In the Land Of sees Halifax indie rockers Wintersleep move seamlessly through a variety of songwriting themes, from mundane yet emotional stories of aging to the broader exploration of what it means to be a “beneficiary of a genocide.” As varied as the album is lyrically, it’s just as adventurous sonically. It’s the musical nuances and hints of experimentation that tie this album together. In that sense, the track “Waves” is unparalleled with its laid-back bassline, atmospheric synths, and jangly, feedback-ridden guitar strumming. I could go on about this track forever, but I’d quickly run out of adjectives to capture its sublime qualities. However, despite the intrigue of their electronic drum beats and post-punk riffs respectively, “Beneficiary” and “Terror” descend into underwhelming choruses that feel as if they were written for the purpose of anthemic repetition rather than personal connection. But, don’t let that critique fool you—the moody, imposing bassline of “The Lighthouse” is enough to keep you coming back to In the Land Of again and again.
Did you know bon bons are a TBay original? They were created in 1946 by Lam Pang. The popularity of this category in our readers’ survey is proof that we still love our bon bons, congrats to Mr. Chinese whose bite-sized, tasty pork short ribs were voted the best!
Full results of our Best of Thunder Bay Readers’ Survey in our January issue, link in bio.
It’s all in the family at @nortenos.taqueria with brothers Jamie and Dillon Baratta. “We felt that there were no real Mexican restaurants in Fort William, so the location was an easy choice for us,” says Jamie. “Without the pandemic, @nortenos.taqueria probably would have never happened,”' says Dillon.
More in the story by Sue Pretty, @prettysu32 on p. 28 of our January issue. Link in bio.