My Favourite Songs of 2012

These songs are the ones that I will remember most from this year.  It certainly appears that the world of music is beginning it’s move away from the pop artists that have been so prevalent and returning to the creation and production of some exceptional songs.  About time I’d say.  I attribute this to the web and the ability of many new artists to reach the public through such areas as Bandcamp, soundcloud, YouTube, Twitter etc.  The advent of these devices has greatly expanded my musical horizons and will continue to do so.

I have chosen not to do a finite top ten list as I appreciated all of these songs and at certain times would have been my number 1.  In addition, I have chosen songs new to me this year, meaning they could be from anytime, although the majority are 2012.  I hope you enjoy.

Emm Gryner – Ciao Monday

I see great things from this Canadian singer-songwriter.  Love this version, recorded live at CBC.

Graffiti6 – Free

This song reached and grabbed me by the ears and shook me to a musical high.  Phenomenally written song, reaching one crescendo after another.

The Lumineers – Ho Hey

Another tune that grabbed me.  The more I listened, the more I liked.  This song will be around for years, in movies, on TV, in commercials.  Instant classic.

Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks

Iceland’s contribution to music this year, and a great video as well.

Alabama Shakes – Hold On

What a voice.

Caro Emerald – Back It Up

My favourite find of the year.  I am really digging this act.  Great voice, and different in a great way.

That’s a start, still have some more to pass on and will do so tomorrow.  Don’t want to destroy your attention span.

 

Listening To Canadians – The Deep Dark Woods

deep dark woods
deep dark woods (Photo credit: catechism)

 

The Deep Dark Woods are another band out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan that I spent some evenings listening to at Bud’s On Broadway.  This particular song was written for a CBC project in 2009 called The Great Canadian Songquest.  Charlie’s (is coming down) is performed live in this version.  Ah, memories.

 

 

Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 29

A mix of old and new, from Gowan  to Plaskett, a good set.

1. Barenaked Ladies

“Jane”

Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies (Photo credit: Houston Marsh)

The Barenaked Ladies are a major Canadian success story.  Their cheeky style and interesting lyrics set them apart from most contemporaries.  This is their first entry on the best music list, the first of many.

2. Gowan

“Strange Animal”

Lawrence Gowan
Lawrence Gowan (Photo credit: OpalMirror)

A classic tune from a well-travelled artist.  He is the current lead singer for Styx.


3. Gandharvas

“Downtime”

Cover art for the album Sold for a Smile by Th...
Cover art for the album Sold for a Smile by The Gandharvas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Great song from the early 90’s.  Kick back and enjoy.

4. Chalk Circle

“NIMBY”

The Best of Chalk Circle
The Best of Chalk Circle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some classic 80’s rock, a bit mellow and not my favourite song by the band.

5. Joel Plaskett Emergency

“Natural Disaster”

Joel Plaskett Emergency Playing the Aliant Stage
Joel Plaskett Emergency Playing the Aliant Stage (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Love this band.  Prolific and good, a deadly combination.

Listening To Canadians – Kathleen Edwards – "Empty Threat"

Kathleen Edwards
Kathleen Edwards (Photo credit: Regina Folk Festival)

Great song from a great singer songwriter.  Kathleen Edwards is one of Canada’s finest and is developing a following around the world.  This song was recorded live for the CBC during a private show for CBC3.  It doesn’t get much better than this does it.

Empty Threat

Kathleen Edwards Home Page

Kathleen Edwards on iTunes

 

Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 28

Heavy on the classic stuff again.  Canada did have a thriving cottage industry in music during the 70’s and 80’s.  There is also another trivia answer in here somewhere.

1. Five Man Electrical Band

“I’m a Stranger Here”

Five Man Electrical Band
Five Man Electrical Band (Photo credit: tab2space)

Another song from the group that brought us “Signs”.

2. Idle Eyes

“Tokyo Rose”

Another 80’s group that enjoyed moderate success in Canada, especially with this tune.  They won a Juno for most promising new group in 1985.

3. Indio

“Big Hard Sun”

[there’s a big] a big hard sun
[there’s a big] a big hard sun (Photo credit: [noone])
The trivia question.  Eddie Vedder covered this tune from Canadian singer-songwriter Indio.  Indio (Gordon Peterson) released 1 album in his career titled “Big Harvest” in 1989.  This was a hit in Canada and became worldwide after Eddie covered it.

4. Crash Vegas

Pocahontas

Red Earth (Crash Vegas album)
Red Earth (Crash Vegas album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Kind of a depressing song from a very good band.  This song was released in 1994.


5. Ron Hynes

Sonny’s Dream

Ron Hynes at the Rose
Ron Hynes at the Rose (Photo credit: Kent Barrett)

Canadian folk singer Ron Hynes hit gold in 1976 with the Sonny’s Dream.  The song has become a standard and has been recorded by a multitude of artists around the world,  The version here is a live duet with Alan Doyle of the group Great Big Sea.

Song of the Day – The Avett Brothers – Live and Die

 

English: The Avett Brothers at Pickathon 2006
English: The Avett Brothers at Pickathon 2006 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Great new song from North Carolina indie-rock/folk band The Avett Brothers.  Catchy chorus, well-played.  The band has been around in various forms and names (around the 2 brothers, Scott and Seth) since the 1990’s, formally becoming The Avett Brothers in 2000.

 

They have released 7 albums, 3 live albums 4 EP’s since 2000,  This tune is off their latest album, 2012’s “The Carpenter”.

 

The Avett Brothers Home Page

 

The Avett Brothers on Twitter

 

The Avett Brothers on Facebook – oops, forgot, its Facebook, who cares

 

The Avett Brothers on iTunes

 

Live And Die

 

 

Song Of The Day – Father John Misty – I'm Writing A Novel

 

Father John Misty at Capitol Hill Block Party ...
Father John Misty at Capitol Hill Block Party – Day 1 at Capitol Hill – Seattle, WA on 2012-07-20 – _DSC6544.NEF (Photo credit: laviddichterman)

 

Been heavy on the older tunes lately.  Time to hit up some new music, and another shout out to CBC2 without which I would likely never hear a lot of very good music.

 

Father John Misty (real name Joshua Tillman) has a new album out, “Fear Fun”.  This tune is a smoking live take of “I’m Writing A Novel”.  I think the word smoking might just be an understatement.  The Father is better known as a member of Fleet Foxes and Saxon Shore.  Just a wee bit of a pedigree.

 

Father John Misty Home

 

Father John Misty on Twitter

 

Father John Misty on iTunes

 

I’m Writing A Novel

 

 

Remembering Doc Watson

 

English: From Flickr: Doc Watson, 86 years old...
English: From Flickr: Doc Watson, 86 years old, plays to the crowd at another fantastic Sugar Grove Music Fest. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

May 29 was a very sad day for me.  Doc Watson passed away.  What a player!!  Nothing to say, just listen.

 

Deep River Blues

 

 

 

Windy and Warm

 

 

 

Sitting On Top Of The World

 

 

 

What a talent, and a connection to the old blues and folk singers of the 20’s, 30’s and beyond.  Greatly missed.

 

Song of The Day – Sufjan Stevens – "Chicago"

 

 

Sufjan Stevens - The Wiltern - October 24, 2010
Sufjan Stevens – The Wiltern – October 24, 2010 (Photo credit: starbright31)

 

 

Today’s pick is a great tune by Sufjan Stevens and his song from a few years back  (2005) “Chicago” and is a track off his album “Illinois”.  Born in Detroit, his music  combines elements of spirituality (Christianity?) with electronica and a familiar folk style.  This song has a couple of good hooks and a catchy chorus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicago

 

 

 

Song Of The Day – Gabrielle Papillon – "No Common Ground"

 

Gabrielle Papillon is a Canadian singer-songwriter (in a folk vein) with exceptional skills, and yet another talent from Canada’s East Coast.  She is from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.  She has sung and played since childhood and released her first album in 2001, “Songs For a Rainy Day”.  Good tune, and of course, a live version.  Very nice voice.

Gabrielle Papillon Home Page

Gabrielle Papillon on Twitter

Gabrielle Papillon on Facebook

No Common Ground