
You may be wondering what to get for your Pokémon-fanatic friend and/or family member this Christmas. It should be something special, as not all fans of Pokémon are alike. Some adhere to the first Generation, some only collect the cards, while others prefer to bury themselves in piles of plushies. There is very little that all fans can agree on. The best present you can get for them, one that is bound to bring a smile to their face, is one straight from a Nintendo Pokémon Center. In Japan. Yes, it will require purchasing plane tickets, flying 20 hours, booking a hotel and traversing a foreign land in the name of some game merch, but honestly, it's the gesture that makes the difference and makes it truly special. And is that not what Christmas is all about?
Or you could buy them a copy of Pokémon Sun and Moon.
For those unsure about purchasing the game for themselves, or simply wishing to avoid spoilers, the following review will examine ONLY the game's play mechanics and not the storyline of Pokémon Sun and Moon. Wouldn't wanna spoil the actual game for anyone.
Aesthetically, the animation has improved phenomenally since Pokémon ORAS, and the full 3D world is a true treat for players who've personally witnessed the evolution of the games since their monochromatic debut on the Gameboy. There are some drawbacks and slip-ups, however.
While the 3D over-world is something players have been wanting for a long time now, it is limiting to the players field of vision. This makes spotting potential Trainer battles and puzzle layouts a challenge. The game has addressed the Trainer battle issue by lessening the AI's trigger range and causing the screen to letterbox when a Trainer is in close proximity, but their solution for the puzzle layouts is slightly nauseating as it causes the camera to pan upwards into an overhead view.
The player's character model also appears to be lacking some programming for facial expressions. During many serious cut-scenes, everyone is in shock or angry, and when the camera pans over, there's the player: serene default smile like the end of the world is just fine by them. A lot of the more dramatic or sombre scenes have their mood cut by this effect, or rather, lack thereof. Which is a shame as there were facial expressions programmed in ORAS.
Also the walk-cycle is quite silly. Takes a while to get used to.
As for play-ability, Pokémon Sun and Moon is roughly the same length as previous games: the Island Trials lead up to Elite battles to become a Champion and being the Champion opens up new areas of the game. But it's the games smaller, added features that help lengthen it out.
For those who enjoy the Nintendo DS' Spot Pass and Mii Plaza, Sun and Moon's Festival Plaza is just that, with the added bonus of being able to buff up your Pokémon at the same time.
Poké Pelago allows players to use Poké Beans in a multitude of ways. Leaving beans on one island may result in wild Pokémon appearing and requesting to join your party or PC box. Another allows players to cultivate berries faster depending on how many beans are left. Another has Pokémon staying in the PC boxes to go out and search for shards, rare evolution stones and even rare items. And others allow for even more buffing and outside-of-battle experience gain. All in all, a great game feature to exploit catching and leveling Pokémon faster and obtaining items that can't be found easily in-game.
Pokémon Refresh is Sun and Moons version of Pokémon Amie and introduces a new feature to interacting with your Pokémon: Healing. After certain battles, the game will prompt the player to open Pokémon Refresh to either brush dirt from their Pokémon's fur, towel them dry or even heal them of status conditions. This is a great money-saving feature for those who normally stock up on antidotes, awakens, paralyze heals, full heals and the like. It should be noted that Pokémon still dodge, inflict critical hits, hang onto their last 1 HP and heal themselves when their Affection is maxed-out in Refresh. Hours will be spent petting your Pokémon. Hours.
Two other features that are worth mentioning, yet not necessarily game-prolonging are the QR scanner and Quick Link.
Quick Link is a superb improvement in connecting with other players via DS wireless. Players no longer have to reach a certain point in the game where they are finally allowed to go to the second floor of the Pokémon Center to be asked a million questions before entering a connection room to find another player to battle or trade with. Players can now go directly to their start menu, select Quick Link and search for other players near them. This means trades and battles can occur at anytime, anywhere. AND, Pokémon can be selected directly from a players PC box, it is no longer required to be in their party. Amazing.
The QR scanner allows players to add Pokémon to their Pokédex as though they've encountered them, simply by scanning their corresponding QR code. While early on this idea fell somewhat flat, it was quickly abused as players began uploading Pokémon QR codes to gaming forums so others could fill their Pokédex pages and receive the chance to battle non-Sun-and-Moon-native Pokémon for every 10 codes scanned. Note: limit 10 scans per day. Players are also able to receive event Pokémon via QR codes, and while these appear to be region locked, if any are store-only events, it is bound to be abused in the same way. Praise be the invention of the camera-phone.
All in all, Pokémon Sun and Moon has been an absolute treasure to play since its release on November 18th. Despite the various downfalls, including the game limits a player's ability to explore so that they advance the story along, it has many glorious upsides, such as eliminating HMs and therefore the need for HM slaves or limiting your team's move-sets.
Pokémon Sun and Moon, the seventh generation in the series, receives four "get-in-the-bag"s out of five.
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Click a link for more Pokémon features!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catlin Spencer is a long-time volunteer and news director at CJLO with experience in writing, hosting, producing, and training under her belt. A lover of satire, cartoons and video games, Catlin is a huge dork who is always one line away from making a really bad pun.

There is a new and exciting year ahead of us, but we here at CJLO want to take this chance to reminisce about the wonderful music, film and television, events, and FUN that 2016 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 2017!
Yours truly,
CJLO 1690 AM in Montreal
Chris the Frog hosts Sewer Spewer every Wednesday from 1 to 2 PM.
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TOP 10 ALBUMS
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
TOP 5 MONTREAL ALBUMS
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
MEMORABLE MOMENT
Seeing Ryan McKenney of Trap Them play an entire set on his knees with two broken legs at Turbo Haus, November 18, 2016.
Philliam hosts Turn on the Darkness every Tuesday from 2 to 3 PM.
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ALBUMS
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
Deevo is the host of Hot Chaud ! every Sunday from 11 AM to Noon.
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TOP 3 PODCASTS
TOP ALBUMS
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
My most memorable moment this year has to be interviewing Dylan, the singer and bassist from the band Kongos. Kongos have been on a ride since their top 10 hit song "Come with Me Now". The song received a lot of airplay on commercial radio world wide and the band also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. They were coming to Montreal where they sold out the Metropolis on the Egomaniac Tour. Dylan was nice enough to come on Hot Chaud! and talk about the last year of touring and their new album, Egomaniac. From being in a band with his three brothers to playing Lollapalooza in front of 30,000 people, he didn't shy away from any question and seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Honourable mentions go out to French singer Jain and to Ryan Kennedy. I loved hearing Jain talk about how her travelling childhood inspired her to write music and with her latest single "Come" reaching number one in France, and her 45 million views on YouTube. You know Jain is a name you will be hearing a lot in the next couple of years. Ryan on the other hand came into the CJLO studios to talk and perform his single "Honest Song" live acoustically. The single later became a hit on French radio stations such as CKOI and NRJ which made it extra special to have it heard and performed live first on CJLO.
Remi hosts At The Movies (With Iconic Sounds) every Tuesday from 8 to 9 AM.
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ALBUMS
FILMS
BEST TELEVISION BINGES
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
So many that I have started collecting trinkets for the events in a Ziploc bag. I guess it would be when I turned 27 and was spending a quiet birthday, what I wanted. My good friend took it upon himself to show up and we just talked and listened to vinyl records until 4 in the morning.
Gee Weekes is the host of Anatomy of Caribbean Music every Saturday from 8 to 10 PM, and he also brings you the World Beat News every Tuesday from Noon to 1 PM.
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CANADIAN ARTISTS PLAYED ON WORLD BEAT NEWS
The K-Man hosts Beyond That Graveyard! III and My Private He.B.G.B.'s every Friday from 8 PM to the Witching hour.
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METAL
STONER ROCK
COUNTRY
Fredy M. Iuni hosts Hiway 1 every Monday from 7 to 8 PM.
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TOP ALBUMS
FAVOURITE TRACKS - DIS MY JAM!
FAVOURITE SHOWS/CONCERTS
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
Working & being around with the great peeps at CJLO and DJing a few events.
Rebecca Munroe & Danny Payne host The Commonwealth Conundrum Show every Tuesday from 6 to 7 PM.
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ALBUMS
(not in any particular order, cuz we really loved them all)
BEST SHOWS
MEMORABLE MOMENT
Well it started out horrible, when we all woke up on January 10th to read of David Bowie's passing. There were many musicians that left this world in 2016, but Bowie's departure was surreal.

Alex hosts Ashes to Ashes every Tuesday from 1 to 2 PM.
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ALBUMS
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
EPs
SINGLES
NON-2016 ALBUMS
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
Hard to decide, but doing interviews and hosting live sessions were two things I never thought I would do on my show when I started it, so doing both several times this year was a definite highlight!
Akeem J. Pierre hosts The Kitchen every Wednesday from Noon to 1 PM.
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TOP 10 RAP ALBUMS
TOP 10 RNB ALBUMS
MEMORABLE MOMENT
My most memorable moment was the release of my first mixtape "Six Ways To Sunday". A big shout out to everyone who made it happen! Here's to more music in 2017.
DJ NMK hosts The Kitchen every Wednesday from Noon to 1 PM.
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HIP HOP
RNB
Zakary Slax hosts Slax Trax every Tuesday from 5 to 6 PM.
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SIX RAD RECORDS FROM ATLANTIC CANADA
(The Motherland of Z. Slax)
BONUS ROUND
MEMORABLE MOMENT
Driving through the Rockies with the Astral Gunk Krewe.
Lady Oracle is CJLO's Hip Hop Music Director and hosts The Limelight every Saturday from 6 to 8 PM.
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TOP HIP HOP AND R&B ALBUMS
DJ So-So is an honorary CJLO family member and the former host of The Kids Are So-So, ex-news director, ex-CJLO Magazine editor, and former booth couch napper.
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TOP 20 SPINS
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Stephanie Dee is a writer living in Montreal and she likes to participate in having fun.
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TOP ALBUMS
IT WAS AN HONOUR
Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker
FAVE REISSUES
TOP FINDS FROM THE RECORD SHOPS
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
Lemmy Kilmister died on December 28, 2015 and took a myriad of other amazing artists along with him in 2016. This year my heart was cracked (David Bowie), broken (Prince), shattered (Leonard Cohen), and damn it losing Bernie Worrell was really hard because Funkadelic is freakin' awesome and Funk is its own reward. Bloody hell, it was rough one... but there were a few highlights! Boris came to town and played Pink in its entirety at Bar Le Ritz PDB. I got to cover POP Montreal for CJLO with my friend SusieQ, attending lots of great shows including John Waters: This Filthy World at the Rialto, Psychic TV at Cabaret du Mile End, and whoa whoa whoa John Cale from VU (also at the Rialto). And here's a special message for that #OneGuyDancing at all the shows: We see you and we love you!
Mike Bresciani is an honorary CJLO family member and former host of The Lonesome Strangers.
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FAVOURITE ALBUMS
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
BEST LP REISSUES
FAVOURITE MUSIC-RELATED BOOKS
BEST LIVE SHOWS
HONOURABLE MENTION
Every broken-hearted Leonard Cohen fan that came to the memorial on Mary-Anne, and sang their hearts out.
MOST CRINGE-WORTHY MUSICAL MOMENTS
Andrew WIXQ is CJLO's Program Director, Metal Music Director, and the host of Grade A Explosives every Sunday from 4 to 6 PM.
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TOP 10 ALBUMS
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Oncle Ian hosts The Go-Go Radio Magic Show every Friday from 6 to 8 PM.
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ALBUMS
(In no particular order)
FAVOURITE SHOWS
Emilio Greco hosts In Between Rounds every Monday from 2 to 3 PM.
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MEMORABLE MOMENT
My episode with Mike Dolce and Stipe Miocic on September 26th! Click here to listen online.
Angelica hosts BVST every Wednesday from 7 to 9 PM.
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HERE ARE MY TOP 10 SONGS OF 2016
I've collected them all into an 8tracks playlist, so click here if you want to give them all a listen!
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
This year has been full of memorable moments, from seeing Black Sabbath, to doing live radio at Heavy Montreal, but going down to Burlington to see Scissorfight and eating chicken wings in the pit has to be the hands down highlight!
SATYYY is an honorary CJLO family member and former host of Shibuya Crossing (airdate: 2013-2016). Follow @satyyy on Instagram.
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THE TEN THINGS I MISS A LOT ABOUT HOME (SO FAR)
Wishing the world good energy, peace, strength, and harmony for the New Year. We'll all need that in our future adventures! Much love from Japan. Miss you all!
DJ Spacepirate hosts Burnt Offerings every Sunday from 6 to 8 PM.
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ALBUMS
In no particular order, I present you some albums I liked and will probably continue to listen to even though I no longer have to as part of my high falutin DJ lifestyle.
DJ SPACEPIRATE'S MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF THE YEAR
That time we all almost died oh wait that's still ongoing...
Joana Cumo is CJLO's Artist Residency Program Coordinator and hosts Je Suis TBA every Monday from 6 to 7 PM.
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My list this year showcases the top 100 albums I've listened to and enjoyed in no particular order.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC
HIP HOP
SOUL, FUNK, JAZZ AND R&B
EXPERIMENTAL & DARK
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
SXSW + On Rotation EP Launches and Recording Sessions with Joyce N'sana, Strange Froots, and Wilkow + RBMA.
Idle Matt plays punk and stuff on Radio Fun every Thursday from 8 to 9 PM.
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5 FAVOURITE RELEASES
10 OTHER FAVOURITE RELEASES (UNRANKED)
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
Seeing The Descendents, Sleater-Kinney, and The Original Misfits at Riot Fest Chicago (September 17-18)
Simon Howell is an honorary CJLO family member and the former host of Sucker Blues and former co-host of Sound on Sight.
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ALBUMS
BEST GIGS
Kelly Belfo is CJLO's World Music Director and the co-host of Beat the World every Saturday from Noon to 2 PM.
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BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUMS
MEMORABLE EVENTS
Omar Sonics is CJLO's Head Music Director and the host of Hooked on Sonics every Thursday from 6 to 8 PM.
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10 FAVOURITE ALBUMS
10 MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2017
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS
CJLO Related - Interviewing Glenn Jones, discussing life and loss, and listening to his amazing stores of Hendrix, Robby Basho, and John Fahey. Hayden and Explosions in the Sky had amazing shows too.
Life Related - Driving up the side of a dormant volcano in near pitch black darkness to watch the sun rise at 10,000 feet above sea level with my rad wife.

On the Wednesday before Christmas, here at CJLO,
It's time for the annual special BVST show.
Angelica is back with her special guest
Matt Kiernan, who knows which Christmas music is best.
Santapalooza is back for another year,
With all the jolliest tracks you can't wait to hear.
Originals and covers, songs old and new,
All of this music he's handpicked for you.
On December 21st at 7pm,
make sure you tune in to this annual gem.
This is the 5th Santapalooza on BVST,
You'll love it, I promise you won't disagree!
The 5th annual BVST Santapalooza special on CJLO 1690AM airs on Wednesday, December 21st at 7pm. Make sure to follow the Santapalooza project on Twitter @Santapalooza for all your Christmassy musical needs now and year round!

Join our Station Manager Michał Langiewicz tonight from 5-6PM as he dives into the Montréal music scene on Sender/Receiver on CJLO 1690AM! Today's episode is jam-packed with:
*Tunes from Bambi Lou, Blank Bullets and Common Holly
*An Interview with the recently-resurrected Kinnta Records
*And much much more!
Facebook: Sender/Receiver on CJLO 1690AM
Listen Online: http://www.cjlo.com/player.html


Say what?! You've never check out our archives? Well, it looks like we've caught you at a good time.
Last week, Alex from Ashes to Ashes had the pleasure of interviewing Montréal synth-pop trio, Paupiére. Éliane Préfontaine, Julia Daigle, and Pierre-Luc Bégin dropped by CJLO 1690AM to discuss the release of their debut EP, Jeunes instants, their new single, “Rex,” and signing to Lisbon Lux Records.
Ashes to Ashes is your weekly dose of music from the 1980's that has stood the test of time, featuring bits of indie rock, alt-country, electronic, hip-hop, funk, and even a dash of reggae; hosted by Alex, every Tuesday from 1-2 PM!

Tune in tomorrow from 8-10 AM as At The Movies will be hosting their annual traditional holiday episode of spending your holidays at the movie theatres. Remi and Danny will count down their top 5 films that would keep them from celebrating the holidays, and send them to the theatres. Remi will deliver his top ten things to expect from the holiday season at the movies. It wouldn't be christmas without reviewing two christmas gems, which include Jingle All The Way and Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. A bunch of other surprises may be in store because you never know who might drop by.

BODY META, dj duo featuring Dimitri and Nico Sé dedicated to worldwide obscurities, are bringing their International Discothèque to CJLO for a very special radio take-over! Tonight at 11pm with Mother Tongue, BODY META will bring the funk. Having shared the stage with Omar Souleyman, Thundercat, and King Britt, there will be no shortage of afro boogie, habibi jamz, disco, and cumbia rarities on the airwaves. Furthermore, BODY META are joining forces with more great Montreal djs for a Holiday Jam on Saturday, December 17th at Groove Nation to help collect non-perishable food items for the NDG Food Depot/Depot alimentary NDG. That means this radio take-over will not only be a lot of fun, it will also be for a good cause.
TONIGHT 11PM - Listen live to this BODY META radio take-over with Mother Tongue for an afro boogie, habibi funk, global disco party!

Today on Grade A Explosives, Montreal 80s metal revivalists and all around good dudes will stop by and perform some acoustic version of some of their songs as well as talk about their new live album which they'll be launching on Friday at Piranha Bar. For more info on that, feel free to check out the event page here!
They'll also be premiering a brand new track on the show, so you surely don't want to miss that. All this and more from 4-6PM.

Photo Credit: Jason Bergman
If there is one word to describe the Asap Ferg Turnt & Burnt experience, it would have to be: energetic.
On Wednesday November 30th, American rapper Asap Ferg heated up the city by bringing the Turnt & Burnt tour to Metropolis, with Young Mob associates, Playboi Carti and Rob $tone in attendance as well.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I am pretty sure they don’t play trap music during hot yoga sessions. If they do, it would feel something like being at the front of a Ferg show. Turnt & Burnt is a most fitting title to the show, as I found myself drenched in sweat after just a few songs from the rapper. As someone who has pushed and shoved his way through too many mosh pits to count, I can say that the Trap Lord’s performance brought out the best of his fans. Ferg performed the crowd favorites “Uzi Gang” “Shabba Ranks” and “Work Remix”, while including some deep cuts to his performance like “Psycho” as well. Ferg of course dedicated an early part of the show to his departed friend Asap Yams. The song “New Level”, which came during the “Burnt” part of the show, was dedicated to Kanye West who was in the hospital at the time.
Still, as fun as it was to pay attention to the pandemonium from the crowd, it was the live visuals that stole the show. From beginning to end, Ferg was backed by some of the most insane on stage visuals I have ever seen. Lazer eyed terminator robots, flamethrowing skulls, thunderstorms, and of course the irresistible cozy tapes vol. 1 album cover, all appeared behind Ferg as he performed. Montréal was one of the last of Asap Ferg’s stops on this tour, and he showed no sign of fatigue. From beginning to end, “Shabba Ranks” to “Psycho”, Ferg gave the crowd what they came for, along with a few water bottles, and proved why he is one of the best rappers out.