Okay, so these are always fun to do. We did ‘em last year andit’s always an interesting look back on the year that was the music in one’s life! I just took a trip out to Vancouver to visit SK and others, and was therefore afforded numerous hours to sit around in Airports to compile my thoughts. So, here they are…in no particular order :)
Thrice: ‘Beggars’
I still remember the first time I heard this record: I had stayed late at work one night and gleaned that Thrice had their new record available on the Internet for a free preview. With the office empty, I raised the volume on my computer without trepidation. I was ready to rock this one out.
I was immediately blown away by this record. Two Facebook status updates and one Tweet later, I was immersed in this new collection. I was “flipping out” (my own admission that day). This is the kind of record that, upon first listen, just couldn’t possibly be any better (meriting such prolific yet guttural statements as: “It’s just so good…SO good”). The first couple tracks had my ears piqued, but as soon as “Circles” clocked in at track #3, I was at full attention. “Doublespeak” followed that up and I immediately proclaimed this record the best of 2009. Luckily, the rest of the record didn’t disappoint – “In Exile” easily ranks as my favourite Thrice song in their impressive catalog.
Many slot ‘Veissu’ and ‘The Artist In The Ambulance‘ as the band’s best records, but I have gone out on a limb in saying that this record is the perfect culmination of all Thrice’s previous work. In many ways, it is what Radiohead did with ‘In Rainbows’; you have the classic sound of the band mixed with the experimental side, resulting in a record sounding like a band well-versed in what *their* sound is and how it should be.
Patrick Watson: ‘Wooden Arms’
This record is absolutely brilliant. You can trust me when I tell you that there is no other record like this one; it is truly unique to this band and the individual performers that supply its nuances.
I have listened to this record in several different contexts, but it was the most recent that truly put it into my upper echelon of musical experience. I recently took a road trip to celebrate a loved one’s Birthday. With me on the voyage was my Uncle — who, bless his heart, is extremely finicky when it comes to music. Thus, I had to choose the trip’s listening material carefully. After the sun had set and a couple of records had prepared him for a musical odyssey, I put ‘Wooden Arms’ into the car’s CD player.
We both had our consciousness taken beyond that dark, winding, snowy country road that night. As if written as the soundtrack to a beautiful Winter landscape, the multi-instrument masterpiece took on a life of it’s own. My Uncle was taken aback by the power amongst the simplicity…the simple beauty amongst the complex intricacy. Songs like “Big Bird In A Small Cage” and “Beijing” elicited the word “Wow!” as the most common reaction, and was aptly put. This is an amazing record.
Weezer @ The Molson Amphitheatre
I had never seen Weezer before. It was a safe bet that they would deliver, considering that this is a band still carrying legions of fans on its shoulders after more than a dozen years in the game. Even if they had just played *one* song that I grew up with in my adolescence, I would have walked away happy. Instead, I got to behold that which was the Weezer party in Toronto that night. Fans were dancing in the aisles, hugging each other and generally having fun. Seeing all of this, I was not to miss out! I’m never one to avoid a clap-along or skip singing one of the classics as loud as I can. Luckily, Weezer pulled out many of those classics from their back pocket!
Rivers Cuomo was having a blast on-stage and the rest of the band followed suit. Patrick Wilson stepped off the kit (in exchange for a guitar) and I got to witness Josh Freese execute yet another mercenary-style mission on the drums. What a nice surprise! Freese is easily one of my favourite drummers (see Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, The Vandals).
Notch another monster of a band on my concert bedpost 
Stone Temple Pilots @ Kool Haus
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that this was the best *performance* I witnessed all year, but I have to add it here because this was simply some of the most fun I had at a show all year. Beer after beer got downed and one fist after another got pumped with enthusiasm. The setlist was stacked with singles and the crowd sang every word. Added to my enjoyment of those songs was the communal nature of that enjoyment; STP fans in attendance were *sharing* this concert together. There were few times when I looked around and didn’t share a mutual moment of rock. Sure, I high-fived people that I normally wouldn’t grant such access outside of these scenarios, but social rules didn’t apply that night; good-times were paramount. This concert was a complete blast.
Metric: ‘Fantasies’
I think that this is easily the best Metric record to date. I always run into trouble with hardcore fans when I say things like that; however, I truly feel that this was a ground-breaking record for the band.
This record has no “misses” for me (suggesting that all songs featured are…hits? Ok!). Beyond that, the songwriting is absolutely stellar. The songs flow perfectly into each other, yet remain remarkable gems unto themselves. Songs like “Stadium Love” showcase the band’s comfort for writing catchy songs, while “Gold Guns Girls” shows that Metric can still write monsters.
Added to my experience of their new record, I saw Metric twice this past year, and both were *fantastic* performances. This is still an extremely relevant and influential band. Get on board and stay on top of them.
Alexisonfire: ‘Old Crows/Young Cardinals’
I still remember when I first heard the lead single off this record, premiered on BBC Radio 1. When “Young Cardinals” hit the airwaves (more like zeros and ones for me) I was beside myself! The sound of George Pettit’s voice on the verse (which is much more refined and intelligible) and Dallas Green’s soaring vocal on the chorus had me in pure fits of AOF exaltation. Along with the other songs I had heard live in December 2008, I knew I was in for a treat with this record.
The riffs are tighter on this record. The BAND is tighter on this record. Hell, apparently they even recorded much of it live of the floor, as a cohesive unit. It definitely shows; the record is a blazing, blistering display of a band at its perfection. Sure, ‘Watch Out’ (the band’s 2nd record) reigns as my favourite AOF record, but this effort is undeniable in its earnest abandon from that record. This takes form in the grown-up vocal melodies and the risks taken in the songwriting as a whole. A perfect example of this is “The Northern”. This is a song based in the sound we have come to know and love from the band, yet, is a departure from anything laid to tape (or, again, zeros and ones) by the band in the past.
Propagandhi: ‘Supporting Caste’
What can I say…the band has numerous records under its belt, but this has to be their best. What’s to argue with? The insanely-tight, metal-worthy riffs mixed with catchy thrash-punk? The on-point songwriting? The ratcheted-up social commentary? It’s all where it should be.
“Night Letters” tears your ears apart at the start, while “Last Will And Testament” soothes them once again at the end. Despite what may appear to be disparity in sound between the tracks on the record, this is a formidable, stand-alone, perfected piece of art.
Nine Inch Nails @ Molson Amphitheatre
I saw what might be the last NIN show to roll through Toronto for many years! Enough said. Search out the post on the right of this site (the same goes for all other shows mentioned)!
NIN/JA2009
I also finally saw Jane’s Addiction (w/ NIN). Those guys know what they’re doing, plain and simple. Pure rockstars. Perry Farrell and Stephen Perkins were a blast to see again live (I had seen them perform as part of Porno For Pyros many years ago). Dave Navarro is a Guitar God, through and through. It’s what he was meant to do on this earth, for sure.
Brendan O’Brien
One of my favourite producers of all time. He has produced some of the best rock records of the past two decades. Well, after embracing ‘Light Grenades’ by Incubus for quite some time, Brendan’s work came back into my life in a BIG way. One: Killswitch Engage put out a self-titled record produced by Brendan. It kills. Given that, it doesn’t top what has been released by the band in the past but I still love it. Great record.
Two: Pearl Jam’s ‘Backspacer’ is a great, great record. Brendan returned to the helm to oversee a bang-up of a record. A definite return-to-form for the band. As soon as I heard “The Fixer” on the radio (really, Internet Radio), I knew that Brendan had worked his magic.
Honourable mentions:
-The Happiness Project @ The Music Gallery was such a positive experience. What a fantastic musical experiment.
-Frank Turner put out a really honest, gritty folk-rock record.‘Poetry Of The Deed’ at times seems safe enough to keep on in the background, but often brings itself right into the forefront with emotionally-charged lyrics. Great record.
-I saw Blink 182. Hey, it was fun
-Timber Timbre’s self-titled record is positively spooky, yet extremely vibey. I love it.
-Moneen put out a definite step-up of a record. If you don’t know this band, check out ‘The World I Want To Leave Behind’ — it will not disappoint!
-I was never the biggest Tegan & Sara fan, but ‘Sainthood’ sounded too good to pass up when I first heard it. I’m on board with this record.
-The Swell Season put out ‘Strict Joy’ and it features some really remarkable songs. Check “High Horses”and “The Verb” to get a feel. The former of the two honestly blows my mind with the sonic picture that it paints.
-We FINALLY got a new MuteMath record!!! ‘Armistice’ took forever to reach our ears, but it was worth the wait. I have been a champion of this band since the early days, and will continue to be one. This record is taking some time to warm up to my ears — possibly because I lived with their debut for so long — but it is definitely taking on its own life. Check this band out!!!
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