Jan
7
Top albums of 2009
12:27 pm | 1 Comment
When I consider the year in music, my thoughts turn more to singles than albums, possibly because I’ve spent quite a bit of time foraging for songs that will make people go nuts on the dance floor in 2009. Nevertheless, I remain committed to the album as the primary vehicle for musical expression, and in 2009 there were plenty of good ones.
Here, then, are my personal picks for the 10 best albums of 2009, limited simply by what showed up on my radar this year. The usual disclaimer applies: If there is a terrific album I didn’t hear (such as, perhaps, Florence and the Machine’s Lungs or St. Vincent’s Actor), or became aware of too late to form a real opinion (as in the case of the debut from Them Crooked Vultures and The Thermals’ Now We Can See), it’s not on the list. Also, a few 2008 releases were in high rotation for me in 2009, like The Gaslight Anthem’s The ‘59 Sound. But please alert me to any blind spots, because I am nothing if not a sponge for great music.
10. Metric — Fantasies
A bit of a return to form for Metric after the inconsistent Live It Out from 2005, Fantasies was nominated for the 2009 Polaris Prize. Nothing complicated about the album, but it can be relied upon for steady rock with a slight snarl from Emily Haines. Key tracks: “Help I’m Alive,” “Sick Muse,” “Gimme Sympathy”
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs — It’s Blitz!
A triumphant third album for the Karen O-led rockers, who demonstrated plenty of swagger and added electro-pop elements to their sound with resounding success. Also worth noting is how they filled in for the Beastie Boys at this summer’s Lollapalooza festival and practically stole the show. Key tracks: “Zero,” “Dull Life,” “Heads Will Roll”
8. Wilco — Wilco (The Album)
I will freely acknowledge that I am comfortably living in my Wilco years, a period in which everything Jeff Tweedy says, does or thinks speaks directly to my personal experience. Still, it’s reassuring that this record reintroduces the listener to the band’s sense of humour and whimsy. In showcasing the many sides of Wilco in 2009 (The Song, The Album, The Tour, even The Tote), Tweedy and company let their hair down in a way that wasn’t immediately apparent on 2007’s Sky Blue Sky. Even a tender duet with Feist, “You and I,” is a ballad with a lighter side. Key tracks: “Wilco (The Song),” “You and I,” “I’ll Fight”
7. M. Ward — Hold Time
Wise enough to recognize a partnership that hits the right notes, the man they call M. recruited Zooey Deschanel (the two of them released a standout album as She & Him in 2008) to add backing vocals to a couple of the tracks on this record (including “Rave On“). The tone they set is evocative of a sunny, warm and rich roots recording from the ’60s. That Ward is able to up the ante with textured instrumentation and production throughout Hold Time makes it an absolute delight. Key tracks: “For Beginners,” “Never Had Nobody Like You,” “Stars of Leo”
6. Jon-Rae Fletcher — Oh Maria
Oh Maria is a journey into the deepest part of the soul of Jon-Rae Fletcher, a Kelowna, B.C., native whose career has taken him to Toronto with gospel-tinged country act The River and back to B.C., where this album was born. Fletcher explores themes of love, loss and belonging using a deep and soulful singing voice and a desperately dark point of view, accompanied by a stripped-down band accented by a single trombone. Key tracks: “Maria,” “Downtown,” “Oh, Maria” (No YouTube videos of these songs, but here’s one from a recent performance in Victoria)
5. K’naan — Troubadour
Canadian by way of Somalia, rapper K’naan bared all by telling his story through Troubadour, a 14-song statement record that was short-listed for the Polaris Prize. Anecdotes about his homeland and direct references to the immigrant experience simply sparkle with the rhymes and lyrics of a poet, but K’naan also possesses an obvious passion for party music. With a song about relying on Western Union and one that was chosen as a theme song for the 2010 soccer World Cup, it’s as well-rounded an album as you’ll hear from all of 2009. Key tracks: “Bang Bang,” “Dreamer,” “Wavin’ Flag”
4. The xx — xx
It’s fair to call this an unspectacular debut album, until you really listen to it. Then it strikes a nerve with a direct hit. The rather plain girl-guy vocals become intense whispers aimed at the heart. The picked-guitar and bass dance together in a minimalist’s haunted, sensual dream. And overall, the writing and production make this feel not like a debut, but a return to form. And they’re all 20 years old. Key tracks: “Crystalized,” “Islands,” “Shelter”
3. Animal Collective — Merriweather Post Pavilion
Who would have believed at the start of their career that Animal Collective would chart in the Billboard top 20 in 2009? Certainly not many. But Merriweather Post Pavilion is the kind of album that created a lot of surprises. It features restless pop melodies packed tightly within a wrapping of samples and synth loops that sound as fantastic in earbuds as on the dancefloor. Trance-like vocals and tribal rhythms come standard, of course. Key tracks: “My Girls,” “Summertime Clothes,” “Bluish”
2. Gentleman Reg — Jet Black
It’s time now to expose the robbery of the year: Jet Black was not even long-listed for the Polaris Prize this year, even though it would be my pick for the winner. Gentleman Reg’s trademark is rock with an easy groove and the best falsetto you’ve ever heard. Jet Black is full of gems, from singalong straight-ahead rockers to aching ballads. There’s even one of the year’s best dancefloor anthems in “We’re In A Thunderstorm.” Key tracks: “You Can’t Get It Back,” “How We Exit,” “We’re In A Thunderstorm”
1. Miike Snow — Miike Snow
Another debut album cracks the top ten, and this time it was untouchable. Miike Snow will make you want to get on the dancefloor immediately, grabbing hold with an active rhythm section and seizing control with the strong tenor of singer Andrew Wyatt. But the real strength is in the songwriting, which makes sense: two of the trio’s members wrote the popular Britney Spears track “Toxic”. I dare you to resist the groove on this ultimately satisfying album. Key tracks: “Animal,” “Cult Logic,” “A Horse Is Not A Home”
Honourable Mentions: Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest, Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Parlour Steps’ The Hidden Names, Dark Was the Night (a compilation), White Rabbits’ It’s Frightening, Monsters of Folk’s self-titled album, Camera Obscura’s My Maudlin Career, Viva Vocce’s Rose City, Mos Def’s The Ecstatic
Aug
12
50 Bands I’ve Seen Live
11:35 pm | Leave a Comment
I’m stealing this Facebook meme for use on my blog, which will export it to Facebook as a note, and to Twitter…. whoa, meta…
OK, here are the rules. Test your memory and your love of live music by listing 50 artists or bands (or as many as you can remember) you’ve seen in concert. List the first 50 acts that come into your head. An act you saw at a festival and opening acts count, but only if you can’t think of 50 other artists. Oh, and list the first concert you ever saw (you can remember that, can’t you)?
Should you choose this challenge, here’s what you do: Copy my note. Click on “notes” under tabs on your profile page. Select “write a new note” in the top corner. Paste the copy in the body of the note. Make your list. Change the number at the top, and add your title. Once you’ve saved, don’t forget to tag friends (including me) on the right.
1. Beirut
2. The New Pornographers
3. The Weakerthans
4. Constantines
5. Regina Spektor
6. Modest Mouse
7. Death Cab For Cutie
8. Wilco
9. My Morning Jacket
10. Blue Rodeo
11. Matthew Good Band
12. The Grapes of Wrath (first show)
13. Of Montreal
14. The Rural Alberta Advantage
15. Tori Amos
16. Barenaked Ladies
17. Rheostatics
18. Sunshine State
19. Parlour Steps
20. Mark Berube
21. Iron & Wine
22. Forget Your Face
23. Reel Big Fish
24. Goldfinger
25. Joel Plaskett Emergency
26. Frightened Rabbit
27. Nathan Lawr
28. Jane’s Addiction
29. Wolf Parade
30. The Arcade Fire
31. Weezer
32. Radiohead
33. The Tragically Hip
34. Smashing Pumpkins
35. Sloan
36. Chemical Brothers
37. Oasis
38. Metallica
39. The Odds
40. Shout Out Out Out Out
41. Champion
42. Hamilton Trading Co.
43. Laura Barrett
44. Bon Iver
45. The Shout Out Louds
46. Tilly and The Wall
47. Henri Faberge and The Adorables
48. The Bicycles
49. The Blow
50. Big Sugar
(Easier than I was afraid it would be, but it took a bit of time. I had to remember who I’d seen somewhere other than a festival!)
Jul
7
Mason’s wish list for the Raptors
9:12 am | 1 Comment
With Hedo Turkoglu coming to Toronto for the upcoming season, the Raptors are expected to have a potent starting five, but not a lot of depth coming off the bench. To make matters worse, they don’t have much money to play with due to the NBA’s salary cap rules, which require something close to membership in Mensa to figure out. Here’s a list of free agents I’ve been looking at who could come cheap and could be available as the summer continues:
- Desmond Mason, SF: Good defender who can pass the ball, and distribution will be key to the Raps’ offence.
- Ike Diogu, PF: Rebounds well and a deceptively good scorer if given minutes.
- Jamaal Magloire, C: Local boy has lost at least two steps and won’t play all that well defensively, but he’d play for cheap and would provide five fouls off the bench as a ninth or 10th man.
- Dahntay Jones, SG: Fills the need for a two guard who can play a lot of minutes while top draft pick DeMar DeRozan hones his skills at the position. As an added bonus, he’s a defensive specialist on a team with no stoppers on the perimeter. Played for less than a million last season.
I have no idea how many, if any, of these guys we could afford or would be interested in signing, especially since GM Bryan Colangelo appears to still be wheeling and dealing. There could be value in any of them, however, especially on the defensive end.
Feb
3
Today we’ve got a double-shot of music happenings on propeller: a new episode of the Hiptarded podcast and a reminder to mark Feb. 28 on your calendar for a night of celebration as the Dueling Deejays collective turns two years old.
First, the podcast. Last month, Jehan and I took the train to Montreal and used the opportunity to record our review of the year in music. Listen in to Hiptarded #5 (right-click to download mp3), featuring songs from: The Rural Alberta Advantage, The Ting Tings, The Black Ghosts, MGMT, Born Ruffians and Bon Iver. The podcast clocks in at about 39 minutes, perfect for your daily commute or your weekly turn to do the dishes.
Then, join us for an old-fashioned dance party at a new venue! We’ve pulled together as many of the Dueling Deejays who have appeared over the past two years as possible for a very special night on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Teranga Afrobar in Kensington Market, Toronto. Teranga features a kickin’ sound system and a well-trodden dancefloor. All the details are on the accompanying flyer, and at the Dueling Deejays homepage.
See you on the 28th, and enjoy the ‘cast!
Jan
27
For some reason I was far more motivated to work on my list of favourite songs from last year, so here are my picks for best albums of 2008 — in list form alone, no comments:
10. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
9. Why? Alopecia
8. The Mountain Goats Heretic Pride
7. The Rural Alberta Advantage Hometowns
6. The Black Ghosts The Black Ghosts
5. Frightened Rabbit The Midnight Organ Fight
4. Mates of State Re-arrange Us
3. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago
2. Born Ruffians Red, Yellow & Blue
1. Girl Talk Feed the Animals (for its incredible melding of decades of pop music in one innovative, rewarding package. A real step up from Night Ripper in intensity and danceability)
Honourable mentions: MGMT (Oracular Spectacular), TV on the Radio (Dear Science), The Ting Tings (We Started Nothing), The Walkmen (You & Me), Constantines (Kensington Heights), Cut Copy (In Ghost Colours)
Dec
26
50 favourite songs of 2008
2:17 am | 3 Comments
I’ve decided to do two lists this year: one of my favourite songs of 2008 and one of my top albums. This year, there were a number of great albums that didn’t have one standout track, or, as in the case of Girl Talk, if I took any one track out of its context it would diminish what’s good about the music.
I’m not going to go as far as saying that these songs are the best of the year, because as I scan other people’s lists I’m already finding terrific stuff I missed out on. However, I can say with certainty that these are the 50 songs from ‘08 that gave me goosebumps, made me want to dance or lodged themselves in my head more than any others.
50. Willow Tree by Chad VanGaalen
49. Another Day by Jamie Lidell: Thank you, Jamie, for taking over the role of modern soul champ from Ben Harper, who went off the rails some time ago.
47. I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab For Cutie
46. Viva La Vida by Coldplay: They’ve become a contemptible band, and the vocal melody is accused of being stolen from Ted Nugent, of all people, but still the song is undeniably appealing.
45. Bats Over the Pacific Ocean by Jaguar Love: Released on a Matador Records sampler in March, prior to the band’s summertime debut. Love the intensity and driving beat. And yes, that singer is a guy (Johnny Whitney, formerly of the Blood Brothers).
44. Rich Girls by The Virgins: Pretty much on this list just for the disco-tastic bassline.
43. Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? by She & Him: Sure she sang sweetly in the holiday movie Elf, but who knew Zooey Deschanel had pipes like that? M. Ward is in the band, too.
42. Silence by Portishead: A triumphant return suitable for dark times.
41. Bruises by Chairlift: I hope you’ve listened to this song enough times to disassociate it from the iPod commercial, because it really is a breezy pop gem.
40. Sex On Fire by Kings of Leon
39. Stay Positive by The Hold Steady
38. Mansard Roof by Vampire Weekend: Since the album’s best track, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, became an instant hit in 2007, ahead of the LP’s release, the excellent Mansard Roof will have to represent.
37. Hit the Wall by Brendan Canning: Broken Social Scene never really went away; they just started releasing albums under individuals’ names. Thankfully, the great songs have a way of emerging.
36. In the Night by The I Spies: Listen carefully to the guitar line in the chorus. If the next Girl Talk album could somehow incorporate that, it would surely blow my mind.
(Can’t find it on Seeqpod, but it’s a free download here from Last.fm)
35. You Belong by Hercules and Love Affair
34. The Grey Estates by Wolf Parade
33. Foxes Mate For Life by Born Ruffians: Can’t say enough about this fantastic Toronto band’s first album. This one is in an odd time signature (either 5/8 or 10/8, or something even more complicated), but even beyond that delightful timekeeping challenge it’s a great song.
32. The Sound by Human Highway: Jim Guthrie and Nick Thorburn of Islands join forces for something I might be tempted to call “acoustic-groovy.” But I won’t.
30. The Hollows by Why?: Strange, strange lyrics from the mind of Yoni Wolf, backed by indie rock with a hip-hop sensibility.
29. Evil Urges by My Morning Jacket: Only really becomes an elite song after about the 3:03 mark.
28. Get Better by Mates of State
27. Ready For the Floor by Hot Chip: Feels like it’s been a staple of my dance playlists for years.
26. The Old Price Still Lives At Home by Shad: Great by itself, but best experienced by watching the Fresh-Prince-parodying video.
25. Barack Obama by Cocoa Tea: A reggae veteran’s homage to that guy everyone likes.
24. Hott 2 Deff by Lyrics Born
23. Man in the Mirror by Rhymefest: Not a cover, but the title track from the Chicago emcee’s Michael Jackson tribute album. With an assist to golden-touch producer Mark Ronson.
22. Heretic Pride by The Mountain Goats: Upbeat song with chilling lyrics
21. This Gift by Sons and Daughters: Gotta love the call-and-response “ah-ooohs”.
20. Tessellate by Tokyo Police Club
19. That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings: First of two faves from the British duo. Also worth noting: Dizzee Rascal does a great cover of this track, twisting the lyrics just so.
18. Right Hand On My Heart by The Whigs
17. The Twist by Frightened Rabbit
16. Hearts On Fire by Cut Copy
15. Anyway You Choose to Give It by The Black Ghosts: Sets itself apart from other dance-pop tracks released this year because the singer can really sing and the songwriting is thoughtful and not quite as derivitive as something like Hearts On Fire (which I love, but you know, it sounds like it could have been released in 1984).
14. Kids by MGMT: Having brought up the 80s influence in dance music this year, I may as well stick with the theme. MGMT was better than anyone this year at packaging that synth-based sound with clever lyrics and hooks the captain would be proud of. Example #1 is here.
13. I Will Not Sing A Hateful Song by Constantines
12. Moab by Conor Oberst: It’s almost a guarantee that the driving force behind Bright Eyes will release at least one song every year that I adore.
(Sorry, couldn’t find it on Seeqpod)
11. Many Shades of Black by The Raconteurs: Just a great singalong torch song in which Brendan Benson channels the spirit of Freddie Mercury.
10. Great DJ by The Ting Tings: The drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums.
9. Don’t Haunt This Place by The Rural Alberta Advantage: Toronto trio’s melancholy pop classic with the sweetest harmonies. And dare I say the drums, the drums, the drums….
8. Creeper by Islands: I knew a lot about Islands before this song, but I didn’t know that nobody writes a spooky, catchy, four-on-the-floor rock-disco anthem like Nick Thorburn.
7. White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes: They sing nice.
6. The Modern Leper by Frightened Rabbit: All of Scotland should take a bow for this one (especially the mandolin player).
5. See These Bones by Nada Surf: The year’s best buildup song, with overlapping vocal lines in the rock-out climax that nearly leave you blessedly exhausted by the end of it.
4. Time to Pretend by MGMT: Yes, I fell under the spell of this mesmerizing dance number. Really says 2008 for me, which might make it a song I never listen to in the 10s.
3. I Need A Life by Born Ruffians: Has all the elements that make Born Ruffians great: jingly-jangly guitars, call-and-response vocals and urgent but bending-not-breaking drums.
2. American Boy by Estelle (featuring Kanye West): Every element of this track is like candy for the ears, from Estelle’s accent to the dirty-synth chorus to the ridiculous rap riffing off British slang. Never got old, never stopped killing it on the dancefloor.
1. Skinny Love by Bon Iver: This one’s from the tortured soul department, and boy does it hit the spot. Justin Vernon has the ideal falsetto for wailing in the verses, and belts it out in his normal range in the chorus, to great effect. The messy fiddling on the acoustic guitar works, and the handclaps at the end let you know everything’s going to be alright.
Coming next week: Top 10 albums of 2008, according to me.
Dec
13
No Fit State
10:51 am | Leave a Comment
1. Put your iTunes/iPod/etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 5 or more friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got it from. (Facebook tags, that is)
1 ) IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY”, YOU SAY?
Who the Fuck are Arctic Monkeys? (Arctic Monkeys)
2 ) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Wishing Line (Spirit of the West)
3 ) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
To the Dogs or Whoever (Josh Ritter)
4 ) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
1 2 3 4 (Feist)
5 ) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
All Along the Watchtower (Dave Matthews Band)
6 ) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Coal Grey Sky (The Buttless Chaps)
7 ) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Gimme Some Salt (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah)
8 ) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Day Job (Sunshine State)
9 ) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
The Time is Now (Moloko)
10 ) WHAT IS 2+2?
What a Job (Devin the Dude)
11 ) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Valerie feat. Amy Winehouse (Mark Ronson)
12 ) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Man on the Moon (R.E.M.)
13 ) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Panic Attack (The Paddingtons)
14 ) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Early in the Morning (Plants and Animals)
15 ) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
I’ll Cry Instead (The Beatles)
16 ) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart feat. Kiki Dee (Elton John)
17 ) WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Jeumie (Yelle vs. Weezer [mashup])
18 ) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This (Eurythmics)
19 ) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Let’s Call It Off (Peter Bjorn and John)
20 ) WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Five to One (The Doors)
21 ) HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Girl (The Beatles)
22 ) WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
True Love Will Find You in the End (Daniel Johnston)
23 ) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Getaway Car (Aesop Rock)
24 ) WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Political (Spirit of the West)
25 ) WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Feel the Love (Cut Copy)
26 ) WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Riot Van (Arctic Monkeys)
27 ) DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Amongst Friends (Oxford Collapse)
28 ) IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Easy From Now On (Miranda Lambert)
29 ) WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Tonight I Have To Leave It (Shout Out Louds)
30 ) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
No Fit State (Hot Chip)
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