A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

Don’t Believe the Hype! Defining the Musical Tastes of Strathcona Beer Company’s Adrian McInnes

Definitive Records asks interesting Vancouverites to rack their brains for their three album milestones. Today we hear from Adrian McInnes, Partner and Brand Manager for Strathcona Beer Company. As I discovered on a recent visit to the brewery, where a killer playlist including PJ Harvey, Dinosaur Jr. and Iggy Pop was blaring out of the speakers, McInnes has close ties to the music industry, with a past life as a DJ. Read on for his eclectic, genre-bending picks…

Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation

This is by far my favourite Sonic Youth album. It’s melodic, aggressive and, at times, heavy. Thurston Moore’s chord changes are amazing. The drums are tight. I recently read Kim Gordon’s book “Girl in a Band” and that just made me love her even more.

The Spits – The Spits V

The Spits are one of my favourite skate/punk bands of recent years, even though they have been around for a while. This is one of their most consistent albums. Each song sounds as though it could have been recorded in a different studio. Some songs are a little more raw than others, etc… The best part is being able to slip a Spits song on to one of my playlist for our tasting room!

Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back

This classic hip hop LP is amazing from beginning to end. As a teen this album taught me about black history and was a gateway to real hip hop. The mix of samples from song to song are incredible, including the Slayer riff in “She Watch Channel Zero”!

Neighbourhood: Strathcona
895 East Hastings Street, Vancouver BC
778-379-9050

From ‘Jazzy Boombap’ to Adolescent Rebellion: Shotaro Jotatsu Names His Definitive Records

In anticipation of his next event on June 17th, the Vancouver-based DJ and host of the Japanese-run music and vintage pop-up, Ishinomonosashi, gives us the rundown of his most influential albums to date.

The Musical Tastes of Yu Su, In and Out of the Kitchen

On Wednesday, December 7th, Ubuntu Canteen will be hosting Yu Su for a sonically inspired collaborative dinner, featuring the personal sounds of her trip through mainland China.

What’s Pumping on the Speakers (and Headphones) of Patrick Hennessy

From pre-service pump-ups, to subway commutes and his current restaurant jams: these are the records that define Barbara restaurant's owner / chef.

From ‘The Hip’ to Hip Hop, Mike Jacobsen Names His Three ‘Definitive Records’

We take a short trip over to Salt Spring and head immediately to Cassette Cafe and Dive Bar - a former gas station where these days locals and visitors alike fuel up on food, drinks and a stellar playlist of tunes - to hear from its owner about the albums that 'define' him...