Full Disclosure was a radio show hosted by Luke Brocki and Amanda Bell broadcasting cutting edge music every Thursday night. on CJMP 90.1 FM. Although the hosts have recently moved out of Powell River, Full Disclosure lives on in the form of CD reviews in this ongoing column written in turn by Luke and Amanda.

St Vincent:
Mary Me
(July 2007)

The first time I heard Annie Clark’s piercing pipes was when she opened for Arcade Fire in June of this year. A curly haired cross between little orphan Annie and Audrey Hepburn walked out on stage with a team of catholic middle school musicians. Her live set of mellow-dies and her sophisticated soprano enticed me to buy the album. It surprised me how produced it sounded at first but the combination of soulful singer-songwriter/choir music with electronic spacey beats just works. Marry Me is a very thoughtful and sexy disc.
Serve with: Tori Amos, Feist, Metric

Wolf Parade:
Apologies to the Queen Mary
(September 2005)

Shrill and elegant voices, dirty guitars and quivering synthesizers sum up Wolf Parade to a tee. They are yet another band that makes you want to go to Montreal and see what is in their water. This album came out way back in 2005 when everyone was writing about Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene. But their widespread nods of approval seem to be spread by word of mouth rather than press attention so please pass it on.

Serve with: Modest Mouse, The Talking Heads

The Paperbacks:
An Episode of Sparrows
(June 2003)

My favorite song on this album is “I suffer this like a dream” and it reminds me of a show of theirs in Winnipeg. It happened at the West End Cultural Centre, a place where people stand around nodding to the music and standing on chairs is acceptable if you’re short. The whole room began to sing along with drinks in the air and arms around strangers. The Paperbacks emanate that same blue-collar neighbourhood mentality. There’s no need for flash in Winnipeg.

Serve with: The Replacements, Bruce Springsteen