It’s been a long time coming but Leonard Cohen, one of Canada’s most celebrated poets, has finally been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
The legend behind such writerly odes as First We Take Manhattan and Hey That’s No Way to Say Goodbye was celebrated by such noted luminaries as Lou Reed and Damien Rice.
Lou Reed, of Velvet Underground fame, said of Cohen “You wrote a song called I’ll Be Your Mirror and it made me want to keep writing songs,” high praise indeed from the man that brought “head” into common parlance. Damien Rice followed with a much coveted, but thankless task, of covering Hallelujah – a fitting tribute to a man beloved by so many.
Jon Landau’s often quoted quip “I have seen the future of rock ‘n’ roll, and he is not Leonard Cohen,” may finally have had its comuppance but those longing for a walk down history lane can catch Leonard Cohen at his first Montreal shows in 15 years at the Montreal International Jazz Festival at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier June 23, 24, 25.
Montreal bands have proved once again that when it comes to producing great music you needn’t leave the island. Arcade Fire and Patrick Watson lead the way with nominations in the dubiously titled ‘ Alternative Album of the Year‘ category Chromeo bust it out with their gay for miles funk, and er…other notable Quebec originators Avril Lavinge and Celine Dion illustrate you dont have to be innovative to be a recipient.
The2008 Juno Awards on Sunday, April 6th, marks the 37th celebration of the best of best of Canadian music by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and will broadcast from Calgary Alberta on CTV.
Below is the list of Quebec’s 2008 Juno Award nominees:
Arcade Fire capped of a successful 2007 with nods for Group of the Year and Alternative Album of the year for Neon Bible. If you have been listening to Nickleback for the entire noughties it’s not too late to save your ever living soul by checking out the cathartic Barrack-Obama-Supporting Montrealer’s ethereal pop orchestrations
It’s also been a great year for fellow Polaris Award nominees Patrick Watson who’s Close to Paradise LP will duke in out with their more esteemed compatriots in the Alternative Album of the Year category. If you’re late to the party for these navel-gazers it’s well worth checking out
More 80’s than Paula Abdul, urban-funksters Chromeo unleashed the biggest blackest bass line in all of 2008, and non-unexpectedly, Fancy Footwork has been nominated for the Dance Recording of the Year accolade.
CorneilleThe Birth of Cornelius forR&B/Soul Recording of the Year
And you will be happy to note that such cultural luminaries as Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne and Claude Dubois will slug it out for you trifling affections, 3 Quebecois enter the cage – one dubious reputation exits. Celebrate as the Juno Fan Choice Awards reflect your innermost self-loathing.
