January 26th Playlist!

January is almost gone - I can't believe it! The days are getting longer and spring time is on everyone's mind with our mild temperatures the past little bit. However, this is the time of year when we must stay strong - spring is still some time away. Luckily, we have some great concerts to look forward to. The big one of the week being The Pixies announcement of their coming to Saskatoon in April. It's just another reason to look forward to spring... in the meantime you can pull out your vinyl, tapes, and CDs (oh yeah, and MP3s) of The Pixies and look forward to the show. I know I am!

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

6:00-7:00am
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing - Astral Weeks (1968)
Melissa Nadler - Rosary - Little Hells (2009)
Amelia Curran* - Ah, Me - Hunter, Hunter (2009)
Laura Cantrell - Roll Truck Roll - Hello Recordings (2004)
Cake - Stickshifts and Safety Belts - Fashion Nugget (1995)
Luke Doucet* - It's not the liquor I miss - Broken (& other rogue states) (2005)
Arcade Fire* - Keep the Car Running - Neon Bible (2007)
Hey Rosetta!* - Red Heart - Into your lungs (2008)
Land of Talk* - Swift Coin - Cloak & Cipher (2010)
Ani Difranco - Fire Door - self-titled (1992)
Ingrid Gatin* - How did I get so - Broken Tambourine (2009)

7:00-8:00am
The Pixies - Here comes your man - Sell out Live (2005)
Black Mountain* - The Hair Song - Wilderness Heart (2010)
Wolf Parade* - Cloud Shadow on the Mountain - Expo 86 (2010)
Basia Bulat* - Why can't it be mine - Oh, my darling (2007)
Nathan* - Scarecrow - Key Principles (2007)
Elliott Brood* - Oh, Alberta - Tin Type EP (2004)
Stars* - Fixed - The Five Ghosts (2010)
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - I learned the hard way - I learned the hard way (2010)
The Sadies* - Anna Leigh - New Seasons (2007)
The Hidden Cameras* - Awoo - Awoo (2006)
Hawksley Workman* - Who do they kiss - Milk (2010)
Of Montreal - Coquet coquette - False Priest (2010)
Tegan and Sara* - Knife going in - The Con (2007)

January 19th Playlist!

Good morning and welcome to winter! For the past many weeks people keep saying how cold it was, to which I would reply, "It's not that bad." But today it actually IS that bad! It's cold - the wind is harsh making the air hurt to breathe in. However, at 5:30 this morning I took a few minutes to look at the beautiful moon. It was surrounded by a moondog and was breathtakingly beautiful. Such beauty can only occur when it is so cold out that your skin freezes in seconds. Today's show was inspired by the harsh cold and its beauty.

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

6:00-7:00am
Royal Wood* - Juliet - A Good Enough Day (2007)
Nelliw McKay - The Dog Song
Scott Nolan* - Open Spaces - receiver/reflector (2007)
Norah Jones* - Man of the Hour
Little Miss Higgins* - You Turn me on, I'm a Radio - Cobbler Shop Sessions (2005, local(
The Weakerthans* - None of the above - Fallow (1997)
Scout Niblett - Do you want to be buried with my people? (w/ Wil Oldham) - This Fool can die now
Ndidi Onukwulu - May be the last time, I don't know - no, I never (2006)
James Keelaghan* - Harvest Train - A few simple verses (2006)
Laura Cantrell - 14th street - Humming by the Flowered Vince (2005)
Frazey Ford* - One more cup of coffee - Obadiah (2010)

7:00-8:00am
Metric* - Handshakes - Live it out (2005)
Sixty Stories* - Countdown - Anthem Red (2002)
Sloan* - PenPals - Twice Removed (1994)
Cuff the Duke* - Ballad of a lonely construction worker - Life stories for minimum wage
The Sadies* - Why be so Curious? (part III) - Favourite Colours (2004)
Be Good Tanyas* - When Doves Cry - Hello love
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee
Louis Armstrong - Blueberry Hill
Billie Holiday - All of Me
Mother Mother* - Ghosting - Oh my heart
Josh Ritter - Lantern - So Runs the World Away (2010)

January 12th Playlist!

This week's show highlights some of the OTHER great albums of 2010 that didn't quite make my Top 10 Albums list. All of these would have made my Top 20 Albums list if such a list existed. Also, I'd like to make another quick shoutout to Judy, who's birthday is today. Happy Birthday, Judy!

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

6:00-7:00am
Shotgun Jimmie* - Bedhead - The Onlys (2007)
Josh Ritter - Idaho - The Animal Years
Rae Spoon* - Death by Elektro - Love is a hunter (2010)
The Waifs - Service Fee - Sink or Swim (2000)
Regina Spektor - Folding Chair - Far (2009)
Romi Mayes* - How I Roll - Sweet Somethin' Steady (2006)
Luke Doucet and the White Falcom* - Monkeys - Steel City Trawler (2010)
The Fjords* - Get it Right - Get it Right (2010, local)
The Karpinka Brothers* - Tether Ball - One Brick at a Time (2008, local)
Jill Barber* - Chances - Chances (2007)
Royal Wood* - Lady in White - The Waiting (2010)
Sarah Slean* - Waiting for Someone - The Baroness (2008)

7:00-8:00am
Megan Lane* - One Word - Purple and Blue (2003)
The Black Keys - She's long gone - Brothers (2010)
Wolf Parade* - Shine a Light - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)
The Gruff* - Commercial Drive - self-titled EP (2010)
The Gruff* - Five Star - A Trail of Missing Thoughts (2008)
Po' Girl* - Cold Hungry Blues - self-titled (2003)
Yukon Blonde* - Wind Blows - self-titled (2010)
Michael Rault* - She'll cut you down - Ma Me O
Hawksley Workman* - French Girl in LA - Meat (2010)
Bella* - Can she Play Guitar - Pretty Mess
The Sadies* - Another Year Again - Darker Circles (2010)
Said the Whale - This City's a Mess - Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia
Julie Doiron* - Spill yer Lungs - I can wonder what you did with your day (2009)

Top 10 Albums of 2010!

I could hardly wait to get this show going this morning! My top 10 albums of 2010 has been something I've thought about since the end of November and I only made final decisions yesterday. This year it seems to have been more difficult than previous years. In reality, I wish that I could do a Top 20 Albums of 2010 in no particular order. However, I decided to stick with my theme of Top 10 Albums and go with it. I'm sure that I will change my mind at some point in the future and wish that I had put an album in this list. That being said, and without further ado, here are my Top 10 Albums of 2010!

#10 - The Pack A.D. - We Kill Computers
This album is similar to their previous albums, but has a bit of a psychadelic edge to it. They've never made my Top 10 Albums list before because I only became extremely familiar with them in 2010. However, this prolific Vancouver-based duo were on my radar all year with their release of this album.
Songs we heard: Crazy and B.C is on Fire

#9 - Little Miss Higgins - Across the Plains
LMH is such a fantastic musician and I'm proud to call her a fellow Saskatchewanian! Her sound feels just like the prairies - earthy with an edge... a bit sassy and full of heart. This album is a great one because it is silly, it is serious, it is fast, and it is slow. It takes you through a range of emotions and tempos. This is album I've listened to lots on road trips and while gardening in my yard.
Songs we heard: Bargain! Shop Panties and Wash these Blues Away

#8 - The New Pornographers - Together
This album has a LOT of catchy songs. Every song is fun to dance to and sing to. It sounds similar to Challengers, which I also loved, and is just a great album all around. I really fell in love with this album when they played songs from it live at The Odeon this fall. They were all fantastic and it was so great to see them all together, including Neko Case.
Songs we heard: Your hands (together) and Silver Dollar Jenny

#7 - Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer of the Void
This album is a good representation of what Blitzen Trapper sounds like. A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll. I absolutely LOVE the duet with Alela Diane, who I discovered this year thanks to my good friend Pete.
Songs we heard: Laughing Love and The Tree (featuring Alela Diane)

#6 - Basia Bulat - Heart of my Own
This album was a big surprise for me. I had no idea I would love it this much! It speaks to my heart like none other that was released this year. Her amazing voice is perfectly accompanied by her unique musical instrumental sounds. When she opened up for Josh Ritter, she seemed a bit nervous, but was so sweet and cute up there on the big stage, just her and her autoharp. Her songs are a reflection of her sweetness and her edge. I just love this album!
Songs we heard: Go on, Run, and Heart of my Own

#5 - Frazey Ford - Obadiah
She was the front woman for The Be Good Tanyas so it's no wonder that I love her album so much. Her album sounds a lot like The Be Good Tanyas, particularly their first album "Blue Horse." However, she has obviously put her own spin on song songs with a bit of a funky bluesy sound. Her voice is so unique and unmistakable - "hauntingly beautiful" is what I call voices like hers that hit me right in the gut when I listen to them. Marissa Nadler is another musician that I consider to have that ability.
Songs we heard: Firecracker and Blue Streak Mama

#4 - Josh Ritter - So Runs the World Away
This guy... this guy is so amazing! Can he do no wrong? Not in my eyes! His amazing mix of great song writing and musician-ship is so special. He has really come a long way in these past few albums. This one is his best so far, narrowly beating out The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter... at least in my opinion! I love the heart and soul that he put into this album from heartfelt ballads to fast and fun songs.
Songs we heard: Change of Time and Lantern

#3 - Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
This album is super catchy and a great all-around album. It is classic modern indie rock. From start to finish, it is a solid representation of their sound showing fantastic song-writing and amazing guitar-work. I just love it!
Songs we heard: Laredo and On my way back home

#2 - Sarah Harmer - Oh Little Fire
Sarah (I can call her that since we had a great phone conversation earlier this year) is arguably one of the best song writers this country has ever seen. This album is one of heartbreak, but somehow she makes it seem not so bad. On top of it all, she got Neko Case to sing with her on the album! Two amazing voices in one amazing song. It is no wonder this is one of my top albums from 2010.
Songs we heard: Captive and One Match

#1 - Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
This album has been called a favourite of many many people, magazines, and websites. I tried to be different and pick a different one, but it was impossible. This album is one of the most relevant albums of our time. When it came out, it was #1 in North America. Arcade Fire has become mainstream, but not because they've changed, but because others have come to realize their brilliance as a band. Individually, they are great musicians. As a band they are spectacular. They are one of the most amazing live bands I've ever seen and their show in Saskatoon was my #1 show of the year. It was breathtaking at times as I literally could not breath from amazement of seeing such an amazing show. I can't say enough good things about this band or this album.
Songs we heard: Rococo, Modern Man, Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)