Throughout the year, CJSW’s music department accepts submissions from local, Canadian, and international artists. Here are top albums of 2018 as determined by the number of airplays, as well as the top 20 in our specialty charts.

Want to see your band top the charts in 2019? Visit our submission page for more information about our music department!

*Canadian **Local

100. Project Pablo* – Hope You’re Well (Technicolour)
99. Test Card* – Rediffusion (Sound in Silence)
98. Celer, Forest Management – Landmarks (Constellation Tatsu)
97. Beach Body* – Plain Life EP (Self-Released)
96. OCS – Memory of a Cut Off Head (Castle Face)
95. MAZ* – ID (Self-Released)
94. charlie dreaming** – healing dreams (Drift)
93. Renee Rosnes* – Beloved of the Sky (Smoke Sessions Records)
92. Sudan Archives – Sink – EP (Stones Throw)
91. Le Plaisir* – No Ordinary Wave EP (Self-Released)
90. Nick Fraser* – Is Life Long? (Trem Azul)
89. Sunglaciers** – Twin/Evil Twin (Self-Released)
88. Steve Dawson* – Lucky Hand (Black Hen Music)
87. Exploded View – Obey (Sacred Bones)
86. Nils Frahm – All Melody (Erased Tapes)
85. YoshimiO, Susie Ibarra, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe – Flower of Sulphur (Thrill Jockey)
84. Brenda Navarrete* – Mi Mundo (Alma)
83. Ashley Hundred* – The Ashley Hundred (Self-Released)
82. Fitness* – -ing (Self-Released)
81. Damien Jurado – The Horizon Just Laughed (Secretly Canadian)
80. Scratch Buffalo** – Scratch Buffalo (Self-Released)
79. Psychic Pollution* – Memoirs From a Flat Planet (Self-Released)
78. Heavydive** – Warn the Dark (Self-Released)
77. Cartel Madras** – Project Goonda Part 1: Trapistan (Self-Released)
76. Jerusalem in My Heart* – Daqa’iq Tudaiq (Constellation)
75. Netrvnner** – Netrvnner (Self-Released)
74. Dave Young , Terry Promane Octet* – Vol. 2 (U of T Jazz)
73. Charlotte Day Wilson* – Stone Woman (Self-Released)
72. Ursula K. LeGuin, Todd Barton – Music and Poetry of the Kesh (Freedom to Spend)
71. David Francey* – The Broken Heart of Everything (Self-Released)
70. blue odeur* – BLEU RAY//HYACINTH (Self-Released)
69. Deliluh* – Day Catcher (Hand Drawn Dracula)
68. Durand Jones & the Indications – Durand Jones & the Indications (Dead Oceans)
67. Bernice* – Puff LP: In the Air Without A Shape (Arts & Crafts)
66. Oneohtrix Point Never – Age Of (Warp)
65. Shaela Miller* – Bad Ideas (Self-Released)
64. Blackwater Holylight – Blackwater Holylight (Riding Easy Records)
63. Sandro Dominelli* – Here and Now (Chronograph Records)
62. Carbolizer** – Carbolizer (Self-Released)
61. Forbidden Dimension** – Muchas Moscas (Self-Released)
60. James Hunter Six – Whatever it Takes (Daptone Records)
59. Hammerdrone** – Dark Harvest (Self-Released)
58. Rival Consoles – Persona (Erased Tapes)
57. Essaie Pas* – New Path (The Remixes) (DFA)
56. Aidan Baker, Gareth Davis* – Invisible Cities (Karlrecords)
55. Rhye* – Blood (Loma Vista)
54. Avulsions* – Expanding Program (Flemish Eye)
53. Pharis & Jason Romero* – Sweet Old Religion (Self-Released)
52. Purlicue** – Sip ‘n Dip (Self-Released)
51. All Hands On Jane** – Animal Worship (Self-Released)
50. IDLES – Joy as an Act of Resistance (Partisan)
49. Jessica Moss* – Entanglement (Constellation)
48. T. Buckley** – Miles We Put Behind (Self-Released)
47. Stegosarahs** – Simple Subtraction (Self-Released)
46. Efrim Manuel Menuck* – Pissing Stars (Constellation)
45. Tricia Edwards** – Intaglios (Self-Released)
44. Cousin Harley* – Blue Smoke: The Music of Merle Travis (Little Pig Records)
43. Feel Alright** – In Bad Faith (Pleasance Records)
42. Sarah Davachi** – Let Night Come Bells End the Day (Recital)
41. Dark Time** – Dark Time (Self-Released)
40. Sarah Davachi** – Gave In Rest (Ba Da Bing)
39. Jayne Murray** – lookgoodfor (Self-Released)
38. Not Close Nor Far** – Hiss (Bow Bottom Records)
37. E-Saggila – Dedicated to Sublimity (Bank Records)
36. Joyfultalk* – Plurality Trip (Constellation Records)
35. Masta Ace, Marco Polo* – A Breukelen Story (Fat Beats Records)
34. Ought* – Room Inside the World (Merge)
33. Trigger Warming** – TONE ETHER (Self-Released)
32. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan* – Dirt (Paper Bag)
31. the 427’s** – Stay Gold (Stingray Sound)
30. Mariel Buckley** – Driving in the Dark (Self-Released)
29. Shame – Songs of Praise (Dead Oceans)
28. Peter & the Wolves** – Howlin’ and Prowlin’ (VLV Records)
27. Dave Alvin, Jimmie Dale Gilmore – Downey to Lubbock (Yep Roc)
26. Soren Nissen – Departures (Self-Released)
25. Garrys* – Surf Manitou (Grey Records)
24. Reuben and the Dark** – Arms of a Dream (Arts & Crafts)
23. Jean-Michel Blais* – Dans ma main (Arts & Crafts)
22. Ian William Craig* – Thresholder (130701)
21. Suuns* – Felt (Secretly Canadian)
20. Dumb* – Seeing Green (Mint Records)
19. Tim Hecker* – Konoyo (kranky)
18. Astral Swans** – Strange Prison (Saved by Vinyl/Moorworks/Tiny Room Records)
17. Avi Granite 6* – Orbit (Pet Mantis Records)
16. Tashi Wada, Yoshi Wada, and Friends – FRKWYS Vol. 14 – Nue (RVNG Intl. )
15. Bob Keelaghan, Muerte Pan Alley** – The Soundtrack to Intersection (SAP Recordings)
14. Dominic Pierce** – Hoop Loop$ (Inner Ocean)
13. Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge – The Midnight Hour (Linear Labs)
12. Freak Motif** – Hot Plate (Self-Released)
11. Christopher Reimer** – Hello People (The Chris Reimer Legacy Fund Society)
10. Jo Passed* – Their Prime (Sub Pop)
9. Peggy Lee* – Echo Painting (Songlines)
8. Miesha and the Spanks** – Girls Girls Girls (Saved by Vinyl)
7. Preoccupations** – New Material (Flemish Eye)
6. Lindi Ortega** – Liberty (Shadowbox Music)
5. Dave Holland, Evan Parker, Craig Taiborn, Ches Smith – Uncharted Territories (Dare2 Records)
4. Various** – CJSW 90.9 FM – Invisible Channel (CJSW 90.9 FM)
3. FRIGS* – Basic Behaviour (Arts & Crafts)
2. DJ Dine & Dash, Silkq** – Moxam 310 (Self-Released)
1. Wish Lash** – Altar of Doubt (Self-Released)

Electronic

20. Hiro Kone – Pure Expenditure (Dais)
19. Remediation** – L’Appel Du Vide (Techno.Black)
18. Marie Davidson* – Working Class Woman (Make It Rain / Ninja Tune)
17. Nervous Operator* – Incoherent Reflections (Self-Released)
16. M.E.S.H. – Hesaitix (PAN)
15. Elaquent* – Celebrate Life! (Urbnet)
14. Jayne Murray** – I Cleaned My House (Self-Released)
13. Sevson* – ACID FLASHBK NXTLVL005 (N X T L V L R)
12. Ouri* – We Share Our Blood (Make It Rain)
11. Sergio SP** – Insulate EP (Slivers)
10. Yabra** – Astral EP (Self-Released)
9. Jon Hopkins – Singularity (Domino)
8. Project Pablo* – Hope You’re Well (Technicolour)
7. Essaie Pas* – New Path (The Remixes) (DFA)
6. Stegosarahs** – Simple Subtraction (Self-Released)
5. Jayne Murray** – lookgoodfor (Self-Released)
4. E-Saggila – Dedicated to Sublimity (Bank Records)
3. Trigger Warming** – TONE ETHER (Self-Released)
2. Dominic Pierce** – Hoop Loop$ (Inner Ocean)
1. DJ Dine & Dash, Silkq** – Moxam 310 (Self-Released)

Experimental

20. Nils Frahm – All Melody (Erased Tapes)
19. YoshimiO, Susie Ibarra, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe – Flower of Sulphur (Thrill Jockey)
18. Psychic Pollution* – Memoirs From a Flat Planet (Self-Released)
17. Jerusalem in My Heart* – Daqa’iq Tudaiq (Constellation)
16. Netrvnner** – Netrvnner (Self-Released)
15. Ursula K. LeGuin, Todd Barton – Music and Poetry of the Kesh (Freedom to Spend)
14. Oneohtrix Point Never – Age Of (Warp)
13. Rival Consoles – Persona (Erased Tapes)
12. Aidan Baker, Gareth Davis* – Invisible Cities (Karlrecords)
11. Jessica Moss* – Entanglement (Constellation)
10. Sarah Davachi** – Let Night Come Bells End the Day (Recital)
9. Sarah Davachi** – Gave In Rest (Ba Da Bing)
8. Not Close Nor Far** – Hiss (Bow Bottom Records)
7. Joyfultalk* – Plurality Trip (Constellation Records)
6. Jean-Michel Blais* – Dans ma main (Arts & Crafts)
5. Tim Hecker* – Konoyo (kranky)
4. Ian William Craig* – Thresholder (130701)
3. Tashi Wada, Yoshi Wada, and Friends – FRKWYS Vol. 14 – Nue (RVNG Intl. )
2. Christopher Reimer** – Hello People (The Chris Reimer Legacy Fund Society)
1. Wish Lash** – Altar of Doubt (Self-Released)

Folk

20. Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer* – Apocalipstick (Self-Released)
19. Fugitives* – The Promise of Strangers (Borealis)
18. Ana Egge – White Tiger (StorySound Records)
17. Sugar Brown* – It’s A Blues World (Self-Released)
16. William Elliott Whitmore – Kilonova (Bloodshot Records)
15. Six by Six** – Six by Six (Self-Released)
14. Sue Foley * – The Ice Queen (Stony Plain)
13. The Slocan Ramblers* – Queen City Jubilee (Self-Released)
12. Jay Bowcott** – Childult (Self-Released)
11. Buffy Sainte-Marie* – Medicine Songs (True North Records)
10. Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – Years (Bloodshot Records)
9. Steve Dawson* – Lucky Hand (Black Hen Music)
8. David Francey* – The Broken Heart of Everything (Self-Released)
7. Shaela Miller* – Bad Ideas (Self-Released)
6. Pharis & Jason Romero* – Sweet Old Religion (Self-Released)
5. T. Buckley** – Miles We Put Behind (Self-Released)
4. Cousin Harley* – Blue Smoke: The Music of Merle Travis (Little Pig Records)
3. Mariel Buckley** – Driving in the Dark (Self-Released)
2. Dave Alvin, Jimmie Dale Gilmore – Downey to Lubbock (Yep Roc)
1. Lindi Ortega** – Liberty (Shadowbox Music)

Hip-Hop

20. Obuxum* – H.E.R. (Urbnet)
19. Harrison* – Apricity (Last Gang Records)
18. Haggis Horns – One of These Days (Self-Released)
17. Tachichi* – Chico’s 90s Project (Hand’Solo)
16. Everything Is Recorded – Everything is Recorded by Richard Russell (XL)
15. Chance Lovett & the Broken-Hearted* – Some Little Songs EP (Self-Released)
14. Amp Sessions** – Beats for Broke People Vol 3 (Self-Released)
13. Dabrye – Three/Three (Ghostly International)
12. Cadence Weapon* – Cadence Weapon (eOne)
11. Sabo Forte** – Robes (Self-Released)
10. Shad* – A Short Story About A War (Secret City)
9. Keys n Krates * – Cura (Dim Mak)
8. Sudan Archives – Sink – EP (Stones Throw)
7. Cartel Madras** – Project Goonda Part 1: Trapistan (Self-Released)
6. Charlotte Day Wilson – Stone Woman (Self-Released)
5. Durand Jones & the Indications – Durand Jones & the Indications (Dead Oceans)
4. James Hunter Six – Whatever it Takes (Daptone Records)
3. Masta Ace, Marco Polo* – A Breukelen Story (Fat Beats Records)
2. Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge – The Midnight Hour (Linear Labs)
1. Freak Motif** – Hot Plate (Self-Released)

Jazz

20. Ellen Doty** – Come Fall (ALMA Records)
19. Sheldon Zandboer ** – Tipping Velvet (Chronograph)
18. Esteban Herrera Trio** – Hogar (Self-Released)
17. Kamasi Washington – Heaven and Earth (Young Turks)
16. Al Muirhead** – Undertones (Chronograph Records)
15. Gordon Grdina Quartet* – Inroads (Songlines)
14. BC Double Quartet* – Departure (Cellar Live)
13. Chet Doxas – Rich in Symbols (Ropeadope LLC)
12. Holly Cole* – Holly (Universal)
11. Jim Gelcer, Paul Hoffert Trio featuring George Koller* – Jim and Paul Play Glenn and Ludwig (Centrediscs)
10. Brodie West Quintet* – Clips (Self-Released)
9. Renee Rosnes* – Beloved of the Sky (Smoke Sessions Records)
8. Nick Fraser* – Is Life Long? (Trem Azul)
7. Dave Young , Terry Promane Octet* – Vol. 2 (U of T Jazz)
6. Sandro Dominelli** – Here and Now (Chronograph Records)
5. Tricia Edwards** – Intaglios (Self-Released)
4. Soren Nissen* – Departures (Self-Released)
3. Avi Granite 6* – Orbit (Pet Mantis Records)
2. Peggy Lee* – Echo Painting (Songlines)
1. Dave Holland, Evan Parker, Craig Taiborn, Ches Smith – Uncharted Territories (Dare2 Records)

Metal

20. Bison* – Earthbound (No List Records)
19. Bliss Signal – Bliss Signal (Profound Lore)
18. Decatur* – Badder Than Brooklyn (Self-Released)
17. Loudness – Rise to Glory (Earmusic)
16. WAKE ** – Misery Rites (Translation Loss Records)
15. DevilDriver – Outlaws Till the End Vol. I (Napalm Records)
14. Forsaken Rite* – The Northern Saga (Self-Released)
13. Pandemik9** – Re Vamp (Self-Released)
12. Sirenia – Arcane Astral Aeons (Napalm Records)
11. Blackest Sin** – Blood Eagle (Self-Released)
10. Vantablack Warship* – Abrasive Pulmonic Speak (Self-Released)
9. BornBroken* – The Years of Harsh Truths and Little Lies… (Self-Released)
8. Osyron** – Kingsbane (Self-Released)
7. Author & Punisher – Beastland (Relapse)
6. Pecado** – Christ Invasion (Self-Released)
5. Gales of Avalon** – Hope (Self-Released)
4. Kobra and the Lotus** – Prevail II (Napalm Records)
3. Hell Hounds* – Paint the World (Self-Released)
2. Striker* – Play To Win (Record Breaking Records)
1. Hammerdrone** – Dark Harvest (Self-Released)

Regional

20. G.Rag y los Hermanos Patchekos – How Sweet the Sound (Gutfeeling Records)
19. The Original Skatalites and Friends – Ska Authentic (Studio One)
18. Orquesta Akokan – Orquesta Akokan (Daptone)
17. Toronto Tabla Ensemble* – Bhumika (Self-Released)
16. Bombino – Deran (Partisan)
15. Roots Noir* – Elevate (Self-Released)
14. Dubmatix* – King Size Dub Special (20 tracks + bonus) (Echo Beach)
13. Huun Huur Tu, Carmen Rizzo – Koshkyn (Electrofone Music)
12. Minor Empire* – Uprooted (World Trip Records)
11. Eliana Cuevas – Golpes y Flores (Alma Records)
10. Kiran Ahluwalia – 7 Billion (Six Degrees)
9. Bicicletas Por La Paz – Surfeando Un Cometa (Self-Released)
8. Catrin Finch, Seckou Keita – SOAR (bendigedig)
7. Femi Kuti – One People One World (Knitting Factory Records)
6. Near East* – Near East (Self-Released)
5. Orkestar Kriminal* – Ryobra (Coax Records)
4. Shy Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood, Rajasthan Express – Junun (Nonesuch)
3. Nickodemus – A Long Enagement (Wonderwheel Recordings)
2. MAZ* – ID (Self-Released)
1. Brenda Navarrete* – Mi Mundo (Alma)