Best New Albums: January-March 2010

It's been a while since I've posted anything on here, but I can assure you that I'm still DJing and still checking out lots of new music; probably even a bit too much. (Some things will never change).

A quick update for 2010 so far... The London Underground has been going strong since January at a couple of relatively new (and great) downtown venues - one Saturday a month at The Morrissey House and one Thursday a month at Nite Owl. Both nights still feature danceable rock n' roll - from the best new indie rock and electro, to post-punk, new wave, Brit pop, and everything in between.

On the topic of good new music... back in early April I put together a mix of songs from my favourite albums of the first quarter of 2010 (January-March). I've given it to a few friends on CD over the past couple months, but I've now also uploaded it here for you to download and check out...

http://www.mediafire.com/?ozdd5znm2y2

As you'll hear, it's not just a bunch of songs randomly thrown together. I've tried to create some semblance of a good "mixtape" with a coherent track order, within the confines of including only the best songs from my favourite albums. Sometimes my musical tastes can seem a bit schizophrenic, but DJ sets and mixes like this give me a good chance to tie it all back together. And these mixes in particular let me share some of the music that I love, but wouldn't normally play at a live DJ night.

Going forward, I'll most likely put together another mix like this for each subsequent quarter of the year. In fact, I already have a lot of the songs picked for the April to June mix. I'll just need to see what good music comes out in June and then put it all together. Expect to see a download link for that posted here sometime in early July.

Favourite albums of 2009

Here's a list of my ten favourite albums of the past year:

1. The Horrors - Primary Colours

2. Memory Tapes - Seek Magic

3. Handsome Furs - Face Control

4. The xx - xx

5. jj - jj No. 2

6. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

7. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

8. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight

9. Doves - Kingdom Of Rust

10. Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth

I could go on an on about how great all of these albums are and why, but it's always better if you hear some of the music for yourself. So here's a link to download a mix with two tracks from each album... http://www.mediafire.com/?m4mnyjt1yhi

Also, here are a bunch more great albums from 2009 that I really liked...

Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today...

Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms

The Juan MacLean - The Future Will Come

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

Peter Doherty - Grace/Wastelands

The Rakes - Klang

Maximo Park - Quicken The Heart

Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young

The Raveonettes - In And Out Of Control

A Place To Bury Strangers - Exploding Head

The Big Pink - A Brief History Of Love

Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care

Air - Love 2

Julian Plenti - ...Is Skyscraper

Crystal Antlers - Tentacles

Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall

Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

Deerhunter - Rainwater Cassette Exchange

Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport

Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM

I've also put together another sampler with one song from each of the above albums. And in addition to those 21 songs, the second mix continues with 15 excellent songs from albums which I though were merely alright overall; or songs which were only released as one-off singles.

You can download the entire 'best-of-the-rest' mix here:

Part 1: http://www.mediafire.com/?wqz4wozjzdn

Part 2: http://www.mediafire.com/?4zmkyntujdn

Enjoy! And please support great music - get a turntable and buy the albums you love on vinyl, and try to see the bands live in concert!

Favourite albums from the second half of '08

Here, in no particular order, is a list of the albums that I enjoyed most from the second half of 2008. If you haven't yet checked them out, download them and have a listen. And for the ones you like most, consider supporting the artists and buying their albums.

The Rosebuds - Life Like

TV On The Radio - Dear Science

Fujiya & Miyagi - Lightbulbs

Alexis Taylor - Rubbed Out

The Walkmen - You & Me

Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna

Pavement - Live Europaturnén MCMXCVII

Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

The Black Ghosts - s/t

CSS - Donkey

Syclops - I've Got My Eye On You

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology

Poni Hoax - Images Of Sigrid

Q-Tip - The Renaissance

Coldplay - Viva La Vida

Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line

The Virgins - s/t

The Stills - Oceans Will Rise

Little Joy - s/t

The Verve - Forth

Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling

You may also want to check out the list of my favs from the first half of the year, which is below this post...

Favourite albums from the first half of '08

It's been quite a while since I last posted anything on here. Without having a radio show anymore, there's not as much music info for me to pass along.

One new development though, is that the London Underground is hosting a new weekly event called Shake Appeal. It happens every Tuesday night and so far it has been great. Myself and Johnny Law are the DJ's, and we're still featuring super-cheap import beer specials. You can find more information here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8379827061

Also, lately a lot of people have been asking me for a list of my favourite new albums. So, here's the stuff from the first half of 2008 that I've enjoyed most, in no particular order...

Beck - Modern Guilt
Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha
The Black Keys - Attack & Release
Albert Hammond, Jr. - ¿Cómo Te Llama?
Vampire Weekend - s/t
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Foals - Antidotes
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Hot Chip - Made In The Dark
Neon Neon - Stainless Style

Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
Sun Kil Moon - April
R.E.M. - Accelerate
The Futureheads - This Is Not The World
Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
Sigur Rós - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement
Crystal Castles - s/t

French Kicks - Swimming

The National - The Virginia EP
No Age - Nouns

Check them out if you haven't done so already.

New DJ night on Tuesdays

Starting with next week's launch party (January 22nd), I'm going to be co-hosting a new Tuesday DJ night in London with my friend and bandmate Jesse (aka DJ Fraggle Rock). It will be at a new venue at 333 Richmond St. (at York), downstairs. The room is actually great, expecially for this type of thing, so we're both really excited!

Anyway, the idea of the night is to play all the best rock and electronic music that's big in the UK right now - whether it's from London, New York, Montreal, Stockholm, Tokyo, wherever. If you can dance to it, we'll play it! And, although the focus will be on newer music, we'll also throw in some great stuff from the past... garage rock from the 60's, to glam rock and punk from the 70's, to 80's new wave, to 90's Brit pop.

There will also be music videos, concerts and films playing all night on the LCD TV's. And, we'll have weekly LP, CD and DVD giveaways courtesy of Grooves.

As for drink specials, they're great... $4 all night for import tallboy cans, and those sweet Grolsch swingtop bottles. If you're not into the import beer, it's only $3 for domestic bottles and bar shots too. And if you get hungry, they also have a kitchen.

Come out for the launch party, and check it out... http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=20693310460. Giveaways for the launch will be LP and CD copies of the new Radiohead album, 'In Rainbows'.

Also, you can find more info on the night here.

Favourite albums of 2007

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
4. The National - Boxer
5. LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
6. Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future
7. Jamie T - Panic Prevention
8. !!! - Myth Takes
9. Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation
10. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
11. The Rosebuds - Night Of The Furies
12. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
13. Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
14. Maxïmo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures
15. Fujiya & Miyagi - Transparent Things
16. Good Shoes - Think Before You Speak
17. Justice - Cross
18. Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times
19. Interpol - Our Love To Admire
20. The Good, The Bad & The Queen

Deciding on the order of a lot of these was difficult, as they're all outstanding records. If there's anything on this list that you have yet to check out, you should track them down and have a listen.

There were also a ton of other artists that released great albums this year, including The Cribs, Air, B.R.M.C., Handsome Furs, Feist, New Young Pony Club, Hard-Fi, Modest Mouse, The White Stripes, Simian Mobile Disco, The Maccabees, Caribou, Black Lips, Digitalism, etc. You should take the time to check those out as well.

The last 'Pulp Friction' playlist

Yesterday's show featured songs from my favourite albums of 2007. Here's the playlist...

3:30-4:30

Babyshambles - Delivery
Spoon - Rhthm & Soul
The Arcade Fire - The Well And The Lighthouse
The Arcade Fire - Black Wave/Bad Vibrations
The Shins - Phantom Limb
The Rosebuds - Get Up Get Out
Jamie T - Salvador
Of Montreal - She's A Rejector
Of Montreal - Faberge Falls For Shuggie
LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum
Klaxons - It's Not Over Yet
!!! - Must Be The Moon

4:30-5:30

Fujiya & Miyagi - Photocopier
Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler
Chromeo - Fancy Footwork
Justice - Phantom Part II
The National - Mistaken For Strangers
Radiohead - Reckoner
Interpol - Pace Is The Trick
Hard-Fi - Suburban Knights
Maximo Park - Our Velocity
Good Shoes - Never Meant To Hurt You
Handsome Furs - What We Had
Feist - I Feel It All
The Good, The Bad & The Queen - Herculean
Kevin Drew - Safety Bricks

5:30-6:00

Bloc Party - The Prayer
Kings Of Leon - My Party
The Weakerthans - Relative Surplus Value
Stars - Take Me To The Riot
Caribou - Melody Day
Small Sins - On The Line
The National - Brainy
Radiohead - Bodysnatchers

You can download and/or listen to the show here...

Hour 1: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1530.mp3
Hour 2: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1630.mp3
Hour 3: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1730.mp3

Some changes

After reevaluating my current DJ situation, I've decided to make some changes with regard to what I'm doing. Increasing demands to my work schedule and my commitment to rehearsing and performing with my band have definitely become a factor. But I've also always had a desire to keep things new, interesting, and fun. And right now I don't feel that's the case.

First off, my last show on CHRW will be next Friday, December 7th, during which I will be counting down songs from my Top 20 Albums of 2007. I've have a great time doing the show over the past eighteen months. Some of the highlights for me were the times when I had a chance to introduce listeners to as-yet-unreleased music that I was really excited about, as well the opportunity to host the last two Canada Day specials. The station has always been integral in promoting local shows, and they really do have a strong emphasis on great music, so I trust that you'll keep listening.

Next up, tonight will be the last Pulp Friction night at the Alex P. Keaton. Since I started there in March we've had some great nights and some slow nights, and the staff have always been good to work with. The lack of any promotional budget definitely played a part in this, but I think Tuesday's in general are a tough sell in London. I do, however, think that we can make Tuesday's work. So we're going to be returning in January with a great new venue, multiple DJ's, and a slightly new direction. It's already in the works, and trust me, it's going to be great! I'll post the info on here as soon as it's finalized.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for your continuing support, and be sure to tune in to CHRW next Friday for what promises to be my best show of the year. And as always, if you can't listen live, check out the archives.

'Pulp Friction' playlist

Yesterday's show on CHRW included a live in-studio performance from Olenka. She'll be performing tonight at the London Music Club. Here's the entire playlist...

3:30-4:30

Bloc Party - Song For Clay (Disappear Here)
Babyshambles - Delivery
The Enemy - Aggro
Tranzmitors - Do I Really Wanna Know
The Fratellis - Cuntry Boys & City Girls
Kevin Drew - Farewell To The Pressure Kids
Sunset Rubdown - Winged/Wicked Things
The Arcade Fire - Black Mirror
The New Pornographers - All The Things
Cuff The Duke - Surging Revival
Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Sonic Youth - Rain On Tin
Clinic - Harvest (Within You)

4:30-5:30

R.E.M. - Imitation Of Life (live)
The Sadies - What's Left Behind
Five Blank Pages - Dry Eyes
Editors - Bones
Maccabees - X-Ray
Maximo Park - Going Missing
Small Sins - Airport
The White Stripes - Rag And Bone
Sigur Ros - 5
The National - Ada
Raising The Fawn - River Of Gold
The Beatles - A Day In The Life
The Two-Minute Miracles - The Bee Hell

5:30-6:00

Spy Machine Sixteen - I Lost My Edge Last Night
Olenka - A Story
Olenka - Soldier's Waltz
1990's - You're Supposed To Be My Friend
Kasier Chiefs - When The Heat Dies Down
The Hives - Try It Again

You can download and/or listen to the show here...

Hour 1: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1530.mp3
Hour 2: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1630.mp3
Hour 3: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1730.mp3

'Pulp Friction' playlist

Yesterday's show featured an exclusive New Order mix by DJ Zoltan. Here's the playlist...

3:30-4:30

Joy Division - These Days
Joy Division - Novelty
Interpol - No I In Threesome
Spoon - My Mathematical Mind
Small Sins - On The Line
Bella - No One Will Know
Moving Units - Nail It To The Cross
Born Ruffians - Hummingbird
The First Aid Kit - Rocket Summer
Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Thurston Moore - Silver>Blue
The Diableros - Left From The Movies

4:30-5:30

!!! - Yadnus
Fujiya & Miyagi - In One Ear And Out The Other
Handsome Furs - Can Not Get Started
Stars - Take Me To The Riot
Raising The Fawn - You Are The Enemy
The Most Serene Republic - Present Of Future End
Square Root Of Margaret - Hollywood Will Find A Way
The Two-Minute Miracles - Night Of Rain
New Order - True Faith (Perfecto mix)
New Order - Fine Time
New Order - Regret (New Order remix)
New Order - Blue Monday (Hardfloor mix)
New Order - Crystal
New Order - The Perfect Kiss

5:30-6:00

New Order - Confusion (Koma & Bones remix)
Black Lips - O Katrina!
Hot Panda - It's Worth 8 Dollars
Elbow Beach Surf Club - The Letter
The Sadies - What's Left Behind
Hard-Fi - Can't Get Along (Without You)
Babyshambles - French Dog Blues

You can download and/or listen to the show here...

Hour 1: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1530.mp3
Hour 2: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1630.mp3
Hour 3: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1730.mp3

'Pulp Friction' playlist

Yesterday's show included a feature on Joy Division. In anticipation of the new Ian Curtis biopic, 'Control', myself and DJ Zoltan are going to be presenting a Joy Division & New Order music showcase in November at The Alex P. Keaton. So my shows in the coming weeks will feature a lot of music from both bands. I'll post more details here soon. Anyway, here's yesterday's playlist...

3:30-4:30

Joel Plaskett Emergency - Drunk Teenagers
Black Lips - I Saw A Ghost (Lean)
1990's - You Made Me Like It
Radiohead - Bodysnatchers
Wilco - Side With The Seeds
The Weakerthans - Sun In An Empty Room
The Diableros - Any Other Time
Thurston Moore - Frozen Gtr.
Tokyo Police Club - Cut Cut Paste
Hot Hot Heat - 5 Times Out Of 100
Bella - Don't Sleep Alone

4:30-5:30

Kasabian - Test Transmission
The Sunshine Underground - The Way It Is
Small Sins - Airport
Babyshambles - Deft Left Hand
The Enemy - We'll Live And Die In These Towns
Five Blank Pages - Smile Like You Mean It
Handsome Furs - Handsome Furs Hate This City
Joy Division - Transmission
Joy Division - Shadowplay
Joy Division - Isolation
Joy Division - She's Lost Control
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
The Walkmen - Louisiana

5:30-6:00

Voxtrot - Ghost
The First Aid Kit - Long Distance Runners
Tapes 'n Tapes - Just Drums
Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation
Travis - 3 Times You Lose
Alexandra Krakus - Northern Lights
Alexandra Krakus - Birdsong

You can download and/or listen to the show here...

Hour 1: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1530.mp3
Hour 2: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1630.mp3
Hour 3: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1730.mp3

'Pulp Friction' playlist

Here's the playlist from today's show...

3:30-4:30

Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
The Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
The Shins - Australia
Ryan Adams - Halloweenhead
The Diableros - Up In The Mountain Range
Elliott Brood - President (35)
The Machines - Snatching Defeat (From The Jaws Of Victory)
The Stars Here - Capital Girl
Editors - Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors
Uncut - Breaking Glass
LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great
New Young Pony Club - Tight Fit
1990's - You're Supposed To Be My Friend

4:30-5:30

Small Sins - Prove Me Wrong
Handsome Furs - Sing! Captain
The New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour
Interpol - Pace Is The Trick
Hard-Fi - I Close My Eyes
Babyshambles - Crumb Begging Baghead
The First Aid Kit - Rocket Summer
Spoon - Don't Make Me A Target
Okkervil River - Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe
Band Of Horses - Ode To LRC
Two Hours Traffic - Nighthawks
Black Lips - I Saw A Ghost (Lean)
My Shaky Jane - Broke, Bored And Sober

5:30-6:00

The Hives - Tick Tick Boom
Radiohead - Reckoner
DD/MM/YYYY - Simple Life
Kevin Drew - TBTF
Good Shoes - The Photos On My Wall
The Maccabees - X-Ray
Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Cold Wind

You can download and/or listen to the show here...

Hour 1: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1530.mp3
Hour 2: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1630.mp3
Hour 3: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1730.mp3

'Pulp Friction' playlist

In addition to playing the entire new Radiohead album on today's show, we also had a live in-studio performance from Toronto blues artist Danny Brooks. He'll be playing at tomorrow night's CHRW fundraiser show. Here's the full playlist...

3:30-4:30

Babyshambles - French Dog Blues
Good Shoes - Morden
Two Hours Traffic - Stuck For The Summer
The Weakerthans - Relative Surplus Value
The Parkas - Toronto Enough Tonight
Immaculate Machine - Old Flame
Kings Of Leon - Black Thumbnail
Caribou - Sundailing
Fujiya & Miyagi - Collarbone
Handsome Furs - Can Not Get Started
New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream
Elliott Brood - Second Son
The Acorn - Flood
The Besnard Lakes - Devastation

4:30-5:30

Thurston Moore - The Shape Is In A Trance
Raising The Fawn - River Of Gold
Danny Brooks - Ain't That The Truth
Danny Brooks - Miracles For Breakfast
Radiohead - 15 Step
Radiohead - Bodysnatchers
Radiohead - Nude
Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Radiohead - All I Need

5:30-6:00

Radiohead - Faust Arp
Radiohead - Reckoner
Radiohead - House Of Cards
Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Radiohead - Videotape
Zoobombs - Jumbo (live)
Germans - Nature's Mouth
The Canons - Down From Above

You can download and/or listen to the show here...

Hour 1: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1530.mp3
Hour 2: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1630.mp3
Hour 3: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1730.mp3

Radiohead on Friday's show

'In Rainbows' is the new album from Radiohead, and it's outstanding! Tune in to Pulp Friction on CHRW this Friday, as I'll be playing the entire album beginning at 5:00.

'Pulp Friction' playlist

Yesterday's show included a feature on the brilliant new Babyshambles album, 'Shotter's Nation'. I also started the show off with 5 songs from Radiohead, since I'm very excited about their new album! Here's the full playlist...

3:30-4:30

Radiohead - Pearly
Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong
Radiohead - The Trickster
Radiohead - Where I End And You Begin
Radiohead - How To Disappear Completely And Never Be Found
The Weakerthans - Relative Surplus Value
Two Hours Traffic - Nighthawks
Joel Plaskett Emergency - Snowed In/Cruisin'
Spoon - Finer Feelings
Black Lips - I Saw A Ghost (Lean)

4:30-5:30

Tranzmitors - Something's Going On
Handsome Furs - Can Not Get Started
Junior Boys - In The Morning
Chromeo - Call Me Up
1990's - You're Supposed To Be My Friend
The Cribs - Moving Pictures
Hard-Fi - We Need Love
Hot Hot Heat - 5 Times Out Of 100
Babyshambles - Carry On Up The Morning
Babyshambles - Delivery
Babyshambles - Crumb Begging Baghead
Babyshambles - French Dog Blues
Babyshambles - Baddie's Boogie
Stars - Take Me To The Riot
The Rosebuds - Boxcar

5:30-6:00

The Postage Stamps - Autumn + Everything
Constantines - Nighttime Anytime (It's Alright)
Thurston Moore - Frozen Gtr
My Shaky Jane - I Was In The Movie
Electric Six - Down At Mcdonnelzzz
The Panic - Our Leaders
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (live)

You can download and/or listen to the show here...

Hour 1: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1530.mp3
Hour 2: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1630.mp3
Hour 3: http://chrwradio.com/podcasts/94-9CHRWFri1730.mp3