Deadmau5

Canada has nurtured some of the more intriguing musical acts of recent years, including various members of the Broken Social Scene collective. Joel Zimmerman, who goes by Deadmau5, extends this tradition even though he operates in a genre — club music — that's hardly associated with his homeland. As evidence,...

By Michael Roberts

November 13, 2008

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Canada has nurtured some of the more intriguing musical acts of recent years, including various members of the Broken Social Scene collective. Joel Zimmerman, who goes by Deadmau5, extends this tradition even though he operates in a genre — club music — that's hardly associated with his homeland. As evidence, spin Random Album Title, a new release on the Ultra imprint whose willfully generic moniker contrasts starkly with the distinctive tracks it contains. Although the opening number is built around a voice that declares, "Sometimes things get complicated," the cut itself is bracingly straightforward, with a spare arrangement that allows every beat to be felt. "Some Kind of Blue" and "Brazil," which follow, are more ornate and ambitious, with keyboard washes and tempo changes that add to their listenability without undermining the dance imperative. Few mixologists are capable of striking this balance, but Zimmerman does so consistently, thereby establishing himself as yet another worthy import from north of the border.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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