Explore every episode of the podcast The Sonic Collective
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sled Island Festival Series: Les Gigantiques Interview Conrad Montana | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:33:54 | |
Conrad Montana (Les Gigantiques) on Sled Island, Calgary’s Music Scene & a 20-Year-Old Album Finally Released 00:00 Show Intro The theme music for The Sonic Collective is Dust by Les Gigantiques from Calgary. Our thanks to the band for letting us use and feature their music. Be sure to check them out. https://www.instagram.com/lesgigantiques/ | |||
| Sled Island Festival Series: Cartel Madras Interview | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:29:48 | |
Cartel Madras on Sled Island, Sub Pop & Their New Era - The Sonic Collective Interview Evident 2 Me Releasing June 18. Pre-save here: https://music.subpop.com/cartelmadrasandjide_evident2me https://www.instagram.com/cartel.madras Cartel Madras Bio Beckoning you down narrow hallways and into smoke-filled, bass-pumping rooms, Cartel Madras returns with a new world and a new sound. After four years of experimenting, traversing, and creating since their 2021 EP, The Serpent & The Tiger, sisters Eboshi and Contra emerge from the smoke of a shattered global era with vengeance on their mind and adventure laid out before them. Photo Credit: Michaela Neuman @Equidem The theme music for The Sonic Collective is Dust by Les Gigantiques from Calgary. Our thanks to the band for letting us use and feature their music. Be sure to check them out. https://www.instagram.com/lesgigantiques/ | |||
| Guilty as Charged: Our Musical Guilty Pleasures | 23 Jan 2026 | 00:42:33 | |
Even the most obsessive music nerds have a few secrets they’re not eager to file under cool. In Guilty as Charged: Our Musical Guilty Pleasures, the four hosts of The Sonic Collective step into the confessional and own up to the songs and artists we love — even though critics, tastemakers, and sometimes our younger selves say we shouldn’t. From unexpected pop hits to unfashionable classics and deeply personal favorites, these are the tracks that refuse to leave our playlists, no matter how much side-eye they get. It’s a funny, honest, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation about taste, nostalgia, and why the music that moves us doesn’t always need critical approval. Listener discretion advised… your own guilty pleasures may not survive this episode unchallenged. Visit us at https://TheSonicCollective.com for access to all our episodes and bonus content for each episode. | |||
| Album Selection - Public Image: First Issue | 31 Aug 2021 | 00:07:08 | |
September 2021 features a selection from Sonic Collective member Darren Scott. Darren selected the very first album from Public Image, soon to be changed to Public Image Ltd., or PiL as an acronym. This was the project that John Lydon, known as Johnny Rotten of the notorious Sex Pistols started in 1978 directly after the Sex Pistols broke up. Known as one of the strongest Post-Punk bands of all time, it is very interesting to see how John Lydon developed as a writer and a musician. Listen along this month and then join us for our next episode on October 1, 2021 to hear what the Sonic Collective members think of this album, and if it still stands up today as the classic album it is touted for being.For all our reviews and much more please visit us at http://TheSonicCollective.com | |||
| Four Bands People Love to Hate | 31 Aug 2021 | 01:13:46 | |
Some bands are universally acknowledged as being incredible. Monumental albums, amazing concerts, solid track records, and they’ve survived the test of time. But then there are those bands that, despite posting huge record sales, play sold-out tours worldwide, and hold a place in popular culture, are reviled by many and are the butt of industry jokes.This month, we’ll take a closer look at four bands who find themselves in that category. The bands? In no particular order, Creed, Limp Bizkit, Dave Matthews Band, and of course, Nickelback. For more show notes, information and media links, please visit the review notes, embedded podcast and on our website, http://TheSonicCollective.com. | |||
| Bands People Love to Hate Episode Details | 29 Jul 2021 | 00:06:01 | |
Some bands are universally acknowledged as being incredible. Monumental albums, incredible concerts, solid track records, and they’ve survived the test of time. But then there are those bands that despite huge record sales, tours that sell out, and still having a place in popular culture, are reviled by many and are the butt of industry jokes. This month, we’ll look at, and listen to, four bands that have had massive album sales, can still fill sizeable concerts, but are hated by many. But why are they hated and by who? Is it justified? What do people like about them, and more importantly, what do they supposedly hate? Listen to our criteria and join us back on September 1st to hear our thoughts on whether these four bands deserve their hatred among certain groups of people. Get full show notes, access to all our episodes and much more content at TheSonicCollective.com. | |||
| Review of Bjork: Homogenic | 29 Jul 2021 | 00:26:18 | |
For July 2021, Sonic Collective member Scott Gregory chose to review the pride of Iceland, Bjork's 3rd studio album, Homogenic. None of the four of us within the Sonic Collective had ever listened to any full album from Bjork, so we were intrigued. Listen and you will find out why all four of us respected the artistry, we just had a rough time trying to understand and get into the album. In what scenario can you put this album on? What the heck is going on in the track Pluto? Is Bjork an alien from Bladerunner movies? To learn the answer to all of these questions, please listen along and visit us at TheSonicCollective.com for full show notes, links and media. Enjoy ... we didn't. Sorry Birch Tree lady. | |||
| Album Selection - Bjork: Homogenic | 01 Jul 2021 | 00:02:47 | |
This month, I wanted to get a little adventurous and pick something outside of my normal tastes. Something international maybe? And why not make it a female artist to boot. I wanted to challenge my familiarity and comfort level to the maximum. Looking at the checklist, Bjork immediately came to mind. | |||
| Review of Sublime: Sublime | 28 Jun 2021 | 00:21:49 | |
Alain DuPuis picked Sublime's self-titled third album, for June 2021. This album blew up the band with hits like What I got, Santeria, and Pawn Shop, but a truly sad reality was that just two months before this album was released, lead singer and guitarist Bradley Nowell had passed away from a heroin drug overdose. For the full show notes, review scores, and more, please visit us at TheSonicCollective.com. | |||
| Review of ZZ Top: Tres Hombres | 02 Jun 2021 | 00:26:04 | |
For May 2021, The Sonic Collective member Scott Coates chose this Southern Blues Rock classic, Tres Hombres, from the ZZ Top trio. We had a great time reviewing this album and this album sounds dynamite. For the full show notes, review scores, and more, please visit us at TheSonicCollective.com. | |||
| June 2021 Pick: Sublime | 31 May 2021 | 00:03:34 | |
In this episode of the Sonic Collective, Alain explains why his pick for June is Sublime's self-titled 1996 album, and why it's so special. Tune in next month for our thoughts after we've all listened to Sublime. | |||
| Album Selection – ZZ Top: Tres Hombres | 30 Apr 2021 | 00:02:01 | |
This month we’ll focus on the band’s third album Tres Hombres, which was released in 1973. While not very warmly received upon its release, as time has passed, it’s regularly recognized as the band’s finest album. It was their first album to enter the Top 10 and single La Grange reached number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.Get ready to soak in the blues, rock, and dive fully into the original early roots of what has made ZZ Top one of the world’s greatest and longest standing rock bands. | |||
| Review of Sleaford Mods: Divide and Exit | 30 Apr 2021 | 00:26:52 | |
We take on Darren's pick for April 2021 for punk meets rap, meets electronic; Sleaford Mod's 'Divide and Exit'. We weren't sure what to expect on this one. While we weren't super pumped about it as an entire album, we agree that no one else out there at the moment sounds like them and we're glad we've had the Mods-experience. For full show notes and access to many more artists please visit The Sonic Collective on your favourite podcast platform and on our website at thesoniccollective.com | |||
| Album Review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It's Blitz! | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:39:25 | |
After more than a decade of digging into the albums that shaped modern music, The Sonic Collective returns with a thrilling reassessment of a record that deserves far more love. For our December 2025 episode, podcast member Scott Gregory throws down a bold pick: the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ electrifying 2009 release It’s Blitz!—an album that pushed the band beyond garage-rock swagger into sleek, pulse-driven art-pop. Some of the panel came in as newcomers, unsure of what to expect, but the verdict was overwhelmingly enthusiastic as the record revealed itself to be daring, emotional, and remarkably ahead of its time. Along the way, we unpack fascinating stories behind the album, explore why the Yeah Yeah Yeahs never quite received the same cultural coronation as peers like The White Stripes, LCD Soundsystem, or The Strokes, and argue passionately for It’s Blitz! as a modern classic that still hits hard today. If you’ve overlooked this album—or haven’t revisited it in years—this episode makes a compelling case for turning it up loud and giving it the attention it’s always deserved. For more content, show notes and access to our full scores, visit us at http://thesoniccollective.com | |||
| A Conversation with Danko Jones | 27 Apr 2021 | 00:30:47 | |
For 25 years, Danko Jones has kept rock n’ roll alive and strong. Over the course of 10 studio albums, from 2001s’ I’m Alive and on Fire’ to 2021’s upcoming ‘Power Trio’, the sound has remained solid, he’s continued to push boundaries, and consistently rocked. On this special episode of The Sonic Collective we chat with band founder Danko Jones about the history of the band, look to the future, and learn what he loves about music and performing. | |||
| Review of Lady A: Need You Now | 01 Apr 2021 | 00:23:43 | |
We get together to discuss Scott G's pick for March 2021, Need You Now by Lady A. We went in with high hopes and there was certainly a strong reaction. Also, as we close out our round of country albums we stop to reflect on what we've learned about the genre. Thanks for listening. For full show notes and access to many more artists please visit The Sonic Collective on your favourite podcast platform and on our website at https://thesoniccollective.com | |||
| Album Selection – Sleaford Mods: Divide and Exit | 31 Mar 2021 | 00:07:03 | |
For April 2021, The Sonic Collective member Darren Scott has chosen the Sleaford Mods, Divide and Exit album. This new and edgy working class electronic punk music is minimalist, raw as hell and has a distinctly new sound. With our world is so much chaos, we need more voices like this, telling it like it is. Enjoy Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn as the Sleaford Mods. For more information please visit the show page on https://thesoniccollective.com | |||
| Album Selection - Lady Antebellum: Need You Now | 02 Mar 2021 | 00:02:19 | |
Hi everyone, this is Scott G from the Sonic Collective bringing you our pick for March, 2021. This is the last of our round of country picks, and as the one closing things out I like to try and pick around or contrast the other members. Country has a lot of great groups so I definitely wanted to pick one of those, and I still wanted there to be a strong female voice in the mix. Also, I wanted to pull forward to a pretty modern country sound.Lady Antebellum, now known as Lady A, released their second album “I need you now” in 2010. It was the third-most selling album of the year, spent 31 weeks at #1 and won 5 Grammies. The album spawned four singles and did extremely well internationally as well. Not bad for a sophomore album.A significant contingent of modern country groups and solo acts have been slowly moving towards pop, and Lady A jumps in with both feet. It’s a delicate balance, trying to maintain a country vibe and storytelling lens while taking the best parts of pop and incorporating it in. Having heard all the singles on the radio, I’m excited to dig into the full album and see how deep it runs. Can they pull off a full plate of great songs, or have we already heard their best?Join Scott, Darren, Alain and I on this journey and tune in at the end of March when the four of us get together to share our thoughts and close out this round of picks and start a new theme. With that, thanks for listening and I hope to see you when we review Lady A’s 2010 album “Need you now” here on the Sonic Collective. Cheers.Join us at thesoniccollective.com for full show notes and access to more content for this episode and many more. | |||
| Review of Dwight Yoakam: Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. | 01 Mar 2021 | 00:27:01 | |
The Sonic Collective comes together this February to review Dwight Yoakam's album Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc. as part of our round of country picks. Who likes it? Who gets picky about RIng of Fire covers? Tune in and fine out. | |||
| Album Selection - Dwight Yoakam: Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. | 01 Feb 2021 | 00:06:00 | |
Alain here, and for February, 2021, it is my turn to pick an album for the guys to review as we mark the halfway point in our round of country music picks. If you’re a faithful Sonic Collective listener, you’re probably well aware by now that Country isn’t exactly in our wheelhouses – and that’s despite the fact that most of us live or have lived in Alberta, which is basically the Texas of Canada. Around these parts, it’s not uncommon to see grown men unironically wearing cowboy hats. We’ve got no shortage of brilliantly talented Country Music artists from around these parts. Despite not being big into country myself, my favourite country musician is Corb Lund, a fellow Albertan, who I highly recommend you check out. But he’s not who I picked for this round. No, I wanted to look a bit further back into the history of country music, to explore the natural evolution of the sound. We had Dolly, then we had Willy, and now… we have Dwight.Rumor has it that Johnny Cash once cited Yoakam as his favorite country singer. Chris Isaak called him as good a songwriter as ever put a pen to paper. Time Magazine dubbed him "A Renaissance Man" and Vanity Fair declared that "Yoakam strides the divide between rock's lust and country's lament." High praises indeed. So what will the Sonic Collective think of Yoakam’s debut album, Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.? Tune in at the end of the month for our review episode to find out. And if you’re listening along with us, let us know! | |||
| Review of Willie Nelson: Shotgun Willie | 01 Feb 2021 | 00:24:14 | |
For February 2021, member Scott Coates picked this legendary and transformational album from Willie Nelson. This is his first album after leaving his former record label, RCA, who Willie felt was over controlling and over producing his previous albums. At 39 years old Willie stated that the freedom his new label Atlantic Records gave him to create this Shotgun Willie album, allowed him to clear his throat, and create the album he wanted. Listen along and join us at thesoniccollective.com for more show notes, full scores and more media. | |||
| Getting to Know WiL | 19 Jan 2021 | 00:44:34 | |
Welcome to the Sonic Collective. On this special episode we’ll get to know a very talented musician from western Canada. From early days in the Calgary bar scene, building his name as a solo artist, to playing with two supporting players, singer-songwriter WiL has built a loyal following many musicians would love to have. In this fickle business, what’s kept him going for so many years, what does he still love about music, and what’s next? | |||
| Album Selection - Willie Nelson: Shotgun Willie | 30 Dec 2020 | 00:02:36 | |
Our pick for January 2021, as part of our round of country and western albums, is Shotgun Willie, the sixteenth studio album by Willie Nelson. It was released in 1973 and marks his move from RCA to Atlantic Records, as Atlantic’s first country recording artist. He had creative differences with RCA, met Atlantic Records vice-president Jerry Wexler at a party, connected, and Nelson moved to Austin. There he found a city more hippie in nature than Nashville. He really brought together rockers and hippies, the first artist to really do so, and this album marks the start of the first of the ‘outlaw country’ genre.The album was a critical success upon release but didn’t initially sell many copies, outside of Austin, where it caught on immediately. Nelson knew he found a great collaborator in Wexler, when he asked him about commercial concerns when making an album, Wexler said, "Fuck commerce. You're going for art. You're going for the truth."Years later, Nelson said this album allowed him to ‘clear his throat’ and is his first album to feature Nelson with long hair and a beard on the cover. While being a prolific songwriter, he also regularly records others’ songs, with 5 of 12 tracks on Shotgun Willie not being written by Nelson.It’s important to note just how prolific Nelson is. Born in 1933, at 87 years of age, he has put out an album almost every year and sometimes two or more, during his 59-year career. His first commercial album was released in 1962, he has 95 studio albums, 13 live albums, and 51 compilation albums. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie, combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger in 1975, then Stardust in 1978, cemented Nelson as a country music superstar. Have a listen and see how you feel about this 1973 classic.Join us at thesoniccollective.com for full show notes and access to more content for this episode and many more. | |||
| Review of Dolly Parton: Jolene | 30 Dec 2020 | 00:26:12 | |
Our reviews after listening to Dolly Parton's Jolene album for the month of December. It's very rich and complex. Here are our average scores:• Recommend: 4.4• Influence: 3.6• Overall: 4Join us at thesoniccollective.com for the full review and show notes as well as access to all of our reviews and other shows. | |||
| Album Review: Recoil - Liquid | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:41:20 | |
On this episode of The Sonic Collective, Alain brings us on a journey with Recoil's album, Liquid, released in 2000. Recoil is the passion project of former Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder, and his album Liquid offers a unique glimpse into a dark side of his psyche, partially inspired by a near-death experience he had. Liquid is unconventional, well crafted, and had us questioning our own senses this month. A truly dark, hauntingly enigmatic and downright spooky soundtrack, fit for an October review. As usual, we each explore the album from our own perspectives over the course of the month, and join up for a conversation about how we felt about it, concluding with our scores based on our overall enjoyment of the album, whether or not we'd recommend it, and whether or not it influenced our tastes. Don't miss this one! | |||
| Review of M83: Hurry Up, We're Dreaming | 03 Dec 2020 | 00:24:35 | |
We chat about how we enjoyed our pick for November 2020, M83's 'Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming'. Have a listen to how the album impacted us and what our impressions were. For full show notes and review scores please visit us at thesoniccollective.com. | |||
| Dolly Parton: Jolene – Album Selection | 02 Dec 2020 | 00:08:28 | |
The Sonic Collective has decided to pick a round of influential country music artists. Member Darren Scott explains why he chose Dolly Parton's Jolene album. As we look to explore the most influential albums, a person cannot ignore that the title track Jolene, and another little song that did ok for her and Whitney Houston, I will Always Love You, have to be two of the most influential songs in our lifetime.There is so much to unpack about Dolly and this album. We invite you to listen along for the month of December 2020 with us and to learn about this album as a whole and the ever-amazing Dolly Parton. Join us again in the beginning of January to hear our assessment of this classic country album. Join us at thesoniccollective.com for review notes and access to all our reviews. | |||
| A Chat with Sam Roberts - All of Us | 17 Nov 2020 | 00:27:50 | |
On this special episode of The Sonic Collective, we chat with Sam Roberts, of the Sam Roberts band, about their October 2020 release, All of Us. He goes deep about how the songs were written and sharing it with the world in a time of COVID. But we start by going back in time, with Sam sharing what it feels like to have been recording professionally for almost two decades, being the son of parents from South Africa who immigrated to Canada, what it means to be Canadian, and even some of his musical guilty pleasures. Get ready to hear a very candid Sam Roberts share on multiple levels. Enjoy the musical ride! Join us at thesoniccollective.com for more great shows and album reviews. | |||
| Album Selection: M83: Hurry Up, We're Dreaming | 03 Nov 2020 | 00:02:04 | |
Album Selection: M83: Hurry Up, We're Dreaming by The Sonic Collective | |||
| Review of Frankie Goes to Hollywood: Welcome to the Pleasuredome | 02 Nov 2020 | 00:23:27 | |
For our 3rd selection in this round of influential double-albums, Sonic Collective member Alain Dupuis reached back to 1984 and this first Frankie Goes to Hollywood album, Welcome to the Pleasuredome. This albums contains the 6th and 20th best selling singles in the U.K., for Relax and Two Tribes. But how did this stand up as a whole album? Can we alkl finally relax? Well, this review didn't go as we thought. Listen along and see why we struggled with this 80s classic. For the full review and a summary or scores, please join us at thesoniccollective.com for more of this review, and for access to all of our shows. | |||
| The Sonic Collective: Albums That Changed Our Musical Tastes | 14 Oct 2020 | 00:36:26 | |
Scientists say your musical tastes are formed by what you enjoyed in your teens. You hear a song, it resonates, and that style guides your musical tastes moving forward. There’s those monumental albums you can still remember hearing for the first time, all these years later. You likely remember where you were, the time of year, perhaps even what you were wearing, who you were with, and the smell in the air when you first heard it. Today we’re going to chat about just that - albums that influenced and changed our musical tastes. Sonic Collective members Darren Scott and Scott Coates banter about some of the albums that changed their musical tastes. Join us at http://thesoniccollective.com for more on this episode and to access all our episode details. | |||
| Review of Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland | 30 Sep 2020 | 00:17:33 | |
We reviewed Jimi Hendrix's double-disc release, Electric Ladyland. Have a listen and find out what we thought! | |||
| Album Selection - Frankie goes to Hollywood: Welcome to the Pleasuredome | 29 Sep 2020 | 00:02:52 | |
Our pick for October 2020 is Frankie Goes to Hollywood's debut album, Welcome to the Pleasuredome. | |||
| Review of Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde - Double Album Round | 31 Aug 2020 | 00:18:27 | |
Our first pick in a round of double album picks is Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde. We took the month of August 2020 to listen and think about it. Here is our discussion about the album and our review. Have a listen. | |||
| The Jimi Hendrix Experience : Electric Ladyland - Double Album Round - Intro | 30 Aug 2020 | 00:01:30 | |
The Sonic Collective's album pick for September, 2020. | |||
| Album Review: Nas - Illmatic | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:41:48 | |
On this episode of The Sonic Collective, Scott C brings us on a journey into rap history with Nas’s first studio album Illmatic (1994). Nas is frequently cited as an influence of other rappers, including his contemporaries, and contributed heavily to the 90s renaissance of east-coast rap. The west coast scene was dominating, and this album was on the vanguard of several releases that reset the balance and cemented the voice of a generation. The guys had various levels of experience and interest with the material and it turned out to be a very good conversation about not only our experience with the album when it came out, but the lasting impact it and Nas have had on Rap and the music industry. As always, we analyze the album itself as a whole and put it in context of when it was released. We also have our own favourite tracks to shout out. If you’re new to 90s rap or an old head looking to reminisce with, join us this month for a listen. Find this episode and more and get access to all our content at http://TheSonicCollective.com. | |||
| Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde - Double Album Round - Intro | 05 Aug 2020 | 00:07:24 | |
We decided to keep up with a theme for our picks of influential albums. Listen to why we decided to pick double albums as a concept and hear what member Darren Scott decided to pick first. Join us and listen along to the selection. Be sure to then come back and listen to our review of the selection in early September 2020. For more show notes and information be sure to visit us at thesoniccollective.com. | |||
| Review of Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill | 05 Aug 2020 | 00:20:00 | |
This 1998 solo album from former Fugees singer Lauryn Hill is known to be one of the most successful hip hop albums of all time. We took a look back at this album to determine if it did indeed stand the test of time and was worthy of the praise. For the full show notes and our individual scores please visit the podcast page on thesoniccollective.com. We hope you enjoy this review and join us for many more. | |||
| An Exploration of Musical Supergroups | 21 Jul 2020 | 00:29:34 | |
Welcome to the Sonic Collective, and another one of our exploratory podcast episodes. In this episode, we’ll explore musical supergroups. So what is a supergroup? Well, for us, it’s a musical performing group of three or more persons, whose members have successful solo careers, are members of other groups, or are well known in other musical professions. They come together to form an epic alignment of mighty musical talents. For us, this isn’t a duo and they must have released at least one full-length album. These supergroups can also come from any genre. The term can sometimes also be applied to a group that has no specific preferred genre. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and today, we’ll touch on a few that fall in both categories and some in between. For full podcast notes and access to all of our reviews and content, please visit us at thesoniccollective.com. | |||
| Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Influential Album Selection | 02 Jul 2020 | 00:03:08 | |
For the month of July 2020, we are completing our round of influential hip hop albums with Sonic Collective member Scott Gregory choosing the lone album from Lauryn Hill. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Listen along as to why Scott chose this selection and what you can expect as you listen along with us this month. For full show notes, other reviews and much more content please join us at http://thesoniccollective.com. | |||
| Review of Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force: Planet Rock | 02 Jul 2020 | 00:28:46 | |
After a month of listening to this iconic and often talked about early pioneer album in the history of hip hop, rap and EDM, we came back together to discuss the history, the music and how it holds up today. There was lots of great discussion on this album and we also had lots of laughs. For the full review show notes, scoring summary and access to all our many shows, please visit us at http://thesoniccollective.com | |||
| Review of A Tribe Called Quest: People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm | 05 Jun 2020 | 00:26:04 | |
As we’re doing a round of rap album picks at The Sonic Collective, I gave People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm one listen and decided to make it our album for May 2020.Released on April 10, 1990, it was the group’s debut album. From Queens, New York, A Tribe Called Quest formed a friendship with hip-hop act Jungle Brothers, both groups formed a collective called Native Tongues, which also included De La Soul. They played with beats, technology and built their skills in the rap world. Listen along to our review and join us at thesoniccollective.com for show notes and access to more music reviews and stories. Also available on your favourite podcast platforms. | |||
| Afrika Bambaataa: Planet Rock, Influential Album Selection | 02 Jun 2020 | 00:05:02 | |
For the month of June, 2020 we continue our exploration of Hip-Hop, and once again, it’s my turn to choose our album. I consulted with one of my best friends, a guy who is very attuned to Hip-Hop culture and its fascinating history, and upon his recommendation, I landed on Afrika Bambaataa’s Planet Rock: The Album. We invite you to listen to why I selected this album and listen along. We will release the podcast of our review at the beginning of July 2020. Join us at thesoniccollective.com or on your favourite podcast platform for more information and access to all our shows. Alain and The Sonic Collective.. | |||
| What Makes a Great Album? Featuring Broadcasting Legend Alan Cross | 14 May 2020 | 00:40:26 | |
We’ve enjoyed and discussed 70 albums since 2014 at the Sonic Collective. During that time we’ve covered quite a bit of territory. From our first pick, Fela Kuti’s Zombie, to Van Halen I, Frank Sinatra Live at the Sands, and even a round of movie soundtracks. But there’s been one common thread regardless of genre, time period, or concept, that’s run through each selection. The search for a great album. The entire package. A group of songs that work together to create more than just a few good singles, rather an experience and journey for the listener. So what makes a great album? This is the question and discussion we had with Alan Cross, an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. For more show notes and access to all our content please join us at thesoniccollective.com. | |||
| Review of Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a Man | 04 May 2020 | 00:25:05 | |
So, if you’re looking to learn more about music, and rediscover amazing albums that changed the sonic landscape forever, look no further. To start our hip hop round of album reviews, Darren Scott selected this album that has been cited as an early appearance and major influence on the birth of hip hop and rap. Listen along and enjoy as we discover and discuss if this album can stand the test of time and deserves such high praises. For access to the full review, extra content and more albums, please visit us at thesoniccollective.com. | |||
| Album Selection: A Tribe Called Quest-People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm | 02 May 2020 | 00:02:00 | |
For May 2020, while we all wait out COVID 19, Sonic Collective member Scott Coates has selected this first A Tribe Called Quest album for our hip hop round. Have a listen as he explains what turned him to select this album, and then be sure to come back and listen to our review. Does this album still stand up? Does it deserve the praise it has garnered? Let's find out. For more selection details and access to all our shows, visit us at thesoniccollective.com. | |||
| Album Review: Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:44:49 | |
On this episode of The Sonic Collective, we dive into one of the most iconic albums in Canadian music history — Gordon Lightfoot’s Sundown (1974). Known for its title track, which became Lightfoot’s only U.S. #1 single, Sundown is an album that perfectly balances folk roots with a smooth country-rock polish. At the height of the 1970s singer-songwriter era, Lightfoot delivered deeply personal songs about love, jealousy, and restlessness, cementing his place as one of the greatest storytellers in music.As always on The Sonic Collective, we step back in time to experience this album as it was meant to be heard, while also asking an important question: does Sundown still hold up today? We’ll share our insights on the history, cultural impact, and sound of the album, while reflecting on how these songs resonate with modern listeners. From the radio-dominating hit “Sundown” to the hauntingly beautiful “Carefree Highway,” this record gives us plenty to discuss.If you’re new to our show, The Sonic Collective is a podcast where music lovers revisit classic albums to see if they stand the test of time — and if they’re worth adding to your playlist today. Whether you’re a lifelong Lightfoot fan or just discovering his music, join us as we explore what makes Sundown such a compelling piece of music history.Find this episode and more and get access to all our content at http://TheSonicCollective.com. | |||
| Influential Album Selection — Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a Man | 03 Apr 2020 | 00:04:35 | |
Chosen by a 'Random Genre Generator' we landed on a round of reviews in the genre of Hip Hop. I decided to search out the very beginnings of the genre and in my research this name kept coming up. I had known the classic song from this album, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, but not much else about Gil. Listen to why I chose this album and our next podcast episode will contain our review of this album. Does it live up to the hype? Listen along and decide for yourself. | |||
| Review of Jeff Buckley: Grace | 03 Apr 2020 | 00:29:06 | |
Jeff Buckley's Grace was his only album. Shortly after the release of this album Jeff died in a strange drowning accident. None of us really knew this album, but with heavyweights like David Bowie and Jimmy Page citing it as one of their favourite albums, we knew it had to be great ... right? Well... it didn't quite go the way we thought. Listen and find out why. For more album review notes and access to the selection audio and many other reviews please visit us at thsoniccollective.com or listen on your favourite podcast platform. | |||
| Album Selection Jeff Buckley: Grace | 04 Mar 2020 | 00:01:47 | |
I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to make this selection. Maybe it’s because the Album never really saw the staggering commercial success many of our other picks did in North America. Maybe it’s the fact the artist only completed one studio album before his untimely death in 1997.Jeff Buckley’s 1994 album Grace had a lasting impact on some of the greatest rock artists of all time. Jimmy Page is quoted as saying it was one of his favourite albums of the decade, and other artists such as Robert Plant, Chris Cornel, Bob Dylan and David Bowie also spoke highly of Buckley and the album. Rolling Stone listed it at number 303 of their 500 Greatest Albums of all Time.For more information on this selection and for access to all our reviews search for us on your favourite podcast platform and visit us at https://thesoniccollective.com | |||