Prior to NXNE this past week, I had the chance to speak with Andy McLean, the Managing Director and co-founder of the fest here in Toronto,  Canada. We talked festival history as well as what they look for when choosing bands from the thousands of entries they get each year. You can listen to the interview in the grand context of the New Wax Show here, or on its lonesome below.

NXNE – Andy McLean

This review originally appeared at Chartattack.com

Although they’re being touted in some circles as the new band from Crystal Castles‘ former drummer Cameron Findlay, comparisons to his former band are pointless, given they sound nothing like Parallels.

The Toronto band find a middle ground between no-wave dance-rock and ’80s synth-pop, sounding like ’80s Madonna if Pat Benatar were her backing band. Findlay holds the band in check with his lock-solid drumming, but vocalist Holly Dodson is the star here.

Her vocals soar overtop of the wall of synths and beats on tracks like “Ultralight,” delivering dark disco lyrics like “Tell me are you falling for me?/I release my hands and I let you go” through gorgeous melodies.

Sure, there’s lots of bands treading around the same water as Parallels, but is anyone doing it this well?

“Ultralight”

Parallels – Find the Fire

This post originally appeared at Chartattack.com

Hannah Georgas could be the next breakout Canadian star, or she could just as easily flame out in a ball of obscurity. So is the roll of the popular culture dice.

The point is that the title of the Vancouver singer’s This Is Good debut is actually a bit of an undersell — the record is actually quite fantastic. Georgas artfully straddles the indie/pop line like Feist and Emily Haines before her, but her personality should win over any detractors bothered by the artistic overlap. And if that doesn’t, the songs themselves should.

It’s easy to imagine opener “Chit Chat” blaring out of Starbucks speakers, or climbing up the MuchMusic Countdown; the rare bastion of “well, this is actually quite good” amongst the sea of sensitive singer-songwriters and oversexed pop-tarts. Essentially, there’s something for everyone to latch onto here.

If Georgas does hit the big-time, she’ll quickly be cast off by the indie crowd as too calculated and commercial. And if she never makes it, This Is Good will be held up as a great “should have been huge” cult album.

Either way, you should check it out now so you can say “I told you so.”

Hannah Georgas – Chit Chat

“Thick Skin”

This review originally appeared at Exclaim.ca

A year-and-a-half after it was originally due, and four years after their last LP, 2006′s Pet Grief, Sweden’s the Radio Dept. are finally unleashing this long-gestating record upon the world. While this doesn’t match Pet Grief‘s massive sonic shift, Clinging to a Scheme does see a continued evolution in the band’s sound, honing their pop chops.

Nowhere is this more apparent than on “Heaven’s On Fire,” propelled by a bouncy beat and filled with shimmering guitars. Intro-ed by a clip of Thurston Moore calling for a take down of the “bogus capitalist process” that co-ops youth culture, it’s the best thing the band have ever done. And while the rest of the album doesn’t quite live up to this early highlight, tracks like “David” and “Never Follow Suit” come dangerously close.

Johan Duncanson’s vocals continue to float above the music, which works well with these tracks. But the lackadaisical delivery contributes to making lesser tunes that much more forgettable. Although Clinging to a Scheme might not be fully worth the four-year gap, it still makes a strong argument for the wait.

The Radio Dept. – Heaven’s On Fire

Hey Kids, remember Blur? Yeah, those “Woo-hoo” guys (or for the actual kids, the guy from Gorillaz old band). Well they’re back together and the reunited quartet just released their first new track with guitarist Graham Coxon since 2000′s “Music Is My Radar,” as their contribution to Saturday’s Record Store Day. It’s pretty rad. And for all of us who were unable to find a copy of the very limited edition seven-inch, you can download the track over at their website.

Also, I would highly encourage new fans and die-hards alike to check out their recent documentary and live concert film No Distance Left to Run… you won’t regret it.

“Fool’s Day”

“No Distance Left to Run” Trailer