CJLO - The Best of 2013
There is a new and exciting year ahead of us, but we here at CJLO want to take this chance to reminisce about the wonderful music 2013 had to offer. The folks at the "little station that does!" give you their top picks of the year, and the lists reflect the different styles of music that broadcasts on CJLO every day, as well as the eclectic tastes of our DJs! Be sure to check out our TOP 100 to see what charted at CJLO in 2013!
And while you're here, have a look at our on-air schedule for more information on our programming, or click on a DJ's show page or personal page, all hyperlinked for your convenience below (because we care, man).
All the best to you and yours in 2014!
–CJLO 1690 AM in Montreal
Omar Sonics is CJLO's Head Music Director and the host of Hooked on Sonics every Thursday from 6 to 8 PM.
TOP 20 ALBUMS
01. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
02. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels
03. Deafheaven - Sunbather
04. Reversing Falls - Reversing Falls
05. No Joy - Wait for Pleasure
06. Tim Hecker - Virgins
07. Dig it Up - Manners
08. CHVRCHES - The Bones of What We Believe
09. Pity Sex - Feast of Love
10. Weekend - Jinx
11. Mansions - Doom Loop
12. Disappears - Era
13. Medicine - To the Happy Few
14. Implodes - Recurring Dream
15. Mikal Cronin - MCII
16. Coliseum - Sister Faith
17. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - UZU
18. Uncut - Infinite Repeats
19. Superchunk - I Hate Music
20. Solids - Blame Confusion
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister
02. Hookworms - Pearl Mystic
03. Jesu - Everyday I Get Closer to the Light from Which I Came
04. Savages - Silence Yourself
05. After Dark 2 - Italians Do It Better [compilation]
06. Dillinger Escape Plan - One of Us is the Killer
07. Deerhunter - Monomania
08. Speedy Ortiz - Major Arcana
09. Appleseed Cast - Illumination Ritual
10. Touché Amoré - Is Survived By
FAVOURITE EPs, SINGLES, etc
01. Magneta Lane - Witch Rock [EP]
02. You Me & Us - Stay Inside cassette
03. Perfect Pussy - I Have Lost All Desire for Feeling cassette
04. Spit-Take - Coffee [EP] cassette
05. Riot Gosling - Riot Gosling [EP]
06. CHVRCHES - Recover [EP]
07. Julianna Barwick - Pacing 7"
08. Forest - Sweetcure [EP]
09. No Joy - Pastel and Passed Out [EP]
10. Paint it Black - Invincible 7"
ALBUMS PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE SLEPT ON
01. Drug Church - Paul Walker
02. Pure Bathing Culture - Moon Tides
03. Chelsea Wolfe - Pain is Beauty
04. Beliefs - Beliefs
05. THIGHS - THIGHS
06. Mirror Travel - Mexico
07. Bambara - Dreamviolence
08. Grant Hart - The Argument
09. Bailterspace - Trinnie
10. Pelican - Forever Becoming
FAVOURITE RECORD LABEL
Hands down, local label Fixture Records put out nothing but quality releases this year, spearheaded by the likes of Freelove Fenner, Mavo, Chevalier Avant Garde, and more.
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. Pity Sex, "Wind Up"
02. Sky Ferreira, "You're Not the One"
03. Weekend, "Mirror" & "Oubliette"
04. Archery Guild, "Juslyk"
05. Mikal Cronin, "Shout it Out"
06. Deafheaven, "Dream House"
07. Coliseum, "Doing Time"
08. Magneta Lane, "Burn"
09. Pure Bathing Culture, "Pendulum"
10. Uncut, "Stay Gold"
11. Bleeding Rainbow, "Pink Ruff"
12. Team Ghost, "Dead Film Star"
13. THIGHS, "Tunnelr"
14. Disappears, "Ultra"
15. Colleen Green, "Taxi Driver"
16. Reversing Falls, "Problem"
16. Frankie Rose, "Sorrow"
17. Polvo, "Light Raking"
18. Gold & Youth, "Jewel"
19. Parquet Courts, "Stoned and Starving"
21. Julia Holter, "Horns Surrounding"
22. Dig it Up, "Jeff's Bridges"
23. Drug Church, "Reading Youtube Comments"
24. Colin Stetson, "High Above a Grey Green Sea"
25. Desire, "Tears from Heaven"
26. No Joy, "Hare Tarot Lies"
27. Grant Hart, "Morningstar "
28. Chelsea Wolfe, "We Hit a Wall"
29. Yo La Tengo, "Ohm"
30. Gold Fields, "Dark Again"
FAVOURITE COMMERCIAL POP TRACKS
01. Mariah Carey & Miguel, "#Beautiful"
02. Solange Knowles, "Losing You"
03. A$AP Rocky w/ 2 Chainz, Drake, & Kendrick Lamarr, "F***in' Problems"
04. Ciara, "Body Party"
05. Miley Cyrus, "Wrecking Ball"
FAVOURITE SHOWS
01. My Bloody Valentine @ Metropolis
02. Rhys Chatham + Oneida @ Sala Rossa (Suoni per il Popolo)
03. Tim Hecker + Colin Stetson @ The Rialto (POP Montreal)
04. Soft Moon @ The Garrison (NXNE)
05. Pinback @ Il Motore
06. Hookworms @ Knitting Factory (CMJ)
07. Religious Girls + D. Gookin @ SxSWendy's (SXSW)
08. Parquet Courts @ Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop (SXSW)
09. Mikal Cronin @ The Perish (SXSW)
10. Locrian + USA Out of Vietnam @ Casa del Popolo
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
The greatest birthday celebration ever! And of course the marathon fund drive broadcast of The Storm Door and Hot Coffee. The sleepy breakfast following was too.
Angelica is CJLO's Art Director and the host of BVST every Wednesday from 7 to 9 PM. She is also a regular CJLO Magazine contributor.
TOP 5 ALBUMS
01. Kvelertak - Meir
True to its namesake, Meir (more in Norwegian) is another fat, tasty slab of blackened death n' roll, sweetened with even more unabashed rock bombast and sexy licks. Tracks to try: "Kvelertak", "Bruane Brenn".
02. Grand Morne - Grand Morne
My favorite discovery of 2013. Made-in-Québec, this is delicious stoner/doom done right, with no vocals to distract from the riffage and pure, perfect heaviness. Tracks to try: "Grandilocustre", "Inselberg".
03. Dig It Up - Manners
This scorcher is over nearly as soon as it starts, but you'll want to hit repeat over and over on this catchy, southern influenced punk record by these home grown heroes. Tracks to try: "Southern Manners", "Eyes On Me".
04. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Mind Control
Another superlative, drugged out gem by a group of Englishmen that missed the memo that the '70s are over. Here's hoping for a North American tour in 2014! Tracks to try: "Poison Apple", "Desert Ceremony".
05. Tombstone Highway - Ruralizer
Who knew that it would take a group of Italians to release 2013's quintessential Southern stoner album? This record crunches, squeals and even banjos & fiddles in all the right ways. Tracks to try: "Ruralizer", "Bite the Dust (and Bleed)".
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Clutch - Earth Rocker
02. Black Cowgirl - Black Cowgirl
03. Watain - The Wild Hunt
04. Monster Magnet - Last Patrol
05. The Beards - Having a Beard is the New Not Having a Beard
TOP 5 SHOWS
01. Kvelertak @ Katacombes, 02. Kvelertak @ Corona
This turned out to be a banner year for Montréal fans of Norwegian crossover headbangers Kvelertak. Hot on the heels of their second record, they headlined their first show in Montréal at Katacombes, then came back a few months later supporting High on Fire at Corona. While during my interview with guitarist Vidar Landa he seemed to be concerned about whether or not they'd fit onto Katacombes' tiny stage, they did and absolutely decimated the sweaty, howling audience. On their return, taxidermied owl mask in tow, the band dominated again, but on a much bigger stage. This band deserves to be experienced live, so if you've missed out, don't make the same mistake again!
03. Texas Hippie Coalition @ Roseland Ballroom
This was the opening act for Danzig's 25th anniversary show in NYC, so you'd think maybe I'd be putting the spotlight on the muscly showman that inspired legions of spooky kids instead... well, you're wrong. As much as I enjoyed Danzig (with Doyle), I had experienced this throwback at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival in 2005, and while it was excellent once again, it's the big dumb rock of Big Daddy Ritch that I was looking forward the most. I called out their 2012 record Peacemaker in last year's CJLO Best of feature, so you can imagine that I was beyond excited to see them live for the first time... and I wasn't disappointed. With a huge voice and a personality to match, Ritch and the boys delivered the red dirt metal they're known for, with a healthy dose of between song banter to boot.
04. Bloodshot Bill @ De Seve Theatre (Fantasia Film Festival)
Another special moment, CJLO collaborated with the folks at Fantasia to have Bloodshot Bill do a stripped down, abbreviated set before a screening of the Belgian tearjerker Broken Circle Breakdown. Bill set the mood perfectly with his signature style, and the audience was rapt. This was just one of those musical moments that will never be replicated, but came together in an unforgettable way, and when the film let out, there wasn't a dry eyes in the house...
05. Fucked Up & friends @ SAT
This show will always hold a special spot in my heart. As someone who's been involved with CJLO for a long time, seeing so many people come out to celebrate CJLO's birthday was an amazing moment, and I'll never forget it. While Cadence Weapon and Wintersleep were great, it was Fucked Up that stole the show for me, since I've enjoyed them for a long time, but had never managed to see them live. The cherry on top? Damian's shout out to the importance of college radio, which made so many of us feel warm and fuzzy inside. Did you miss it? Too bad, but maybe we'll have another something special lined up for you in another five years...
Andrew WIXQ is CJLO's Metal & RPM Music Director and the host of Grade A Explosives every Sunday from 4 to 6 PM. He occasionally hosts Champions of the Local Scene, which airs on Wednesday from 6 to 7 PM, and is a regular CJLO Magazine contributor.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Norma Jean - Wrongdoers
Not often does a band seem to constantly be on a upward track musically, but Norma Jean bucks the trend again by releasing what is easily the album of the year in my eyes. Somewhere between a cross of a southern hardcore band if they rolled around in the nice sludge that Converge has been bathing in, this album really is a stellar piece of music from start to finish, and if you don't have it in your collection, you should correct that right now.
02. Shining - One One One
Easily one of the best shows I saw this year was Shining playing their unique brand of "black jazz" at Foufs, and this album really manages to really give you an idea of what they are capable of. It's a great example of how a music form can evolve and I think this breathes some new life into the often stagnant black metal scene Mixing equal elements of jazz timing, black metal vocals, and *gasp*, pop sensibilities, this album is a real stand out and I cannot stress enough that if they come through again soon, GO TO THE SHOW! You will not be disappointed.
03. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
I heard a lot of people griping that this album was not "dancy" enough to be a Daft Punk album, but honestly, if you can't enjoy the sweet mellowness and catchiness that permeates this album, you're most likely dead inside. There's more soul being put out by these French robots than a lot of modern soul singer can even begin to muster, and though Pharell played a large part in the writing of some of the more catchy tunes on the album, Daft Punk still proves they can do it with soul with tracks like "Touch", and a semi-autobiography of the beginnings of electronic music with "Gorgio". If you wrote this album off before, give it a chance again, and I think you might be surprised by what you hear.
04. Monster Magnet - Last Patrol
Stoner rock titans return with another album that really makes you wonder what they were thinking with some of the other portions of their discography. Managing to blend the "devil may care" roots (Dopes to Infinity, Superjudge) with the more polished records they put out (Powertrip, God Says No), this album is a bridge between the two segments in time that never really happened. Though I didn't get to see them on their first North American tour in 10 years since the last dates were cancelled, I hope when they reschedule the dates in the future that they include a Montreal stop. Even though the contact high will be epic, it will be totally worth it.
05. Motorleague - Acknowledge, Acknowledge
This album has been a long time in the making, and these fine New Brunswick boys have spent the better part of the year touring on it to make sure that people know about it. Full disclosure: the guys did come in to do a session early in the year and are just generally awesome, which may sway may thoughts on the album a bit, but honestly, bands should take note of something simple like that. If you want people to better receive your album, actually take the time to be decent, non-stuck up human beings and it will go a long way. I saw them two times this year, once in Montreal and once in NYC where, I kid you not, they played to three people including me, and they played their hearts out each time. A great album from a great bunch of dudes, and if they come by you in 2014, you should acknowledge them and go check them out. I know... bad play on words.
06. MSI - How I learned to Stop Giving a Shit and Love Mindless Self Indulgence
I have trouble with bands that are on major labels asking fans to crowd-source their albums. I mean, that's the whole point of labels isn't it? I know the music industry is constantly changing, but if a label isn't going to shell out the money for you to record an album, then what's the point of that label existing? Still, I can't really argue with the results, and for them to put out an album that is undeniably catchy and totally inane in this manner is refreshing. In a time where bands are taking themselves super seriously about their high-minded art *cough* Arcade Fire *cough*, a band that can still right songs that are dark, perverse and at times kind of funny is a pleasure. Though not as as good as If, this album is a good addition to their discography even if it gets a bit blander in the middle.
07. Protest the Hero - Volition
Protest the Hero released their last album, Scurrilous, and it was a huge disappointment to me, but they seem to have reclaimed a good chunk of what made them great with Volition. Partially a love letter to Canada (especially Newfoundland), part a nerd debate ("Clarity"), and part political activism about all things, pit bulls, this album has the kind of thoughtful lyrics and noodely guitar parts that sets this band apart from others who try to duplicate them. It's not Kezia, but it's definitely their strongest work since then, and definitely worth a listen if you haven't gotten it yet.
08. Black Cowgirl - Black Cowgirl
A great record to drive to, this slightly southern, bluesy style deserty rock album is a great release from these Lancaster natives. In a place where core is king, they break the mold and put something out that is truly comforting and though not earth shattering is a promising first record. Also, you know how sometimes you think a band might be great to have a beer with... yeah, that's these guys.
09. KEN Mode - Entrench
A brutal and to the point album that isn't quite metal, not quite post-rock, and not quite grunge. This band may be one of the most under-appreciated groups in loud music, and really should be given chops for making a fantastic sonic landscape that is both heavy and still slightly toe tapping.
10. Tombstone Highway - Ruralizer
Italians who can accurately replicate southern metal? Apparently. Tombstone Highway manages to deliver a more southern sounding record than some bands that are... well, southern. Mixing crunchy guitars, a nice twang, and some nice growly vocals, these guys managed to impress me immensely. Hopefully they come through on a tour of North America, because there are a lot of bands who could greatly benefit from a refresher course on what a true southern sound is like.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks
Though this album has some stellar tracks, it didn't do it for me like previous efforts. Though, easily one of the best live shows of the year, so Trent's still got something left in the tank.
02. Clutch - Earth Rocker
A great album that really shows off the lyrical talents of front man Neil Fallon, this record came pretty damn close to the top, but didn't quite make it in.
03. The Ocean - Pelagial
I love The Ocean so much, and if I would have just listened to this album a few more times this would probably have gotten in the top 10, but alas...
04. Ministry - From Beer to Eternity
No one was more shocked that there could still be a good Ministry album more than me. Yet, here it is, and apparently the last one... again. If it is, this might be the best time to ham it up, because I don't foresee it getting better than this.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
01. Coheed & Cambria - Afterman: Descension
Though having a couple great songs, this album doesn't even stack up to the first disc in the Afterman story. Come on Claudio, The Black Rainbow showed me you could do this, so deliver on the next chapter of this universe.
02. Electric Six - Mustang
Really almost totally devoid of the fun that used to be encased in this band, Mustang fails to deliver on essential Electric Six levels of inanity and humor. Though, they did also release a live album that was pretty good, so perhaps there is still hope.
03. Korn - The Paradigm Shift
Let's be clear, I'm not disappointed that this album was bad: that was a given. No, I'm disappointed it got made to begin with. Guys, I'm begging you, give it up. Watching you destroy your own legacy is a painful thing to watch.
Idle Matt is the host of Radio Fun every Thursday from 8 to 9 PM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. The Bronx - The Bronx IV
02. Coliseum - Sister Faith
03. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
04. Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister
05. Kvelertak - Meir
06. Thee Oh Sees - Floating Coffin
07. Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
08. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
09. Uncut - Infinite Repeats
10. Mind Spiders - Inhumanistic
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Terry Malts - Nobody Realizes This is Nowhere
02. The Dirtbombs - Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-blooey!
03. Dig It Up - Manners
04. Deerhunter - Monomania
05. Veronica Falls - Waiting for Something to Happen
06. The Men - New Moon
07. The Besnard Lakes - Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO
08. The Julie Ruin - Run Fast
09. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
10. Man or Astro-Man? - Defcon 5...4...3...2...1
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. Coliseum, "Fuzzbang"
02. The Bronx, "Rib Cage" and "Youth Wasted" (both equally amazing)
03. The National, "Humiliation"
04. Kvelertak, "Spring Fra Livet"
05. Joanna Gruesome, "Secret Surprise" (favourite line: "You want me so much you can't breathe. I dream of pulling out your teeth")
06. Terry Malts, "I Was Not There"
07. Queens of the Stone Age, "My God is the Sun"
08. Thee Oh Sees, "Maze Fancier"
09. Pearl Jam, "Mind Your Manners"
10. Mind Spiders, "Inside You"
11. Lorde, "Royals" (this song never fails to get to stuck in my head, in a good way)
12. Kanye West, "Black Skinhead" (such a douche, but such a good song)
13. Daft Punk, "Get Lucky"
14. The Besnard Lakes, "Colour Yr Lights In"
15. SNFU, "Voodoo Doll Collector"
LEAST FAVOURITE TRACK
"Ya Hey" by Vampire Weekend (like fingernails on a chalkboard...)
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
CJLO's 5th/15th Birthday Party with Cadence Weapon, Fucked Up, and Wintersleep.
Amrew "Lady Oracle" Weekes is the co-host of The Limelight every Saturday from 6 to 8 PM.
What stood out for me this year is that there were two hip hop albums I enjoyed by artists that get a lot of airtime on mainstream radio, and also made it on the Billboard Top 100. Definitely not my usual underground favourites, but 2013 was also a good year for hip hop because I saw some of my favourite artists come out with new albums. I also enjoyed a lot of R&B this year. So here is my Top 10 for 2013 (in no particular order).
01. J Cole – Born Sinner
02. Yancey Boys – Sunset Blvd
03. The Foreign Exchange – Love in Flying Colors
04. Classified – Classified
05. Jay-Z – Magna Carta... Holy Grail
06. Cee and Dr. Mad – Steps to the Peak
07. Robert Glasper – Black Radio 2
08. Janelle Monae – Electric Lady
09. Morph-Tet – Exclamations
10. Substantial – Jackin' Jill
Kelly "Sugarface NeNe" Belfo is CJLO's World Music Director and the host of Beat the World every Saturday from Noon to 2 PM.
SUGA'S TOP WORLD MUSIC ALBUMS
01. A Tribe Called Red - Nation II Nation
02. Major Lazer - Free the Universe
03. William Onyeabor - World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor?
04. Bombino - Nomad
05. Cedrick - Organic Roots Digital Heart
06. Chico Mann - Magical Thinking
07. Congo Natty - Jungle Revolution
08. Various Artists - Rough Guide to Cumbia
09. The Garifuna Collective - Ayo
10. Various Artists - The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Bollywood
11. Various Artists - Luk Thung: Classic & Obscure 78s from the Thai Countryside
Brian Döc Holidæ is CJLO's Hip Hop Music Director and the host of Phantastiq Cypha every Tuesday from 6 to 8 PM.
01. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels
Not much to say. If you heard the album you know why they're number 1. Consistent production, great lyrics and the live show is said to be one of the best.
02. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris
His mom sent him away so he could reform. He came back, he wrote more and was better than before. Between you and me I think Earl is better than Tyler, but I think Tyler is a better business man, so Earl is seen more as the sidekick when he's the lead of his own story.
03. Danny Brown - Old
I listened to it maybe 15 times before I knew what to make of it. Was he crazy, was he lost, was he high the whole time? Maybe yes applies to all the answers but it doesn't change the fact that the album is a solid listen, has strong production quality, and Danny's ODB-esque style reminds me of rap from yesteryear's.
04. Chance The Rapper - Acid Rap
A few years ago I got to interview Chance in an hour-long CJLO special. We played tracks from his mixtape, had some weird and random talk spots. He was... unique, and his producer/DJ Stefan Ponce was even more unique. Needless to say they're are on another level. If most people are doing it at a 5 or 6 then Chance and his crew are at an 8 or 9.
05. Rapsody - She Got Game
If you've heard Dark Knights, you may be wondering why this mixtape isn't higher, and to be honest even I'm not sure. It's partially produced by by 9th Wonder, it has some great features and Rapsody can rap. Lyrically I think she could be the female artist to reignite the flame that Lil' Kim, Lauryn and Rah Digga once held.
06. Childish Gambino - Because the Internet
HYPOCRITE... yes you could say that I am one, except I publicly explained that once I saw Gambino live I was converted. His live show is what sold me the first time, his mixtape Royalty got me the second time, and this album sealed the deal. Some tracks are good, some are great and some are... well I wouldn't have put them on the album, but that's what happens when you seem to be going through some sort of depression or existential crisis. I know we all saw Clapping for The Wrong Reasons.
07. Lizzo - Lizzobangers
While everyone was talking about Azelia, Iggy, and all the other next-gen dance-party hip-hop girls, Lizzo was actually going out and making an amazing album. It's the type of album you go out and party to, only to find yourself half naked, on a lawn trying to remember who's My Little Pony t-shirt you're wearing.
08. Grayskul - Zenith
I played the song "I Adapt" by accident on air once (yes I make mistakes sometimes) but that was the mistake that would solidify an already strong album on my list. I love the track, and it made me listen to the album front to back a few times and really appreciate what these Seattle natives have done.
09. Pigeon Hole - Chimp Blood
I didn't like this album when I first heard it, which annoyed me because I really liked the Bill Murray EP and wanted more of the same. I listened to the album a few times and couldn't get into it. Then one day I listened to it backwards. Last track first all the way to the beginning. "The Sink" pulled me in, I barely listened to it, but that one listening had me hooked. I think the last tracks may be the catchiest and the earlier tracks are the come down... who knows. It's just good.
10. Mad Dukez & Fresh Kils - Gettin' Gatsby
It's all in the energy. The kind of secret energy that you just aren't expecting, and then you listen the whole way through and have to listen to the album again. Mad Dukez keeps the momentum on almost every track, and Fresh Kils continues to impress with some of the best skills on the ones and twos.
Stephanie "Beansie" Saretsky is CJLO's Station Manager and the host of Maiden Voyage every Friday from Noon to 1 PM.
This was an AMAZING year for female artists. These ladies are blowing my mind. The year started off with a new, sleek pop sound from Tegan and Sara that took a bit to get used to but ended up being on repeat until Savages stole the winter and spring with their moody and powerful tunes. Summer 2013 was terrible for commercial pop music... I spent too much time in the car from Montreal to the townships listening to the same techno-country atrocities on Virgin Radio that when fall rolled around, I could breathe a sigh of relief because all of these magical indie-pop records came into the 'LO (and so did my dancing shoes!). Then, just when you thought 2013 was over for new releases, Beyoncé broke the world with the surprise release of her self-titled visual album.
I have to say that 2013 has been the easiest year to make this list because there were SO MANY amazing records—especially records that I consistently listen to the whole way through instead of just picking my favourites. So good that choosing 10 was hard and I had to cut a few. So maybe it was a harder year?
BEANSIE'S TOP 10
01. Savages – Silence Yourself
02. Lorde – Pure Heroin
03. Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob
04. CHVRCHES – The Bones of What You Believe
05. You Me & Us – Stay Inside [EP]
06. Magneta Lane – Witch Rock [EP]
07. Sarah Neufeld – Hero Brother
08. Sky Ferreira – Night Time, My Time
09. Blue Hawaii – Untogether
10. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - UZU
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Beyoncé - Beyoncé
02. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady
03. M.I.A - Matangi
04. Braids - Flourish // Perish
05. No Joy - Wait to Pleasure
06. Bleeding Rainbow - Yeah Right
07. Charli XCX - True Romance
08. Julia Holter - Loud City Song
THE DUDES ARE ALRIGHT
01. Tim Hecker – Virgins
02. Le1f – Tree House
03. Majical Cloudz – Impersonator
04. Tyler, The Creator – Wolf
05. A Tribe Called Red – Nation II Nation
06. Dig It Up - Manners
COMMERCIAL POP ANTHEMS OF 2013
01. Miley Cyrus, "Wrecking Ball" (song, not the video)
02. Beyoncé, "Flawless" (song AND the video)
03. Ciara, I'm Out" (song and ESPECIALLY the video)
04. Taylor Swift, "Trouble" (GOAT VERSION)
TO WATCH IN 2014
Angel Haze, Awkwafina
ULTIMATE QUESTION FOR 2014
Will Azealia Banks get it together and release her first album? Does anyone even care anymore?
Lucy Marshall-Kiparissis is CJLO's Volunteer & Campus Outreach Coordinator and the host of The Belldog every Thursday from 9 to 10 PM. She is also a regular CJLO Magazine contributor.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
Alphabetical order, because whatever...
01. Boards of Canada – Tomorrow's Harvest
02. Codeine – What About the Lonely
03. Tim Hecker – Virgins
04. Julia Holter – Loud City Song
05. Hookworms – Pearl Mystic
06. Land of Kush – The Big Mango
07. My Bloody Valentine – m b v
08. Sarah Neufeld – Hero Brother
09. Omar Souleyman – Wenu Wenu
10. Kurt Vile – Wakin' On a Pretty Daze
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Califone – Stitches
02. Disappears – Era
03. Elf Power – Sunlight on the Moon
04. Eluvium – Nightmare Ending
05. Esmerine – Dalmak
06. Jerusalem in My Heart – Mo71t Al-Mo71t
07. King Khan & the Shrines – Idle No More
08. Kitchens of Distinction – Folly
09. Medicine Hat – Old Bones
10. Polvo – Siberia
11. Saltland – I Thought It Was Us But It Was All Of Us
12. Songs Ohia: The Magnolia Electric Co. (a reissue but the disc of demos included... daaaaaamn)
13. Superchunk – I Hate Music
14. John Vanderslice – Dagger Beach / Vanderslice Plays Diamond Dogs
15. Various – ΟΛΑ 2 (this is actually a 2002 compilation of Greek pop hits that I bought for a dollar at an antique store, but it's been in rotation a lot this year so it counts)
TOP SONG
B.A. Johnston, "GST Cheque" (#1 jam. Especially after I cash a GST cheque) [soundcloud]
TOP 5 CONCERTS (+ BOBO)
01. Wannabe @ NXNE and POP Montreal
Toronto's premiere Spice Girls tribute band. Saw them twice this year. Hashtag blessed.
02. Blowfly @ NXNE
The besequined septuagenarian superhero, original proto-rapper, and godfather of filthy funk held my hand, gazed into my eyes, and serenaded my genitals. Hashtag blessed.
03. Damo Suzuki (with Pachyderm as his backing band) @ Sala Rossa
YES THIS WAS GREAT.
YES.
04. Fucked Up + Cadence Weapon @ SAT
Oh man, CJLO's off-the-charts birthday concert. Cadence Weapon spat rhymes about how much condos suck, and Fucked Up gave a touching shout-out to community radio in the middle of their set. AND EVERYONE ROCKED OUT.
05. Neutral Blood Hotel (Blood as Neutral Milk Hotel) + Purple Pain (Archery Guild as Prince) + Melted Faces as The Mummies... etc. @ CFC
I mention this Halloween tribute show in my top five if only because my memories of drunk, costumed adults frantically moshing to a Neutral Milk Hotel cover band will be treasured forever.
BOBO. Tim Hecker + Colin Stetson + BOBO @ POP Montreal
Yeah sure Tim Hecker was all transcendent and whatever, and Colin Stetson was doing all of those noises with just his body and his saxophone in a big ol' beautiful theatre. Big whoop. It was all about the opening act... Montreal's elusive king of industrial mimecore, BOBO.
BO. BO.
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
Definitely the final four hours of CJLO's 24-hour on-air marathon we held to send off this year's fundrive. For anyone who was up and listening, I'm sure you're already familiar with the magic we witnessed that morning...
During the witching hours, in a studio littered with the empty wrappers of heavily discounted (and slightly stale) dollar store candy... two mysterious, sensual voices (sounding almost like Omar Sonics and the Doc Holidae) take over the airwaves, broadcasting slowjams and lovers' classics all over Montreal, Quiet Storm style. We don't know where they came from, but we're expecting a baby boom in the city around January.
And then around dawn, someone pulled out an episode of CJLO's old morning zoo show from deep, deep in the archives, way back from 1997. (What's that you say, CJLO celebrated its 15th anniversary this year? Which means that a recording prior to 1998 wound not exist and was probably recorded on the spot by a room of delirious, sleep-deprived and sugar-crashed radio volunteers instead? YE OF LITTLE FAITH, YOU CAN'T FORCE THESE KINDS OF YEAR-SPECIFIC REFERENCES).
And then we got bagels and all fell asleep. (R.I.P. Big Burrito).
Julie "OCDJ" Matson is the host of With Gay Abandon every Monday from 1 to 2 PM. Rumour has it there's going to be a collaboration with CJLO's Maiden Voyage next year!
01. Rae Spoon - My Prairie Home
02. After Dark 2 - Italians Do It Better [compilation]
03. Cris Derksen - The Collapse
04. Grouper - The Man Who Died in His Boat
05. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - UZU
06. Light Fires - Face
07. Princess Century - Lossless
08. A Sacred Cloud - Ensoleillé, 1972
09. Blue Hawaii - Untogether
10. Austra - Olympia
"Oncle Ian" Macpherson is the co-host of The Go-Go Radio Magic Show every Friday from 6 to 8 PM.
TOP ALBUMS
01. The Growlers - Hung at Heart
02. Mikal Cronin - MCII
03. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
04. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
05. Gap Dream - Shine Your Light
06. White Fence - Cyclops Reap: Live in San Francisco
07. Fuzz - Fuzz
08. Drug Train - Beko_210
09. Grant Hart - The Argument
10. Diane Coffee - My Friend Fish
11. King Khan & the Shrines - Idle No More
12. Kelley Stoltz - Double Exposure
13. Jacco Gardner - Cabinet of Curiosities
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. The Reasonars - Crummy Desert Sound
02. La Luz - It's Alive
03. The Hussy - Pagan Hiss
04. Thee Oh Sees - Floating Coffin
05. Kurt Vile - Wakin' On a Pretty Daze
06. Howe Gelb - The Coincidentalist
07. Elephant Stone - Elephant Stone
08. Jimmy Hunt - Maladies D'Amour
09. Mazzy Star - Seasons of Your Day
10. Var - Nobody Dances Quite Like My Brother
11. Beachwood Sparks - Desert Skies
12. Wooden Shjips - Back to Land
13. Crystal Stilts - Nature Noir
14. Deerhunter - Monomania
15. Dead Ghosts - Can't Get No
16. Cocorosie - Tales of a Grass Widow
17. Kevin Morby - Harlem River
FAVOURITE SONGS
01. One Million Lovers, "Beach Rats"
02. The Growlers, "Dogheart II"
03. Mikal Cronin, "Weight"
04. The National, "Don't Swallow the Cap"
05. Jacco Gardner, "Clear the Air"
06. Grant Hart, "Morning Star"
07. Diane Coffee, "New Years"
08. Dead Ghosts, "Summer with Phil"
09. White Fence, "New Edinburgh"
10. King Khan & the Shrines, "Thorn in Her Pride"
11. Drug Train, "Bad Intentions"
EPs, LIVE ALBUMS, RE-ISSUES, AND SINGLES
01. Drug Train - Next Level Abbey Road Shit
02. White Fence - Cyclops Reap: Live in San Francisco
03. Al Lover - Vodun Moon
04. Goat - Live Ballroom Ritual
05. Brian Jonestown Massacre - Fistful of Bees - Food For Clouds
06. R.E.M. - Green, 25th Anniversary re-issue
07. Fresh and Onlys - Soothsayer
FAVOURITE SHOWS
01. The Growlers @ La Sala Rosa
02. The National + The Barr Brothers @ Esplanade du Centenaire
03. Mikal Cronin + Shannon & the Clams @ Il Motore
04. Black Angels + Allah-Las + Elephant Stone @ Le National
05. Woods + Parquet Courts + The Nymphets @ Il Motore
06. The Growlers + Pangea + Cosmonauts + Gap Dream @ Il Motore
07. Red Mass @ Petit Campus
08. Demon's Claws + Le Chelsea Beat + Complications @ Divan Orange
09. Clinic + The Babies @ Il Motore
10. Black Joe Lewis + Buddy McNeil & the Magic Mirrors @ La Sala Rossa
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
CultMTL's Reader Poll results! CJLO came in at number 2 in the Best Radio Station category, and the Go-Go Radio Magic Show was voted the 3rd Best Radio Show in the city. Woot Woot!
Prince Palu is the co-host of The Go-Go Radio Magic Show every Friday from 6 to 8 PM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. The Growlers - Hung at Heart
02. King Khan & the Shrines - Idle No More
03. Black Joe Lewis - Electric Slave
04. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
05. Kelley Stoltz - Double Exposure
06. Elephant Stone - Elephant Stone
07. The Besnard Lakes - Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO
08. Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold
09. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
10. Kurt Vile - Wakin' On a Pretty Daze
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Deerhunter - Monomania
02. Mikal Cronin - MCII
03. Obits - Bed & Bugs
04. Ty Segall - Sleeper
05. The Dirtbombs - Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-Blooey!
06. Fuzz - Fuzz
07. Suuns - Images du Futur
08. The Black Angels - Indigo Meadow
09. Bleached - Ride Your Heart
10. Beachwood Sparks - Desert Skies
FAVOURITE SHOWS
01. The Growlers @ Sala Rossa (Jan 27)
02. The National + The Barr Brothers @ Lachine Canal (June 13)
03. The Black Angels + Allah-Las + Elephant Stone @ Le National (April 12)
04. Woods + Parquet Courts @ Il Motore (July 16)
05. Mikal Cronin + Shannon & the Clams @ Il Motore (June 16)
06. Black Joe Lewis @ Sala Rossa (Sept 18)
07. The Growlers + Cosmonauts + Gap Dream @ Il Motore (Oct 2)
08. Clinic + The Babies @ Il Motore (April 22)
09. Demon's Claws + Le Chelsea Beat + Complications @ Divan Orange (June 28)
10. Ty Segall @ Cabaret de Mile End (Feb 5)
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
The Go-Go Radio Magic Show being voted #3 radio show in CultMTL's "Best of Montreal" reader's poll.
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST DAY OF 2013!
August 12: The birth of Samuel Nelson Brown.
Stephanie Dee is CJLO's Magazine Editor and the host of Twee Time every Friday from 8 to 9 PM. She occasionally hosts Champions of the Local Scene, which airs every Wednesday from 6 to 7 PM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Fuzz - Fuzz
02. Kvelertak - Meir
03. The Feeling of Love - Reward Your Grace
04. Earthless - From the Ages
05. Mikal Cronin - MCII
06. Yo la Tengo - Fade
07. The Pastels - Slow Summits
08. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
09. Kurt Vile - Wakin' on a Pretty Daze
10. Deafheaven - Sunbather
TOP 10 MONTREAL ALBUMS
01. Solids - Blame Confusion
02. Elephant Stone - Elephant Stone
03. Archery Guild - DIN
04. UBT - Ego Orientation
05. CTZNSHP - Doom Love
06. Cafeïne - New Love
07. Dig It Up - Manners
08. Suuns - Images du Futur
09. The Besnard Lakes - Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO
10. Freelove Fenner – Do Not Affect a Breezy Manner
BEST REISSUES
01. Nomeansno - Wrong
02. Sunn O))) - Black One
03. Dead Meadow - Dead Meadow
04. Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left
05. Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold (released in 2012, reissued in Canada in 2013)
BEST COMPILATIONS
01. William Onyeabor - World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who is William Onyeabor?
02. Molly Drake - Molly Drake
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Thee Oh Sees - Floating Coffin
02. Black Sabbath - 13
03. Dumb Numbers - Dumb Numbers
04. The Men - New Moon
05. Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister
06. Diarrhea Planet - I'm Rich Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
07. Kid Congo Powers & the Pink Monkey Birds - Haunted Head
08. Pharmakon - Abandon
09. Pissed Jeans - Honeys
10. A Tribe Called Red - Nation II Nation
BEST SHOWS
01. My Bloody Valentine + Dumb Numbers @ Metropolis
02. Kvelertak @ Katacombes
03. Mudhoney @ Il Motore
04. Li'l Andy 3D @ Theatre Rialto
05. Woods + Parquet Courts + The Nymphets @ Il Motore
06. Michael Cronin + Shannon & the Clams @ Il Motore
07. Ringo Deathstarr @ Kathy & Kimy Restobar
08. Fucked Up + Cadence Weapon @ SAT
09. Archery Guild + Ostrich Tuning @ Sala Rossa
10. Melted Faces @ L'Escogriffe
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
The best birthday bash everrrr with Fucked Up and Cadence Weapon. CJLO/Radiometres Artist Outreach Program & Concert & Compilation. Crazy 24-hour broadcast during our FUNdrive.
DJ Runt is CJLO's Funding & Promotions Coordinator and the host of The New Noise every Monday from 9 to 11 PM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
Absolutely not in any specific order, I can't say any album is better than the other:
01. Comadre - Comadre
02. Grader - U N D E R H E A V E N
03. Weekend Nachos - Still
04. Iron Chic - The Constant One
05. Dig It Up - Manners
06. The Homeless - In Loving Memory of What Could Have Been
07. Defeater - Letters Home
08. Together - Of Life and Love and Some Things in Between
09. Doomriders - Grand Blood
10. No Sir - The Future is Bright
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
I can't really call them albums because they contain roughly 4 songs. Again, in no particular order:
01. Bastions – The Bastard Son
02. No Bones – Belongings
03. Gnarwolves – Funemployed
04. In Beliefs – EP
05. MNMNTS – The Choir Belongs to You
06. Trophy Eyes – Everything Goes Away
07. Prevenge / Wank For Peace – Split 7"
08. Nerdy Lincoln / Sovetsky – Split
09. Donnie Brasco – Young Lives
10. Grappler - Everything I've Ever Feared
11. Apart – A Bright and Clever Hell
FAVOURITE TRACKS
You guessed it, in no particular order:
01. Comadre, "Drag Blood"
02. Wank for Peace, "What is that was Political"
03. Grader, "On My Mind"
04. Bastions, "Amongst Crows"
05. The Homeless, "I Still Believe"
06. The Saddest Landscape, "Redefining Loneliness"
07. No Bones, "Keep Warm"
08. Iron Chic, "Bogus Journey"
09. Oathbreaker, "Upheaval"
10. Apart, "Rim Time"
FAVOURITE SHOWS
Eeesh, all the shows this year have been good:
01. Prevenge @ All the shows, they are local and play often enough
02. A Wilhelm Scream @ Cabaret Underworld
03. Iron Chic @ L'Escogriffe
04. Grade @ Foufounes Electrique
05. Bummer @ Pouzza Pelouzza (Lavaltrie)
06. Fucked Up + Cadence Weapon @ SAT
07. Wank For Peace @ L'Escogriffe
08. Every Time I Die @ Some place in Longueuil
09. Dumb Adults @ Café Chaos
10. Dig It Up @ All over the place
Fredy M. Iuni is the host of Hiway 1 every Sunday from 1 to 2 PM, and a journalist for the CJLO Magazine.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. CHVRCHES – The Bones of What You Believe
02. Jagwar Ma - Howlin'
03. The Darcys – Warring
04. Darkside – Psychic
05. RJD2 – More is than Isn't
06. Neko Case – The Worse Thing Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
07. U.S. Girls – Free Advice Column
08. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
09. Yamantanka // Sonic Titan - UZU
10. Frankie Rose – Herein Wild
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Basia Bulat – Tall Tall Shadow
02. Islands – Ski Mask
03. Ty Segall - Sleeper
04. Haim – Days Are Gone
05. Future of the Left – How to Stop Your Brain in an Accident
06. Braids – Flourish // Perish
07. Kurt Vile – Wakin' On a Pretty Daze
08. Laura Marling – Once I was an Eagle
09. Tim Hecker – Virgins
10. Freelove Fenner – Do Not Affect a Breezy Manner
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. CHVRCHES, "Lies"
02. Arcade Fire, "Reflektor"
03. The Vaccines, "Melody Calling"
04. Braids, "December"
05. Jagwar Ma, "Uncertainty"
06. Breeze, "Dolls"
07. The Moas, "All The Time"
08. Earthless, "Violence of the Red Sea"
09. Cate Le Bon, "Are You With Me Now"
10. Haim, "The Wire"
FAVOURITE SHOWS
School got in the way, and I did not get out to many shows in 2013. Outside of the two I've listed below, I can't remember the other shows I went to this year... yikes! New Years Resolution list has started.
02. Toro Y Moi + Wild Belle @ Club Soda
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
Hiway 1 getting on the air.
Denis A. is the host of Dirty Work every Thursday from 4 to 6 PM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Solids - Blame Confusion
02. Weekend - Jinx
03. Speedy Ortiz - Major Arcana
04. Deerhunter - Monomania
05. Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork
06. No Joy - Wait to Pleasure
07. By Divine Right - Organized Accidents
08. Implodes - Recurring Dream
09. Hookworms - Pearl Mystic
10. Ostrich Tuning - In Her Highest Moon
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Mansions - Doom Loop
02. True Widow - Circumambulation
03. Disappears - Era
04. Thighs - Thighs
05. Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister
06. Mirror Travel - Mexico
07. Teenanger - Singles Don't $ell
08. Savages - Silence Yourself
09. Medicine - To the Happy Few
10. Coke Weed - Back to Soft
11. Braids - Flourish // Perish
12. Coliseum - Sister Faith
13. Heliotropes - A Constant Sea
14. Fuck Buttons - Slow Focus
15. Jacuzzi Boys - Jacuzzi Boys
Julien B. is the host of Stroll Around the Groove every Tuesday from 8 to 9 PM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Jonwayne - Rap Album Number One
02. Mount Kimbie - Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
03. Lazerhawk - Skull and Shark
04. Tall Black Guy - 8 Miles to Moenart
05. Aoki Takamasa - RV8
06. La Boocle Ep#1 - Premier Tour
07. Unlog - Unlog Complex #02
08. Zerolex – Floating
09. Jean du Voyage - One Seed
10. Quasimoto - Yessir Whatever
HONOURABLE MENTION
Death of the Robot Piñata at the CJLO Anniversary Party
FAVOURITE SHOW/CONCERT
Moodymann + Carl Craig + Kenny Larkin + Chuck Flask @ The Paper Box (Brooklyn)
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
Fantasia International Film Festival
MNJIVR is CJLO's principal photographer and the host of AutoBeat every Thursday from 10 to 11 PM.
BEST ALBUMS
01. Jon Hopkins - Immunity
02. Graze – Graze
03. Livity Sound – Livity Sound
04. Dean Blunt - The Redeemer
05. DJ Rashad - Double Cup
06. Ras G - Back on the Planet
07. The Mole - Caregiver
08. Horror Inc - Briefly Eternal
09. Egytrixx - A/B Til Infinity
10. Eprom – Halflife
11. Kingdom - Vertical XL
12. Zed Bias - Boss
13. Falty DL - Hardcourage
14. Holden - The Inheritors
15. Thundercat - Apocalypse
16. Alaclair Ensemble - Les maigres blancs d'Amérique du Noir
17. Dead Obies – Montréal Sud
19. Jesse Lanza - Pull My Hair
20. Special Request - Soul Music
BEST STRAIGHT OUTTA MONTREAL ALBUMS/EPs
01. DDD/MTSP – DDD/MTSP
02. Da-P – Enigmatic
03. Booty Bakery - Booty Bass Mob Vol.2
04. Grown Folk & Main Attrakionz – Cloud City
05. Kaytranada – At All / Kaytrap
06. Mike Mind – Aether
07. RAW Records – Raw AAA
08. Skin Deep – Throw Away Gems
BEST EPs
01. Deadboy - Blaquewerk
02. Nguzunguzu - Skycell
03. Deadbeat - Infinty Dubs Series
04. FKA Twigs – EP2
05. DDD/MTSP – DDD/MTSP
06. Boddika – Steam
07. Bleep.com - Green Series Vol. 1-4
08. Dauwd – Heat Division
09. Fred Everything – Circle
10. Gorgeous Children – ICE
11. Boddika - Steam
BEST 12" SINGLES
01. Motor City Drum Ensemble – Send a Prayer
02. Kaytranada – At All/ Hilary Duff
03. Les Sins – Grind/Prelims
04. Sophie – Nothing to Say
05. Kaseem Mosse – Broken Patterns, Boddika/Joy Orbison – Mercy
06. Kode 9 – Xingfu Lu/Kan
BEST TRACKS
01. Kode 9, "Xingfu Lu"
02. Lapalux, "Without You"
03. Motor City Drum Ensemble, "Send a Prayer Part 2"
04. Dean Blunt, "The Redeemer" featuring Inga Copeland
05. Falty DL, "Straight & Arrow"
06. Quasimoto, "Catching Vibe"
07. Kaytranada, "Bread Paperdough (Part 1)"
08. Zed Bias, "TUG"
09. Jesse Lanza, "Kathy Lee"
10. Graze, "Cathode Bias"
FAVORITE LIVE SHOWS OR DJ SETS
01. Thundercat @ Le Belmont
02. Guilty/ Bowly @ Piknic Electronik
03. Kode 9 @ Le Cabaret Underworld
Remi Caron-Liss is the host of At the Movies with Iconic Sounds every Tuesday from 8 to 9 AM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Kanye West - Yeezus
Say what you want to about the third coming of Christ or the artist formerly known as Kanye West who is having both a Jesus and God complex at the same time. Even though he doesn't know how to spell the word, he is a genius because of his insane hooks, verses, and the samples that he uses.
02. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
From hard rock guitars to the steel drums and every instrument in between, Arcade Fire has redefined what the "Wall of Sound" is in harmonies and what instruments can be used in a rock album.
03. Inside Llewyn Davis - Original Soundtrack Recording
The Coen Brothers and T Bone Burnett have produced a soundtrack that will be as good as the movie is, from Oscar Isaac and Marcus Mumford "Fare Thee Well", to Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake's "500 Miles".
04. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience – 1 of 2
JT has come a long way from the boy band to becoming a suit and tie guy. From his duet with Jay-Z in suit and tie to his beautiful homage to his grandparents.
05. Catching Fire - Original Soundtrack Recording
Coldplay, The Weekend, and Lord's cover of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". Need I say more?
06. Drake - Nothing Was the Same
I have to give Drake some credit for trying to keep it clean and catchy in the rap game, however this does not compare to his Take Care album. Hope he wins the Juno over Michael Bublé this time.
07. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Marshall, or Eminem, still has some issues that are deep, but where he truly shines is when he duets with a female friend like Skylar Gray or Liz Rodrigues, and Rihanna. It seems Eminem has a sensitive side with a song to his mother featuring Nate Russ from Fun.
08. Snoop Lion - Reincarnated
If one person could reinvent himself as a down-to-earth person it would be Snoop Lion, the artist formerly known as Snoop Dog.
09. Foxygen - We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
A great indie album that blends mellow with rock. Also I can't get "San Francisco" out of my head.
10. The Place Beyond The Pines - Original Soundtrack Recording
Mike Patton from Faith No More delivers a haunting soundtrack, that ends as the film ends with the mellow and poetic "The Wolves (Act I and II)" by Bon Iver.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Rick Rubben for helping out two of the artists on my top ten list.
02. Lorde - Pure Heroine
03. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
04. Jay-Z - Magna Carta... Holy Grail
NOT-SO HONOURABLE MENTION
Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines
For sampling beats from Marvin Gaye without the proper approval or licensing, then suing Marvin Gaye's estate. He is also known as Alan Thicke's son, so he's super cool to do whatever he wants.
TOP 10 JAMS
01. Kanye West, "New Slaves"
Had it on to repeat constantly. It reminds me of the old Kanye who had a social commentary. Plus, amazing beats.
02. Arcade Fire, "Here Comes The Night Time"
Harmony at its best.
03. Eminem, "Bezerk"
Marshall cranks the base and rocks the house all night long.
04. Kanye West, "Bound 2"
Samples "Uh-huh, honey" from country-gal Brenda Lee's "Sweet Nothin's" and Charlie Wilson's hook "I know you're tired of loving with nobody to love".
05. Drake featuring Sampha, "Too Much"
Such a great song that reminds me of "Take Care Drake".
06. Eminem featuring Liz Rodrigues, "Survival"
Rock and rap blended beautifully together with a strong voice from Liz Rodrigues.
07. Kanye West, "Blood On The Leaves"
Sampling of Nina Simone's "Strange Fruit" along with the tight horn section.
08. Daft Punk, "Get Lucky" [video]
Well it was in my head all day and all night (to get lucky). Pharrell and Daft Punk created this hypnotic song, and Stephen Colbert created a viral video for it.
09. Holy Grail, "Magna Carta"
Get Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake to record a great duet while sampling Nirvana lyrics (we all know how easy it is to deal with Courtney Love when it comes to Nirvana). It is so good that it can make Jay's BFF Kanye jealous.
10. Miley Cyrus, "We Can't Stop"
This is a not-so honourable song that needs to get out of my head. It's cool you made a catchy party tune, but Miley! You need to chill out like sweet and innocent Taylor Swift.
TOP 5 MUSIC VIDEOS
01. Arcade Fire, "Reflektor" [video]
Always impressive to see how they blend their songs with interesting visuals shot in stylistic black and white with reflections.
02. Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors" [video]
An emotional and powerful music video where JT tackles the passing of his grandparents. Hopefully you won't tear up at the end of the video.
03. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton, "Can't Hold Us" [video]
An epic music video that was released this year and got me to discover Macklemore.
04. Bruno Mars, "Treasure" [video]
A well-produced and tight music video.
05. Kanye West, "Bound 2" [video]
The only Kanye West music video in recent memory that did not induce eye seizures. This video should be seen in all its genius artistic expression. Warning: graphic nudity that may offend people.
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
Having those cool mandatory meetings where all the coolest things are mentioned.
The K-Man is the host of Beyond That Graveyard! III every Friday from 9 PM to Midnight.
01. Gypsyhawk - Revelry & Resilience
02. Kadavar - Abra Kadavar
03. Earthless - From the Ages
04. Darkthrone - The Underground Resistance
05. The Dirtbombs - Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-blooey
06. The Black Angels - Indigo Meadow
07. Voivod - Target Earth
08. John Fogerty - Wrote a Song for Everyone
09. Bombino - Nomad
10. Kylesa - Ultraviolet
Rebecca Munroe is the founder and co-host of The Commonwealth Conundrum every Friday from 4 to 6 PM.
Let me start this off by congratulating all the artists on this list. The talent that emerged from this year was outstanding, making 2013 ONE awesome year in music.
This made putting my "best of" list together a dilemma for sure!! That being said, I created a list of my absolute favourites from 2013!
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Danny Payne and myself, to thank Bonsound, Club Roll Records, Emery Street Records, Just For Laughs, The St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival, all the amazing bands and the super funny comedians that joined us on our show in 2013 that helped make it such a success for us!! We hope to have you back in 2014!
Happy New Year Everyone!
TOP 25 ALBUMS
25. Magneta Lane - Witchrock
24. Dead Obies - Montreal $ud
23. Braids - Flourish // Perish
22. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
21. Decades - Decades
20. The Cubical - Arise Conglomerate
19. Random Recipe - Kill the Hook
18. AroarA - In the Pines
17. No Joy - Wait to Pleasure
16. Ootheque - Ootheque
15. Suuns - Images du Futur
14. We Are Wolves - La Mort Pop Club
13. Elephant Stone - Elephant Stone
12. The Darcys - Warring
11. Filthy Haanz - Filthy Haanz
10. Seb Black - On Emery Street
09. Arctic Monkeys - AM
08. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Push the Sky Away
07. Grass House - A Sun Full & Drowning
06. Hooded Fang - Gravez
05. Archery Guild - DIN
04. Casual Sex - The Bastard Beat [EP]
03. Ming City Rockers - Chic and the Motherfuckers [EP]
02. Odonis Odonis - Better [EP]
01. Groenland - The Chase
Danny Payne is the co-host of The Commonwealth Conundrum every Friday from 4 to 6 PM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Grass House - A Sun Full and Drowning (OK, the rest are in no particular order but this one's #1)
02. Filthy Haanz - Filthy Haanz (yes, it's an EP but it deserves a spot on the list...)
03. Seb Black - On Emery Street
04. Casual Sex - The Bastard Beat [EP] (yes, another one...)
05. Arctic Monkeys - AM
06. Public Service Broadcasting - Inform-Educate-Entertain
07. Splashh - Comfort
08. Groenland - The Chase
09. The Family Rain - Pushing It (another EP!)
10. The Grand Rapids - Great Shakes
I will add the Marshall Teller Records 2013 sampler. One of the UK's finest indie labels bought out some absolute crackers this year and popped them on this little beauty...
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Everybody who released or wrote any music in 2013. You've done far more than most people, even if it was rubbish.
FAVOURITE TRACKS
In no particular order...
01. Ming City Rockers, "Chic and the Motherfuckers"
02. The Minx, "(Can you find) My Head"
03. The Divers, "The Master"
04. FANS, "Another Way"
05. Wolf Alice, "She"
06. Joy Land, "Sea States"
07. Casual Sex, "Stroh '80"
08. T.W.i.N.S, "Found a Flat"
09. Grass House, "A Thousand Generators"
10. The Family Rain, "Trust Me, I'm a Genius"
11. Hairy Hands Vs Tickler Tea, "Black Magic"
12. Naked (On Drugs), "Death Dance"
BEST SHOWS/CONCERTS
01. Tigercats @ Inspecteur Epingle
02. New Order @ Osheaga
03. Franz Ferdinand + Casual Sex @ Metropolis
04. Groenland @ Sofar Sounds
05. Rolling Stones @ Glastonbury (OK, I wasn't there, but I wish I was. I listened live and it sounded amazing)
06. Seb Black @ TRH Bar (M for Montreal)
07. Bones Malones + Les Deuxluxes @ Cabaret du Mile End
08. Filthy Haanz live in the CJLO studio on The Commonwealth Conundrum!
09. Lisa LeBlanc + Les Hay Babies @ L'Olympia
10. Reverend Horton Heat @ Club Soda
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
The Commonwealth Conundrum moving to Friday 4-6 PM, the anniversaries were great times, Alex the new program director coming to join us and being an all-round top bloke, Patrick our studio tech hero being an absolute diamond with our ever-increasing demands with live in-studio interviews and performances. And everybody at the station being thoroughly decent people for another year!
DJ Mister Vee is the host of Beats from the East every Tuesday from 9 to 10 PM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Jazmin Sisters - 90's Baby
02. Rocky Rivera - Gangster of Love
03. Hopie - Sugar Water
04. Jessica Sanchez - Me, You, and the Music
05. Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines
06. J-Natural - Bad Woman Rising
07. Jay-Z - Magna Carta... Holy Grail
08. Deb Oh and the Cavaliers - Heiroglyphs
09. Chops - Strength in Numbers
10. Thao & the Get Down Stay Down - We the Common
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Reena Lynn - 1st Verse
02. Rekstizzy - Whatever You Say
03. Plaitwrights - CMYK
04. Clara C - Organika
05. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
06. Latyrx - The Second Album
07. Drunken Tiger - The Cure
08. Snacky Chan - The Jazz [EP]
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. Robin Thicke, "Ain't No Hat 4 That"
02. Classixx, "All You're Waiting For" featuring Nancy Whang
03. Daft Punk, "Get Lucky" featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rogers
04. CHOPS, "Keep On" featuring Mountain Brothers and Ann One
06. Epik High, "420" featuring Double K, Yankie, Dok2, Sean2Slow, Dumbfoundead, TopBob, and MYK
BEST SHOWS/CONCERTS
01. Montreal Comiccon 2013 featuring George Takei and Bret "The Hitman" Hart... 'nuff said @ Palais des Congres
02. Rise 2013 featuring Lil Crazed @ MCCCC
03. Clara C @ Arena
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
FunkShui & BFTE Collabo episode "Funk from the East/Beats from the Shui"
C.W. MacGregor is the host of The Feel Good Hit of the Summer every Tuesday from 5 to 6 PM, and is a regular CJLO Magazine contributor.
OK. This was unbelievably difficult and time consuming, but totally self-indulgent and fun. Keep an eye out for my big list of my favourite albums and songs. I'll have 'em done sooner than later.
I'm gonna have to start keeping my ticket stubs because it was next to impossible to remember all of the shows I went to.... I'm not sure if that's good or bad.
I only did a couple of honourable mentions. Didn't seem necessary to have 10, otherwise, we'd just have a top 20 albums list.
FAVORITE ALBUMS
Montrealers only...
01. Young Galaxy - Ultramarine
02. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - UZU
03. Folly and the Hunter - Tragic Care
04. Majical Cloudz - Impersonator
05. The Besnard Lakes - Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO
06. Groenland - The Chase
07. No Joy - Wait to Pleasure
08. Braids - Flourish // Perish
09. Suuns - Images du Futur
10. Tim Hecker - Virgins
HONORABLE MENTIONS
01. Heirloom - Makeweight
02. Valleys - Are You Going to Stand There & Talk Weird All Night?
FAVOURITE SONGS
01. Jon Hopkins, "Open Eye Signal"
02. Pkew Pkew Pkew (gunshots), "Asshole Pandemic"
03. Black Atlass, "Paris"
04. Earl Sweatshirt, "Hoarse" featuring BADBADNOTGOOD
05. Thee Oh Sees, "Toe Cutter/Thumb Sucker"
06. Queens of the Stone Age, "I Appear Missing"
07. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, "One"
08. Disclosure, "White Noise" featuring Aluna George
09. Pup, "Reservoir"
10. Phosphorescent, "Song For Zula"
FAVOURITE SHOWS
01. The Cure @ Osheaga
02. Nine Inch Nails @ Bell Centre
03. Bad Uncle and Cirquantique present: A Surgeon's Lament @ Bain Mathieu
04. Fidlar + Wavves @ Sala Rossa
05. Disclosure @ Osheaga
06. Ben Caplan @ Quai des Brumes
07. Purity Ring @ The National
08. Polica @ Cabaret du Mile End
09. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan @ Cabaret du Mile End
10. CHVRCHES @ The National
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
The CJLO anniversary concert party featuring Fucked Up, Wintersleep, and Cadence Weapon.
Clifton Hanger is the host of Brave New Jams every Saturday from 10 PM to Midnight, and is a regular CJLO Magazine contributor.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
In no particular order...
01. The Deep Dark Woods - Jubilee
02. Ladies of the Canyon - Diamond Heart
03. Bernie Worrell Orchestra - BWO is Landing
04. Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Lickety Split
05. 10 Ft. Ganja Plant - Skycatcher
06. Robert Walter's 20th Congress - Get Thy Bearings
07. Gov't Mule - Shout
08. Aaron Neville - My True Story
09. Grateful Dead - Sunshine Daydream
10. Commander Cody and the Modern Day Airmen - Live from the Island
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. Widespread Panic, "I Want Candy"
02. Moe., "Haze"
03. North Mississippi Allstars, "Shimmy"
04. String Cheese Incident, "Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow" featuring Leftover Salmon
05. The Phil Lesh Quintet, "The Other One > Somewhere Over the Rainbow > The Other One"
06. 10 Ft. Ganja Plant, "Skycatcher"
07. Warren Haynes, "Morning Dew" featuring the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
08. Gov't Mule, "World Boss"
09. Robert Randolph and the Family Band, "Take The Party"
10. The Deep Dark Woods, "I Took to Whoring"
FAVOURITE SHOWS
01. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals @ Corona Theatre
02. Fucked Up @ Hillside Music Festival
03. Bad Uncle @ Cabaret Du Mile End
04. Phish @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
05. Xavier Rudd @ Metropolis
06. Supersonic (Lee Ranaldo, Richard Reed Parry, Sarah Neufeld, and Colin Stetson) @ Hillside Music Festival
07. MU330 @ Pouzza Fest
08. Bernie Worrell Orchestra + Fred Wesley @ Cabaret du Mile End
09. Tedeschi Trucks Band @ Metropolis
10. A Devil's Din @ L'Escogriffe
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
The Anniversary Shindig
Connor "DJ C-Daddy" McComb is the host of Take Five every Wednesday from 9 to 10 PM.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Arnold + C.Z. – Split EP
02. H20$$$SPORTS$$$ - YAYAYI
03. Jai Paul – Jai Paul
04. James Blake – Overgrown
05. LIL UGLY MANE - THREE SIDED TAPE VOLUME TWO
06. MATTRON – SPILLS
07. The Oneiroscopist - ∆†CELESTIAL EP†∆
08. Ventla - Hell Days to Remember
09. Various Artists - 30 Years of R&S Records
10. Computer Slime - ミスト
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Various Artists - LIES Presents American Noise
02. TOMMY KRUISE - MEMPHIS CONFIDENTIAL VOL.1
03. SLAVVE – TRU
04. Rimar – Higher Ground
05. Rick Ross - God Forgives, I Don't
06. Rat Fangs - R/\TF/\NGS
07. RAJA – Witch
08. RAJA – Red
09. RAJA – Color
10. K.M.D. – Mr. Hood
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. C.Z., "O Rite O Rite"
02. Shlohmo, "Don't Say No" featuring How to Dress Well
03. The Hunters, "Street Trash"
04. Kassem Mosse, "IP Mirrors"
05. Lord RAJA, "Pistol Syrup"
06. Sampha, "Without"
07. Space Dimension Controller, "It's A Cold Planet Without You"
08. Yosi Horikawa, "Wandering"
09. Cakes Da Killa, "Eulogies"
10. MissAppleby, "Space Fuckery"
FAVOURITE SHOWS
01. Flying Lotus @ The Vogue
02. James Blake @ Metropolis
03. TOMMY KRUISE @ Tarot
04. Baths @ Electric Owl
05. Shlohmo + D33J @ Le Belmont
06. RiFF RAFF @ Le Belmont
07. TNGHT @ Igloo Fest
08. Panther + The Superfly @ Cabaret Underworld
09. Talib Kweli @ Club Soda
10. Oh No! Yoko @ Crow Bar
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
Hanging Ten with DJ EZ in the CJLO Studio
Mason W. is the host of Midnight Love Affair every Sunday from 10 to 11 PM.
I wish I could provide y'all with a small write-up for each album, each song and each artist, but the truth is I leave it to the last minute… but don't get me wrong, there is something sort of or very special to say about everything in this years list!
Anyways, it's been a good year, and there have been a lot of things I have looked forward to, been surprised by, and been disappointed in. I give the year to Fixture Records, namely (but certainly not limited to) the three great releases on this list.
Almost as important as the top albums of this year, the top songs section features a lot of artists who I am excited about for the next year (especially upcoming releases from Empress Of, Mozart's Sister, and they're not featured here but, TOPS.
Been good – stay good.
TOP ALBUMS
15. Salvia Plath – The Bardo Story
14. Pusha T – My Name Is My Name
13. Dent May – Warm Blanket
12. Blood Orange – Cupid Deluxe
11. Blue Hawaii – Untogether
10. Quasimoto – Yessir Whatever
09. Chevalier Avant Garde – Ressurection Machine
08. Paula – Relaxed Fit
07. Myron & E – Broadway
06. Freelove Fenner – Do Not Affect a Breezy Manner
05. Connan Mockasin – Caramel
04. HOMESHAKE – The Homeshake Tape
03. Dom Kennedy – Get Home Safely
02. Jef Barbara – Soft to the Touch
01. Sean Nicholas Savage – Other Life
TOP SONGS
15. THOMAS, "Kissing"
14. Body Lvl, "Cant Slow Down"
13. Femminielli Noir, "Me Gusta El Dolor"
12. Kanye West, "Bound 2"
11. Droop-E, "N The Traffic" featuring Nite Jewel + J-Stalin
10. Better Person, "I Wake Up Tired"
09. Crow44, "Love You To Death"
08. Magic Island, "Baby Blu"
07. Karneef, "Love Between Us"
06. Bataille Solaire, "Échelles Humaines"
05. Krista (James Pants + Vex Ruffin), "I Told U Man, I Carry A Gun"
04. Calvin Love, "Cool"
03. Mozart's Sister, "Mozart's Sister"
02. Pat Jordache, "O.M.O"
01. Empress Of, "Realize You"
Ethan Vestby is the host of Station to Station every Tuesday from 11 AM to Noon.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Kanye West - Yeezus
02. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
03. Pharmakon - Abandon
04. Haim - Days Are Gone
05. Drake - Nothing Was the Same
06. Jenny Hval - Innocence is Kinky
07. Sky Ferreira - Night Time, My Time
08. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience – 1 of 2
09. Blood Orange - Cupid Deluxe
10. Tindersticks - Les Salauds
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Arcade Fire - (about 1/3 of) Reflektor
02. Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest
03. Oneohtrix Point Never - R Plus Seven
04. Autre Ne Veut - Anxiety
05. Rhye - Woman
06. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
07. Savages - Silence Yourself
08. DJ Koze - Amygdala
09. Pop. 1280 - Imps of Perversion
10. Burial - Rival Dealer
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. Ciara, "Body Party"
02. Kanye West, "Blood on the Leaves"
03. Tindersticks, "Put Your Love in Me"
04. Jai Paul, "Crush"
05. Drake, "Hold On, We're Going Home"
06. Autre Ne Veut, "Play by Play"
07. Pharmakon, "Crawling on Bruised Knees"
08. Dungeonesse, "Private Party"
09. DJ Koze, "My Plans" featuring Matthew Dear
10. My Bloody Valentine, "Nothing Is"
Richie Starr is the host of Cued for Thought every Wednesday from 2 to 3 PM.
TOP ALBUMS
01. Robert Glasper Experiment - Black Radio 2
02. Quadron - Avalanche
03. +FE Music - The Reworks
04. The Foreign Exchange - Love in Flying Colors
05. Atoms for Peace - Amok
06. Zo! - Manmade
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. The Foreign Exchange, "So what if it is?"
02. Robert Glasper, "What are we doing?" featuring Brandy
BEST SHOWS
01. The Roots + Naughty by Nature in Philly
02. Lianne la Havas @ Corona Theatre
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
I was in the CD vault and found 5 bucks in my pocket.
Brendan "DJ Catatonia" is the former host of Radio Hades and fills in for Beyond That Graveyard! III from time to time.
In no particular order of preference...
01. Vastum - Patricidal Lust
02. Portal - Vexovoid
03. Carcass - Surgical Steel
04. Autopsy - The Headless Ritual
05. Kvelertak - Meir
06. Pharmakon - Abandon
07. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
08. Jex Thoth - Blood Moon Rise
09. Zola Jesus - Versions
10. Oneohtrix Point Never - R Plus Seven
11. Ensemble Pearl - Ensemble Pearl
12. Noothgrush + Coffins split LP
13. Voivod - Target Earth
14. Pelican - Forever Becoming
15. Locrian - Return to Annihilation
16. Oranssi Pazuzu - Valonielu
17. Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
18. Darkthrone - The Underground Resistance
19. Nazoranai - Nazoranai
20. Omega - The Hell Patrol
21. Queen Elephantine - Scarab
22. Ulver - Messe I.X-VI.X
23. SubRosa - More Constant than the Gods
24. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Mind Control
25. Church of Misery - Thy Kingdom Scum
Alex Giardini is a journalist for the CJLO Magazine.
Here were my year-long jams in no particular order...
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Destruction Unit - Deep Trip
02. The Besnard Lakes - Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO
03. Iceage - You're Nothing
04. The Men - New Moon
05. Deafheaven - Sunbather
06. Milk Music - Cruise Your Illusion
07. Julianna Barwick - Nepenthe
08. Oneohtrix Point Never - R Plus Seven
09. Deerhunter - Monomania
10. Weed - Deserve
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Death Grips - Government Plates
02. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris
03. Grouper - The Man Who Died in His Boat
04. Laurel Halo - Chance of Rain
05. Tim Hecker - Virgins
06. Rhye - Woman
07. Dirty Beaches - Drifters/Love is The Devil
08. Pharmakon - Abandon
09. Zomby - With Love
10. Glasser - Interiors
MIXTAPES
01. Cam'ron - Ghetto Heaven
02. Action Bronson + Party Supplies - Blue Chips 2
03. Harry Fraud - Adrift
04. Jai Paul - Jai Paul
05. rollrgrrl - Percolator
EPs
01. Perfect Pussy - I Have Lost All Desire for Feeling
02. Actress - Silver Cloud
03. SZA - S
04. Obliterations - Obliterations
05. Burial - Rival Dealer
TRACKS
01. Majical Cloudz, "Childhood's End"
02. Future, "Honest"
03. Blood Orange , "You're Not Good Enough" featuring Samantha Urbani
04. Autre Ne Veut, "Play By Play"
05. The Growlers, "Someday"
Kenny Chatoor is a grad student and a brand new volunteer DJ-in-training at CJLO.
Complete with commentary!
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
Ezra Koenig gets real sad and it's great.
02. Kurt Vile - Wakin' on a Pretty Daze
Stony, hazy, spacious, sprawling, and other similar types of adjectives.
03. Mutual Benefit - Love's Crushing Diamond
Funeral-era Arcade Fire + Sufjan Stevens before he put down the woodwinds.
04. Arcade Fire - Reflektor
"LCD ArcadeSystem"
05. Kanye West - Yeezus
LOL
06. Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold
The Replacements for a newer, more unemployed generation.
07. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
"Daft Disco"
08. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
The National does The National on their most National sounding record yet.
09. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
Would have ranked higher if the production weren't so quiet.
10. Darkside - Psychic
Warm moody bloops, like The XX and Boards of Canada.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
In no particular order...
01. Volcano Choir - Repave
Winter whiskey Wisconsin.
02. Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
03. Deerhunter - Monomania
Bradford Cox not giving a shit in the best way possible.
04. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris
He has returned.
05. King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon
A 17-year-old with a Joe Strummer like voice, he didn't really have many options in life...
06. Phoenix - Bankrupt!
Synth overload.
07. Phosphorescent - Muchacho
Great sad-wasted record.
08. James Blake - Overgrown
Better than his last.
09. Drake - Nothing Was the Same
Wow, Drake takes the same turns off the highway in Toronto as I do.
10. Disclosure - Settle
The apartment next to me only listens to the first three songs off this album, idiots.
11. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels
Sharp, angular hip hop.
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. Mutual Benefit, "Advanced Falconry"
02. Vampire Weekend, "Ya Hey"
03. Kurt Vile, "Wakin' on a Pretty Daze"
04. Parquet Courts, "Stoned and Starving"
05. Arcade Fire, "Afterlife"
06. James Blake, "Retrograde"
07. Arctic Monkeys, "Do I Wanna Know?"
08. Kanye West, "New Slaves"
09. Preatures, "Is This How You Feel?"
10. Grizzly Bear, "Will Calls"
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. The National, "I Should Live in Salt"
02. Deerhunter, "Missing"
03. Earl Sweatshirt, "Sunday" featuring Frank Ocean
04. Darkside, "Heart"
05. King Krule, "Border Line"
06. Phosphorescent, "Song for Zula"
07. Volcano Choir, "Byegone"
08. Haim, "The Wire"
09. CHVRCHES, "The Mother We Share"
10. Local Natives, "Breakers"
11. Disclosure, "Latch"
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
Well, I joined CJLO recently this year, so that was pretty cool! I'm just gonna assume CMJ was the best ever as usual (you guys threw a cool-party with my old college radio station, CFRE, and had Preatures play, right?), so I'll go with that.
Audrey Folliot is a CJLO volunteer and all-around great gal.
TOP 10 ALBUMS
01. Paramore - Paramore
02. Katy Perry - PRISM
03. Biffy Clyro - Opposites
04. Bastille - Bad Blood
05. Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob
06. One Republic - Native
07. Mayday Parade - Monsters in the Closet
08. Half Moon Run - Dark Eyes
09. Celine Dion - Loved Me Back to Life
10. Jimmy Eat World - Damage
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
01. Zedd - Clarity
02. Walk Off the Earth - RE.V.O.
03. Thirty Seconds to Mars - LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS
04. Miley Cyrus - Bangerz
05. Lorde - Pure Heroine
06. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2
07. Ellie Goulding - Halcyon Days
08. Avicii - True
09. Shawn Desman - Alive
10. John Legend - Love in the Future
FAVOURITE TRACKS
01. John Legend, "All of Me"
02. Zedd, "Stay the Night"
03. Paramore, "Still Into You"
04. One Republic, "Life in Color"
05. Katy Perry, "Walking on Air"
06. James Blunt, "Bones"
07. Imagine Dragons, "Monster"
08. Jason DeRulo, "The Other Side"
09. Icona Pop, "All Night"
10. Half Moon Run, "Call Me in the Afternoon"
FAVOURITE SHOWS
01. P!nk @ Bell Centre
02. Paramore @ Bell Centre
03. Yellowcard @ Metropolis
04. Thirty Seconds to Mars @ Metropolis
05. Train @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre NY
06. Mumford & Sons @ Palacio Vistalegre (Madrid, Spain)
COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED AT CJLO
The CJLO Artist Outreach Program.
Mike Bresciani is a CJLO alumnus and the former host of The Lonesome Strangers.
MIKE'S FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF 2013
01. Bill Callahan – Dream River
02. My Bloody Valentine – m b v
03. Yo La Tengo – Fade
04. Howe Gelb - The Coincidentalist
05. The National – Trouble Will Find Me
06. Neko Case – The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
07. Solids – Blame Confusion
08. Jason Isbell - Southeastern
09. Kurt Vile – Wakin' on a Pretty Daze
10. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Push the Sky Away
11. Mikal Cronin – MCII
12. Mutual Benefit – Love's Crushing Diamond
13. Phosphorescent – Muchacho
14. Savages – Silence Yourself
15. Marnie Stern – The Chronicles of Marnia
FAVOURITE RE-RELEASES AND RANDOM ALBUMS
01. The Clean – Vehicle (1990)
02. Molly Drake – Molly Drake (some serene 1950's home recordings from Nick Drake's Mom. Stunning!)
03. Eccentric Soul: Omnibus (a collection of 45 rare American Soul 45s... pricey, but it's pure gold)
04. Bill Fay – Life is People (2012)
05. Mac DeMarco – Rock and Roll Night Club (2012)
FAVOURITE SHOWS
01. The Replacements + Iggy and the Stooges + Dinosaur Jr + Rocket From The Crypt + The Weakerthans @ Riot Fest Toronto
02. My Bloody Valentine @ Metropolis
03. New Order + Bob Mould @ Osheaga
04. Ringo Deathstarr @ Kathy & Kimy
05. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds @ Metropolis
06. Redd Kross @ Il Motore
07. Fucked Up @ SAT (CJLO's Birthday Bash)
08. Yo La Tengo @ Corona Theater
THUMBS UP
Reunion shows, Under the Radar Magazine, Chez Boris Donuts, Aux 33 Tours
THUMBS DOWN
The new Black Angels album (awful), being denied a Kriss Kross reunion, and all the Arcade Fire hoopla/publicity/dress code crap. I liked the album, though.
Josh "DJ So-So" Mocle is a CJLO alumnus and the former host of The Kids Are So-So. Josh was the CJLO Magazine editor back in 2008 and CJLO News director in 2007.
TOP 13 LPs (OR SUBSTANTIAL EPs) OF 2013
01. Iron Chic - The Constant One
02. Dig It Up - Manners
03. Paint It Black - Invisible
04. Plow United - Marching Band
05. Frank Turner - Tape Deck Heart
06. RVIVR - The Beauty Between
07. Alkaline Trio - My Shame is True
08. The Dillinger Escape Plan - One of Us is the Killer
09. Lemuria - The Distance is So Big
10. The Bronx - The Bronx IV
11. The Flatliners - Dead Language
12. Two Cow Garage - The Death of Self Preservation Society
13. Off With Their Heads - Home
Staff Login | Advertise | Our Location | RSS | Contact Us
