Okay, are you ready for it? Pixar's big movie of the summer is here, so you can assume that it's pretty much the only game in town. Toy Story 3 is no doubt as charming, funny, and moving as every Pixar movie in creation, so the fact that you are sitting here reading this suggests some deficiency on your part.

Alternatively we have Jonah Hex, yet another in a long line of less-than-known comic book adaptations that are really starting to confuse viewers with their very existence, and . . .  that's pretty much it for wide releases. 

TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBEAKERS
Mojo
www.tompetty.com
DIST: Warner Music Canada


Some time in the last few years Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers took a left turn. They have gone off the reservation and all signs indicate they aren't coming back. With Mojo, they have taken their recent freedom and experimentation to heart. The music is alive, with no overdubs or studio trickery. What you hear is what they created on the spot at that time.
Tom Petty says, "With this album, I want to show other people what I hear with the band. Mojo is where the band lives when it's playing for itself."
Mojo has juice and guts but it also has some sweet balladry for the slow dancers and even a wacked-out reggae number that is unlike anything that Heartbreakers have done before. It's the kind of album nobody's supposed to be able to make anymore. It got here just in time. The first single off Mojo is “I Should Have Known It.”TRACKLISTING:

Friday

Galerie McKenzie Marcotte is pleased to present "Figures of Speech," a series of abstract paintings by John F. Marok. Everyone is welcome to the vernissage on Friday June 11 at 7 pm. The exhibition will continue until July 5 2010. 26 Sully Rd. in Wakefield Qc.

Wurm Gallery / Invisible Cinema presents:
Saudade: Tales of Longing - New Paintings by Sherry Garcia
One Month Exhibit
June 11 - July 7, 2010
Opening Night: Friday June 11th, 2010 8pm
Bonus: Drinks, Snacks & Tunes
319 Lisgar St.

Friday and Saturday

On June 11th and 12th at Arts Court Theatre (2 Daly Ave. Ottawa, ON), Propeller Dance presents "Shedding Light", an evening of original performance works by Propeller Dance Company and a showcase of our recreational program, shedding light on the beauty, inspiration and pure artistry of integrated dance. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15
for students/low-income and are on sale now at the Arts Court Box office - 613-564-7240. Doors open at 6:30 for the silent auction (silent auction payment by cash and cheque only). Show starts at 7:30pm.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA
BIONIC
www.christinaaguilera.com/
Dist: Sony Music Canada


With 30 million albums sold worldwide and the prestigious honor of being the only artist under the age of 30 included in Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 100 greatest singers of all time, 5-time Grammy Award winner Christina Aguilera has already achieved an unprecedented level of success. Aguilera’s been hard at work in the studio for the past year and is pleased to release her highly anticipated 4th studio album Bionic. The first single from Bionic is the fiercely energetic anthem “Not Myself Tonight”, produced by Polow Da Don. Bionic features songs co-written by Aguilera along with her much buzzed about collaborations including Sia, Tricky Stewart, Polow Da Don, Le Tigre, Hill & Switch, and Ladytron among others.TRACKLISTING:

It's a distinct possibility that I did given that I spent much of Will's seduction of Sue hiding my face at the cringe-wonder of it all, but I completely did not understand the confrontation/problem between Mercedes and Quinn in last night's episode of Glee, "Funk." Mercedes thinks that Quinn cannot bring the funk because she's not black? And then Quinn sings "It's a Man's World," which is offensive to Mercedes because Quinn's not black? And then Quinn apologizes for thinking she might have insight into being marginalized because she's pregnant, which is not the same as being black?

Am I getting that right? I feel like there was some interstitial scene that I missed where Quinn literally compared the two (and did anyone else feel like the characters were being extra-super literal last night?) instead of saying that she, too, has both soul and anger and an interest in expressing those feelings through song. Because otherwise that's every episode, and I'm not seeing the disconnect. Upshot, Quinn is moving in with Mercedes.

Also on the plus side, I actually enjoyed seeing Terri last night. She's had little screen time since the spring return, but the writers seem to have a clearer idea of how to use her in a way that isn't shallow and offensive. But the maddest props naturally go to any use of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, which Finn apparently found by "typing funk into the iTunes."

JACK JOHNSON
To The Sea
jackjohnsonmusic.com
Dist: Universal Music Canada


With over 18 million albums sold world wide Jack Johnson releases his 5th studio album,To The Sea. Featuring the first single “You And Your Heart”. To The Sea was co-produced by Johnson, his bandmates bassist Merlo Podlewski, keyboardist Zach Gill, and drummer Adam Topol, and Johnson’s longtime engineer Robert Carranza. The album was recorded at Johnson’s two solar-powered studios: The Mango Tree in Hawaii and the Solar Powered Plastic Plant in Los Angeles.
TRACKLISTING:

THE DEAD WEATHER
Sea Of Cowards
www.thedeadweather.com
Dist: Warner Music Canada

PRODUCED BY: JACK WHITE


The Dead Weather are back with the release of their sophomore album Sea Of Cowards. The band exploded onto the music scene early last year with a stunning debut that combined the furious talents of members Alison Mosshart (vocals/ guitar), Jack White (vocals/drums), Jack Lawrence (bass/drums) and Dean Fertita (guitar/organ). Horehound was an exhilarating and electrifying introduction to the band, a gritty blues-driven dirge rock masterpiece. Now, less than a year later, the follow-up is ready to be unleashed.

Sea Of Cowards is a robust and vigorous second act, filled with primal, bone quaking rock rhythms and the same stellar urban blues and throbbing sleaze as its predecessor; but this time The Dead Weather push their sound even further, brilliantly building upon their raw chemistry to create the most vital sounding album you’ll hear all year.TRACKLISTING:

TONI BRAXTON
Pulse
www.tonibraxton.com
Dist: Warner Music Canada


She has record sales in excess of 40 million, a trophy shelf groaning under the weight of six Grammys, and international smashes with the likes of 'Breathe Again', 'He Wasn't Man Enough' and of course 'Un-Break My Heart'. Now, she's back with her Atlantic Records debut album, Pulse. Pulse looks to be Toni's most powerful and personal musical statement to date. Braxton personally chose to collaborate with a veritable who's-who of red-hot producers and songwriters, including Frank E, Steve Mac, Lucas Secon, Harvey Mason & Oak, Troy Taylor, Dapo Torimiro, and David Foster.TRACKLISTING:

HANNAH GEORGAS
This Is Good
www.hannahgeorgas.com
Dist: EMI Music Canada


Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Hannah Georgas is the new love of your life – and she won’t break your heart. Her voice, bittersweet yet as spunky as an indie film heroine, will make you swoon as she sings about love, language and awkward situations.

Her full-length debut album, aptly called This Is Good, was produced by Howard Redekopp (Mother Mother, Said The Whale, Tegan and Sara) and Ryan Guldemond(Mother Mother).

This Is Good is a warm, whimsical collection of pop-roots songs, but it also offers a hint of Hannah’s secret life as a dancefloor diva. “Your Ghost” is about duplicity, while “Shine” is a celestial missive initially written for a car commercial. (It didn’t make the cut, but did appear on an episode of one of Hugh Dillon’s many TV shows.) “Come On The Dancefloor” feels like an electro-punk number. “I love to dance and I just wanted to write a song that would inspire people to rip it up on the dancefloor,” she says.

With a year of upcoming tours and as of yet untold surprises to come, you can count on seeing and hearing much more of Hannah Georgas in 2010 and beyond.

Read (Cult)ure's interview with Hannah.

MGMT
Congratulations
www.whoismgmt.com
Dist: Sony Music Canada


One of 2010’s most eagerly anticipated new releases, Congratulations is the successor to MGMT’s oracular Spectacular, the 2008 debut album that established the band’s potential as a visionary force in pop music. Congratulations is a collection of nine individual music tours de force sequenced to flow with sonic and thematic coherence. Produced by MGMT and Sonic Boom. Congratulations was recorded throughout 2009 is upstate New York, Malibu, and Brooklyn. With Congratulations, MGMT unlock a new musical world whirling in its own space/time-grid infused with hints of music from the past five decades. Soulful and complex, Congratulations is a surprising and delightful quantum step forward in MGMT’s ongoing pop revolution.TRACKLISTING:

SLASH
Slash
www.slashonline.com
Dist: Universal Music Canada


In what will be his first true solo album, rock icon Slash announced his new CD, Slash, will feature an all-star roster of guest musicians including Ian Astbury, Chris Cornell, Rocco DeLuca, Fergie, Dave Grohl, Myles Kennedy, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmeister, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Duff McKagan, M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, and Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother.

A major undertaking for Slash, he enlisted services of producing partner Eric Valentine (Queens of Stone Age, The All-American Rejects) and compiled a rhythm section of bassist Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction) and drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails). Slash handled the majority of arranging and songwriting duties and handpicked each guest artist. The album’s guests worked collaboratively with Slash to round out the song.

"The idea was really simple in the beginning," said Slash. "These are all artists I wanted to work with – that I thought it would be amazing to do something creative and collaborative. And I was so impressed with what everyone brought to the table. They were all so committed to doing a good job. And we had a lot of fun making these songs."TRACKLISTING:

USHER
Raymond V Raymond
www.usherworld.com
Dist: Sony Music Canada

With over 27 million albums sold worldwide, usher is back with his 7th album, Raymond V Raymond. Following the success of his gold selling 2008 release Here I Stand, Raymond V Raymond takes you on a journey through the dichotomy of a man. Raymond V Raymond opens up another chapter of usher’s coming of age as he tells the story of balancing the challenges of day-to-day life as an evolving man while jumping back on the scene as a sex symbol and fearless superstar entertainer. With the help of some of the biggest producers in music including Polow Da Don, Jim Jonsin (lollipop), Danja (sober) and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Raymond V Raymond is sure to paint a vivid portrait of growth, triumph, defeat and happiness. Tracklisting:

BARENAKED LADIES
All In Good Time
www.barenakedladies.com
Dist: EMI Music Canada


“This is a really important record for us. We’re redefining who we are, and how we communicate as a band, and as friends. We’re really proud of it. There is an emotional rawness that we may have shied away from in the past. I think we pushed ourselves to heavier places, and also allowed for some really spacious moments. I can’t wait to be playing it all live”. Ed Robertson

Every once and while I get into the idea of theme songs: for people, for events, for specific days. I'm known in certain circles, for example, for my summer jams. If you want to entice me to go on a road trip, play Kansas' "Carry on My Wayward Son." Naturally, I sometimes think of songs to match the month's theme. This time, Jonathan Coulton springs to mind:

THE WHITE STRIPES
Under Great White Northern Lights
www.whitestripes.com
Dist: Warner Music Canada


Under Great White Northern Lights is a visual and emotional feature length film documenting The White Stripes making their way through Canada and culminating with their 10th anniversary show in Nova Scotia. The film documents the band playing shows all over Canada; from local bowling alleys, to city buses, and onward to the legendary Savoy Theater for the 10th Anniversary show. A show that turned out to be the longest show the band had ever done on stage together.
The film captures intimate moments of Jack and Meg both on and off stage as they travel through some of the most remote parts of the northern Yukon Territory. Along the way, they have some nice casual conversations about their ten years together, fire cannons, play some of their biggest songs together on stage, and even play a "one note show." The cameras were there to capture every waking moment. TRACKLISTING.

In addition to the fact that The Runaways will have begin a limited release in Canada and the U.S. this Friday, it's been well publicized for some time now that it stars Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherrie Currie. Nothing new here, obviously. But I actually watched the trailer this weekend, and you know what? It totally stars Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen. See for yourself:

A few weeks ago, I went to see Shutter Island. In the wing seating, a lady started yelling at some people as they exited during the end credits. It wasn't clear exactly what she was on about, but, naturally, my sympathy was with the older lady over the "young punks." As a remix of Dinah Washington's "This Bitter Earth" played over the end credits, my viewing companion and I discussed how copyright issues over this very song kept Killer of Sheep, one of the greatest American movies ever made, from being seeing by the wider public for 30 years. Unfortunately discussing exactly what we are hearing during the end credits was too much for the now obviously old lady, who started yelling at us to "STOP TALKING!" Just in case you were wondering, according to crazy old ladies who scare away even their minders with their yelling, "OUTSIDE IS FOR TALKING!" You know, during the end credits in a mostly empty theatre. I'll admit to you that I was actually upset by the lengthy tongue lashing we got for, in my opinion, doing nothing wrong. 

This morning I read this story in the L.A. Times, and apparently it could have been much worse. Not to make light of the situation because it is terrible, but a meat thermometre? They left and came back with a meat thermometre? How desperately do you want to stab someone that you could leave and come back with the thing that tells you if your turkey is done? Also, stop talking on your cell phone, violent jackass.

GORILLAZ
Plastic Beach www.gorillaz.com
Dist: EMI Music Canada


We rejoin the band as Murdoc the bass player is gathering musicians and collaborators to create the new album. The new Gorillaz empire is set on a strange floating island deep in the South Pacific at the furthest point from any land mass on the planet... Introducing Plastic Beach - an island made entirely of plastic, debris and the washed up remnants of humanity.

Amongst the collection of historical remains and discarded rubble, Murdoc finds a book detailing the history of Man right up to the present day, except the last chapter "The End of Days" has been torn out - the future is missing. Time to get the band together, finish this album and have fun while the sun still shines...To complete the task, Murdoc has assembled some other musicians to join the band at Plastic Beach, these select people would join him on his floating Hellfire Club, as musicians, players and contributors in this wonky, damaged Plastic opera. Mos Def, Bobby Womack, The Horrors, Lou Reed, Little Dragon, rappers Kano and Bashy, Mark. E. Smith, Syrian orchestras, global musicians and more would be subpoena-ed to collaborate on this visionary Gorillaz record. TRACKLISTING.

ALMOST ALICE
Various Artists
Dist: Universal Music Canada


Almost Alice features an eclectic array of artists with original songs based on the wonders of Lewis Carroll's beloved books and visionary director Tim Burton. This album featuring 15 brand new tracks is a companion release to Danny Elfman's soundtrack score. The Lead single is the Avril Lavigne end credit song "Alice." Track Listing.

If you watched the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, you may have come away with the impression that Russia's culture is a little more...mmm...high-brow than Canada's. (Please don't think I'm necessarily complaining about this, though.) They have the Bolshoi Ballet, we have giant floating beavers; they have Valeri Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra (who, incidentally, will be at the National Arts Centre on March 15), we have William Shatner and a sadly under-used Catherine O'Hara telling very poor jokes. (We do, on the other hand, have Neil Young, who is probably worth a couple of those wordy 19th-century Russian novelists all on his own.)

The Russians have always taken their culture seriously - sometimes too much so. The poet Osip Mandelstam famously said, "Only in Russia is poetry respected - it gets people killed." (He himself would eventually become one of the victimes.) Joseph Stalin had been a well-known, even admired, romantic poet in his youth in Georgia, and showed a lively (and deadly) interest in Soviet writers and composers after he became dictator.

But still - they were also able to produce something like this: