Eminem: Still the best!

Love him or hate him, Eminem aka Marshall Mathers, is arguably one of the most successful, and with that, most controversial rap artists in history. Not only is he one of the first white rappers to be accepted into the hip-hop community, his career is continually subjected to intense media scrutiny. Multi-million record sales and multiple Grammy wins aside, he has enjoyed widely-covered confrontations with pop stars, on-going lawsuit battles with his ex-wife and mother, and has been called everything from being gratuitously offensive and violent to being branded as a serial homophobe and a misogynist.

Needless to say, these are not the reasons why I love his music. I came to know Eminem’s music about eight years ago, when the soundtrack to the movie 8 mile first came out, and may I just say, that for someone like myself, whose rap knowledge was almost non-existent, I was completely struck by the level of intensity of the music, with its raw edginess, sung in an unapologetic, “in-your-face” defiance – never had I heard such a profound visceral quality in any popular form. And unlike some the other rap artists I’ve heard, nothing compares to Eminem’s enormously distinctive style: there is melody, form and structure. His rapping style is very unique: with his signature nasal quality, his rhyming patterns, speech rhythms and word alliterations - even when emphasizing syllables and word accents, are characteristically “Eminem” – stylistically distinctive and very musical.

Aside from the clever cover art -- his portrait constructed mosaic-like from all kinds of prescription pills – Relapse: Refill remains somewhat of an autobiographical saga: part truth, part fiction, peppered with personal revelations. As long-time friend and producer Dr. Dre states, “It’s hard core, it’s dark comedy, it’s what Eminem has always been…” On this 2-disc set, many tracks chronicle his near-destruction by prescription and non-prescription drugs. Some begin with spoken-dialogue vignettes or scenes that melodramatic, comedic, violent, or horror-filled in nature, which sets the stage for the song that follows. That said, some tracks are definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Finally, in the words of another great legend, whose duet with Eminem in “Stan” was by far, one of the most memorable opening numbers in the history of the Grammy Awards ceremonies, Elton John sums it up brilliantly:

“Eminem is a true poet of this time, someone we’ll be talking about for decades to come. He tells stories in such a powerful and distinctive way. As a lyricist, he’s one of the best ever. Eminem does for his audience what Dylan did for his: He writes how he feels. His anger, vulnerability and humor come out. That’s why we look forward to listening to Eminem’s lyrics and finding out where the hell he’s headed next.”

Book of the Month - Cutting for Stone

A book that has left such a deep and long-lasting impression on me is this month’s Book of the Month, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Unfortunately for me, powerhouse novels such as this, is a rarity, so when I do stumble across one, I am completely blown away by its masterful storytelling.

Briefly, this monumental tale begins with Sister Mary Joseph Praise, a beautiful South Asian nun, who gives birth to conjoined twins in a mission hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Their mother dies and the father, a British surgeon named Thomas Stone disappears. Thus sets the stage for this epic saga, chronicling the lives of twin brothers, Marion and Shiva Stone.

Separated at birth, the twins grow up in Ethiopia, during the tumultuous reign of Emperor Haile Selasisse, and it is here that Verghese introduces the reader to the ancient and exotic world of Ethiopia with all its flavors, colors, scents and sounds. These vivid descriptions of Ethiopian history and culture are wonderfully balanced with the rich and intriguing descriptions of the main characters in the novel: Indian expatriate doctors raising their adopted twin sons, born to an Indian nun and American surgeon, with the help of an Eritrean caretaker and her own daughter – a girl, whose impact on the boys’ lives is very profound and irreversible.

Major themes like the nature of love and loss, separation and displacement; Christianity and the ministry of healing are masterfully handled, and never overshadow the fact that this is, at its core, the absolutely unforgettable story of two brothers, Shiva and Marion.

Montreal: Music festivals galore!

As summer gears up into full swing, so are the music festivals in Montreal. First up, a festival that is very close to my heart is the Festival de musique Montreal baroque. Into it’s sixth season, the festival begins June 20th-23rd in various venues in and around Old Montreal. Entitled, “Syrup, Silk, Saffron” the unifying theme for this year’s festival is the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City by the French. Montreal Baroque not only celebrates the wealth French culture brings (“syrup”), but also it’s effect on other vibrant cultures in Montreal, from Europe, South America, and the Caribbean, to Asia, the Middle East and beyond (hence the “silk” and “saffron”) There are many concerts (many that are free), and lectures given by leading world-renowned Baroque musicians and scholars, on all kinds of musical topics, from Klezmer, and the art of Indian tabla improvisations, to 18th century Irish harp music, and the splendours of Bach. So, come and be transported to distant and exotic musical lands, from the enchanting East to the worldly West, by the wonderful sounds of Baroque music.

If, however, baroque music is not your cup of tea, then head down to the 29th Montreal International Jazz Festival, from June 26th – July 6th . For eleven days, jazz music, with all its related off-shoots of musical styles will be celebrated with gusto. This year’s festival is dedicated to jazz giant, the late great Oscar Peterson, and there will be many tributes in his honour. Also of note, on the heels of his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, our very own Leonard Cohen will receive the Montreal International Jazz Festival's third Spirit Award this year, which honours musical quality and innovation

Finally, if jazz is just not your thing, then perhaps a little world music? The 22nd Festival International Nuits d’Afrique 2008 starts July 8 -20, and it is spectacular. With over 500 musicians, singers, dancers and artists from different countries expected to perform, the Festival International Nuits d'Afrique is North America's premiere showcase of African and Caribbean culture. If for any reason you cannot experience the gift of live music at any one of these festivals, than certainly come and sample some of our very excellent recordings in baroque, jazz and world music.

Canadian Music's biggest night

Well, celebrating music this side of the border is in full swing. Basking in the afterglow of this year’s Grammys, is the 2008 Juno Awards, Canada’s top musical honours, celebrating the best and brightest in Canadian music. Those in the know seem to think that this year’s gala will center around four top contenders: punk/hard-rocker Avril Lavigne, mega-superstar diva Céline Dion, indie darling singer-songwriter Feist and smooth jazz crooner Michael Bublé.

Comedian Russell Peters will host this year’s awards from Calgary and live performances by Feist, Michael Bublé, Avril Lavigne, Anne Murray and Measha Brueggergosman among others are also slated for the evening’s entertainment. So, if you are either a die-hard Canadian music fan or just a curious on-looker, (or fall anywhere in between), then take a look on April 6th to see what it’s all about. It is an informative, entertaining and inexpensive way to know the “Who’s who” of the Canadian music scene, as well as to experience a slice of Canada’s music culture at it’s best. And of course, it goes without saying, if you like what you hear, then certainly come in and sample our ever-growing collection of Canadian music. Look for the upcoming 2008 Juno Nominees display coming soon.

Music’s biggest month

If ever there was an exciting month for music, February would be it. Where do I begin? The 50th Annual Grammy Awards, East Coast Music Awards, and the Academy Awards. Starting with the Grammys, (Music’s biggest night), this has become such a phenomenal event, watched by millions all over the world. Always creating the most buzz are the performances – it’s all about the performances – and this year’s opener did not disappoint. With the magic of technology, who could have imagined Alicia Keys singing a duet with Frank Sinatra? Another performance which really was quite memorable for me wasa Turner’s and Beyonce’s rendition of “Proud Mary” – two absolute goddesses of Soul/R&B, proving to the world once again, that at any age, when you’ve got it, flaunt it! And of course, there was the much talked about, much-anticipated performance of British singer Amy Winehouse, who performed via satellite from London. Despite her recent publicized troubles, she walked away with five Grammys, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. In contrast, however, the not-so-obvious was wonderfully highlighted this year, when Herbie Hancock walked away with Album of the Year for his River: The Joni Letters. This certainly was one of the biggest surprises and upsets of the evening, over the much-favored Graduation by Kanye West.

And now for something completely different on this side of the border. Fredericton, New Brunswick hosted the 20th Annual East Coast Music Awards. This four-day extravaganza of multi-genre musical performances, conference events and workshops, honoured the best in music from the Atlantic region. Hats off to 6-time winner, Halifax band Joel Plaskett Emergency, as well as double award winners Dave Gunning, the Rankin Family, Jamie Sparks and Rose Cousins. If you are not too familiar with any of these names, then check out CBC television on March 2nd at 7:00 p.m.: Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies will host a one-hour special featuring the very best musical performances from the Festival. Certainly, this will be a celebration of east coast Canadian music.

Finally, on Oscar night, it will be all about the movies, but music will feature prominently, even for a short while in the best Music (Score) category. Music, as we all know, plays such a vital and integral part of the film, as it is powerful enough to heighten the drama, create relief, or describe the depths of despair. Who could forget the sweet sounds of the balalaika in “Lara’s theme” from Dr. Zhivago, or the vast sweeping landscape of Tara in Gone With the Wind? It doesn’t have to be a musical theme to be effective. What about those memorable leit-motivs, like Jaws coming in for the kill, or the screeching repetitive rhythmic pattern in Psycho? These great moments are forever etched in our memory. Interestingly, nominees for best Music (Score) include an animated film, Ratatouille, as well as four other very different films: Atonement, The Kite Runner, Micheal Clayton and 3:10 to Yuma. The fact that these scores have been short-listed, makes them all winners in my mind. So, if you would like to hear what all the buzz and excitement is about, then look for upcoming Music displays, and let yourself be the critic!