December 31, 2008 - Top 10 Albums of 2008!

This morning's show featured songs from my Top 10 Albums of 2008 list. This list was actually really hard to make... there were lots of albums that came out, but not a lot that I really thought "Oh yeah, this is going on my Top 10 list." I really had a Top 1 and the other 20 albums are kind of jumbled up, depending on my mood. However, I had to make a decision and the following list is what I came up with. I should give some honorable mentions to: Sloan's best album in year "Parallel Play," Fleet Foxes' self-titled album, and Jack Johnson's album "Sleep through the Static." Here are the albums, which is opposite of how I played them on air (with #10 being at 6am and #1 being around 8am).

See you on the air next year!

1. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
The first time I heard this band was at Amgio's when they opened for Stephen Malkmus. They blew me away. I bought their album promptly after their set. When I heard their album for the first time I couldn't believe how good it was. It kicked me in the pants it was so good! It has rarely left my regular cycle of music-listening since I heard it in October. I knew immediately that this would be my #1 album of 2008. Everything paled in comparison. Great songwriting, great musicality, and wicked arrangements. Amazing!
God + Suicide
Not your Lover
Love U
Furr

2.The Breeders - Mountain Battles
I did not expect to like this album as much as I do. However, the album as a whole is so fantastic! I'm glad that they are back and making great music!
We're Gonna Rise
Istanbul

3. Ladyhawk - Shots
I love this band - its raw, grunge sound with melodic vocals is just so wonderful. It's harsh and beautiful at the same time. Plus, the guys in this band are super nice and just really love music.
I Don't Always Know What You're Saying

4. Elliott Brood - Mountain Meadows
Elliott Brood is one of the best live bands that I've ever seen. This album isn't as dark as "Ambassador," which I am happy for. I could listen to this album on repeat for days... if it wouldn't drive the rest of the people in my life mad.
Write it all Down for You
Miss you Now

5. Farideh - Symphony of Chemistry
A great album by a local Saskatoon artist. Her beautiful voice and down-to-earth lyrics make this album simply wonderful. Heartache and winter... yes, they go hand-in-hand.
Prison of our Love

6. The Black Keys - Attack and Release
I love The Black Keys. I can't see myself missing out on having them on a Top 10 Albums list ever. This album was produced by Danger Mouse and is less raw than Magic Potion, but the guys got a little more creative and branched out into other instruments. Don't get me wrong, I love the guitar-drums duo, but sometimes an album just needs a little more. This album gave a lot more.
All You Ever Wanted
Strange Times

7. The Gruff - A Trail of Missing Thoughts
I was introduced to this band later this year and was glad to have bought their album at their show. This album is a good mix of Phaedra and Jenny's songwriting, both with different styles and both awesome. Gotta love the ladies that play and sing about whiskey! Also, Phaedra drums while standing up and singing - now THAT'S talent!
The Make
Holes in my Jeans
Five Star

8. Hey Rosetta! - into your lungs
I love this album because of the ups and downs that seem to mirror my life. The musicians in this band are great and together they put out a great album. You can hardly even tell that they are from The Rock! (ie. Newfoundland)
i've been asleep for a long, long time
there's an arc

9. Hawksley Workman - Between the Beautifuls
I have fallen in love with Hawksley this year - his live show is amazing, his albums this year are amazing, and he is a great producer. I couldn't not have this album on my Top 10 Albums. It came out earlier in the year and I almost forgot about it, but I re-listened to it over the past couple of weeks and knew it had to be on here. Gotta love his quirky style and amazing talent!
all the trees are hers
alone here (ballad of bunches of things)

10. Serena Ryder - is it o.k. (Maple Music)
I think that Serena Ryder looked into my soul and then wrote this album. Apparently we were both going through break-ups at the same time. Hers, however, turned into an amazing album... mine... well, hasn't turned into anything quite as spectacular. This album is so emotional and heart-wrenching that sometimes I have to turn it off and just think about what she has just sang. Even though Serena has kind of "sold out" to commercial pop-whatevers, there will always be a special place in my heart for this artist that I got to interveiw a few years ago and watch go from playing small pubs to large crowds and make a living! She's just a great woman with an awesome voice and amazing song-writing abilities. I &hearts you, Serena!
Why Can't I Love You
All for Love
Little bit of Red

December 24th, 2008 Playlist!

Today's show was all local artists and most of them were from albums put out in 2008. Thanks for tuning in!

Artist - Song - Album (year, if other than 2008), all songs are Canadian (obviously!)

6:00 - 7:00am
Dumb Angel - i woke up this morning - i woke up this morning
Slow Down, Molasses - leaves and lay - i'm an old believer
Pearson - My Ghost Your Ghost - Clear Thinking on Mixed Feelings
Smokekiller - California - 13
Jay Semko - Absolutely Free - International Superstar
These Hands - We're Bored - He, Himself, and Him
The Sheepdogs - Let it all Show - Big Stand
The Fjords - Cool my Desire - self-titled EP (2005)
Economics - he was my friend - self-titled
Maybe Smith - Open War - Animals and Architects (2007)

7:00 - 8:00 am
The Fifty-Sixers - Circles - self-titled
Tim Vaughn - Dream - Two Tone Blue
Kirby Criddle - Death of You - Vena Cava
Mark Ceasar - Willow Tree - Burma Road
The Karpinka Brothers - Tether Ball - One Brick at a Time
Green Bottle Street - eye spy - sad happy foolish wise
Joey Lorer - holiday - zivjeli
Farideh - Prison of our Love - Symphony of Chemistry
Maxwell's Big Four - I Know - Young Town Hall
Ride 'til Dawn - Are you gonna Break my Heart - Hearts of Worlds Forgotten
Deep Dark Woods - Redwood Forest - hang me, oh, hang me (2007)

December 17th, 2008 Playlist!

I didn't realize before this morning how many Canadian artists are produced by Hawksley Workman. In today's show alone, he produced three albums that I played. I'll point them out in the playlist below....

Artist - Song - Album (year of release, extra information)
* = Canadian
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly - Once Soundtrack (2007)
The Waifs - Service Fee - Sink or Swim (2000)
Farideh* - Heart of a Man - Symphony of Chemistry (2008, local)
Shotgun Jimmie* - Bedhead - The Onlys (2007)
Josh Ritter - Bright Smile - Hello Starling (2003)
Dar Williams* - I Won't be your Yoko Ono - The Green World (2000)
The Cracker Cats* - Workin' - Empty bottles 'n' broken hears (2004, local)
Deep Dark Woods* - Bakersfield - self-titled (2006, local)
Elliott Brood* - Miss You Now - Mountain Meadows (2008)
Sarah Slean* - Sweet Ones - Night Bugs (2002, produced by Hawksley Workman)
Tegan and Sara* - Frozen - This Business of Art (2000, produced by Hawksley Workman)
Tegan and Sara* - Hop a Plane - The Con (2007)
Immaculate Machines* - Broken Ship - Ones and Zeros (2005)

7:00-8:00am
Nathan* - Scarecrow - Key Principles (2007)
Tracy McNeil* - Headlong into Nothing - Room where she livees (2007)
Sarah Harmer* - Around this Corner - You Were Here (2000)
Jill Barber* - Chances - Chances (2008, did you know what Matthew Barber is her brother? Makes sense!)
Royal Wood* - I'm so Glad - A Good Enough Day (2007)
Xavier Rudd* - Messages - Food in the Belly (2005)
Sloan* - Who taught you to live like that? - Never hear the end of it (2006)
The Black Keys - Your Touch - Magic Potion (2006)
Novillero* - The Hypothesist - aim right for the holes in their lives (2005)
The Dears* - You and I are a gang of losers - Gang of Losers (2006)
Metric* - Combat Baby - old world underground where are you now? (2003)
Hey Rosetta!* - there's an arc - into your lungs (2008, Produced by Hawksley Workman)

December 10th, 2008 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (year of release, extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Po' Girl* - Cold Hungry Blues - self-titled (2003)
Be Good Tanyas* - Lakes of Ponchartrain - Blue Horse (2001)
Little Miss Higgins* - Dirty Ol' Tractor Song - Junction City (2007, local)
Sloan* - If It Feels Good Do it - Pretty Together (2001)
Henri Faberge & the Adorables* - Favorite Kisses - self-titled (2006)
Hey Rosetta!* - Red Heart - Into your Lungs (2008)
Sarah Slean* - Out in the Park - Day One (2004)
Regina Spektor - On the Radio - Begin to Hope (2006)
The Decemberists - Sons and Daughters - The Crane WIfe (2006)
The Karpinka Brothers* - Roll down the Windows - One Brick at a Time (2008, local)
Jill Barber* - Never Quit Loving You - Chances (2008)
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - How Long do I have to Wait for you? - Naturally

7:00-8:00am
Metric* - Combat Baby - old world underground, where are you now? (2003)
Tokyo Police Club* - In a Cave - Elephant Shell (2008)
Sebastein Grainger & the Mountains* - Who do we Care For? - self-titled (2008)
The Gruff* - Five Star - A Trail of Missing Thoughts (2008)
Laura Cantrell - 14th Street - Humming by the Flowered Vine (2005)
Carolyn Mark* - Happy 2B Flying Away - Nothing is Free (2007)
Neko Case - Favorite - The Tigers have Spoken (2004)
Cuff the Duke* - By Winter's End - Sidelines of the City (2007)
Maybe Smith* - Hearts like Bears - Animals and Architects (2007)
The Consumer Goods* - Day Job at the DND (Department of National Defense) - The Anti-Imperial Cabaret (2008)
Novillero* - Live in Parentheses - A Little Tradition (2008)
The Weakerthans* - Tournament of Hearts - Reunion Tour (2008)
Belle and Sebastian - Like Dylan in the Movies - The BBC Sessions (2008)

December 3rd, 2008 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (year of release, extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Ember Swift* - Tram #86 - Stiltwalking (2002)
The Waifs - London Still - Up all Night (2002)
Farideh* - Heart of a Man - Symphony of Chemistry (2008, local)
Shotgun Jimmie* - Bedhead - The Onlys (2007)
Serena Ryder* - Just Another Day - Unlikely Emergency (2004)
Billie Holiday - I'll be Seeing You
Regina Spektor - Real Love - Instant Karma - Save Darfur (2007)
Sarah Slean* - Waiting for Someone - The Baroness (2008)
The Gruff* - Holes in my Jeans - Trails of Missing Thoughts (2008)
Barley Wik* - Highway 5 - Beyond the Down (2006)
Xavier Rudd* - Better People - white moth (2007)
Carolyn Mark* - 1 Thing - Nothing is Free

7:00-8:00am
Josh Ritter - Right Moves - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (2007)
Jason Collett* - Hangover Days - Idols of Exile
The Weakerthans* - Civil Twilight - Reunion Tour (2007)
Metric* - Hand$hakes - Live it Out (2005)
Spiral Beach* - Voodoo - self-titled (2006)
Immaculate Machine* - C'mon Sealegs - Fables (2007)
Wolf Parade* - You are a runner and I am my father's son - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)
Hey Rosetta!* - I've been asleep for a long, long time - Into your lungs (2008)
Sylvie* - Notes on Counters - Trees & Shade are our Only Fences (2008)
The Fjords* - Cool my Desire - self-titled (2005)
Be Good Tanyas* - It's not happening - Chinatown (2003)
Lucinda Williams - Circles and X's - Little Honey (2008)

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 Playlist!

Happy Birthday, little brother!

Artist - Song - Album (year of release, extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
lisa b.* - Prairie Dawn - salvaged music (2004, spoken word)
The Consonant C* - Azeda Booth - Capes and Crowns (2008)
Farideh* - Heart of a Man - Symphony of Chemistry (2008, local)
Neil Young* - Harvest Moon - Harvest Moon (1992, dedicated to my bro for his birthday!)
Hawksley Workman* - A moth is not a butterfly - Treeful of Starling (2006)
Fleet Foxes* - White Winter Hymnal - self-titled (2008)
Little Miss Higgins* - you turn me on, I'm a radio - Cobbler Shop Sessions (2005, local)
The Karpinka Brothers* - Tether Ball - One Brick at a Time (2008, local)
Jill Barber* - Chances - Chances (2008)
Royal Wood* - Juliet - A good Enough Day (2007)
The Organ* - Oh, What a Feeling - Thieves (2008)
Mother Mother* - Oh My Heart - O my heart (2008)
Immaculate Machine* - broken ship - Ones and Zeros (2005)

7:00-8:00am
The Sadies* - Cheat - In Concert Volume I (2006)
The Sadies* - Why be so curious - In Concert Volume I (2006)
Elliott Brood* - Write it all down for you - Mountain Meadows (2008)
Blitzen Trapper - Sleepy time in Western World - Furr (2008)
Sylvie* - Notes on the Counter - Trees and Shades are our only fences (2008)
The Constantines* - our age - Kensington Heights (2008)
Wolf Parade* - Sine a Light - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Biomusicology - the Tyranny of Distance (by request from Devin)
Metric* - Succexy - Old world underground, where are you now
Fury and the Mouse* - Bizarre Astronaut Love Triangle - learns magic (2008, kind of local)
NQ Arbuckle* - Postcard from princess - XOK (2008)
Carolyn Mark* - Happy 2B Flying Away - Nothing is Free
The Gruff* - The MAke - a trail of missing thoughts (2008)

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (year of release, extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
The Waifs - Without You - sundirtwater (2008)
Farideh* - Heart of a Man - Symphony of Chemistry (2008, local)
Feist* - Mushaboom - Let it Die (2004)
Regina Spektor - Us - Soviet Kisch (2005)
Lily Frost* - Les Vaisseaux Nocturnes - Situation (2004)
The Hidden Cameras* - Death a Tune - Awoo (2006)
The Hidden Cameras* - Smells like Happiness - Smell of our own (2003)
Mother Mother* - Oh Ana - Touch Up (2007)
The Gruff* - The General Store - self-titled (2006)
Blitzen Trapper - Furr - Furr (2008)
Elliott Brood* - Miss you Now - Mountain Meadows (2008)

7:00-8:00am
Royal Wood* - A Mirror Without - A Good Enough Day (2008, in memory of my friend Nic)
Jill Barber* - Never Quit Loving You - Chances (2008)
Little Miss Higgins* - You Turn me on, I'm a Radio - Cobbler Shop Sessions (2005)
Carolyn Mark* - Happy 2B Flying Away - Nothing is Free (2007)
The Gruff* - Copper Flowers - A Trail of Missing Thoughts (2008)
Po' Girl* - Under the Chestnut Tree - Unreleased (2008)
The Sadies* - Anna Leigh - New Season (2007)
The Ride Theory/New Rival* - My Girl June - In this City (2005)
Cuff the Duke* - Ballad of a Lonely Construction Workers - Life Stories for Minimum Wage (2002)
Maybe Smith* - Underground Lost and Found - Root Hug (2004, local)
Stars* - Ageless Beauty - Set Yourself on Fire (2004)
Immaculate Machine* - Jarhand - Fables (2007)

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (year of release, extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Xavier Rudd* - Energy Song - Food in the Belly (2005)
Sarah Harmer* - Uniform Grey - You Were Here (2000)
Tracy McNeil* - Headlong into Nothing - Room Where She Lies (2007)
Jason Collett* -Tiny Ocean of Tears - Motor Motel Love Songs (2003)
Blitzen Trapper - Not Your Lover - Furr (2008)
The Cracker Cats* - Yer Sure Purdy - Livin' on the Run (2005)
Tegan and Sara* - Knife Going In - The Con (2007)
Shotgun Jimmie* - Bedhead - The Onlys (2007)
Christine Fellows* - Saturday Night on Utopia Parkway - Nevertheless (2007)
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly - Once Soundtrack (2007)
Ultimate Power Duo* - Big in Japan - ¡We're in Control Now! (2006)
Buck 65* - Wicked and Weird - Talkin' Honky Blues (2003)
Elliott Brood* - Write it all Down - Mountain Meadows (2008)
Cuff the Duke* - Remember the Good Times - Sidelines of the City (2007)

7:00-8:00am
Hey Rosetta!* - There's an Arc - Into your Lungs (2008)
Sloan* - She Says what she Means - Navy Blues (1998)
The Weakerthans* - The Reasons - Reconstruction Site (2003)
The Heartstrings* - Orchard Morning - self-titled (@007)
Jill Barber* - Never Quit Loving You - Chances (2008)
The Gruff* - Holes in my Jeans - A Trail of Missing Thoughts (2008)
Neko Case - If you Knew - The Tigers have Spoken (2004)
The Unicorns* - I was born a unicorn - Who will cut our hair when we're gone (2003)
Joel Plaskett Emergency* - Fashionable People - Astray Rock (2007)
Despistado* - A Stirsticks Prediction - The Emergency Response (2002)
Veruca Salt - Number One Blind - America Thighs (2004)
Liz Phair - Whipsmart - Whipsmart
Bella* - Go - Pretty Mess (2004)

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 Playlist!

Artist - Song - Album (year of release, extra information)
* = Canadian

6:00-7:00am
Be Good Tanyas* - Ootischemia - Hello love (2006)
Maria Dunn* - Shoes of a Man - From Where I stand (1998)
Po' Girl* - Under the Chestnut Tree - Unreleased (2008)
Maybe Smith* - Open War - Animals and Architects (2007, local)
The Fjords* - Cool my Desire - self-titled (2005, local)
The Black Keys - Your Touch - Magic Potion (2006)
The Weakerthans* - Tournament of Hearts - Reunion Tour (2007)
The Details* - Reunion Souvenirs - Draw a Distance. Draw a Border (2008)
Death Cab for Cutie - The New Year - Transatlanticism
Josh Ritter - Bright Smile - Hellow Smile (2003)
Josh Ritter - The Temptation of Adam - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (2007)
Peter Elkas* - Sweet Nancy - Wall of Fire (2007)
The Heartstrings* - Songs about me Belle - self-titled (2007)

7:00-8:00am
The Sadies* - Loved on Look - Tremendous Effors (2001)
The Sadies* - The Story's Often Told - Stories Often Told (2002)
The Sadies* - Why be so Curious (Part II) - Favourite Colours (2004)
The Sadies* - What's Left Behind - New Seasons (2007)
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal - self-titled (2008)
The Consonant C* - Azeda Booth - Capes & Crowns (2008)
Scout Niblett - Moon Lake - The Fool Can Die Now (2007)
Jill Barber* - Chances - Chances (2008)
Stars* - Your Ex-Lover is Dead - Set Yourself on Fire (2004)
Regina Spektor - On the Radio - Begin to Hope (2006)
Sarah Slean* - Sweet Ones - Night Bugs (2002)
Sylvie* - Please Make it Home - Trees and Shade are OUr Only Fences (2008)
Vancougar* - Unmanned - Candian Tuxedo (2008)
Tapes 'n' Tapes - Le Ruse - Walk it Off (2008)