About Me:  A recent graduate of University of Toronto, with a Bachelor’s in English, my interest in music and film has extended way back to the beginning of high school.  Being There is a labour of love for me, having always been an avid reader and writer about music and film..

Favourite Album: The Beatles' Rubber Soul. Although most people give Sgt. Pepper or Revolver all the credit for turning The Beatles into a more serious group, Rubber Soul remains my favourite for a variety of reasons. It is the album where the group shifts it's sound into a new, more creative territory without sacrificing too much of their pop sensibility.  Many of the songs are still about love, but are written and performed in a much more effective way. Furthermore, the album showed George Harrison beginning to write some of the best songs of his career. Instrumentally, the album allowed The Beatles to move beyond guitars, bass, and drums, incorporating sitar, organ, and other sounds. Vocally, the album presents harmonies unlike any Beatles albums that preceded it. Just a great, great album! 

Favourite Film: The Big Lebowski by Joel & Ethan Coen. The perfect combination of clever and hysterical dialogue, quirky characters, great music, breathtaking cinematography, and an entertaining story.

Favourite Concert: Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band in May of 2000 at Air Canada Centre. Even at 50, Springsteen was still able to rock the house for 3 1/2 hours, playing tons of great songs with a band that hasn't failed him yet.

Favourite Book:  The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster. Three separate novellas set in New York and involving writer-characters who go through strange and bizarre things.

 Top 5 Mockumentaries:

 1. This Is Spinal Tap (dir. Rob Reiner)
 2. The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (dir. Eric Idle)
 3. Best In Show (dir. Christopher Guest)
 4. A Mighty Wind (dir. Christopher Guest)
 5. Zelig (dir. Woody Allen)


Articles:
March 2005
Feature: An American In Paris: In Conversation with Ambrosia Parsley of Shivaree
Album Review: Bob Collum & The Welfare Mothers - The Boy Most Likely To...
Album Review: Jess Klein - Strawberry Lover
Album Review: Manuel Guajiro Mirabal - Buena Vista Social Club Presents...
DVD Review: Tout Va Bien
Unearthed Album Review: The Kinks - Sleepwalker
Unearthed Album Review: The Kinks - Soap Opera
Editorial: In Defense of Paul McCartney


February 2005
Album Review: A Question of Temperature, Chris Stamey Experience
Album Review: Before the Poison, Marianne Faithfull
Album Review: Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, Bright Eyes
Album Review: Emoh, Lou Barlow
Album Review: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, Bright Eyes
Album Review: Mysterious Production of Eggs, Andrew Bird
Album Review: Something Like Happiness, The Complements
Album Review: Who's Got Trouble?, Shivaree
Film Review: The Life Aqautic with Steve Zissou
DVD Review: Fat Albert & The Cosby Kids: Ultimate Collection
DVD Review: The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season


December 2004
Column: Indie's Turn: Stax Records
Column: Oops - Frankenstein
Column: Watching The Music: This Song by George Harrison
Album Review: Old Friends: Live On Stage, Simon & Garfunkel
DVD Review: Seinfeld - Season 1 & 2
Editorial: Eating The Music


November 2004
Feature: Poor Girl Blues - Jolie Holland
Column: Whatever Happened To... Shelley Duvall
Album Review: Dear Heather, Leonard Cohen
Album Review: I "Heart" Huckabees Soundtrack
Album Review: Ray Soundtrack
DVD Review: Live At Union Chapel, David Byrne
DVD Review: Rock 'n' Roll Circus, The Rolling Stones
DVD Review: World Drifts In: Live At The Barbican London, Calexico
Concert Review: Jolie Holland
Book Review: Chronicles, Volume 1, Bob Dylan
Editorial: Access All Areas


October 2004
Feature: In Search Of Love and Music: Joni Mitchell's Musical Exploration (1971-1979)
Column: Been There: Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire performing "Eugene"
Column: Globetrotting - Liverpool, England
Album Review: Careless Love, Madeleine Peyroux
Album Review: Live in Tokyo, Brad Mehldau
Album Review: Real Gone, Tom Waits
Album Review: Smile, Brian Wilson
Film Review: Sideways
Film Review: The Motorcycle Diaries
Concert Review: Brian Wilson
Book Review: America (The Book: A Citizen's Guide To Democracy Inaction), Jon Stewart et al
Book Review: Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss
Unearthed Album Review: Muswell Hilbillies, The Kinks
Editorial: Please Wait For Cashier Assistance: The New Wave of Supermarkets And Why They Don't Work


September 2004
Feature: Not Afraid To Change: David Celia
Column: Watching The Music: "Coffee And TV"
Album Review: Almost Blue - Elvis Costello (Reissue)
Album Review: Dial W For Watkins, Geriant Watkins
Album Review: Gettin' In Over My Head, Brian Wilson
Album Review: Kojak Variety, Elvis Costello (Reissue)
Album Review: Goodbye Cruel World, Elvis Costello (Reissue)
Album Review: Rubber Factory, The Black Keys
Film Review: We Don't Live Here Anymore
DVD Review: Garfield & Friends Volume 1
DVD Review: Kill Bill Volume 2
Unearthed Album Review: Magic Christian Music, Badfinger
Editorial: Stop Remaking Sense


August 2004
Feature: The Two Headed Director - The Coen Brothers
Column: Battle Of The "Experts" - Rubber Soul vs. Revolver
Column: The Indie's Turn - Nonesuch Records
Album Review: A Ghost Is Born, Wilco
Album Review: Made To Love Magic, Nick Drake
Album Review: Retriever, Ron Sexsmith
Album Review: Van Lear Rose, Loretta Lynn
Film Review: Coffee And Cigarettes
Film Review: Supersize Me
Joey Who? - Editorial