Top Ten Twenty Thirteen! - Year in Review Top 10+

1
Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

They did it again. Smart, intricate, catchy. This is the epitome of the indie pop band right now, doing all the things right.

2
Moonface - Julia, With Blue Jeans On

Only a musical genius could pull off an album as stripped down as this and make it so captivating and achey. With just a piano and his voice Spencer Krug has crafted one of the most compelling albums of 2013. Every time I hear it I want to continue to listen to it forever.

3
Lightning Dust - Fantasy

Beauty in music. There's a lightness here that swirls without taking away from its substance. The grungier raw sound has all been used up in Black Mountain leaving pure sweetness. Fans of Young Galaxy take notice!

4
Top Less - Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party

Why should I bother describing this album with such an apt title? It's pure bliss with its danceability and sly, silly lyrics. Incredibly they've made a record that lives up to their indescribable live experience.

5
Neko Case  - The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You
The more I listen, the better it gets, the better it gets, the more I love it. (Sorry everyone.)

6
Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob
Whoa, the most infamous gay identical twin sisters in music went off the pop deep end with 2013's Heartthrob. More often than not this would alienate longtime fans but in this case I haven't a thing to complain about. From the understandably ubiquitous Closer through the catchy, vulnerable How Come You Don't Want Me to the heartbreaking Now I'm All Messed Up these are some of the best pure pop songs produced in ages, and they are all from the same group. The glue that pieces them together is excellent too.

7
Wildlife - ..On the Heart
This criminally underrated Toronto band makes true unified records with earnest lyrics, real musical chops and quality production, with this follow-up proving that the lightning was properly sealed in the bottle after their debut Strike Hard, Young Diamond. Their live shows are just as impressive and perhaps if they played more of them people would really start to provide the attention that is deserved.

8
River Tiber - Synapses
An up-and-comer from Toronto, this project is the brainchild of one Tommy Paxton-Beesley who meticulously crafted a darkly engaging full-length. With electronic hints and an assortment of sounds the album weaves its way through as one continuous, complex ride.

9

Gold & Youth - Beyond Wilderness
A supremely listenable wavy synth record that doesn't lull like many shoegaze contemporaries but hums right along, using tried sounds in a fresh way.

10
Jay-Z - Magna Carta Holy Grail
Perhaps a guilty pleasure tucked down here at the end of the list but I jammed out to this record, front to back, more times than I'm willing to admit. The star power off the top helped get into it, not to mention Beyonce's touch down the stretch, and from there it's a pretty smooth ride. The lyrics are not the most engaging which is normally a large part of a hip hop record but the beats are catchy all the way through. Don't even try and argue: Beach is Better!

Honourable Mentions

That's the top ten culled from a long list of contenders for the year, the strongest of which deserve mention below:

M.I.A - Matangi
This is a MIA pounding through; strong, brass and abrasive which usually means at her best. It takes some listener fortitude but absolutely worth it.

Shad - Flying Colours
As always Shad's smarts shine through in his lyrics while the beats and production do not suffer. Off the top there are more than a couple superb songs, including a few amazingly clever rhymes. Case and point:
"To the guys that draw lines and make the borders real,
But then bend the rules when there's more to drill,
Don't turn away the stateless, think of the waste,
If one in three refugees is a Lauryn Hill"

Jim Guthrie - Takes Time
As the title says it does take time to craft such a balanced, wise album. It is also the home to one of my favourite earworm hooks of the year "You said, 'The rest is yet to come' - I said, 'Don't you mean the best?'"

Arcade Fire - Reflektor
There are a thousand musical ideas competing here and the majority of them flourish. Here Comes the Night Time, amirite? An album that is going to be plenty of fun to see live.

Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Volume 3: To See More Light
I guarantee this album will be like nothing else you hear this year. "A man and a saxophone" you say? "Just give it a listen," I respond.

The Strumbellas - We Still Move on Dance Floors
Strong follow-up for the hardworking Ontario band. Comes through on the promise of plenty of dance floor fodder.

Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse
This Scottish band has been kicking it for years now but this was the first album to even grace my radar. With a couple of standout tracks and more smart, classic indie goodness here it is a solid listen.

The National - Trouble Will Find Me
Another very fine effort from this well-polished American indie machine.

The 1975 - The 1975
If I hadn't worn myself out last year on the EPs from which they culled a good portion of the material for this record it would have been high atop my list.

Aroara - In the Pines
This duo made one of the most interesting records of the year and is likely the breakout live Toronto act of 2013.

Dodos - Carrier

A real solid record from this band that has been doing their own thing with the acoustic/electric mix for some time.

Basia Bulat - Tall, Tall Shadow
In the running for best title track of 2013 this album starts strong and continues to impress as it carries on. Basia has been consistently making excellent music with her autoharp and this album lives up to the high standards she has set for herself.

Late Addition

Royal Canoe - Today We're Believers
Unfortunately I didn't get a hold of this disc until the new year so it didn't get much of an audition to make the list but I can see what all the buzz is about. A diverse assortment of sounds but all very well done.

Last year's list

All the year-end lists on this blog

Lists from Vernacular (my previous blog)

Wildlife, Bravestation - Lee's (Nov 9/13)

Perhaps one of Toronto's most underrated bands (still!) Wildlife played yet another excellent set, this time to a decent-sized Lee's Palace weekend crowd. Once again with all members donning the band uniform, this time all black with a yellow band, they put on quite the performance. Not as coordinated and cohesive as some of their previous shows that seemed to be rehearsed down to the second this gig was a great opportunity for them to play their ..On the Heart material for the hometown crowd after a long delay since it's release early this year. The evolution of the music is exciting as it takes what Strike Hard, Young Diamond did and furthers it. Born to Ruin for example has that killer kick drum that thuds throughout both on record and in a live setting. They didn't forget the previous album however, going back to standout Stand in the Water before closing up with the excellent Killing for Fun which included an unintroduced extra member playing and singing along. With the appetite for it they returned for an encore to satiate us after their welcome return.

Bravestation, another hometown band, mentioned that it had been a dream to play on the Lee's Palace stage which is understandable as it is a beloved Toronto institution (despite the bathrooms). They did a stand up job of it too, in part because their drummer forewent kick drums or even a seat to pound his kit while standing in his toque and headphones, while also working some electronic drums and a laptop. Besides him there was a bass and an electric guitar that filled out the rock band who didn't make a bad showing of it all told.

Wildlife, Jane's Party - Drake Underground (Dec 21/12)

Wildlife
Wildlife are doing it all right but haven't yet caught the break they deserve to launch them into orbit. If there is justice in this universe their forthcoming album, due in March, will be their spaceship. The new material which was justifiably featured in this last minute, hometown, headlining gig is strong on first live listen and if it's anything like Strike Hard, Young Diamond, their previous effort, will merit repeated headphone listens. Even with only a semi full Drake Underground they were grinding it out and giving us an early Christmas gift of a show. After a debut or two they played the When I Get Home into Drunken Heart combo that has that beloved transition from the album. Added to the mix were Sea Dreamer (with a hilarious, poorly executed slide whistle), Stand in the Water and closer Killing For Fun but it was really a chance to tempt us with the new year's offering. In short time it'll be a story to tell "I remember the time I stood front row and they played this tune." Let's hope!

Jane's Party
Jane's Party were meant to get the party started and while there was plenty of milling about on stage - of the four members all but these drummer were swapping instruments on every other song - the rest of the crowd participation wasn't up to snuff. Mind you it was an opening band for a last minute show with early set times so things weren't in their favour. The bass player, ahem, the longer-haired fellow who primarily played bass had a solid set of pipes, though everyone seemed to lend a voice whether taking their turn in lead or harmony. It didn't sound bad but there wasn't much there to set them apart, at least not until the slick final tune which must be the set closer for a reason as it has some potential.

Wildlife, Topanga, PkewX3, Reversing Falls (Horseshoe May 11, 2012)

Wildlife

The stage, already shrouded in cloth and smoke, was dimly lit and gave an edgy feel to the set. With their matching arm bands Wildlife took to the stage to some sort of orchestral battle music that built the suspense further until finally the familiar strains of Stand In The Water began to emanate through. (The singer actually broke the trance by asking for the lights to come up and with his overly casual 'Hello, how are you?' after all the suspenseful build up.) Effectively the band played throughout the concert mostly as if it were one seamless piece of music as opposed to a collection of songs (though songs like When I Get Home were included). This meant instrumental interludes in the dark but again this all played toward making this show something special. It was as if they were in a state of constant crescendo and it was constantly awesome. One interlude saw them bring out two remote controlled inflatable sharks that a were flown all around our heads until nearing the end of Brand New Weapon they began to get torn apart.

Other flairs included a trombone on Drunken Heart and two new songs (first about kerosene, second 'rely on me'). Money From God not only had double stand up drums but also the return of the trombone and an invited additional singer (who really, really wanted the crowd to be as excited as he obviously was).

They played Sea Dreamer to appease the crowd and then the moment I'd imagined months earlier while being overwhelmed by Killing for Fun in my headphones. "How amazing would this build into whoa-oh singalong be live?" Better than I imagined actually as everyone was 'losing their minds'. That was still before the much delayed encore (lights up, house music on) that was Baba O'Riley. Oh yes. As if the night hadn't already been fantastic enough!

Topanga

Topanga came out with a four man yell-along and were generally very upbeat throughout. The lead singer was small but packed a punch and their drummer, on stage for the second time this night, showed those drums who was boss. All this energy was infectious and someone even tried to crowd surf during Lion Heart. Their instrumentation was going for epic and achieving it. A familiar song for Radio3 listeners, Oceans, hit its mark too before a Hives cover (Hate to Say I Told You So, what else?). According to my notes they closed with My Boo but according to their discography they closed with Mabu. Regardless they closed out an energetic set with a song.

Pkew! Pkew! Pkew! (gunshots)

With a name like Pkew! Pkew! Pkew! (gunshots) I'm not even sure what I was expecting. I'd heard of them a heckuva a lot (though the sources were long forgotten) and so had expectations for an entertaining gig without a clue of how that would be delivered. What we got was a tongue-in-cheek indie rock show with punk pacing and fun that didn't disappoint in the least. Especially not the crew up front who were practically moshing from the first track and didn't mind the beer froth shooting all around them as the five members played their chords. Four of the members sang as they shared duties and occasional harmonies, even introing a song with Diddy's Bad Boy For Life. Even if the music if rather straightforward it still sounds great and it's really hard not to smile and enjoy yourself when the lyrics are "If those were your glory days, you must be real shitty now!"

Reversing Falls

Reversing Falls were a simple three piece who started out over a drum track before this role was taken over partway through the set by Sicks(?) from Topanga, one of the later acts. Though the set was enjoyable enough there wasn't much too memorable about it. They held out and played their biggest song Is This Thing On? last.

Top Albums 2011

A helluva year for music in my opinion. Decembers past I've struggled to fill out a Top 10 but not this year! No sir. An explosion of greatness that forced my hand to expand. I suppose taking the train to work really lengthened my music-appreciation time. My intentions weren't for any set number but these twenty-five were all legitimately in my ears and in my head at some point throughout this year.

1. Kids & Explosions – Shit Computer
   Shit Computer hit me from the first time I heard the opener and since that time way back in January (technically a December 2010 release, shh) I still haven’t gotten enough of this album. There is so much going on that I’m sure undiscovered nuances remain. A true soundtrack for the attention-deficit disorder generation this genre-melding piece is unrelenting from start to finish, never sounding tired or derivative (despite deriving 100% of its content from other sources). If you thought you loved Girl Talk but it wasn’t quite spastic enough, check Kids & Explosions.
   PWYC Download (ie:$0 if ya want)
   
   
2. Braids – Native Speaker
   Unlike almost anything else out there this young group goes well beyond their years to craft an album that is fresh, creative, intriguing but also wholly enjoyable. There is a slight challenge here but it is worth every effort to get into it. The effects are used at times to the point of confusion as a listener but it is this building and shifting that demands attention and deserves it. A breathy injection of fresh air into the Canadian indie scene.
   
   
3. Library Voices – Summer of Lust
   The promise shown on Library Voices’ Hunting Ghosts and Other Collected Shorts EP was huge, and coupled with their fantastic live shows expectations were lofty for their first full-length. That was why Denim on Denim was actually a disappointment, despite the inclusion of Haunt this House. To me it had the feeling of being rushed through the production phase, as was admitted by the band. A little faith and only a year later the Summer of Lust was unleashed upon us and it was all I that had been dreamt of. Danceable beats, singable choruses, literary references, and overall catchy songs out the yahoo - it has it all. A little patience and the reward is this “pop-as-fuck” gem.
   
   
4. Dan Mangan – Oh Fortune
   Outsiders may not have predicted that this would be the next logical step for Dan Mangan’s follow-up to his long-brooding Nice, Nice, Very Nice breakthrough but now that it’s here we all agree that it was the way to go. A much fuller, orchestral sound that swirls all around his still focal gruff vocals. It hits on many levels. The top-notch songwriting remains and is filled out by the splendid band it was written with. The power of Post-War Blues very nearly matches its incredible live intensity. And just try to listen to Rows of Houses and not be moved by that voice and the strength of the music that sweeps it along. Oh Fortune required slightly more patience than its predecessor but the dividends pay off in time with this new masterpiece.
   
   
5. Imaginary Cities – Temporary Resident
   Another album that is difficult to put a finger on exactly what makes it so gosh darn enjoyable. The lead female vocals are unique and pleasant. The songs themselves are well-written, well-played. The album isn’t in-your-face but it definitely has some weight to it that it carries right through. As a whole there isn’t really a fault to be found and trust me, I’ve listened to it through enough times to know.
   
   
6. Kidstreet – Fuh Yeah
   I didn’t know Kidstreet before they made their veer towards electro dance and it probably would have stayed that way. Suffice it to say that I’m very pleased this trio of siblings made this change so they could produce the X EP that led directly to this very similar debut, Fuh Yeah. (Only complaint is that they did not include the super fun Spin Twirl). It could be argued that their position on this list is unfair as I first discovered their music as an opening act, and it was only after having already been impressed by this show that I got a hold of the recorded songs. That may be true but as fun as their dance parties are there still needs to be substance to the music -that fun needs to translate to disc. Both of these things are here of course, hence why I’ve been dancing to it both in the concert hall and in my bedroom all year.
   
   
7. Classified – Handshakes and Middle Fingers
   Class has been on a long arcing upward trajectory, not only in mainstream popularity but also in quality. Since he’s been on my radar I’ve enjoyed his work though often pulling a selection of repeatable tracks from an album whereas Handshakes strikes deftly off the top and carries this momentum through. Sure he’s had his novelties –  Canadian anthem-sampling raps, Choose-Your-Own-Adventure – but here he comes through as adamant and authentic. That Ain’t Classy is perhaps his most commercial sounding song, but the fact that it is so polished is not a knock but a compliment to his beat-making and production skills. Sampling throwbacks like the Danger Bay theme song or giving industry advice are ways for Luke to not only allow his creativity to shine but also to keep the long-player sounding fresh throughout. Kudos to Classified for this album, through and through.
   
   
8. Wildlife – Strike Hard, Young Diamond
   I’ve admitted before that I’m all for a hook – I live for the catch. Pure catchiness wrapped up here leaning more toward pop-Wolf-Parade rather than other local earworm heros, TPC. One of the first up-and-coming Toronto bands (despite having been in the game a surprisingly long time) I dug soon after I “moved to the city” myself. Enough single-worthy tunes packed on this record to have me singing along for months.
   
   
9. Rich Aucoin – We’re All Dying to Live
   How do you capture bouncing under a parachute with Rich Aucoin in the sweatiest dance party this side of Daft Punk? Why invite twenty-two million friends to each add a drip of energy to a pop/dance album for the ages! I don’t know all the intimate details of the production of the album but it is damn near the closest I could conceive of capturing the energy of a Rich Aucoin show on record. In fact it is better than I’d originally imagined. The multitude of tracks stream by in a fun fury and before you know it hundreds of people are chatting in your living room and you’re ready to start this thing over again from the top. Not just a one-man dance party any longer!
   
   
10. Airplane Boys – Where’ve You Been
    Seemingly coming out of nowhere this mixtape has some inexplicable magnetism that drew me back again and again. The sample choices, perhaps obvious but done in respectable fashion, included such megastars as The Arcade Fire and Radiohead but the flow laid atop makes 'em unique. As an introduction to this Toronto-based duo I can only hope that the promise comes to fruition.
    Free Full Download!
    
    
11. Hey Rosetta - Seeds
    It is unfair to try and stack this up against Into Your Lungs considering how much I loved that album (see Top Albums 2008). Alas 2011 seemed to be the year for ever-so-slightly lesser second contributions from bands whose previous albums I’d fallen fast for (ex from this list:RAA, Dan Mangan, Arkells, Dodos). Despite this I still really enjoyed this album and spun it a tonne trying to have it attain the Into Your Lungs levels that it could just not quite reach. Seeds is a solid tune. Yer Spring is a friggin’ fantastic song. Bandages was already stellar even before that yearn-for-the-Rock video they created. Need I mention the songwriting on Welcome? Separately or the sum of its parts, this offering still deserves its accolades.
    
    
12. Austra – Feel It Break
    Katie Stelmanis’ voice is a national treasure. In previous incarnations it never seemed to get full exposure but here its operatic quality shines and accentuates her technical abilities. Lose It would be in the running for track of the year, but it is far from the only gem found here.
    
    [Not that those below weren't worthy of a written review, but my intentions were only ten before I scrolled through my library again and bumped two totally forgotten but absolutely beloved records in.]
    
    
13. Architecture in Helsinki – Moment Bends (AUS)
14. Rural Alberta Advantage – Departing
15. Arkells – Michigan Left
16. Noah23 – Fry Cook On Venus
17. TV On The Radio – Nine Types of Light (USA)
18. Elliott Brood – Days Into Years
19. Dodos – No Colour (USA)
20. Hooded Fang – Tosta Mista
21. Les Jupes – Modern Myths
22. The Streets – Computers and Blues (UK)
23. Sunparlour Players – Us Little Devils
24. Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital
25. Bruce Peninsula – Open Flames
    
    
    *All artists Canadian unless otherwise indicated*

Discovered in 2011

Chilly Gonzales - Ivory Tower
A late discovery. I wanted to hate this album and some of its terrible and provocative lyrics from the beginning. Yet in the end I couldn't stop spinning it. Even though he put out a new album in 2011, it was this 2010 disc that I kept returning to.

Bands to Watch 2012

I don't even know what they are specifically up to, but I know that I discovered these in 2011 and hope that more and more people discover them in 2012.

Birthday Girls
Hardcore outta Ottawa with a promising EP. True to their word, the self-described influences of DFA79 and Bloc Party (two of my faves of the early oughts) can be heard.

Airplane Boys
Toronto duo with a banging mixtape (a la Drake) and huge potential for a big market. I'd say they should take off, but that'd be a bad pun.
(Follow link for free album!)

Born Gold
Probably a smart name change (from Gobble Gobble), the rumour of their live show won't be lost because of it. Couple that with infectious indie electro that you can shake to and these guys have a good thing goin.
(Follow link for free album!)

Hey Ocean!
This late-'11 album is almost too good. It's pure, polished pop that goes down smooth. You make me wanna make a new dance up!

Humans
I think this EP I found on Spotify was actually from 2010 but I couldn't get enough of it. I hope there's more to come!

You can check out my Top Albums lists dating back to 2002 on my previous Vernacular blog

WILDLIFE, Paint Movement, Make Your Exit (Horseshoe Feb.18)

Whoa Wildlife! That album of yours... somehow reminiscent of Wolf Parade and still catchy/grabby like Tokyo Police Club. But this isn't a record review; I'm just getting it out in the open that I ventured out into the Wildlife for the first time already smitten. Admittedly I groaned when the laser and smoke machine were hauled on stage but besides the occasional blinding dart of green light I was won over in a hurry. As I was with the performance too.

Jamming out an intro in the dark the five lads looked well accustomed to the stage with a confident presence. They showed that they've got the chops to back it up too as they broke out into album opener Stand in the Water. With ease they performed a slew of songs, largely retaining their album veneer - even amped up further for the live setting. Matches with its singable and quotable chorus shone like a laser to the eye. Drunken Heart was an interesting inclusion in the set-list, while personal fave Move to the City was an equally disappointing exclusion (- a reason to catch them again I suppose!). Current single Sea Dreamer also fared well, though with a consistently strong performance no single track stood head and shoulders above. If there's one thing that always gives a show a boost in my books it's adding extra drummers to the mix -and the whistle-solo is A-OK too! Wildlife give it their all, evidenced by the blood pouring from a self-induced run-in between bass and forehead (requiring stitches), and they don't show any signs of slowing down from intro to glorious outro.

The Paint Movement have continued despite my lack of attention. Last I heard from them they were honing their sound and I'm happy to report that they've been successful on that front. Their instrumental breakdowns were something to look forward to song after song, especially as the vocals for Buffalo-beard and No-beard were muddled and low this night. Actually when Normal-Beard sang the final song and it came through loud and clear it made me wonder why he hadn't piped up more, though the stronger moments of female vocals that broke through were also impressive. Sounding less like Broken Social Scene this time around they appear to be gaining confidence and growing into a sound of their own - Faults proved this.

Make Your Exit actually made quite the entrance Friday night - it was the exit that I found lacking. With the core five and an additional two members lined across the stage front they settled down a decent-sized, babbling Horseshoe crowd to start a slow snap. Quickly I realized that this was their a capella version of Zeus' The River By The Garden, as seen on Southern Souls. Both that video and the live version were pretty darn great, building up to epic proportions with melodica and kazoo. Unfortunately for me this turned out to be the high point of the set as I was unfamiliar with their music, and though it was decent indie rock it sort of melded together which made it feel as if it were dragging on. (Being band 3 of 3 and nearing last call probably had some effect on this too.) At the time I stated that the encore felt extraneous.. make your exit boys, make your exit.