Best of 2010

By Kat Dornian, The New Classics

Listen online:

iTunes| Grooveshark

10 Pretty Good Albums

1. Zola Jesus – Stridulum EP – (Sacred Bones)
2. Gonjasufi – A Sufi And A Killer (Warp)
3. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today – (4AD)
4. Nitzer Ebb – Industrial Complex (Major Records)
5. Blessure Grave - Judged By Twelve, Carried By Six – (Alien8)
6. Matthew Dear -  Black City – (Ghostly International)
7. Black Keys – Brothers – (Nonesuch)
8. Sean Nicholas Savage* – Moving Up In Society – (Arbutus)
9. Janelle Monáe - The Archandroid (Bad Boy)
10. Trentemøller – Beyond the Great Wide Yonder – (In My Room)

Most Memorable Music Vid

• Diamond Rings* – “Show Me Your Stuff”
  youtube

Top 2 Singles

• Cults – Cults 7″- (Forest Family Records)
  cults.bandcamp.com
• Cosmetics* – Soft Skin 7″ – (Captured Tracks)
  www.myspace.com/cosmeticscosmeticscosmetics

Label to Note

• Record Makers
  Ten years ago Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel of AIR, along with Marc Teissier du Cros and Stephane Elfassi, founded the Record Makers label to explore the possibilities of dance and electronic music outside the constraints of major labels. With all those years under their belt they haven’t missed a beat and still remain fairly underground, eluding a significant number of radars. Their music is exciting and easy to love. Record Makers have a touch of class and style in everything they do from Sebastien Tellier‘s highly sexualized music to Turzi‘s world-inspired styling and Findlay Brown‘s soulful electro-pop.
  www.recordmakers.com/
  10 year anniversary video: vimeo.com/9943586

3 Amazing Calgary Acts

It is so hard to limit down my choices of amazing Calgary bands. So many hard working musicians have put out phenomenal albums and rocked out live shows like nobodies business. When it comes down to it, I guess I have my own preferences for sounds and styles and these three acts have caught my interest and garnered dozens of listens. They’re definitely worth checking out.

• Lab Coast** (www.myspace.com/labcoast)
• Ohama** (www.youtube.com/user/tonawalt)
• Memory Screen** (www.myspace.com/memoryscreen)

One to Watch

• D.B. Buxton*
  Found on the streets of Vancouver via Edmonton, D.B. Buxton made a living by busking for more than 16 years. He’s certainly unique. In May 2009 Randy Kramer and Nick Eccleston of the Green Hour Band found him and asked him to open up for their band. It didn’t take long before the three of them became The Orpheans and were releasing EPs and 7 inches on Neptoon Records. Mr. Buxton also stepped out of the shadows and did a solo release this year on Little Whore Records. He’s one to watch. His en-crazed, charismatic character is impossible to ignore when he gets behind a microphone and his songwriting, albeit not everyone’s cup of tea, will leave you wondering when you got transported back to the Midwest United States’ garage blues scene of the 60s. It’s worth the trip.
  www.dbbuxton.com

By Daryl Leman
Host of Speaking in Tongues: The World Music Show (heard Saturdays, 12-1 PM)

Various The Roots of Chicha Vol. 2 (Barbes Records).
Chicha was originally the name of an alcoholic drink made of fermented maize that was imbibed by the Incas. Here we’re talking about infectious Peruvian cumbia music from the urban slums of Lima.

The Psychedelic Aliens Psycho African Beat (Academy LPs).
This CD re-issue comprises the entire recorded output of Ghana’s The Psychedelic Aliens who memorably combined elements of American soul, funk, garage rock and psych with African rhythms and melodies. “Like most stories involving aliens this one seems, well, made up. But it really happened. For a few years in the late 60′s to early 70′s worlds collided and aliens walked among us. And made music.”

Pacifika Supermagique (Waterpark Recordings).
Pacifika is a Vancouver based band comprised of Silvana Kane, a Peruvian born singer formerly of Canadian band West End Girls; Adam Popowitz, a Canadian guitarist; and Toby Peter, a bassist born in Canada and raised in Barbados. Together they make sophisticated Latin inflected global pop music that to my mind ranks up there with such contemporaries as Aterciopelados, Charanga Cakewalk and the late Lhasa de Sela.

AfroCubism AfroCubism (World Circuit).
AfroCubism is the long-awaited collaboration between Cuban and Malian musicians meant to take place when the Buena Vista Social Club was born. Now the original plan has finally been realized under the name AfroCubism, with a stellar line-up including Eliades Ochoa, Grupo Patria, Bassekou Kouyate, Djelimady Tounkara,  Toumani Diabate, Kasse Mady Diabate and Lassana Diabate. This is sublime stuff.

Ska Cubano Mambo Ska (Casino Sounds).
Ska Cubano is a London-based group which combines Ska and Cuban music with elements of other genres including cumbia and calypso. Improbably, they were the brainchild of an investment manager by the name of Peter Scott, who in his own words “decided to create an alternative history in which Cuban Ska had emerged”. But it was a good idea then and it remains a good idea now. This is fun stuff.

Segun Bucknor Who Say I Tire (Vampisoul).
The press release for this CD re-issue said: “There’s no doubt that the brightest star which burned in the Nigerian firmament in the early 70s was Fela Anikupalo Kuti. But for a while Segun Bucknor’s Revolution, with its politics, African roots consciousness, dancers and African funk fusion, gave even Fela something to think about.” And here is the evidence to prove it. Like Fela, this guy had ‘it’ whatever ‘it’ is.

Luisa Maita Lero-Lero (Cumbancha).
The promo stuff describes Luisa Maita’s sound thusly: “Sultry, seductive and infused with that inimitable samba swing, the music of Luisa Maita embodies the modern spirit of Brazil.” Sure, it’s easy going at times but what’s not to like? She’s beautiful. She’s Brazilian. And she sings in Portuguese, the sexiest sung language.

Various Afrobeat Airwaves & West African Shockwaves Ghana & Togo 1972-1978 (Analog Africa).
I’ve been pleasantly overwhelmed with the sheer volume of fascinating reissues in recent years from a variety of labels, including Frankfurt based Analog Africa which focuses on relatively obscure music groups and relatively discreet local scenes. Afrobeat Airwaves & West African Shockwaves combines classic Afrobeat from 70s Ghana and Togo with elements of American funk and soul of the era.

Asmara All Stars Eritrea’s Got Soul (Outhere).
According to the record label, the Asmara All Star project was about leaving the politics of civil war behind and focusing on making exciting music. The Asmara All Stars play in a style “…reminiscent of the golden age of the big band sound, charged with Eri-jazz, soul and roots reggae. The decades of isolation have somehow kept this music alive.” I’ve always thought that the indigenous music from this corner of Africa is unique in the sense that, at least to my ear, it sounds almost completely unrelated to the music emanating from any other place.

Etran Finatawa Tarkat Tajje/Let’s Go (Riverboat Records/World Music Network).
Etran Finatawa are one of many notable ‘desert blues’ outfits to emerge from north and west Africa in recent years alongside the Musicians of Jajouka, Tinariwen, Terakaft, Tartit, Aisha Kandisha’s Jarring Effects and various others. Etran Finatawa is a collaboration between members of two nomadic tribes comprised of three robed Tuareg men and three feathered Wodaabe-Fulani, with neither side taking precedence over the other. This is restless, hypnotic music for wandering in wide open spaces and for quiet, awe-stricken contemplation under starry skies.

By Megan JN

Top 10 Albums for 2010

• Broken Water – Whet (Night People)
• Grass Widow – Past Time (Kill Rock Stars)
• Mi Ami – Steal Your Face (Thrill Jockey)
• Naked on the Vague – Heaps of Nothing (Siltbreeze)
• No Joy – Ghost Blonde (Mexican Summer)
• Stalwart Sons – Burn Daylights Like Torches (Revolution Winter)
• Marnie Stern – Marnie Stern (Kill Rock Stars)
• Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky (Young God)
• Trash Kit – Trash Kit (Upset the Rhythm)
• Women – Public Strain (Flemish Eye)

Favorite Shows of 2010

• Indian Jewelry – October 7^th, 2010 at The Republik
• Pavement – September 7th, 2010 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre: Vancouver, BC
• Broken Water – August 21^st, 2010 at the Badlander: Missoula, MT
• Oneida – August 20th, 2010 at the Badlander: Missoula, MT
• North of America – July 2^nd, 2010 at The Distillery
• Big Freeda – June 30^th, 2010 at the #1 Royal Canadian Legion
• Chain and the Gang – June 30^th, 2010 at the #1 Royal Canadian Legion
• Deerhoof- June 30^th, 2010 at Central United Church
• Wyrd Fest II – April 30^th, 2010 at the #1 Royal Canadian Legion
• HEALTH – February 6^th, 2010 at Broken City

Noiseshaper - Satellite City

The Black Seeds - Solid Ground

Dubmatix - System Shakedown

Gorillaz - Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach

Caribou - Swim

Lack of Afro - My Groove, Your Move

The Roots - How I Got Over

Galactic - Ya-Ka-May

Shawn Lee -  Sing a Song

Resin Dogs – More

John Legend & The Roots - Wake Up!

Balkan Beat Box - Blue Eyed Black Boy

Dub Pistols - Six Million Ways to Live

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way

Various Artists – Daptone Gold

Tony Allen - Secret Agent

By DJ Mark

• Paper Lions-Trophies
• Fine Mist-Public Domain
• A Silent Film-The City That Sleeps
• Winter Gloves-All Red
• The Modern Men-The Sensual Sounds Of…
• Falklands-Think About It
• Pacifika-Supermagique
• Ketch Harbour Wolves-Anachronisms
• We Are Action-We Are Action
• Tin Star Orphans-The Days Of Blinding Fear

Honorable Mention:

• The Orbans-When We Were Wild
• Fjord Rowboat-Under Cover Of Brightness
• Royal Canoe-Co-Op Mode
• Wakey!Wakey!-Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You…

By Kallen Law, My Public Shame

1. Nicki Minaj’s verse on “Monster”
2. Pusha T’s verse on “Runaway”
3. Rick Ross’ verse on “Devil In A New Dress”
4. Gil Scott-Heron’s “Comment #1″ used on “Who Will Survive In America”
5. Bon Iver’s heavily Autotuned singing on “Monster” and “Lost In The World”
6. Chris Rock on “Blame Game”
7. John Legend’s singing on “Blame Game”
8. Pusha T’s verse on “So Appalled”
9. Jay-Z’s verse on “Monster”
10. Nicki Minaj’s intro to “Dark Fantasy” (and the whole album, I guess)

By Richard Zywotkiewicz

Note:  after sampling more than 150 cds (a vintage year for progressive rock!) these releases made the strongest impression (in some cases after only a few listens).  Despite the order, they are virtually interchangeable.  The top pick sits at about 88/100 and the bottom at about 83/100.

1. LUCIFER WAS – CREATIO – (TRANSUBSTANS)
   Beautifully recorded epic from Swedish Veteran Hard Rockers complete with backing Orchestra.  The Rock elements act in unison with the orchestral backing and the song writing is first rate.
2. DAVID MINASIAN – RANDOM ACTS OF BEAUTY – (PROGROCK RECORDS)
   Starting out as a video concert director, this U.S. muliti-instrumentalist’s sophomore album is an amazingly beautiful, lush symphonic affair with consistently great song writing.  Though heavily keys driven, there is plenty of guitar licks both soaring and subtle.
3. MYSTERY – ONE AMOUNGST THE LIVING – (UNICORN DIGITAL)
   The Quebequois’ “Beatles” of modern progressive rock , score again with their strongest release yet. Elements of vintage progressive bands like Yes abound, but Mystery is truly finding its own voice in progressive circles.
4. HYPNOS 69 – LEGACY – (Elektrohasch Records EH 145 Germany)
   The sixth album in less than a decade by this prolific Belgium Space Rock outfit. A lot of references to early Floyd abound in this nod to early psychedelia and unlike many jam-fested modern space rock bands, this is filled with skilful atmospheres and room to breathe.
5. NORDAGUST – IN THE MIST OF MORNING – (KARISMA RECORDS)
   The music of Nordagust can be described as Norwegian folk-inspired symphonic prog – dominated by mellotron, vocals and guitar. The songs are driven by strong melodies, dramatic arrangements and the skilful use of a vast array of different instruments, sounds and vocals.
6. GUY MANNING – CHARLESTON – (FESTIVAL MUSIC)
   His eleventh album in as many years carries on in the tradition of first rate eclectic UK prog that this versatile artist has been known for. The tone is set by the opening title track that clocks in at nearly 36 minutes!
7. MAGENTA – SEVEN (INSTRUMENTALS) – (MAGENTA-SELF RELEASED)
   Remixing tracks from their superb 2004 vocal release of the same name, this Welsh Neo-Prog outfit have produced something breath taking and ultimately different. All of the band’s ambitions and talent for composing complex, classically tinged work is in evidence here.
8. ABARAX – BLUE ROOM – (Cyclops Records CYCL174 UK)
   Extremely memorable and accessible melodies, loads of atmosphere, and a lot of Floyd inspired space-rock make this German band’s sophomore release instantly likeable.
9. WINDMILL – TO BE CONTINUED… – (SELF RELEASED WEBSITE: http://www.thewindmill.no/)
   And yet another band that borrows from early Floyd with oodles of psychedelic instrumental passages and some very heavy progressive rock. From Norway.
10. AREKNAMES – IN CASE OF LOSS – (Black Widow Records BWR-120)
    This Italian band blends Hammond heavy  retro- rock with early King Crimson weirdness, a touch of psyche and jazz, and overall an excellent improvement on their first two albums.

Honourable mentions:

• MINDGAMES – MMX – another band from Belgium that takes its cue from Rush’s glory days, fusing hard riffs with key-board laden symphonic rock and doing it very well.
• ODYSSICE- SILENCE – very melodic, keys/flute based instrumental rock from the Netherlands
• IL TEMPIO DELLE CLESSIDRE – S/T – classic progresivo Italiano with a heavy dose of psyche
• SLEEPY HOLLOW – LEGEND - Ex USA metal heads take classic prog by the horns in this ambitious, though flawed,  double CD.  Commendable simply by not bowing to any trends whatsoever and  ignoring modern technology in favour of vintage instruments and analog recording.

1. Mi Ami – Steal Your Face (Thrill Jockey)
   “Harmonics”, “Latin Lover”, “Slow”
   Razorwire no-wave guitar meets thick, dubby post-punk, but without any of those awful dub trappings. My favourite new-ish band making music right now—fresh, vital, and downright exciting.
2. Women - Public Strain (Flemish Eye/Jagjaguwar)
   “Drag Open”, “Eyesore”, “China Steps”
   I don’t need to add anything else about this one.
3. Broken Water - Whet (Night People)
   “Say What’s On Your Mind”, “Spore”
   Mid/late-’80s Sonic Youth/Live Skull worship. Male vocalist Jon Hanna even sounds like a cross between Thurston Moore and J Mascis, somehow. There’s a reason Megan (host of Off Duty Trip) and I drove down to Missoula to see this Olympia-based trio.
4. Stalwart Sons – Burn Daylights Like Torches (Revolution Winter)
   “Flags and Bells”, “Frozen Ground”, “Northern Lights”
   Passionate post-hardcore with well-written songs and a lot of bent guitar strings. Anything that evokes the frozen ground of a prairie winter while sounding like a lost Dischord release (Fugazi meets Constantines?) is great in my books.
5. Dustin Wong – Infinite Love (Thrill Jockey)
   Solo guitar loop explorations. Very layered, but not densely–very fun stuff from the ex-Ecstatic Sunshine/Ponytail guitarist.
6. Mark McGuire – Living With Yourself (Editions Mego)
   “Brain Storm (For Erin”), “The Vast Structure of Recollection”
   The first ambient record I’ve heard in quite a while that actually evokes nostalgia without a touch of cheese. Very impressive.
7. Marnie Stern – Marnie Stern (Kill Rock Stars)
   “For Ash”, “Gimme”, “The Things You Notice”
   Math-rock guitar merged with off-kilter pop. Completely unique, and her most song-oriented, cohesive statement to date. Nobody else sounds like this woman.
8. Yellow Swans – Going Places (Type)
   “Limited Space”, “Going Places”
   A fitting send-off to the Portland noise duo. So dense, one could lose themselves.
9. End of a Year – You Are Beneath Me (Deathwish)
   “Jeni Leigh”, “Charles Ewert”, “Composite Character”
   The definition of a grower: realized and intelligent post-hardcore that evokes Revolution Summer. Great lyrics, and especially addictive guitar melodies. Wonderfuly cynical, I might add.
10. Sightings - CIty of Straw (Brah)
    “Tar and Pine”, “Weehawken”
    Possibly the most worthwhile noise-rock band still making music, Brooklyn’s Sightings deliver another record of texturally rich and singular experimental noise-rock.

Best show:

North of America at my friend Jeff’s place, during Sled Island—my favourite Canadian band, surrounded by my favourite people, all singing along at the top of our lungs. Also: driving to Missoula to see Oneida and Broken Water with my favourite person.

Biggest hope for next year:

Outdoor Miners album. Their two 7″s are utterly amazing.

Trend that I wish would go away:

The garage rock backlash is going to come—especially for those on the purposely lo-fi end of the spectrum. A genre can only get so saturated before I start hearing more and more people complaining about it at the record store—trust me. See also: faux-noise pop. Learn to make that guitar feedback, don’t just coat yr songs in studio dust.

By Andrew Waller

Neil Young - Le noise (Reprise)
Neil Young solo, now with even more distortion!

Various - The world ends: afro rock & psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria (Soundways)
Early 1970s Nigerian rock merging african sounds, fuzzed-out guitars, cheesy organs, and James Brown-style beats.  Not quite as good as the first collection from a few years ago, Nigeria rock special, but great stuff nonetheless.  Also worth checking out in this vein from 2010:
Nigeria special: volume 2: modern highlife, afro sounds & Nigerian blues.

The Budos Band – The Budos Band III (Daptone)
“Staten Island instrumental afro-soul”.

Richard Thompson – Dream attic (Shout! Factory) (2-CD version)
More demon guitar-playing and sharp songs about love and psychopaths from the almost flawless Thompson.  The two-disc version features both electric and acoustic versions of all the songs in the set, making for interesting comparisons.

Wolf People – Steeple (Jagjaguwar)
Yeah, it’s derivative of late-60s/early-70s English folk-rock (emphasis on the rock) but it works.

Exploding Star Orchestra – Stars have shapes (Delmark)
A dip into the sonic bath with a modern big band.

Lloyd Miller & the Heliocentrics – Lloyd Miller & the Heliocentrics (Strut)
A solid mix of jazz and Asian and African sounds.

Sun Ra and His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra – College tour, Vol. 1: the complete nothing is… (ESP)
Another trip to the universe and beyond with the man from Saturn.

Various - Next stop, Soweto, vol. 2: Soultown. R&B, funk & psych sounds from the townships, 1969-1976 (Strut)
Various - Next stop, Soweto, vol. 3: giants, ministers and makers : jazz in South Africa, 1963-1978 (Strut)
Two great compilations featuring helpings of 60s and 70s South African rock, soul, and jazz.  See also vol. 1 in the Next stop, Soweto series:
Vol. 1: township sounds from the golden age of mbaqanga

Multau Astatke – Mulatu steps ahead (Strut)
Ethio jazz for the 21st century.  Groovy music.

1. Accept: Blood of the Nations (Nuclear Blast)
   After more than a decade of silence, Accept have returned, but once again, without their iconic lead singer, Udo Dirkschneider.  Considering how their first Udo-less album, Eat the Heat (1989), barely made a mark, and how their reunions in the 90s were well-received, there were plenty of skeptisms as to how this would turn out.  But fear not, as the band managed to pull off one hell of a heavy metal album, the one that actually equals (or even surpasses!) their classics like Balls to the Wall and Restless and Wild!  Their new frontman, Mark Tornillo, fits the band perfectly, having that nice Udo/Halford/Brian Johnson range, and not only is this album is full of killer riffs and solos, but the band sounds more rejuvenated, refreshed, and are definitely ready to take on the world again.  New decade, and a new album, proves to be the new era for this legendary metal machine from Germany!
2. Overkill: Ironbound (Nuclear Blast)
   There’s no signs of ever slowing down for Bobby Blitz and his company, as they offer up another killer thrash-fest of an album.  In fact, this ranks right up there with their classics like Years of Decay and Horrorscope.  No experimentations or branching out (remember I Hear Black?), it’s just sticking to what they do the best:  thrashing your brains out!
3. White Wizzard: Over the Top (Earache Records)
   After gaining some recognition with their EP (and losing some members, whom later formed Holy Grail), they finally release their full-length debut.  With the anthemic tunes like “Over the Top”, “Live Free or Die”, and “Strike of the Viper”, and the epic-ness of “Iron Goddess of Vengeance”, you’ve got yourself a one hell of a damn good heavy metal album!
4. Enforcer: Diamonds (Heavy Artillery)
   Another band that is often described as the “new wave of traditional heavy metal”, Sweden’s Enforcer returns with their second album, Diamonds, which just like the album before, are very much inspired by classic NWOBHM with a touch of speed metal.  With this one, there is a little hint of progressiveness, which may be a sign of greater things to come.  Definitely a band to watch for!
5. Cradle of Filth: Darkly Darkly Venus Aversa (Nuclear Blast)
   After so-so albums since Midian, Cradle were back on track with 2008′s Godspeed of Devil’s Thunder. With this follow-up, despite it’s absurd title, the band managed to continue with the momentum they gained from the preceding album, and Dani’s ever clever intriguing story-telling ways will no-doubt take you on one hell of a ride through the dark side!
6. Dimmu Borgir:  Abrahadabra (Nuclear Blast)
   Just like their main rival, Cradle of Filth, they too, release an album with a stupid title.  Some (or many!) will probably disagree, but in my mind, despite their ever-increasing revolving door policies, they manage to pull this one off very well.
7. Halford: Made of Metal (Metal Gods Records)
   While Judas Priest is almost reaching its end (in regards to the recent Farewell Tour announcement), Rob Halford wasted no time in offering another dose of metal with his other band, under his own record label.  This one is a good throw-back to his classic days with the Priest, it’s almost like Screaming with Vengeance, Sin After Sin, and Defenders of the Faith all rolled into one!
8. Blind Guardian: At the Edge of Time (Nuclear Blast)
   After 4 years of absence, they are back, with some of their elements of their older releases in tact.  Thought not quite like Imaginations From the Other Side or Nightfalls In Middle Earth, it still manages to pull listeners into the fantasy world of dragons and knights through awesome metal riffery!
9. Iron Maiden:  The Final Frontier (EMI)
   Already over a decade since the return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith, which helped initiate the second big wave for the band.  Out of their “post-reunion” releases, they finally released something that almost equals Brave New World.  As the title suggests, it’s guaranteed to take you out of this world!
10. Fear Factory:  Mechanize (Candlelight)
    Guitarist Dino Cazares is back on fold, but could they still pull it off after several duds last decade?  The answer is not only yes, but they far exceeded our expectations, as this album nicely rivals their classic Demanufacture album.  It’ll be a tough task to follow this up, for sure!
11. Armored Saint: La Raza (Metal Blade)
    For John Bush, life after Anthrax is, back home with the Armored Saint gang, of course!  Now, the album cover leaves much to be desired:  Black-and-white photo of doves against the cityscape.  Geez, what is this?  Kenny G album!?  Anyways, if you look beyond the cover, the band is still in fine shape, Bush still sounds good, and they can still deliver!
12. Black Label Society:  Order of the Black (E1)
    The last 15 months had been interesting for Zakk Wylde, for sure.  Everything from his famous boss (Ozzy) letting him go, to experiencing few health scares.  He is now off booze, but as the Order of the Black proves, Zakk shows no signs of letting go of his rebellious and hell-raisin’ ways.  In my opinion, this is probably Zakk’s most enjoyable release outside of his work with Ozzy, as it is more well-structured, and more surprisingly, the ballads (which has been his biggest weakness) are … actually damn good!  As for the faster songs, Zakk’s guitar works are once again in top form, and overall, it was an unexpected surprise!
13. Airbourne:  No Guts, No Glory (EMI)
    Australia’s AC/DC-fuelled hard-rockers have finally returned with a follow-up to Runnin’ Wild, and just like their home-town hero, they continue with the don’t-fix-what’s-not-broken formula.  As a result, what we get is more tunes about just rockin’ out, having good times, booze,chicks, parties, … and more chicks!  Ooh, if only life was that simple!

Adorned Brood-Noor (Black Bards)

Atlantean Kodex- The Golden Bough (Cruz Del Sur)

Blacksword- The Sword Accurst (Echoes Of Crom)

Demonica-Demonstrous (Spiritual Beast)

Edenbridge-Solitaire (Napalm)

Infernaeon-Genesis To Nemesis (Prosthetic)

Interment-Into The Crypts Of Blasphemy (Pulverised)

Juvaliant-Inhuman Nature (Limb)

Kamelot-Poetry for The Poisoned (Knife’s Edge)

Morbid Carnage-Night Assassins (Pulverised)

Phenomena- Blind Faith (Escape)

Treat-Coup DeGrace (Frontiers)

Wig Wam-Non Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll (Frontiers)

Wildstarr- Arrival (Furnace Maximus)

Wuthering Heights-Salt (Sensory)

Misc.

Comedy album:  Helloween- Unarmed (Sony)

Instrumental album:  John 5- The Art Of Malice (60 Cycle Hum)

Live Album:  Dragonforce-Twilight Dementia (Roadrunner)

Compilation album  At Vance- Decade (AFM)

EP:  Darkblack-Midnight Wraith (Indie)

Canadian: Forgotten Tales-We Shall See The Light (Indie)

Reissue: Stratovarius- Infinite (Armoury)

Remake:  Dokken-Greatest Hits

Book:  Ted Nugent - Ted White and Blue (Regnery Publishing)

Movie:  Saxon- Heavy Metal Thunder-The Movie

DVD: Until The Light Takes Us

Concert:   Killfest,  Vancouver BC

Robin Holcomb and Talking Pictures The Point of it All
Instrumental tunes, improvisations and songs, some new ones finally! The highlight of the year for me, seeing Robin Holcomb at the Calgary Folk Music Festival and a thoughtful interview with her.

The Books The Way Out
Their website is enough to make me love them, flying Salvador Dali mustache. Every track is a surprise.

Erykah Badhu New America Part Two
Seeing Erykah live at Lillith Fair was worth navigating the long queues of people waiting for hot dogs. In the video for “Window Seat” she takes off all her clothes and dies at the site of Kennedy’s assassination, this deserved all the press and discussion. I am waiting for New Amerykah Part Three.

No More Shapes Creesus Crisis
Calgary’s Jay Crocker on guitar & electronics, J.C. Jones on trombone and Eric Hamelin on drums & percussion rock out in their jazzy way. “Fat Kid” is one of my favorite tunes, plus they played it live on noise.

Gitar Stuffed
On Negativland’s label, Seeland,  and continuing the tradition of pointed, biting and political collage. And by the way, it is funny too.

Ben Grossman Macrophone: Aleatoric  Music for Electro-Acoustic Hurdy Gurdy
Does the title say it all? Improvised hurdy gurdy with no overdubs, a two CD package. Use two CD players, play both CDs at the same time using the ‘random’ or ‘shuffle’ or ‘repeat all’ features. Different music every time you play it, wonderful. Plus, he is Canadian, plus, I had the great fortune of seeing him live at the Guelph Jazz Festival.

Boxharp The Green
I am a sucker for the breathy and melancholic vocals of Wendy Allen blended with Scott Solter’s soundscapes.

Depatterning The Forestry Lessons EP
As the website says “electricity, childhood, farming , canada”. Gary Mentanko is now in Ireland and grew up in rural Saskatchewan.  Somehow he has made turbulent nostalgia from hacked and handmade electronics.

David Sylvian Sleepwalkers
Compilation of great collaborations from the man redefining the pop song. The incredible partnerships include Burnt Friedman, Nine Horses, Ryuichi Sakamoto,  Christian Fennesz, Jan Bang and Erik Honoré, Arve Henriksen and contemporary classical composer Dai Fujikura.

Supersilent 10
Where are the long, rambling and loud tracks? A very beautiful album with acoustic instruments featuring piano.

1. Frightened Rabbit – The Winter Of Mixed Drinks (Fat Cat Records)
   I admittedly have listed to Frightened Rabbit more than any other band this year. This album is a logical progression from Midnight Organ Fight released in 2008, which I also still have on my regular play lists.
2. Bright Eyes/Neva Denova  – One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels: REISSUED (Saddle Creek Records)
   This is a reissued version of the loved 2004 release with four new tracks starting off the album. I was going to place this at number 1 but since it is a reissue, I thought it not to be fair. Oh shit, just say it is number 1.
3. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (Merge)
   # 2 tied. Régine Chassagne = Kate Bush = pretty %$#+ awesome.
4. Ben Folds/Nick Hornby – Lonely Avenue (Nonesuch Records)
   The musical madness of Ben Folds combined with the literary brilliance of Nick Hornby makes for a diverse and beat biting combo
5. The Duchess and The Duke – Sunrise/Sunset (Hardly Art)
   Also one of my favourite shows this year and the Central United Church for Sled Island Arts and Music Festival. Really under attended for how supremely rad.
6. Best Coast – Crazy for You (Mexican Summer)
   Good enough for Kathleen Hanna, good enough for you and me. Plus just really fun and awesome girl rock
7. Clinic – Bubblegum (Domino)
   See doubleentendrepreserves.blogspot.com Tuesday, October 26, 2010
8. The Corin Tucker Band – 1,000 Years (killrockstars)
   Enjoy the ferocious voice of former Sleater-Kinney front woman Corin Tucker!
9. David Lynch – Good Day Today/I Know –Single (Sunday Best Recordings)
   Seriously, I love this.
10. Danger Mouse/Sparklehorse (deluxe Edition)– Dark Night Of The Soul (EMI Records)
    Iggy Pop, Black Francis, Suzanne Vega, Flamming Lips, David Lynch, Vic Chestnut, Jason Lytle—one album in the memory of John ‘Sparklehorse’ Linkous
11. Caribou – Swim (Best new music )
    yup.

1. Dubstep with soul including these amazing releases:
*Starkey- Ear Drums and Black Holes
*Fantastic Mr. Fox –Evelyn
*James Blake – Everything this year
*Mount Kimbie- Crooks and Lovers

2. Cuuuuuummmmbiaaa:
*Systema Solar- Self Titled – Straight out of Colombia; a party album with everything from r’n’b, to hip-hop, house and more! Track it down and be blown away.
*Chancha Via Circuito – Rio Arriba – A bit weird as it was only relased in Argentina this year, this was one of the most beautiful  avant garde albums that links ancient traditional cumbia sounds with the future of electronic production.

3. Labels:
*Jahtari- Wicked year for the #1 digital reggae/dancehall/ dub/step label in the world. Topped off by having Disrupt and Soomt T live at Dub at the Pub 12 year anniversary!
*R & S records- Had three of my favorite releases this year: Untold, James Blake, Pariah
*Made to Play Records- the easiest way to get the best dance tunes from Rennaisance Man, Riva Starr, Jesse Rose, Olive $ , Round Table Knights et al. under one great label.
* Ninja Tune – XX – nuff said

4. Biggest dance chunes:
*Foamo- “Centavo” -A track that killed it EVERY time in the dance, massive!
*G31- “Pity”
*SBTRKT- almost everything he released this year was big, my fave was his remix of J-WOW’s O-dedo
* Pinch- “The Boxer “– Plus his show at Modern math make this a top pick!
*DJ Zinc / Benga / Ms Dynamite – “My DJ”

5. Best Space/ Home/ Headphone Music:
*Scientist- Launches Dubstep Into Outer Space
*Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
*Nicholaas Jaar- Resident Advisor Mix
* Aloe Blacc- Good Things
*Jamie Lidell - Compass

Music:
1. “Christmas In July”: Massive Chorus Radio French Cd “Trove”: 12 boxes x 120 Cds each – hours and hours of listening pleasure (sometimes not…) in French;
2. Spending yet another wonderful February Reading Week at Brem’s log cabin;
3. Neil Young and his old Hank Williams guitar facing a packed BC Place for the closing ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics;
4. “Black Sessions” live on France-Inter radio station: Cocorosie, Blonde Redhead and Katerine;

Nature:

5. Spending yet another wonderful February Reading Week at Brem’s log cabin;
6. Reaching “new heights” with Université de Toulouse Sociology Prof./Alpine Clubs specialist Olivier Hoibian during his 3-week visit to the Canadian Rockies;
7. “Urban climber” Timmy O’Neill’s side-splitting performances at the 16th Banff Mountain Book/Film Festival;
8. “The Power of Nature”, movie/documentary about David Suzuki, his life and his career – a great complement to the “Under Western Skies” Conference held at MRU in October;

Theater:

9. “Les Médecins de Molière” November performance by Théâtre La Catapulte and Théâtre français de Toronto;

Dance:

10. Pilobolus Dance Theatre company amazing show at the Jubilee Auditorium;

And last but not least:

11. 11th Calgary Pétanque (French “bocce”) Tournament/September CJSW Fundraiser.