Most Played Music of 2009

Alright, in a few weeks my "Best of" lists and contributions will be appearing in different places, so in order to save that surprise for later, I thought I'd share the music that I listened too most often throughout 2009. These aren't necessarily favourites - sometimes I get stuck when writing a review and listen to something over and over.

Most Played Songs of 2009

1. A.C. Newman, "There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve Things"

2. Dido, "Quiet Times"

3. Asobi Seksu, "Gliss"

4. Beirut, "El Zocolo"

5. Asobi Seksu, "Familiar Light"

6. The Dudes, "Girl Police"

7. Ben Kweller, "Things I Like To Do"

8. Japandroids, "Wet Hair"

9. M. Ward, "Epistemology"

10. Orenda Fink, "Why Is The Night Sad"

Most Played Albums

1. Asobi Seksu, Hush

2. Beirut, March of the Zapotec

3. The Dudes, Blood Guts Bruises Cuts

4. Ben Kweller, Changing Horses

5. Japandroids, Post-Nothing

6. M. Ward, Hold Time

7. Orenda Fink, Ask The Night

8. Doom, Born Like This

9. Hayden, In Field & Town

10. The Big Pink, A Brief History of Love

Ghosts of Year-End Lists Past

While preparing my year end list of albums, songs, and whatnots, I came across this contribution to !earshot in 2001.

!Earshot asked campus/community radio contributors across the country these questions. Scroll down for a sampling of their responses:

1. Three fave albums of 2001?
2. Most overlooked artist/album?
3. Local band that rocked your socks?
4. Best radio moment?

Name: Sean Marchetto

Station: CJSW — Calgary
Show: Radio Free Nowhere

1. Radiohead — “Amnesiac” (EMI), Cursive — “Burst And Bloom EP” (Saddle Creek), Senor Coconut — “Le Gran Baile” (Emperor Norton)
2. Beta Band — “Hot Shots” (Astralwerks)
3. Dan Vacon, both in The Dudes and solo.
4. Flipping though Have Not Been The Same, the new book on Canadian rock n’ roll and finding Dave Bidini telling the story of my phone-in encounter with Stompin’ Tom.

So, how'd I do? Well, Radiohead has three albums that critics are in stumbling over to put on any number of Best of the Decade lists. Cursive followed up Burst and Bloom with The Ugly Organ and Happy Hollows. Are the Beta Band still overlooked and underappreciated? Given that Hot Chip is riding their groove, perhaps more now than ever.

As for Dan Vacon and the Dudes? In 2001 they were still playing on the front porch of Rock Central opposite my old parking lot. Last week they rocked the Grey Cup party, so I guess you could say things are on the rise.

Really the only odd selection is Uwe Schmidt's Senor Coconut, which was a brief moment of levity in an otherwise pretty heavy year. Schmidt's discography though, is something to behold.

To see what other people said, click here.

The Dudes - Girl Police

Wow. When people tell me they love Calgary's The Dudes I'm not surprised. Especially when those people are typical indie rockers, 'cuz The Dudes are rawkers. But when fifty year old ladies tell me they like the Dudes, well, then I can only imagine that the band's on to something.

With their new video for "Girl Police", it's the bumpy bassline break in the middle about who loves who and good ol' Jess listening to Pet Sounds alone in her basement leading into the Thin Lizzy inspired "lovin' is easy" that wins'em over every time.

And of course, it would be a party with the Dudes if the cops didn't show up...

Music Update

Musically speaking, the last month has been dominated by the glorious noise drenched ramblings of Vancouver's Japandroids and their album Post-Nothing. Here they are living it up with the CBC:

I've also been spending a fair bit of time with hometown heroes The Dudes and their new album Blood Guts Bruises Cuts as well as Iggy Pop's jazz-inspired Preliminaires. A friend and I briefly wondered whether songs like "Search & Destroy" or "Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell" would make the set list for this tour. Anything's possible.