Top Ten 2014 - Year In Review

1

Pup - Pup

(Toronto)
I'm semi-ashamed to say that this album sat practically dormant on my computer from October of last year, when it was first self-released by the band, until their name started coming up again early this year. When I gave it another shot I quickly saw why this band was picking up speed. And then I saw them play... my goodness, these boys are the best thing shredding Toronto airspace (and now all over North America). Go to a gig, excited as you are you'll never jump as high as their pint-sized singer who packs a mean growl.

2

Hey Rosetta! - Second Sight

(St.John's)
A band that I've loved since the first time I heard them it would seem natural that this new album would be a favourite. However I was skeptical to begin with and not sold on it with the first, second and even third listen. Then something started to click - perhaps it's a little more subtle than previous efforts but that just means there's even more beauty to be revealed. Each time it just grows that much closer to my heart. When Harriet storms in and blows away the melancholy of Alcatraz it's a warm spring breeze every time.

3

Owen Pallett - In Conflict

(Toronto/Montreal)
See what I wrote about Hey Rosetta? It was a very similar case with this record as again the artist has grown to insert just as much or more into their music but having it more nuanced such that it continues to reveal itself over a more sustained period of time. Once it clicked it was hard not to just keep spinning.

4

Against Me - Transgender Dysphoria Blues

(Florida)
One could be forgiven for thinking that all the hype around this album had to do with the primary subject matter of Transgender Dysphoria Blues - I did at first. Then I played this raw album and I played it again and again. Yes, the lyrics are striking and in many cases they bare it all but the music is aggressive and up to par.

5
Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World

(Toronto)
A long time coming! Now that can be a bad thing with anticipation and expectations and the like but not in this case. For the sake of transparency, I heard the whole thing all of twice before seeing it performed live in a badass free show in Toronto and that kickstarted my growing affection for this record. It's more polished than Woman/Machine and at times more dance/pop (whatever you want to call it) as many noted with lead single Trainwreck. Some use this as a criticism but not this amateur music blogger. I wish they could just come play it live every time instead of having to crank the record.

6
Beck - Morning Phase

(USA)
Sea Change has long been a staple of mine - any time I need to shut out the world, relax and/or get some sleep it has been a beautiful salve to the chaos around. Now a dozen years later, a Beck-described sister record arrives and it's gorgeous along the same scale. Lush and lovely, Mr. Hansen shows his qualifications in a multitude of genres and styles. I wouldn't object to the term genius.

7
Lowell - We Loved Her Dearly

(Toronto)
Seeing her play live before knowing she existed - the beauty of a good Basement Revue - I was immediately struck by the smart, electro-pop mixing with her dynamic voice. "I like this" I clearly thought, against the consensus of other friends. In fact, I saw her again at Field Trip and then Supercrawl before hearing more than the odd single on the radio (okay, by the time Supercrawl hit The Bells was an Indie 88 staple). When the album finally dropped I was familiar with a solid number of the tunes and the rest showed her musical background as she is able to craft a fully formed disc that encompasses many of her strengths, ranging from pure pop to earnest and quieter numbers. I'm just confused as to why she isn't getting the press that Grimes did. So much promise here!

8

Reuben and the Dark - Funeral Sky

(Alberta)

The guitars and the voices are swell and do swell from this Albertan group. Like a fine stout, it is very mature and full-bodied which is even more impressive considering it is their debut album. 

9 

Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else

(Cleveland)

For the longest time I knew nothing about the Nothings which ordinarily pushes an album right out of my Recently Added playlist and into the nether-regions of my music catalog yet for some reason I kept returning to this one instinctively. It hits hard and reverberates for a long time to come.

10

How To Dress Well - What Is This Heart?

(USA)

"Too soon" I thought with the release of this album. Why? Because I was still digging Total Loss from 2012 without realizing enough time had passed to make another gorgeous full-length and therefore on the first few listens I unfairly discredited it, only to come back around a couple months later. Perhaps another reason for this is that some of the strongest songs are tucked nearer the end as deeper cuts, Precious Love and Childhood Faith in Love at track 8 and 9 respectively.

Honourable Mention

Damien Rice - My Favourite Faded Fantasy

(Ireland)

I bet that had this been released earlier in the year it would have earned an actual number. Years in the making, Damien has poured his heart and musical genius into this tender and unencumbered release. The emotion and beauty shine play after play.

Last year's list

Daniel Champage - Hillside 2014

Daniel Champagne was a part of a workshop on Friday night and was easily the best discovery of the evening, winning me over with his first of only a couple songs. Just him and his guitar - the tune had it all, quiet and loud with plenty of different percussion. Sure you've seen someone tap their guitar body before but not in the amazing assortment of ways that he did here. I was stunned and awed. His next song showed more of a lyrical bend rather than focusing on the antics but he can hold it down on both fronts. 

When Saturday rolled around his set had gone from a who?? to a must-see. Opening with that same song he showed off the wares but then kept the audience's rapt attention for the set. In the end it wasn't a surprise that the audience who had just witnessed budding greatness got to their feet in appreciation. 

Later in the weekend he played as part of a guitar workshop including fellow Australian Kim Churchill, who he had actually met coming up along the way, Danny Michel and Stephen Fearing. And though being a couple of juniors amongst renowned guitarists both him and Churchill more than held their own, earning the visible respect of a seemingly cool cucumber in Michel.

Rah Rah, Paper Lions - Horseshoe - Oct 23

Paper Lions

Although they were technically opening, Paper Lions played as if it was a headlining gig, both in length and effort. For nearly an hour they sampled tracks from throughout their catalog while their lead singer spoke in a very assured manner. And it sounded like it as well, bringing their pop-rooted indie rock all the way from PEI. Partway through all four of them took to the middle of the moderately full 'shoe floor and I passed the singer a stool so he could be seen while they presented a version of Polly Hill that featured simply their vocals and his acoustic guitar. Nearing the end of the set, after they'd clambered back on stage, they did a big ol' rendition of Strawberry Man before everyone but the singer departed and he gave a prolonged intro to Traveling, about their video going quietly viral, and then everyone returned to play it out. Surprisingly it was only the second to last tune as this set just kept on giving. Very generous.

Rah Rah
It seemed that Rah Rah, who have a solidified lineup, played the tunes they wanted to play for the first half of the set, including Betrayal Pt. 1 and Henry but also two brand new songs from the forthcoming LP tentatively scheduled for the spring. These were both danceable and may take a little familiarity but sounded promising. They did the anywhere-percussion of Beaches then 20s before the free-flowing second half kicked in which saw them with the more familiar instrument swap. This brought us Art and a Wife, First Kiss, and Duet.. but also the R A H balloons which seem like fun at first but become a distraction and then an annoyance until someone pops them. They shut it down with Prairie Girl which was great and left "one we haven't played in awhile" for their only encore, Arrows. Not a mind-blowing performance from this Saskatchewan band but another solid outing.

Burning Hell, Blimp Rock - Dakota - Oct 23

The Burning Hell

Somehow it was Mathias' first time in the Dakota and they even took the stage as the opening act of the early time slot. Using the excuse that a member was vacationing (in Spain, with his mother) he was accompanied by only Nick Ferrio on bass and Ariel Sharon on the plugged clarinet. As an introduction, Mathias played My Name is Mathias on his acoustic guitar and then they proceeded with mostly cuts from the latest full length, not reaching back overly far. One exception was a new tune about rapping that was followed by the song that inspired it, Amateur Rappers. A mid set story about a public washroom dilemma had everyone laughing but the smaller audience was already rapt and enjoying the shared smirks at the sly jokes hidden throughout. We earned a joke from Ariel and audience participation during the Amateur Rapper joke, plus a clarinet keynote in the finale. 

It was a grin-worthy night as usual that also included Kings of the Animal Kingdom and a singalong for Industrialists.

Blimp Rock
Blimp Rock are built on a joke premise but don't seem to be a joke band. I was surprised that they had the later set on the early Dakota bill with The Burning Hell but they were a fitting partner so it didn't much matter. The mixed-sex four piece included a female drummer who had at least two incorrect set lists that threw them for a loop while the lead singer threw down a little dance at one point. They played a likeable twee pop show to the majority of people who stuck around.

Allo Darlin' - Drake Underground - Nov 4

This seemingly unassuming band split out of England and Australia are so darn likable and their tunes are lovely as well. Although the leading lady, with her short cut and swooning voice is the focus, her bandmates are no slouches either. Bill, the bassist, is especially enjoyable to watch for the sheer joy it seems he has playing. With ease, charm, humility and humour they entertained with stories and road tales while tuning (which they said was boring but important, like taxes.. or foreplay).

They focused on new songs from the recently released We Come From The Same Place and although it was my first listen it proved that the new material is up to snuff. A particular standout from the new music was History Lessons, a softer number that deals with the past not being as perfect as recollections might make it out to be. Besides Dreaming, the first album didn't have much representation, no Silver Dollar or Kiss Your Lips(!), but a few from Europe, including the title track did make it onto the list. Bill offered vocals on a track while the song Paul sang on was a new fan favourite based on the rousing applause. Later in the set they hit Let's Go Swimming with the lady's guitar now swapped for uke following the midway point. A sincere encore call brought them out but just for a single song despite the pleas from a solid turnout to the Drake on a Tuesday. Running an hour and a quarter I couldn't see anyone being disappointed in their first Toronto gig since that 2011 El Mo show they fondly recalled.