2007 CJLO Staff Picks
As expected, CJLO’s third annual Staff Picks is a mixed bag of musical goodies from across the map. So much so that out of the thirty-one DJs who submitted their lists, no two #1 albums were alike. Of course, several of the year’s powerhouse releases resonated with the staff. Radiohead’s In Rainbows reigned as the most popular album, with The White Stripes’ Icky Thump, The Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible and High On Fire’s Death Is This Communion not too far behind. Other notables were CPC Gangbangs’ Mutilation Nation and Deathspell Omega’s Fas -- Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum. With regards to 2007’s top shows, CMJ Music Marathon was a station favourite. The festival, which boasts over a thousand band performances at New York City’s hottest venues, provided an unforgettable experience for CJLO-ers fortunate enough to attend.
In any case, enjoy the lists, leave us your comments on the newly renovated forum, and keep rocking in 2008.
- Antonella Fratino
Andrew Ward: Bangers 'n Mash (Tuesdays 11am-12pm)
Top Five Albums
1. Cross - Justice
2. Fancy Footwork - Chromeo
3. In Rainbows - Radiohead
4. The Hollywood Recordings - Sa-Ra
5. Alive (Live in Paris 2007) - Daft Punk
Top 5 Shows
1. Justice @ Terminal 5 (CMJ Music Marathon in New York City)
2. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings @ La Tulipe
3. Ed Banger Records Showcase feat. Justice, Busy P, DJ Mehdi & Kavinsky @ Club Soda
3. MSTRKRFT @ Studio B (CMJ Music Marathon in New York City)
5. Fool's Gold Showcase @ Hiro Ballroom (CMJ Music Marathon in New York City)
Top 5 Songs
1. "Genesis" - Justice
2. "D.A.N.C.E." - Justice (MSTRKRFT mix)
3. "Bonafied Lovin' (Tough Guys)" - Chromeo
4. "Reckoner" - Radiohead
5. "Pro Nails" - Kid Sister
Brian Joseph: Phantastiq Cypha (Fridays 9am-12pm)
Top 10 Albums
1. Eardrum - Talib Kweli
2. The Undisputed Truth - Brother Ali
3. I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead - EL-P
4. Port Authority - Marco Polo
5. The Return of the Renegade - Capital D
6. No Place Like Soul - Soulive
7. The Stone Quartet - Caveman Theory
8. Rap Music - Brother Reade
9. Play with the Changes - 4 Hero
10. Return of the Magnificent - DJ Jazzy Jeff
Simon Howell: A Listening Ear (Wednesdays 12am - 1am)
Top 20 Albums
1. The Stage Names - Okkervil River
2. In Rainbows - Radiohead
3. Challengers - The New Pornographers
4. Hey Venus! - Super Furry Animals
5. Living with the Living - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
6. Drums and Guns - Low
7. Boxer - The National
8. Curses - Future of the Left
9. Kala - M.I.A.
10. Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal
11. Mapmaker - Parts & Labor
12. Tones of Town - Field Music
13. Souvenirs d’un autre monde - Alcest
14. Ire Works - Diillinger Escape Plan
15. Let’s Stay Friends - Les Savy Fav
16. 23 - Blonde Redhead
17. Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird
18. Are the Dark Horse - The Besnard Lakes
19. No Shouts, No Calls - Electrelane
20. Cold & Kind - 1900s
Ricky D: The Naked Lunch (Thursdays, 12pm - 2pm)
Top 10 Soundtracks
1. I’m Not There
A double disk with 32 tracks, I'm Not There gels as an album, partially because a good portion of the soundtrack is recorded with one of two different house bands: the dusty, cinematic Arizona outfit Calexico and the Million Dollar Bashers, a super group assembled for this gig featuring guitarist Lee Renaldo and drummer Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth, Tom Verlaine, Dylan's regular bassist Tony Garnier, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, guitarist Smokey Hormel, and organist John Medeski. Have you heard the cover of "Going to Acapulco" by Calexico and (lead singer of My Morning Jacket), Jim James? If not, then it mean two things: you have not listened to The Naked Lunch radio show and more importantly, you have not seen the film yet.
2. Death Proof
Tarantino soundtracks are often as exciting as the films themselves and Death Proof is no exception to the rule. It includes the likes of April March, T-Rex, Eddie Floyd, The Coasters, Dave Dee, Dozy, Bich & Tich and the great Ennio Morricone. The pleasure of this soundtrack is precisely how all the little-known songs create their own fantastical spin on the late '60s and '70s, just like how Tarantino does within the film itself.
3. Hot Fuzz
The soundtrack touches on the film's police theme without being heavy-handed (no songs by The Police, for example), featuring Supergrass' "Caught by the Fuzz" and XTC's "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)". Also, Jon Spencer and the Elegant Too's heavy, funky "Here Come the Fuzz" feels equally inspired by Jimi Hendrix and the themes to '70s cop shows. You will also hear the Kinks, The Eels and of course how could you leave out the track "The Hot Fuzz Suite"?
4. Black Snake Moan
The film is dedicated to the memory of R.L. Burnside. His digital ghost performs "Old Black Mattie" here, and his tune, "Just Like a Bird Without a Feather," is covered by Jackson, with Burnside's adopted son and sideman Kenny Brown. There are also cuts here by the Black Keys, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Scott Bomar the soundtrack's producer, John Doe, Outrageous Cherry (covering Junior Kimbrough no less), Bobby Rush, Precious Bryant and The North Mississippi All-stars.
5. Darjeeling Limited
A touch of the Kinks, Indian art music, from celebrated director/composer Satyajit Ray, to violinist/singer/composer Shankar. Toss in a little Debussy and Beethoven, a dash of gospel and The Rolling Stones...and enough said. This is all over the map.
6. Juno
7. Talk To Me
Although I have not seen an official soundtrack in stores yet, the film features an all-star cast of musical geniuses including James Brown, Otis Redding, Clarence Carter and more. How could a radio DJ not include this on the list, given that the film is a biopic of one of the greatest radio personalities of all time?
8. This is England
This is another great soundtrack from a little unknown gem of a film. It features Clayhill, Toots & The Maytals, Soft cell, The Specials, Strawberry Switchblade and many more.
9. Once
Songs from the key scenes are on this album, including the twangy "Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy" and Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's music store duet "Falling Slowly." Aficionados of Hansard's band, The Frames, will recognize tracks already in their collections; new fans will swoon all over again.
10. Southland Tales
Following up on an amazing soundtrack from his first feature film, Donnie Darko, director Richard Kelly once again impresses us with the soundtrack to his new film. The album includes alternative rock giants like Jane's Addiction and the Pixies, country legend Waylon Jennings, Northern Soul crooner Bertha Tillman, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and more. Unfortunately, not all the tracks featured on the film make the soundtrack, and there’s a little too much Moby and even Britney Spears. If I could choose, I would have taken her ex, Justin (who actually stars in this movie), over her. In any case, the music works well with the film, as any soundtrack should.
*Special mention: Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
I may be cheating here, seeing as I did not want to mention documentaries, but I couldn’t resist. This documentary gets bogged down with its celebrity eulogies of Strummer, but the soundtrack picks up the slack. There's still chatter, yet rather than limit itself to cherry-picking songs from the former Clash frontman’s illustrious past, the album includes songs Strummer aired on his BBC radio show -- from Elvis Presley to Nina Simone. For purists, there's also a strong selection of Strummer's own output such as "Trash City," which debuted nearly 20 years ago on the soundtrack to the Keanu Reeves flick "Permanent Record."
Adrian "A-Dubs" Warner: Eclectricity (Sundays 4pm - 6pm)
Top 10 Singles I Felt For Some Reason Or Another
1. "The Way I Are" - Timbaland
2. "My Love" - Justin Timberlake
3. "Apologize" - Timbaland & OneRepublic
4. "Come Around" - M.I.A. & Timbaland
5. "Rocketship" - Mood Ruff
6. "Classifieds" - Donnie
7. "Something On My Mind" - Titanic
8. "Corina" - Taj Mahal
9. "Withering Tree" - Traffic
10. "Only You Know & I Know" - Dave Mason
Most Disturbing/Disappointing Moments
1. It Goes Without Saying...
2. Souls Of Mischief/EMC concert @ Foufounes Electriques
3. Pimp C's death
4. Season 6 of 24
5. Mel B. losing on Dancing With The Stars
Best Discoveries
1. Diverse
2. Marco Polo
3. House Music
4. RPM section in CJLO "vault"
Best Concert Experience
super/Heater @ La Sala Rossa
Josh Mocle: The Kids Are So-So (Tuesdays 2pm - 4pm)
My list is kinda just an arbitrary smattering of what I liked this year. There’s stuff I'm sure I forgot and also things I will have changed my mind about. If you wanna know more, just talk to me.
Top 20 Albums
1. Orchestra of Wolves - Gallows
2. Sink or Swim - The Gaslight Anthem
3. Lifetime - Lifetime
4. How Far Our Bodies Go - Fake Problems
5. New Wave - Against Me!
6. We Are - Cloak/Dagger
7. Internal Salvation - The Unseen
8. Addicted to Bad Ideas - The World/Inferno Friendship Society
9. Ire Works - The Dillinger Escape Plan
10. The Great Awake - The Flatliners
11. Strictly Rude - Big D and the Kids Table
12. Risk Revival - Hot Cross
13. Sauve Qui Peut! - The Dirty Tricks
14. Broadcasting - Comeback Kid
15. Destroy Their Future - American Steel
16. No Salvation - Coliseum
17. Midnight in America - Modern Life is War
18. The Fear, The Fear, The Fear - Defiance, Ohio
19. The Sinking Ship - Smoke or Fire
20. Career Suicide - A Wilhelm Scream
*Honourable Mention: The Dethalbum - Dethklok
Brennan Richer: The Almighty Riff (Sundays 6pm - 8pm)
Top 10 Albums
1. The Inner Sanctum - Saxon
2. Appointment with Death - Lizzy Borden
3. Framing Armageddon - Iced Earth
4. Gambling with the Devil - Helloween
5. Paradise Lost - Symphony X
6. Dead Again - Type O Negative
7. Give Me Your Soul...Please - Kind Diamond
8. United Abominations - Megadeth
9. From Beale Street to Oblivion - Clutch
10. Immortalis - Overkill
Biggest Disappointments
1. Gods Of War - Manowar
I love classic Manowar, but it’s now over a decade since they did anything half decent. The latest is nothing but pompous fluff that reinforces every negative cliché regarding power metal. To make matters worse, this is only the first in a series of overblown concept albums about the various gods of war. Pray to Odin they rethink their direction!
2. United Abominations - Megadeth
Okay, this one’s weird since it’s in my Top 10, but considering the hype and promises of Rust In Peace #2, it comes up short. I usually don’t give into the marketing machines, but given my love of Megadeth’s work, I couldn’t help hoping for the promised masterpiece. There are shades of brilliance that make the album a keeper, but why has Mustaine slowed the pace down so much? "Washington Is Next!" proves he’s still one of the best riff-writers out there but there’s a few too many chuggers overall.
3. Nostradamus - Judas Priest
It was supposed to come out in August, then October and now it seems to be completely forgotten. Just check out their website which hasn’t been updated in ages and doesn’t mention the forthcoming album at all. I have a sinking suspicion they’re trying to quietly kill the album, and then they’ll reappear in a year with a true follow up to Painkiller with no mention of Nostradamus to be found.
4. Concept Albums
Ok, so the concept album craze is in full swing. It seems every other band thinks they should do one to truly become an “artist.” A few work, but most of the time they’re truly overwritten and ponderous. It’s time for the metal world to get back to basics!
Most Metal Moments
1. Heaven & Hell
The highlight of the year is most definitely Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice reuniting with Black Sabbath. As killer as their reunion show was (and it did kill...just watch the New York DVD to see classic heavy metal at its best), the Dio Years compilation made it all the better. As a compilation, it’s somewhat lacking, but it’s an essential purchase to hear the 3 newly written Sabbath tracks that prove the magic is still there in the writing tandem of Iommi & Dio. And 2008 will be the year of Heaven & Hell as they’re recording a full album of new material!
2. Saxon
This NWOBHM band has been forging on for 30 years without leaving the scene and seems to get better with each new album. The Inner Sanctum is no different and takes my pick for 2007 decisively!
Néné: Beat the World (Saturdays 2pm - 4pm)
Top 5 World Music Albums
1. Mind Control - Stephen Marley
2. Township Sessions - The Mothers
3. Aman Iman - Tinariwen
4. Live at Couleur Café - Konono No.1
5. L’Africain - Tiken Jah Fakoly
Top 5 World Music Shows
1. Tiken Jah Fakoly @ Métropolis
2. SAMBA Summer Splash World Carnival @ Club Lambi
3. M.I.A. @ Métropolis
4. Vieux Farka Touré @ La Tulipe
5. Hugh Masekela @ La Tulipe
Shows I Missed That Should Be On My Top List
(in no particular order...since I DIDN’T SEE THEM)
1. Ziggy Marley
2. Stevie Wonder
3. Bjork
4. Tinariwen
Top 5 Music Events
1. Festival International Nuits d’Afrique de Montréal
2. CMJ Music Marathon in New York City with the CJLO crew
3. CJLO Pre-AM Extravaganza
4. Spring Fling
5. Montreal International Reggae Festival
Top Events
1. Vues d’Afrique
2. Montreal World Film Festival
Cody Hicks: Two Hours of Terror (Fridays 2pm - 4pm)
Top Ten New Records I Actually Listened to this Year
I listened to new music this year! This is a big step for me! Gather ‘round as I recount the best records of the year according to a jaded old-ish fart.
1. Clockleaner - Babylon Rules
What I said about Old Time Relijun stands. Originality is dead, fuck art, let’s get evil. This record totally captures everything I love about goth and sludgy punk rock. John Sharkey III has crafted the wickedest guitar tone and the raddest echoe-y vocals. This is, hands down, my most listened to record of the year and it’s cheaper than shit at Cheap Thrills. If you’re not afraid of 7 minute songs and lyrics about girls not letting you come in their mouths then pick this one up.
*Key Jam: "Vomiting Mirrors." This is my song of the year.
2. Hope for Men - Pissed Jeans
I’m really happy that there are punk bands out there who aren’t afraid of being loud, grating and obnoxious without being “grind” or whatever the fuck you wanna call that barking shit. I’m sorry to say I didn’t get drunk to this as much as I planned to this year. For fans of all loud music.
*Key Jam: "People Person"
3. Gassy Jack and Other Tales - Evaporators
Holy jeez! Here we have another Canadian fun-punk nugget to slam down our throats. Nardwuar’s band of loonies has put out yet another collection of power-pop songs about sasquatches, bacon and farts. If you like the show and are able to stomach Nards grating voice, you’ll like the record I’m sure.
*Key Jam: "You Got Me Into This Now Get Me Out!"
4. Mutilation Nation - CPC Gangbangs
This was the beer drinking record of the year for me. Every song is just so loaded with sloppy distilled rock and roll. This record grabs you by the balls and twists until the little guys are all blue and ready to fall off. My roommate and I made a movie with these guys this year for the NFB and the experience was about as Punk Rock as can be. If you listened to my show, you probably heard this whole album a few dozen times. These guys are absolutely one of the most shit-hot live acts going this year, so be sure to break your legs to get to one of their shows if they come anywhere near you.
*Key Jam: Same thing as Feast of Shame: listen to it all!
5. Feast of Shame - Brutal Knights
I’m turbo happy that fun punk is back with a vengeance. These guys play shit hot hardcore that doesn’t make me wanna puke with disgust, but because I snuck a 40 ouncer into the club and got so nervous, I chugged the whole thing down at once in the bathroom stall. I hear the singer moonlights as a comedian and I believe it. I think “Government Is Asshole” has a line about spending his welfare money on sushi. Classic!
*Key Jam: The whole record is so short and sweet that you should just listen to the whole bloody thing.
6. Grinderman - Grinderman
I kind of stopped caring about Nick Cave at this point in the year, but earlier in the summertime, I was hanging out with some sleazy dudes and we would throw this on and drink a lot of beer, giggle and draw collaborative pictures of monsters where you fold a paper into three and each person writes on one of the sections without seeing the other sections. All you get are lines that help you connect each part of the monster to the other previous parts.
*Key Jam: "Honey Bee"
7. Fast Metabolism - TYVEK
DJ Blamderson turned me on to these guys and I can’t thank him enough. This is an insanely catchy punk rock record by group who I am kicking myself in the head for missing when the Pirates brought them to Pop Montreal. Is it just me or does the singer sound charmingly like Ian Mackaye in the talky parts of “Salad Days”? I loooove his voice. “Needles Drop” may be my favourite album opener of the year as well.
*Key Jam: "Needles Drop"
8. Catharsis In Crisis - Old Time Relijun
Probably the sexiest record released this year by the only band fronted by a guy who can get away with speaking in tongues and performing in a button up shirt with bicycle shorts. Yet another X band + Y band = this band band, but I don’t care. This time it’s Captain Beefheart and James Chance. Actually, James Chance is derivative of Beefheart already. Everything is derivative of something else these days so fuck off anyhow!
*Key Jam: "The Tightest Cage"
9. Don’t Tell Columbus - Graham Parker
I give up. No one else cares about Graham Parker. He’s old and crusty. I really liked him as an angry young man and I like him a lot as an angry old man. You can find “Stick to the Plan” on the Internet pretty easily, so check it out! I dare you. Really not up to par with his old stuff, but I like it.
*Key Jam: "Stick to the Plan"
10. Tromatic Reflexxions - Von Sudenfed
The real new Fall LP for 2007 as far as I’m concerned. Mark E. Smith and his current gang of hairy Californians really dropped the ball with Reformation Post T.L.C., which for my money is the only Fall album not worth listening to. Thank God for Mouse on Mars who swooped in and recruited Mark to spew venom all over their weird electro-whatever tracks. Truth be told, I skip about half the record every time I listen to it. The generic electronic whatever-the-fuck tracks are pretty middling after a while, but the real experimental tracks like “Chicken Yiamas” (apparently about boiling chicken) are super catchy and the closer, “Dearest Friends,” might be the most pleasant thing that Mark E. Smith has ever drunkenly slurred over.
*Key Jams: "The Rhinohead," "Duckrog" and "Chicken Yiamas"
Jake Wenzel: The Incinerator (Saturdays 8pm - 9pm)
Top 20 Albums
1. Ordo Ad Chao - Mayem (98/100)
2. Odinist - Blut Aus Nord (96/100)
3. Behind the Shadows Lie Madness - Mithras (95/100)
4. Fas -- Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum - Deathspell Omega (95/100)
5. Outre - Portal (94/100)
6. Ithyphallic - Nile (93/100)
7. Systematic Chaos - Dream Theater (91/100)
8. The Insight Eye - Illogicist (91/100)
9. Paradise Lost - Symphony X (91/100)
10. FOAD - Darkthrone (90/100)
11. Despoilment of Origin - Sarpanitum (90/100)
12. Wake Lift - Rosetta (90/100)
13. The Machinations of Dementia - Blotted Science (90/100)
14. Xecutioner's Return - Obituary (89/100)
15. When Landscapes Bled Backwards - Sickening Horror (89/100)
16. Skullgrid - Behold...The Arctopus (84/100)
17. Ikon - Insision (82/100)
18. Olidous Operettas - The County Medical Examiners (82/100)
19. Xenosapien - Cephalic Carnage (80/100)
20. V: Hävitetty - Moonsorrow (75/100)
Matt Leitman: Idle Minds (Mondays 9pm - 10pm)
15 Favourite Albums
(in no particular order...nothing really stood out this year as the best)
1. Sultanic Verses - Mark Sultan
2. In Rainbows - Radiohead
3. Turn the Lights Out - The Ponys
4. The Fragile Army - The Polyphonic Spree
5. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
6. Autumn of the Seraphs - Pinback
7. Challengers - The New Pornographers
8. Trees Outside the Academy - Thurston Moore
9. Beyond - Dinosaur Jr.
10. Mutilation Nation - CPC Gangbangs
11. Mirrored - Battles
12. New Maps of Hell - Bad Religion
13. Icky Thump - The White Stripes
14. New Wave - Against Me!
15. Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
Best Reissue
Daydream Nation 2-Disc Deluxe Edition - Sonic Youth
- The live tracks on disc 2 are aaaamazing.
Best Album Of 2006 That I Only Started Listening To In 2007
Blood Visions - Jay Reatard
- This would have been #2 behind Fucked Up's Hidden World. I still listen to this album on a weekly basis (at least).
Best Concert
The Evens @ Sala Rossa
- An intimate evening with Ian Mackaye and Amy Farina. Great banter and crowd participation. Best concert experience in a very long time.
Best Secret Mini-Concert
The White Stripes @ The Black Watch Armoury
- Ok. I'm bragging a bit. But it was pretty amazing.
Most Embarrassing Album
The Weirdness - The Stooges
- I listened to this only once, and it was pretty painful.
Leslie WRG?: What's Really Good? Radio (Wednesdays 9pm - 10pm)
Top 10 Cities
1. Barcelona
2. London
3. Vancouver
4. Florence
5. Philadelphia
6. Las Vegas
7. Cannes
8. Boston
9. Montreal
10. New York
Johnny Suck: Turn Down The Suck (Thursdays 7pm - 8pm)
Top 10 Albums
1. The Lucky Ones - Pride Tiger
2. The Resurrection Of Everything Tough - Beyond The Sixth Seal
3. From Beale Street To Oblivion - Clutch
4. Over the Under - Down
5. The Art of Partying - Municipal Waste
6. Venom & Tears - Throwdown
7. We Must Obey - Fu Manchu
8. No Speed Limit For Destruction - Inepsy
9. II - Maylene and the Sons of Disaster
10. Dare to Ride the Heliocraft - Trigger Effect
Mike Bresciani: The Lonesome Strangers (Wednesdays 3pm - 5pm)
Top 20 Albums
1. Night Falls Over Kortedala - Jens Lekman
2. Plague Park - The Handsome Furs
3. Reunion Tour - The Weakerthans
4. Living with the Living - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
5. Imagine Our Love - Lavender Diamond
6. Woke Myself Up - Julie Doiron
7. Phantom Punch - Sondre Lerche
8. Spirit If... - Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew
9. The Con - Tegan and Sara
10. Volcano - The Hot Springs
11. Three Easy Pieces - Buffalo Tom
12. Mosaic - Love of Diagrams
13. Boxer - The National
14. Turn Out the Bright Lights - The Ponys
15. Proof of Youth - The Go! Team
16. The Reminder - Feist
17. Person Pitch - Panda Bear
18. The Fragile Army - The Polyphonic Spree
19. The Battle of Sea and Land - Airiel
20. Easy Tiger - Ryan Adams
Top 20 Most Memorable Songs
1. "Dead + Rural" - The Handsome Furs
2. "Weighty Ghost" - Wintersleep
3. "Backed out on the..." - Kevin Drew
4. "After All" - Sondre Lerche
5. "Yer Kids" - Julie Doiron
6. "Real Love" - Regina Spektor
7. "What Light" - Wilco
8. "Personal" - Stars
9. "I Am Leaving You Because I Don’t Love You" - Jens Lekman
10. "Night Windows" - Weakerthans
11. "The Park" - Feist
12. "Say It to Me Now" - Glen Hansard
13. "Paper Planes" - M.I.A
14. "Open Your Heart" - Lavender Diamond
15. "A Bottle of Buckie" - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
16. "Keep the Car Running" - The Arcade Fire
17. "Running Away" - The Polyphonic Spree
18. "The Pace or the Patience" - Love of Diagrams
19. "Bros" - Panda Bear
20. "Slow Show" - The National
Top 10 So-So/Disappointing/Forgettable Albums
1. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
2. In Our Bedroom After the War - Stars
3. Zeitgeist - The Smashing Pumpkins
4. Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
5. Chase this Light - Jimmy Eat World
6. Cassadega - Bright Eyes
7. Under the Black Light - Rilo Kiley
8. We Were Dead Before the Ship Sank - Modest Mouse
9. Release the Stars - Rufus Wainwright
10. Because of the Times - Kings of Leon
Top 10 Shows
1. The Polyphonic Spree @ Spectrum
2. The Arcade Fire @ Arena Maurice Richard
3. The Weakerthans @ Le National
4. Regina Spektor @ The Hammerstein Ballroom (CMJ Music Marathon in New York City)
5. Ryan Adams @ Theatre St-Denis
6. Smashing Pumpkins @ Park Jean-Drapeau (Osheaga Festival)
7. Billy Bragg @ Arlene’s Grocery (CMJ Music Marathon New York City)
8. Wolf Parade @ Sala Rossa
9. Feist @ Olympia Theatre
10. Stars @ Le National
10 Great Albums That Got Me Through 2007
1. Odyssey & Oracle - The Zombies (1967)
2. If You Need Me and Rock’n Soul - Solomon Burke (1963/1964)
3. 1990 - Daniel Johnston (1990)
4. Soviet Kitsch - Regina Spektor (2004)
5. Waiting for the Time to Be Right - The Brother Kite (2006)
6. Portrait of a Legend - Sam Cooke (1951-1964)
7. Songs of - Leonard Cohen (1968)
8. Gold Collection - The Temptations (1964-1998)
9. Murder Ballads - Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds (1996)
10. Passover - The Black Angels (2006)
Raeanne Pollard: The Siamese Libertines (Thursdays 8pm - 10pm)
Top 10 Albums
1. Kala - M.I.A.
2. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
3. In Rainbows - Radiohead
4. Icky Thump - The White Stripes
5. Strawberry Jam - Animal Collective
6. Spirit If... - Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew
7. The Flying Club Cup - Beirut
8. Year Zero - Nine Inch Nails
9. Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
10. The Reminder - Feist
Levi Oakley: Ars Musica (Thursdays 8am - 10am)
Top 5 Albums
1. Endless Water - The Darcys
2. Golden Opportunities Mixtape - Okkervil River
3. Woke Myself Up - Julie Doiron
4. The Swell Season - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
5. Slackness - Chris Murray and The Slackers
Top 5 Songs To Shake/Bake To
1. "Time is the Master" - Chris Murray
2. "Acceptable in the 80s" - Calvin Harris
3. "Feelings" - Shy FX
4. "Your English is Good" - Tokyo Police Club
5. "Falling for Catriona" - Al Tuck
Sebastian Baglole: Semicolon Cancer; (Sundays 9am - 10:30am)
Top 10 Albums
1. Lady's Bridge - Richard Hawley
2. Mirrored - Battles
3. Friend and Foe - Menomena
4. Pterodactyl - Pterodactyl
5. A Raining Sun of Light and Love for You and You and You - Titan
6. La Cucharacha - Ween
7. Palace of Mirrors - Estradasphere
8. Here Come the Waterworks - Big Business
9. I'm Your Man - Harlan T. Bobo
10. Untrue - Burial
*Honourable Mention: Wake of the Dying Sun King - Spiral Joy Band
Top (Or Bottom) Bands That Should Sod Off And Die
1. Devildriver
2. Rush
3. Tool
4. Led Zeppelin
5. Aerosmith
6. The Rolling Stones
7. Any other really old or revival band may as well sod off right now (except for Mission of Burma. Rock on guys). Even you, Meat Puppets. And you, Slint.
Top 5 Shows
1. Menomena @ Sala Rossa
2. Man Man @ Sala Rossa
3. Jesu @ Sala Rossa
4. Battles @ Le National
5. Russian Futurists @ Sala Rossa
Worst Shows
All of the shows on Mackay street
Hot Carl & Jesaratops: I Keep Hearing Noises in the Basement (Mondays 4pm - 6pm)
The Year's Most Musical Moustaches!
1. John Milchem from Starvin' Hungry
2. Jimi Hunt from The Jimi Hunt One Man and Chocolate
3. Al Jourgensen from Ministry
4. Eugene Hutz from Gogol Bordello
5. Pop Levi
6. Burger from The Likely Rads
7. Chad Harms from Sons & Lovers
8. Dick Gold from Les Taberfucks
9. Santosh Lalonde from Bad Uncle and The Unsettlers
10. Gorthrax the Well Hung Cyber Leech from Wantmonster
Jackie Hall: BridgetheGap (Tuesdays 4pm - 6pm)
Top 10 Albums
1. Touch and Go - Peacocks
2. Martyr Immortal - Pulling Teeth
3. Still Drinking - No Redeeming Social Value
4. Class War - Wisdom In Chains
5. No Solution - Criminal Damage
6. The Art of Partying - Municipal Waste
7. Goes Louder - Retarded
8. I’m Watching You (7") - Vicious Cycle
9. Get Loose - Warkrime
10. Retox - Turbonegro
Top 10 Shows
1. Turbonegro @ Le National
2. Madball w/ Outbreak @ Foufounes Electriques
3. Limp Wrist @ L.B.H.
4. NRSV w/ Norman Bates & The Showerheads @ The Pyramid (New York City)
5. The Dwarves w/ Riptides & Whiskey Trench @ Club Lambi
6. Vibrators @ Katacombes
7. The Business @ Foufounes Electriques
8. Statues w/ Vicious Cycle @ Katacombes
9. Peacocks w/ Toasters @ Le Studio Juste Pour Rire
10. Criminal Damage w/ Born Dead Icons @ Katacombes
Top 5 BridgetheGap Interviews
1. w/ Blag Dahlia of The Dwarves (May 8)
2. w/ Dean, Kent & Seeweed of No Redeeming Social Value (Sept. 2 in New York City)
3. w/ Rune Rebellion of Turbonegro (Sept. 23)
4. w/ Ryan of Outbreak (July 15)
5. w/ Martin, Matthew & Dave of Career Suicide (Oct. 6)
Top 5 BridgetheGap Live Sessions
1. Pulling Teeth (June 29)
2. Peacocks (Oct. 8)
3. Warkrime (July 23)
4. Vicious Cycle (March 18)
5. Rabies (July 23)
Jessica Valentine: The Incinerator (Saturdays 8pm - 9pm)
Top 10 Black Metal Notables
(in a semi-particular order)
1. (Most Incinerating) Fas -- Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum - Deathspell Omega
Continuing the creepy, foreboding atmosphere and bizarre melodies of their outstanding Kénôse EP, Deathspell Omega go absolutely spastic with it in this phenomenal release. Peppered with deceptively benign extended ambient and semi-ambient passages amidst thrillingly technical chaos, Fas -- Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum is an assault to the senses of a magnitude only DsO could pull off. For anyone who still gets chills listening to "Carnal Malefactor," pick up a copy ASAP.
2. Ordo Ad Chao - Mayhem
I've said this before and I'll say it again: Ordo Ad Chao is the most evil-sounding album I have in my collection-- and that's something, if I do say so myself. Mayhem took an unexpected yet incredibly successful turn with this droning, post-black portend of impending doom. Some impressive drumming by Hellhammer and a brilliant vocal performance by Attila Csihar make this a not-to-miss 40 minutes of pure delightful dread.
3. Timeless Reign - Svartsyn
Reception of this Swedish release has been...absolutely nil, yet I'll proudly display it in my Top 5 in hopes that someone might pick it up and agree with me. The first thing that clued me in that this would be one of those rare and treasured Black Metal Albums That Don't Suck: a piano intro that manages to be both haunting an engaging rather than a trite time-filler. Timeless Reign confidently boasts great pacing throughout, interesting and, I daresay, beautiful riffs, and an ever-present respect for all the trappings (or lack thereof) of classic BM style that will be sure to please even the strictest of purists.
4. Odinist - The Destruction of Reason by Illumination - Blut Aus Nord
Representing a happy return to their The Work Which Transforms God-era style, this year's Odinist features the bizarre, ambling riffs that made many of us fall in love with the band in the first place, yet it is structured more cohesively than TWWTG and its predecessor, The Mystical Beast of Rebellion.
5. Nefarious Dismal Orations - Inquisition
They're back, with a fuller sound and yet another opus to their beloved Prince of Darkness. Inquisition have taken a decidedly darker turn with this album, and it works, sounding more musically mature while still unquestionably evil.
6. The Divine Tragedy - Avichi
It's dark, it's hypnotic, and it features a gong. What more could a black metaller want from this American debut?
7. Manifesting the Raging Beast - Glorior Belli
With a similar fat, relentless sound and rough vocal style to Deathspell Omega, it would be easy to write Glorior Belli off as a weaker imitation; close attention to the colossal opening riff and lovely guitar solo exit, however, is sure to change your mind about this French band.
8. De Occulta Philosophia - Blood of Kingu
This is the debut album from Blood of Kingu, yet another of Roman Saenko's (Drudkh, Hate Forest) many projects. It sounds like a massive, swirling army of restless ancient spirits come to impart their long-buried secrets of the dead to you... and then devour your soul.
9. Sworn to the Dark - Watain
Yes, there was hype, and yes, it was disproportional to the actual quality of the album, but Sworn to the Dark is a rockin', rhythmically-satisfying endeavor that I can see appealing to even casual black metal listeners. I have to give them some credit for that.
10. Folkfuck Folie - Peste Noire
I was surprised at how quickly the excitement surrounding the release of this album turned to disappointment among Peste Noire fans. Frequent complaints about the relative lack of the band's distinctive guitar solos have overshadowed the strengths of the album; it's no Panégyrique De La Dégénerescence, but it is a more subtle, integrated approach that still sets Peste Noire apart as one of today's more unique black metal outfits.
Shaun Anderson: Losing My Edge (Tuesdays 8pm - 10pm)
(in no particular order -- except for the Top 3 of each list)
Top 15 Albums
1. Lamps 2 - Lamps
2. Feast of Shame - Brutal Knights
3. Hope For Men - Pissed Jeans
4. Magic Flowers Droned - Psychedelic Horseshit
5. Satan's Little Pet Pig - Demon's Claws
6. Babylon Rules - Clockcleaner
7. The Sultanic Verses - Mark Sultan
8. The Intern - Homostupids
9. The Bad Trips - The Bad Trips
10. Mutilation Nation - CPC Gangbangs
11. Identification Code: 5271- 4984953784-06564 - The Daily Void
12. Alien Native - Factums
13. Through The Panama - Sightings
14. Present The Paisley Reich - Times New Viking
15. Carbohydrates Hydrocarbons - Michael Yonkers & The Blind Shake
Top 15 Singles
1. Summer Burns (2x7") - Tyvek
2. Yellow Mice Sleep - Blank Dogs
3. Introducing The Wax Museums - Wax Museums
4. Split - Jay Reatard / Boston Chinks
5. The Very Next Moment - Los Llamarada
6. WWIII - CPC Gangbangs
7. Our City Doesn't Stink All Of The Time - Hibachi Stranglers
8. Atomic Rain - TV Ghost
9. Acid One - SIDS
10. Split - Cheveu / Tyvek
11. Split - Livefastdie / Wizzard Sleeve
12. Spoiled Brat - Cheap Time
13. Teabag Party - The King Khan & BBQ Show
14. Split - KK Rampage / Functional Blackouts
15. By A Thread - Pink Reason
Band Of The Year
Tyvek
- Without question, the best live band I've seen this year, and the Summer Burns 2x7" was the best release of 2007.
Stephanie Doyle: Twee Time (Fridays 8pm - 9pm)
Favourite Releases
1. Cat Spectacular! - Bearsuit
2. The Flying Club Cup - Beirut
3. Beyond - Dinosaur Jr.
4. Albatross: How We Failed to Save the Lone Star State with the Power of Rock and Roll - Fishboy
5. White Chalk - Polly Jean Harvey
6. Population - The Most Serene Republic
7. Twelve - Patti Smith
8. Daydream Nation Deluxe Edition - Sonic Youth
9. Punk Rock at the British Legion Hall - Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of the British Empire
Favourite Old Releases
1. The Friends of Rachel Worth - The Go-Betweens
2. The Manhattan Love Suicides - The Manhattan Love Suicides
3. End of the Century - The Ramones
4. Bizarro - The Wedding Present
5. Lots and LOTS of everything Billy Childish & Thee Headcoats-related
Favourite Independent Labels
1. Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records (Athens, GA)
2. Yay! Records (Oxnard, CA)
Best Live Show
Total Fucking Destruction @ Ace of Clubs (CMJ Music Marathon in New York City)
- How did these guys take the title from Patti Smith?! ;-)
Live Shows To Remember
1. Happy Happy Birthday to Me Showcase feat. Fishboy and The Smittens @ the Tank (CMJ Music Marathon in New York City)
2. Me, Mom, & Morgentaler @ Club Soda
3. MSTRKRFT @ Studio B (CMJ Music Marathon in New York City)
4. The Nymphets @ Barfly
5. Patti Smith @ Eglise St. Jean Baptiste (Pop Montreal)
6. Pirate Party feat. Billy Bragg, The Most Serene Republic and Imperial Teen @ Arlene's Grocery (CMJ Music Marathon in New York City)
Erin Stewart and Cory Alder: Rock The Plank (Thursdays 2pm - 4pm)
Top 10 Albums
1. Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal
2. The Stage Names - Okkervil River
3. Random Spirit - Sunset Rubdown
4. Are the Dark Horse - The Besnard Lakes
5. 23 - Blonde Redhead
6. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon
7. Leaves in the River - Sea Wolf
8. Friend EP - Grizzly Bear
9. Cryptograms - Deerhunter
10. Friend and Foe - Menomena
K-Man: Beyond That Graveyard! III (Fridays 9pm - 12am)
Top 10 Albums
1. How Do You Like the Sound of That - Amplified Heat
2. Oshawa - Mongrels
3. Death is This Communion - High On Fire
4. Right On Time - The Brought Low (Dec. 2006)
5. If I Had a Horse - The Ribeye Bros.
6. Witchcult Today - Electric Wizard
7. Iron Hearse - Iron Hearse (Dec. 2006)
8. We Sing of Only Blood or Love - Dax Riggs
9. Hex: Or Printing in the Infernal Method - Earth
10. ...Into the Exam Room - Hermano
Brendan O'Flaherty: Catatonia (Sundays 8pm - 10pm)
Top 50 Albums
1. Conqueror - Jesu
2. Death Is This Communion - High On Fire
3. Red Album - Baroness
4. Mourner - Caina
5. 2 - KTL
6. In Stormy Nights - Ghost
7. Jah War 7" - The Bug
8. Here Come The Waterworks - Big Business
9. Hibernaculum - Earth
10.Eight Improvisations - James Plotkin & Tim Wyskida
11.Twelve Hunters - Wolves In The Throne Room
12. Gone - Mono
13. Season In Hell - 7000 Dying Rats
14. Bird Sister Blasphemy - Birchville Cat Motel
15. Birds Call Home Their Dead - Birchville Cat Motel
16. The Ills of Modern Man - Despised Icon
17. Dead Men Tell No Tales 2XCD - Monarch
18. Pilgrimage - Om
19. Torche - Torche
20. Black Ships Ate the Sky - Current 93
21. Pestilence & Peril - The Howling Wind
22. Decorated - Harris Newman
23. Radiance of Shadows - Nadja
24. Bambi's Dilemna - Melt Banana
25. Disconnected - Faust & Nurse With Wound
26. Misanthropic Alchemy - Ramesses
27. Fire Up the Blades - Three Inches of Blood
28. Oracle - Sunn 0)))
29. Myiasis - Maggot Breeder
30. We Are Him - Angels of Light
31. Love Is Simple - Akron/Family
32. II: Ruined - Atavist
33. Kosmos - Kosmos
34. Black Madonna - Austerity Program
35. Hangman's Hymn - Sigh
36. King of the Grey Islands - Candlemass
37. Shelter From the Ash - Six Organs Of Admittance
38. New Seasons - Sadies
39. Green Blues - MV & EE with the Bummer Band
40. Gettin' Gone - MV & EE with The Golden Road
41. The Apostasy - Behemoth
42. Given to the Rising - Neurosis
43. Phantom Limb - Pig Destroyer
44. Screech Owl - Wold
45. Dead in the Woods - The Grey Daturas
46. Untrue - Burial
47. Witchcult Today - Electric Wizard
48. The Ressurection of Whiskey Foote - The Hidden Hand
49. Weighing Souls With Sand - The Angelic Process
50. Sworn to the Dark - Watain
Bummer Of The Year
Dissolution of Khanate
Highlight of the Year
Carcass reunion
Angelica Calcagnile: BVST (Wednesdays 7pm - 9pm)
Favourite Albums
In no particular order, these are my favorite releases of 2007. To hear a selected track from each of these albums, lovingly assembled just for you into a streaming mixtape, head on over to www.angeli.ca/bvst and check out the brand new BVST player. The songs will be up after the BVST Best of 2007 special airs Wednesday, December 19th. The special will re-air for all you fanboys and slackers on December 26th.
1. Visqueen - Unsane
If I HAD to pick a number one for this list, this would be it. Messy, and yet somehow sparse, this album marries violence with an overarching hopelessness and a heavy helping of Southern groove. The brutal stomp and frayed emotions of tracks like "Last Man Standing," "Only Pain" and "Windshield" further cement Unsane as masters of their genre. Without a doubt, this is their best album yet.
2. Blackout at Sunrise EP - Cursed
A three track EP isn't normally enough to tide me over between albums, especially when the wait is this prolonged. However, this EP, though short, manages to satisfy with the characteristic menace fans have come to expect, and bodes well for Cursed's upcoming album III (which has been announced for Spring '08).
[Honourable mention here goes to Goodfellow Records labelmates The Fucking Wrath, whose simultaneously doomy and crusty 2007 offering Season of Evil really should be on this list as well.]
3. Death Is This Communion - High On Fire
This much anticipated follow-up to 2005's blistering Blessed Black Wings might lack some of the cohesion of its predecessors, but the rock'n'roll urgency, gravel pit vocals and stunning drum work more than make up for any unevenness. In particular, the "Headhunter"/"Rumors of War"/"DII" musical hat trick keep me coming back for more.
4. In Return EP - Torche
Managing to both bludgeon and soar, this EP guarantees itself a spot on the list by offering up the heaviest song I've heard all year, and possibly in all my life: "Tarpit Carnivore." There are shades of Mastodon and Isis all over this record, so if you like either, this record comes highly recommended. The over-the-top packaging (10" custom color vinyl, intricate Baizley artwork and included CD) makes this a must-own for fans.
5. The Big Dirty - Every Time I Die
ETID return with an unexpectedly great rock record, much stronger and more mature than any of their previous albums. Some of the cheekiness is gone, replaced by a smarter, sharper viciousness, while the Southern metal influence previously toyed with on Gutter Phenomenon comes heavily, and successfully, to the forefront.
[Speaking of Southern metal, Maylene & The Sons of Disaster take the honorable mention here, with II, which, while not brainy, is too full of dirt road riffs, scissoring guitar work and scream-along hooks to not get a nod.]
6. Dirty Women - The Glasspack
This bunch of Kentucky stoners sure know how to boogie, as they clearly demonstrate on their latest record. When not chugging fuzzily along, this album wails and screams, dipping at times into swampy blues, soaring psychedelia and even a little honky-tonk piano. These boys love their grit and distortion as much as I do, and so will you.
7. From Beale Street to Oblivion - Clutch
This record isn't a radical departure from the sound of 2005's Robot Hive/Exodus, but it's a further, if smaller, step along the dramatic pattern of growth since the band's early '90s debut. Heavy bass and organ dominate this record, and Neil Fallon's wordplay is as sharp as ever. Nothing drastically new here, but you shouldn't fix what ain't broken.
8. Bottled Lighting (Of An All Time High) - C'mon
Sir Ian Blurton and his southern associates return with their third full length release, and as expected, it's a monster. This one packs all the swagger and crunch of the earlier albums with some surprises, particularly on "All Time High" and "Unh." C'mon writes songs that sound like rock songs should: living room tested, smoky club approved and stadium ready.
[Bionic's Black Blood deserves an honourable mention at the very least. This long awaited album faithfully delivers the awesome power of their live performance, with some characteristically off-kilter flourishes.]
9. Oshawa - The Mongrels
This newly formed contender for the Canadian rock'n'roll crown contains no young upstarts. Rather, this six member (two drummers!) assault unit is a supergroup of seasoned Montreal vets that doesn't shy away from digging into the past to unearth the rock'n'roll sound of the future. Trippy and groovy without a lick of sarcasm, this album synthesizes what makes dinosaur rock such an enduring classic.
10. Casa Diablo - White Cowbell Oklahoma
The boys are back, with a follow-up worthy of their excellent debut, Cencerro Blanco. While the riffs are just as thick and greasy as ever, the overall vibe is a little meaner and less carefree. The darker sound leaves more room for experimentation, and the edgy production lets the sheer musicianship shine. This record boogies, shakes and sleazes it up with the best of them. Don't miss it.
Bonus
Some moments are bittersweet, and some are just sweet. Seeing Shooter Jennings at the Chameleon Club in the musical megalopolis that is Lancaster, PA was definitely the latter. The son of Waylon, Shooter carries on the outlaw country tradition with the same swagger his daddy had. Gearing up for his release, The Wolf, Shooter delivered the kind of show that only country acts can and left the crowd feeling full, warm and happy like a bowlful of grits and a bottle of whiskey.
By contrast, seeing Planes Mistaken For Stars on their farewell tour at Lambi was as heartbreaking as it was wonderful. Supporting their latest offering, We Ride To Fight! The First Four Years, a retrospective of their earliest releases, PMFS opened with my favorite song, "A Six Inch Valley," and then careened through a career's worth of gut-wrenchingly beautiful songs.
Alex Robot: No Sleep Til Bedtime (Mondays 6pm - 8pm)
Top 10 Albums
1. The Narcotic Story - Oxbow
2. Blackout at Sunrise (EP) - Cursed
3. Ire Works - Dillinger Escape Plan
5. Life is Wasted on the Living - The Great Deceiver
4. V - Shining
6. The Wind Up - Memfis
7. Phantom Limb - Pig Destroyer
8. Fas -- Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum - Deathspell Omega
9. Breizhiselad - Eric Cordier
10. Precambrian - The Ocean
Runners-Up
(in no particular order)
1. Nocturnal - Black Dahlia Murder
2. My Downfall - Venetian Snares
3. In Oceans Abandoned by Life I Drown...to Live Again as a Servant of Darkness - Nordvargr
4. Abandoned Language - Dalek
5. Genuine Sense of Outrage - The Warriors
6. Rythyms From a Cosmic Sky - Earthless
7. Cross - Justice
8. Malice - Through the Eyes of the Dead
9. Era Vulgaris - Queens of the Stone Age
10. Hangman's Hymn - Sigh
Christopher Bussmann: former CJLO Jazz Director
Top 15 Albums
1. In Rainbows - Radiohead
2 Alles Wieder Offen - Einstürzende Neubauten
3. White Chalk - PJ Harvey
4. Conqueror - Jesu
5. Pilgrimage - Om
6. Vol. 2: Summer Snow - William Parker & Hamid Drake
7. The Big Doe Rehab - Ghostface Killah
8. 8 Diagrams - Wu-Tang Clan
9. Phantom Limb - Pig Destroyer
10. 100 Days, 100 Nights - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
11. Pale Sketches - Jesu
12. Death Is This Communion - High On Fire
13. The Budos Band II - The Budos Band
14. Wagonmaster - Porter Wagoner
15. Sun Down/Sun Rise - Jesu
Top 5 Reissues
1. The Complete On The Corner Sessions - Miles Davis
2. Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles - Billie Holiday
3. The Complete Studio Recordings - The Curtis Counce Group
4. Songs of Leonard Cohen/Songs From a Room/Songs of Love and Hate - Leonard Cohen
5. The Very Best of Ethiopiques: Hypnotic Grooves - Various Artists
Louis Rozza: former Hooked On Sonics co-host
Top 15 Albums
1. Alchemy Index Vol. 1&2 - Thrice
2. Send Away The Tigers - Manic Street Preachers
3. Icky Thump - The White Stripes
4. Andorra - Caribou
5. Widow City - Fiery Furnaces
6. Astronomy For Dogs - The Aliens
7. Jarvis - Jarvis Cocker
8. Myths Of The Near Future - Klaxons
9. Theology - Sinead O'Connor
10. Spirit If... - Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew
11. Person Pitch - Panda Bear
12. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse
13. Brett Anderson - Brett Anderson
14. Favourite Worst Nightmare - Arctic Monkeys
15. Volta - Bjork
16. The Fragile Army - The Polyphonic Spree
17. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
18. The Good, The Bad, & The Queen - The Good, The Bad, & The Queen
19. Yours To Keep - Albert Hammond Jr.
20. Is Is Ep - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Katie Seline: Wrong Side Of The Bed**
Top 10 Albums
1. Let's Stay Friends - Les Savy Fav
2. In Rainbows - Radiohead
3. Sun Come Undone - Thrushes
4. Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem
5. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
6. Plague Park - The Handsome Furs
7. The Reminder - Feist
8. Lose All Time - You Say Party! We Say Die!
9. Welcome to the Night Sky - Wintersleep
10. Baby 81 - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Worst Albums EVER and Thus Biggest Disappointments
1. In Our Bedroom After The War - Stars
2. Our Love To Admire - Interpol
**Wrong Side Of The Bed is on indefinite hiatus while Katie conquers the music industry in the U.S. of A.
Lady Oracle & J-Nice: The Limelight (Saturdays 4pm - 6pm)
Top 10 Albums
(in no particular order)
1. Carte Blanche - PhatKat
2. Get Some Friends - Ghettosocks
3. Supertoke 2 - Rhytmicru
4. Eardrum - Talib
5. Finding Forever - Common
6. Escape From the Pigeon Hole - Abdominal
7. Hitch Hikin' Music - Classified
8. Return of the Magnificent - DJ Jazzy Jeff
9. Get Back - Little Brother
10. Popular Demand - Black Milk
Antonella Fratino: The Siamese Libertines (Thursdays 8pm - 10pm)
Albums I Danced / Chilled / Rocked Out To
1. Idealism - Digitalism
2. Cross - Justice
3. I Created Disco - Calvin Harris
4. Pocket Symphony - Air
5. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
6. Tears of the Valedictorian - Frog Eyes
7. Random Spirit - Sunset Rubdown
8. Shitdisco - Kingdom of Fear
9. Friend EP - Grizzly Bear
10. Lose All Time - You Say Party! We Say Die!
11. Kala - M.I.A.
12. Noisette - Original Recipe
Songs That Made It All Better
1. "D.A.N.C.E." - Justice
2. "Acceptable in the 80s" - Calvin Harris
3. "Pogo" - Digitalism
4. "Melody Day" - Caribou
5. "Black Waves/Bad Vibrations" - The Arcade Fire
6. "Cato as Pun" - Of Montreal
7. "Slowly Turning Into You" - The White Stripes
8. "Sea Legs" - The Shins
9. "Weighty Ghost" - Wintersleep
10. "I Feel It All" - Feist
11. "Fancy Footwork" - Chromeo
12. "Midnight Lovers" - Matthew Dear
Noteworthy Shows
1. Arcade Fire @ The Ukrainian Federation
2. The White Stripes @ The Bell Centre
3. Beastie Boys w/ Chromeo @ The Bell Centre
4. Fool’s Gold Showcase feat. The Cool Kids, Kid Sister et al @ Hiro Ballroom (CMJ Music Marathon in New York City)
5. Stevie Wonder @ The Bell Centre
6. I Love Neon feat. Jordan Dare and MSTRKRFT @ SAT
7. M.I.A. @ Metropolis
8. CJLO Pre-Am Extravaganza feat. Hexes and Ohs, DJ A-Dubs, The Hot Springs, super/Heater & Uncut @ The Academy & Sala Rossa
9. Midlake w/ St. Vincent @ The Main Hall
10. Beirut @ Sala Rossa
11. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ La Tulipe
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