travel | Snapshots and Needle Drops

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

Pont des arts et Institut de France, silhouette

Rivers and Roads

October 22, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

I love this song. I love love love this song. It’s been on heavy rotation on my itunes for the past couple weeks. The Head and the Heart give us a lovely, simple yet striking, soulful song, the real treat of which is at the it’s conclusion. The finale stars the band’s female vocalist Charity Rose Theilen who is backed by male ‘ahh’-ing and scant but powerful drum beats. Just listen to it. It’s stunning. This photo was taken on […]

Categories: Americana, Folk, Indie, Rock • Tags: Americana, folk, France, head and the heart, indie, Institut de France, music, Paris, photography, Pont des Arts, Rock, The Head and the Heart, travel

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

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

Sepia, close up girl in sunglasses, street photography

All I Ever Wanted Was the World

August 27, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

I recently wrote about the joys of listening to country music while cruising down rural roads. And while I am ‘a little bit country,’ I’m really a lot more pop. I usually associate driving with pop music. Undoubtably the result of my local radio stations that typically live in their happy place of top 10 hits, occasionally wading further into top 40 waters. As much as I complain, however, I still secretly love rocking out to the latest and greatest pop […]

Categories: Alternative, Dance, Dreamwave, Electronic, Electropop, Indie, New Wave, Pop, singer-songwriter, Synthpop • Tags: b&w photography, Barcelona, black and white photography, dance, electropop, indie, Marina & the Diamonds, music, photography, pop, singer-songwriter, Spain, Synthpop, travel, vacation

Dancing Concert Girl sitting on shoulders, The Black Keys

Best of the Fest: Osheaga 2012

August 17, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Alright so Osheaga was almost two weeks ago now…… buuuut how timely was I with that closing ceremony post!? eh?…. ehhh? In a city renown for its music, the crowning jewel of Montreal’s indie-scene is the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival. Launched in 2006 with 25,000 concert-goers this month’s edition hosted more than 120,000 fans. This was even a big jump from last year’s 80,000. I believe the most integral part of any live show is its audience. Joy is contagious, […]

Categories: Concert Pics, Electronic, Electropop, Indie, Pop, Rock, Synthpop • Tags: 2012, Canada, colbert report, concert, concert photography, electric, electropop, entertainment, festival, Montreal, music, Osheaga, osheaga music festival, Passion Pit, photography, pop, Rock, Synthpop, travel

Punk Over Pomp: London 2012

July 30, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

So the Games are well underway. The Opening Ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympics took place three days ago. Does that mean I’m too late to write about? Probably. Do I care? Not really. I love the Games. You can watch an entire day’s worth of events and almost feel like you had a vaguely athletic day. It’s also incredible how we all turn into sport aficionados passing judgement from the couch: “They started out too fast…” “Stick your landing!” “Ohhh that splash […]

Categories: Alternative, Pop • Tags: 2012 Olympics, Big Ben, British Music, England, entertainment, Lily Allen, London, London 2012, london 2012 olympics, Mr. Bean, Muse, music, Olympics, Opening Ceremonies, photography, travel, United Kingdom, vacation

Pink balls street decor of Montreal gay village

Summer Anthem

July 16, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Return of the short posts! Icona Pop’s “I Love It” has turned into my summer anthem for 2012. I listen to it when I run, drive, let loose… pretty much all the time. Now, usually when “I Love It” gets played, someone interjects with “I prefer this one” and links through “Manners” by the same group. “Manners” is awesome- but it ain’t my summer anthem. However, because I’m feeling generous, I’ll link it through as well. Like many good bands, this duo […]

Categories: Alternative, Dance, Electronic, Indie, Pop • Tags: Canada, dance, electric, entertainment, Icona Pop, Montreal, music, photography, pop, ste catherine, summer, summer anthem, summer songs, Swedish, travel, vacation

Snapshots and Needle Drops

Music meets international photography.

Tag: travel