The CJLO Top 100 of the Decade

We have only just dipped our toes into the opaque open waters of the 2020's. If you'd prefer to mellow in the backyard pool of the recent past for a while, here is your haven. Come, wade with us through these 100 decade-defining releases; ground yourself before taking the plunge into the fraught future.

Our planetary prospects are as menacing as ever. The troubled teens are behind us and as we stand on the precipice of a strange new decade, our fate hangs in the balance. Can humanity finally grow up and reach new heights of collective action and mutually beneficial co-operation or is willful ignorance and atomistic individualism cemented as the new normal? Will we double down on self-inflicted doom? I cannot answer these questions; the road ahead remains an agonizing mystery. All we can do is look to the past, to understand the present, to prepare for the future. Here is a time capsule for your inquiries: CJLO's top 100 of the decade 2010-2019. The finest minds of a generation are woven into the tapestry of this decadal chart and playlist. I refer not only to the well-loved artists who grace this tabulation of grandeur, but the phenomenal DJs and selectors of CJLO who provided the airplay and moral support, as well as all the staff and volunteers who have kept our modest yet mighty station going.

It is tempting to say this astounding chart summarizes our musical contribution to the universe, but this in fact is only the topmost tip of the iceberg. These are only 100 releases out of 4098 that charted with us over the past 10 years, and there are undoubdtedly thousands more spun beyond that. It’s fair to say though that this is a profound extrapolation of the loudness concocted at our Loyola campus headquarters and subsequently beamed from our transmitter in the nether regions of Lachine.

Our championing of the local scene and colossal Canadian content come into focus here, with Montreal sensation Kaytranada nabbing the prestigious #1 spot – his studio debut 99.9% is our most played record of the decade. And then there are the artists with repeated entries; staples of station-wide celebration like METZ, Braids, No Joy, Ought, White Lung, Austra, and A Tribe Called Red have all received diehard advocacy from CJLO, often from before they were as widely acclaimed as they are now.

As is inevitable with the transience of Campus/Community radio, there have been many changes to the station and an extraordinary amount of talent has passed through our ranks throughout the past decade. And then there are the constants; those whose unwavering commitment has imbued our organization with deep institutional wisdom. On that note, shout outs to our Metal Music Director and former Program Director Andrew for taking on the major task of annual chart calculation year after year, and our Graphics Designer and long-serving board member Angelica for the great GIF; one among countless, innovative images under her belt. I also can’t forget my predecessor Omar Sonics, who as renowned head Music Director for more than a decade oversaw the majority of what has charted here.

Who knows what musical wonders await us in the 2020’s, but whatever happens you can continue to count on CJLO to bring you the finest underground sounds, with the most heart.

*Our charts are compiled from actual airplay, broadcast live on 1690 AM in the Montreal region, as well as via our website at www.cjlo.com,  denotes Canadian Content