The Trotsky

This is just a personal impression to which I don't mean to attach any objective legitimacy, but I've noticed a lot of jaded apathy regarding left wing collective political movements in several cultural/interpersonal/social domains in recent years, and it's somewhat distressing. Perhaps I spend to much time watching and reading texts manufactured according to conservative ideological guidelines and hanging out with people who regard the adoption of a republican ethos to be a sign of maturity, but the older I get the less I encounter persons who believe in the collective good of unionized activity and the fact that there are people out there who are trying to use political systems to promote social justice as opposed to establishing a maniacal cult (the republican trope of turning the person-of-the-people into a power hungry demagogue is frustrating). Jacob Tierney's brilliant new film The Trotsky astutely addresses this phenomenon by presenting us with Leon Bronstein (Jay Baruchel), a teenager from Montréal who believes he is the reincarnation of Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky. Leon believes in social justice and is willing to stand up to the powers that be (notably his dad [Saul Rubinek] and high school principal [Colm Feore]) in order to promote egalitarianism and fight the fascists. His commitment and dedication to fighting apathy and disengagement throughout are inspiring especially considering the strength of his opponents. The film's an edgy comedic romantic reinvigoration of unionized labour which provides a glimpse of how social change requires a firm commitment and multiple voices in order for its message to uniformly spread. It's definitely an uphill battle, but hopefully Leon will motivate more labour activists to keep fighting the forces of imperialism. With an exceptional soundtrack by Malajube.

Malajube

Okay. Bear in mind that I don't speak French and don't have time to learn but notwithstanding linguistic barriers it's time to talk about the best band currently recording in Canada, Malajube. I love many other bands but currently Malajube is blowing them all away. I don't need to know what they're singing about. Their music has this raw "I don't know how we did it, but we turned our second rather than our fifth album into a brilliant artistic diamond slicing through one's hard-boiled contempt in a pleasantly painful trajectory." Push me. Keep on pushing me. Malajube. You're second album should be regarded as one of the principle Canadian achievements in music: it's that good. I wouldn't write this if it wasn't, and it's rare when I really really seriously like something. Proust, The Trailer Park Boys, Bloody Mallory, not much else in the last couple of years, damn.

Anyways, I hope the Birthday Massacre's heading where you already are. Fan-frickin'-tastic. If our culture doesn't recognize you for the talented bunch of innovative musicians your are, then it's right-left blind. And let me personally thank you for not including any translations within the Jacket of Trompe-D'oeil. I've never seen a Rush album with French translations; and I didn't notice any French in the jacket for Alex is on Fire? Way to solidly uphold your vibrant French culture. A plus Malajube, A plus.

*In addition, note how Malajube (like Wolf Parade) rarely solo individually but constantly solo as a group, difficult to reproduce live, making their socialized spectacles all the more impressive.