HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE ON THE PLANET!!!
I, for one, have had enough of 2011. Between being harassed at my former job, getting high blood pressure due to harassment and after a 3.5 month of personal time, I took a blood pressure pill that caused 2nd and 3rd degree chemical burns on the lower legs and feet so bad that I may not ever work a full time job again. Oh well, its done now so I just have to learn to live with what I’ve been left with. We all are tired of the turkey leftovers of the holiday season, this post will leave you with a sense of curiosity especially if you don’t know the band.
So, this is my list of my favorite music 2010/2011:
10. State of Shock – Rock’n'Roll Romance (Vancouver BC Canada)
State of Shock is a really tight band that has some kick ass music. Their newest CD was released on September 20, 2011, and it is a treat to hear a real progression in their songwriting skills. My favorites: The F Word, Have A Nice Day and Wish I Woulda Wowed U.
9. Amy Winehouse – Lioness: Hidden Treasures (London UK)
Although this is postmortem release it’s a very good collection of songs. Amy had such huge talent but in the end she had a mysterious death. RIP Amy. My favourites: Our Day Will Come and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
8. Emily’s Army – Don’t Be A Dick (Oakland CA USA)
A band that consists of teenagers who have a lot of talent and play old skool punk like there is no tomorrow. And the drummer of this band is Billie Joe Armsrtong’s (of Green Day fame) son Joey. If this band is playing a show near you, try to go because you won’t be disappointed. My favorites: Broadcast This, West Coast and Loch Lomond.
7. My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Los Angeles CA USA)
Even though this CD came out in November 2010, I still want to include it here. I’ve never been a big fan of MCR but this album is very “catchy”; progressive pop-punk-metal. The vision behind the album with the videos (directed by Gerard Way) does give it that “Mad Max” feel to them plus a comic book storyline. I look forward to more albums in the future. My favorites: Planetary GO!, Bulletproof Heart and Scarecrow.
6. The Sheepdogs – Lean and Burn (Saskatoon SK Canada)
Hailing from Saskatoon, The Sheepdogs had a fantastic year with this release,: winning the Rolling Stone cover contest was a major step up from the bar scene clubs, which in turn made their tour awesome. My favorites: The One You Belong To, I Don’t Know and Soldier Boy.
5. Shoot The Image – Cranes In The City (Toronto ON Canada)
A newer band out of Toronto that have very interesting music that has depth and feeling. Some people know who they are. Most people only know that the singers have excellent pipes and drama onstage from their emotions . I definitely look forward to new songs in 2012. My favorites: Fortified, Vagabond and Lithograph.
4. Craft Spells – Idle Labour (Stockton CA and Seattle WA USA)
Back in March the band released “Idle Labour” to good reviews. I like how relaxing this music makes me feel – like floating about the earth feeling peaceful and looking down at the globe of 7 billion plus inhabitants. My favorites: Scandinavian Crush, Party Talk and You Should Close The Door.
3. Cults – Cults (Manhattan NYC USA)
Cults formed in 2010 while Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin were students at The New School. They began making music in their spare time to share with their friends, including fellow band Bedhead. Madeline had previously recorded with punk band Youth Gone Mad on the album Touching Cloth. Cults self released an EP, Cults 7″ with the track “Go Outside” named “Best New Music” by Pitchfork Media. I really like the music this band performs and I’m looking forward to a new release soon. My favorites: Oh My God, Abducted and Bad Things.
2. The Rosebuds – Loud Planes Fly Low (Raleigh, NC USA)
The Rosebuds are an indie rock band whose current members are Ivan Howard (vocals/guitar/ drums/ bass/keyboards/programming) and Kelly Crisp (vocals/keyboard/drums/guitar/accordion). Billy Alphin had played drums on the album The Rosebuds Make Out, Wes Phillips played drums on the E.P. Unwind, Lee Waters played drums on the record Birds Make Good Neighbors, and Matt McCaughan played the drums on both Night Of The Furies and Life Like. Rob Lackey was behind the drum kit during the taping of The Rosebuds Live at the Cats Cradle, a charity only recording (sold at cytunes.org) to help fight for the prevention of cancer, and as well, as on the track “Second Birds of Paradise” on Loud Planes Fly Low. My favorites: Go Ahead, Woods and A Story.
1. Mother Mother – Eureka (Vancouver BC Canada)
Mother Mother is a five-piece Canadian Indie Rock band who are originally from Quadra Island. They are now based in Vancouver BC. Mother Mother consists of Ryan Guldemond (guitar and vocals), Molly Guldemond (vocals and keyboard), Jasmin Parkin (keyboard and vocals), Ali Siadat (drums) and Jeremy Page (bass).
I personally really dig this band for how well they are as writers who tell a story, much like the Toronto band Shoot The Image. My favorites: The Stand, Baby Don’t Dance and Simply Simple.
Thanks for reading and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 to all the readers of this blog! Cheers!
Jade Sperry
