2006 CJLO Staff Picks
Once again, CJLO grew this year and if anything, it grew even more diverse judging by the staff picks below. Besides perhaps Ghostface Killah's Fishscale and Return To Cookie Mountain by TV On The Radio, there weren't many albums that found themselves repeated often among the different lists. It's a testament both to the goldmine of releases this year and to the eclectic tastes of the boys and girls that entertain you night and day on the ol' dot com. Personally, I wasn't married to many records this year, instead opting to play a wider field. In fact, only Liars' Drum's Not Dead came close to anything special in my book, though it wasn't the only good album, not by a long shot. Other highlights include the emergence of Montreal's The Nymphets, seeing legends such as Roky Erickson and Mark E. Smith (The Fall), the impossibly phenomenal Man Man show in June and despite the insane number of bands and labels starting up, there is quality to be found for just about every discerning taste. Even the old farts have something to be excited about, given the steady flow of reissues of both classic bands and those thought to be forgotten by history. Anyway, have fun sifting through the staff picks and don't be afraid to leave a comment on the CJLO message board.
Chris Coates: The Melting Pot, Tuesday 10pm - Midnight
Albums
1. Hell Hath No Fury (Clipse)
2. Two/Three (Dabrye)
3. Donuts (J Dilla)
4. Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip (Hi-Tek)
5. Fishscale (Ghostface Killah)
6. Moonlighting (Tanya Morgan)
7. Game Theory (The Roots)
8. Food and Liquor (Lupe Fiasco)
9. Here (Nicolay)
10. Doctor's Advocate (The Game)
Show Of The Year
Thunderheist @Vinyl, October 2006
Next Shit Of The Year
B-More Club Music
Fraser McCallum: F-Train 120, Monday Noon - 2pm
Albums
1. Modern Times (Bob Dylan)
2. The Avalanche (Sufjan Stevens)
3. The Eraser (Thom Yorke)
4. Chemical City (Sam Roberts)
5. The Crane Wife (The Decemberists)
6. He Poos Clouds (Final Fantasy)
7. Return To Cookie Mountain (TV On The Radio)
8. A Hundred Miles Off (The Walkmen)
9. College Rock EP (Smothered In Hugs)
10. Everything All The Time (Band Of Horses)
Best Live Shows
1. Wolf Parade @Le National, April
2. Belle Orchestre + Final Fantasy @Le National, November
3. Flaming Lips @Osheaga Festival, September
4. Sam Roberts @Metropolis, November
5. The Raconteurs @Metropolis, September
6. The Walkmen @La Sala Rossa, February
7. Metal Hearts @Green Room, September
8. Wilco @Alderley Landing (Halifax), July
9. Kid Koala @Le National, November
10. Jill Barber @Théâtre Outremont, November
Worst Live Shows
1. The Stills @Osheaga Festival, September
2. Justin Rutledge @Spectrum, November
3. Islands @Metropolis, March
4. The Colour @Osheaga Festival, September
5. Ben Harper @Osheaga Festival, September
Top Venue
Le National
Cody Hicks: Breakfast Of Champions, Thursday Noon - 2pm
As you may know, I'm pretty clueless about new music. I've given it the old college try and come up with 10(ish) albums that I thought were really groovy this year.
Albums
1. Fishscale (Ghostface Killah)
Nothing even came close this year. Ghost is once again completely unfuckwithable.
2. Orphans (Tom Waits)
Yet another old guard who came out and blew away all the young guns. Any record that covers the Ramones and Charles Bukowski is an A+. Tom Waits might be the coolest man alive.
3. Boys and Girls In America (The Hold Steady)
I didn't get this band at first, but after hearing "Chips Ahoy!" off this record I was hooked. This is what I play on-air to satisfy my Springsteen fix.
4. Thunder Down Under (Hot Snakes)
A pretty fantastic swan song for one of my favourite groups.
5. Shattered (The Exploding Hearts)
R.I.P. Punk is dead.
6. The Obliterati (Mission Of Burma)
Does anyone see a pattern emerging? Another incredible punk record by a band that is logically too old to be this good.
7. Return To Cookie Mountain (TV On The Radio)
I wasn't huge on this until I went to the live show and now I have to say that the hype is true. Believe it!
8. The Drift (Scott Walker)
This guy's voice could stop bullets, melt diamonds and perform other magical feats.
9. Kiss Of Death (Motörhead)
Scratch that. Lemmy is the coolest man alive
10. Close Calls With Brick Walls (Andrew W.K.)
For some reason this gem of a record was only released in Japan. My friend is completely obsessed with this dude and shelled out for the import, so I got to hear what was far too glorious for American ears. This beat the piss out of his last album and is a strong contender for "Party Record of All Time"
11. Hex Enduction Hour (The Fall)
Yeah, I know this wasn't released this year. Who cares. I bought it this year and I listened to it more than anything new. Long live Mark E. Smith!
Brendan O'Flaherty: Catatonia Shall Prevail, Sunday 8pm - 10pm
Albums
1. Avatar (Comets On Fire)
2. The Trident (Unearthly Trance)
3. Conference Of The Birds (Om)
4. Chaos Is My Name (Khlyst)
5. Grind Finale (Nasum)
6. Dead Mountain Mouth (Genghis Tron)
7. Asceticists (Whitehouse)
8. Mammatus (Mammatus)
9. Banks Violette DVD-A (Thorns Ltd.)
10. Subliminal Genocide (Xasthur)
Johnny Suck: Turn Down The Suck, Monday 6pm - 8pm
Albums
1. Kalas (Kalas)
2. Time Will Fuse It's Worth (Kylesa)
3. Witch (Witch)
4. The Abominable Iron Sloth (The Abominable Iron Sloth)
5. Age Of Winters (The Sword)
6. Fires Under The Road (Grim Skunk)
7. Chapter Chaos Begins (Anonymus)
8. Birthing The Giant (Cancer Bats)
9. Cryogenie (Ghoulunatics)
10. The Ultimate Destroyer (Lair of the Minotaur)
Top Live Discoveries
1. Colour Haze
2. Graves At Sea
3. The Last Vegas
4. Desperate Living
5. The Mongrels
Favourite 2005 Albums That Were Not On Last Year's List 1. Those Once Loyal (Bolt Thrower)
2. Shadows Are Security (As I Lay Dying)
3. Electric Last Minute (Dutch Oven)
4. Vampire Circus (Earthride)
5. The Galilean Satellites (Rosetta)
Jackie Hall: Bridge The Gap, Tuesday 4pm - 6pm
Albums
1. Our Darkest Days (Ignite)
2. Songs Of Beer (No Redeeming Social Value vs Slumlords)
3. Where The Sun Never Sets (A Global Threat)
4. Death To Tyrants (Sick Of It All)
5. On The Stremph! (Slumlords)
6. Violent Epiphany (Icepick)
7. Hold A Grudge (Hold A Grudge)
8. 100,000 Watts Of Pure Power (Or At Least That's What We Tell The Girls) (Ripcordz)
9. Changes Are What Bring Us Home (Solidarity)
10. EP (Epidemic)
Shows
1. Adicts + U.K. Subs w/ Misfits @Foufounes Électriques, November 3rd
3. Sick Of It All @Foufounes Électriques, September 30th
4. A Global Threat + Wednesday Night Heroes @L'Inco, November 14th
5. Ignite + A Global Threat w/ Strike Anywhere @Club Lambi, September 6th
6. Gorilla Biscuits + Murphy's Law + Comeback Kid@Le National, August 8th
7. Hold A Grudge album launch w/ Union Made @Café Chaos, June 24th
8. Circle Jerks + Ignite w/ Pennywise @Metropolis, October 14th
9. Slumlords @L'Inco, June 10th
10. Municipal Waste + GWAR @Club Soda, October 22nd
Honourable Mentions
Ignite w/ Comeback Kid @Foufounes Électriques, March 31st
Fearless Vampire Killers @L'Inco, September 16th
Far From Finished + Union Made @Foufounes Électriques, April 2nd
Jaws Of Life's last show w/ Pulling Teeth @L'Inco, November 4th
Gutter Demons @Café Campus, September 7th
Katie Seline: Wrong Side Of The Bed, Wednesday 5pm - 7pm
Albums
1. Carnavas (Silversun Pickups)
2. I Am Not Afraid Of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (Yo La Tengo)
3. Powder Burns (Twilight Singers)
4. The Coast Is Clear (In-Flight Safety)
5. Modern Currencies (Uncut)
6. Dancing With Daggers (Magneta Lane)
7. Show Your Bones (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
8. Knives Don't Have Your Back (Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton)
9. At War With The Mystics (The Flaming Lips)
10. Return To Cookie Mountain (TV On The Radio)
I had honestly completely lost hope on new releases halfway through the year. However, come the release of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Show Your Bones, things began to look up. 2006 surprisingly ended up producing some of my favourite albums and some of the best I have heard in a long time. It was hard to narrow the list down to just 10 but I decided to stick with the albums that I simply couldn’t stop listening to. To me, never getting sick of something is a true sign of quality.
Honourable Mentions
Gang Of Losers (The Dears)
Robbers & Cowards (Cold War Kids)
A Lesson In Crime (Tokyo Police Club)
Gravity Won't Get You High (The Grates)
Peregrine (Appleseed Cast)
It broke my heart to take these albums out of my Top 10 -- all were really good. I was most surprised by the Dears’ album Gang of Losers; I’ve never minded the band, but this album was the first of theirs that I can willingly listen to over and over again. Cold War Kids and the Grates were tough ones too. The Grates’ album for me was 2006’s equivalent to Metric’s Live it Out, and I know all I would have to do is see Cold War Kids live for me to get completely hooked on their songs. They, along with Tokyo Police Club, are bands to watch out for in 2007. The only reason A Lesson in Crime didn’t make the cut is because it is an EP.
Guilty Pleasures
Life In Slow Motion (David Gray)
Eyes Open (Snow Patrol)
The Lookes (MSTRKRFT)
Let’s be honest: I love cheesy, poppy, pull-at-your-heartstrings songs when placed in the right moment of a sitcom television show music. Snow Patrol’s Final Straw was the soundtrack to my summer and live this band just plain kills me. The same goes for David Gray and his album Life in Slow Motion. As for MSTRKRFT, sometimes a girl just needs to dance.
Biggest Disappointments: Albums
Make History (Thunderbirds Are Now!): To be fair, this album is AMAZING live
He Poos Clouds (Final Fantasy): Yeah he poos something else too; a REALLY awful album. I was shocked considering his first release was one of my favourites of 2005.
Biggest Disappointments: Shows
Kanye West in Melbourne, Australia: This guy’s head is too big to get in the door. I did not pay $80 for 45 minutes of back-up singers thanking you. “Yo buy my album it's hot WHAT”, my ass. It is good though.
The Walkmen @NYU, New York: Hands down, worst show I have EVER seen. The sound was hideous, the stage was way too big considering the number of performers, there were seats and ushers keeping kids out of the aisles, and the band clearly didn’t give a crap. The drummer, however, was AMAZING.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @Osheaga Festival: I don’t even want to dignify this with an explanation.
Best Shows
Flaming Lips @Osheaga Festival: If you were at this show, you know what I mean. These guys are the kings of the stage show.
Les Savy Fav + The Hold Steady + Thunderbirds Are Now! in Melbourne, Australia: If you ever have the chance to see ANY of these bands, do it. You’ll thank me later.
Silversun Pickups @Pianos: Somehow I had never even heard of these guys until this show. The album is my number one. I think that’s all the explanation you need.
Hana Feldman: The Reign, Wednesday Noon - 1pm
Putting together this info, I had a little trouble determining exactly what happened in 2006; I can barely remember what I did last week. Did Nas and Jay make up in 2006? Nah, that was 2005. Did Bun B release one of my favorite albums? Also 2005. Did Lil Kim go to jail? Did Hova un-retire? I was getting more on track. So after some hard remembering and a little research, what I did determine was that the south continued to kill it in 2006 and most of the club bangers of the year came from the dirty dirty, which has got me wondering when the East Coast is going to take the game back. Even after figuring out that my top album was technically released in 2005, I’ve been banging it all of 2006 so I decided that it’s going to keep its spot anyways. So here it is, my 2006 roundup and a prediction for the coming year. Until then...
Albums
1. Trill (Bun B)
2. King (T.I.)
3. Hell Hath No Fury (Clipse)
4. More Fish (Ghostface Killah)
5. Fishscale (Ghostface Killah)
6. Second Round's On Me (Obie Trice)
7. Release Therapy (Ludacris)
8. The Inspiration (Young Jeezy)
9. Killa Season (Camron)
10. Game Theory (The Roots)
Top 10 Club Bangers
1. "I Know You See It" - Young Joe
2. "Getting Some (remix)" - Shawna ft. Lil Wayne Pharrell & Ludacris
3. "Where The Cash At" - Currency ft. Lil Wayne
4. "Hustlin (remix)" - Rick Ross ft. Jay-Z & Young Jeezy
5. "Money Maker" - Ludacris ft. Pharrell
6. "Shoulder Lean" - Young Dro ft. T.I.
7. "What You Know (remix)" - T.I. ft. Lil Wayne
8. "Ridin" - Chamillionaire
9. "Touch It" - Busta Rhymes
10. "Grillz" - Nelly
2006 Artist With The Hottest Feature Spots On Tracks
Lil Wayne
2006 Male Artist With The Flyest Style
Kanye West
2006 Female Artist With The Flyest Style
Beyonce
Artist To Look Out For In 2007 Saigon
Jackson MacIntosh: Track Marks, Wednesday 10pm - 11:30pm
Songs
1. "Kilo" - Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon
2. "Promiscuous" - Nelly Furtado
3. "Raise The Spark" - Akron/Family
4. "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken" - Camera Obscura
5. "Glass Pipe" - Eliot Lipp
6. "Jealous Boyfriend" - Dishwasher
7. "Uma" - OOIOO
8. "Workinonit" - J Dilla
K-Man: "Beyond That Graveyard III", Friday 9pm - Midnight
Best Metal Show: Turn Down The Suck
Best Alt. Show: Losing My Edge
Best Overnight Show/Smoothest Voice: Go-Go Radio Magic Show
Best Overall Show: BVST (or "Beyond That Graveyard III")
Executive With The Most Hustle: Chris Quinnell
Executive With The Most Dedication To The Cause: Alex Huynh
Alex Rabot: No Sleep Til Bedtime, Thursday 6pm - 8pm
Best Album I Knew Would Be Good
Blood Mountain (Mastodon)
Biggest (Good) Surprise
A Senile Animal (Melvins)
Biggest (Bad) Surprise
The New Black (Strapping Young Lad)
Most Fucked Record
New Death Experience (Spektr)
Best Song
"No Heroes" - Converge
Best Re-Issue
Slaughter Of The Soul (At The Gates)
Most Annoying To Omar
Jaggernaut (Scissorfight)
Best Reunion Record
Monotheism (Celtic Frost)
Most Expensive Purchase
Dronevil: Final (Boris) - $25 US, paid twice, still not received
Best Singalong
"Set Fire To The Face On Fire" - Blood Brothers
Shaun Anderson: Losing My Edge, Sunday 2pm-4pm and Tuesday 8pm-10pm
Albums
1. Hidden World (Fucked Up)
2. Blood Visions (Jay Reatard)
3. Shallow (Pissed Jeans)
4. Shrinking Moon For You 10" (Wooden Shjips)
5. Pro-Fucking-Motional EP (The Nymphets)
6. To Find Me Gone (Vetiver)
7. C.Y.S.L.A.B.F. (Mika Miko)
8. II (Annihilation Time)
9. The Empire Strikes Back (Country Teasers)
10. Hearts Addendum (Battleship)
Most Listened To Non-2006 Album
Let It Bloom (The Black Lips)
Best 2007 Album Leaked In 2006
Are The Dark Horse (The Besnard Lakes)
Best Live Band
Brutal Knights
Best Re-Issue
The Kids/Naughty Kids: 30th Anniversary Issue (The Kids)
Döc Holidæ: Phantastiq Cypha, Friday 9pm - Noon
Top 10 Television Programs That Progressively Got Worse
1. The Simpsons
2. American Dad
3. Pimp My Ride
4. Survivor
5. The O.C.
6. Desperate Housewives
7. E.R.
8. Charmed
9. That 70's Show
10. Smallville
Lisa Sookraj: Unsystem Addict, Saturday 6pm - 8pm
Albums
1. Out Of The Angeles (Amusement Parks On Fire)
2. Night Creatures (Cities In Dust)
3. Wires In The Walls (North Atlantic)
4. A Lesson In Crime (Tokyo Police Club)
5. Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not (Arctic Monkeys)
6. Give Me A Wall (¡Forward, Russia!)
7. Silver (Jesu)
8. Waiting For The Next End Of The World (Channels)
9. So Divided (...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead)
Honourable Mentions
Not Accepted Anywhere (The Automatic)
Print Is Dead (Yourcodenameis:Milo)
Nine Times That Same Song (Love Is All)
Vision Valley (The Vines)
Reissues/Compilations
1. Thunder Down Under (Hot Snakes)
2. His 'n Hers/Different Class/This Is Hardcore 2xCD deluxe edition (Pulp)
3. Everything Wants To Be Used For What It Was Made For (Single Frame)
4. Wowee Zowee - Sordid Sentinels reissue (Pavement)
Shows
1. Death From Above 1979
2. NOFX
3. The Strokes
4. Arctic Monkeys
5. Franz Ferdinand
6. Rancid
7. ¡Forward, Russia!
8. Gary Numan
9. Convenant
10. Moneen
Antonella Fratino: Siamese Libertines, Thursday 8pm - 10pm
Indie Albums
1. The Information (Beck)
2. Gulag Orkestar (Beirut)
3. Yellow House (Grizzly Bear)
4. Beast Moans (Swan Lake)
5. Destroyer's Rubies (Destroyer)
6. The Trials Of Van Occupanther (Midlake)
7. Shut Up I Am Dreaming (Sunset Rubdown)
8. Fear Is On Our Side (I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness)
9. Return To Cookie Mountain (TV On The Radio)
10. Modern Currencies (Uncut)
Electro Albums
1. Unity Gain (Sinewave)
2. Drowning In A Sea Of Love (Nathan Fake)
3. Trans Canada Highway EP (Boards Of Canada)
4. The Looks (MSTRKRFT)
5. The Legend Of Bird's Hill (Vitaminsforyou)
6. Echo Other (All India Radio)
7. History Is Bunk Pts 1 & 2 (Hefty Compilation)
8. We Think As Instruments (I'm Not A Gun)
9. Birdy Nam Nam (Birdy Nam Nam)
10. Xenon EP (Miles Tillman)
Shows
1. TV On The Radio + Grizzly Bear @Le National
2. Wolfmother @Le National
3. David Gray @Bell Centre
4. MSTRKRFT + Van She @Puma Store, NYC
5. Wintersleep @Parc Jean-Drapeau
6. You Say Party! We Say Die! + Controller.Controller @Club Lambi
7. Nouvelle Vague @Club Soda
8. Supergrass + Pilotdrift @La Tulipe
9. 5th Projekt + super/heater + The Diamond Sea @Green Room
10. The Nymphets @L'Escogriffe
10.5 Jackson and His Computer Band @SAT
Spanky G: The Lonesome Strangers, Wednesday 3pm - 5pm
Albums
1. The Crane Wife (The Decemberists)
2. The Avalanche (Sufjan Stevens)
3. With Strings: Live At Town Hall (Eels)
4. Gravity Won't Get You High (The Grates)
5. The Life Pursuit (Belle & Sebastian)
6. The Lemonheads (The Lemonheads)
7. Sell Control For Life's Speed (Pilate)
8. A Little Place In The Wilderness (Memphis)
9. Honey From The Tombs (Amy Millan)
10. Songs For Christmas (Sufjan Stevens)
Mike Bresciani: The Lonesome Strangers, Wednesday 3pm - 5pm
Albums
1. The Life Pursuit (Belle & Sebastian)
2. Honey From The Tombs (Amy Millan)
3. It's Never Been Like That (Phoenix)
4. Pet Grief (The Radio Dept)
5. Return From Cookie Mountain (TV On The Radio)
6. The Information (Beck)
7. Modern Times (Bob Dylan)
8. Rather Ripped (Sonic Youth)
9. The Lemonheads (The Lemonheads)
10. With Strings: Live At Town Hall (Eels)
Alex Rapagna: The Aftermath, Monday 2pm - 3pm
Worst Franchises
1. Pittsburgh Pirates
2. New York Knicks
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Houston Texans
5. Kansas City Royals
Knockouts
1. Maria Sharapova (Tennis)
2. Natalie Gulbis (LPGA)
3. Martine Gaillard (Rogers Sportsnet)
4. Bonnie Bernstein (ESPN)
5. Sam Ryan (CBS)
Best Games
1. Rose Bowl - USC vs Texas
2. Elite 8 - George Mason vs UCONN - 86-84 OT
3. Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres - 09/18/2006
4. Phoenix Suns vs New Jersey Nets 161-157, 12/7/2006
5. Oakland Athletics vs Detroit Tigers Game 4 ALCS
MVP
1. Ladainian Tomlinson
2. Troy Smith
3. Steve Nash
4. Justin Morneau
5. Vince Young
Biggest Disappointment
1. The CFL
2. St-Louis Cardinals winning the World Series
3. The Montreal Alouettes
4. Bryant Gumble calling NFL games
5. The BCS
6. FOX Sports
7. Team Canada men's hockey team at the Olympics
8. Detroit Pistons running out of gas in the playoffs
9. Mario Williams
10. The Indianapolis Colts choking in the playoffs
Christopher Bussmann: former CJLO Jazz Director
Albums
1. Hosannas In The Basements Of Hell (Killing Joke)
2. Mr.Beast (Mogwai)
3. Personal File (Johnny Cash)
4. Fishscale (Ghostface Killah)
5. Silver (Jesu)
6. We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (Bruce Springsteen)
7. Smear Campaign (Napalm Death)
8. The Fountain (Clint Mansell)
9. Made In Brooklyn (Masta Killa)
10. Palm Of Soul (Kidd Jordan/Hamid Drake/William Parker)
Angelica Calcagnile: BVST, Wednesday 7pm - 9pm
Favourite metal albums of '06, in no particular order:
Blood Mountain (Mastodon)
This monster of a record is continued proof that braininess and brutality aren't mutually exclusive.
RIYL: music
Sahg 1 (Sahg)
Don't be fooled: this might look like a black metal album but this may just be the year's best stoner rock release, all dirt road riffs and doomy, gloomy goodness.
RIYL: Satan, bong hits
Now, Diabolical (Satyricon)
Possibly the catchiest black metal record ever recorded... careful, this slope is slippery. One minute you're bobbing your head, the next you're burning down churches.
RIYL: disco, being scared shitless
Witch (Witch)
Droney, fuzzy proto-metal... J Mascis brings the fanboys in, but it's the creeping, hypnotic rock 'n roll that keeps 'em there...
RIYL: long hair, deciphering backmasked messages in Zeppelin records
Into Oblivion (Rise and Fall)
Who said Belgians are boring? Not this crushing, tortured sophomore release stamped with the Converge seal of approval.
RIYL: Cursed, waffles
III: The Eyes Of Fire (Unearth)
An unexpected scorcher. If you like blistering metalcore, don't overthink this one - just turn it up.
RIYL: driving really fast, barfights, other brainless pleasures
Origo (Burst)
Like ocean waves grinding cliffs into sand, this intricately crafted record, full of searing highs and bone-shaking lows, is destructive in the best possible way.
RIYL: unconventional makeout music
Prisons (Eyes Of Fire)
Anguished without being emo, this is an epic, darkly melodic and doomy album, produced by Matt Bayles (Isis, Mastodon, Murder City Devils).
RIYL: existentialist philosophy, highly depressive ruminations
Jaggernaut (Scissorfight)
The Granite State destroyers are back with a long awaited dose of headbanging, tongue in cheek, whiskey-soaked mountain man rock.
RIYL: malt liquor, lowbrow pursuits
Deaf To Our Prayers (Heaven Shall Burn)
Dense, powerful melodic death metal from Deutschland. As punishing as it is pretty, this is one of 2006's sleeping giants.
RIYL: making fun of Myspace, In Flames
Favourite Gigs
Bad Wizard @Midway, NYC: Like the MC5 with extra boogie, this just might be one of the most dangerous bands in rock 'n roll... seeing them at their finest in a sweaty Alphabet Village dive is one of my fondest CMJ moments.
Mastodon (Unholy Alliance tour) @Bell Centre: They were all I expected and more on their headlining stop at Spectrum, but this appearance gets the nod because despite the odds (playing early to a half-empty stadium) their mesmerizing performance blew the rest of the bands off the stage.
The Last Vegas @Café Chaos: When this Chicago five-piece took the stage, Café Chaos became some smoky Sunset Strip shithole in the late 70's, and as their lead singer snaked about, I remember why I listen to rock 'n roll in the first place.
Fiona Mak: Airworks, Tuesday 2pm - 4pm
Albums
1. Skelliconnection (Chad VanGaalen)
2. The Avalanche (Sufjan Stevens)
3. You Are There (Mono)
4. The Greatest (Cat Power)
5. Disaster Poetry (Flotilla)
6. Ships (Danielson)
7. The Crane Wife (The Decemberists)
8. And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (Damien Jurado)
9. He Poos Clouds (Final Fantasy)
10. Destroyer's Rubies (Destroyer)
Shows
1. Silver Mt Zion @Le National
2. Low + His Name Is Alive @La Sala Rossa
3. super/heater + The Golden Dogs @Main Hall
4. Danielson + Oneida @La Sala Rossa
5. Deerhoof + The Fiery Furnaces @La Tulipe
6. Joanna Newsom + Under Byen @Ukrainian Federation Centre
7. The Great Lake Swimmers + Centro-Matic @La Sala Rossa
8. Telefauna + They Shoot Horses Don't They @Le Divan Orange
9. David Bazan @Green Room
10. CT Sirens + Flotilla + Tanya Nielsen + Only Forward @La Sala Rossa
10. Architecture In Helsinki @La Sala Rossa
Correy Baldwin: Airworks, Tuesday 2pm - 4pm
Albums
Paper Television (The Blow)
Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (Neko Case)
The Greatest (Cat Power)
The Crane Wife (The Decemberists)
Destroyer's Rubies (Destroyer)
Shut Up I Am Dreaming (Sunset Rubdown)
Return To Cookie Mountain (TV On The Radio)
Skelliconnection (Chad VanGaalen)
Orphans (Tom Waits)
I Am Not Afraid Of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (Yo La Tengo)
Zombieboy: The Almighty Riff, Sunday 6pm - 8pm
Albums
1. Mystica (Axel Rudi Pell)
2. A Matter Of Life And Death (Iron Maiden)
3. You're All Living In Cuckooland (Budgie)
4. Rocket Ride (Edguy)
5. Edge Of The World (Tipton, Entwistle & Powell)
6. A Light In The Dark (Metal Church)
7. Beyond Fear (Beyond Fear)
8. Denial Of Death (Brain Surgeons)
9. The Monkey Puzzle (UFO)
10. A Twist In The Myth (Blind Guardian)
Honourable Mentions
Warrior Soul (Doro)
Rebel Meets Rebel (Rebel Meets Rebel)
Educated Horses (Rob Zombie)
Trust (Saga)
Kiss Of Death (Motörhead)
Dominate (Adagio)
Top 2005 Releases Heard In 2006
1. Holy Hell (Rob Rock)
2. Majestic (Gamma Ray)
3. Scream (Tony Martin)
4. Aeronautics (Masterplan)
5. Rising In The East (Judas Priest)
Best Shows
Gamma Ray + Hanker @Le Medley, May 6: can’t wait to see the Gamma Ray Live in Montreal DVD
Paul Di'Anno + Sudden Flames @Club Soda, April 9
Nashville Pussy + Priestess @Les Saints, September 22
Biggest Disappointments
1. Operation Mindcrime II (Queensrÿche): A sorry excuse of a follow-up to one of the best metal discs of the 80's. They didn’t help matters with their overblown and pompous stage show on November 10th either. Time to go back to basics, guys.
2. Iron Maiden live October 10: It pains me to say it, but Iron Maiden flat out sucked. Playing the new album in its entirety was a terrible mistake. It’s a great work, but simply too long and involved for a live event.
3. Too many projects delayed (Megadeth, Manowar, Type O Negative and others: 2006 was a pretty slow year for old-school metal fans, but with all the delays that took place, 2007 should be amazing.
Most Metal Moments
Dio reuniting with his old Black Sabbath bandmates to form Heaven and Hell.
Budgie coming back with a great album after more than twenty years.
Getting to interview Hanker — these guys rock and I’m predicting their next release (hopefully coming in 2007) will be their breakthrough.
Ian Hundt: Sound Control To Major Tom, Friday Noon - 2pm
Ian doesn't listen to new music or directives from the magazine editor.
Albums
1. Surf's Up (The Beach Boys)
2. Remain In Light (Talking Heads)
3. Blonde On Blonde (Bob Dylan)
4. There's A Riot Goin' On (Sly & The Family Stone)
5. Abbey Road (The Beatles)
6. Songs In The Key Of LIfe (Stevie Wonder)
7. '77 (Talking Heads)
8. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel)
9. Funky Kingston (Toots & The Maytals)
10. Band On The Run (Paul McCartney & Wings)
Songs
1. "A Day In The Life Of A Tree" - The Beach Boys
2. "Stay" - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
3. "Ebb Tide" - The Righteous Brothers
4. "Father & Son" - Cat Stevens
5. "Carrie-Anne" - The Hollies
6. "Jump Into The Fire" - Harry Nilsson
7. "Proud Mary" - Ike & Tina Turner
8. "Medley: Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In/The Flesh Failures" - The Fifth Dimension
9. "Kitty Can" - The Bee Gees
10. "It's A Shame" - The Spinners
Stephanie Doyle: Twee Time, Monday 5pm - 6pm
Stuff
1. Begin To Hope (Regina Spektor)
Upon my first listen, I didn't know what to think about Begin to Hope. Regina Spektor accompanied by a band? Regina playing electric guitar? A new version of "Samson"? Hmm... I better listen to this again. Well, I better listen again. OK one more time, just for you Regina. Oh, now I get it. I luv u Regina.
2. The Life Pursuit (Belle & Sebastian)
I think Belle & Sebastian have been listening to a lot of 70's cheesy pop records, but these catchy tunes had me tapping my feet.
3. "Shoes" video by Kelly Come on, you betch I'm gonna betch slap yah shut up yah shet bag. Gotta love this video! We've got Kelly (comedian Liam Sullivan), her creepy family, shoes that rule and shoes that suck, hot girls twirling flaming hula hoops, big freak outs, and 80's references. Oh My God. Look for it on youtube.
4. Pro-Fucking-Motional EP (The Nymphets)
I was wallowing in great sadness thinking punk was dead, until I saw this band during Pop Montreal. The Nymphets are three normal kids who listen to pop records and belt out the best punk music I've heard in a long time. A girl drummer too. A band after my own heart.
5. Friendly Rich & The Lollipop People (The Friendly Rich Show)
I love Friendly Rich! He's super cool and gives a good interview and his CD kicks ass. OK, ass-kissing over. The Friendly Rich Show is the second release from Friendly Rich and his band of prodigies The Lollipop People. Imagine an energy drink made of heaven and hell in musical form. Imagine what would happen if you threw Tom Waits, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Pink Floyd, the Phantomas and some camp into a blender along with a bass, a trombone, some drums, a cello, an accordion, a banjo, a bassoon, a harp, a double bass, Friendly Rich on vocals and a doctor playing a harpsichord, turned the blender on high speed with crushed ice and let them all bleed into one big bloody milkshake of musical bliss. Serve with a twisty straw and a mint leaf in a tall frosted monkey head glass. Yup, that's Friendly Rich.
6. Orphans (Tom Waits)
This three-CD set is a collection of new and rare songs. Tom covers two Ramones songs from End of the Century ("The Return of Jackie and Judy" and "Danny Says", the latter is such a soft sad song). Tom, thanks for taking the Spector out of that song. You make me cry.
7. Dýrðin (Dýrðin)
Indie pop from Iceland! Sweet. They sing songs in their native language! Kick ass. I appreciate that you did not sell out just to please the masses. It's pronounced "Deerthin", by the way.
8. Singer (The Besties)
Super poppy and sweet, this Brooklyn band is definitely one of my favourites this year. Light and happy, Singer makes ya smile. What more could a person want? They even turned my friend Matt into a wussy punk boy.
9. Voila! (The Snow Fairies)
Indie-pop from the Snow Fairies. I do believe this new CD is a more mature work than their debut.
10. The Affected Provincial's Companion by Lord Breaulove Swells Whimsy (book) Each year I like to include a book because I'm modern that way. Lord Whimsy has definitely shared something beautiful with the world. This is book is not only about Dandyism. It's about a joyous way of life and offers a hopeful message. To Lord Whimsy I say, YES. Let us ditch our sweat pants and transfer from the past all that was beautiful and bring the beauty and manners into the present and become the most splendid version of ourselves! I'm game. But do you like Twee?
Matt Leitman: Idle Minds, Monday 9pm - 10pm
Albums
1. Hidden World (Fucked Up)
I haven't stopped listening to this since I got it. Amazing.
2. The Obliterati (Mission Of Burma)
MoB haven't lost a step. "2wice" is one of my top songs of year too. So damn catchy.
3. Rather Ripped (Sonic Youth)
I'm definitely in the minority here, but I think this is best thing they've released in years. Needs more Lee though (as always)
4. A Senile Animal (Melvins)
Two drummers!!!
5. Pro-Fucking-Motional EP (The Nymphets)
Best band in Montreal. See them!
6. All Roads Lead To Ausfarht (NoMeansNo)
One of the all-time favourite bands. Best thing they've done since Worldhood Of The World.
7. Fox Confessor Brings The Flood (Neko Case)
Her voice is so good it gives me shivers.
8. Return To Cookie Mountain (TV On The Radio)
Would probably be higher on the list if hadn't started listening to it last week... but I haven't stopped listening to it all week. Amazing.
9. Christ Illusion (Slayer)
It's Slayer with Dave Lombardo! C'mon!!!
10. Love (The Beatles)
Could have been a disaster. It's not.
Most Disappointing Album Of The Year: The Outsider (DJ Shadow). Awful
Top 2005 Album Heard In 2006: Porcella (The Deadly Snakes) ... and then they broke up, and I never got to see them.
Best Concert Experience Of The Year: Sonic Youth @Osheaga Festival. Feedback solo after "Teenage Riot" nearly killed me. Thurston and Lee sword fighting with guitars?!?!
Adrian Warner: Eclectricity, Sunday 10pm - Midnight
Favourite Not Necessarily 2006 Albums
1. Madvillainy (Madvillain)
2. Everything I Own (Ken Boothe)
3. Soundpieces (Lootpack)
4. Black Album (Jay-Z)
5. Joyful Rebellion (K-Os)
6. Game Theory (The Roots)
7. Street Songs (Rick James)
8. 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Joe Jackson
9. 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Jeffrey Osborne
10. Exclusive Sugarhill Mixtape - Prime Cuts From The Scratch Perverts
Top 10 Singles I Felt For Some Reason Or Another In 2006
1. "Crazy" - Gnarlz Barkley
2. "Check On It" - Beyonce ft. Slim Thug
3. "Evidence" - Eternia
4. "Do It To it" - Cherish
5. "Touch It" (Mega Remix) - Busta Rhymes
6. "Fix You" (Live 8) - Coldplay
7. "Daydream" - Lupe Fiasco & Jill Scott
8. "My Hood" - Young Jeezy
9. "What You Know" - T.I.
10. "Rubberband Banks" - Young Dro
Top 10 Artists I Always Made Room For On My Show
1. Wilson Pickett
2. Stevie Wonder
3. Nina Simone
4. Tony Bennett
5. Peter Tosh
6. Bob Marley
7. Guru
8. James Brown
9. Oscar Peterson
10. Ella Fitzgerald
Top 10 Most Disturbing/Disappointing Moments
1. Dawson shooting
2. J Dilla's death
3. Xmen 3 not directed by Bryan Singer
4. Superman Returns directed by Bryan Singer
5. Madlb's performance at Le National
6. Waiting for Rakim's performance in September
7. Wilson Pickett's death
8. The state of Montreal radio stations
9. The state of television programming
10. The state of hip hop music
Josh Mocle: The Kids Are So-So, Saturday 8pm - 10pm
More 2006 review from The Kids Are So-So
Albums
1. The Sufferer and The Witness (Rise Against)
2. In Bocca Al Lupo (Murder By Death)
3. Young Machetes (The Blood Brothers)
4. No Heroes (Converge)
5. Dancing For Decadence (The Sainte Catherines)
6. Happy Hollow (Cursive)
7. A City By The Light Divided (Thursday)
8. Yes, Virginia (The Dresden Dolls)
9. The Always Open Mouth (Fear Before The March Of Flames)
10. Red Eyed Soul (The World/Inferno Friendship Society)
Alex Huynh: Losing My Edge, Sunday 2pm - 4pm and Tuesday 8pm - 10pm
Albums
1. Drum's Not Dead (Liars)
2. Pro-Fucking-Motional EP (The Nymphets)
3. The Warning (Hot Chip)
4. Yours To Keep (Albert Hammond Jr.)
5. We Are The Pipettes (The Pipettes)
6. Blood Visions (Jay Reatard)
7. Someone To Drive You Home (The Long Blondes)
8. El Perro Del Mar (El Perro Del Mar)
9. Under The Surface (Marit Larsen)
10. The Life Pursuit (Belle & Sebastian)
Honourable Mentions
Get Lonely - The Mountain Goats
Etiquette - Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
Nine Times That Same Song - Love Is All
Yes, Virginia - The Dresden Dolls
The Truth Doesn't Matter - Nikki Sudden
Songs
1. "You Broke My Heart" - Lavender Diamond
2. "Pull Shapes" - The Pipettes
3. "Dreaming Of Dreaming" - The Nymphets
4. "Nightmares" - Jay Reatard
5. "Wednesday Morning" - The Nymphets
6. "Engrish Bwvdd" - Man Man
7. "I Love Creedence" - Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
8. "Littlest Things" - Lily Allen
9. "The Greatest" - Cat Power
10. "You Are Here" - Nathan Fake
Reissues/Compilations
1. Echoes Of The Past (Dead Moon)
2. Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels (Pavement)
3. Shattered (The Exploding Hearts)
4. McLuskyism (McLusky)
5. Fab Four Suture (Stereolab)
6. The Future Crayon (Broadcast)
7. Die Donnergotter/An Angel Moves Too Fast To See (Rhys Chatham)
8. Welcome To My World (Daniel Johnston)
9. Out Of Cold Storage (This Heat)
10. Singles & Sessions: 1979-81 (Delta 5)
Gigs
1. Man Man + The Creeping Nobodies + The Wharton Tiers Ensemble @La Sala Rossa, June 6th
2. The Nymphets @Zoobizarre, October 7th
3. The Fall @Hiro Ballroom, NYC, November 4th
4. The Hold Steady @La Sala Rossa, August 30th
5. Evan Dando + John Kastner + Elizabeth Powell @Main Hall, February 8th
6. Lavender Diamond @Northsix, NYC, November 3rd
7. Roky Erickson & The Explosives @Associaçao Portuguesa, October 6th
8. Comets On Fire @La Sala Rossa, September 6th
9. Lambchop @Le National, September 23rd
10. To Live and Shave In L.A. + Dreamcatcher @La Sala Rossa, September 1st
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