Top 10 Albums of 2011!

Another year has come and gone. It's amazing how the years fly by. A couple of days ago I found some of my old playlists on paper in my filing cabinet. It's fun to peruse what I used to play and what I still play regularly on my show. This has been such a fun journey of music. A few of my friends are hosts at CFCR and we all say that our week revolves around our radio show. For me, the past 8+ years have revolved around Wednesday mornings. Looking back sure is fun! It is also fun to sift through the albums of 2011 to come up with my favourites. Without further ado, here is the list! At the bottom of the list is a link to a playlist that shows the songs on Grooveshark. So read on!

10. The Pack A.D. - Unpersons
This Vancouver female duo, Becky Black and Maya Miller, keeps putting out amazing albums! Unpersons is no different. Their raw sound follows through this whole album.
Songs: Sirens, Haunt You

9. Hey Rosetta! - Seeds
Seeds, indeed. Little seeds of wonderful sounds and words that came together to make this amazing album. They are such a great live band and remain a great recording band as well!
Songs: Seeds, Welcome

8. Sarah Slean - Land and Sea
This double album by this amazing songstress and pianist is amazing. Land has lots of upbeat songs while Sea is more orchestral. It is dramatic, as is her style. This album is truly lovely!
Songs: Everybody's on TV, Set it Free

7. The Deep Dark Woods - The Place I left Behind
These local boys deliver again! I just love their story telling through words and music. This album makes me think of laying in a hammock near my garden.
Songs: The Play I left Behind, The Banks of the Leopold Canal

6. Feist - Metals
This album was not really what I was expecting. I didn't really have expectations, but it's not what I thought it would be. Feist really put her heart and soul into this album. It's a great album, but The Reminder remains my favourite album of hers.
Songs: The Circle Married the Line, How Come you Never Go There

5. Elliott Brood - Days into Years
These Ontario guys are just so amazing. I got to see them at Halloween and if I hadn't gone to that show, they might not have ended up on my Top 10 Albums list. Sometimes the live show really brings the album to life. That is what happened with this one. It brought it to my mind and I listened to it over and over. Such a great album!
Songs: Lindsay, If I Get Old, Northern Air

4. Jenn Grant - Honeymoon Punch
I love Jenn! I do. She is pure wonderful. Her music is sweet and sexy and thoughtful. This album really shows Jenn's personality. It's a lot more "poppy" than her previous albums. It suits her. When I need to smile, I listen to this album.
Songs: Getcha Good, Oh my heart

3. Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing
Wow. This band. Wow. They blow me away with every release of theirs! I have been a little bit obsessed with this album off and on since it was released. Be warned: it's addicting!
Songs: Love the Way you Walk Away, Your Crying Eyes

2. The Black Keys - El Camino
Oh my goodness. I don't even know what to say about this album. Brilliant! Amazing! Stunning! I love it! It just came out and I'm already in love with it. If I had more time with this album, it would probably have made it to #1. Alas, it sits at #2.
Songs: Lonely Boy, Dead and Gone, Run Right Back

1. The Decemberists - The King is Dead
I fell in love with this album right away, as soon as it came out. It is classic Decemberists music, unlike their last album Hazards of Love. It has so many great songs and my favourite one is Down by the Water. It's my favourite song of the year, and maybe the last 5 years!
Songs: This is why we Fight, Down by the Water, January Hymn

Here is the playlist on Grooveshark!

December 21, 2011 "you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere"

Dar Williams' song The Christians and The Pagans is my favourite solstice song. It might be the only solstice-specific song that I know, but still. It's great. "I think magic's in the learning, 'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning." During this magical time, think about the light that is to come.

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

6:00-7:00am
Farideh* - Heart of a Man - Symphony of Chemistry
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife - The Crane Wife
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Funeral - self-titled album
Mother Mother* - O my heart - O my heart
Kathryn Calder* - Down the River - Are you my Mother? (2010)
Scout Niblett - River of No Return - This fool can die now
Joni Mitchell* - River - Blue
Shotgun Jimmie* - Bedhead - The Onlys
Hey Rosetta!* - Parson Brown - Seeds (2011)
Gordon Lightfoot* - Song for a Winter's Night - Gord's Gold
The Hidden Cameras* - Smells like happiness - Smells like happiness
The Black Keys - Howlin' for You - Brothers
The Weakerthans* - Tournament of Hearts - Reunion Tour

7:00-8:00am
Dar Williams* - The Christians and the Pagans - Mortal City
Tori Amos - Winter - Little Earthquakes
Regina Spektor - December - Soviet Kisch
Basia Bulat* - In the Night - Oh my Darling
Cuff the Duke* - By Winter's End - Sidelines of the City
Scott Nolan* - Wide Open Spaces - Receiver/Reflector
Michael Rault* - The Things you Said - Ma-Me-O
Jen Lane* - For the Night - For the Night (local)
The Deep Dark Woods* - Winter Hours - winter hours (local)
Stars* - Calendar Girl - set yourself on fire
Jack Johnson - Sleep through the static - Sleep through the static
Ron Sexsmith* - Whatever it takes - Retriever

December 14, 2011 Playlist!

First of all, this is my 202nd post on this blog! Wow. That seems like a lot, doesn't it? Yes, it does. That means that I have been on the air on Wednesday mornings around 200 times since 2007. It is always a pleasure to play music on the radio and can't believe how long I've been doing this!

Secondly, being sick sucks. I know this isn't new information, but I just needed to say it. For the past several weeks I have been slow-moving and sick. This is why I have been sporadic the past few weeks (thanks to Chris for doing a double-shift last week!). I'm on the mend, though, and am feeling much better.

Thirdly, it's very dark out. This is probably brand new information for you, but it's true! I am desperately hoping for snow to happen. Next week I will have a special solstice show for you. Stay tuned for that!

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

6:00-7:00am
Sloan* - Money City Maniacs - Navy Blues (1998)
Wolf Parade* - Soldier's Grin - At Mount Zoomer
Romi Mayes* - How I roll - Sweet Somethin' Steady
Nathan - Scarecrow - Key Principles
Heartstrings - Songs about me Belle - Self
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Natural Born Lover - Naturally
Sly & the Family Stone - Everyday People - Greatest Hits
Jenn Grant* - Gotcha Good - Honeymoon Punch (2011)
The Deep Dark Woods* - Westside Street - The Place I left Behind (2011, local)
Scott Nolan* - You Rock, we Roll - Montgomery Eldorodo (2011)
Barley Wik* - I Truly understand - Dusty Lullaby
Sean Brown - Only Human - Ready Fire Aim

7:00-8:00am
Feist* - The Bad in Each Other - Metals (2011)
Feist* - Brandy Alexander - The Reminder
Immaculate Machine* - No Way Out - Ones and Zeros
Jenn Grant* - You'll go Far - Echoes
The Breeders - Cannonball
The Pixies - Here Comes your Man
The Pixies - Debaser
Regina Spektor - Us - Soviet Kisch
The New Pornographers* - Myriad Harbour - Challengers
Amelia Curran* - The Mistress - Hunter Hunter
Arcade Fire* - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) - The Suburbs
The White Stripes - My Doorbell - Get Behind me Satan
Wolf Parade* - You are a runner and I am my father's son - Apologies to the Queen Mary

November 30, 2011 Playlist!

Today's show is dedicated to love. Love of all things good - good music, good friends, good jobs, good partners, good family...

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

6:00-7:00am
Jon & Roy* - Another Noon - Another Noon (2008)
Ingrid Gatin* - How did I get so - Broken Tambourine (2009)
The Waifs - Without You - sundirtwater (2008)
The Karpinka Brothers* - Roll down the windows - One brick at a time (2008, local)
The Weakerthans* - Sun in an empty room - Reunion Tour (2007)
Sloan* - All I am is You're Not - Parallel Play (2008)
Weezer - Undone (the sweater song) - Blue album
The Pixies - Debaser - Doolittle
Joan Jett - Bad Reputation - Freeks and Geeks Soundtrack
Maybe Smith* - Hearts like Bears - Animals & Architects (2007)
The Dears* - You and I are a gang of losers - Gang of Losers

7:00-8:00am
The Black Keys - Psychotic Girl - Attack & Release
Penny & the Quarters - You and Me - Blue Valentine Soundtrack
The Gruff* - Lights of Saskatoon - self-titled EP (2010)
Basia Bulat* - Go On - Heart of my Own
Modest Mouse - Float On - Good News for People who love Bad News (2004)
Jason Collett* - Lake Superior - Rat a Tat Tat (2009)
Mother Mother* - Hay Loft - O my Heart (2008)
The Connectors - Pockey Way - self (2011)
Little Miss Higgins* - Radville - Cobble Shop Sessions (2005, local)
The Deep Dark Woods* - Two Time Loser - Winter Hours (2009)
Hawksley Workman* - It's not me - Between the Beautifuls (2007)
Metric* - Too little too late - Live it out (2005)
The Shins - Mine's not a high horse - Chutes too Narrow

When I came into the station today, I was optimistic. But then. A headline caught my eye. It said, "Who killed off the compact disc? Experts weigh in." I walked away from the headline, but I came back to it. I could only read bits and pieces of it. Is YouTube really the MAIN way the kids these days are listening to music? REALLY?! People don't even download music anymore? They "listen" to it on YouTube? I don't think it's the death of the CD, it's the death of MUSIC! Where is the government to bail out this completely worthy industry? The article says that the CD will be obsolete by 2014. As sad as this makes me, change will always occur. Hopefully one day the CD will make a comeback as vinyl did. I'll just have to wait 20 years and try to keep my CD collection as well-preserved as I can. On that note, here is this week's playlist!

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

6:00-7:00am
Arcade Fire* - Haiti - Funeral
Samantha Savage Smith* - Tough Cookie - Tough Cookie
Marissa Nadler - Rosary - Little Hells
Basia Bulat* - Before I Knew - Oh my Darling
Basia Bulat* - December - Oh my Darling
Blitzen Trapper - The Tree (featuring Alela Diane) - Destroyer of the Void (2010)
Basia Bulat* - Oh my darling - Oh my Darling
Bonnie Prince Billy - Time to be Clear - Wolfroy goes to town (2011)
Ron Sexsmith* - Strawberry Blonde - other songs
Laura Cantrell - 14th Street - Humming by the flowered vine
Kathryn Calder* - Who are you? - Bright and Vivid (2011)
Rae Spoon* - You can dance - Love is a hunter
The Hidden Cameras* - Lollipop - Awoo

7:00-8:00am
Feist* - The Circle Married the Line - Metals (2011)
The Weakerthans* - Sun in an empty room - Reunion Tour
Wilco - You and I - Wilco
Little Miss Higgins* - Bargain! Shop Panties - Across the Plains
Scott Nolan* - You Rock We Roll - Montgomery Eldorado (2011)
Lake of Stew* - Sweet as Pie - Sweet as pie (2011)
Le Couleur* - Une Fille - Origami (2011)
Le Tigre - On the verge - This Island
Bella* - Go - This mess
Novillero* - Daydreams and Distractions - A little Tradition
Luke Doucet* - Vladivostok - Broken (and other rogue states)
Elliott Brood* - Oh, Alberta - Tin Type
Elliott Brood* - Write it all down for you - Mountain Meadows

November 9 Playlist! "Now's the only time we've got and even that won't last much longer"

This past week has been one of ups and downs. In temperatures and weather, as well as in politics. It has been an interesting time for sure. The snow makes me think that winter is here. It might still melt, but winter is coming soon. I do love winter, but have thoroughly enjoyed the long fall we had this year.

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

6:00-7:00am
Sean Brown* - Only human - Ready fire aim
Sloan* - Who taught you to live like that - Never hear the end of it
Scratching Post* - Rock Past It - Destruction of the Universe
Kirby Criddle* - Death of you - Vena cava (local)
Farideh* - Poetry - Seasons of loving (local)
Keren Ann - Not going anywhere - Not going anywhere
Carrie Catherine* - Can you love me like that - Wilderness (2011, local)
Megan Lane* - After sex cigarette - Wrapped in plastic (local)
James Keelaghan* - Harvest Train - a few simple verses
The Weakerthans* - None of the above - Fallow
Jen Lane* - Election day - for the night
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Nothing much to say - Living with the living bonus EP

7:00-8:00am
Immaculate Machine* - no such thing as the future - Ones and Zeros
Wolf Parade* - Soldier's Grin - At mount Zoomer
The Shins - Australia - Wincing the Night Away
Travis - The Beautiful Occupation - 12 memories
The Decemberists - Calamity Song - Itunes sessions
Ohbijou* - Echo Bay - Metal Meets (2011)
Jill Barber* - Took me by surprise - Mischievous Moon (2011)
Sarah Slean* - Sweet Ones - Night bugs
The Be Good Tanyas* - Reuben - Chinatown
Barley Wik* - Tumbleweed - Dusty lullaby
Nathan* - Scarecrow - Key Principles

November 2nd Playlist! "There's something out there, looking around in the midnight air"

On Monday night a friend surprised me with a ticket to Elliott Brood. I had been undecided on whether I would go and then decided not to. But a surprise free ticket changed all of that. It used to be that when I went to a show, I would stay until the bitter end even if I had to work the next day. However, in the past year or two, I have often left before the show was even over! I remember being a young 20-somethinger thinking how easy it was to stay up late and get to work/school early. Maybe I'm getting older or maybe I just expect myself to be 100% at work all the time and didn't before, but shows during the week are few and far between in my life. Even Friday night shows can be difficult after a long week of getting up early and working, etc. That being said, Elliott Brood was amazing and TOTALLY worth the exhaustion all day yesterday!

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

6:00-7:00am
Serena Ryder* - Just Another Day - Unlikely Emergency
The Details* - Reunion Souvenirs - Draw a distance. Draw a Border
Sleater Kinney - All hands on the bad one - All hands on the bad one (2000)
Rose Cousins* - Edmonton - If you were for me (2006)
Bahamas* - You're Bored. I'm old - Pink Strat
Josh Ritter - Lark - So runs the world away (2010)
The Weakerthans* - Confessions of a futon revolutionist - Fallow
Arcade Fire* - Keep the car running - Neon Bible (2008)
Danny Michel* - Feather, Fur & Fin - Feather, Fur, & Fin
Sarah Slean* - Get Home - The Baroness
Great Lake Swimmers* - Palmistry - Lost Channels
Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel - OCMS

7:00-8:00am
Jill Barber* - Daydreamin' Mischievous Moon (2011)
Good Lovelies* - Made for Rain - Let the Rain Fall (2011)
Laura Cantrell - Not the Tremblin' Kind - Not the Tremblin Kind
Blitzen Trapper - Silver Moon - Black River Killer
The Deep Dark Woods* - Redwood Forest - hang me, oh, hang me
Jason Collett* - Roll on Oblivion - Here's to being here
My Architects - Airborne - grand designs
Wolf Parade* - Shine a Light - Apologies to the Queen Mary
Greg MacPherson* - First Class - Mr. Invitation
Cuff the Duke* - Time is Right - Morning Comes (2011)
Po' Girl* - Cold Hungry Blues - self-titled
Hawksley Workman* - A moth is not a butterfly - Treeful of starling
The Once* - Coming Back to You - self-titled