Top Ten 2019 - Year in Review

1. Dave - Psychodrama
Marvellous. As in, every time I listen to this album I marvel at how exquisite it is. Nothing is overlooked, from the varied and interesting beats, to the high production value, the quasi-concept album thematic, and most importantly Dave's astounding word play. It's impossibly clever and impeccably delivered, including hooks, social commentary and downright funny jokes; I discover something new each time without even consulting Genius.com. Lesley may be the best tale in a tune of the year - please, sit down and listen. Santan Dave's wisdom, vision, execution, skill, voice, and, yes, piano-playing are all on display in this damn-near masterpiece of a rap album.

2. default genders - main pop girl 2019
I couldn't get enough of this album and still cannot describe properly why. It is a super-pop album that swaps genres at blistering speed, many of which I wouldn't normally find myself listening to but here it just works. Lyrically it tells some tales, again things that I wouldn't necessarily relate to, but there I was putting it on for my morning run for the 50th time months later. Just give it a try.
(Not available on Spotify but grab it from Bandcamp PWYC, including free)

3. Snotty Nose Rez Kids - Trapline
Late to the party, I'm glad to have caught onto this blazing band this year. With their unreserved Reservation-rap (okay, I made that term up) they pull no punches in upping their lives and their lifestyles through song. It is fresh, eye-opening and altogether ass-shaking. Unfortunately I haven't yet caught them live but their Insta-stories sure do make it look like it absolutely goes off! It's a good time to grab hold as these high-fliers are taking off.

4. Sigrid - Sucker Punch
Diamonds, sapphires, rubies - this album is full of pop gems. A rising star, Sigrid has the voice and the musical sensibilities to burn long and bright. Anytime I was looking for an accessible and mostly upbeat shot of music this year, Sucker Punch was an easy fix, and it held up on the repeatability too. But there's a depth to it as well with emotional songwriting that tackles real feelings without drowning the listener in sorrow. Sigrid's versatility makes this a complete album.

5. Sir Babygirl - Crush on Me
Unabashed retro-beats pop music - I'd read someone liken it to a pumped up Britney Spears album for 2019 - and Sir Babygirl plays with expectations with glee. Starting with that gender-fluid name they don't hold back on the glorious 26 minutes of this album (I looked it up, it's not an EP), including two reprises! Haunted House is the standout, with that chorus raising more questions than answers, and the album is perfectly punctuated by the tongue-in-cheek closer, Crush On Me. All I want is more.

6. Black Midi - Schlagenheim
Defying conventions, these music-school nerds have gone ahead with a gloriously indulgent album that brings many influences together to make something so new. Based around their impressive individual instrumental skills they've managed to flaunt their musicianship appropriately. The math-rock elements, the "unique" vocals, and the varying signatures make for an eclectic mix that keeps the listener guessing but it's a challenge worth taking.

7. Tim Baker - Forever Overhead
Fronting one of my all-time favourite Canadian bands, Hey Rosetta!, could be either a blessing or a curse when it comes to the first solo offering. Would Tim be able to live up to the heightened expectations without the six super-talented musicians supporting him in both the songwriting and performing? I'm happy to report that this is a very worthwhile offering that doesn't try to recreate the magic of HR! but maintains the eloquent lyrics in an appropriate, slightly stripped-back, singer-songwriter context (still showcasing some of Tim's piano too).

8. Better Oblivion Community Centre - Better Oblivion Community Centre
This combination of a couple of true, through-and-through songwriters has struck gold symbiosis. Coner Oberst (Bright Eyes) and Phoebe Bridgers could both play their way out of a troll's trap alone so when they joined forces for BOCC it was like giving both of them a turbo boost. The songwriting is impeccable and the interplay is excellent. Released early in the year it has been an album that has never really left the rotation and still plays frequently and with much adoration.

9. Sacred Paws - Run Around the Sun
An upbeat, carry-you-along album filled with quirky and catchy ditties highlighted by the back-and-forth vocals of this cross-UK-border, female duo. It's music for any bright occasion, or even to make a not so bright time, like dusting the living room, into an bopping dance party.

10. Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride
An album that I'd been looking forward to in the long interim between releases that just gave and gave and gave. Yes, it's long but it hardly falters and finishes on a gem. Bringing in the duets and accompaniments throughout manages to keep the songwriting and delivery fresh, for repeated listening (it showed up all over my Spotify year-end breakdowns). Very pleased to have VW back in town.

Honourable Mentions

Shotgun Jimmie - Transistor Sister 2

Jimmie has captured lightning in a bottle again on this revisitation to the Transistor Sister that set a benchmark in his earlier career. Simple, yet catchy and effective, this album can fit most moods.

Pup - Morbid Stuff

Who'd have known that Pup could squeeze so much traction and love out of this genre? Here they are once again giving a damn fine performance and encouraging the kids to get out there and catch them live where they really ignite.

Tallest Man on Earth - I Love You. It's a Fever Dream.

Quietly this album ended up in my year-end conversation by being a lovely accompaniment to those moments of reflection and tranquility.

JOHN (TIMESTWO) - Out Here on the Fringes

Discovering this duo late in the year I was sold from the get-go with their guitar-to-the-wall brand of rock.

Press Club - Wasted Energy

An energetic burst of Aussie punk that enthuses a freshness into the genre.

Sandro Perri - Soft Landing

Similar to In Another Life, this album is anchored by a ploddingly excellent opening track, Time (You Got Me) with a still-strong B side.

Top Ten 2018 - Year in Review

1. Deafheaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
A triumph from front to back, this album is melodic and driving. The piano and spoken word opener may lull you in but even when unleashing the guttural screams it still washes down smoothly with stellar guitar work and pounding drums.

2. Tune-yards - I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life
What a vocal performance this is! It makes you want to sing along as best as you can to every song. I may be new to Tune-yards but this record has made a convert out of me.

3. Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer
What a strong, confident, and important album that Janelle had made this year. The fact that it's infinitely repeatable and danceable push it's reach to the masses.

4. Donovan Woods - Both Ways
What else can I say about this songwriter that I haven't already lauded upon him in previous years? Well Donnie has done it once again with a collection of stories that draw you in and grab you by the heart, one way or another. There are a dozen journeys taken in each listen, including Next Year - oof, and all to the tune of his excellent folk rock voice and guitar lines.

5. Lowell - Lone Wolf
Lowell has made a confident, powerful, and slick record in Lone Wolf. Plenty of hooks, a few tunes to dance to, and lots of alt-pop goodness on each track. I feel like there's an audience for this album.

6. Sandro Perri - In Another Life
On paper this album would not be something that I would be interested in: a 24 minute song followed by Everybody's Paris Parts 1-3 and that's it - 4 songs, 43 minutes. And yet it is so relaxing, drawing the listener in through repetition with variation, that it just takes me away every time I put it on.

7. Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar
Admittedly I was very excited for this release after Young Fathers topped my 2015 List and it was beloved throughout this year. Slightly more polished production than their earlier outputs they maintain their independent and eclectic styling throughout. Perhaps missing a couple more danceable bangers it is still an excellent disc.

8. The Wonder Years - Sister Cities
First coming across this band as Pup was opening for them across the UK, I didn't mind at all what I heard. However this album seems to be The Wonder Years at the top of their game. Rocking, emo, and thoughtful (for fans of Brand New but without the guilt) this is a great album all the way through.

9. Superorganism - Superorganism
Don't fear the collective. Putting hordes of musicians in a studio to throw it all at the wall can payoff in dynamic pop such as this. With all kinds of sounds used as instruments it is a fresh and fun debut, all under this exciting new female voice. Short and saccharine; listen to it twice. 

10. Joey Purp - Quarterthing
Such promise from his iiiDrops EP that this debut has bated much breath and - hallelujah - it was worth every moment. Swagger over beats, often skewering the hip hop tropes for a modern and forward view. Deserves a sub-woofer and a dancefloor.

Dan Mangan - More or Less

What a comeback for my beloved, gruff-voiced, singer-songwriter. Not to slight the Blacksmith album but this sees Dan shed the band and return to his roots. It's what made him famous for good reason.

Dream Wife - Dream Wife

Yes, Dream Wife. Do what you're doing. This growling punk rock from a charismatic feminist serves 2018 perfectly. 

Idles - Joy As An Act Of Resistance

In quick succession on the back of last year's Brutalism, in a year that has seen their following explode. I would have waited another month or two to upgrade the odd throwaway on here but still plenty of brilliance. And with another record already written they may just be back on here next year for a third year running. 

Sophie - Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides

This album is strange and challenging at times which is actually where it succeeds. The more straightforward back half tends to lose my attention, keeping it out of The Ten.

Let's Eat Grandma - I'm All Ears

A fun, new band with an in your face album that will rattle you onto the dance floor. Standout vocals too, all interestingly mixed together, if only it maintained the gas throughout.

Frank Turner - Be More Kind
This troubadour has done what he's always done, taken on this world with a guitar and a smile. The politics of the day are obviously top of mind for Frank but he doesn't want his audience to be held back by it as he encourages, Be More Kind. 

Top Ten 2017 - Year in Review

1. Lorde – Melodrama

I didn’t see this one coming. Sure, I heard her debut because it was everywhere and I kinda liked it but before Melodrama I wouldn’t have called myself a fan. With this piece of pop perfection that has certainly changed. Intimate yet playful, and uniquely funny, it hits its marks from front to back.

2. Leif Vollebekk – Twin Solitude

I read that Leif made this album as one that he would like to listen to himself. Well get me this guy’s record collection because his ear for stripped back folk is spot on. Not to mention that beautiful and sometimes delicate voice delivering lyrics to the heart via the ears.

3. War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding

The production value on this record is worth a million bitcoins. Although the composition must have been pored over for ages it doesn’t feel like it, it just plays exactly the way it should. I don’t know anything about composing, playing, singing or producing music but I like to think that I know what it sounds like when masters of these arts are at work.

4. Future Islands – The Far Field

Yes, I’m now fully on board with the band that everyone should have known tens of records ago. Discussing their discography is not my objective here though, it is to say that this is the album that caught my ear and compelled me to spin it over and over again.

5. St.Vincent – MASSEDUCATION

Another artist that I’ve known and respected only from the second deck until this album. There’s the guitar work that she’s made her name on but there’s also evocative lyrics and varied songwriting that is all top quality. MASSEDUCTION brings me down to the front row.

6. Idles - Brutalism

Whether their swagger is legitimate or for show(s) is irrelevant as the music they put down on tape roars (and that is not a knock on their incendiary live gigs). It rocks those earworms right into your skull. Extra points for the current, cutting, politically-forward lyrics that give this record another imperial tonne of weight.

7. Run The Jewels – RTJ3

El-P and Killer Mike have each been at it a long time and now on their third album collectively they may have hit their sweet spot. El’s beats are as razor sharp as ever while the lyrics hold their edge too, even during those times when it feels like you’re eavesdropping on a couple of bros ribbing each other.

8. Weaves – Wide Open

Weaves are making some of the most interesting music anywhere these days. Yet it’s not completely out there, "WTF-is-that?" kinda music; it’s immediate and relatable, truly engrossing. I can’t even form the sentences to describe it, you’d be much better served listening to it yourself.

9. Japandroids – Nearer to the Wild Heart of Life

Sure, I may have a soft spot for these two but I do think this album hit it right. They’ve evolved their game and if it has a few more “ballads” and the odd sentimental lyric, as opposed to reckless abandon and nostalgia, this comes as a sign of maturity. Japandroids are yearning less for younger us and appreciating the now, and it still resonates.

10. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

I could not get the hype. Each time I put on M.A.A.D City or Pimp a Butterfly it would get turned off before long without leaving much of an impression on me at all. Then DAMN. dropped and all things changed. Die-hards may hear this as a turn to the mainstream and, if so, it has worked because it converted this non-believer.

11. Broken Social Scene – Hug Of Thunder

BSS have their sound and they are masters of it. Polished, bombastic tracks that soar with male/female vocalists and ratcheted up brass. It works, it’s good - very, very good - and just because this album follows the sound does not make it derivative or repetitive. The addition of Ariel on vocals helps to breathe a fresh voice here too. I’d be remiss not to shoehorn it in here, especially with that closing song. 

Long-List Considerations

Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life

LCD Soundsystem – American Dream

Wolf Parade – Cry, Cry, Cry

Los Campesinos – Sick Scenes

The National – Sleep Well Beast

Sylvan Esso – What Now

Cloud Nothings – Life Without Sound

Jens Lekman – Life Will See You Now

Beck - Colours

Author’s Address

In the year of the #metoo movement many horrifying actions have come to light, where people of a privileged position manipulated that power, and it has been sickening to read. There are essays to be written on the merits of art versus artist but this will not be one. However, I will take this opportunity to add another voice as a supporter of those who were taken advantage of and to consciously choose not to glorify the perpetrators nor their work. 

Top Ten 2015 - Year in Review

I've always got an excuse for why my musical consumption wasn't as high as it should have been - this time it was a move to the UK at the end of the summer and no real internet connection since then to listen to a lot of new stuff. Regardless I present the best of what I did hear.

Albums/EPs

1. Young Fathers - White Men are Black Men Too
(Scotland)
Shame rattled in my head from the first play and I just had to seek out the artist. It was bold, unique and came with energy in spades. Sure enough the rest of the album lived up to this introduction and I couldn’t get enough. They seem so unique in their swagger – the closest I could liken is an unhinged TV on the Radio. All the ideas seemed to have been tossed in the pot in the studio and only briefly stirred such that there’s a frenetic rawness that makes it exciting time after time. It was stunning to me that this was not their debut, as it just seems so fresh and new, like adolescents bursting with creativity.

2. Purity Ring - Another Eternity
(Edmonton)
I’ll be honest – I thought that Purity Ring’s last album, Shrines, which nearly landed here in 2012 was lightning in a bottle, not to be repeated. How happy I was to be wrong when Another Eternity proved to not just match but be a step up from this Edmonton crew. Doing electro pop the way it is meant to be this is Canada’s answer to Chvrches and frankly this is better.

3. Hayden - Hey Love
(Toronto)
From the Massey Hall preview that he delivered of a few Hey Love songs (particularly No Happy Birthday with it’s introduction/explanation) it was clear that Hayden wasn’t resting on his laurels. Often singer-songwriters of his ilk will pen a couple great albums early on that will keep people coming back to see them looking for the classics. Not here, not Hayden. He has pushed the envelope with this excellent effort, proving his often introspective songwriting continues to be on point. In terms of pure music he has made a wonderful album, refusing to clutter he manages to stick to the basics but make them sound oh-so-good; an album that continues to give on repeat visits.

4. Allie X - COLLXTION 1 [EP]
(Toronto/LA)
This may not quite be an album at just seven songs and under thirty minutes but regardless it’s going right here on this list (because it’s my list and I do what I want.) I knew her best from her role as vocalist in Dwayne Gretzky (Toronto’s premier cover band) so this incarnation was foreign, strange and amazing because of it. The first tease I had was a live Hillside Festival set where she wore glasses and tights and although slightly hesitant in this popstar incarnation the promise was there. Next was that (still) weird video for Catch and finally this EP which delivers on the anticipation. Pure pop done right - her voice is strong and dynamic, her music catchy and the production slick. Like Diamond Rings before her hopefully the pop god(dess) schtick will take off!

5. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell
(USA)
Carrie and Lowell at first disappointed me, so how did it get onto my top ten? Admittedly I was looking for another Age of Adz which I loved dearly and each of the first seven times I played this it just wasn’t. I even shelved the album for awhile, returning to it on rare occasion when I was feeling mellow. However by perhaps the twelfth time (maybe the time I awoke on a plane to the magic of Blue Buckets of Gold) I began to get it. I’d think “this is actually a really great song” and then the same two tracks later. Before long I would hear a snippet and would crave the rest. So not even a slow burn – more of a roasting, cooling-off period, and now a high temperature broil. It may not be the way to make potatoes but it landed this album right here.

6. Coeur de Pirate - Roses
(Montreal/Paris)
Beatrice came out with a confident pop album, unleashing herself in a big way. Previously her musical profile was primarily ‘lovely Francophone piano chanteuse' but she has blown the doors off of that. Not only is half of the album in english but the tracks have fuller arrangements that boldly embrace the pop realm and thrive because of it. Although her previous releases, including Trauma a disc of english cover songs, were great it seems that this incarnation is what that standout voice was destined for.

7. Peaches - Rub
(Toronto)
Bitch rub! This is the first time that I gave Peaches a chance and have been rewarded. Perhaps I’d written her off as an attention-seeking shock artist which, to be fair, she may be to some degree. But she’s not just that – underneath the onslaught of vulgar language and the graphic X-rated content there are some grimy beats and serious hooks. Refraining from re-recording your voicemail greeting to “can’t talk right now, this chick’s dick is in my mouth” is an ongoing struggle. She challenges everything here and does so in a way that gets tunes jammed deep inside your skull. Killer album that’s going to make me delve into the back catalogue and see what I’ve been missing.

8. Tobias Jesso Jr. - Goon
(Vancouver)
Late to the party on this one – it was all the press after Adele’s release which he co-wrote on that prompted me to finally put this on. Was I happy that I did! Otherwise I’d have missed out on a quiet but strong album full of feelings and keys. Apparently he taught himself the piano for this record out of necessity having left his guitar on the other side of the continent. It would appear that this junior could write a tune with a cereal box and some dental floss. Beautiful, really.

9. Burning Hell - Don't Believe the Hyperreal
(Canada..)
Here Matthias brings his quirky songwriting to the fore in this instrumentally sparse duet album. Along with his partner, Ariel Sharrat, they sing some of the funniest and most charming songs to come out this year. Particularly amusing is the recounting of their first ever meeting in Fuck the Government, I Love You (even the titles are top notch). It may be short but front to back these are catchy and lovely songs. Let me paraphrase a lyric to summarize what you may be thinking: “love songs are dumb… oh yeah? wait til you hear these ones!”

10. Django Django - Born Under Saturn
(UK)
Altogether catchy. This is my upbeat, slightly quirky, indie pop record entry for the year (see Dodos, Vampire Weekend etc.) These United Kingdom fellas jangle and rock with hooks galore. Sure, by the end of thirteen tracks you may have figured out the formula but that doesn’t stop you from putting it back on two days later.

Other Considerations

Evening Hymns - Quiet Energies
(Ontario)
A very good album perhaps hampered only by my lofty expectations for Jonas. The amplification over previous works – more drums and less ambient swirlings – move him away from the signature sound I adore him for. Not that this is bad by any stretch.

Chilly Gonzales - Chambers
(Canada/Germany)
This album with the Kaiser Quartet is an excellent work that I listen to often. Honestly though, I really enjoy Chilly’s rapping and am disappointed that it’s instrumental (besides Myth Me.)

Grimes - Art Angels
(Vancouver)
"Has Grimes given up her grime and simply gone pop?" I wondered about a few of these tracks on first play (California in particular.)  But as the disc grows it becomes clear that Claire is still instilling her own vibe.

Les Jupes - Some Kind of Family
(Winnipeg)
This prairie band gets little love but they’re doing their thing so well. They’ve carved out a signature sound and press on with it which is by no means me complaining – quite the opposite, in fact.
[Update: Just read the announcement that the band has broken up]

Albert Hammond Jr. - Momentary Masters
(UK)
Knowing he had a gig coming up I decided to give this a spin and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it…and kept coming back to it. Well-written and catchy, it may not be the best release of the year but it’s worth listening to.

Wavves X Cloud Nothings - Wavves X Cloud Nothings
(USA)
Frankly Cloud Nothings can drum with anyone and I’m probably going to put it on the list.

Last Minute Shoutout

In the new year I discovered Loon Choir's Alway Golden and have been smitten with it leading me to the rest of the album All This and Everything Else which isn't half bad either (and nearly leading me to quit my job.)
(Ottawa)

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)

Top Music 2012 - Albums, Singles, EPs, Videos

The big reveal..

I've finally gotten around to sorting through my scraps of (digital) paper holding notes scrawled throughout the year as reminders of just which albums I was thoroughly digging in 2012. People have mused that it wasn't an overly strong year but looking within and beyond the Canadian borders there was no issue filling this out. (Mind you it was no 2011)

Without further ado

Albums

1. Evening Hymns - Spectral Dusk
2. Patrick Watson - Adventures in Your Own Backyard
3. Wintersleep - Hello Hum
4. Fun. - Some Nights [US]
5. Jens Lekman - I Know What Love Isn't [Sweden]
6. Cold Specks - I Predict a Graceful Expulsion
7. Brasstronaut - Mean Sun
8. Regina Spektor - What We Saw From the Cheap Seats [US]
9. The Strumbellas - My Father and the Hunter
10. How To Dress Well - Total Loss [US]

Other considerations

• Purity Ring - Shrines
• Japandroids - Celebration Rock
• Said the Whale - Little Mountain
• Phedre - Phedre
• AC Newman - Shut Down the Streets
• Jeremy Fisher - Mint Juleps
• Ben Folds Five - The Sound of the Life of the Mind [US]
• Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur
• Aidan Knight - Small Reveal (**didn't actually hear this until 2013..)

   *Canadian except where indicated

EPs

There were a couple notable EPs released this year as well. Let's make a new category.

• Shad - Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness
• The 1975 - Facedown EP, Sex EP [UK]

Singles of the Year

1. Luke Lalonde - Undone
2. Alt-J - Tessellate [UK]
3. Phedre - In Decay
4. Ben Folds Five - Do It Anyway [US]
5. Sunparlour Players - Shake and Bake for Goodness Sake
6. Two Hours Traffic - Amour than Amis

Video Singles

(Song and Message too!)

• Same Love - Macklemore

Late 2011 Find

As much as I wanted to dislike Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino's musical offerings it was pretty easy to dismiss his I am Just a Rapper mixtapes but Camp could not be ignored and I just had to listen to it. Candid lyrics with a smart wit and quick wordplay, it is a mostly fun and revealing hip hop album.

• Childish Gambino - Camp [US]

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