End of 2009 Suggestions

Starting today, I want to compile a list of albums,songs and music videos of 2009.
At this time mostly the albums coming out now are either Greatest Hits or Christmas tunes.

So far I have five in my list that came out in 2009.
Decided who is my number 1 slot.
I would like to have some input.
So please make a comment and tell me who I should put on the year end list for 2009.
Maybe in time send me a CD in the mail.
Good or bad, it will be interesting to find out.
I should do one for myself and do one for fans (don’t know how I will pull that off, so someone help me with that!).
On December 31st, I will make a page for the year that was 2009 in music.
For now I made a poll for the albums you think was the best in 2009.
Also you can do repeat voting too.

Young Galaxy – Invisible Republic (Review)

This album sort of quietly came out on August 25, 2009.
I just have to make this review of Young Galaxy’s sophomore album “Invisible Republic”.
First time knowing this band was back in March where they opened up for Malajube.
I was not familiar with their first album which I was told had a dreamy pop sound.
Listening to this album, it is more a pop rock alternative driven album.
Parts on the album does sound very 1980s new wave sound too.
When I saw them live, they mostly sang new material.
Favorite was them singing Firestruck live.
I can’t stop listening to this album.
Catherine McCandless is very dominant in this album.
Stephen Ramsay mostly sings in Light Years, Dreams and parts of Destroyer.

We have epic ballads in Light Years and Firestruck (My favorite in the album).
Overall I really enjoyed this album.
Catchy and have this feeling of this 1980s Poppy Rock British sound.
Great indie pop album for 2009.

Best tracks:

• Long Live The Fallen World
• Oh Sister
• Destroyer
• Pathos
• Light Years
• Queen Drums
• Firestruck

Here is a interview I did with Catherine back in September

The band will be in Ottawa on November 7th at Zaphods.
So go see them!!

Halabisky’s Uprising – State Of Emergency (Review)

Today in the mail I got this CD from Dave Halabisky.
If you don’t know who him, he plays saxophone for the band Sadie Hell.

Here is the blurb from his Myspace:
“The no-nonsense debut album “State of Emergency” is the first album that Dave has made outside of a band setting and also marks his first efforts in engineering and mixing. Recorded in Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver and Stockholm between 2007 and 2009, “State of Emergency” features collaborations with Moka Only, Amalia Townsend, Atherton and Sadie Hell.”

This album is a mix of indie Nu-Jazz, hip-hop and experimental.
Surprised that Moka Only did a collaboration on the track More/Less.
Nice to hear a collaboration with Sadie Hell. Sounds different from what I’ve heard from Ben Welland’s vocals but its good to have something in studio format.
Loving the instrumental jazz tracks, feels like you are transported to a summery place.

Best track:

• Rebellion #1
• More/Less (feat. Moka Only)
• Hunting The Hunter
• State Of Emergency (feat. Amalia Townsend)
• Rogue MF
• Selfish (Would You Do It Again) [feat. Sadie Hell]
• Marching To The Tick Of A Bomb
• Bite Off Your Spine (Featuring Atherton)

Dizzee Rascal – Tongue ‘n’ Cheek (Review)

2009 has been a great year for British rapper/grimer Dizzee Rascal.
No David Guetta didn’t start the whole rap/hip-hop mix electronica movement of his collaboration with Akon’s Sexy Bitch (Sexy Chick for the radio mainstream).
Dizzee started that last year with his first number song Dance Wiv Me whom he collaborated with Calvin Harris.
Since going on his own and making a label called Dirtee Skank.
It shows that he can make whatever music he pleases to do.
Interesting that he is mixed rapping with electronica dance for example Bonkers.
This album is very radio accessible.
Also this album is very dancey and enjoyable with the electronic beats mixed with the rapping.
Lots of f-bombs being dropped but what can you do.
This album contains so far three UK #1 hits: Bonkers, Dance Wiv Me and Holiday (Not a Madonna cover).
Best Tracks:

• Bonkers
• Road Rage
• Dance Wiv Me
• Can’t Tek No More
• Dirtee Cash
• Holiday
• Bad Behaviour

The Antlers – Hospice (Review)

The Antlers album Hospice has been getting some positive buzz.
Thanks to Melody Lamb for recommending me this album and happy that I got it signed by the band members.
This is one most intriguing album of 2009.
Would have expected this album be like the typical indie alternative rock album.
But it isn’t, this album is very conceptual hence the album title.
Its listening to this person’s journey through hospital having to battle between life and death.
Parts of the album is very spacious and parts is very indie folk/rock.
Its like a mix of Sigur Ros [during their ( ) era with the long instrumentation], The Dodos *being on the same label Frenchkiss Records* and Patrick Watson.
The vocals of Peter Silberman is so haunting.
This has to be one of the best albums of 2009 and will be on people’s Top 10 list of 2009.
Best tracks:

• Kettering
• Sylvia
• Atrophy
• Bear
• Thirteen
• Two
• Awake

Two by The Antlers

The Antlers live in Toronto

Octoberman – Fortresses (Review)

There has been sort of a buzz with Octoberman’s album Fortresses.
Considering the song “Trapped In A New Scene” was iTunes Free single of the week.
The cool glossy music video for Thirty Reasons.
All I can say is maybe Octoberman could be the bread and butter/saviour for White Whale Records.
Or I could be wrong with that statement.
Enough with that and on to the record.

This album is sort of a departure from what we are used to with Octoberman.
Gone is the sad mellow acoustic feeling from tracks like Run From Safety, Breath Of Sunshine, Laguardia and X-Pat.
More of a upbeat rocking feel with some parts folksy.
Tracks like I Know A Nurse is very epic wise.
To have short catchy folky tracks to Thirty Reason which reminds me of Basia Bulat’s Before I Knew.
Scenester being the one track that sounds very different and experimental rock wise.
Surprised there is alot of Ottawa connections on this album.
With Sarah Hallman singing on The Backlash, I Know A Nurse and Temptation Is A Bloody Mess
Jonathan Pearce of Poorfolk and The Soirée doing some “gang” vocal.
Produced by Dave Draves and recorded in Little Bullhorn studios in Ottawa.
This is a really great album, sound production is bigger than the last record.
Best tracks:

• The Backlash
• Dancing With Your Ghost
• I Know A Nurse
• Thirty Reason
• SI
• Scenesters
• Another Trial

Thanks to Marc Morissette to send me the digital copy of this album.

Music video for Thirty Reason

Music video for Trapped In A Scene

Album Picks #3

This is like my post withdrawal of Pop Montreal.
Here is my album picks for this week.

Little Girls – Concepts (Review)

Hearing some buzz with this band from Toronto called Little Girls.
This band consist of two members:
Josh McIntyre and Anthony Gerace.
Their full-length debut on Paper Bag Records won’t be out until October 13th and I got sneak peek on what they sound like.
Their music is instrumental minimalist/post-punk and abit of new wave.
They remind me of the band Women (who I adore) but more of the noise, distortion and less vocals.
I like the synth beats to Youth Tunes, Concepts and Thrills.
Some parts in the album does have the dark eerie creepy sound.
While some parts has that late 80s-early 90s nostalgic guitar riffing sound.
Overall its a totally different unique sound for those that love post-punk music.
Go on a whim and say this album has a conceptual story of the bustling city of Toronto.
All eleven tracks range around the 2-3 minute mark.
Favorite tracks:

• Youth Tunes
• Tambourine
• Concepts
• Imaginary Friends
• Thrills
• Departure
• Last Call
• Growing

Here is a interview I did with the band on September 25th

Basia Bulat’s Heart Of My Own: News

Photo from Secret City Records.

Thanks to Chromewaves with this news he got straight from Exclaim.ca
Totally excited for the new Basia Bulat album which is a follow-up to Oh My Darling(Review). Which comes out on January 26, 2010.
What also is great to hear is that she is signed to Secret City Records who is home to Plants and Animals, Patrick Watson and Miracle Fortress.
I’m very excited for this album.
I’ve heard so far five of the tracks which she has sung live.
I wish Hush or My Heart Is A Warning (Mostly a charity track for Bellwoods 2)made it on the list but I guess it might be a b-side or something.

When I talked to Basia when she played at Ottawa’s Mavericks back in July.
I had to ask her what we can expect on the new album.
I said will we expect happy, sad, dramatic, crazy, emotional, energetic?
Basia said it will have everything.
I can’t wait for the new album.

Here are the tracklisting for the new album:

Heart of My Own:

1. “Go On”
2. “Run”
3. “Sugar and Spice”
4. “Gold Rush”

5. “Heart of My Own”
6. “Sparrow”
7. “If Only You”
8. “I’m Forgetting Everyone”
9. “The Shore”
10. “Once More, For the Dollhouse”
11. “Walk You Down”
12. “If It Rains”

Modern Boys Modern Girls – I Might As Well Break It (Review)

Modern Boys Modern Girls released their *sort of* debut album on September 15th. Apparently its a reworking from the same title but different tracking.
I wouldn’t know because this is my first time listening this album.
Members consist of:

• Akira Alemany
• Brett Millius
• Juan Carlos Rivas

Seen them live once and I totally had a great time.
This album has that retro rocking with that indie alternative garage sound.
I noticed that some of the tracks in this album has repetitive lyrics which makes it easier for myself if I want to sing along.
Album is not just all rock and roll, there are slower tracks in A Hammond Organ Singing and In Another Year.
I forgot that CBC Radio 3 played “My Baby Says Boy, Don’t You Ever Go” which reminded me why that song sounds familiar.
Going a whim on that this album has a conceptual theme of a 1950s movie where bad boy meets nice girls and the drama that revolves around them.
A great album, catchy rocking tunes and I totally wasn’t disappointed.

Favorite tracks:

• Missmybabygirl
• Stay Under
• My Baby Says Boy, Don’t You Ever Go
• A Hammond Organ Singing
• I Can Hardly Stand
• Happily Steady (My favorite)
• On The Line
• Spiral & Smoke (Very epic)