Favorites Mid Year

I haven't written nearly as much as I should this year and perhaps haven't listened to as many new albums as I'd like but that won't stop me from writing anything mid year. It's pretty funny as a lot of what I've been listening to is what I was listening to in 2003. Thursday, Yellowcard, Taking Back Sunday, Death Cab for Cutie, why it's 2003 all over again. I've been enjoying them quite a bit as well as some other stellar new discs so let's see what is good this year.

DOUG HOYER-WALKS WITH THE TENDER & GROWING NIGHT

Doug just dropped his new album last week but I've already played it numerous times. It's the catchy, witty pop music that I've known from Doug over the years but now in a crisp full length package. Check out this track off the disc with the delightful Jessica Jalbert and fall in love. I dare you not to.

CULTS-CULTS

For a band that's the first signed to Lilly Allen's new label, they definitely do sound like a band that is signed to her new label. But, that's not such a bad thing. This album is definite summer jams, and whenever I hear it I just want to be driving down some back roads with the windows down and these tunes blaring. Soft tunes with a hint of motown and old soul, check out their album stat.

THURSDAY- NO DEVOLUCION

Thursday will always be one of my favorites. My first trip ever to Vancouver was to see Thursday play with Minus the Bear as well as ISIS, but it was Thursday at the time I was most excited to see. I love the music, Geoff's vocals and lyrics, and with Common Existence their last effort they were looking very sharp indeed. This album though takes their music and drenches it in post-rock thanks to influences like Envy, and makes it one of their best yet. Constantly evolving, and no devolving.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE- CODES & KEYS

When I had heard that the new DCFC album would be a bit different, and would focus on synths, programming, even more keys, I was a bit excited. People were worried that it would be weird or completely different from what they knew, but since I love Postal Service so much, I wasn't too worried. This album from beginning to end is as good as Transatlanticism, and that is a fact. No duds, just great music being made, even if it's created differently from other DCFC. Great disc.

RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE- DEPARTING

First off, let me say that this is one of my favorite music videos in a very long time. It's ridiculously adorable and that's a fact. This album I've been waiting for, for quite some time it seems and it doesn't disappoint. The themes of love and the cold and all that Nils knows so well are conveyed brilliantly on this album, and the music writing overall is taken up a notch from Hometowns. Give this one a listen soon if you can.

MIRACLE FORTRESS- WAS I THE WAVE?

I've been a fan of Graham's tunes for some time now, but it's been a little while since he put anything out and I was worried that MF was over and done with. Then suddenly, Was I the wave? came out and I got excited all over again. Warm vocals blistered over synth-y numbers, this is another album that screams out summer jams. One of my favorites of the year and hopefully it'll become one of yours as well.

GIVERS- IN LIGHT

I saw Givers open for Ra Ra Riot earlier this year and fell in love. Their afro-percussion indie rock is super catchy and if you like your Vampire Weekend, BLCK JCKS or some Paul Simon then I think you will dig. The album beginning to end will put a smile on your face and it's been getting tons of play in the car whilst stuck in disgusting Vancouver traffic, so I would say definitely give it a chance, it's a gem that's for sure.

PAUL SIMON- SO BEAUTIFUL OR SO WHAT

Speaking of Simon, I'm completely in wondrous awe at his new album. That the man can still churn out some of the best music I've heard at this stage in his career is amazing to me. If you love Graceland, as really you should, then you need to check out this album. As I was saying with Givers, it's got a heavy afro-percussion vibe but his lyrics and voice are still tops in the music world I'd say. Add this to your collection immediately.

CHAD VANGAALEN- DIAPER ISLAND

While Diaper Island isn't too much of a departure from his last album, it seems more finely crafted and honed. The instrumentation seems far more elaborate and Chad's lyrics seem a bit more to the point and less imbued with wanderlust, even if upon casual listening that's what it seems. Great chill out disc though, and the new music video is Mr VanGaalen at his finest.

PASCALE PICARD- A LETTER TO NO ONE

This young girl from Quebec has one of my most favorite voices in Canadian music and this album is a pretty fantastic little number. While almost entirely in English, I'm not complaining. There's some really good songs here and they're quite catchy in general. I'm a big fan and this album continues to get more and more play in my iPod that's for sure.

EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY- TAKE CARE TAKE CARE TAKE CARE

Explosions always takes you on a musical journey, and this album does just that. Just listen to this song, and that's about all I need to say about them. Geniuses.

This Years Van Folk Fest

So the lineup has been fully revealed for this years Vancouver Folk Fest and i'm pretty excited about it. I went last year and while it was tons of fun, I had hopes that maybe they would add more Canadian acts, especially bigger indie acts (is there such a thing, bigger indie, anyways). Well the lineup is out and it's pretty solid I must say, especially thanks to having Joel Plaskett Emergency, Danny Michel, Elliott Brood, Buck 65, the Burning Hell, Jim Bryson & the weakerthans, as well as having some of my other favorites such as Josh Ritter and Justin Townes Earle. Even going through the list of acts there's quite a few other acts that I really want to see like Emily Wells and Graveyard Train. So really, you can't beat a weekend of hanging out at Jericho Beach, going to workshops, checking out all the little vendors and enjoying some fantastic fok and world music. Here's some sampling of some of the people I'm excited to see, enjoi!

Elliott Brood- Fingers and Tongues

Justin Townes Earle- Midnight at the Movies

Jim Bryson & the weakerthans- Freeways in the Frontyard

Joel Plaskett Emergency- Maybe We Should Just Go Home

Graveyard Train- Tall Shadow

Emily Wells- Passenger

Imaginary Cities- Where'd all the Living Go

the Duhks- Mists of Down Below

BUCK 65- Dang!

See ya there!

Sasquatch 2011

So the lineup is out now for this years Sasquatch, and, in general it's pretty good. Nothing too super crazy like I was hoping for, and maybe that was all dreaming large ( I guess if Daft Punk isn't playing Coach they won't play Sasq) but still it's all around pretty good I would say. Sadly though I reckon that myself and Amy won't be attending the whole weekend, as it's 4 days now and such, but I think we're going to be going to the Saturday of Sasquatch. And why is that you may ask, well let's just have a little rundown of the Saturday lineup.

Death Cab
Bright Eyes
Iron & Wine
Wolf Parade
Local Natives
Sleigh Bells
Thermals
CSS
Matt & Kim
Jenny & Johny
Bassnectar
Robyn
Pink Martini
K-Os
Antlers
Aloe BLacc
Wye Oak
J Mascis
Dan Mangan
Washed Out

and a few more.
Yeah, i'd say that's worth the 80 bucks to go down to the Gorge, so i'm pretty excited for that. So until then, i'll just post random videos for who i'm excited for. So let's start with something a bit random, that being, J MASCIS.

2010 Top Picks

1. Jonsi- Go
It's been along time I believe since I have become as obsessed with an album as I did this year when Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi but out his sophmore album (technically if you consider Jonsi and Alex's Riceboy as his first as most do). If I could choose one word to describe the album, it would be fantastical. The lush melodies and harmonies, Jonsi's falseto voice soaring and wavering, the organic feel of the instruments and the synthesizers, this is chamber pop at it's grandest. I have listened to this album hundreds and hundreds of times and feel I will never tire of it. Nothing short of amazing, definite top pick of the year easy.

2. Caribou- Swim
The new Caribou album came this year, and with it came high expectations for another marvelous piece of electro pop genius much in the same vein as Daniel Snaith's Polaris winning Andorra. Swim, did not disappoint in the least. From beginning to end the album ebbs and flows with electro and synth buzz, and sing-songy harmonies that tied the perfect thirty five minutes together into a piece of aural heaven. One of Canada's finest musicians and one of the best listens of the year.

3. Diamond Rings- Special Affections
I've been a fan of Ontario indie rockers the D'urbervilles for a couple years now and always look forward to hearing new tunes from them, but when I found out that singer John O'Regan was giving his solo project a push I figured I would give it a listen. I am most certainly glad that I did and I'm sure that at some point most of you have already caught the dance synth pop wonder that is Diamond Rings. This album became an instant hit in my iTunes after only one listen, as the beats hooked me in, but the baritoned glam voice of O'Regan which contrasts quite nicely with the music became a highlight. I love my synth pop and welcomed the voice as well as the lyrics instantly hooked me. An up and comer that you really can't afford to miss out on.

4. Gaslight Anthem- American Slang
Over the last number of years Gaslight have become a band that I grow to love more and more as the days and months pass by. When they announced they were working on a new disc I was a little skeptical as I loved 59 Sound and still listen to it with as much passion as the first time I heard it a couple years ago. Well they put out American Slang, and it was everything I had loved about Gaslight and even more. The band truly is starting to feel more and more like their own now, and really growing into their own sound and not strictly a band ripping off Springsteen. Their love for motown and old soul really stands out on this album, and the greatest difference is definitely in the backing harmonies on most of the tracks, making the band sound even more full. This album is phenomenal and if you dig rock and or roll music, definitely get into this disc.

5. Joanna Newsom- Have One On Me
Ms. Newsom is someone that I have loved for years now, and some have often questioned that love as for some it's very hard to get around her very distinct vocal style. I've always loved it and embraced her quirkiness and her lyrics (Peach Plum Pear being an all time favorite song, hands down) but it was with this triple album that I grew to love Ms. Newsom even more. The songs all vary quite differently and her vocals seem to be a little toned down, which is good or band I suppose depending who you are. If nothing else it makes this album or at least singles from it more accessible to people not so familiar with her work. It's a very lengthy disc, but put it in while travelling, or sitting at home on a rainy day and let it soak in and you won't regret it. A risky offering, but a success in my books.

6. Provincial Archives- Maybe We Could Be Holy
Edmonton Prairie Boys first album Nameless Places easily became one of my all time favorite albums put out by a local artist, or a Canadian artist, or possibly ever. I loved everything about that album, from Craig Schrams lyrics and vulnerable voice, to the bluegrass and folk sounds of the music they created. When they had said they were working on new tunes and a new album I was very much excited for what to expect, and they took what worked for them with their first album and took it up a notch. Experimentation with an even larger assortment of instruments as well as some electro programming and beats slid in here and there make for the best album to listen to while driving across the prairies, or out by Surrey if you live on the west coast as that's where all the farms are.

7. Mass Choir- Live My Life on the Backbeat
A surprise album from another group of friends, I had heard that they were working on something new but wasn't sure what to expect. Once I had heard that an influence was old KLF then I knew that I was going to be in for a treat, and this album doesn't disappoint in the least. Fueled by early 90's dance and techno music this is a phenomenal dance rock disc that is perfect for partying and as well one that translates fantastically in their live show. The male/female harmonies work quite well throughout the album and are always a treat and the beats are nonstop. This is a must own party disc, fistpumps are also mandatory.

8. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross- The Social Network OST
At first I thought that a movie about the creation of facebook would be kind of boring and not super interesting. Then I found out that Jesse Eisenberg was involved, and as he has grown into one of my favorite new actors, adding him with David Fincher directing I was getting sold on the movie. Then I found out that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross would be doing the soundtrack for the movie, and that got me all kinds of excited. I haven't been so obsessed with a soundtrack or score since Mogwai and Kronos Quartet joined forces for the Fountain, and it's that same kind of obsession that has made me listen to this album more than most others since it came out in the summer time. Reznors moody tones, stripped down piano work, and glitchy reworking of Hall of the Mountain King suited the movie fantastically but as well is perfect for wandering around the city or heading home from work.

9. Sleigh Bells- Treats
One of my new favorite subgenres or whatever you want to call labels for styles of music is definitely noise-pop. Over the last couple years I've become a fan of lots of artists I never thought I would have, like No Age, Abe Vigoda, Wavves, and other artists that combine noisy sampling and sounds overlapped with warped but still lush harmonies and poppy melodies. Sleigh Bells took all of that one step farther with glitchy noisy beats and guitar riffing, but phenomenal female vocals overtop and sampled and mixed over. An album a couple years ago I probably would have hated, became another obsession this year, and as well, 'Slay' provide one of the most hypnotic and groove charged live shows I've seen in a long time. Another new up and coming band that you should keep an eye on.

10. Daniel Moir- Road
Daniel has become one of my favorite peoples and musicians in Edmonton over the last number of years, and once he started to play some new songs in his set I was excited for this disc to come out. Over the past few years of seeing him perform he just keeps getting better and better and an even greater songwriter, and this definitely shows on this album. An even greater range of subject matter is tackled in his lyrics, as well his arrangements and guitar playing are topnotch. This kid is great and keeps getting better as the years go by, I expect nothing short of fantastic things from this fine lad from Edmonton, someone to keep your eyes on for sure.