Top 10 Albums of 2013

I know this is way past due and possibly poor blogging etiquette, but here it is. My favourite albums of 2013.

1.  Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart

Frank Turner has to be probably my favourite singer/songwriter of this last decade. The problem is that at times he actually makes me angry in the way that he writes songs which I feel like I should have written, and is basically doing what I think I would be doing if I had such an opportunity to focus on creating music as a profession. He comes from a fairly hardcore punk rock background, but has settled into playing acoustic based folk tales, but not without his raging punk spirit and a vigilant defiance against growing out of it. He is now 5 albums in, and Tape Deck Heart is probably his most focused and consistent effort to date. On each album he has managed to include at least a song or two that almost never fails to make me cry. His lyrics are always strikingly poignant and desperately sincere. His songs always seem to hit that sweet spot in the core of my soul that sometimes needs to be sung to and be assured with that simple melody that everything is going to be ok. What stands out about this record is that each and every song has something in it that speaks to me.

Song to check out: "The Way I Tend To Be"

2.  Bad Religion – True North

Bad Religion never really stopped putting out albums. The problem is that most of them since Generator have not been particularly outstanding. For the most part they have always somewhat maintained their uptempo, anthemic spirit with clever melodies and deeply intelligent lyrics. However, they just seemed to sound as if on auto-pilot for a decade or so without really bringing anything exciting to the table. True North seems like a very appropriate title for this new record. After a lengthy string of albums plagued by major label pressure, lineup changes, and just a general lack of focus and direction, this album has the band finding the same formula that made Suffer and No Control such incredible landmarks in punk rock. These songs are rampant with vitriol and social anxiety, while further mastering the art of layered melodies and with catchy, yet tasteful choruses.

Song to check out: "Land of Endless Greed"

3.  The Bronx – IV

The Bronx are really what rock and roll has needed for a long time. They play a sleazy, cocaine-fuelled type of hard rock that is wildly reminiscent of Appetite For Destruction -era Guns ‘n Roses, while blatantly espousing a penchant for hardcore rhythms in the vein of Black Flag. They have also progressively and very gradually incorporated more melody into their sound with each successive album. This is their most melodic outing yet, but I assure still maintains every bit of their destructive edge. Their previous 3 records have all been solid, and are brilliant with classic hard rock grooves and raw aggression. The improvement here is the attention to actual songwriting. Their songs now are just now more distinctive from one another with their outstanding choruses that are shamelessly designed to worm their way inside your head and stay there.

Song to check out: "Too Many Devils"

4.  The Motorleague – Acknowledge, Acknowledge

If you’re as tired as I am of bands like The Trews representing what Eastern Canada offers for rock music, then you probably already own this album and don’t need my testimony. You would know this record is astoundingly brilliant with hard rock that is very carefully and artfully crafted, yet is still quite to the point and ridiculously infectious. The band takes their name from the title of a Propagandhi song, to suggest some melodic hardcore background, but this album actually comes off sounding like arena rock at times with some very epic hooks. It is very clear in the sound that everything in here is very professionally produced, and this is something that really brings these songs alive. The songwriting is extremely strong, and the heavy production qualities bring life to these massive choruses which can rival some of the best Foo Fighters hooks.

Song to check out: "Burned in Effigy"

5.  Son Volt – Honky Tonk

I’ve always felt like this band has been one of the most criminally overlooked acts in music. Their first 3 albums were perfect statements of gritty roots rock with a very sincere and authentic country influence. Jay Farrar also has one of the most real and honest voices for such a singer/songwriter in this realm that is almost a perfect meld of Neil Young and Steve Earle. I’ve always loved their brilliant amalgam of sloppy rustic harmonies with loud overdriven guitars. Honky Tonk, as its title suggests, is the band’s first outing that is all-out country. This is somewhat of a throwback effort that pays brilliant homage to the classic Bakersfield sound in the vein of Buck Owens, with lots of weepy pedal steel and southern fiddle. This sound doesn’t push the band into any real adventurous territory, however this is a very fitting platform for Farrar’s songwriting and everything just feels right when listening to this album. It’s like comfort food for the soul.

Song to check out: "Seawall"

6.  Queens Of The Stone Age - …Like Clockwork

This album was well worth the wait after the band’s very reckless and inconsistent Era Vulgaris five years ago. The band re-shifts and simplifies their focus here and comes out with a very solid and thorough bombast of super heavy riffage and funky grooves, all brilliantly laced with incredibly catchy hooks and an expected cocky swagger that only these guys can pull off with such charm and grace.

Song to check out: "I Sat By The Ocean"

7.  Alkaline Trio – My Shame Is True

There isn’t anything terribly adventurous or exciting with the new Alkaline Trio album. However, it is a very refreshing return to form after the last few outings which were an overproduced experiment in banality. Matt Skiba took a few years vacation to exploit his guilty impulses to create pedestrian pop rock, but this record feels like a very comfortable return to catchy, but ironically dark pop-punk with all of the trademark hooks and clever self-deprecating lyrics. Everything here is immediately fetching, and many of the songs ring with welcome familiarity and sincere passion.

Song to check out: "One Last Dance"

8.  Arctic Monkeys – AM

This is the first Arctic Monkeys record to really grab me. This album really reaches and touches on all kinds of interesting sonic influences, while still keeping a firm footing in classic British invasion style rock music. The guitars get loud, but there are funky beats abound, and even with some solid hip-hop grooves and jazzy interludes. The rock influences are also very stated, which some overt homage to the Rolling Stones and the Velvet Underground.

Song to check out: "Arabella"

9.  Billy Bragg –Tooth & Nail

For this newest effort from Bragg, he takes it a bit easy on the political rhetoric and settles into some more simple, yet effective songwriting. The atmosphere is very warm and simplistic, and allows for his voice to carry his honest and charming narratives, with some very basic instrumental accompaniment courtesy of his acoustic guitar, some Dobro, and pedal steel.

Song to check out: "No One Knows Nothing Anymore"

10.  The Flatliners –Dead Language

This is a band which has slowly evolved from a prototypical ska-core outfit to a more direct sounding melodic punk rock. The journey has been fun, as their previous albums have been an enjoyable tapestry of punching riffs, engaging hooks, and deep ska-grooves. Where we finally arrive is a place where the ska sounds are eliminated altogether, in favour of a more focused approach to emotion, melody, and calculated aggression. The melodic elements are very prominent, and make for catchy anthemic choruses, and tasty harmonic interludes.

Song to check out: "Drown In Blood"

ALBUM REVIEW: Shooting Guns - Born To Deal In Magic

This album has been out for while now, but I found this review on my computer and realized it hasn't been posted anywhere yet:

Who needs vocals anyway? Certainly not these guys. In fact, I’m not entirely sure how a vocalist would even really fit into this picture. The true challenge for an instrumental band is to make the music itself so compelling, that adding a vocal element would only be a hindrance to their sound. This is where Shooting Guns succeeds in glorious fashion. Despite the lack of lyrics or singing, there proves to be no shortage of narrative here. Here we have 8 songs that serve as chapters in this story which is narrated by bottom-heavy riff laden grooves, as the lyrical details are embellished by haunting atmospherics. Where does the story go exactly? Wherever your imagination takes you, I suppose. Whatever it is, it doesn’t necessarily sound like a happy tale. The band weaves orchestral soundscapes that echo sentiments of absolute isolation and despair. It’s almost like being able to record the audio of a waking nightmare. 

Entrancing and beautifully chaotic, the music itself if very reminiscent of Tool but with more exaggerated celestial psychedelia in the vein of Hawkwind. The overall tone of the record so ethereal and somnolent, Black Sabbath in the 70’s couldn’t handle this shit on strong acid. The songs are absolutely mesmerizing and hypnotic, as layers of riffs and other aural subtleties are successively added to the cosmic ether. It almost sounds like as though they are not so much consciously writing this music, as they are just harnessing the true natural sonic qualities of doom and madness. Perhaps imagine a ceremonial peyote ritual at an abandoned mental institution, and then somehow putting that on tape. This astral sonic journey is not very mirthful, but is positively spellbinding.

Top Albums of 2012

I realize this is a bit late, but here it is. This was actually a tough one. (I guess it always is). I was pretty solid with my top 8, but the last 2 spots were anyone’s game. The list isn’t entirely eclectic, but what can I say? 2012 was kind of a rough year, so there could very well be some kind of underlying purpose to the amount of punk rock I was listening to. I’ve decided to continue with the same format as last year, with having the regular top 10 and then another top 10 honourable mentions. It may seem a bit excessive, but the truth is that all 10 of the honourably mentioned were legitimately all vying for the last 2 spots in the main list. Once again, the idea here is to provide some kind of alternative to many of the other pretentious year end lists with all of the obligatory entries. There is no formula here, except for what I really thought were the best records regardless of genre, scene, or record label. I hope at least one person can take something out of this.




1.  The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten

There is an unfortunate downfall to having a band that you love, and whose established catalog has brought so much joy and fulfillment in your life. That is that everything they put out going forward is doomed to fall under such unfair scrutiny, that nothing they do will ever hold up to past glories. This was my problem when I first listened to the new Gaslight Anthem album. It’s not that I disliked it, but I was helplessly and uncontrollably listening for those graces that have made Sink or Swim, The ’59 Sound and American Slang my favourite albums of the last 15 years. Despite many favourable qualities of this record, I found there was an element of immediacy missing.  I wasn’t going to give up that easily though. After about a week of patient absorption, the songs started to settle into my consciousness. The album not only eventually grew on me, but became my favourite of the year.

Song to listen to: "Mae"




2.  Pennywise - All or Nothing

Pennywise has been far off my radar for many years. It’s not that I haven’t liked their material, but everything since 1997’s so-so Full Circle has noticeably suffered from sounding tried and formulaic. The music hasn’t been terrible, but really got to sound way too homogeneous and bland. When I heard about Jim being replaced for a new lead singer, I was even less interested in the band. Out of pure morbid curiosity, I listened to the new album and was instantly floored. Not since About Time has the band sounded so dynamic and alive. I can’t explain what the x-factor might be here, as they haven’t really altered their formula. This album just seemed to come out of nowhere with an armed phalanx of fierce hooks, and punchy melodic choruses.

Song to listen to: "Revolution"




3.  The Stanfields - Death & Taxes

I have been looking forward to this album since their debut 3 years ago. This glorious feast of gritty East Coast flavoured Celtic rock opens with a melee of feedback, and never lets up until the end. Jon Landry’s narrative style of songwriting blends local folklore with blue-collar punk rock noise.

Song to listen to: "The Boston States"




4.  Japandroids - Celebration Rock

Brash and ballsy punk rock amalgam of huge anthemic hooks and jangly, reverb soaked guitar riffs. Not to mention adrenaline fuelled shout-along choruses that are catchy as all Hell. Husker Du trying their hands at arena rock.

Song to listen to: "The House That Heaven Built"




5.  Hot Water Music - Exister

This is a bit more of a produced version of Hot Water Music's brand of Southern hard rock influenced punk with post-hardcore undertones. However, the slightly cleaner production takes nothing from the song quality or steadfast resolve.  Built upon a foundation of driving power chords and gruff vocals, there are countless layers of sneaky guitar hooks that reveal themselves only slowly with repeated listens. This is a direct result of the clever song structuring the band has become known for. Every time I would listen to this album, I would hear things I don't know how I ever missed before. 

Song to listen to: "Take No Prisoners"




6.  The Menzingers - On The Impossible Past

This is certainly no novel formula, that is for sure. There is just something about this band's tasteful execution of catchy guitar hooks and earnest songwriting. When I had trouble deciding on what I felt like listening to, this was always my go-to album. The record is front to back packed with poppy songs constructed of honest punk rock purpose and lyrics painted with suburban adolescent nostalgia. 

Song to listen to: "Casey"

7.  Propagandhi - Failed States

This is an album of such epic and grandiose stature for one built mostly upon scathing punk and fierce metal riffage. The band employs a brilliant spectrum of dynamics that create a bleak vision of the future of humanity. Hardcore rhythms punctuated by crushing metal guitar riffs occasionally interpolated with carefully placed mid-tempo melodies. The slightly conceptual structure to the record only emphasizes the band's visionary statement.

Song to listen to: "Lotus Gait"




8.  Matt Mays - Coyote

This might be Mays' most complete work to date. Although this is still the road weary roots rock which he has established his career on, this record exhibits some new depth and maturity. The songs here are more confident than ever, with a harmonious fusion of gritty rock 'n roll with tasteful ambiences and Northern rustic tones.

Song to listen to: "Dull Knife"




9.  Bob Mould - Silver Age

This album seems to be a statement of sorts. Yes, he has pretty much made this same album before, and more than once at that. However it seems like he just wanted to further underscore his importance in the melodic alternative rock canon in light of the continuing success of the likes of Foo Fighters and Green Day. The effort is very well stated as this stands among his best outings since the fallout of Husker Du.

Song to listen to: "Angels Rearrange"




10.  Green Day - UNO!/DOS!/TRE!

I might be breaking a few rules here. (Not to mention the flak I am dooming myself to by including Green Day in this list). Yes, these were 3 separately released albums. However I personally see these as a single cohesive project. The songs were all written and recorded in the same sessions, and were rather obviously placed on their respective volumes with calculated strategy. I feel it is only fair to judge these albums as a single piece of work. At large, this was not perceived as any kind of conceptual effort. Upon taking a closer look however, lyrical thematic elements do reveal themselves. UNO! celebrates youthful innocence with songs like "Fell For You" and "Sweet 16". DOS! regresses into tales of jaded depravity with songs such as "Makeout Party" and "Fuck Time". TRE! closes the journey with sober retrospect with "Missing You" and "The Forgotten". Aside from the clever structuring, these albums are musically strong with a delicate composite of the band's classic simplicity and more mature songcraft. 

Songs to listen to: "Carpe Diem" from UNO!, "Lazy Bones" from DOS!, "X-Kid" from TRE!

Honourable Mentions:
Best Coast - The Only Place
Lucero - Women & Work
Titus Andronicus - Local Business
Metric - Synthetica
Joel Plaskett and The Emergency - Happy Scrappiness
Muse - The 2nd Law
Soundgarden - King Animal
The Deftones - Koi No Yokan
Testament - Dark Roots of The Earth
NOFX - Self-Entitled

Album Review: Fallen Joy - Order To Die




     Ok, prepare to be blown away by this one. For a 6 song EP, this is one voracious juggernaut of a metal masterwork. This French melodic death ensemble manages to give one seriously vicious testimony of all things that are great about good heavy metal in one neat little package. Actually, to call these guys a melodic death metal band would be a little like referring to Dillinger Escape Plan as merely a rock band. This band pulls all the punches to insidiously lure the listener in with their array of merciless brutality paired with dangerously catchy hooks and hard rock grooves. The melodies and counter-melodies are all over the map while the rhythm section shifts relentlessly between time signatures to allow for some seriously blistering dynamics. The overall sound isn’t a completely original formula, as there are some very obvious Gothenburg scene influences. However, what sets these guys apart from some of their peers is their very over the top approach with the dynamic arrangements, classic harmonies, and in-your-face riffage that is malevolently infectious. In addition, they succeed in harnessing a very epic, grandiose delivery that just slightly hints at some progressive-power metal influence.

     The EP opens with “Morituri Te Salutant”. A gloriously majestic renaissance-era sounding orchestral bombast that first has me thinking that I’m listening to a new Dead Can Dance record. This quickly gives way to the title track, which already hits the ground running with a grand showcase in cleverly anthemic modal guitar patterns. The harmonious multi-layered guitar attack soon falls nicely into an almost smooth rock groove, before the ghastly screams take over command across a fierce double-bass drum death gallop. Like much of the rest of the album, the rest of the song swings ruthlessly between primal, ferocious death blasts and mesmeric hard rock rhythms with much tuneful resonance. Its one of the shorter songs but it seems that all the best elements of this whole EP are all so neatly compressed, and put into this concise 3 minute catharsis. “Hoisting The Black Flag” features some very classic Maiden-esque melodic guitar lines that drive the main pulse of the song, and is graciously highlighted by an effective mid-song breakdown adorned with competing dual guitar harmonies that evoke the spirit of Judas Priest. “Seeds of Tyranny” is one of more outstanding moments on the record, with its deep rhythmic punch and soaring melodies that colour the sonic ether over top a mechanically decisive antipathy. “Voyage Au Bout De La Nut” serves as the closing track, and is a mid-tempo dirge that is a bit slower but no less deliberate and sinister as the rest of the album.

     This is one of the most immediate and captivating metal recordings I’ve heard in quite a while. The only complaint I have is that it’s only 6 songs. There is not a dull moment offered here, as the band consistently exploits a riveting multitude of musical devices that keep the music interesting throughout. The rhythm section is unrelenting, savage, and methodically precise. The guitars are the forefront, and feature hooks that are severely infectious and harmonies that seem to complete some kind of aural mosaic in the band’s sonic multiverse. The vocals are incessantly brutal, and range between tortured shrieks and a guttural, thunderous roar. Everything that enjoy about good metal is all put to valuable avail in this humble collection of carefully constructed songs. Although before today I’ve not ever heard of this band, now I’m already looking forward to hearing more from them.

www.myspace.com/fallenjoyofficial

An Aging Music Geek's Manifesto

          It’s certainly no secret that the post-internet age of music consumption is an entirely different beast than that which most of us grew up in. This is the case for a number of reasons, and I’m not so much just referring to the ubiquitous furor over illegal downloading and such, but more in the way that music is now marketed and made available. Since the web has become such a vast cultural resource, music has become extremely niche-oriented. We no longer need to filter our tastes through what’s gained approval for radio and television, and we can now just go straight to our computer and find exactly what we want to hear at any given moment. It’s with this that we now see artists presented in convenient little packages, with formats like iTunes judging what you might like, based on your existing library. Hence, we now see artists now actually creating music that is all the more contrived and calculated, in the interest of fitting into some proven mould. Never since the inception of the internet have we seen the coining of so many new terms for musical genres and sub-genres: post-rock, noise-core, etc. and musical niches have become much more isolated. It’s no longer necessary to buy an entire album to obtain a single song. The single song can be purchased in digital format. What happens in this case? The rest of the album is never heard, and is eventually lost in obscurity. Personally, many of my favourite songs have always been the deeper cuts that I discover after having bought the record and listened to its entirety. We now see the popular music consuming public compiling their own selections of songs into their own playlists, and enjoying them on their own personal devices. Despite what the artist has envisioned for their album as a piece of work, people will now just pick and choose specific tracks and listen to them in whichever sequence they choose. At the dawn of this revolution, it was fiercely celebrated the idea of having such immediate control of what we listen to. The downside to this is that music has become such a commodity for mass consumption and individual purpose that so much of what made music appreciation exciting in the past, is getting lost.

           Now, I’ll be the first to admit to having taken advantage of this technology. I own a 120 GB iPod containing about 20,000 songs. My iTunes library on my iMac currently houses around 30,000 songs. Much of this music has come from my CD collection, but also much of it has come from downloading from the internet. I own the fact that I have been actively participating in this new avenue of music consumption of which I am admittedly lamenting. Although I have gained much benefit from this technological revolution, I still bemoan that the true ethos of music enjoyment may be irreparably damaged. I still continue to purchase CD’s and LP’s, and of course see as many live shows as I am able to. However, I guess you could say that the internet has created a kind of black hole of sorts, where I am hopelessly sucked in to finding more music that I can keep adding to my library. This is the reason why many of the older albums are held in such high esteem over most current music. There is such an endless stream of choices of what to listen to now, that what is really great doesn’t get the same attention as it would have 20 years ago. It also seems that we can appreciate an album that much more after making an effort to seek it out in a store and buying the physical medium, rather than hopping on a computer and putting a digital copy on our iPod. This is of course, after hearing the songs several times already because it’s been made available for streaming on the artists website. One of the components of buying music in the past was the idea of taking a chance on buying something that just might suck. I believe this only added to the excitement of it all. If it turns out to be great, then all the more rewarding the overall experience. If it sucks, then you just have something you can bitch about with your friends. One of the great things about any kind of art, is to be able to discuss and debate its validity with others. The reality is that we are naturally going to feel more passionate about something (positively or otherwise) if we paid money for the product. If we download a torrent of an album and it’s good, then that will only then inspire us to keep looking for other music that’s also good. If it sucks, we just delete it from our computer, and move on to find something else. In either case, so much music gets lost in the shuffle. I personally in the past have bought albums which I disliked initially, but had later revisited them and found something in them which I liked. There’s less likelihood of this happening in the digital age, where something we don’t like upon first listen will typically get deleted to avail valuable hard drive space.

           My next point is that music these days is mostly enjoyed on our own personal devices. This is not a new concept by any means, as we all know the Sony Walkman was invented in the late 70’s. However, with our abilities to now completely customize our own listening experience, and with choosing from such an infinite compendium of artists so immediately available, this has caused us to become more introverted in our listening habits, We can now so easily at the click of a mouse, find a limitless selection of artists that are playing exactly to our tastes, which we can load up our mp3 players with and not have to skip through a single track. You certainly don’t see very many home stereos these days. What happened to sitting around with a group of friends, and bonding over listening to a new album? Even the introduction of the Compact Disc was the beginning of a big change in how we experience an album. In the days when the LP was the standard format, and when the cassette was popular, an artist would create a piece of work with consideration for 2 sides of an album. Album structures were built around the 2 –sided format for decades. Not to mention the 4 and 6 side formats with double and triple albums. This also dictated a further level of involvement with the listener, with having to flip the record (or tape) mid-way through the recording. The introduction of the CD and the ensuing multi-disc changers, this allowed for hours of uninterrupted listening. Of course now with playback on digital mechanisms, this advantage is taken to a much more advanced plateau. It seems now with this dynamic that music is more intended to serve as background noise, as opposed to being the interactive experience it once was. Also, once the CD became the standard format, this would change how an artist would piece together an album, and then change once again going into the digital age.

           Also, in my youth, a bonding point over music was through radio and music videos. Since the only way to have specific music at your immediate disposal was to go out and buy it, most people relied on radio and MTV/MuchMusic to be exposed to what they wanted to buy next. This meant that there was actually a bit of variety in these said formats. MuchMusic used to not only actually play music, but they in fact played a lot of good music. Not only was there dedicated programming for all tastes across the spectrum, but even before the alternative rock explosion of 1991, it wasn’t uncommon to see a Sonic Youth or Jane’s Addiction video being played during regular video rotation. This led to potential excitement over certain songs picking up in popularity. It can be argued that we will never see another phenomenon comparable to that of the punk explosion of ’77, or the grunge movement of ’91 ever again. Some have said that it’s because everything has already been done. I don’t so much believe that, but I think that any new formula that a band may come up with and popularize in the future, will just be appreciated by it’s targeted audience and enjoyed amid their own private listening world. The elements just aren’t in place anymore for an underdog band to make history with penetrating radio waves with something new and exciting.

     I’m also speaking of a time when the terms “radio” and “mainstream” weren’t as dirty words as they are now. The musical landscape of today has been so carefully cultivated into so many smaller core-markets and demographics, that this has only further alienated elite music from the mainstream. There was once a time in the pre-Auto-Tune era when not all pop music was so watered down and generic. There has always been bad music, but it wasn’t always that pop music was necessarily so banal and formulaic as it is today. Since music of any substance has been so compartmentalized in the market, pop music has taken a much further nosedive in quality. Where radio used to be at times a somewhat respectable medium to discover music, it has now become the sonic equivalent of a shopping mall food court. This is because radio and television are no longer necessary to discover music we might like. Instead of watching hours of music videos and scanning through the radio to hear something to our taste, we can go straight to a desktop and so quickly and easily find something to instantly satisfy our musical cravings. The popular mediums have now become an avenue to perpetuate a constant rotation of disposable fodder that the common casual listener can easily digest on their commute to work. Many of these songs have been written by teams of industry figures in board rooms, charting out the best formulas for accessible pop music. Production of this music includes heavy reliance on electronic enhancements and pitch correction software to ensure a flawless mechanical product. Not to mention the trend of looping hooks from established songs, to create bastardized versions of these songs with lyrical variations and a new title to give the illusion of something new. This is especially disappointing, because while the original artist may give permission in exchange for royalties, the sampling artist also collects royalties on airplay for a song that only picks up an audience due to the strength of the sampled hook. Auto-Tune technology is also widely exploited. For those unfamiliar, this is a computer program which digitally corrects vocal pitch, but is also used to add a novelty effect to the vocal. The end result is the sound of the voice on your GPS. Another impacting element to consider is the idea of the single song download. At one time songs would be written in the context of a full album, because it was understood that is how the product would be consumed. Now that the casual consumer can opt to legitimately buy a single song for $0.99, less effort goes into constructing a cohesive collective project, and more focus goes into creating a short and easily digestible serving of hooks. This entire process does mostly work in the way of appeasing the masses, but the downside is that the music doesn’t age well. The general public will tire of the songs after a few months, leaving a void to be filled with more “product”. The result is an ongoing cycle.

           In addition, the few respectable songs that somehow make their way into pop radio rotation get destroyed by repetition. In general, the listening audience of popular radio formats will rely heavily on familiarity to engage in a song. This is why any given song that is popular one week will get played 10 times in a single day. That is no exaggeration. Also, this said audience will be so accustomed to songs cycling through until they’re considered “outdated”, that even the good songs won’t retain any staying power in the programming, and will get just as quickly replaced as the usual fare. Take Adele, for example. Her last album was much respected among discerning critics and the masses alike, and the radio singles are individually strong with much potential for longevity in the annals of popular music. The problem is that they have all been picked up by pop radio, and one by one have been pummeled to death by relentless airplay in between blocks of Rihanna and Bruno Mars. There is a reason why there are classic rock radio stations, and not per se, “classic pop” stations. Good rock music generally has a reputation for having a much longer shelf life than the modern pop song. If you take a year like 1991, it’s safe to say that albums from Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers have held up better than those from Roxette. Since pop songs are so trend-sensitive, they have proven to retain only novelty appeal for strictly nostalgic purposes, while artists known for more depth in their work will establish a more respectable legacy.

           Having said all of this, I do understand the nature of the evolution of technology. I realize that change is inevitable, and society will only continue to advance. This is obviously a given. Granted, many record labels have devised new and exciting ways to market their bands. This is not a bad thing. It is very important for the industry to adapt to the current cultural climate and remain relevant. With so much music out there to choose from now, this brings new challenges to today’s artists to stand out amongst the crowd. On the other hand, bands that may have had a challenge finding an audience through the old mediums, now have a much better chance reaching out to who’ll appreciate what they do. Additionally, while many bands and record labels have condemned file sharing networks, many independent artists have greatly benefited from this platform. With their material surfacing on peer-to-peer programs, many people who may not have ever bothered to go out and buy the record otherwise, have discovered the band and now support them. Growing up, I can remember certain bands that I’d be interested in hearing, but wouldn’t necessarily have the means to go out and buy all of their records. The online community has made available a viable resource to expose ourselves to all that is out there, and allowed us to be more selective in our purchase habits. Bands now also have a vast landscape of opportunity to promote their music, and fans alike have just as much avenue to learn about new bands. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely reprehending technology and all of what it avails. It is because of the internet that I’ve discovered many of my current favourite bands. Although the current trends of music consumption have indeed fostered a severe degradation in the mainstream, the flipside to this is that more niche based music is finding its deserved place in the market. However, I am a traditionalist at heart, and admittedly a raving nostalgiac. As much as I’ve embraced the new ways of discovering and enjoying music, I would still love to see some of the old traditions continue. I mean, this is art. There are certain things that will always continue to advance technologically. For example, means of communication and transportation will always continue to progress with society’s demands. However, when it comes to artistic expression, this is something that should really transcend technology and be preserved on a more human level.

Top 10 Albums of 2011

The first thing I did when I started putting this post together, is that I looked back at my top 10 albums of 2010. I was curious to see if my choices still held up after a year. For the most part, I can still very much stand by my choices. Except, I think would now probably swap Stone Temple Pilots and Jakob Dylan for Against Me! and The Hold Steady. However, that’s in retrospect. I’ve decided that the list is reflective of where I was at that place in time, so I’m accepting it. Having said this, after much careful deliberation here is my list of my 10 favourite albums of 2011. This list was much more difficult than the last one for some reason, as there were many great records this year. At the end, I’ve actually included an additional 10 albums of which I felt at least deserved mention. Basically, these were all albums which were competing for the last spots in my final 10. Maybe that goes against the rules, but I don’t care. I’d also like to take this opportunity to call out a few artists whom had put out releases this year which I was looking forward to, but ultimately let me down. Radiohead, Rise Against, Flogging Molly, and Steve Earle. These were all disappointing releases from artists whom in the past have been pretty consistent in my listening rotation. Records from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and R.E.M. were also lackluster, but on course with their recent sub-par output. I’m not even going to bother calling out the Metallica/Lou Reed collaboration, because criticizing it would be the equivalent of pushing a crippled child down the stairs. There were also records that were pretty good but certainly not list-worthy, as with releases from Wilco and Mastodon. Further, I’ll also admit to feeling slightly guilty for not including any Canadian content in the top 10. The fact is that there was no formula to this list. These were my favourite records. Period. I couldn’t justify including an obligatory Canadian release if I just wasn’t feeling it. That being said, there were some strong Canadian albums. Hard Charger from Fredericton and Death Valley Driver from Charlottetown both released great records this year, and both Fucked Up and Protest The Hero at least creep into the honourable mention category. Anyway, I hope everyone who takes the time to read this will find something they can take away from it. Enjoy.




  1. Old Man Markley - Guts 'n Teeth
Just out of curiosity, I like to search the internet for other “best of” lists for the year. This album doesn’t appear on any of them. I must say that this band has got to be music’s best kept secret. Although this is perhaps a very unlikely formula for any kind of mainstream appreciation, this is not only the catchiest album of the year, but has some of the most urgent and inspiring lyrics since the last Joe Strummer record. This band of tattooed punks from southern California plays a very clean and pure sounding bluegrass, but with fierce punk rock energy and a penchant for quality songwriting. The vocals are very clear and prominent, with lots of sweet harmonies, and with a pure unadulterated passion. Despite the complete lack of electric instruments, the band presents their sound with a fervor that could rival the Ramones. This is the sound of a band giving a true testament of how music can be good for the soul. Being on the Fat Wreck label and having toured with the likes of Social Distortion, the punk ethos is not lost on the band, as they distill the vital qualities of traditional roots music all with a blazing punk intensity.


Song to check out: "Guts 'n Teeth"




   2. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
After a decade and a half of releasing pretty good albums, the Foo Fighters have finally created their true masterwork. An impressive culmination of everything the band has done, this is a thoroughly executed benchmark of modern rock music that shines all the way through. An FM radio programmer’s wet dream as the flow of the record feels like a greatest hits collection, with each track blowing the sonic spectrum wide open and commanding strict attention. This album is a melodic rock juggernaut which features a perfected formula of layered guitars, soaring choruses, and immediate hooks with complex, yet concise harmonic arrangements.


Song to check out: "Arlandria"



   3. Ghost - Opus Eponymous
If nothing else, this is likely the most terrifying album of the year. Here we have a Swedish metal band made up of a series of “nameless ghouls” fronted by an imposing figure in a Cardinal outfit and skull mask. The lyrics and imagery are so blatantly evil and Satanic, that you really don’t know whether or not to take them seriously. In fact, the whole mystique of it all makes the band that much more intriguing. Their sound is deeply infused with components of classic metal and 70’s era psychedelic rock with extremely hook-heavy choruses and clean vocals. The songs are cleverly and concisely constructed, and with brilliant embellishments of funeral organ and layered harmony vocals. In spite of lyrical themes of Satan worship and witchcraft, this is a surprisingly accessible album. Never before has music so evil and sinister been so damn catchy. Along with the heavy thematic elements, the music is so infectious that these insidious melodies will creep into your consciousness and haunt you in your sleep.

Song to check out: “Ritual”

**Sidenote: This album was released in 2010 in Europe, but wasn’t released in North America until January 2011, which is why I’m deeming it eligible for the 2011 list**



   4. The Decemberists - The King Is Dead
Temporarily abandoning their grandiose artistic ambitions, The Decemberists settle very nicely into a simple, straight ahead roots rock sound. With help from the sweet high-mountain harmonies of Appalachian songstress Gillian Welch, the band weaves a delightful tapestry of sound using more organic song structures and warm rustic tones. See my full review from 02/26 here.


Song to check out: "Rise To Me"



   5. The Horrible Crowes - Elsie
Side project for Gaslight Anthem front man Brian Fallon, has him exploring some slightly new territory with some dark soulful rhythms. Musical concepts which were vaguely hinted at on the last Gaslight record are further developed, and the result is an illustriously crafted collection of ominous slow-burning dirges that feature themes of hope and redemption. The songs are slow, sinister and carefully deliberated to create a dark ambience while showcasing Fallon’s character-driven vocal delivery through delicate and impassioned execution.

Song to check out: “Cherry Blossoms”



   6. Deer Tick - Divine Providence
If you can imagine a scenario where The Replacements hijack The Band’s performance in The Last Waltz, it may give you a vague idea of what this album sounds like. Reckless, sloppy and unhinged garage rock with tones of southern roots inflected twang. While their previous records adhered to a more typical alt-country form, this outing has them embracing their true live ethic. This album flows with brash impudence, drunken pomposity, and a perfectly rough-around-the-edges charm. It’s a beautiful, chaotic mess.

Song to check out: “The Bump”



   7. The Strokes - Angles
What I love most about this record is how accurately and vividly it truly captures a classic early 1980’s new wave vibe. This album speaks to the 8 year old me who used to wear a holographic iron-on Duran Duran T-Shirt. Everything from the vibrant cover art, to the authentic sounding FM pop-rock melodies feels like a precious junkyard of aesthetic artifacts from a Ric Ocasek garage sale. Expect a forthcoming box set edition to include a Coleco-Vision controller, a collectible sticker book devoted to Ziggy, and a Rubik’s Cube.

Song to check out: “Two Kinds of Happiness”



   8. Kvelertak
Blast beats, ghastly shrieks, blues-rock shuffles and honky-tonk piano. These are all things that appear on this album. Believe it or not, the band actually manages to blend it all together quite seamlessly. Here is a Norwegian metal band who are obviously influenced by their country’s known black metal scene, but has exploited the sound as only one of many elements to this bona fide rock and roll record. The term, “black and roll” has been used to describe their sound. Oh, and don’t bother trying to understand the lyrics. Not just because they’re undecipherable, but because they’re also all in Norwegian. Although, it probably isn’t hard to figure out what the song title “Blodtorst”
translates to. The band compounds a mercilessly brutal sonic experience that effortlessly fuses dirty blues rock grooves and garage punk rhythms all with a furious Norwegian metal twist.

Song to check out: “Fossegrim”


**Sidenote: This album was released in 2010 in Europe, but wasn’t released in North America until March 2011, which is why I’m deeming it eligible for the 2011 list**



   9. Chuck Ragan - Covering Ground
This is the third solo album from Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan. His raspy, weathered voice is the perfect instrument against the backdrop of acoustic guitars, fiddle, and pedal steel. His punk rock audacity is still prevalent in this collection of southern backwater folk anthems, which serves as his most accomplished solo effort yet. A guest appearance from Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon provides only further validation of Ragan’s artistry.

Song to check out: “Right as Rain”



  10. Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes
By Social Distortion’s standards, this record doesn’t really compete with the rest of their catalog. However, even a bad Social D album is still better than most albums. While the one glaring flaw is Mike Ness having flipped his lyric-writing on auto-pilot, most of the music still stands up as expected. Read my full review from 02/14 here.

Song to check out: “Diamond In The Rough”


Honourable Mentions: (in no particular order)
Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones
Thrice – Major/Minor
Havok – Time Is Up
Fucked Up – David Comes To Life
Protest The Hero – Scurrilous
Ryan Adams- Ashes and Fire
Adele- 21
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Dropkick Murphys- Going Out In Style
Tom Waits – Bad as Me

Album Review: Death Valley Driver - Choke The River

        If Prince Edward Island's music scene has a known signature sound, I’m reasonably sure this isn’t it. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve assumed these guys came straight off a bayou in Louisiana. Although these guys may not be truly representative of a cultural benchmark for P.E.I. in the same vein as say, Stompin’ Tom Connors, they somehow manage to harness an authentic sonic assault that genuinely sounds as if from the deep south. No more than before has a Maritime metal album had me in the mood to look for the nearest bottle of Jim Beam, go shoot up some rattlesnakes and get thrown in jail in the same afternoon. Front to back, this record pummels the sonic ether with bruising riffs, deep fetching grooves and scathing vocals, all with a cocky southern-like swagger. Mind you, this isn’t breaking any new ground. The manner in which the band engages their influences is anything but subtle, as bands like Pantera, Down and Crowbar will immediately come to mind upon listening to these songs. However, it’s all done in a way that is sincere, tasteful and fresh.

            “Choke The River With Your Dead” is a stellar lead off track, as it crams all the best elements of their genre into a single 4 and a half minute serving. Fiercely heavy, sludgy riffs with wide open grooves, canorous guitar passages and dynamic vocals that venture between beastly growls and a clean melodic wail. The main riff bludgeons all available sonic space with a crushing syncopated rhythm that sounds like a bearded, rebel flag wearing redneck giant stomping a blood entrailed path along the Mississippi. “Insect Dirge” employs a fetching Sabbath-esque groove that brandishes a commanding rock ‘n roll pomposity. In fact, all 8 songs truly showcase a tireless parade of sinister metal riffage and uncompromised aggression. All of course, with a heavy dose of southern stoner rock arrogance.

           Although this album is not severely original, the saving grace here is there is not a single hint of pretense. It’s clearly evident that this band is not setting out to reinvent the (steel?) wheel. What I hear in these songs is an honest and dedicated admiration for this sound and an unmitigated desire to carry the torch for good sludge/stoner metal. Also, regardless of the recognizable formula, the band continues throughout the record to incorporate dynamics that always keep the music interesting. Lead singer Dan Hodgson has an apt range of vocal stylings that can appropriately drive home tones of brutality, yet can complement the rhythmic backdrop with the right touch of harmony in the right moments. The guitar riffs are as imposing as they are compelling, and the rhythm section is always deep in the pocket. The band is great at what they do, and with this album have forged a new East Coast Canadian standard for good ‘ol Hell-raising, groove-oriented metal to shotgun a beer to.


www.myspace.com/deathvalleydriverpei
http://diminishedfifthrecords.com/