Japandroids - Celebration Rock: (Year-End Album Review)

A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.

Short and strong - Brian and David have made another powerhouse rawk album. Between the (literal) fireworks they do as they always seem to do - surge ahead with skin stretching drums and face melting guitar. They thrash through a mere 35 minutes of let-loose anthems, including the re-released Younger Us. Thankfully they didn't touch a thing on this their most nostalgic, and arguably the best, of a long line of singles. The album is complete with belt-em-out choruses that they became famous for with Post-Nothing, their first (and supposed to be only) full-length. "If they try to slow you down, tell 'em all to go to hell." Thank the gods of rock and roll for keeping the duo together to keep lighting this dynamite of pure energy into the Canadian scene.

Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.

Regina Spektor - What We Saw From the Cheap Seats: (Year-End Album Review)

A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.

Regina Spektor has yet to miss and she isn't about to start on What We Saw from the Cheap Seats. The album showcases her skills in a variety of ways. Off the top there are a few plucky songs that are filled out nicely with a variety of instrumentation and even some well-used brass. Later on she gets to the sentimental piano ballads featuring her light fingers and poetic lyrics, as well as a few darker, more brooding - and effective - piano based songs too. All the Rowboats has a seriousness too it as well and it pulses through with foreboding background to the pointed piano lines - it really is a tremendous feat. Thankfully she closes out on a lighter note, employing her dynamic voice for effect on The Party with the phenomenal line "You're like a big parade through town. You leave such a mess, but you're so fun" before closing with light guitar and lyrics.

Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.

Purity Ring - Shrines: (Year-End Album Review)

A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.

Yes, Purity Ring could be deemed an electronic act but they come across much softer, much more subdued and human than your typical electro sound. This without delving too deep into shoe-gaze  which recently has become so ethereal it can be a struggle to stay conscious. They have managed to sneak themselves into a creative middle ground; where other bands ding they ping, and where other bands crack they snap. Accompanying the music on the gibberish compound word titled songs (Fineshrine? Belispeak? Lofticries?) is a truly enjoyable female voice - another rarity in the genre, and even a male one as well to keeps things varied. When CBC Radio 3 first introduced them as the 25,000th artist on the website they seemed like a novelty act, however this full-length is chock full of tunes that blow that early dismissal away - Purity Ring are the real thing.

Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.

Patrick Watson - Adventure in Your Own Backyard: (Year-End Album Review)

A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.

Patrick Watson - Adventures in Your Own Backyard

When Mr. Patrick Watson, along with his standup band, previewed this album at Koerner Hall late last year it obviously wasn't just the beautiful venue that made it such a magnificent show. As promised by the title Watson takes us on a new journey within a familiar context by singing his uniquely excellent voice atop beautiful, lush arrangements. The strings are lovely, the guitar work great, the brass splendid, the piano requisite, and all of the other sometimes-unorthodox instruments find their home comfortably in your backyard as well. Lighthouse, Step Out for Awhile and Into Giants all build into bold and beautiful creations, while Morning Sheets hearkens to Beck's critically acclaimed (and personally acclaimed) Sea Change album in its stripped down sound and evocative violins alongside the downbeat guitar. When the quietly pretty instrumental The Things You Do transitions to Strange Crooked Road it makes the latter stand out so much more. Patrick Watson's Close to Paradise won the '07 Polaris Music Prize, whereas Adventures was merely long-listed which seems a travesty as over and over again the album brings fresh beauty with each play.

Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.

Wintersleep - Hello Hum (Year-End Album Review)

A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.

With Hello Hum Wintersleep have created a powerhouse record. Over a decade into their career this is some of the strongest work they have put out as a band. Featuring a number of strong songs that pull you along with them, offset by more downbeat but equally grabbing material, it is a band's album. Percussion plays a huge role as it tumbles along, both steadily and creatively at the same time - even the shaker is employed well as a driving force on songs like Resuscitate and Unzipper. The opener, Hum, has a je ne sais quoi that makes it play more of an introductory role than a standalone song and properly sets the scene for the journey ahead, starting with an amazing trifecta of In Came the Flood, Nothing is Anything and Resuscitate. Not only is the music suited to be electrifying live (as it is) but also stands its own as a record of note. Wintersleep may already have a strong back catalogue but here they prove they are not resting on their laurels but continuing to push their legacy - a legacy that upon future reflection will see this this record as a highlight.

Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.

Said The Whale - Little Mountain (Year-End Album Review)

A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.

Said the Whale - Little Mountain

Little Mountains is an early 2012 release from the west coast that definitely caught my ear. There are a number of standouts on this album right off the top - Jesse, AR, We Are 1980, Loveless.  However repeated listens had these tunes set themselves apart but rarely did I go deep into the fifteen track affair. With 50% more songs than your standard indie album you'd think and hope to simply get more for your $9.99, when in fact the latter half seems slightly washed out, detracting from the full album's strength rather than adding to it. A solid effort with some absolutely worthwhile works but not worthy of end of year raving.

Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.

Fun. - Some Nights (Year-End Album Review)

A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.

Fun. - Some Nights
Sure this may be one of the biggest albums of the year. You may have heard the title track in the dentist office and the Janelle Monae tune from 4 of 5 passing cars but this does not take away from it. It is popular for the reason that it is a really listenable, relatable album that matches hooks with musical ability. Not only that but it is a whole album - from the intro through to the final song. Hell, even the bonus track isn't a throwaway by any means. Interesting to see if the tremendous success has any affect on their future releases. Since there needs to be a top 40 can we, the consumer, be sure to fill it with music of this calibre?

Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.

Cold Specks - I Predict a Graceful Expulsion (Year-End Album Review)

A preview of my forthcoming annual, year-end, favourite albums post. Below is an album that is definitely under consideration - time will tell where it ends up on, or off, the final list.

Cold Specks - I Predict a Graceful Expulsion
Where did this astounding voice come from? Nevermind, we should all just be thankful that she's here. Sure Al Spx had to floor some people overseas before drawing them back home to Canada to make a go of it. Now that we've had a chance to hear the amazingly untrained voice (at least professionally) there's no going back. On the album this instrument is put on full display, and rightly so, with sparse though creative instrumentation serving as a fitting backdrop. Each song is a lovely little present and when strung together serves as an ultimate gift. Best of all, with each listen it continues to give.

Feel free to check out last year's list or my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog.