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CJLO DJ SPOTLIGHT

January 13 2020 //

I’m a Sagittarius who loves discussing art and discovering new restaurants around town. Especially, discussing the philosophies of music over some cake and bubble tea. Although, I should probably save it for the radio show that I co-host with my Scorpio sister Lisa. Last Stop: This Song delves into our favourite tracks from various genres and scenes that we are dying to share with all those in radioland. We’ve explored new wave, post-punk, folk, techno, and many others to appreciate the power and the beauty that the songs truly have!

My name is Lou, I'm a grad student here at Concordia in my day-to-day. I consider myself a musician and a lover of food, comedy and taking nice long walks. But more than these, I love music for the soul. That's what Soul'd Out! is all about! On Soul'd Out!, I play songs usually within soul, R&B and funk styles but I'm known to throw in some folk, disco and worldly stuff into the stew. Genres are a construct anyway, right? Each week I either play a playlist of classics, new gems and local stuff or talk to other soul admirers and artists. If it's got a soul, it's on the show!

Reforms To Quebec's Youth Protection System, Downtown Ottawa Shooting, 63 Canadians Killed In Air Disaster

January 8 2020 //

Ahmad Moujtahed

 

________________________________________________________________

LOCAL

Hearings into youth protection and the rights of children in Quebec will resume for three days in Montreal, according to CTV News.

The commission in charge will look into several aspects of the province’s youth protection system, including its funding and organizational structure. Then, a set of reforms will be applied to the existing programs of the youth protection system, especially that they lacked resources in the past due to budget cuts and structural reforms.

The hearings come after the death of a seven-year-old girl in Granby last spring.

 

NATIONAL

A major police operation was carried out in Downtown Ottawa after a shooting left one person dead and three more severely injured. 

Paramedics were called Wednesday morning to one of the homes on Gilmour and Kent streets, around 7:30 am local time.

One of the three people taken to hospital, a 15-year-old teenager, is in stable condition, according to The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). A major crime unit is investigating and police have been asking people to avoid the area.

 

INTERNATIONAL

63 Canadians were killed after Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed minutes after taking-off from Tehran’s International Airport.The plane was a Boeing 737-800 flying from Tehran to Kiev. 

Ukranain officials released the names of passengers. Reuters reported that 30 Canadians, almost half of the 63 Canadians identified by officials so far, were from Edmonton. Several victims were students or faculty at the University of Alberta.

The crash came hours after Iran launched a missile attack on U.S. bases in neighbouring Iraq, but Iranian officials said they suspected a mechanical issue brought down the aircraft.

CJLO's Best of the Decade

December 31 2019 //

As the decade comes to a close, we at CJLO, have taken the time to look back at the past 10 years to document our favourite albums, artists and movies. Join us on this blast from the past and see if you agree with our choices!

See you in the New Year! 

Alex hosts Ashes to Ashes every Tuesday from 8 p.m.

Top 10 Albums of the Decade

  1. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (2010)
  2. Kanye West - Yeezus (2013)
  3. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
  4. The Jezabels - Synthia (2016)
  5. Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe (2013)
  6. Phoenix - Bankrupt! (2013)
  7. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)
  8. Alaclair Ensemble – Les Frères Cueilleurs (2016)
  9. Friendly Fires – Pala (2011)
  10. Lydia Képinski – Premier juin (2018)

Honourable Mentions

  • Fear of Men - Early Fragments (2013)
  • Heat - Overnight (2017)
  • Honeyblood - Babes Never Die (2016)
  • Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound (2017)
  • Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour (2018)
  • Kali Uchis - Isolation (2018)
  • Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon, Vol. II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010)
  • Loud - Une année record (2017)
  • Paramore - After Laughter (2017)
  • Paramore - Paramore (2013)
  • Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City (2013)

Sylvain Verstricht host The Rest of Us every Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Best Albums of the Decade
Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010)
Eluvium – Static Nocturne (2010)
Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz (2010)
A Winged Victory for the Sullen – A Winged Victory for the Sullen (2011)
Lana Del Rey – Born to Die (2012)
Mistki – Puberty 2 (2016)
Pop Winds – The Turquoise (2010)
Sigur Rós – Inni (2011)
AURORA – All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend (2016)
Alvvays – Antisocialites (2017)

Best Singles of the Decade
Mitski – “Your Best American Girl” (2016)
Lana Del Rey – “Ride” (2012)
Sia – “Chandelier” (2014)
Cat Power – “Cherokee (Nicolas Jaar Remix)” (2012)
Sharon Van Etten – “Love More” (2010)
Arcade Fire – “Everything Now” (2017)
Gunship – “When You Grow Up, Your Heart Dies” (2018)
Hurray for the Riff Raff – “Pa’lante” (2017)
Lissie – “Hero” (2015)
Rihanna – “Diamonds” (2012)

Most Memorable Concerts of the Decade
Thee Nodes at Casa del Popolo (2012) + Death House (2012) + Loudhouse (2014)
Jon Mueller at La Vitrola (2015) + Auditorium Maxwell Cummings (2011) + Coop Katacömbes (2016)
Perchten at Coop Katacömbes + l’Hémisphère Gauche (2014)
Bas at Le Belmont (2016)
Dawn of Midi + Nils Frahm at Metropolis (2014)
Big Freedia + Gobble Gobble at Espace Reunion (2010)
Porn Persons at RATS 9 (2013)
NØ MAN at La Sotterenea (2019)
Bing & Ruth at Divan Orange (2017)
Sigur Rós at Centre Bell (2013)

Emeline hosts Nozin’ Around every Friday at 2 p.m.

Best 20 Albums of the Decade (in alphabetical order)

  • Alvvays - Alvvays 
  • Anoraak - Wherever the Sun Sets 
  • AUSTRA - Olympia
  • Black Marble - A Different Arrangement 
  • Black Marble - It’s Immaterial 
  • Boy Harsher - Lesser Man 
  • Chastity Belt - Time to Go Home
  • Chromatics - Night Drive
  • Com Truise - Galactic Melt 
  • Drab Majesty - The Demonstration 
  • feu doux – feu doux 
  • Foliage - II 
  • Grimes & d’eon – Darkbloom 
  • Jessy Lanza - Pull My Hair Back 
  • Kelela - Take Me Apart 
  • Lydia Ainsworth - PSI 
  • Neon Indian - Era Extraña
  • TOPS - Picture You Staring
  • Troy No – To Be Predetermined
  • Partner – In Search Of Lost Time
  • Violence – Violence Erlebnis

Banger of the Decade
SAINT PEPSI – “Cherry Pepsi”

Chris the Frog host Sewer Spewer every Monday at 12 p.m.

Favourite Montreal Albums of the Decade

  1. The BCASA - Fuck It Up Hard! (2010)
  2. Barn Burner - Bangers II: Scum of the Earth (2011)
  3. Grimskunk - Set Fire! (2012)
  4. Trigger Effect - What’s Left To Eliminate? (2013)
  5. Naughty Girls - LP (2014)
  6. Dopethrone - Hochelaga (2015)
  7. Dig It Up - Bad Water (2016)
  8. Show of Bedlam - Transfiguration (2017)
  9. The Great Sabatini - Goodbye Audio (2018)
  10. Gazm - Heavy Vibe Music (2019)

Remi hosts At The Movies (with Iconic Sounds) every Tuesday at 8 a.m.

Best Artists of the Decade
Kanye West for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
Bon Iver for Bon Iver (2011)
Frank Ocean for Channel Orange (2012)
Daft Punk for Random Access Memory (2013)
Lana Del Rey for Ultraviolence (2014)
Kendrick Lamar for To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
Frank Ocean for Blonde (2016)
Lorde for Melodrama (2017)
Colin Stetson for Hereditary OST (2018)
Billie Eilish for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019)

Best Albums of the Decade
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (2010)
Bon Iver - Bon Iver (2011)
Frank Ocean - Channel Orange (2012)
Lorde - Pure Heroine (2013)
Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence (2014)
Kendrick Lamar -To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
Frank Ocean - Blonde (2016)
Lorde - Melodrama (2017)
Colin Stetson - Hereditary OST (2018)
Bon Iver - i,i (2019)
 
Best Songs of the Decade
Kanye West - “Power” (2010)
Bon Iver - “Calgary” (2011)
Lana Del Rey - “Video Games” (2012, *technically a late 2011 release)
Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams - “Get Lucky” (2013)
Lana Del Rey - “Westcoast” (2014)
Kendrick Lamar - “i” (2015)
Frank Ocean - “Solo” (2016)
Kendrick Lamar - “Humble” (2017)
Colin Stetson - “Reborn” (2018)
Nicholas Britell - “Agape” (2019, *technically a late 2018 release)
 
Best Score or Soundtrack of the Decade
Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross - The Social Network (2010)
Cliff Martinez -  Drive (2011)
Mike Patton - The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
Arcade Fire - Her (2013)
Disasterpeace - It Follows (2014)
Jóhann Jóhannsson - Sicario (2015)
Mica Livi - Jackie (2016)
Jonny Greenwood -  Phantom Thread (2017 *technically an early 2018 release)
Colin Stetson - Hereditary (2018)
Bobby Krlic - Midsommar (2019)

Best Films of the Decade
Incendies - dir. Denis Villeneuve (2010)
The Tree of Life - dir. Terrence Malick (2011)
The Master - dir. Paul Thomas Anderson (2012)
Her - dir. Spike Jonze (2013)
Boyhood - dir. Richard Linklater (2014)
Mad Max: Fury Road -  dir. George Miller (2015)
La La Land - dir. Damien Chazelle (2016)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer - dir. Yorgos Lanthimos (2017)
You Were Never Really Here - dir. Lynne Ramsay (2018)
Us - dir. Jordan Peele (2019)

Best/Standout Directors of the Decade 
Derek Cianfrance for Blue Valentine (2010)
Nicolas Winding Refn for Drive (2011)
Sarah Polley for Stories We Tell (2012)
Alexander Payne for Nebraska (2013)
Damien Chazelle for Whiplash (2014)
Alejandro González Iñárritu for The Revenant (2015)
Barry Jenkins for Moonlight (2016)
Jordan Peele for Get Out (2017)
Ari Aster for Hereditary (2018)
Bong Joon-ho for Parasite (2019)

Best TV Shows of the Decade
Breaking Bad - Standout Episode – S03E10: “Fly” (2010)
Game of Thrones - Standout Episode – S01E09: “Baelor” (2011)
Parks and Recreation - Standout Episode – S5E09: “Soda Tax” (2012)
Breaking Bad - Standout Episode – S05E14: “Ozymandias” (2013)
True Detectives - Standout Episode – S01E04: “Who Goes There” (2014)
Mr. Robot - Standout Episode – S01E09: “eps1.8_m1rr0r1ng.qt” (2015)
Atlanta - Standout Episode – S01E07: “B.A.N.” (2016)
Master of None - Standout Episode – S02E08: “Thanksgiving” (2017)
Atlanta - Standout Episode – S02E06: “Teddy Perkins” (2018)
Watchmen - Standout Episode – S01E06: “This Extraordinary Being” (2019)

Amrew Weekes is CJLO’s Hip Hop Music Director and co-hosts Limelight every Friday at 6pm.

Best Artists of the Decade

  1. Kendrick Lamar
  2. J. Cole
  3. The Roots 
  4. Jai Nitai Lotus 
  5. Cee & Notion
  6. Common
  7. Anderson Paak 
  8. MF Doom 
  9. IAMDDB 

Best Albums of the Decade  

  1. Kendrick Lamar -Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012)
  2. The Roots - How I Got Over (2010)
  3. Rapsody - Eve (2019)  
  4. JJ Doom -  Key to the Kuffs

Best Songs of the Decade 

  1. JJ Doom - “Hello Guvnor” 
  2. Kendrick Lamar - “Good Kid” 
  3. Hi-Tek & Tilb Kweli - “Just Begun” (ft J. Cole, Mos Def and Jay Electronica)

Best Live Show of the Decade
Anderson Paak - Montreal JazzFest 2017 

Best Films of the Decade

  1. Get Out (2017)
  2. Creed (2015) 
  3. Inception (2010)
  4. Her (2013) 
  5. Whiplash (2014) 
  6. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) 
  7. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) 
  8. Anything Marvel 

Best TV Shows of the Decade

  1. Money Heist (2017 -)  
  2. Happy Valley (2014 -) 
  3. Sherlock (2010 - 2017) 
  4. Black Mirror (2011 -)
  5. Broadchurch (2013 - 2017)

Fiona is CJLO's Magazine Editor and co-hosts Moonstruck every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Best Albums of the Decade

  1. The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (2018)
  2. Tyler, Thee Creator - IGOR (2019)
  3. Bastille - Wild World (2016)
  4. Childish Gambino - "Awaken, My Love!" (2016)
  5. Marianas Trench - Ever After (2011)

Best Movies of the Decade

  1. Inside Llweyn Davis (2013)
  2. The Favourite (2018)
  3. Moonlight (2016)
  4. The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
  5. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
  6. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
  7. Dunkirk (2017)
  8. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)
  9. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
  10. The Irishman (2019)

CJLO Top 100 of 2019

December 30 2019 //

The year and the decade have come to an end and what does humanity have to show for it? Not much, besides some great music.

Of course I devolve into hyperbole here, but the myth of progress over the past 10 years has unmistakably been shattered. The climate is in crisis and we continue to degrade the ecological integrity of our planet at an alarming rate; democracy is in a global chokehold as authoritarianism and myopic populism are on the rise; our minds are under assault by 'alternative facts' and devious new forms of digital propaganda; gaps of socioeconomic inequality grow more cavernous as do partisan divides; racism and bigotry is emboldened; uncertainty, desperation, and violence loom on the bleak horizon.

But then there is the music. At least we can take solace in that. Music and art are more necessary than ever, to restore faith in each other, to give hope, to feed our weary souls and offer rare opportunities for ecstasy, euphoria, and transcendence. So before we focus our 2020 vision, lets take a look back at the sonic redemption of 2019.

Thus we come to our top 100; a distillation of CJLO’s transmitted contributions to the non-commercial musical landscape over the past year. The talent that is enshrined in this chart is, truly, an embarrassment of riches. I urge you to gaze upon it and defy you to resist the enchantment of its dazzling splendour. In addition to the hundred entries below, check out the spotify playlist so you can not only see but hear this mammoth annual chart, countdown-style from #100 - #1. And a mighty chart it is; I’m very proud of all our astute DJs for decisively championing such top-notch, non-commercial music.

Going through this chart reminded me of how many fantastic Canadian and local artists are making music right now. It has undoubtedly been said before but we really punch above our weight don't we? In particular it gives me great pleasure to see Lungbutter take the #1 spot - their place at the top is justly earned with a superb vinyl debut that balances dark beautiful noise with molasses-thick grooves and poignant poetic prowess, cementing their place as luminaries of the local underground. Honey got my vote for MTL album of the year and based on the wide support it received from staff & show hosts at the station, I was not alone in this assessment.

And as always, shout-outs to our tireless metal MD Andrew of Grade A Explosives for crunching the numbers, and our graphic designer Angelica of BVST for the nifty image.

That about does it for us in the CJLO Music Department for 2019 - stay tuned for our top 100 of the decade in January! And in the meantime, put my cynical opening rant to the back of your brain and have yerselves a merry little New Year.

 

*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

Rank

Artist

Album

1

LUNGBUTTER  

HONEY

2

SHARON VAN ETTEN

REMIND ME TOMORROW

3

ANEMONE  

BEAT MY DISTANCE

4

RED MASS 

KILRUSH DRIVE

5

NECKING 

CUT YOUR TEETH

6

YVES JARVIS 

THE SAME BUT BY DIFFERENT MEANS

7

PUP 

MORBID STUFF

8

MEN I TRUST 

ONCLE JAZZ

9

WEYES BLOOD

TITANIC RISING

10

ADA LEA 

WHAT WE SAY IN PRIVATE

11

PALE LIPS 

AFTER DARK

12

DAUGHTERS

YOU WON'T GET WHAT YOU WANT

13

POTTERY 

NO 1

14

VARIOUS ARTISTS 

TRAPPED UNDER ICE VOLUME 1

15

PROTRUDERS 

POISON FUTURE

16

GIRLPOOL

WHAT CHAOS IS IMAGINARY

17

PRIORS 

NEW PLEASURE

18

COMMON HOLLY 

WHEN I SAY TO YOU BLACK LIGHTNING

19

PURPLE MOUNTAINS

PURPLE MOUNTAINS

20

MOTHERHOOD 

DEAR BONGO

21

DIIV

DECEIVER

22

DRUGDEALER

RAW HONEY

23

METZ 

AUTOMAT

24

BLUE HAWAII 

OPEN REDUCTION INTERNAL FIXATION

25

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE 

LET'S TRY THE AFTER

26

NIGHTWITCHES 

OF BLOOD & EARTH

27

OPERATORS 

RADIANT DAWN

28

TR/ST 

THE DESTROYER - PART 1

29

MANNEQUIN PUSSY

PATIENCE

30

ANGEL OLSEN

ALL MIRRORS

31

STEPHEN MALKMUS

GROOVE DENIED

32

MAUNO 

REALLY WELL

33

BOOJI BOYS 

TUBE REDUCER

34

FLY PAN AM 

C'EST CA

35

ORVILLE PECK 

PONY

36

LONELY PARADE 

THE PITS

37

DUMB 

CLUB NITES

38

DEERHUNTER

WHY HASN'T EVERYTHING ALREADY DISAPPEARED?

39

WAINGRO 

III

40

BBQT 

NICE VIEW

41

GREYS 

AGE HASN'T SPOILED YOU

42

RADIANT BABY 

RESTLESS

43

CORRIDOR 

JUNIOR

44

WHOOP-SZO 

WARRIOR DOWN

45

GYPSY CHIEF GOLIATH 

MASTERS OF SPACE AND TIME

46

THE HIGH DIALS 

PRIMITIVE FEELINGS (PT I & II)

47

BLEU NUIT 

LE JARDIN DES MEMOIRES

48

BIG|BRAVE 

A GAZE AMONG THEM

49

NUAGE FLOU 

CONVERSATIONS AVEC NUAGE FLOU

50

HELENA DELAND 

ALTOGETHER UNACCOMPANIED VOL III & IV

51

JAY SOM

ANAK KO

52

BIG THIEF

U.F.O.F.

53

HOMESHAKE 

HELIUM

54

YOUNG GUV 

GUV II

55

PRIESTS

THE SEDUCTION OF KANSAS

56

LAPS 

SOON NOT OFTEN IN IT

57

BOY HARSHER

CAREFUL

58

MAC DEMARCO 

HERE COMES THE COWBOY

59

BODYWASH 

COMFORTER

60

ROYAL TRUX

WHITE STUFF

61

RIDE

THIS IS NOT A SAFE PLACE

62

SANDVEISS 

SABOTEUR

63

WALRUS 

COOL TO WHO

64

BLOODSHOT BILL 

COME GET YOUR LOVE RIGHT NOW

65

FET.NAT 

LE MAL

66

BLACK MASTIFF 

LOSER DELUSIONS

67

JENNY LEWIS

ON THE LINE

68

HEALTH

VOL 4 SLAVES OF FEAR

69

LO SIENTO 

BRUJAS

70

THE AGONIST 

ORPHANS

71

SHOTGUN JIMMIE 

TRANSISTOR SISTER 2

72

CELL 

PLAY TO WIN

73

DOOMSQUAD 

LET YOURSELF BE SEEN

74

SANDRO PERRI 

IN ANOTHER LIFE

75

ALTIN GÜN

GECE

76

NILUFER YANYA

MISS UNIVERSE

77

DIZASTRA 

ELDER SUN

78

JULIA HOLTER

AVIARY

79

(SANDY) ALEX G

HOUSE OF SUGAR

80

MAVIS STAPLES

WE GET BY

81

CHACAL 

PETER SAID IT WAS PROBLEMATIC

82

ABSOLUTELY FREE 

GENEVA FREEPORT EP

83

THE COWBOYS

THE BOTTOM OF A ROTTEN FLOWER

84

CHARLY BLISS

YOUNG ENOUGH

85

CRABE 

NOTRE-DAME DE LA VIE INTERIEURE

86

JOCK TEARS 

BAD BOYS

87

HE IS LEGEND

WHITE BAT

88

SHAD 

A SHORT STORY ABOUT A WAR

89

SWERVEDRIVER

FUTURE RUINS

90

GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW

OVERLOAD

91

FOXWARREN 

FOXWARREN

92

DEVON WELSH 

TRUE LOVE

93

DANIEL ROMANO 

FINALLY FREE

94

KOKOKO!

FONGOLA

95

OBEY THE BRAVE 

BALANCE

96

SCATTERED CLOUDS 

TAKE AWAY YOUR SUMMER

97

TR/ST 

THE DESTROYER - PART 2

98

CHOCOLAT 

JAZZ ENGAGE

99

MURRAY A. LIGHTBURN 

HEAR ME OUT

100

HOT CHIP

A BATH FULL OF ECSTASY

Montreal's "Safe Trading Zone", Charges Against SNC-Lavalin Settled, Trump's Impeachment

December 18 2019 //

Ahmad Moujtahed

 

________________________________________________________________

LOCAL

Montreal’s first “safe trading zone” has been set up by the SPVM. The “safe trading zone” is a place where people could exchange goods and payments for items purchased online.

The zone will be set up at Station 20, which is open 24/7, and located at the corner of Sainte Catherine and Bishop streets. The space will be under video surveillance at all times.

The SPVM said the Station 20 spot will be the first of several safe trading zones to come in the city in 2020. 

 

NATIONAL

The Court of Quebec has accepted a plea of guilty from SNC-Lavalin Construction Inc., a division of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc,. in relation to illegal activities in Libya between 2001 and 2011.

As part of the settlement reached in court, SNC-Lavalin Construction Inc. will pay a fine in the amount of $280 million, payable in equal instalments over 5 years, and will be subject to a three-year probation order.

All charges against SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. and its international marketing arm, have been withdrawn.

 

INTERNATIONAL

The House of Representatives will take two historic votes to impeach President Donald Trump on charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress.

According to CNN, the House will debate the impeachment resolution for six hours on Wednesday before taking a separate vote on each impeachment article.

Just ahead of Trump’s impeachment, a new CNBC All-America Economic Survey showed a massive partisan split on the matter. 45% out of 800 American participants disapproved of Congress impeaching Trump while 44% approved.

 

CJLO BEST OF 2019

December 16 2019 //

As 2019 comes to an end, it's time to look back at our favourite content of the year! Each of our DJs have sent in their own curated list of "Best of" content for the year. Do you agree with their picks?

Francella is CJLOs Station Manager and hosts Superconnected every Monday at 11 a.m.

With the year (and decade) about to close, we at CJLO always take this time to reflect on our personal bests - from albums, to songs, to live shows, to moments, and more. We carefully and diligently curated and ruminated to offer a snapshot of the past year - and what a year it was! We had more live sessions than ever before from Orville Peck, Common Holly, WHOOP-Szo, and even Polaris Music Prize winner Haviah Mighty. We set the bar for our Funding Drive, raising an impressive $7200, and we saw more shows from women and non-binary folks added to our stacked programming lineup. As for the music, I personally made it my mission to listen to new releases every Friday, and while I couldn’t quite shed my daily Steely Dan intake, I discovered more artists and labels than ever before. Sometimes, it pays to keep your New Year’s resolution. Happy New Year from CJLO to you and your family!

Best Albums

  1. Lungbutter - Honey
  2. Orville Peck - Pony
  3. Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow
  4. Angel Olsen - All Mirrors
  5. FET.NAT - Le Mal
  6. Corridor - Junior
  7. Bernard Adamus - C’qui nous reste du Texas
  8. Chocolat - Jazz Engage
  9. Kim Gordon - No Home Record
  10. Trash Kit - Horizon

Honourable Mentions

  1. Pottery - No.1
  2. Blue Nuit - Le jardin des mémoires
  3. Booji Boys - Tube Reducer
  4. DIIV - Deceiver
  5. Empath - Active Listening: Night on Earth
  6. Ezra Furman - Twelve Nudes
  7. Omni - Networker
  8. Woolworm - Awe
  9. WHOOP-Szo - Warrior Down

Best Songs of 2019

  1. Sharon Van Etten - "Seventeen"
  2. Lungbutter - "Vile"
  3. Orville Peck - "Dead of Night"
  4. Angel Olsen - "Lark"
  5. FET.NAT - "Patio Monday"
  6. Kim Gordon - "Don’t Play It"
  7. Jenny Lewis - "Wasted Youth"
  8. Trash Kit - "Every Second"
  9. Necking - |Boss
  10. DIIV - Blankenship

Honourable Mentions

  • Bon Enfant - “Aujourd’hui”
  • Lizzo - “Juice”
  • Solange - “Almeda”
  • Dish Pit - “Seven”

Best Live Shows of 2019

  • Iron Maiden @ Bell Centre
  • Godspeed You! Black Emperor @ La Tulipe
  • Hot Chip @MTELUS
  • Voivod @ Club Soda
  • The Sadies @ MTELUS
  • Groovy Aardvark @ MTELUS
  • Dumas @ Maison de la culture Maisonneuve
  • Broken Social Scene @ Theatre Corona
  • Big Thief @ La Tulipe
  • Beverly Glenn-Copeland @ Beaverbrook Gallery (Shivering Songs, Fredericton, NB)

Best Discoveries of 2019
Christmas: See below, but I drove everyone crazy talking about this band.
Orville Peck: Masked cowboy of the moment now selling out venues everywhere.
Fifth Column: Legendary proto-riot grrl band from Toronto whose debut album cannot be found anywhere. Luckily, I have a digital copy thanks to a friend back in Halifax (hi Stephen!)
Bernard Adamus: Best Montreal brunch album of 2019.
Bon Enfant: I love a Fleetwood Mac/disco/flare jeans moment.
CRABE: The best post-punk is Francophone.
Bleu Nuit: See above.

Best Obsessions of 2019
Christmas: This diamond-in-the-rough proto-prog band from Oshawa comprised of actual teenagers who made some of the most sophisticated and complex music Canada has ever known, I think. Heritage for Polaris Heritage Prize 2020.
Deep Purple: I would die for Ian Paice and Jon Lord.
Rush: I watched two Rush documentaries and learned that the trio would have sooner go back to their day jobs than forsake their vision on 2112. Had to respect that choice, and then reconsider my long hatred for the prog legends.
Karen Carpenter: One of the world’s greatest drummers, bar none, but often reduced to an embodiment of feminine tragedy. Justice 4 Karen.
Voivod: With an album like The Wake, how can you not be obsessed? This is the end of dormancy for Voivod, who have been overlooked by the Canadian music industry, but can now call themselves Juno winners and Polaris Music Prize long-listers.
Steely Dan: Yes, I put this down last year, but Pitchfork had a day celebrating The Dan with five new reviews on their most influential albums (although, I felt excluding Pretzel Logic was a tremendous oversight). Continue to get the fine Colombian, the Cuervo Gold, and never do it without the fez on. I am who I am.
Barrett’s Privateers by Stan Rogers: You can take the girl out of the Maritimes, but you can’t take the Maritimes out of the girl. Who among us are not broken men on a Halifax pier, the last of Barrett’s Privateers?

Alex hosts Ashes to Ashes every Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Top 10 Albums of 2019

  1. Caroline Polachek - Pang
  2. Drab Majesty - Modern Mirror
  3. Friendly Fires - Inflorescent
  4. Honeyblood - In Plain Sight
  5. Laurence-Anne - Première apparition
  6. MUNA - Save the World
  7. Loud - Tout ça pour ça
  8. Tallies - Tallies
  9. Priests - The Seduction of Kansas
  10. Heartstreets - Why Make Sense

Honourable Mentions

  • Cléa Vincent - Nuits sans sommeil
  • Radiant Baby - Restless
  • Shura - Forevher

Top 5 EPs of 2019

  1. Claudia Bouvette - Cool It
  2. Sophia Bel - Princess of the Dead, Vol.1
  3. Maryze - Like Moons
  4. Viseri - Kin
  5. Paupière - Jettatura

Sylvain Verstricht hosts The Rest of Us every Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Best Albums of 2019

  1. Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell!
  2. A Winged Victory for the Sullen - The Undivided Five
  3. clipping. - There Existed an Addiction to Blood
  4. LINGUA IGNOTA - Caligula
  5. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen
  6. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
  7. Little Simz - Grey Area
  8. Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains
  9. Hatchie - Keepsake
  10. Lizzo - Cuz I Love You

Best Singles of 2019

  1. Weyes Blood - “Movies”
  2. LINGUA IGNOTA - “Do You Doubt Me Traitor”
  3. The National - “Rylan”
  4. Lana Del Rey - “F*** It I Love You”
  5. clipping. - “Nothing Is Safe”
  6. Injury Reserve - “Jailbreak the Tesla”
  7. Billie Eilish - “Everything I Ever Wanted”
  8. Bat for Lashes - “Kids in the Dark”
  9. Kacey Musgraves - “Rainbow”
  10. Zara Larsson - “All the Time”

Most Memorable Concerts of 2019

  1. NØ MAN @ La Sotterenea
  2. Lissie @ L’Escogriffee Bar Spectacle
  3. Parasytes @ The TraXide
  4. Ultrarat @ The TraXide
  5. Allie X @  L’Astral
  6. Jessica Moss @ Bar Le Ritz PDB
  7. Lido Pimienta @ La Sala Rossa
  8. Cedric Noel @ Casa del Popolo
  9. Joni Void @ La Sotterenea
  10. Sedition @ Piranha Bar

Amrew Weekes is CJLO’s Hip Hop Music Director and co-hosts Limelight every Friday at 6pm.

Best Albums of 2019
I can’t believe how quickly this year has passed! Here are my top 10 albums, in no particular order, that I played on The Limelight and can be found in my music player.

  • Anderson Paak - Ventura
  • Raphael Saadiq - Jimmy Lee
  • Jai Nital Lotus - PPL
  • Sam I Am Montolla - Intro To Indigo
  • Snoh Aalegra - Ugh Those Feelings Again
  • Various Artists - Mass Appeal Starting 5 + 1
  • Destiny Rogers - Tomboy EP
  • CEE and Po3 - Bad Habits
  • Michael Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA
  • Steve Lace - Apollo XXI

Best Album of the Year

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana

Best R&B Song of the Year

Sam I Am Montolla - “The Game”

Best Hip Hop Song of the Year

Chris Orrick - “Out to Sea”

Best Film of the Year

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Best TV Show of the Year

Mindhunters (2017 - )

Emeline Vidal hosts Nozin’ Around, every Friday at 2pm.

Best Albums of 2019

  • Art d’ecco - Trespasser
  • Barrie - Happy To Be Here
  • Black Marble - Bigger Than Life
  • Boy Harsher - Careful
  • Drab Majesty - Modern Mirror
  • Foliage - Take
  • Hatchie - Keepsake
  • Hibou - Halve
  • Men I trust - Oncle Jazz
  • Sorry Girls - Deborah

Honourable Mention
DIIV - Deceiver

Chris the Frog hosts Sewer Spewer every Monday at 12pm.

Best Montreal Albums of 2019

  1. Gazm - Heavy Vibe Music
  2. Endform - Abattu
  3. Kato - M39
  4. Shards - Shards
  5. Venomenon - Sweating Under My Skin
  6. Tempête - Pyro[Cb]
  7. Guttrot - Guttrot
  8. Dizastra - Elder Sun
  9. Modern Eyes - Tragedies Dictate Our Lives
  10. Scarfold - Unstobbable

Best Canadian Albums 2019

  1. Hammerhands - Model Citizen
  2. Heart Attack Kids - Bad Luck Like Gold
  3. Cross Dog - Hollow
  4. Tunic - Complexion
  5. Diner Drugs - As Is
  6. PUP - Morbid Stuff
  7. Hard Charger - Vol. 4: Take the Guff and Suffer
  8. Dead Tired - Full Vol.
  9. Alien Boys - Night Danger
  10. Oath Div. 666 - Apocalypse Division

Best International Albums 2019

  1. LINGUA IGNOTA - Caligula
  2. Cattle Decapitation - Death Atlas
  3. Devil Master - Satan Spits On Children of Light
  4. Refused - War Music
  5. Cloud Rat - Pollinator
  6. Venom Prison - Samsara
  7. Full of Hell - Weeping Choir
  8. Oozing Wound - High Anxiety
  9. Dawn Ray’d - Behold Sedition Plainsong
  10. Misery Index - Rituals of Power

Kelly Belfo, aka Sugarface Bell Fo, is CJLO's World Music Director and founder of our longest running world music radio show, Beat The World, every Saturday at 12 p.m.

Top World Music Albums of 2019

  1. Altin Gün - Gece (ATO)
  2. Branko - Nosso (Enchufada)
  3. Roberto Lopez - Kaleido Stropico (Curura)
  4. Anchorsong - Cohesion (Tru Thoughts)
  5. Waahli - Black Soap (Wyzah Musk)
  6. Nicola Cruz - Siku (ZZK)
  7. Karl Hector and The Malcouns - Non Ex Orbis (Now-Again)
  8. Dexter Story - Bahir (Soundway)
  9. Tinariwen - Amadjar (Anti-)
  10. Boogarins - Sombrou Dúvida (OAR)

Top 3 World Music Live Shows of 2019

  1. The Qualitons @ Marauder Radio Room for Mondo.NYC (October 17, 2019 Pianos, NYC)
  2. Altin Gün + Teke Teke @ Blue Skies Turn Black & Heavy Trip (July 16, 2019 Theatre Fairmount, Montreal)
  3. Sea Moya @ SXSW Sound Dessert Showcase (March 14, 2019 Icenhauer's, Austin TX)

Angelica hosts BVST every Wednesday at 7 p.m.

This year, I'm once again bringing you 10 of my favorite songs released this year, in no particular order. Could you extrapolate from this that these are also 10 of my favorite records released this year? Perhaps. Should you listen to them to find out whether they might be your favorites as well? Absolutely! Click here to listen to a playlist of all these selections.

1. Hard Charger - "No Home But the Road"

Steeped in the same drive-all-night, uppers-on-the-dashboard punk'n'roll tradition as my favorites Zeke, The Hookers, or Aussie blood rockers The Chainsaw Hookers, Hard Charger snarls and spits from Fredericton, NB, and like this track, leave skidmarks and road rash wherever they ride. CJLO was privileged to have the three-piece record a session in our studios, and I hope they come back soon!

2. Deathchant - "Hex"

One of my favorite records of the year, Deathchant's self-titled was officially released 10 days into 2019, and has been in my rotation ever since. Its messy, heavy psych smells of black leather and arcane rituals, and this track amps up that 1960s alchemy that turned rock music from The Beatles into Black Sabbath.

3. Zeal & Ardor - "Baphomet"

Originally a bedroom project by a single songwriter, Manuel Gagneux now tours with a full band and multiple backup singers out of necessity. Previously unreleased until this appearance on Zeal & Ardor's first (double length!) live album, this song is a great example of the vocal interplay that happens onstage, and gives me honest-to-god full-body goosebumps.

4. Waingro - "Merrin"

This Vancouver trio are back with another mean slab of no-bullshit, punk-tinged heavy rock. Laying riffs on riffs on riffs, this ferocious record, like this song, is full of moments reminiscent of Cursed (R.I.P.), but with way, waaay more bong hits tempering its otherwise furious pace.

5. Torche - "Slide"

Known for taking the heaviest elements of metal and deftly blending them with accessible harmonies and pop-oriented melodies, Admission feels like a synthesis of all of their strongest output. I can't resist this song, whose greasy stomp melts into grunge revisionism and buzzsaw guitars for a headbanging good time.

6. He Is Legend - "Boogiewoman"

Fifteen years on from their debut, I Am Hollywood, He is Legend have released arguably their strongest record, packing all the same intensity of their earlier releases but with the maturity and musical range that comes with experience. This track is heavy on groovy, ass-shakin' rock'n'roll swagger with all the outlaw romance of desert shootout.

7. Texas Hippie Coalition - "Bring It Baby"

I was so hooked by this incredibly polarizing record, by a deeply polarizing band that I uncharacteristically wrote a review about it. This is not a song that will appeal to many, or even most, but I can't resist the way this song sounds at once dangerous and sweet, like a lapdance at a bordertown biker strip club.

8. Crobot - "Low Life"

This is one of those bands that I don't listen to enough. This is a catchy, riffy track that lures you in with a throwback 90s radio rock intro before exploding outward, making maximum effect of lead singer Brandon Yeagley's powerful, elastic rock'n'roll vocals.

9. Dirty Honey - "Down the Road"

At once new and very familiar, LA-based former bar band Dirty Honey isn't ashamed to dig into Aerosmith's early sound and shake it up with a little G'n'R danger. I'm a sucker for the vocal virtuosity and flashy guitars of this ballad, all layered over some organ for the full 70s stadium rock treatment. Keep your lighter in your pocket, go on, I dare you.

10. Lil Nas X - "Old Town Road (Remix)"

Maybe a left-field pick to some, a played-out one-hit-wonder to others, but this version of OTR took hold of me on the day of release, and still hasn't let go. It took a small town Georgian teen to accidentally perfect what many have attempted with varying success before, and as someone who has listened to her fair share of country rap, hick hop and other Southern-fried crossovers, it would be an oversight to not include the song that will define the wild days of 2019 for years to come.

JP, Co-host of The Iron Club, Thursday at 1PM.

Best Albums of 2019

  1. Norma Jean - All Hail
  2. Whitechapel - The Valley
  3. Thy Art is Murder - Human Target
  4. I Prevail - Trauma
  5. Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind
  6. Knocked Loose - A Different Shade of Blue
  7. Fit For An Autopsy - The Sea of Tragic Beasts
  8. Of Mice & Men - Earth and Sky
  9. As I Lay Dying - Shaped by Fire
  10. Killswitch Engage - Atonement

Best Metal Song of 2019

  1. Norma Jean - “/with_errors”
  2. I Prevail - “Gasoline”
  3. Slipknot - “Solway Firth”
  4. Thy Art is Murder - “Welcome Oblivion”
  5. Of Mice & Men - “Earth and Sky”
  6. Whitechapel - “When A Demon Defiles a Witch”
  7. Currents - “Poverty of Self”
  8. Norma Jean - “Anna”
  9. Fit for an Autopsy - “The Sea of Tragic Beasts”
  10. As I Lay Dying - “Shaped By Fire”

Most Memorable CJLO Moment

My most memorable CJLO moment has to be attending my first Heavy Montreal festival with the whole CJLO gang. It was so much fun! Seeing bands live on stage, interviewing some of them in the media tent, and  running around the whole site definitely  sounds like a JP day to me. It was my best summer yet!

Zakary Slax is CJLO’s Head Music Director, and hosts Slax Trax, every Monday from 6 to 7 PM.

2019 was an insanely good year for music in my estimation. A definite challenge to pare it down to 10 albums, but here goes (not in order of importance):

Top Albums of 2019

  1. Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
  2. Lungbutter - Honey
  3. Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains
  4. Rick White + Eiyn Soff - The Opening
  5. Kim Gordon - No Home Record
  6. Empath - Active Listening: Night on Earth
  7. Jessica Pratt - Quiet Signs
  8. WHOOP-Szo - Warrior Down
  9. Little Simz - Grey Area
  10. Control Top - Covert Contracts

Top Trax of 2019

In most cases, the following artists also released fantastic albums that I found hard to omit from my top 10... read: they had other trax just as brilliant as these

  1. Freddie Gibbs and Madlib - 'Flat Tummy Tea'
  2. Uranium Club - 'Michael's Soliloquy'
  3. Royal Trux - 'Purple Audacity #2'
  4. Aldous Harding - 'The Barrel'
  5. Omni - 'Skeleton Key'
  6. Cate Le Bon - 'Magnificent Gestures'
  7. Honey Radar - 'Song For Randolph Free'
  8. Earth - 'Descending Belladonna'
  9. Big Thief - 'Not'
  10. Lil Nas X - 'Old Town Road'

Favourite Concerts

  • The Dwarfs Of East Agouza @ La Sala Rosa
  • Irreversible Entanglements @ La Sala Rosa
  • The Chills @ SXSW
  • Otoboke Beaver @ SXSW
  • Arthur Brown @ SXSW
  • Mavis Staples @ Théâtre Rialto
  • Hélène Barbier + Wetface + Anemone @ Piccolo Rialto
  • Felchers @ The Green Lantern, Lexington KY
  • Mutant Strain @ Ritter House, Charlotte NC
  • Eddie Flowers & The Wax Lip Swamp Dub @ A Random Shed, Bloomington, IN

Best Label

Constellation Records - Gotta give credit where credit is due. In addition to Lungbutter, I was tempted to put many of their 2019 releases in my top 10: Fly Pan Am, Matana Roberts, Land of Kush, etc.

Andrew Wieler, aka Andrew Wixq, is CJLOs Metal Music Director and hosts Grade A Explosives every Sunday at 4pm.

Best Albums of 2019

1. Sleep Token - Sundowning
Mixing elements of metal, R&B, Hip Hop, and Pop and set around some weird, almost impenetrable backstory, Sleep Token is hitting on an interesting interpretation of all of the above genres and much like so many great artists before them (him?) make music interesting, which is a feat more people should try.

2. He is Legend - White Bat
Who would have thought some white belt wearing, swoopy haired fashioncore boys would eventually have a southern metalcore record which is both satisfying on a song to song level, but also a great concept album about a murderer finding truuuueeee loooove. It's basically a Lifetime original in metalcore form.

3. Crobot - Motherbrain
Very few rock bands get played anymore in mainstream circles, but if there was ever a band that should be able to pull rock back onto radio, Crobot is doing their damnedest to do so. "Lowlife" alone is a song that both speaks to weirdos and normals alike and really should be showcased for people. If you're a fan of Monster Truck and don't have these guys in rotation you are doing yourself a disservice.

4. Norma Jean - All Hail
Every norma jean record and I start off the same way. First listen: "Yeah, this sure is Norma Jean I guess". Second listen: "Huh... this is pretty good." Ten listens later: "F*** me, this is sooo goood." If you're looking for some of the best metalcore can offer this is it, no way around it.

5. Sandveiss - Saboteur
Quebec City is known for many things, but stoner rock is not one. This may change with this Sandveiss album. It's catchy, upbeat, immensely polished, and mmm... that is some tasty riffs, I'll tell you what.

6. Thank You Scientist - Terraformer
A weird Coheed and Cambria with horns, and if you think that sounds bad, you, my friend, are dead inside.

7. Goo Goo Dolls - Miracle Pill
Yes, this record really is good. It’s a pop classic and though the Goo Goo Dolls are no longer the grunge darlings they were in the 90s, that’s okay. I had way more fun with this record than so many from this year. Oh, and by the way, "metal cred" is not something I value highly, so your comments about how this negates it does not affect me.

8. Deathchant - Deathchant
Californians that know how to make some pretty great psych based garage stuff. Largely an album that people have slept on, I got to see and interview them at SXSW this year and it's as good live as the record would indicate. I also hear they make a delicious hot sauce, that if they want to send it to me, they are more than welcome to do so.

9. Torche - Admission
Torche is always hit or miss for me, and this one is a home run out of the rink. Heavy when it needs to be, accesibile when it wants to be, the level of songwriting prowess here is deep and really pulls from all of their previous works.

10. Toothgrinder - I Am
For the life of me, I cannot understand why this band has not crossed over onto "modern rock radio". The title track on this alone is great and accessible enough to play. Of course, "trve" people would say this is bad, but fuck that man, I can sing along to this and some of the guitar work on this is like a second singer. In the future I will not be shocked to see this band cited as many people's "crossover" metal artists.

Honorable Mentions

Woodhawk - Violent Nature
Dem are some tasty riffs right there.

White Ward - Love Exchange Failure
Since Shining (Norway) has decided they want to be Thirty Seconds to Mars in the worst way for some reason, White Ward will have to fill my black jazz void.

Waingro - III
A new record from these sludgy, vaguely southern, hardcore-ish boys. It is also named III so even a simpleton like me can know what record it is in the discography, which is nice.

Gypsy Chief Goliath - Masters of Space and Time
A more spacey than stonery album from these fine Ontarians.

SECT- Blood of the Beasts
10 songs; 17 minutes; all solid hardcore.

Allison O’Reilly is CJLO's Program Director and hosts Transistor Sister and Femme AM.

Top 10 Albums of 2019

  1. DIIV - Deceiver
  2. GAZM - Heavy Vibe Music
  3. JPEGMAFIA - All My Heroes Are Cornballs
  4. WHOOP-Szo - Warrior Down
  5. Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains
  6. Martha - Love Keeps Kicking
  7. Kim Gordon - No Home Record
  8. LINGUA IGNOTA - Caligula
  9. Control Top - Covert Controls
  10. Quaker Parents - Our Drawing Club

Top 15 Songs of 2019

  1. Valerie - “Showers”
  2. Angel Olsen - “Lark”
  3. Charli XCX ft. Kim Petras & Tommy Cash - “Click”
  4. Woolworm - “Let Me Wear The Mask”
  5. PUP - “Free At Last”
  6. Booji Boys - “Berlinetta”
  7. (Sandy) Alex G - “Southern Sky”
  8. Kitty - “Mami”
  9. Mannequin Pussy - “Drunk II”
  10. 100 gecs - “745 Sticky”
  11. Danny Brown - “Dirty Laundry”
  12. Sebadoh - “Celebrate the Void”
  13. Big Thief - “Not”
  14. Necking - “Big Mouth”
  15. Mount Eerie & Julie Doiron - “Love Without Possession”

Best Live Shows of 2019

  1. Spiritualized @ Théâtre Corona
  2. Have a Nice Life @ Bar Le Ritz
  3. Teenage Fanclub @ Petit Campus
  4. Sebadoh @ Bar Le Ritz
  5. Swervedriver @ Turbo Haüs

Alex, aka MNJIVR, hosts Autobeat every Sunday at 3 p.m.

Best Albums of 2019

Here’s my best and Favourite albums of 2019

  1. Swindle - No More Normal
  2. Waajeed - Detroit Love vol. 3
  3. RAS G - Down 2 Earth Vol. 4
  4. Laurence Guy - Making Music is Bad For Your Self Esteem
  5. Goldlink - Diaspora
  6. Jacques Greene - Dawn Chorus
  7. Flying Lotus - Flamagra
  8. Solitary Dancer - Rites of Passage
  9. Octa Octa - Resonant Body
  10. Khotin - Beautiful You

Honorable Mentions

  • Fred Everything - No Way Home
  • Various Artists - Shellington High Road Vol:1
  • Teebs - Anicca
  • Jaymie Silk - Canvas
  • Ex-Terrestrial - Gamma Infolded

Favourite EPs of 2019

  1. Waajeed - Hocus Pocus
  2. Peggy Gou - Starry Night
  3. DJCosmoCa - Just in Time
  4. Max Hebert - Psychedelic Plants
  5. Joy Orbison - Slipping
  6. Kink - Home
  7. Midland - The Alchemy of Circumstance
  8. Bellaire - Framework
  9. The Fitness - First Time Lover
  10. Herbert - I Hadn’t Known

Masheyla hosts of Gothic Runoff every Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Top Albums of 2019

  1. Orville Peck - Pony
  2. Danny Brown - unkowwhatimsayin¿
  3. Fka Twigs - MAGDALENE
  4. Spelling - Mazy Fly
  5. Ian Isiah - Shugga Sextape (Vol.1)
  6. Health - Vol.4: Slaves of Fear
  7. Slayyyter - Slayyyter
  8. Oliver Tree - Do you Feel Me?
  9. Caroline Polachek - Pang
  10. Earl Sweatshirt - Feet of Clay

Honourable Mentions (Albums and Singles)

  • Lungbutter - Honey
  • 100 Gecs - 1000 Gecs
  • Chelsea Wolfe - Birth of Violence
  • Horse Head - We Had Our Fun
  • Billie Ellish - “Bad Guy”
  • Lil Nas X - “Rodeo”
  • Yung Lean - “Blue Plastic”
  • Charli XCX - “2099”

Top Shows of 2019

  1. Wavves @ ’77 Festival
  2. Danny Brown @ Primavera Festival
  3. Orville Peck @ La Sala Rossa
  4. Ionna Gika @ Le National
  5. Show Me the Body @ La Sala Rossa

Best CJLO Moment
Being able to participate in talk episodes of Femme AM, as well as conducting my first live sessions/interviews! Also chatting with Allison, Jessica, and Francella after my show every week!

Phil, aka Philliam, hosts Turn On the Darkness every Wednesday at 1 p.m.

Best Albums of 2019

  1. Twilight Force - Dawn Of The Dragonstar
  2. Dream Theater - Distance Over Time
  3. Devin Townsend - Empath
  4. Opeth - In Cauda
  5. Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind
  6. Rammstein - Rammstein
  7. Eluvietie - Ategnatos
  8. Within Temptation - Resist
  9. Delain - Hunters Moon
  10. Sabaton - The Great War

Runner- up
Cattle Decapitation - Death Atlas

Honorable Mentions

  • Alien Weaponry - Tü
  • King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Infest the Rats’ Nest
  • Anna Pest - The Ocean Calls Me Home
  • KOSM - Eyes on the Inside
  • Hath - Of Riot and Ruin
  • Inanimate Existence - Clockwork
  • Arch Echo - You Won't Believe What Happens Next!
  • Starbomb - The Tryforce
  • Epica - Design Your Universe (Gold Edition)
  • Bring Me The Horizon - Amo
  • Too l - Fear Inoculum
  • DragonForce - Extreme Power Metal
  • Skyharbor - Sunshine Dust
  • Avatar - Avatar Country
  • Northlane - Alien
  • Fleshgod Apocalypse - Veleno

Weirdest Albums of 2019

  1. Poppy - Am I A Girl?
  2. Ghostmane - Noise
  3. Travis Scott - Astroworld
  4. Charlie XCX - Charlie
  5. Billie Ellish -  When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
  6. Car bomb - Mordial

Best Concerts 2019

  1. Dream Theater - Distance Over Time Tour @ Place Des Arts
  2. Heavy Montreal 2019 @ Parc Jean Drapeau
  3. Any Ashbreather show this year
  4. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard @ Olympia
  5. Delain @ Club Soda
  6. Gloryhammer @ L'Astral
  7. Ensiferum and Septicflesh @Corona Theater
  8. Within Temptation @ Olympia
  9. Alien Weaponry @ Bar L’Escogriff
  10. Kamelot @ Club Soda
  11. Bring Me The Horizon @ Place Bell
  12. CHON and Between the Buried and Me @ Corona Theater
  13. Sabaton @ Metropolis
  14. Eluveitie @ Corona Theater
  15. The Agonist @ Theater Fairmount
  16. Inanimate Existence, KRUHL, Ashbreather and Skortue @ Piranah Bar

Best Poutine

  1. Poutineville
  2. Montreal Pool Room
  3. La Belle Province
  4. Frites Alors!
  5. La Banquise

Best Games 2019

  1. Super Mario Maker 2
  2. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
  3. Control
  4. Driver San Francisco
  5. Resident Evil 2
  6. Zelda: Link’s Awakening
  7. Super Smash Bros Ultimate
  8. Cadence of Hyrule
  9. Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night
  10. Halo: Reach MCC PC

 

The Sand Enigma: A Look into the Creative Energy of Montreal/Cairo’s Jazz Group Land of Kush

December 7 2019 //

On November 11th, 2019, I was sneaking my way into a sold out Sala Rossa to catch the launch of Sam Shalabi’s Montreal-based big band Land of Kush and their newest work entitled Sand Enigma. I was led to the very back of the room, weaving and cautiously stepping between the mush of people. In through the green room, and on to what is usually the stage, there are chairs set up for an additional audience perched above and behind the massive setup of instruments and chairs on the ground. Taking my seat in the dark, I look out into the room. People sitting, standing shoulder to shoulder, all anticipating what is to come.

Nadah El Shazly, vocalist and electronic performer hailing from Cairo, took the stage as the opener. She is joined by her fellow members of Land of Kush: alto saxophonist Devin Brajah Waldman, composer of the evening Sam Shalabi, and bassist Jonah Fortune. This music is completely blessed.

Nadah commanded the energy of the room, bringing the hundreds of people together under one sound - her voice. She is a powerful performer, but not performative. Her honesty in expressions of pain and loss created an emotional atmosphere which felt completely tangible. She was affecting every body in the room. I had my own personal attachment as I found myself crying, as I see her as somebody which looks like my mother. She sings in Arabic, a language in my body but lost to my tongue. I am not sad, but utterly moved. With a complete wholesome presence, Nadah brought the room into a focused, energetic light; relating everyone present under an emotive approach to humanity.

Then, after a break, the big band Land of Kush took the stage to perform Sand Enigma. This is no ordinary big band. From my seat behind the stage I could see whole string and percussion sections, saxophones, flute, clarinet, traditional egyptian instruments, a harp, piano, synth, the list goes on... A cluster of sound is destined to fill my ears and I am only just seeing it now, prior to the performance.

Sam Shalabi takes his place at the helm. As the composer, he does not perform in this group but only conducts. Land of Kush operates as an Egyptian big band within the context of experimental free jazz. This means that while they are following a common compositional thread, much of the evening was not predetermined and was happening on the moment, under Shalabi’s direction. Points of his finger become solos, new forms, and creative birth. I could see Shalabi making intense eye contact and connection with his musicians - in the moment, I savour the intimate view of this show that I have. Sand Enigma had my intense focus from start to finish and the energy in the room was some of the most profoundly uniting musical phenomena I have been in the presence of.

The show ended and I found myself at the bar at Casa Del Popolo having a drink and attempting to reconstitute my sense of self from the experience I just had. It was the first day of a big snow storm, so the bar was empty until the band came to celebrate their performance. Before my eyes they came together to dance. Nadah was on the table, Brajah was letting his soul fly free, and Shalabi was watching all unfold like a proud father. I am thinking there is something special in this group of people beyond the music. Their souls are connected with a fire and passion for the pain and beauty of life and they celebrate it.

I highly recommend listening and buying Sand Enigma on Bandcamp. Make sure to listen all the way through. Revel in the voices.

Julia Warren is the host of Jazz Island every Sunday at noon.​

If you would like to hear her interview with Sam Shalabi listen here.

Into the Wild with Laurence-Anne

December 3 2019 //

Photo Credit: Geneviève Grenier

Album titles can be a tricky thing to finalize. Along with its cover, an album’s title will ideally evoke some sense of what to expect when you listen to it. With Première apparition, Montreal singer-songwriter Laurence-Anne picked the most vividly descriptive title that I’ve heard in quite some time. Released in February 2019, her debut album title suggests the existence of an otherworldly nature to the artist’s particular set of alternative pop songs.

“It’s a mystical first apparition; it’s mysterious,” Laurence-Anne explains. “I also like the word play of ‘première apparition.' When we recorded the album, we said this is what it’s gonna be called.” Listening to the record transports you to a world filled with animal sounds and exotic instrumentation that brings the graphic imagery of Laurence-Anne’s lyrics to life. Première apparition doesn’t just create a world you can inhabit, but a whole ecosystem filled with volcanoes and carnivorous plants. Songs like “Yeux-bactérie” and “Dents de scie” twist burning passion into some of nature’s most dangerous phenomena, including infections and fires. If the events in the movie 28 Days Later ever became a reality, the jubilant mutant funk of “C’est un virus” should be the theme song for the end times.

Originally hailing from Kamouraska, a municipality on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Bas-Saint-Laurent with a population of less than 600 people, Laurence-Anne notes that there wasn’t much in the way of distractions or activity while growing up. Luckily, what her hometown lacked in excitement was made up by its serenity and proximity to nature, giving the artist plenty of time to develop her distinctive song-writing style. "In fact, I think it helps to come from a region like that which is really in nature,” Laurence-Anne says, “you see the river, you have mountains too, large spaces. I think the fact that there is a lot of scenery directly influences a lot of the lyrics. There are always references to water. I think if I had grown up in Montreal, I wouldn’t have had that landscape aspect there.”

Even if the album sounds like it came out of a vacuum, devoid of chasing current trends, Laurence-Anne has a set of influences that feed into her work. In particular, the artist describes the music of Feist, Montreal duo Thus Owls, and plenty of Latin music as being integral parts in her development as a songwriter. Laurence-Anne is even interested in writing music in Spanish, which she speaks, considering her belief that language shouldn’t be a barrier when it comes to music.

“My goal with the project,” the artist explains, “is to make sure that the music overcomes language. I don’t want it to be a project that sounds francophone. Yes, it’s in French, but the musical side is more exploratory, and as you mentioned it gets out of those barriers a bit.”

For such richly detailed soundscapes, it’s surprising that Première apparition was recorded live in-studio in only two days. Thanks to her third-place finish in 2017’s Les Francouvertes music discovery competition, Laurence-Anne and her band were awarded time in a studio to record a single. But the musicians figured they should make the most of their time and bang out a full-length album instead, making the record as singular as it is. "I think I see it more like an oeuvre that happened at a precise moment,” Laurence-Anne explains, “and I don’t think it would have been the same thing if we did it in a different location or at another moment where we had more time. It really was like a creation where we were there, and it came out like that. It was recorded live with a few overdubs, but I think it was really a good moment.”

When it comes to bringing Laurence-Anne’s project to life, the artist admits much credit is due to her backing band. Laurence-Anne’s songs always begin with just her, though taking it from its skeletal form to finished product falls to both the artist and her backing band of five (Naomie De Lorimier on synth/backing vocals, David Marchand on bass/guitar/pedal steel, Laurent St-Pierre on drums/percussion, Étienne Côté on percussion/marimba/piano/synth, and Ariel Comptois on saxophone). Each band member brings their touch,” Laurence-Anne explains. "I really leave a lot of liberty to the artists. I think I also chose people who inspire me and who have a sound I like together. It’s really them who deal with the arrangements part.”

While Laurence-Anne already has several shows already under her belt this year, the artist says she’s not certain about what’s to come in the future; though she reveals that a future goal would be to play in France and travel with the album. “I don’t know how things will unfold,” Laurence-Anne says, “but I would like to tour this album as much as I can. Of course, I already can't wait to return to the studio to make another album.”

If it only took two days for Laurence-Anne to create one of 2019’s best albums, I can only imagine what she’ll do with at least three.

 

Alex Viger-Collins is the host of Ashes to Ashes, your weekly dose of modern pop, every Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.

 

Gringe Brings the Heat To L’Astral

December 2 2019 //

On November 29th, France-based rapper Gringe, otherwise known as Guillaume Tranchant, played an energetic show at L’Astral in the downtown core. The second Gringe took the small stage, he was able to effortlessly command the room's unsurmountable energy. Rapping with eloquence, maturity and ease, the France-native delivered a solid performance and proved himself to be an effective storyteller.

Gringe managed to get people jumping, "handbanging", and singing over him while at the same time saying that he’s “not the greatest singer”. The choir of fans beneath him filled up the room with melody leaving the rapper with a smile as he led his audience into a night of hip-hop excellence.

But behind the electric and jovial musicality was a rather somber and melancholic lyricism. I took a moment to close my eyes and feel the emotions of his words. When the time came to perform the song “Pieces détachées”, a song about the pain of a childhood with the absence of his father, his energy changed. He stood still on stage and took time to poor his heart out and tell his story. It was a break from his high energy performance that created an interesting nuance.

Gringe addresses many themes in his music: vapid love, depression, drug use, failed therapy, solitude, and many more… In his first solo album titled Enfant lune, Gringe beared all and cut deep to explore some of the most traumatic experiences he has had to face in a life he often defines as gloomy and tragic. “I had to put myself in a certain state of mind to write the album,” said Gringe during an interview with Konbini back in 2018. “For me, this solo album was an exercise allowing me to be more introspective and be more personal than on the group album”.

Gringe was a member of a former rap duo Casseurs Flowters with French rapper Orelsan. They released a mixtape back in 2004 called Fantasy: Épisode 1 that propelled the two into stardom. The new solo project was an opportunity for the rapper to start fresh. On Enfant lune, Gringe allowed himself to further explore his vulnerability and take on personal issues in a more intimate way.

In an interview with YouTuber Anne Borie in April, Gringe said he finds much of his inspiration from introspection and analytical writing as it often serves as a continuity of the experiences he goes through.

Looking on a song-to-song basis, “Pièces détachées” is about his father who abandoned him and his mother at a young age. He talks about inheriting his worst qualities like being “un coureur de jupons”, or “skirt chaser” in English. His father abandoning him made him doubt himself and hindered his ability to commit to relationships.

The artist proved to have no ego in a live setting, even admitting to the crowd before starting the song that he cheated on his loved one. It made his song feel authentic and it made him even more present as an artist.

“Scanner” is arguably one of Gringe’s saddest songs. He talks about the painful days leading to the death of his brother. From hospital visits to drug abuse, he tells the tale of a medical downfall that was doomed to end in utter sadness. You could feel the pain as he rapped on stage behind a symphony of electronic sounds.

Fans of French rap got an authentic and exhilarating musical experience. But fans of his lyricism had the opportunity to hear his storytelling in person. “Scanner” sounded even better in real life because of the rapper’s charisma and his ability to emote his most profound emotions while keeping the energy in the room lively.

But beyond the darkness, the artist seemed quite happy. The stage felt like his home and he was responsive of the energy of the people in the room. Beyond the sad undertone of his lyricism, Gringe created a positive experience with his live show.

Gringe’s flow was also rather impressive. His delivery was nearly effortless as he had been rehearsing rhyming for years. His sound stays fresh by combining an old school vibe with electronic and house beats. You could hear modern influences from mainstream acts like Koriass to old school ones like his main idol, Tupac.

The production was on-point making mastered cuts feel like they were destined for live performances. The beats were sharp and filled with surprises. This was refreshing in a time where rap is often filled with clichés and recycled sounds.

The concert quickly turned into a dance party. The crowd’s energy was at an all time high when Gringe performed “Konnichiwa”. Standing in the room, it felt less like a concert and more like an exchange between Gringe, the DJ, the hype man, and the crowd. Happiness filled the room of strangers clamming their happy drinks.

Before we knew it, the concert was over. Gringe looked happy to finish his tour in Montreal calling the city one of the “chillest” places in the world. With two applauding ovations, the rapper had many thanks to give and an unwritten promise to his followers of a return when his next project comes out.

Jean-Philippe Giroux is the host of Hidden Gems, a show focusing on artists outside the realm of popular music in Canada. His show plays every Thursday at 3:00 PM EST.

 

New "Home Alone" Will Film In Montreal, B.C. Implements UNDRIP Bill,Task Force On Missing And Murdered Native Americans And Alaska Natives

November 27 2019 //

Ahmad Moujtahed

 

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LOCAL

A reboot of the "Home Alone" film franchise will be filmed in Montreal this winter, between February and April, according to the website Pop Goes The News.

The production on the “reimagining” of "Home Alone," which was announced by Disney this past summer, will follow a husband and wife duo that is up against a young boy who has stolen something from them, Collider reports.

The reboot will stream on the recently launched Disney+ streaming service. However, there are no set details available yet about the cast or crew.

Story by Ahmad Moujtahed

 

NATIONAL

British Columbia has become the first province in Canada to formally implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Dubbed Bill 41, the legislation passed the committee stage and third reading at the B.C. legislature unanimously.

The legislation, which will apply to all existing and yet to be introduced legislation, requires that Indigenous peoples are included in all decision making that impacts their rights. It also calls for a government action plan on how the objectives of the declaration are being met, according to Global News.

The legislation was developed in collaboration with the First Nations Leadership Council at the direction of First Nations.

Story by Ahmad Moujtahed

 

INTERNATIONAL

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last Tuesday which created a Task Force on Missing and Murdered Native Americans and Alaska Natives. The Task Force will create new methods to investigate new and unsolved cases as well as review cold cases. 

It is estimated by the National Institute of Justice that 1.5 million Indigenous women have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. Trump told reporters his government is taking strong action against, quote, “this terrible situation.”

Trump was joined by many Indigenous representatives to sign the bill, which expires in two years. 

Story by Evan Lindsay

 

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