Yessir! The end is nigh… so we thought we’d reveal what made our musical year worthwhile. In these internet-fueled times, tastes are so disparate & splintered, it’s always remarkable to see titles pop up on more than one list… it kind of galvanizes an album’s value amidst all the chatter.
So yeah, have a gander. We’ll post on our Facebook as well, please feel free to leave comments or your own lists!
Listen here...
Pretty excited for RSD Black Friday tomorrow! We’re sure most of you remember how amazing Record Store Day was this past April – this Black Friday will be a nice addendum to that & a great way to officially start holiday shopping. Few points of note below…
This contest is great… you win an AUTOGRAPHED TEST PRESSING (!) of the Black Keys’ new album El Camino PLUS a pair of free tickets to see the Black keys the next time they hit Vancouver. To enter, simply pre-order the Black Keys’ new album El Camino (released on December 6).
Here is a list of all the titles that we know we’ll receive. We will not receive every RSD title, but this is a healthy chunk for sure. NOTE: the titles with “**” next to them have not yet arrived, but will show.
Ryan Adams “Do I Wait”/“Darkness” 7” vinyl 3000 US **
Back-Wash Rhythm Band, The Golden Breed Band 12” vinyl 1200 US, 800 international
Beatles, The The Singles Box Set 7” vinyl box
Black Keys, “Lonely Boy” 12“vinyl **
Boris, New Album LP/CD **
Brendan Benson Upstairs at United, Vol 1 12” vinyl
Byrds, “The Times They Are A Changin’” 7” vinyl 1200 US, 1000 International **
Byrds, “Eight Miles High” 7” vinyl 1200 US, 1000 International **
Chris Cornell Songbook Double LP 2000 US **
Dr. Dog “Warrior Man” 7” single
Dream Theater Metropolis PT2: Scenes from a Memory 12” vinyl 3000 US
Miles Davis, Miles Davis Quartet 10” vinyl 1800 US, 1200 international
Justin Townes Earle “Slippin’ & Slidin’” 7” vinyl 1000 US
Grateful Dead, The Live Europe ’72, Vol 2 4 LP vinyl 3000 US, 28 **
Iron & Wine Morning Becomes Eclectic 12” vinyl 3000 US
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Soul Time! CD 20,000 US
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Soul Time! 12” vinyl 5000 US
Kings Of Leon The Early Vinyl 4 LP Vinyl box set 3250 US; 1200 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Hot Rod Hootenanny 12” vinyl 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Hot Rod Hootenanny CD 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Rods N Ratfinks 12” vinyl 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Rods N Ratfinks CD 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Surfink! 12” vinyl 1200 US, 800 international
Mr. Gasser & the Weirdos Surfink! CD 1200 US, 800 international
Nirvana Nevermind—The Singles 10” vinyl set 5000 US **
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Kiss My Amps Live 12” vinyl 5000 US
Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Suger Sex Magik double 12” vinyl 5170 US **
Rolling Stones, No Spare Parts 7” **
Soundgarden Live on I-5—Before The Doors Soundcheck EP 10” vinyl 4000 US
Pete Townshend The Quadrophenia Demos Volume 1 10” vinyl 4000 US
Type O Negative Type O Negative Vinyl Box Set 12” vinyl set 1000 US
Various Artists Wheedle’s Groove: Seattle’s Finest in Funk & Soul 1965- 79 7” box set 2000 US
Wilco Speak Into The Rose 10” vinyl
Yardbirds “Ha Ha Said The Clown” 7” vinyl 1600 US, 1200 international
Yardbirds “Ten Little Indians” 7” vinyl 1600 US, 1200 international
Tickets just went on sale for this mammoth Victoria event & we are super excited to see Rifflandia stretch its legs a little bit. This year, the 4 day event will include Royal Athletic Park, a massive addition that is sure to really hammer home the true spirit of a festival.
This year’s lineup *isn’t finished yet*, but already it’s a fantastic cross section of all genres & styles. Mother Mother, Broken Social Scene, Cold War Kids, Daniel Wesley, City & Colour, Awolnation, De La Soul, Cave Singers, J Mascis, Nosaj Thing, Besnard Lakes, AraabMuzik, Blackalicious, Machinedrum, Sage Francis, Tokimonsta, Ra Ra Riot & MOOOOORE will pack Athletic Park & the regular Rifflandia night time venues over four days/nights of amazing music.
This year there are more ticket options than previous years – we strongly encourage you to visit the Rifflandia website’s ticket page to help decide which option best suits you. Couple of points of note:
Listen here...
(Jagjaguwar) CD & LP
Even amidst the sparse arrangements & minimal aesthetic of For Emma, Forever Ago, it was always apparent that Justin Vernon had a keen sense of tonality, dynamics & texture. On the eponymous second full length from Bon Iver, Vernon’s affinity for free noise, synths & vocal manipulation come to the forefront – this is not the paired down affair of For Emma – instead, horns, harmonizing & 80s-inspired ballads rear up & colour Vernon’s already-stunning songs.
His connecting voice – whether clean or auto-tuned – maintains the intense intimacy of past projects, but songs are stretched out to cover new ground, from skronky free-jazz jams to the sweeping, epic 80s emotionalism of “Beth/Rest”. A massive step left from For Emma, Vernon has managed to evolve Bon Iver’s sound into something cohesive, emotional but at the same time, experimental. No doubt one of 2011’s best.
(Merge) CD & 2LP
It’s been a minute but Win Butler & co. still got the chops. The Suburbs retains the bombast & jubilation of the first 2 records, exploring middle-age frustration and malaise, not to far from the subject matter that The National hones in on. The classic Arcade Fire dynamic is still here, with the group still able to navigate emotional highs & lows, be it the punked up energy of “Month Of May” or the paced romanticism of “Wasted Hours”… welcome back!
Arcade Fires on the net
(Asthmatic Kitty) CD & LP
Victoria transplants Shapes & Sizes are an uncompromising avant-pop machine & on Candle To Your Eyes, they continue their string of challenging, artful guitar pop. Channeling no-wave geetars & their own distinct brand of mutant-indie-r&b, Shapes & Sizes confound again with another set of songs that weighs in heavy for fans of challenging, progressive indie-rock. For fans of Deerhoof & Menomena.
(independent) CD
Local Vic peeps with a penchant for intricate post-post-rock adventures. A hyper-literate bunch of virtuosic musicians contributes to a record that should turn the heads of those looking for intelligent, emotional music. Echoing the intensity of classic Mogwai & Godspeed, whilst displaying deft songwriting chops, this an album that deserves some local love.
After stints with New Pornographers & Immaculate Machine, Kathryn Calder steps out with a mature solo effort; Are You My Mother? orbits around Calder’s terminally ill mother & the songs borne of this are contemplative odes to the many paths one is offered in life. Balladry & pop hold hands all over this beautiful record.
Are you Kathryn online?
Midway through this year & we’re already saddled with a hefty amount of big’uns. The National, LCD Soundsystem, The Black Keys, Caribou & Broken Social Scene have all released stellar efforts over the last 6 months. But as always, mid-year is a great time to assess some of the not-so-hyped nook-&-cranny-type albums that you might not have heard or maybe just glazed over while reading a blog. So here thems is…
(4AD) CD & LP
Ariel Pink has had a huge impact on DIY music over the last 3 years. The legend of his apparently vast vault of unheard music recorded to cassette from 1998-2002 is enough to hook the average music geek, but then there’s the tunes themselves; half-reimagined echoes of AM-radio pop & tuner dial errors. 80s new wave, lo-fi electro blippery, arm-in-arm feel good vibes & utter weirdness all blend together in a haze of modern tape-warped genius. Before Today bares a little more sheen than his historic swath of 7“s & cassettes but that’s fine, these tunes still retain the nostalgia & energy that keeps Ariel Pink one of indie music’s most enigmatic & magnetic fixtures.
Ariel Pink on the myspace
(Def Jam) CD & 2LP
One of the great things about The Roots’ residency on Jimmy Fallon has been the affect it seems to be having on how they’re going to be remembered. Instead of “retiring” on the show (something the bad was apparently contemplating after a tough couple of years of slim sales & meek reviews), their creative fire has been reignited & the public’s perception of where they sit within the lineage of important hip-hop acts is being appropriately revised. THESE GUYS ARE LEGENDS. They’ve co-wrote, produced, collaborated & played live with virtually every important hip-hop artist of the last 15 years, seriously. Not to mention Tariq aka Black Thought (along with Pharoahe Monch) seems destined to go down in history as one of Hip-hop’s most underrated MCs… ANYWAY, How I Got Over – new album, chock full of emotionally grounded, mature, grown-ass hip-hop that sees The Roots collab with Jim James (of MMJ), Joanna Newsom, Dirty Projectors plus old haunts like John Legend & Dice Raw. Man, it’s nice to see some of hip-hop’s elder statesmen (Wu-Tang, Big Boi as well) reclaiming this bewildered genre.
The Roots on the myspace
(Warp) CD & LP
Toronto-bred experimental poppers. Red, Blue & Yellow was a great post-Beach Boy vocal/guitar workout & Say it retains the agitated quirk & pep of that debut. Surf guitar, vox harmonies, neurotic wailing, spindly structures… in a world where Dirty Projectors are so highly regarded, Born Ruffians are certainly deserving of a second glance from fans of left-field, caterwauling indie-rock. “Sole Brother” fuses many disparate styles, but cohesively & fluidly; dry-as-bone guitar figures pin down otherwise sprawling ideas – it’s a great melange of what the fringes of pop has to offer at the moment.
Born Ruffians on the myspace
(Sub Pop) CD & 2LP
Another Portland band with serious chops, returning with another opus of 70s-inflected new classic rock. Eric Earley & crew straight up KNOW classic rock. From Laurel Canyon folkism to Band-era Dylan to Tom petty guitaring, they wrap all that’s good into one satisfying package that makes many plunderers of 70s lineage look silly. And that sums up Destroyer Of The Void. A great blend of everything that made 70s rock what it was: folk, prog, riffs, harmonies, saloon piano & killer harmonica. Plus relatable narratives that shimmy in cute aphorisms & ideas.
Blitzen Trapper on the myspace
(Warp) CD & 2 X 12”
After their return to melodicism coup-d’etat earlier this year, Sean Booth & Rob Brown hammer us with another 2010 release, the mechanical counterpart to the classic IDM ambiance of Oversteps. Move Of Ten is a rhythmic beast, grounded in tangible loops & recognizable meters of dystopian dissonance. As always, succinct sound design is the order of the day, but man, some of this stuff just straight BANGS. Ten new abstractions of rhythm, texture & pseudo-melodic inclinations. Opener “Etchogon-S” freaks 808 drums down a k-hole of verbed-out synths while “pce Freeze 28i” lumbers along at broken-beat measures… quietly, but surely, these two are cementing their place in the lineage connecting Kraftwerk, Detroit, Warp & the future. Truly mesmerizing, unearthly imaginings.
Ae’s Warp page
(Dead Oceans) CD & 2LP
Another amazing record from local legends Frog Eyes & possibly the one to see them finally reap the acclaim they deserve. From the opening guitar stirrings of “A Flower In A Glove”, the band are in fine form, but particularly Carey Mercer, who’s vocals move from caterwauling howls to sarcastic barking, leading the typical Frog Eyes maelstrom in strong fashion. We are proud.