Max Mertens

jour·nal·ist (jûrn-lst) n. 1. One whose occupation is journalism. 2. One who keeps a journal.

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Went to SXSW this year, here's a few photos.

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Spotted on Bloor Street a few days ago.

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One Week One Band: Bloc Party

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of contributing to One Week One Band and wrote about my love of my favourite British band Bloc Party. For those of you not familiar with O.W.O.B., it's a really awesome project started by this fellow named Hendrik, which features writers more talented than I waxing poetic about their favourite bands for an entire week. My first pick (The White Stripes) was taken, but I really enjoyed writing about Kele Okereke & Co. from the perspective of a fan and music journalist. The week I was scheduled to do this happened to be the same week I was (partially) covering Canadian Music Week, so I was a little lazier posting than I would have liked, but managed to talk about why I think "This Modern Love" is one of the greatest love songs of the 21st century, make a Okereke-approved playlist, and post Bloc Party's covers of songs by Canadian and American pop stars.

You can read all of my posts here.

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Did this one a few weeks ago, but here's my interview with young L.A. producer/DJ Shlohmo.  Check out his stuff if you're not familiar.

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Waxahatchee - "Coast To Coast"

It's only March, but Waxahatchee's Cerulean Salt and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' Push The Sky Away are my favourite albums of 2013 so far.

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Kinda wish I was at SXSW right now, so instead drew a silly diagram (above) and made apple cinnamon muffins (not pictured).

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This is great.

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Talked to The Chef about Wu-Tang Clan's 20th anniversary plans, his upcoming solo album (the brilliantly-titled Fly International Luxurious Art), and staying relevant as an artist.

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Patti Smith - "Ghost Dance"

Last week I stood five feet away from Patti Smith during the second of her two intimate performances at the Art Gallery of Ontario to promote her photography exhibit.  As someone who grew up on Horses and the rest of Patti's discography because of my father, this was a bucket list moment for me, and she hasn't lost a step live. She played for almost two hours and had Toronto's Choir! Choir! Choir! back her up on "Because The Night" and "People Have The Power", which literally left me with goosebumps.  My friend Graeme shot this video for NOW Magazine.  Also, if you haven't read her biography Just Kids, you need to make that a priority.

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Drake - "Started From The Bottom (D33J Remix)"

Started from the bottom now we still here.

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Wrote a dumb thing for Noisey about how stupid the Juno Awards are because someone needed to take The Sheepdogs, Hedley, and Rod Stewart down a peg or two.  You should take absolutely none of this seriously.

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Had a chat with Mondre M.A.N. from Oakland's Main Attrakionz about cloud rap, their latest album Bossalinis & Fooliyones (check out "Take U There"), and the Bay Area hip-hop scene.

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I'm really bad at Tumblr

Going to have a new website built soon I think.

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Talked to Corin Roddick (pictured on the left) from Purity Ring for NOW about collaborating with Danny Brown, playing Coachella, and being called "indietronica" on Wikipedia.

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Dirty Beaches - "Love Is The Devil"

Here's a gorgeously sad slow burner from Alex Zhang Hungtai, from his upcoming double album Drifters/Love Is The Devil out May 21 on Zoo Music.

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Talked to Atlanta's Mr. "You Deserve It" for Rolling Stone about his latest mixtape, space, and how his upcoming sophomore album Future Hendrix was inspired by the legendary guitarist.

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Photo Credit: Adam Mertens

Somewhere in New Zealand or Middle Earth.

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Parquet Courts - "Stoned And Starving"

Here are some words I wrote about the new Parquet Courts LP Light Up Gold, which totally rips. Do the kids say "rips" any more? Whatever, this album is awesome.