Reviews: Shawna Virago, The Psyatics

Take a look at our full reviews for ‘Heaven Sent Delinquent,’ the latest album by Shawna Virago, and ‘Famous Monsters’ by The Psyatics.

Heaven Sent Delinquent – Shawna Virago (Click for our full review on Mobtreal)

Virago’s songwriting offers vivid, idiosyncratic and often quite funny imagery. There’s a raw and emotional honesty, but it’s far from maudlin. Her guitar-playing is lively, her vocals confident, and her lyrics sly.

Famous Monsters – The Psyatics (Click for our full review on MobToronto)

There’s an infectiousness to the trio’s restless scraping and screaming, as these tracks burst at the seams with verve and surprising versatility. The occasional unexpected tinges of jazz (such as Gene Howley’s saxophone on “Voices in My Head”) sometimes creep in to keep the listener on their toes, as do Danielle Bell’s complementary vocals on the vitriolic duet “Pet Names.” Overall, the album is a satisfying and often darkly funny trek across a strange, hellish landscape populated by creeps and psychopaths.