and now Bahamas. What an addition! As I said last June, Bahamas’ first album is filled with easygoing songs that are short and sweet, […]

Categories: Alternative, Canadian, Folk, Indie, singer-songwriter • Tags: alternative, Bahamas, Barrie, Canada, Canadian, entertainment, folk, music, photography, singer-songwriter, summer, vacation

Locked: A Crash Course on Coldplay

July 11, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

The love locks of Paris. It seems like everyone has an opinion on Coldplay. Today, I asked a good friend what hers was. Mixed reviews it seems. My opinion? Let me say this about Coldplay, they are the only artist that I have gone out and bought every one of their albums. This is saying something as I currently have some 1,633 different artists on my itunes. The “too mainstream” argument, which is often used against Coldplay, is one I can’t […]

Categories: Acoustic, Alternative, Pop, Rock, singer-songwriter • Tags: Acoustic, album review, alternative, Coldplay, France, love, music, Paris, photography, pop, Rock, travel

Snapshots and Needle Drops

Music meets international photography.

Tag: alternative