85 Great Albums - 2010

I had the opportunity this year to spend a lot of time in Europe. It was spent traveling around the continent which allowed for extra hours to spend listening to the vast amount of amazing music that was either sent to me or found during endless searches on the web. This list was nearly impossible to make this year as there was just so many great memories, songs, and albums. Each and every album on this list touched and/or affected me this year and, as with the case last year, they are in no particular order. They are just all great and I really think people should hear them.


Please Enjoy... 

 1.     Magic Man - Real Life Color - (free download)

2.     The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt

3.     Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

4.     Anais Mitchell - Hadestown

5.     Jónsi - Go

6.     Eric & Magill - All Those I Know - (free download)

7.     Tanlines - Settings

8.     The Acorn - No Ghost

9.     Joe Pug - Messenger

10.  Rafter - Animal Feelings

11.  Surfer Blood - Astro Coast

12.  Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo

13.  Virgin of the Birds - Banquet Years - (free download)

14.  Stone Foxes - Bears & Bulls

15.  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat The Devil's Tattoo

16.  Pepper Rabbit - Beauregard

17.  Villagers - Becoming A Jackal

18.  Danko Jones - Below The Belt

19.  Molecule - Besides

20.  Deer Tick - The Black Dirt Sessions

21.  Sleep In - Blackwidow - (free download)

22.  Troels Abrahamsen - Blck

23.  Boe Weaver - Boe Weaver

24.  Broadcast 2000 - Broadcast 2000

25.  Back Row Baptists - Broken Hearts And Bad Decisions

26.  Cedar Senior - Campsite EP - (free download)

27.  The Golden Dogs - Coat Of Arms

28.  Archie Bronson Outfit - Coconut

29.  Twin Sister - Color Your Life

30.  Errors - Come Down With Me

31.  Timber Timbre - Daytrotter Session - 1/6/2010 - (free download)

32.  Detachments - Detachments

33.  The Northwest Man - The Devil in the Dark

34.  Woodpigeon - Die Stadt Muzikanten

35.  Milks & Rectangles - Dirty Gold - (free download)

36.  Steve Eck and the Midnight Still - Drag It Out, Burn It Down

37.  Moonface - Dreamland EP: Marimba and Shit-Drums

38.  Height With Friends - Druid Hill Lake

39.  Eels - End Times

40.  Sharon Van Etten - Epic

41.  Erland and The Carnival - Erland And The Carnival

42.  Moon Duo - Escape

43.  Wolf Parade - Expo 86

44.  Possessed By Paul James - Feed the Family

45.  Shit Robot - From the Cradle to the Rave

46.  AM - Future Sons & Daughters

47.  Church Of The Very Bright Lights - Gang Crimes

48.  Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - The Golden Year

49.  Drunken Barn Dance - Grey Buried

50.  Grinderman - Grinderman 2

51.  Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

52.  Hot Panda - How Come I'm Dead

53.  The Mountains & The Trees - I Made This For You

54.  Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here

55.  Peter Wolf Crier - Inter-Be

56.  Mexican Elvis - John Frum Alaska

57.  Plants and Animals - La La Land

58.  Holy Fuck - Latin

59.  Neil Young - Le Noise

60.  The .357 String Band - Lightning From The North

61.  Breathe Owl Breathe - Magic Central

62.  PS I Love You - Meet Me At The Muster Station

63.  Tunng - ...And Then We Saw Land

64.  Adam Green - Minor Love

65.  Mos Dub - Mos Dub - (free download)

66.  Big Scary - Autumn

67.  Brasstronaut - Mt. Chimaera

68.  bakers at dawn - nebraska - (free download)

69.  Lali Puna - Our Inventions

70.  Trampled By Turtles - Palomino

71.  Yoyoyo Acapulco - The Pleumeleuc Experience

72.  Have Gun, Will Travel - Postcards From The Friendly City

73.  California Wives - Affair

74.  Peasant - Shady Retreat

75.  John Parish - She, A Chinese Soundtrack

76.  The Black Box Revelation - Silver Threats

77.  Neverest Songs - Small Voyages

78.  Grand Island - Songs From Östra Knoll 1:22

79.  Caribou - Swim

80.  Moondoggies - Tidelands

81.  Wolf People - Tidings

82.  Lower Dens - Twin-Hand Movement

83.  Seabear - We Built a Fire

84.  Delphic - Acolyte

85.  The Wilderness Of Manitoba - When You Left The Fire

Blake Mills

Besides from having one of the best websites ever, Blake Mills has that "it" factor more than a lot of music I have heard lately. I am absolutely positive that I am a late-comer to the wonder that is Breaking Mirrors but I am ecstatic that I found it. I stumbled across him on the always amazing Daytrotter and, as always, have been stuck listening to his melodies, music, and mumbles all day.

Take a little listening stroll through his album, which is available to stream here, and/or explore the Daytrotter Session. I know you will like it.

Records, Vinyl, Records

Yes, those boxes are full!

As you can see, Christmas came a month early this year as my loving In-Laws gave us their amazing record collection. Yes, this collection was begun when my father-in-law was a young tike and ran until, what looks to be, the eighties. So, if you are a friend and I don't show up for drinks, I don't call back, or just seem to have gone missing in action, I think you should be well aware as to my whereabouts. I am sitting at the record player listening to rebel-rock-n-roll from the fifties and catching up with Fleetwood Mac's masterpiece Rumours.

Not to mention humming along to the recently discovered Canadian icon, Wilf Carter.

The Power of Vinyl

We finally got our record player up and running again and I am so excited about two recent purchases. There is a fantastic used record/book store (Carson Books & Records) towards the end of Broadway in Vancouver and it is full of incredible rare and wonderful gems. I recently picked up two warming examples of amazing folk music and I wanted to share them here.

Do yourself and favour and have a listen to these two albums should you get the chance:

Alan Mills and Jean Carignan - Songs, Fiddle Tunes and Folktale from Canada

The Fuzzy Mountain String Band - S/T


The Fuzzy Mountain String Band – Shortening Bread

Kris Ellestad - No Man is Land

I was introduced to Kris Ellestad (by the man himself) last week and I have not stopped listening to his incredible new album, No Man is Land. The timing was perfect. I was stuck moving boxes, cleaning, and sweating my ass off in the act of moving into a new place. I left No Man is Land streaming off of Kris' bandcamp page and I don't think I have listened to anything else since. For the past week, this album has absolutely consumed my listening and I am in shock at how it feels more like a greatest hits album rather than a first effort, which I am unclear as to whether it is or not. Ellestad's exploration through genres, timing, and tempos leaves this gem definitely in my top ten of the year and it really is a masterpiece worth giving every bit of praise I can.

The Calgarian's songs are full of emotion and swagger and I am floored by the incredible depth of the album. I know I will be listening to it for years to come. It provides such a breadth of moods and, quite simply, I just love it.

Take a listen below:

Kris Ellestad - In the Meantime - Removed at Artists Request

Milks & Rectangles - Dirty Gold

Milks & Rectangles are one of my favourite Canadian bands and they recently released Dirty Gold, their follow-up to the amazing Troubleshooters. As you can see, both albums are available on bandcamp and well worth the listen. Dirty Gold is well on it's way to the "best of" list to come in December.

Have a listen below:

The Ascetic Junkies

Not much to say about The Ascetic Junkies other than they are great. I don't really know what is in the water a few hours south of us in Portland but, whatever it is, I certainly enjoy the music it helps create. There have been so many great bands coming out of that town lately and add The Ascetic Junkies to the vastly growing list.

A Conversation

Last night, I had one of the most interesting conversations about music, it's creation and the endless possibility it could bring should one open up it's restrictive "staged" nature. I honestly believe if a mere 1% of our conversation came to fruition, live music would change entirely and become so incredibly interactive and rewarding.

Please read Steve Weave's blog and visit his website often. I think there are a lot of amazing things to come from his musical talent and experimentation and I just hope that I have the privilege to be somewhat involved in any way, shape, or form.

Oh, and he put on one of the most innovative and amazing solo acoustic shows I have seen in a long time.

Thanks for the conversation Steve. I has my head 'a spinning.

Church Of The Very Bright Lights - Gang Crimes

Honestly, with first listen of Gang Crimes by Calgary's Church Of The Very Bright Lights, I didn't like it at all. I just felt it was way to slow and I blindly saw myself never getting over the pulse of the album. However, a coffee, a morning commute, and a walk through the streets of Vancouver gave me a second opinion. I think it is brilliant!

This is a shoegaze album best heard in the intimacy of your headphones. A shoegaze album where the band members James Cullen, Chris Reimer, and Matt Flegel have decided to play without their pedals. Decided to record in simplicity and capture great tracks that can stand on their own.

Immediate standout tracks include Bone/Muscle and Lionsteeth. Both songs seemed to bring me back to experimenting with an eight track and messing around with, uninfluenced, sound. Simplicity reigns supreme her and she does so very well. 

Download out the Gang Crimes

Church Of The Very Bright Lights - Bone/Muscle 

Neil Young - Le Noise

Neil Young and Daniel Lanois! Honestly, if you do not know those two names I don't think you can tie your own shoes. There is absolutely no introduction needed and for the first time in a while, I have found something amazing to write about. This album is genius, exciting and oh-so relevant. Easily both artists' best work in years.

I am sure we all expected it. You put these two men in a room together and there is bound to be an album with one or two great tracks. However, listening today, I can tell you every track on the album is amazing and it is definitely in my top ten albums released this year. And yes, I have only heard a handfull of times. It is just that good. 

Ol' Neil and Lanois must have been listening to a lot of newcomers to the crunchy folk scene. It sounds as though they have skimmed elements of every "folk" (used very lightly) album released in the last several years, swirled it around their genius minds and spat it out as the ultimate "how to" guide for writing in this genre. With melody comes atmosphere. With vocals comes echo. With lyrics comes incredible imagery. I love what these two have created because it feels so fresh and it is sure to be another exclamation point to a couple of already illustrious careers. 

Lyrically, it is a glimpse into the soul of the oft shy Mr. Young. Historical memoirs that create bleak scenes of a poverty stricken Canadian folkster, a man that loves his family and North America, and, of course, the brutal theft of that same territory so many years ago from it's original inhabitants. I think the lyrics are the thing that makes Le Noise so wonderful for me, I love hearing the man tell me stories. 

Go buy this album because it is the best thing to come out, in my mind, in the last several months. 

FUBAR II

I never get too excited about sequels. There are very few sequels worth standing up and shouting about. However, I cannot tell you how excited I am for Fubar II. The first one made me laugh and I know the second is going to make me laugh harder. Seriously, watch the trailer. How could it not?

JBM // AA Bondy

With M so focused on his hunt for the perfect job, I see he's neglected to rave about the JBM/AA Bondy show we attended last week at the Media Club in Vancouver. So I will.

It's a rare occurrence when the opening act has you wondering how the headliner could ever possibly compete. On September 11th, opening act Jesse Merchant (JBM) played to a truly awestruck crowd. I won’t try to regale you with the hauntingly beautiful details of each song, or the fervor that engulfed the room. I will simply tell you, that if you have a chance to see JBM, I you will not be disappointed.

I will also tell you, that not surprisingly, AA Bondy failed to disappoint as well. Capitalizing on an already engaged crowd, he continued to dazzle us with his captivating presence, incredible talent and foot-stompin’, harmonica-blowin' songs.

Fun fact: JBM’s ex-girlfriend, Hollywood starlet Amanda Seyfried, was at the show selling swag. Bizarro.

[photo credit]

All Those Ships - Perils

I must say, I have gained an appreciation for All Those Ships (a.k.a. Brandon MacNeil). The self-professed "alt-folk singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist," Brandon is a talented songwriter that boasts a very impressive knack for instrumentation. His latest album Perils has been in constant rotation for the last couple of days and it is very impressive. Moving from Irish jigs to sentimental love songs, the album covers a lot of ground and does it well.

As always with home recordings, there are some areas that could use a little production help but those are easily ignored by the quality of songwriting and the vast array of instruments Brandon chooses to include in his recordings. I have to highly recommend you check out the album Perils and you can do so here.

Grinderman - Grinderman 2

You know what, I really don't need to write just how amazing this album is going to be. I really shouldn't stress here how everyone has to attend their Vancouver show at the Commodore on November 26th.

I don't have to say these things because my hope is that most of the people that read this blog would already know that Grinderman is a force.

*The album Grinderman 2 is amazing by the way!












Grinderman - Super Heathen Child (with Robert Fripp) by MuteRecords

The Dears - Residency Posters Competition

My loving wife recently sent in some posters for the upcoming Residency Concert Series that The Dears are putting on in the coming months. Now, I would be so thankful if you could kindly go HERE to vote for Sarah Reid's posters as they are clearly the best of the bunch. Also, the great thing about these posters is that they will be sold at the shows with proceeds going directly to Montreal City Mission and War Child.

Thank you so much and I will have a reward for you if she wins. (Still trying to figure out what the award will be!)

Drunken Barn Dance - Grey Buried

As I have mentioned before, I absolutely hate comparing bands but I just can't help myself in this case. The Weakerthans, Neutral Milk Hotel, and The Mountain Goats are a few of my favourite bands and I am absolutely convinced if you could amalgamate them all, you would end up with Drunken Barn Dance.

I have been listening to the band's latest release Grey Buried for the last couple of days and, I have to admit, I am very impressed. The songs express anthem-like charm and the songwriting flows impeccably. Full of uplifting rock-n-roll and defined melodies, I have put this up as one of the better releases to come out lately. Have a listen on their myspace page, I am sure you will like it.

Dan Lyth - Some Of My Friends' Songs

I woke up to a great email the other morning from Dan Lyth regarding a project he has undertaken in which he covers friends' songs (hence the title). However, the experimentation is wonderful and an absolute joy to listen to. You can have a listen here

Burgundy Grapes - Lagero

Now, for some of you this might be a touch old but, for me, it was discovered yesterday. It is really bringing me back to a recent trip around Europe and my nostalgia is really consuming me today. However, I really think everyone should pick up their copy of Burgundy Grape's album Lagero. It can be downloaded for free here.  The music is incredible and their story is even better.

Would love to hear what you all think.