Today’s Sounds: The Alchemist

The concept is a gamble. This isn’t an “album,” according to hip hop architect the Alchemist. But it’s not a mixtape either. It’s not an instrumental affair, but neither is it exclusively a rap throwdown.
Rather, Russian Roulette spins a highly refined collection of loops assembled entirely from sampled Russian sounds of all genres. Unless you are an aficionado of the source material – and I certainly have no particular point of reference for it, myself – ya’ gotta just sorta trust that Alchemist’s world renowned crates could probably fill a hot Soviet block.

On tap: Now’s the season for saison

While it may seem untimely to discuss a beer style associated with finer weather as the summer draws to a close, I’d still like to draw attention to a style of beer that is perfectly suited to quashing summer thirst: saison.

The final stretch

Well, we’re nearing the end of this thing (huzzah!), and last night, Parti Québécois leader and frontrunner Pauline Marois made one thing eminently clear: She wants to turn Quebecinto a country. And she’ll need a majority government to do it.

The Queen of Versailles: Rich Irony

Time-share billionaire David Siegel and his pneumatically enhanced wife Jackie find themselves dealing with the financial crisis in this intriguing, surprising documentary from director Lauren Greenfield.

Lawless: Blood, Booze and Bros

Director John Hillcoat teams up with his The Proposition screenwriter, moonlighting goth-rock kingpin Nick Cave, for this Prohibition-era gangster film set in the backwoods of Kentucky. If you’re thinking Boardwalk Empire meets Justified, you’re not too far off.

Photos: Expérience MTL week one

Montreal’s newest music festival, Expérience MTL, began last Friday with a range of mostly Québécois bands playing on the esplanade of Olympic Park. Have a glance at this gallery from its inaugural weekend, courtesy of Sébastien Kauffmann.

Jello Biafra talks politics and punk

The Republican Convention in Tampa, Florida began on Monday, the same day hardcore punk icon Jello Biafra and his latest band, the Guantanamo School of Medicine, fled the country – only to end up in Harperland. The Canadian leg of their tour began Tuesday, and wraps up tonight at the inaugural edition of the Expérience MTL festival.

Battle of the burgers: Montreal burger week

Sorry, vegetarians, but there’s no substitute for a juicy triple-A grade burger on a soft, fresh kaiser bun (sorry, Celiac sufferers), topped with cheese (sorry, lactards), bacon (sorry, Jews and Muslims) and some sautéed mushrooms and onions (I’m not sorry).