CJLO Staff Picks of 2010
We like music here at CJLO, whoddathunk!? Below is a smattering of picks from a slew of our DJs and Staff of what were their favourites for 2010, a year that seemingly had a lot of good stuff going for it musically. The lists are diverse, and reflect the different styles of music that CJLO broadcasts, as well as the eclectic tastes of our DJs.
For more on our programming, check our schedule, or click on the DJ's show pages or personal pages, all hyperlinked for your convenience, below (see! we care, man).
-CJLO DJs and Staff
*photo courtesy of Tenni Gharakhanian
Denis Arsenault
Host of Dirty Work
Top Albums of 2010
1. Autolux – Transit Transit
2. The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night
3. The Joy Formidable – A Balloon Called Moaning
4. Meta Gruau – Tendre et Mauve
5. The Robots – Hey Buddy, Dummy
6. Crocodiles – Sleep Forever
7. Women – Public Strain
8. Suuns – Zeroes QC
9. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II
10. Les Savy Fav – Root For Ruin
Let's Not Forget: White Lung – It's The Evil, Blood Red Shoes – Fire Like This, OK Go – Of The Blue Colour of the Sky, PS I Love You – Meet Me At Muster Station, RJD2 – The Colossus
Swing and a Miss: Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat The Devil's Tattoo, Wintersleep – New Inheritors
Kelly Belfo
CJLO World Music Director & Host of Beat The World
World Top 10 Albums of 2010
1. Various Artists – Palenque Palenque: Champeta Criolla & Afro Roots in Colombia 1975-91 (Soundway Records)
2. Anibal Velasquez y Su Conjunto – Mambo Loco (Analog Africa)
3. Nneka – Concrete Jungle (Decon)
4. Various Artists – Pomegranates (B-Music/Finders Keepers)
5. Jahnice+ – Sonneur EP (Les Productions Pasa Musik)
6. Various Artists – Nigeria Afrobeat Special The New Explosive Sound in 1970s Nigeria (Soundway Records)
7. Gilles Peterson – Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura (Brownswood)
8. Various Artists – Next Stop ... Soweto Vol. 3: Giants, Ministers and Makers: Jazz in South Africa 1963-1984 (Strut Records)
9. Luisa Maita – Lero-Lero (Cumbancha)
10. Various Artists – Putumayo Presents South Africa (Putumayo)
Mike Bresciani
Host of The Lonesome Strangers
13 Best Albums of 2010
1. The Radio Dept. – Clinging to a Scheme
2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
3. Best Coast – Crazy for you
4. Vampire Weekend – Contra
5. Autolux – Transit Transit
6. The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
7. Warpaint – The Fool
8. Superchunk – Majesty Shredding
9. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
10. Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
11. The National – High Violet
12. Beach House – Teen Dream
13. The Black Angels – Phosphene Dream
Honourable Mentions: Local Natives, Play Guitar, The Drums.
Dishonourable Mentions: Sufjan Stevens’ Age of Adz
13 Best Shows of 2010
1. Asexuals & The 222’s – October 1st @ Club Soda, Pop MTL.
2. The Flaming Lips – July 7th @ Metropolis, MTL
3. Thrush Hermit – March 25th @ Capital Music Hall, Ottawa.
4. The Arcade Fire – June 7th @ Theatre Granada, Sherbrooke QC.
5. The Magnetic Fields – February 6th @ Theatre Corona, MTL
6. Superchunk / Kurt Vile – September 23rd, CJLO’s Disorientation @ Le National, MTL.
7. Smokey Robinson – June 28th @ Salle Wilfrid Pelletier, MTL Jazz Fest.
9. Mission of Burma – October 24th @ The Garrison, Toronto.
10. Gogol Bordello – April 18th @ Metropolis, MTL
11. Autolux – August 25th @ Sala Rosa (with 15 other CJLO’ers), MTL
12. Wilco – February 27th @ Olympia Theater, MTL
13. The Gories – July 17th @ Cabaret Mile End, MTL
Honourable Mentions: OSHEAGA & NXNE… (Pavement, The Stooges, The Black Keys… amazing line-ups)
Dishonourable Mentions: Lou Reed’s Jazz Fest Fiasco, Pop Montreal Scheduling.
13 Albums Spinning Out-of-Control In 2010
The Bats – Daddy’s Highway (1987)
Black Tambourine – S/T Compilation (2010)
The Millennium – Begin (1968)
Cub – Come Out, Come Out (1994)
The Chills – Kaleidoscope World (1986)
Lee Hazlewood – Love and Other Crimes (1968)
Papa M – Whatever Mortal (2001)
Butterglory – Rat Tat Tat (1997)
Mayer Hawthorne – A Strange Arrangement (2009)
The Deadly Snakes – Ode to Joy (2003)
Jolie Holland – Escondida (2004)
The Inbreds – Hilario (1993)
Roy Orbison – Entire Discography (there’s a lot…)
Hopes For 2011: Morrissey eats a veal chop, reunites the Smiths.
DJ Catatonia
Host of Radio Hades
Best Albums of 2010 (Naturally, I could go on... but will limit myself to 25 releases):
1. Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones
2. Deathspell Omega – Paracletus
3. Hooded Menace – Never Cross The Dead
4. Urgehal – Ikonoklast
5. Menace Ruine – Union Of Irreconciables
6. Culted – Ov Death & Ritual EP
7. Aun – VII
8. Electric Wizard – Black Masses
9. Agalloch – Marrow of The Spirit
10. Pan Sonic & Keiji Haino – In The Studio (Synergy between mercy and self-annihilation overturned)
11. Kylesa – Spiral Shadow
12. Pan Sonic – Gravitoni
13. Melvins – The Bride Screamed Murder
14. Darkthrone – Circle The Wagons
15. Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
16. High on Fire – Snakes For The Divine
17. Salome – Terminal
18. Neige et Noirceur – La Seigneurie des Loups
19. Ramesses – Take the Curse
20. Sigh – Scenes From Hell
21. Forteresse – Par Hauts Bois et Vastes Plaines
22. Brant Bjork – Gods & Goddesses
23. Thisquietarmy – Aftermath
24. Lesbian – Stratospheria Cubensis
25. Current 93 – Baalstorm, Sing Omega
Best Live Shows of 2010
Swans & Baby Dee at Le National
Melvins at Club Soda
Triptykon & 1349 at Foufs
Lachlan Fletcher
CJLO Assistant Production Director & Host of Acetate Gratified
Time to condense what was good in music and so forth. This is... the YEAR END BEST-OF LIST. This year, I’m going to keep it simple: my favourite albums and any accompanying aspects that made them more awesome. These are in no particular order, because I’m indecisive.
Caribou - Swim
Caribou is always a favourite, and this year Dan Snaith, the principle artist behind Caribou, gave me two shows and a fantastic new album this year. Swim was nominated for the Polaris Prize (which Snaith previously won for Andorra), reaffirming Caribou’s place among the best Canada has to offer. Busy as ever, Caribou offered a few delicious remixes, a live album, and a full remix album of tracks from Swim, each as scrumptious as the last.
The Joy Formidable - A Balloon Called Moaning
This Welsh threesome was an unexpected surprise this year, as A Balloon Called Moaning gradually became one the most frequently played albums both on Acetate Gratified and on my portable music playing device. I had the opportunity to see them live in November and they will be coming back through in the New Year. Come see them with me – I won’t be creepy. If you haven’t heard this and you like shoegaze or just good alternative in general, check them out.
Devo - Something for Everybody
No, it isn’t their best album, but it is still better than 90% of the nonsense that gets an absurd amount of hype these days. Plus it’s Devo. It’s Devo with Josh Freese on drums. If you require any more proof that Something for Everybody is amazing, then you’re reading the wrong list.
Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea
The synthesizing legend of Roxy Music fame comes back with a serene vengeance with this release on Warp Records. This album got me through exams, providing enough variety to keep me interested while also providing a serene atmosphere for my book-lurneen. It’s a great example of relatively minimal drone/electronica being musical without being cliché.
Play Guitar - Shields and Don’t Worry About Death
Melodic, inventive lyrics, guitars that in large part avoid cliché, simple yet clear production values… sounds pretty much ideal. This Montreal act put out one of CJLO’s favourite releases this year, and I am most certainly one of those who bought what they’re selling. If you haven’t seen them, please do. They play regularly around town and are always a great show.
Others that are excellent but will not receive a blurb: Holy Fuck – Latin, Autolux - Transit Transit, Ceremony - Rocket Fire, Gonjasufi - A Sufi and a Killer, The Drums - The Drums, Sea Exchange - EP 3
Jackie Hall
Former Host of Retired CJLO show "Bridge the Gap"
Best Releases:
Statues - Holidays Cops
City Sweethearts - Sleeping Through Modern Times
Inepsy - Madness and Overkill (EP)
Sick of It All - Based On A True Story
Omegas 7"
Best Shows:
Inepsy @ Spin Gallery (Toronto)
Omegas & Slobs @ Rancho Relaxo
Buzzcocks @ Opera House (Toronto)
Sick of It All @ Foufounes Electriques
Honorable mention: Brutal Knights @ Bar St Laurent 2
Best Non-Punk Shows:
The Specials @ Sound Academy (Toronto)
Mayer Hawthorne @ The Opera House (Toronto)
Brian Hastie
Host of Countdown to Armageddon
1. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis
3. Deftones – Diamond Eyes
4. The Roots – How I Got Over
5. Shad – TSOL
6. Norma Jean – Meridional
7. The Acacia Strain – Wormwood
8. Sade – Soldier Of Love
9. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II
10. Beneath The Massacre – Maree Noire EP
Honourable mentions: LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening, Drake – Thank Me Later, Dessa – A Badly Broken Code, Jamie Lidell – Compass, Nachtmystium – Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. II, Grinderman – Grinderman II, Caribou – Swim, Jake One and Freeway – The Stimulus Package, Nails – Unsilent Death, Periphery – Periphery, Coco Et Co – St. Denis, Chromeo - Business Casual
Simon Howell
Host of Sucker Blues
Essential in 2010, In No Order:
Gareth Liddiard – Strange Tourist
Freddie Gibbs – "National Anthem (Fuck the World)"
The Love Language – Libraries
The Wilderness of Manitoba – "White Water"
The Books – The Way Out
Au Revoir Simone – "Shadows" (Jens Lekman Remix)
Yelawolf – "Box Chevy Pt. 3"
Joanna Newsom – "In California"
Kvelertak – Kvelertak
Agalloch – Marrow of the Spirit
The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
The Radio Dept. – "David"
Sharon van Etten – Epic
Caribou – "Jamelia"
Will Driving West – The Breakout
Nina Nastasia – Outlaster
Snailhouse – "Living the Dream"
Gigi – Maintenant
Stornoway – Beachcomber's Windowsill
Lost in the Trees – All Alone In an Empty House
Memoryhouse – Various Releases
Johnny Flynn – "Howl"
Omar Husain
CJLO Head Music Director & Host of Hooked on Sonics
*For a more detailed look back at 2010, check out the Hooked on Sonics 2010 Year End Musical Audit.
Top 15 Favourite CJLO Related Moments:
1. Being invited to the International Radio Festival in Zurich, Switzerland (aka "Doc n' Crash Go Overseas")
2. Getting to introduce Superchunk to the stage @ CJLO Disorientation – pseudo indie rock coming-of-age story.
3. CJLO's 2010 Gala – when we said we'd set a new bar, we weren't kidding. There were suits and dresses, plaques and certificates, a "live-via-satellite" acceptance speech, video clips, and a smoke machine. A freaking smoke machine.
4. CJLO winning CMJ's 2010 Station of the Year award – furthering our love of the hirsute man known as Moose.
5. CJLO being listed as one of the Huffington Post's "9 Best Campus/Community Radio Stations" – furthering our love of greek redheads with money.
6. Getting to interview Brother Ali and Jon Wurster of Superchunk – furthering my love of Albino muslims who are willing to freestyle over beats I’ve looped from Autolux songs, and managing to cross off one of my interview wishlist.
7. Asking to be a last minute replacement critic on a Demo Derby panel @ NXNE where I then told a musician that his demo makes me "want to put a gun to my head" (you have NO idea how many emails/music submissions I get that reference this now)
8. Finally tracking down a copy of the 1st press of Afghan Whigs' Gentlemen and getting Greg Dulli to sign it at CMJ after he recognized me from an interview I did with him 3 years ago (!).
9. Being a "mentor" in CJLO's first Youth Program – corrupting the radio hopefuls of tomorrow today.
10. CJLO Celluloid Cinema nights at Dollar Cinema – RIP
11. CJLO's Music Trivia Night – The Justice Street/Street Justice rivalry, and more importantly, the following three words: Adrian. Warner. Hosts.
12. Getting to help judge CJLO's first Battle of the Bands – knack for being brutally honest pays off.
13. Air Conditioning finally arrives @ CJLO – fewer heat exhaustion deaths
14. CJLO receives GSA fee levy funding – station enters the PhD in Radio Awesomeness program
15. CJLO's brand spankin' new website – looks outstanding on the outside, a little complicated on the inside, described to many as "sorta like a beautiful but crazy woman"
Top 10 Favourite Albums of 2010:
1. Women – Public Strain
I really can’t explain how much I’ve taken to this record, it's got to the point that I listen to it pretty much weekly, sometimes multiple times. There’s some sort of otherworldly quality to the sounds the Calgary quartet produce and ace-in-the-hole producer Chad VanGaalen makes the whole thing sound like a fog – thick, mysterious, enveloping, and, more importantly, warm. A fine melting pot execution of drone ("Bells") dub-infused Gang of Four/Fugazi style post-punk ("China Steps") and atonal-but-still-melodic Sonic Youth style noise freakouts ("Drag Open"). – Listen to: “Drag Open”
2. Autolux – Transit Transit
Contrary to people probably not being surprised that this is this high on my list, I was surprised that in the end it got so high. I've long touted the LA art-rock trio as the second coming, but initially, I was a little on the fence with this record that seemed more Radiohead-meets-Sonic Youth, than Jesus & Mary Chain-meets-Sonic Youth. But after repeated listenings, the complexity and layers within the production and writing behind the record became apparent. While not as catchy and immediately head turning as their landmark debut, Future Perfect, Autolux’s six-years-in-the-making sophomore album is a perfect example of how to create something as a whole and not by just tossing songs together in order to make an album. It's a shame more people do not know about this band. – Listen to: “Supertoys”
3. Shad – TSOL
Forget about Drake, the real face of Canadian hip hop is a young man by the name of Shadrach Kabango. Robbed of a Polaris Prize earlier this year, Shad released an amazing album of uplifting, positive hip hop that was sincere, earnest, and ridiculously catchy. Every song here is a winner, featuring great production, show-stealing occasional hook-singing from Broken Social Scene's Lisa Lobsinger, and Shad's whip-smart witty rhymes at the forefront. – Listen to: “Telephone”
4. Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis / 5. Les Savy Fav – Root for Ruin / 6. Superchunk – Majesty Shredding / 7. Coco et Co. – St. Denis / 8. Play Guitar – Shields and Don't Worry About Death / 9. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II / 10. Young Livers – Of Misery and Toil
Top 10 Favourite Jams of 2010:
1. Shad - "Yaa I Get It"
Unrelenting powerful beats over 70s style horn infused soul music samples are just the backbone to this chills producing song. The real key is Shad's verbal barrage of line after line of the cleverest raps that connect from verse to verse with an impeccable flow. Plus the opening salvo of "Maybe I'm not big 'cuz I don't blog or twitter" coupled with the music cutting out and the remark of "Dog...I'm bitter" pretty much win this for the year hands down. World domination is inevitable for this dude.
2. Women - "Drag Open"
I've listened to this song Lord knows how many times, but I can never get tired of it. Based around completely atonal Wipers-esque downstroked guitars that are strummed so hard you can almost hear the strings snapping while the drums gallop along with a pounding rhythm, it's all anchored by fantastic bassline. The real treat though is somehow when it gets to (what seems to be) the chorus, the guitars get to this place of melody from the right combination of off-notes and noise that's mindblowing magical and would make Sonic Youth proud.
3. Kanye West w/ Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver - "Monster"
Rick Ross waxes about how he's fat, Jay-Z phones it in about Sasquatch and King Kong (seriously), Kanye yaps about gossip and being a monster, in an odd turn of events somehow Bon Iver stumbles into the party (via wrong directions probably), and, miraculously, Nicki Minaj steals the show with the only good thing she's ever done. I still can't understand how this song is so good when the premise I just stated above sounds completely mental.
4. LCD Soundsystem - "Dance Yrself Clean" / 5. Joy Formidable - "Whirring" / 6. Dillinger Escape Plan - "Farewell, Mona Lisa" / 7. Best Coast - "Boyfriend" / 8. Far East Movement w/ Dev & the Cataracts - "Like a G6" / 9. Kanye West w/ Dwele - "Power" / 10. Caribou - "Odessa"
Fear for 2011:
If you thought things were bad with Ariel Pink, Wavves and the ilk, it's only gonna get a whole lot worse with new records from Hunx and his Punx, the Beets, etc etc etc...
*For a more detailed look back at 2010, check out the Hooked on Sonics 2010 Year End Musical Audit.
Danielle Jakubiak
Host of Runny Noise
Best Albums of 2010
1. Sun Araw – On Patrol
2. Thee Oh Sees – Warm Slime
3. Tony da Gatorra vs. Gruff Rhys – The Terror of Cosmic Loneliness
4. Acid Eater – Black Fuzz on Wheels
5. Pit Er Pat – The Flexible Entertainer
6. Caribou – Swim
7. Grimes – Halfaxa
8. Omar Souleyman – Jazeera Nights: Folk and Pop Sounds of Syria
9. Pill Wonder – Jungle/Surf
10. MDM – MDM
Brian Joseph
CJLO Program Director, Hip-Hop Music Director & Host of Phantastiq Cypha
Top 20 Tracks of 2010
1. Guilty Simpson – “Cali Hills”
2. David Banner & 9th Wonder – “Stutter ft. Anthony Hamilton”
3. The Roots – “Right On”
4. Saukrates – “Wednesday UK Remix ft. Mystro & Loudmouth Melvin”
5. Shad – “A Good Name”
6. Zeds Dead & Omar LinX – “Out For Blood”
7. Cee Lo Green – “Bright Lights, Bigger City”
8. Magnum 357 – “Expos Fitted”
9. Royal Peasants – “Money Maker”
10. Preach Ankobia – “Warn'em”
11. Pigeon John – “Dude It's On”
12. D-Sisive – “Never Knew Me”
13. Wiz Khalifa – “Ink My Whole Body”
14. The Roots – “Dear God 2.0”
15. CeasRock – “Sex Graffiti ft. Uness & Preach Ankobia”
16. Muneshine – “Maybe Tomorrow ft. Fundament”
17. Boy6lue – “Hometown”
18. Factor – “The fall Of Captain E.O. Feat. Ceschi”
19. Underground Realroad - “Be Who U R”
20. RJD2 – “Crumbs Off The Table”
Top 15 Albums of 2010
1. Shad – TSOL
Do I need to try and explain? He's amazing live, he's amazing on his album, and he's amazing while underwater in a box with a shark swimming around him. I could continue to explain how every track on the album compliments the next and how his unique rap style is something to be envied but I won't. Instead I will recommend you go buy his album, listen to it and rethink your own #1 album of 2010. Fave Track – Too many to name
2. D-Sisive – Vaudeville
I like D-Sisive because he's dark and always sounds depressed but makes really good tracks despite this. When you listen to his album, as sombre as the tracks are, you don't get depressed but instead more reflective on life. Which isn't always a bad thing. Fave Track – “Never Knew Me”
3. The Foreign Exchange – Authenticity
It is rare that an album will sound like the live performances, and I knew that when I bought Authenticity after seeing The Foreign Exchange perform at BB Kings in NYC. I was right—the live show and the album are very different, but both experiences are beautiful. Whether you're listening to “Don’t Wait” or watching them do the track live, you will love it and it will give you goose bumps. Fave Track – CD: “Don't Wait / Live: Laughing At Your Plans”
4. Guilty Simpson – OJ Simpson
Cali Hills is in my top three tracks of 2010. That track alone brought the album up 2 or 3 spots on my top 15 albums. Fave Track – “Cali Hills”
5. David Banner & 9th Wonder – Death of a Pop Star
On one of the tracks he says “it's like Rumble telling Soundwave it's time for my ejection”... that line alone bumped this already amazing album up a few spots. Plus again, can I say “9th Wonder” and leave it at that? Fave track – “Stutter”
6. Cee Lo Green – The Lady Killer
After the release of the single F*ck You, everyone and their mother wanted the new Cee Lo Green album. As much as the single is fun, I think the shock value caused more buzz than the album's actual good content did. Sure the song is good, but the album is great and deserves a listen. Enjoy it not because someone is swearing but because all the tracks have something to them. Fave Track – “Bright Lights, Bigger City”
7. The Roots – How I Got Over
This album has a remarkable trick to it. Depending on what you're doing, how you're feeling, maybe even what colour you're wearing, you'll like a different song more than the others. It has something for every situation, from strong beats to mellow tracks and everything in between this is an album worth listening to on repeat. Fave Track – “Right On”
8. Homeboy Sandman – The Good Sun
A solid album the whole way through from an very underrated rapper. People should sleep less on Homeboy Sandman. Fave Track – “Yeah But I Can Rhyme Though”
9. Reflection Eternal – Revolutions Per Minute
It took a while, we all wanted it (as much as we want another Black Star album....please) and here it is: the follow up to their to their 2000 release Train of Thought. Can I say this one is better than their first collabo? No. But I can say it is one of the best albums of 2010. Fave Track – “In This World”
10. Omar Linx – A Cold Welcome
This fire spitter from Toronto reps Canada strong on every track. Fave track – “Bad Guy”
11. Trillionaires – By Hook or By Crook
Just Canadian artist doing what we do best; rapping and being funny. Fave track – “Recession Proof”
12. Camu Tao – King of Hearts
This is an amazing album from a producer and rapper who never stopped working hard. He may have passed away in 2008 from cancer but as they say, people live on through their music, and this is an excellent example of that. Fave Track – “Be a Big Girl”
13. RJD2 – The Colossus
RJD2 is a producer who genuinely loves all music. Willing to go beyond what most would consider the norm, he is influenced by so many different styles and loves to break the mould. Also just the use of horns makes this a fun album. Fave track – “Crumbs Off The Table”
14. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
I was introduced to Flying Lotus' style recently and loved it. With a unique blend and approach to his production he puts a lot of himself into his music. Cosmogramma works as ambient and as foreground music for almost all situations. Fave track – “Zodiac Sh*t”
15. MURS & 9th Wonder – Fornever
Fun album, great tracks and it’s 9th Wonder produced... not much need for explanation here. Fave track – “Asian Girls”
K-Man
Host of Beyond That Graveyard! III
1. Amplified Heat – On The Hunt
2. The Brought Low – Third Record
3. Stone Axe – On With The Show
4. Catl. – With The Lord for Cowards, You Will Find No Place
5. Jacques and the Shakey Boys – Jacques and the Shakey Boys
6. Corin Raymond – There Will Always Be a Small Time
7. The Takers – Taker Easy
8. The Black Crowes – Cabin Fever
9. Brant Bjork – Gods and Godesses
10. B.C.A.S.A. (The Bill Cosby Anarchist Society of America) – Fuck It Up Hard
Ben Kriz
Host of Cramp Your Style
1. The National – High Violet
2. The Walkmen – Lisbon
3. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
4. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
5. Caribou – Swim
6. Phospohrescent – Here's To Taking It Easy
7. Wolf Parade – Expo 86
8. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
9. James Blake – The Bell's Sketch/CMYK EP/ Klavierwerke EP
10. Beach House – Teen Dream
Honourable Mentions: The Arcade Fire – The Suburbs, Vampire Weekend – Contra, Girl Talk – All Day, The Black Keys – Brothers
Katrina Kuras
CJLO Metal Director & Host of Break It Down
Top 10 Albums of 2010
Stick To Your Guns – The Hope Division
Counterparts – Prophets
Burning The Masses – Offspring of Time
Terrorhorse – Unrequited and Unscathed
As I Lay Dying – The Powerless Rise
Grave Maker – Ghosts Among Men
Beneath The Massacre – Maree Noire
Cruel Hand – Lock And Key
Morgue – Flames And Blood
Zoroaster – Matador
Top 10 Songs of 2010
Stick To Your Guns – “Amber”
Close Your Eyes – “17:20”
Conducting From The Grave – “Path Of A Traitor”
As I Lay Dying – “Without Conclusion”
Strike Anywhere – “I’m Your Opposite Number”
Incarnia – “The Dawn Of The Great Rebirth”
Terrorhorse – “Modern Mathematics”
Beneath The Massacre – “The Casket You Sleep In”
Burning The Masses – “Vicarious Wrath”
God Falls – “Challenge Yourself Everyday”
Matt Leitman
Host of Radio Fun
Top 15 of 2010 (Because I Couldn't Pare It Down to 10), In No Particular Order:
Black Mountain - Wilderness Heart
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Cheap Time - Fantastic Explanations (and Similar Situations)
Burning Love - Songs for Burning Lovers
Coliseum - House With A Curse
White Lung - It's the Evil
Killing Joke - Absolute Dissent
Kylesa - Spiral Shadow
Torche - Songs for Singles
OFF! - First Four EPs
The New Pornographers - Together
Spoon – Transference
The Vaselines - Sex with an X
Sleigh Bells – Treats
Julie Matson
CJLO Fundraising Director & Host of With Gay Abandon
1. Jonsi – Go
2. Antony & The Johnsons – Swanlights
3. Heavy Filth – Heavy Filth
4. Les Beyond – Brass Knuckled split cassette with Silver Dapple
5. Robyn – Body Talk
6. Owen Pallett – A Swedish Love Story EP
7. Rae Spoon – Love Is A Hunter
8. Dean and Britta – 13 Most Beautiful: Songs For Andy Warhol's Screen Tests
9. Active Child – Curtis Lane
10. Leslie Hall – Back 2 Back Palz
Josh Mocle
Former Host of Retired CJLO Show "The Kids Are So-So"
Top 30 Records of 2010
1. RVIVR – RVIVR (Rumbletown)
2. Against Me – White Crosses (Sire)
3. Two Cow Garage – Sweet Saint Me (Suburban Home)
4. Tim Barry – 28th and Stonewall (Suburban Home)
5. None More Black – Icons (Fat Wreck Chords)
6. Off With Their Heads – In Desolation (Epitaph)
7. Trash Talk – Eyes and Nines (TT Collective)
8. Micah Schnabel – When the Stage Lights Go Dim (Suburban Home)
9. Bridge and Tunnel – Indoor Voices (No Idea)
10. The Flatliners – Cavalcade (Fat Wreck)
11. Smoke or Fire – The Speakeasy (Fat Wreck)
12. Fake Problems – Real Ghosts Caught On Tape (Side One Dummy)
13. Murder by Death – Good Morning, Magpie (Vagrant)
14. Leatherface – The Stormy Petrel (No Idea)
15. The Bouncing Souls – Ghosts on the Boardwalk (Chunksaah)
16. The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band – The Wages (Side One Dummy)
17. Young Livers – Of Misery and Toil (No Idea)
18. Superchunk - Majesty Shredding (Merge)
19. A Wilhelm Scream – A Wilhelm Scream (Paper + Plastik)
20. The Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever (Vagrant)
21. The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang (Side One Dummy)
22. The Riot Before – Rebellion (Paper + Plastik)
23. Gatorface – Wasted Monuments (No Idea)
24. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis (Season of Mist)
25. The Vaselines – Sex With An X (Sub Pop)
26. My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Warner)
27. Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys – Steam Ship Killers (Independent)
28. The Sainte Catherines – Fire Works (Anchorless)
29. Sundowner – We Chase the Waves (Asian Man)
30. Sage Francis – Li(f)e (Anti-)
Rebecca Munroe
Host of Canucks Kick It
2010 was not a stellar year for music that stood out for me, so that being said, here are my top 5 Canadian albums and top 5 albums from everywhere else!
Canucks Top 5
1. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
2. Black Mountain – Wilderness Heart
3. Meta Gruau – Tendre et Mauve
4. Suuns – Zeroes QC
5. Cancer Bats – Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones
Everywhere Else!
1. Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope To the Sky
2. Grinderman – Grinderman 2
3. Tom Waits – Glitter and Doom Live
4. Black Tambourine – Black Tambourine
5. Beach House – Teen Dream
I went to a lot of shows this year, but after seeing The Swans, all the others became a blur. Nevertheless here are the ones that managed to remain in my brain!
Top Shows of 2010
1. Swans
2. Fishbone (CMJ)
3. Gary Numan (CMJ)
4. Dandy Warhols
5. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Mnjivar
Host of Phantastiq Cypha
Best Albums of 2010
1. The Roots – How I Got Over
2. Shad – TSOL
3. The Narcisyst – Mr. Asthmatic mixtape
4. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
5. Reflection Eternal – Revolution Per Minute
6. Marco Polo - The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo
7. D-Sisive – Vaudeville
8. Foreign Exchange – Authenticity
9. Madlib – Medicine Show #3: Beat Konducta in Africa
10. Radio Radio – Belmundo Regal
11. Roots Manuva vs. Wrongtom – Duppy Writer
12. Strong Arm Steady - In Search of Stoney Jackson
Runner Ups: Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh, Jay Electronica – Victory, Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Pigeon John – Dragon Slayer
Best Tracks of 2010
1. Flying Lotus – "Do the Astal Plane"
2. The Roots – "Right On"
3. Zed Deads & Omar Linx – "Out for Blood"
4. Shad – "We Are the Ones (Reservoir Poetry"
5. Cee-Lo Green – "Fuck You"
6. Saukrates – "Wednesday" UK Remix feat. Mystro & Loudmouth Melvin
7. The Roots – "Radio Daze"
8. Preach Ankobia – "Warn 'Em"
9. Reflection Eternal – "Stranger (Paranoid)" feat. Bun B.
10. Roots Manuva vs. Wrongtom – "Dutty Rat"
11. The Narcisyst – "Mr. Arab"nar
12. Boy6lue – "Hometown"
13. Radio Radio – "Bekshoo"
14. Erykah Badu – "Window Seat"
15. Lyrics Born –"Pillz"
Stephanie Dee
Host of Twee Time
Twee Time's Favourite Albums of 2010 (in order of release) With Selected Tracks.
1. Magnetic Fields – Realism – Listen to: “Better Things;” “You Must Be Out of Your Mind”
2. The Strange Boys – Be Brave – Listen to: “Be Brave;” “Night Might”
3. Black Tambourine – Black Tambourine – Listen to: “Dream Baby Dream” (cover song, originally by Suicide)
4. Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be – Listen to: “Jail La La”
5. MGMT – Congratulations – Listen to: “Song for Dan Treacy”
6. Woods – At Echo Lake – Listen to: “Blood Dries Darker”
7. The Apples in Stereo – Travellers in Space and Time – Listen to: “It's All Right”
8. The Black Keys – Brothers – Listen to: “Howlin' for You”
9. Best Coast – Crazy for You – Listen to: “Our Deal;” “Goodbye”
10. Play Guitar – Shields and Don't Worry About Death – Listen to: “Celebration”
11. Magic Kids – Memphis – Listen to: “Good to Be”
12. Black Mountain – Wilderness Heart – Listen to: “Old Fangs;” “Wilderness Heart”
13. The Vaselines – Sex with an X – Listen to: “Ruined;” “I Hate the 80s;” “Exit the Vaselines”
14. Various Artists – No More of Your Fairy Stories (an indie-pop love letter to the Ramones) – Listen to: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s “Don't Go;” The Just Joans’ “Questioningly;” Horowitz’ “Judy is a Punk”
15. Belle & Sebastian – Belle & Sebastian Write About Love – Listen to: “I Can See Your Future;” “Write About Love”
16. Stereolab – Not Music – Listen to: “So is Cardboard Clouds”
17. Girl Talk – All Day – Listen to: All of it, all day.
Favourite 7" Singles of 2010.
1. The Nymphets – “Slow Song”
2. Bearsuit – “Please Don't Take Him Back”
3. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – “Heart in Your Heartbreak”
4. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – “Say No to Love”
5. Veronica Falls – “Beachy Head”
6. Seapony – “Dreaming”
7. La Sera – “Never Come Around”
Favourite Old Releases On Repeat in 2010.
1. The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St.
2. Gorilla – Rock Our Souls
3. Plumtree – Predicts the Future
4. Television – Marquee Moon
5. The Slits – Cut
6. MC5 – Kick Out the Jams
Favourite Independent Labels
1. Fortuna Pop!
2. Darla
3. In the Red
4. Slumberland
Best Live Show of the Year – It's a tie!
1. Devo @ Osheaga
2. The Strange Boys @ Casa del Popolo
Most Memorable Moment - Stephen Malkmus of Pavement getting hit in the face with a beer at Osheaga.
Most Annoying Moment - When the guest list for the Magnetic Fields was pulled at the last minute, causing me to miss the show at the Corona Theatre on February 6th 'cause I didn't have a damn ticket.
Live Shows to Remember
1. The Nymphets @ Divan Orange
2. Red Mass @ Café Campus
3. Devo, Pavement, Sonic Youth, Owen Pallett, Black Keys, Japandroids, Snoop Dog, Seu Jorge & Almaz, Arcade Fire @ Osheaga
4. Superchunk @ Le National
5. The Vaselines @ Sala Rosa
On the Internet – Because I'm Modern That Way.
1. Arcade Fire @ Madison Square Garden Webcast (streamed on Youtube August 5th)
2. Belle & Sebastian @ Barrowland Webcast (streamed on NPR Music December 21st)
Those Who Will Be Missed
1. Ari Up (The Slits)
2. Jay Reatard (The Reatards, Lost Sounds, etc.)
3. Alex Chilton (Big Star)
4. Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse)
5. Peter Steele ("Type O Negative")
6. Malcolm McLaren (manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls)
7. Sergio Vega (seriously, look him up)
8. Captain Beefheart (The Magic Band)
9. Miep Gies (shelterer of the Frank family, preserved Anne Frank's diary)
10. J.D. Salinger (author of The Catcher in the Rye, Franny and Zooey, etc.)
11. Alexander McQueen (fashion designer)
12. Andrew Koenig (actor on Growing Pains, and son of Walter Koenig "Chekov" from Star Trek)
13. Chris Haney (inventor of Trivial Pursuit)
14. Corey Haim (actor, The Lost Boys, Goonies, and the better half of the two Coreys)
15. Gary Coleman (actor, Diff'rent Strokes)
16. Tom Bosley (actor, Mr. C on Happy Days)
17. Tony Curtis (actor, Some Like It Hot)
18. Leslie Nielsen (actor, Airplane! and The Naked Gun series)
19. Blake Edwards (director, Breakfast at Tiffany's and the Pink Panther)
Tim “RuhkOne” Rodrigues
Former Host of Retired CJLO Show "Scarborough Sessions"
Luckily, I’m not a journalist or music critic. I’m an ex DJ with an opinion. I either had some of these tracks on repeat or they have a very high play count in my iTunes. But aside from that, they are tracks I used to point people toward that particular artist or project.
1. Drake – “9am in Dallas”
“People say that old Drake / They starting to miss it / But you need to be a little more specific / Man, is this what y’all want?” – Yes, this is what I want. Thank you for delivering it and showing yourself that these are the kind of records you want to put on the second album. Put the R&B mixtape on ice. The fact that he opened every show on his Light Dreams and Nightmares tour with this track, which wasn’t on his album because he recorded it after his mastering deadline, says a lot about the quality of the track and the fan demand for more material like it.
2. Kanye West f/ Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver – “Monster”
Hip-Hop as collaborative art: feature people on a track, give them a theme and create a song that comes out of no where and slaps the world in the mouth. “G.O.O.D Fridays” was the most ingenious marketing tool Kanye (or his people, whichever) has ever come up with. Featured on the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
3. SHAD – “Rose Garden”
I cannot say enough about this song. If you play it for yourself you instantly see why it’s on the list. Featured on the Polaris Prize Nominated album, TSOL.
4. The Narcicyst f/ Loe Pesci – “Street Runner”
A Patrick Batemen reunion. From the beat to the verses, this song showed how these two M.Cs have matured not only into better lyricists (which is saying a lot considering the skills they have always possessed) but, also in to grown men. Featured on the mixtape Mr.Asthmatic.
5. Wiz Khalifa – “The Kid Frankie”
I no longer partake in the kind of extracurricular activities described on the “Kush and Orange Juice” Mixtape, but Wiz made me want to reconsider. This track is so laid back. It was made for summer.
6. Rico Blox – “Million Dollar Charm”
I kept visiting hiphopcanada.com while this was a “Choice Cut” just so I could bump it in my apartment.
7. D-Sisive – “I Love A Girl”
Even sad people need love songs. Possibly the best non-auto-tune, Drake-less hip-hop love letter. Featured on the album Vaudeville.
8. Alexander Spit – “He Said, She Said”
A great intro track to a slept on album (“Until Next Summer”). This San Fran M.C has a grimy, laid back west coast feel. More like the ‘Liks than Snoop. A real hidden gem for me this year.
9. Pigeon Hole f/ Moka Only and D.J Itchy Ron – “Loop Tape”
I had the pleasure to interview this B.C duo. This track speaks to their love of hip-hop and nostalgia for when your speakers need not “go hammer”, and no one wanted to teach you how to “Dougie”. Moka’s verse is great as well. Featured on the album “Age Like Astronauts”.
10. Kid Cudi f/ Chip The Ripper – “All Talk”
Kid Cudi, re-emerging from wherever pop music journalists and Lady Gaga banished him to. Being goofy with Chip the Rip and having fun on the track, it can’t be all Mr.Rager all the time.
DJ Sasparilla
Host of Pan African Hour
1. Pit Er Pat – The Flexible Entertainer
2. Various Artists – Angola Soundtrack
3. Various Artists – The Afrosound of Columbia
4. Anibal Velasquez y Su Conjunto – Mambo Loco
5. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
6. Various Artists – Palenque Palenque
7. Afrocubism – Afrocubism
8. Various Artists – Next Stop...Soweto
9. Caribou – Swim
10. Carolina Chocolate Drops – Genuine Negro Jig
11. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles (II)
12. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way
13. Various Artists – Afrobeat Special
14. Various Artists – The World Ends
15. Various Artists – Aquarium Drunkard Presents: Lotus Plaza
Katie Seline
CJLO Station Manager & Former Host of Retired CJLO Show "Wrong Side of the Bed"
1. The National – High Violet – Listen to: “Afraid of Everyone”
2. Caribou – Swim – Listen to: “Odessa”
3. Beach House – Teen Dream – Listen to: “Norway”
4. The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night – Listen to: “And This Is What We Call Progress”
5. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening – Listen to: “Pow Pow”
6. Les Savy Fav – Root For Ruin – Listen to “Dirty Knails”
7. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II – Listen to: “Empathy”
8. The Black Keys – Brothers – Listen to: “Howlin’ For You”
9. Suuns – Zeroes QC – Listen to: “Arena”
10. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record – Listen to: “All To All”
Honourable Mentions: Autolux – Transit Transit, Best Coast – Crazy For You, Arcade Fire – The Suburbs, Land of Talk – Cloak and Cipher, Hammock – Chasing After Shadows Living With The Ghosts, The Walkmen - Lisbon, Wolf Parade – Expo 86, Menomena – Mines, Coco et Co. – St. Denis.
Jess Smith
Host of With Gay Abandon
1. Robyn – Body Talk pt. 1
2. Robyn – Body Talk pt. 3
3. Robyn – Body Talk pt. 2
4. Lovers – Dark Light
5. Rae Spoon – Love Is A Hunter
6. Fan Death – A Coin For The Well
7. Antony and the Johnsons – Swanlight
8. Kylie – Aphrodite
9. Tender Forever – No Snare
10. Sia – We Are Born
1. Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me
I've spent a year with this record and I am still not done. It has yet to stop surprising, awing, and/or emotionally burdening me.
2. Beach House – Teen Dream
In the words of a wise friend, "All other bands should quit. Beach House clearly won."
3. Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be
Validates my love for all girl bands and noise pop, respectively. Consequently produces much girlish glee. Success.
4. The Black Keys, Spoon, Deerhunter, all released excellent material with respect to their repertoire. Individually these do not make the best of year lists. Collectively, will have to suffice. Jesus, how did Rob Gordon do this?
5. Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
The record I had the most fun with and stuff.
And now for questions nobody asked...
2010 Show that Changed My Life: Joanna Newsom, Ukrainian Federation Night #2. I'm pretty sure I cried.
2010 Best Single: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – “Round and Round”. Come oooooonnnnnnn.
2010 In Sum: Lo-fi Sci-fi.
2011 Promises: ...The Return of the Strokes (!!!)
Johnny Suck
Host of Turn Down The Suck
1. Kylesa – Spiral Shadow
2. Lair Of The Minotaur – Evil Power
3. Cough – Ritual Abuse
4. Burning Love – Songs For Burning Lovers
5. Sollubi/Aquilonian – Split CD
6. Jucifer – Throned In Blood
7. Coliseum – House With A Curse
8. Hey Sugar – Along For The Ride
9. Kingdom of Sorrow – Behind The Blackest Tears
10. Earthride – Something Wicked
DJ Mister Vee
Host of Beats From The East
Top Moments of 2010
1. Bret Hart's return to WWE
2. Abbey Road Crosswalk Declared Historic Landmark
3. History was made at the Beats From the East concert. Highlights include:
-Getting to be the first-ever person to introduce Magnetic North and Taiyo Na on Canadian soil, as well as getting to DJ for their set.
-Justin Valles, from Poreotix (America's Best Dance Crew) came to show us his support.
-Masia One performed injured but still managed to rock the crowd.
-Hitting on Nat (from the Blueprint Cru) onstage.
-Rare non-dance crew performance by TL Truong (from the Blueprint Cru).
4. Solespin and I got to meet & interview the Far-East Movement. We were two of the four DJs selected in all of Montreal (many others were turned away).
5. Jay Legaspi driving all the way to CJLO from New Jersey just to perform on my show's 1-year anniversary.
6. Toronto Maple leafs keep adding credible players to their roster each year, but still cannot escape to bottom of the barrel in NHL standings.
7. Beatles albums released on iTunes and amassing crazy sales... 41 years after their break up.
8. I dropped some gems at the Fantasia film fest and delighted many hip hop heads in the crowd. Someone even blogged about how much he enjoyed my selection.
9. Got to see my heroes Public Enemy live in concert for the 3rd time in my life...they are still kickin'
10. Justin Beiber apparently wants to switch to comedy and compared himself to Kurt Cobain.
Adrian Warner
CJLO RPM Director & Host of Suite Delight
20 Best Singles of 2010
Dam-Funk – “Things That Dreams Are Made Of”
Azaxx – “Le Millionnaire”
Drake – “Forever” (Nosaj Thing Remix)
Janelle Monae – “Tightrope”
Don Cash – “Downtown Girl”
Homeboy Sandman – “Not Pop”
Shad – “Rose Garden”
Arcade Fire – “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” (Tommie Sunshine's Quaalude Edit)
Aloe Blacc – “I Need A Dollar”
Erykah Badu – “Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)”
Poirier feat. Face-T – “Enemies”
Sia – “Clap Your Hands”
N.E.R.D. feat. Nelly Furtado – “Hot & Fun”
The XX – “VCR” (Matthew Dear Remix)
Cee-Lo Green – “Forget You”
Kelis – “Acapella”
The Glass – “Wanna Be Dancin’”
Melo G – “I Am Blessed”
Tame Impala – “Solitude is Bliss”
The Black Keys – “Tighten Up”
10 Best Albums of 2010
1. Mark Ronson & The Business International – Record Collection
2. Bonobo – Black Sands
3. Andreya Triana – Lost Where I Belong
4. Chromeo – Business Casual
5. Lindstrøm & Christabelle – Real Life Is No Cool
6. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
7. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
8. Various – G.I. Disco: The History of the Cold War’s hottest 80’s Club Music in West Germany
9. Various – Babylon Central SDTK
10. Various – Shapes 10:01
10 Best Shows of 2010
1. Theo Parrish – Mutek
2. Duck Down vs BlackSmith – Le Poisson Rouge, New York
3. Gilles Peterson – La Tulipe
4. Daedelus, The Gaslamp Killer, SAMIYAM & Teebs – Le Belmont
5. Cut Chemist, DJ Spinna, Telephoned & Jasmine Solano – CMJ Red Bull Space, New York
6. Rhymesayers Breakin' Dawn Tour – Foufounes Electriques
7. Sean Price – Cabaret du Mile End
8. Mary Hell – Piknic Electronik
9. Andy Williams Goods solo set – Sala Rossa
10. Sweet Daddy Luv – Casa Del Popolo
2010 Top Events
- Winning CMJ 2010 “Best Newcomer” award
- Nominated CMJ 2010 “Best Specialty Director”
- CMJ 2010
- CJLO Voted CMJ Station Of The Year
- CJLO Voted #6 Best Radio Station, Montreal Mirror
- Making a guest appearance on The Goods radio show
- Co-hosting J-Live & Rob Swift Under Pressure Showcase
- Hosting CJLO Music Pub Quiz
Andrew Wieler
CJLO Community Calendar Editor & Host of Grade A Explosives
It's that time of year again when the best of the best are highlighted so let's get to this:
1. Coheed and Cambria – Year of the Black Rainbow
This shouldn't be any surprise to those that know me well, but ultimately I'm surprised by how much I like this album. It's pretty proggy and burns off the overly polished poppy-ness of Good Apollo II: No World for Tomorrow. If you want a more in-depth review of it, you can see my review here.
2. Minus the Bear – Omni
Every Minus the Bear fan that I've talked to doesn't really like this album, which may show that this is some huge departure from their previous work. I still have to listen to more to be completely sure of that, but regardless I think it's pretty fantastic, even if celibate indie-rockers are all scandalized because it talks about sex (no really, check out Pitchfork's review... that's part of the reason they don't like it). I reviewed it for the magazine, so if you want more info click this here.
3. Norma Jean – Meridional
Like the long lost album combining Deftones’ White Pony and, well... a Norma Jean album, Norma Jean comes out with a severely punishing, severely awesome, severely atmospheric album. It has all the hardcore elements you've come to expect from these guys but it also has a whole sonic landscape behind it you really don't expect from this genre. It seems like everything that these guys do they do it well, and this finely crafted piece of music is no different.
4. Soilwork – The Panic Broadcast
These Gothenburg boys have come a long way from 1998's Steelbath Suicide and have put out another amazing album, not falling prey to whatever kind of terrible album writing curse that seems to have befallen Swedish bretheren In Flames. If you miss the Gothenburg song as it used to be you can catch good glimpses of it on this record and some fantastically hookey songs. If you like yourself some tasty metal, there's no reason not to like this.
5. Fear Factory – Mechanize
Oh yes, Fear Factory, so good to see you again. And I see you've brought your friend "brutal industrial sounds" with you. Well, both of you are welcome here. I thought you hadn't been on the best of terms since Obsolete. Well, it's good to see that you've made up and are now hanging out with each other. I hope the two of you continue to hang out because, let's face it – you make such a good couple. I hope you continue to stay on speaking terms because the world doesn't feel right when you aren't together.
6. Dog Tooth Violet – Dog Tooth Violet
Who the hell is this? Best I can tell it's a band from Toronto who put out a self-released album this year. After judging how bad it was based on the bad cover art I decided I would give it a shot just to see how bad it actually was and it turned out it was really good. Dog Tooth Violet is sort of a croony, dark, indie rock album, which has great song writing behind it. The whole album is fantastic, and I definitely recommend you check it out even if their name and album art is awful.
7. Chainsaw Hookers - First Blood EP
I usually don't put EPs in the top 10s because I usually feel they’re too short and I never feel like I've gotten a complete listen from a band. I mean anyone can manage to make six songs sound decent enough to fool you into thinking they might be good. However, I managed to see these guys in Australia before I listened to the EP and, well... they played more than six songs, and all of them were the same speed rocky goodness that were on the album, so I know they can make more... which leads me to question why only six songs on the EP? I mean, maybe they couldn't afford more studio time, or they didn't write them until later... regardless, Chainsaw Hookers, get back in the studio and make more rock NOW! I expect a new record in my inbox by the middle of this year.
8. Periphery – Periphery
I nearly forgot that this album came out since it was early in 2010. These fine gents put out a metal album that basically has all the elements that should never go together: Clean, melodic vocals mixed with angry screaming mixed with odd time signature changes mixed with prog-y metal. Basically they take parts from a lot of different sub-genres and cram it together. Of course all the prog metal fans will be pissed by simple breakdowns being put in songs, and deathcore fans will hate the clean vocals. Me, I like the fact that they actually tried to do something with all these things and made a delicious metal stew out of it. If you like metal, and not just a sub-genre of it, then you should like this album. Give it a listen and see.
9. The Bled - Heat Fetish
I wasn't even aware that this album came out this year. What the fuck The Bled?! Get Rise Records to promote you! Especially since this album is the next step after the fantastic Silent Treatment, which for me was really the best of their material. This punk-esque album really has stepped up the metal, making a delicious hybrid that The Bled has been putting down for quite some time now. I highly suggest that everyone give this a listen because, fuck man, it's The Bled, and you deserve good stuff in your ears.
10. This or the Apocalypse – Haunt What's Left
Holy shit. This album is leaps and bounds above Monuments, both musically, stylistically and whatever else you can think. If this is the trajectory of these fine fellows then some good albums are going to come streaming forth from their minds. To see more of what I thought, check out my review here.
For more stuff including "Honourable Mentions" and my "Top 10 songs of the Year," check out the Grade A Explosives blog through the CJLO website. Want to vent on how wrong I am? Send an email to gradeaexplosives@cjlo.com
Mason Axel Windels
Host of Midnight Love Affair
Favourite List of Favourite Things of 2010
There is no order to this list, as I'm much too indecisive to ever decide…but it does maintain a sort of possible order...
Albums:
1. Sean Nicholas Savage – Mutual Feelings of Respect and Admiration (Arbutus Records)
2. Aloe Blacc – Good Things
3. Connan Mockasin – Please Turn Me Into The Snat (Phantasy Records)
4. Caribou – Swim (Merge Records)
5. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – Before Today (4AD Records)
6. Daft Punk – Tron Legacy Original Soundtrack (Walt Disney Records)
7. Chromeo – Business Casual (Atlantic Records)
8. Dam-Funk – Toeachizown (Stones Throw Records)
9. Toro Y Moi – Causers Of This (Carpark Records)
10. Blue Hawaii – Blooming Summer (Arbutus Records)
Shows:
1. Caribou – Le National
2. Aloe Blacc – Le Belmont
3. Chilly Gonzales – Cabaret Du Mile-End
4. Arbutus Records Showcase – Rialto Theatre
5. Akufen + Other Great DJs at House Unlimited – Some club on de Maisonneuve
6. Braids + Xiu Xiu – Ukrainian Federation
7. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone – Casa Del Popolo
8. Krazy Baldhead – Le Belmont
9. Etienne de Crecy + Clasixx – Some Club on St. Laurent
10. Delorean + Lemonade & Small Black – Le Belmont
Thanks 2010 for such great things!
Zombieboy
Host of The Almighty Riff
Top Ten Albums for 2010:
1. Scorpions – Sting In The Tail
2. Accept – Blood Of The Nations
3. Blind Guardian – At The Edge Of Time
4. Ratt – Infestation
5. Monster Magnet – Mastermind
6. White Wizzard – Over The Top
7. Black Label Society – Order Of The Black
8. Krokus – Hoodoo
9. Gamma Ray – To The Metal!
10. Molly Hatchet – Justice
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