The Best of 2017

December 28 2017 // CJLO // Magazine // Features

There is a new and exciting year ahead of us, but we here at CJLO 1690AM want to take this chance to reminisce about the wonderful music, film, events, and FUN that 2017 bestowed upon us. The folks at the "little station that does!" give you their top picks of the year, and the lists reflect the amazing radio that broadcasts on CJLO every day, as well as the eclectic tastes of our DJs, volunteers, and staff!

And while you're here, have a look at our on-air schedule for more information on our programming, or click on a DJ's show page, all hyperlinked for your convenience below (because we care, man).

All the best to you and yours in 2018!

Yours truly,

CJLO 1690AM in Montreal

Alex hosts Ashes to Ashes, every Tuesday from 1 to 2 PM.

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2017

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound
Paramore – After Laughter
Peter Peter – Noir Éden
Paupière – À jamais privé de réponses
Heat – Overnight
Priests – Nothing Feels Natural
Alvvays – Antisocialites
Loud – Une année record
Corridor – Supermercado
Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Jason Bajada – Loveshit II (Blondie & the Backstabberz)
Nicolet – Hochelaga
Partner – In Search of Lost Time
Phoenix – Ti Amo
St. Vincent – Masseduction
Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory

TOP 10 EPs

Exit Someone - Dry Your Eyes
Pascale Project – 7AM
Ralph – Ralph
De La Montagne – VOSTFR
Buddy – Ocean & Montana
Radiant Baby – It’s My Party
Cléa Vincent – Tropi-cléa
Mort Rose – Avoir 20 ans
Mundy’s Bay – Wandering & Blue
Venus – Venus

TOP 5 NON-2017 ALBUMS

Alaclair Ensemble – Les frères cueilleurs (2016)
Cléa Vincent – Retiens mon désir (2016)
Merle Haggard & The Strangers – Mama Tried (1967)
KNLO – Long jeu (2016)
Dead Obies – Gesamtkunstwerk (2016)

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: Being voted the #4 Best Radio Show in Cult MTL’s Readers’ Poll was definitely the most unexpected memorable moment!

Chris the Frog hosts Sewer Spewer, every Wednesday from 1 to 2 PM.

TOP 10 MONTREAL ALBUMS OF 2017

Show of Bedlam, Transfiguration
Teen Seizure, Seizure Bloody Seizure
French Frogs, Advienne que pourra
Explicit Delicious, S/T
Society’s Ills, Stumble
Les Ordures Ioniques, S/T
The Barrel Heads, Canned Peaches
Days of Rage, We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead
Banal, Contra
Code 40-11, L’Amérique du Mort

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2017

Full of Hell, Trumpeting Ecstasy
Boris, Dear
Converge, The Dusk In Us
King Parrot, Ugly Produce
The Arson Project, Disgust
All Pigs Must Die, Hostage Animal
Code Orange, Forever
Tau Cross, Pillars of Fire
Iron Reagan, Crossover Ministry
Get The Shot, Infinite Punishment

HONOURABLE MENTION

Dr. Colossus, The Dank

FAVOURITE CONCERT

Trap Them’s final Montreal show at Turbo Haus, with Call of the Void, Dark Circles and Mhedved.

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: Performing a spoken word version of “Bawitdaba” by Kid Rock for CJLO’s Big Shiny Tunes 4.

Michal Langiewicz is CJLO’s Station Manager, and hosts Plus1, every Thursday from noon to 1 PM.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017

Juana Molina, Halo
Do Make Say Think, Stubborn Persistent Illusions
High Five, Renovation Ruin
Casper Skulls, Mercy Works
Mauno, Tuning
Land of Talk, Life After Youth
Manners, Motions
Palm, Shadow Expert
AIM LOW, Scratched Out
Blessed, II

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year:

1. CJLO 1690AM was the only Canadian station to debut Brian Eno’s new piece, “Reflection”.
2. The massive success of our Funding Drive, where we raised $11,422 for community radio

Sean hosts Sublime State of Doom, every Monday from 8 to 9 PM.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017 (not in order of importance!)

Bell Witch, Mirror Reaper
Power Trip, Nightmare Logic
Striker, Striker
Wormwitch, Strike Mortal Soil
Profane Order, Tightened Noose of Sanctimony
Code Orange, Forever
Primitive Man, Caustic
Electric Wizard, Wizard Bloody Wizard
Stalker, Shadow of the Sword
Big|Brave, Ardor

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: the metal overnight show for Metal March.

Genaro PC hosts The Cornice Show, every Sunday from 10 to 11 AM.

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2017

Big Wreck, Grace Street
Whitehorse, Panther in the Dollhouse
Kacy & Clayton, The Siren's Song
Common Holly, Playing House
Drake, More Life
Alter Bridge, The Last Hero
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Backlash
Terra Lightfoot, Paradise
Donovan Woods, They are going away
Rose Cousins, Natural Conclusion

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: 2017 Diego Awards!

Allison O’Reilly is CJLO’s Program Director, and hosts Eastern Passage, every Friday from 11 AM to noon.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017 (in alphabetic order, not order of importance!)

Mirror Reaper, Bell Witch
Booji Boys, Booji Boys
Light Information, Chad VanGaalen
Number 1 Angel, Charli XCX
II, The Courtneys
Modern Pressure, Daniel Romano
Neo Wax Bloom, Iglooghost
Tuning, Mauno
A Crow Looked At Me, Mount Eerie
Nothing Feels Natural, Priests
Rocket, (Sandy) Alex G
Slowdive, Slowdive
CTRL, SZA
Big Fish Theory, Vince Staples
Out in the Storm, Waxahatchee

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: the Spring Folk Fest, and playing at Bar Le Ritz with the CJLO All Stars.

TOP TRACKS RELEASED IN 2017

“It’s Okay To Cry”, SOPHIE
“Hungry Ghost”, Hurray for the Riff Raff
“raingurl”, yaeji
“Road Head”, Japanese Breakfast
“Big Gay Hands”, Partner
“What You’re Looking For”, Raveen
“Nothing”, Common Holly
“You & I”, Toro y Moi
“Ki Swui Kya”, Century Egg
“Lush”, Heat

TOP CONCERTS OF 2017

Slowdive at L’Olympia
Deerhunter and Cindy Lee at Le National
Simply Saucer at Bar Le Ritz
Homeshake at Theatre Fairmount
Dinosaur Jr. at Theatre Corona
Allison Crutchfield and Vagabon at La Vitrola
PJ Harvey at Metropolis
Blank Banshee at Newspeak
(Sandy) Alex G and Japanese Breakfast at Bar Le Ritz
Jeff Rosenstock at Bar L’Escogriffe

Sarah Boumedda is CJLO’s Magazine Editor, and hosts Hallyu Central, every Monday from 3 to 4 PM.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017

EXO, Universe. It might be a very biased thing to put my favourite K-Pop group at the number 1 spot, but Universe truly was a great release—despite its very late release in the year! As opposed to The War, the LP the group put out earlier this year, the EP Universe had a much more cohesive sound, blending indie rock and R&B together in the most perfect ways; it almost made me forgot my favourite member wasn't part of the ensemble through the eight tracks. Lay’s Sheep would have made it to this list, too, if only it was a little longer…
Red Velvet, Perfect Velvet
BTOB, Brother Act.
DAY6, Sunrise
CODE KUNST, Muggles’ Mansion
Lights, Skin & Earth
Loud, Une année record
SEVENTEEN, Al1
Rad Museum, Scene
Car, the garden, Apartment

HONORABLE MENTION

Jonghyun, The Collection “Story Op.2”. News of Jonghyun’s passing, on December 18, left me pretty shaken. There’s no denying that his music left a deep impression on me, especially the more intrinsic, insightful works that were his Story Opuses compilation albums. I’ll always remember him for his incredible artistry and overflowing kindness, and for speaking up on issues that are sometimes easily disregarded in music—especially in Korea.

TOP TRACKS RELEASED IN 2017

LAY, “Mask”
Red Velvet, “I Just”
B1A4, “Call Me”
BAEKHYUN, “Take You Home”
DAY6, “I Need Somebody”
NCT 127, “Sun & Moon”
Lu Han, “On Call”
Epik High, “People Scare Me”
BTOB, “Red Lie”
hyukoh, “Wanli万里”

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: It’s hard to choose just one… Possibly the simple fact of finding myself at the office, week after week (despite my busy schedule sometimes keeping me away) was always so great—and it’s all thanks to the team!

DJ Lady Oracle is CJLO’s Hip Hop Director, and hosts The Limelight, every Saturday from 6 to 8 PM.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017

Miguel, War and Leisure
Kendrick Lamar, Damn
Notion, Heart On My Sleeve
Fredy V, #ITTAKESAVILLAGE
Sampha, Process
The Foreign Exchange, Hide and Seek
Amp Fiddler, Amp Dog Knights
Young RJ, Blaq Royal-T
She Devils, She Devils
Cherry Glazerr, Apocalipstick

FAVOURITE CONCERT

Talib Kweli, Lizzo, Rhapsody at SXSW, and Wayne Tennant Single launch for Bend at Petit Café Campus, October 23rd 2017

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: There are two great moments that happened this year. First, going to SXSW with my fellow music directors. The second was the Hip Hop showcase at Casa del Popolo in October.

Danny Payne and Stephen Deane host The Pressure Drop, every Monday from 5 to 6 PM.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017 (not in order of importance!)

(Various Artists), Function Underground: The Black And Brown American Rock Sound 1972-1977
Sinkane, Life and Livin’ It
Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Subatomic Sound System, Super Ape Returns to Conquer
WITCH, We Intend To Cause Havoc
Wild Honey, Torres Blancas
Idles, Brutalism
Songhoy Blues, Résistance
Bee Bee Sea, Sonic Boom
Public Service Broadcasting, Every Valley
Strange Ranger, Daymoon

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Freddie McKay, Picture on the Wall
Hamad Kalkaba and The Golden Sounds, Astadjam Dada Sare
Tinariwen, Elwan
Juana Molina, Halo
Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang, Build Music
Dom Drummond, Don Cosmic
Bob and Gene, If This World Were Mine
Birds, Everything All At Once
David Myles, Real Love
Kingston All Stars: Presenting Kingston All Stars
Matias Aguayo & The Desdemonas, Sofarnopolis
(Various), Pop Makossa
(Various), Version Dread
The Frightnrs, More To Say
Black Bambi, Voodoo Booze EP
Po Lazarus, O Body EP
Antibalas, Where The Gods Are In Peace
Re-TROS, Before The Applause
Trupa Trupa, Jolly New Songs
Nassau, Heron

FAVOURITE TRACKS

Catholic Action, “Doing Well”
Diazpora, “Kinshasa”
Delgres, “Mo Jodi”
Boy Azooga, “Face Behind Her Cigarette”
Bro Valentino, “Stay Up Zimbabwe”
Black Bambi, “Cocaine Girl”
Trees Speak, “Soul Machine”
Acid Dad, “Die Hard”
Shame, “Concrete”
Sleaford Mods “B.H.S.”
Re-TROS “At Mosp Here”
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings “Matter of Time”
The Orielles “Sugar Tastes Like Salt”
ShitKid “Alright”
Shiners “Just Got Paid”
Jackie Shane “Any Other Way”
Shopping “The Hype”
Nicole Willis “Still Got A Way To Fall”
Indian Wells “It’s Where The World Ends”
Idles “Mother”
Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton “Statuette”
Touts “Bombscare”
Circuit Des Yeux “Paper Bag”
Les Veterans “J’aimerais que tu sois ma fan #1”

TOP CONCERTS OF 2017

FME (Festival de Musique Emergente en Abitibi-Temiscamangue)
Shazamfest
Delgres @ Festival Nuits d’Afrique
Po Lazarus @ Quai des Brumes
Shame @ M for Montreal
Public Service Broadcasting @ Pop Montreal
Liam Gallagher @ Osheaga (sorry! Danny had to put this one in for the Oasis tunes!)
Black Bambi @ assorted venues
Sinkane @ Bar le Ritz
Hot Garbage @ la Rockette
Les Deuxluxes @ Theatre Fairmount
Re-TROS @ Ritz PDB
Acid Mothers Temple @ La Sala Rossa
Thee Oh Sees @ La Tulipe
Teke Teke @ L’Esco (Distorsion Psych Fest)
Hailu Mergia @ La Sala Rossa
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard @ Theatre Fairmount

Zakary Slax hosts Slax Trax, every Tuesday from 5 to 6 PM.

TOP 10 ALBUMS THAT AREN’T D.A.M.N.

Obviously Kendrick's 2017 LP is excellent, but as it's so widely lauded, he hardly needs another plug from me… although indirectly, I guess that's what I just did. Anyway, here's 10 killer releases of the past year that are somewhat more under the radar.

Shabazz Palaces - Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star + Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines
Plasmalab, Love/Life
Mavis Staples, If All I Was Was Black
Caterina Barbieri, Patterns of Consciousness
Booji Boys, Booji Boys
Fiver, Audible Songs From Rockwood
Tough Age, Shame
Downtown Boys, Cost of Living
Not You, Misty [EP]
METZ, Strange Peace

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: Rollin’ around Austin, TX with the CJLO music department for SXSW 2017.

Certainly there was so much more greatness launched into the universe this past year than these 10. Tune in to Slax Trax on January 2nd to hear the above and beyond in a wild 'n weird 2017 retrospective.

Holden Carroll hosts Multiple Tabs, every Thursday 11 PM to midnight.

Multiple Tabs Top 9 Mixes of 2017

Multiple Tabs Top Trax of 2017

Prince Palu co-hosts The Go-Go Radio Magic Show, every Friday from 6 to 9 PM.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017 (I cannot put numbers in front of these albums because it is too hard to decide which one I liked more… but they are in a rough order.)

Daniel Romano, Modern Pressure
Tavis E. Triance & The Natural Way, A Brief Respite From The Terror Of Dying
Curtis Harding, Face Your Fear
Barry Paquin Roberge, Voyage Massage
Spoon, Hot Thoughts
The National, Sleep Well Beast
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Soul of a Woman
Chicano Batman, Freedom is Free
Mattiel, S/T
The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding
The Babe Rainbow, S/T
Doug Tuttle, Peace Potato
Tracy Bryant, A Place For Nothing And Everything In Its Place
Hiss Golden Messenger, Hallelujah Anyhow

FAVOURITE CONCERTS OF 2017

Arcade Fire @ Bell Centre w/ Wolf Parade
Daniel Romano @ Bar La Ritz PTB
Spoon @ MTelus
The National @ MTelus
Allah-Las @ Rialto Theatre w/ Babe Rainbow
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears @ La Sala Rossa
Chocolat @ Theatre Fairmount w/ IDALG + Les Hôtesses d'Hilaire
The Sadies @ La Sala Rossa
Michael Rault @ L’Escogriffe
Barry Paquin Roberge @ Le Catcus w/ Dangereens

Kelly Belfo is CJLO’s World Music Director, and hosts Flat Cola Presents: Mother Tongue, every Monday from 6 to 7 PM, and co-hosts Beat The World, every Saturday from noon to 2 PM.

TOP 20 CHARTED WORLD MUSIC ALBUMS OF 2017

Shakky Allyene, Dance With Me
Daymé Arocena, Cubafonia
Ondatropica, Baile Bucanero
Auresia, Raices
Lido Pimienta, La Papessa
Tinariwen, Elwan
Beautiful Nubia and the Roots Renaissance Band, IWA
Vieux Farka Toure, Samba
Oumou Sangare, Mogoya
Queen Ifrica, Climb
Morgan Heritage, Avrakedabra
Omar Souleyman, To Syria, With Love
Lord Echo, Harmonies
Alice Coltrane, The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda
Mystery P, Walk With Jah Jah
Meklit, When The People Move the Music Moves Too
Trio Da Kali & Kronos Quartet, Ladilikan
Antibalas, Where the Gods Are in Peace
Lee Scratch Perry, Subatomic Sound System
The Souljazz Orchestra, Under Burning Skies

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: SXSW Conference & Festival, Austin, Texas, March 10-18, 2017

Andrew is CJLO’s Metal Music Director, and hosts Grade A Explosives, every Sunday from 4 to 6 PM.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017

Toothgrinder, Phantom Armor. This album suffers at time from clunky lyrics, but in the end the catchy guitar riffs and spastic feel easily make it the most solid record of the year.
Nine Inch Nails, Add Violence. Trent Reznor's 2017 offering is far better than the last EP, putting together a cohesive record which matches the best parts of the previous two releases.
Zeal and Ardor, Devil is Fine. A half-black, American / Swiss dude who came up with this entire band by asking people to challenge him to combine two different types of music—on 4chan of all places—makes the most interesting record of the year, combining black metal and gospel Southern slave chants.
Electric Six, How Dare You? Finally a return to fun from a band that was created to have fun. What a novel concept.
He Is Legend, Few. This “grower not a shower” has only a few standout tracks, but it's consistent with good guitars and well put together tracks.
Aborym, Shifting.Negative. Combining the best parts of Skinny Puppy, NIN "The Fragile", and Ministry, this is an industrial kids dream come true.
Royal Blood, How Did We Get So Dark? English two-piece that puts together a dark, catchy record that is full of ear worms that burrow into your skull.
KMFDM, Hell Yeah. Though KMFDM cannot be said to be the most innovative group in recent times, let it not be said that they don't know how to make a great record. If you like their stuff, you'll like this too.
Ancient Vvisdom, 33. Folk songs about Satan... Need I say more?
Gone is Gone, Echolocation. An underappreciated album with high caliber talent (members of Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, and At the Drive-In). Though it stays a bit too long and doesn't exactly do super inventive things, it definitely is a great record.

Sylvain Verstricht hosts The Rest of Us, every Tuesday from 8 to 9 PM.

FAVOURITE ALBUMS

Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.
Sampha, Process
Moses Sumney, Aromanticism
Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Navigator
St. Vincent, Masseduction
Ryuichi Sakamoto, async
Arca, Arca
SZA, CTRL
Jackie Shane, Any Other Way
Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dreams and Daggers

FAVOURITE SHOWS

Truck Driver + Sour Spirit @ THE CULT
Ho99o9 @ Turbo Haüs
Hurray for the Riff Raff @ Piccolo Rialto
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan @ Bar Le Ritz PDB
Aye Nako @ Casa del Popolo
Algiers @ Bar Le Ritz PDB
Acid Mothers Temple @ La Sala Rossa
Buffalo Hat Singers, Thunderbird Drum @ MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels)
Woods @ La Sala Rossa
Run the Jewels @ MTELUS

Deevo hosts Hot Chaud!, every Sunday from 11 AM to noon.

Top 5 Hot Chaud! guests of the Year

Scott Helman (second interview)
Dennis Casey from Flogging Molly
Charlie Puth
Sam from Glass Tiger
Gus from alt-J

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: The most memorable moment probably happened during and after my interview with Dennis Casey, guitarist from Flogging Molly. The interview went extremely well and after we hung up, I went back on the air to talk up the guest I was going to have the following week: comedian and television personality, Ali Hassan. As I am on air, the phone starts ringing, and I was very surprised that someone was calling me while I was on air—anyone who would be listening would probably know that I can’t really answer the phone while I am on air. It so happened that I had a one-minute clip of Ali Hassan’s stand-up at the Just for Laughs festival, so I rapidly introduced the clip so I could get to the phone before the person hung up. Long story short, it was Dennis from Flogging Molly thanking me for the amazing interview and that he wanted to give me two tickets with two backstage passes to Flogging Molly’s sold out show at the Metropolis that night. I obviously accepted and went to the show and hung out with Dennis and one of my friends, backstage at the Metropolis. We chatted for an hour and had a couple of beers, meanwhile Flogging Molly members and the opening bands were having a jamming session. Dennis kept complimenting my interview style and thanking me for welcoming him to Montreal that morning. At the end of the night, I was over the moon. An artist went the extra mile to show me he appreciated my research, dedication and hard work towards his craft and mine, and those are the kinds of moments (and many other moments) that make me proud to be part of the CJLO team.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017

Scott Helman, Hotel de Ville. Favorite Track: “You Made Her”
Ryan Kennedy, Love is Gold. Favorite Track: “Whiskey Bar”

TOP 5 FAVOURITE CONCERTS OF 2017

Scott Helman at l’Astral, October 15^th, 2017
Flogging Molly at MTELUS, May 28^th, 2017
Guns N Roses / Our Lady Peace at Parc Jean-Drapeau, August 19th, 2017
Julien Tremblay at Chapiteau Juste Pour Rire in Bromont, August 25th, 2017 (stand-up comedy show)
Amos J at Petit Campus, August 10th, 2017

I do love and support the artists that come on my show and try to promote them as much as I can—but don't get it twisted, these concerts were truly great shows!

Angelica hosts BVST, every Wednesday from 7 to 9 PM.

These are my Top 10 records of 2017, along with songs to try out. Want to listen to them? Click here to check out a playlist of (almost) all of them!

Biblical, The City That Always Sleeps. A solid rock record with plenty of psych flights and introspective moments. this a bit of a departure from their status quo, but it spoke to me. Track to taste: “Fugue State”
Dead Quiet, Grand Rites. With a title fitting the big, brash songs on this album, this record will ceremoniously stomp into your ear. Like The Murder City Devils, but with more headbanging. Track to taste: “Dear Demon”
Desert Mountain Tribe, If You Don't Can, You Don't Know Köln. With only four tracks, this EP definitely leaves the listener wanting more. Like their “spirit molecule” namesake, DMT weaves a trippy, spacey web in under 20 minutes. Track to taste: “Circles”
Jess and the Ancient Ones, The Horse and Other Weird Tales. A surprise late entry from a band with which I never really bothered previously, this new record's strong vocals and spooky Sixties sound are inexplicably fresh. Track to taste: “Minotaure”
Lousy Riders, Orphans. A late addition to the list, this record channels Mongrels and Muffler Crunch with lots of riffage and just enough fuzz to keep you warm this winter and beyond. Track to taste: “You Made Me”
L.A. Guns, The Missing Peace. Never in my life would I think I'd ever include a record from a Sunset Strip band that arguably peaked by 1990, and yet here we are. OG singer and guitarist Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns reunite on a very respectable slab of sleaze. Track to taste: “The Flood's The Fault of the Rain”
Longhouse, II: Vanishing. This extremely strong, super punishing stoner-doom release is possibly the heaviest thing to ever come out of Ottawa. This is all killer, no filler. Track to taste: “The Vigil”
Ritual Master, A Horrific Return. This was a good year for spooky, occultist metal, and Montreal's own Ritual Master threw a bewitching offering on the altar with something that sounds like it was recorded in Satan's basement. Track to taste: “Pharisee”
Santa Cruz, Bad Blood Rising. Their 2015 self-titled was a tough act to follow, but this year's offering earns a spot just sheer balls-to-the-wall hair metal bravado. Opportunities for fist-pumping and shouting along abound. Track to taste: “Bad Habits Die Hard”
Zeal & Ardor, Devil is Fine. It's increasingly difficult to hear things that sound entirely new, but this Swiss-American genius blends black metal with slave spirituals into a record that is unlikely anything you've heard before. Track to taste: “Blood in the River”

As for CJLO memorable moments, mine were being able to give away tickets to high profile shows, including Metallica and Guns N' Roses, as well as presenting the CJLO Ryan B. Arditi Lifetime Achievement award to Stephanie Pastel!

Remi Caron hosts At the Movies (With Iconic Sounds), every Tuesday from 8 to 9 AM.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017

Harry Styles, Harry Styles. It's not easy getting away from the boy band persona, but Harry Styles goes to prove that there is a life after the boy band with his debut album. This is one of the most solid pop albums that I have listened to in a while.
Iron and Wine, Best Epic. Move over Father John Misty, Samuel “Sam” Ervin Beam had one of the best Adult Folk Contemporary albums of the year. With the tornado of 2017 ripping through the stratosphere, Beam will always be there with his voice to calm things down.
Foster the People, Sacred Hearts Club. With their third album, Foster The People did a good job at experimenting with various sounds and instruments, while drawing from 60's psychedelia.
Arcade Fire, Everything Now. Everything Now has to be one of Arcade Fire's least ambitious works; but even though it's more of a rock pop accessible album, Arcade Fire keeps their same experimental sound.
Jay-Z, 4:44. I haven't been on Jay-Z's side since The Blueprint 3, and then I gave a listen to 4:44. The visual components of the album and the music videos are great in addition to the tracks, and underline the album’s awareness about black culture.
The National, Sleep Well Beast. When it comes to my favourite indie rock record of the year, The National came close to the top. There is something about Matt Berninger voice that resonates with his listeners no matter what mood they are in.
Feist, Pleasure. It has been a while since Leslie Feist released an album, however coming out around the spring of 2017 Pleasure provided a breath of fresh air.
Kendrick Lamar, Damn. How do you follow up one of your most ambitious and successful albums, is a question that Kendrick Lamar had to answer when following To Pimp A Butterfly, and did a great job with Damn. Sonically, Lamar moves away from the jazzy nature of his previous album, and tries a new hard rock sound for some tracks. Some great featured artists include U2 and Rihanna.
Lorde, Melodrama. Melodrama feels as Lorde wanted not only to make an interpersonal album, but one that would have some banger tracks for the club. This album takes a hold of you as Lorde keeps you intrigued, right up until the club lights come on and you have to go home.
LCD Soundsystem, American Dream. 2016 saw LCD Soundsystem reunite and promise the world a new album. James Murphy brings back the same dance house music juxtaposition to themes of depression, social issues, fear, and ending of love and friendship in the album. Thank god there will always be LCD Soundsystem.

FAVOURITE TRACKS OF 2017

Lorde, “Hard Feelings/Loveless”
Kendrick Lamar, “DNA”, Humble”
Jay Z, ”4:44”, “Moonlight”
LCD Soundsystem, “American Dream”
Arcade Fire, “Creature Comfort”

Favorite Concert (A Very Biased Opinion): LCD Soundsystem, American Dream Tour.

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: Having a successfully fun Funding Drive.

DJ Mister Vee hosts Beats From The East, every Thursday from 10 to 11 PM.

TOP TV SHOWS OF 2017: The Punisher & Stranger Things

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: DJ'ing at the Millennial Party.

TOP ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017

Ruby Ibarra, Circa91
Prince, Purple Rain (Reissue)
Alfa, Spark and Fury
Little Dragon, Season High
Cynthia Lin, Ukelele Days
Kero One & Azure, Kero & Azure!
Dumbfoundead, Foreigner

TOP TRACKS RELEASED IN 2017

Carlos Vives, “La Bicicleta” ft. Shakira)
No Riddim & Megan Lee, “Young & Broken”
Kero One & Azure, “Jazzhop”

FAVOURITE CONCERT OF 2017: CJLO FUNDrive 2017 Kick-Off

The Franklin Armstrong Collective host #GeektastiqCypha.

GAMES…
you should and could play

By SkinDeep

COMICS…
for geeks & non-geeks alike

By Tobi

MUSIC…
for those who love game OSTs

By Doc Holidae

TRANSFORMERS…
for beginners and winners

By JawzD

MOVIES…
your geek friends have seen

By Brandon

Omar Sonics is CJLO’s Head Music Director, and hosts Hooked on Sonics, every Thursday from 6 to 8 PM.
*Here's a Spotify playlist of all my fave tunes and records of 2017 - keep the shuffle on!

FAVOURITE 30 ALBUMS RELEASED IN 2017

Slowdive - Slowdive
Afghan Whigs - In Spades
Cloud Nothings - Life Without Sound
Kendrick Lamar - Damn
Alex G - Rocket
Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory
Priests - Nothing Feels Natural
Sorority Noise - You're Not As ____ As You Think
Big Brave - Ardor
Brother Ali - All the Beauty in This Whole Life
LCD Soundsystem - American Dream
Charly Bliss - Guppy
Converge - The Dusk in Us
METZ - Strange Peace
New Year - Snow
Waxahatchee - Out of the Storm
Mogwai - Every Country's Sun
Dälek - Endangered Philosophies
Bvdub - Heartless
Day Wave - The Days We Had
Alvvays - Antisocialites
Godflesh - Post Self
Sylvan Esso - What Now
P.O.S. - Chill, Dummy
Lee Ranaldo - Electric Trim
Jay Som - Everything Works
RIDE - Weather Diaries
Lees of Memory - The Blinding White Light of Nothing At All
Hammock - Mysterium
Ben Frost - The Centre Cannot Hold
Honourable mentions: Julian Baker, Bell Witch, Cigarettes After Sex, Cloakroom, Kelela, Japanese Breakfast, Jidenna, Kid Koala, Kindling, Migos, Kelly Lee Owens, Propagandhi, Rainer Maria, Reduction Plan, SZA, Fred Thomas, Tigers Jaw, Wilsen, Cheslea Wolfe, Yumi Zouma

FAVOURITE 10 EPs RELEASED IN 2017

Mansions - Deserter EP
Iris - Iris EP
Bleach Bath - It'll Get Worse If You Let It EP
Blessed - II EP
No Aloha - Sway EP
Alice Glass - Alice Glass EP
No Joy - Creep EP
Colour Wheel - Colour Wheel EP
Fotocrime - Always Hell EP
LOLAA - LOLAA EP

MOST ANTICIPATED RECORD OF 2018 (and 2017, and 2016...sigh)

Chromatics - Dear Tommy

FAVOURITE 15 CONCERTS OF 2017

Afghan Whigs @ The Apollo (their show @ Theatre Fairmount also was up there)
Big Brave / Lungbutter @ Sala Rossa
Brother Ali @ Belmont
Hans Zimmer @ Bell Centre
Kid Koala's Interactive Satellite Music @ Phi Centre
Rocket from the Crypt @ SXSW
Slowdive @ L'Olympia
Priests @ SXSW
Sigur Rós @ Place des Arts
John Carpenter @ Metropolis
North of America @ The Ritz
Mogwai @ Theatre Corona
Jidenna @ SXSW
Lee Ranaldo @ Sala Rossa
Anderson Paak @ Place Des Festivals

Your most memorable CJLO moment of the year: Miraculously making it to SXSW with the CJLO Music Department in the middle of an extreme snowstorm which included such bizarre insanity such as seeing Snoop Dogg and meeting Madea, the Big Shiny Tunes fund drive party, and interviewing Walter Schriefels, Slowdive and Lee Ranaldo for Hooked on Sonics.

The Best of 2017

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