Best of 2015

So, I felt 2015 was a pretty damn good year for music so I'm going to run down my personal faves in this easy to read list!

20. Def Leppard - Def Leppard

Okay, don't run when you see this one leading off. I like all kinds of music but I was 11 when "Hysteria" came out, so I'll always have affinity for Def Lep. I think Def Leppard have released 3 studio albums since 2000. Their last effort, "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge", didn't do much for me so I was skeptical about this one. But it is better than it has any right to be. Total classic Def Leppard sound and it is definitely a welcome return.

Key Tracks: Let's Go, Wings of an Angel, Dangerous, Battle of My Own

19. Marilyn Manson - The Pale Emperor

I'm not a huge MM fan, but I do enjoy his greatest hits and "Mechanical Animals" was a solid record. I kind of lost track of MM after that album, but I saw this one come up in the new releases on Google Play so I downloaded it. I was pleasantly surprised. It has a real bluesy feel to it but still retains the trademark MM bite. Also, creepiest album cover of the year.

Key Tracks: Killing Strangers, Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge, Deep Six

18. The Decemberists - What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

This one came out right at the beginning of 2015 and is one that I re-visit often. I was lucky enough to see the band back in March on this tour and they put on a very good live show.

Key Tracks: Make You Better, 12/17/12, Philomena

17. Drake - If You're Reading This, You're Too Late

I like Drizzy. I like that he wears Toronto on his sleeve and I like his rather minimalist tunes. He goes for substance over grandiose. This was a surprise "mix tape" that seems more like a full fledged album to me, but semantics, I guess. I went to OVO Fest this year and while Kanye did kill it in his guest spot, Drizzy was who the crowd was there for and he delivered.

Key Tracks: Legend, Energy, 6 Man

16. Low - Ones And Sixes

I heard about Low from my friend Simon on a Facebook music forum I'm part of. I guess they've been around for a while (like 20 years) but this is the first music or record I heard from them. I like what I hear a lot. So I have downloaded the rest of their catalogue, but have yet to listen to it (I'll get around to it eventually, see album #6). "Ones And Sixes" is a mellow but melodic album that I've listened to quite a bit since I bought it in September.

Key Tracks: Spanish Translation, Gentle, No End

15. Ash - Kablammo!

I love Ash. The world honestly needs more Ash albums. This was a crowd-funded album apparently but the band rewards those who contributed (and those who contributed by purchasing) with pure power pop at its best. Seriously, if you aren't into and/or familiar with Ash, do yourself a favour and seek out "Intergalactic Sonic 7"s", their first greatest hits record, because it is pure gold. And with this record, the hits keep on coming.

Key Tracks: Let's Ride, Dispatch, Hedonism, Cocoon  

14. Paul Weller - Saturns Pattern

The modfather returns with another gem. I wrote about this record a few posts back but I really enjoy it. Like Springsteen (post coming, I swear), Paul Weller keeps getting better with age.

Key Tracks: White Sky, Saturns Pattern, Going My Way, Pick It Up

13. Wilco - Star Wars

Not so much lo-fi but more the return of tight, 3 minute tunes with impeccable melodies. This was a surprise free album and then I ended up finding the vinyl at Kops Records in Toronto for 50% off (like $12). Completely worth it. Similar to Weller and Springsteen, Wilco seem to be getting better with age.

Key Tracks: More..., The Joke Explained, Random Name Generator

12. Muse - Drones

Definitely a return to form. I didn't dislike "The 2nd Law". I did sort of dislike "The Resistance", but the albums I always revisit in the Muse catalogue are "Origin Of Symmetry" and "Absolution" due to the strong guitar presence. For the first 9 tracks, this album brings it. They apparently went back to recording as a 3-piece on this one and you can hear it. Plus, Mutt Lange co-produced. Given my affection for Def Lep, this is a big plus.

Key Tracks: Reapers, Mercy, The Handler, Psycho

11. Veruca Salt - Ghost Notes

Comeback album from the '90's alt veterans, reunited after a nasty break-up. I think honestly this is their best album. It's certainly their most consistent. The lyrics are biting, the riffs are solid. While I enjoy "8 Arms To Hold You" due to the metal-ness of it, listening to it now, a lot of tracks are somewhat dated. I don't feel that will be the case with this record. Recommended if you are looking for a band that seems to be hitting its stride...close to 20 years after last putting out a record with all 4 original members. Let's hope they keep this reunion going.

Key Tracks: Museum Of Broken Relationships, The Gospel According To Saint Me, Black And Blonde

10. Modest Mouse - Strangers To Ourselves

My wife and I had our first child the last time Modest Mouse released a full-length. Dudes, she is almost 9 now! Back then, Johnny Marr was in the band. He's gone onto solo endeavors now, but the band is still tight, writing solid, wiry tunes that ooze with Isaac Brock's quirkiness. Like Ash, the world needs more Modest Mouse, so hoping I don't have to wait until my daughter turns 18 for the next record.

Key Tracks: Ansel, Wicked Campaign, The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box, Shit In Your Cut

9. Foals - What Went Down

This is a British band that I discovered via Google Play. I don't even know how I did, I just was browsing new releases and I remembered hearing something about the band Foals, so I took a chance. Glad I did. This is a solid record, filled with both guitar anthems and off-kilter pop tunes. I think these guys are a big deal in Britain.

Key Tracks: What Went Down, Mountain At My Gates, A Knife In The Ocean

8. Ryan Adams - 1989

Yep, I dig T-Swift. What I dig more is stripped down, alt-rock/country versions of her hits. Bad Blood is completely re-invented into like a campfire hymn. My New Year's Resolution - you heard it here first - I need to learn Bad Blood on guitar. Check my progress later this year. You have to respect both T-Swift for her song writing chops and Ryan Adams for putting his stamp on these songs, with no hint of disrespect.

Key Tracks: Bad Blood, Style, Wildest Dreams

7. The Dead Weather - Dodge & Burn

Like Veruca Salt and Modest Mouse, we needed Jack White's other band to make a comeback this year. Alison Mosshart is a complete badass. At first, I didn't love this record, but I liked the back half enough to keep spinning it and I have been rewarded with songs that burrow under your skin. Mile Markers might be my favourite song of the year, or at least in the top 3. I know Jack White is a busy guy, but I have 2 requests in 2016 - get a tour going with this band and release another Dead Weather record!

Key Tracks: Mile Markers, Cop and Go, Impossible Winner, I Feel Love (Every Million Miles)

6. Sleater-Kinney - No Cities To Love

This was admittedly my first Sleater-Kinney album purchased and actually the first one I ever listened to. It's a barn burner so I went and downloaded their catalogue on Google Play and I now know what I've been missing. I've read about this band frequently. And I've seen some Portlandia episodes and I have the Pearl Jam live album where PJ opens with an acoustic set and then give it up for Sleater-Kinney (Ed Ved says (this is in the ballpark I feel) "you will now have the profound experience of hearing Sleater-Kinney"), before PJ goes back on. Don't know why I never gave them a shot before considering my complete obsession with buying music. Anyway, the lesson is when you read about a band frequently, don't wait 15 years, check them out right away! Or maybe wait and then you can have a new discovery with a huge discography to tap into.

Key Tracks: No Cities To Love, Bury Our Friends, No Anthems, Price Tag

5. Third Eye Blind - Dopamine

A six year gap between albums is fine with me when the product is of this quality. And this is despite 4 of the first 5 tracks being kinda of a bit too poppy/cute for me. But they are still catchy. What those songs lack in depth, the other 8 tracks bring it and bring it large. There are some great 3EB songs are on this record, some of which could become some of my faves. Apparently, this is it, so if that's the case, then they went out with a nice bang, just check out the confessional lyrics (Stephan Jenkins' best songs are about Charlize Theron or drugs or both) and intense guitar shredding on last track Say It.

Key Tracks: Back to Zero, Something in You, Say It, Exiles

4. El Vy - Return to the Moon

A side project from the National's Matt Berninger and his long-time friend Brent Knopf works well on many levels. While it is not The National, the songs are cut from the same sonic cloth and offer complete satisfaction. Okay, I know I said that Dead Weather track was my fave of the year, but now I think it's I'm the Man to Be from this outfit. The lyrics are off the charts weird, but the swagger is there. Sometimes you need a song to just make you feel something, even if you can't fully explain what that feeling is.

Key Tracks: I'm The Man To Be, Return To The Moon, No Time To Crank The Sun, Sad Case

3. Ghost - Meliora

My friend John gave me the heads-up on this band. By heads-up I mean he said I should run to listen to it immediately, so I did. I really feel the Satan-leaning posturing is a joke, but it doesn't matter, this is a really solid album of progressive metal. But don't run away or be turned off by that label, the songs are accessible and devoid of excessive soloing. No one really knows forsure who is in the band, but they are all players. This album grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. It also warrants and rewards repeat listens. Additionally, 2nd creepiest album cover of the year.

Key Tracks: He Is, Cirice, Absolution, Spirit

2. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Chasing Yesterday

A really solid album that I wrote about earlier in the year. I just listened to it again today as I'm writing this and it still thrills. Some of you may be somewhat shocked that NG isn't number one on my list. It is held out of the top spot by a surprise reunion album that I don't think a lot of people saw coming.

Key Tracks: Riverman, The Ballad Of The Mighty I, The Right Stuff, The Dying Of The Light

1. Blur - The Magic Whip

As evident by last year's list, I was/am still enjoying Damon Albarn's solo album "Everyday Robots". But then Blur announced they recorded a new album, the first with all 4 original members since 1999's "13". Like Veruca Salt, "The Magic Whip" documents a band hitting its stride or at least finding comfort with one another again. Its a bit of an understated affair, but that reflects artistic maturity I think. The ballads are sublime and Go Out squalls with 1997 indie-rock fervor. Highly recommended.

Key Tracks: Go Out, Ong Ong, My Terracotta Heart, Lonesome Street

I'm definitely excited to see what 2016 holds in terms of musical surprises. Until next time...

Seconds Please

Recently...okay recently was in March when I started writing this post, but anyway, I still need the set-up to give it some context. In March, we went on a family vacation to a warmer climate, which was great. I generally use vacations as an opportunity to splurge on Q Magazine at the airport, which is an "import" and about $13 an issue, so it's not a regular purchase. Though now I have a subscription thanks to my in-laws, sweet! But March was no different. I wanted the one with the Noel Gallagher cover story, but we're a month behind Britain in receiving these so I got the one with AC/DC on it. Inside, there was a 20 page special on The Stone Roses' 2nd album "Second Coming" (not one of my faves, as you will see below, but still has some great songs). While I was reading this article, I was listening to Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds great second album "Chasing Yesterday" (see last post). This got me thinking of my favourite 2nd albums, so here we are.

The 2nd album these days really is make or break for most bands. The general record buying (or downloading) public have relatively short attention spans and it's difficult for bands to build a career like it was back in the day. One of the best feelings is finding a great debut album by a new artist and becoming really immersed in it...but then one of the worst feelings is when that artist stumbles on their 2nd album. It really kills a lot of momentum and you kind of feel bad for them. Case in point for me was the 2nd effort by Candlebox. I really enjoyed and still enjoy their self-titled debut so I was excited when I heard their 2nd album was dropping in October 1995. "Lucy" came out and the first single Simple Lessons was decent, but the album ultimately didn't deliver. It's half-good but a lot of the songs don't go anywhere. They fell into the trap. Their third album "Happy Pills" course corrected appropriately but the momentum built from their debut was gone. I should note that Candlebox are still together and playing shows / releasing music. Nice. 

Here is my list then, in no particular order. Additionally, I am leaving out "What's The Story Morning Glory?" as it my favourite album of all time, so I guess by default it is my favourite 2nd album ever as well. I promise there will be a post where I don't mention Oasis. But this isn't that post.

I also have likely 100% forgotten some so I may have to do an addendum piece at a later date.

The Clash "Give 'Em Enough Rope" (1978)

Technically, in the US this was their first album but it's their 2nd studio release so it qualifies. I got into The Clash kind of late in life. I think I bought "London Calling" in 1999 or 2000 and then subsequently purchased their entire discography. Now, I'm working on getting it on vinyl. "Give 'Em Enough Rope" starts off with the explosive Safe European Home, definitely in my top 5 Clash tunes ever then segues into one-two punch of English Civil War and Tommy Gun. Overall, it's a solid effort that sets the table well for "London Calling".

Smashing Pumpkins "Siamese Dream" (1993)

This was the first Pumpkins record I bought on the strength of hearing Today (or maybe Disarm because I don't think I have ever been that cutting edge) on the radio. When I was getting back into music and discovering newer artists I just assumed their latest record was their first. Like I was the Christopher Columbus of this band's life! So I was pleasantly surprised when I heard SP had a first album called "Gish". Also a great record. But "Siamese Dream" is an epic one, filled with angst, guitar feedback, classic rock riffs and ferocious drumming. Seriously, Jimmy Chamberlain is a complete beast and incidentally has re-joined the band for their summer tour (maybe permanently, it's hard to keep up). The singles on this one are killer, but the deep cuts also resonate strongly with me, specifically, Hummer, Silverfuck and Mayonaise. Also, killer B-sides during this era, captured nicely on the 1994 collection "Pisces Iscariot".

Weezer "Pinkerton" (1996)

This is a noisy, raw, somewhat abrasive record after their first fairly polished effort. But underneath the rawness the songs are there and it came into my life at the right time; 2nd year of University, girl problems, etc. The way Rivers wrote lyrics on this album is sort of the way I used to write short stories. Maybe a little bit too emotional, but as I said earlier, "Pinkerton" was the right record for me when it came out. The reissue that dropped in 2011 or 2012 (I'm too lazy to look it up) is packed with great B-sides that indicated Rivers Cuomo was a song writing beast during this era. I still listen to this one often.

Radiohead "The Bends" (1995)

I knew Creep, sure, but this was my first Radiohead album, given to me by my cousin Kyle in the summer of 1995 (along with Dave Matthews Band's "Under the Table and Dreaming"). I am not sure how I remember this stuff! Anyway, I only knew Fake Plastic Trees and that is likely all I listened to on this one at first, but sometime during the first month of university, I let the whole record play and was blown away. Planet Telex, The Bends, High & Dry, Just, Sulk, Black Star, and the penultimate closing track, Street Spirit (Fade Out). It kind of flip flops for me what album I like better by Radiohead, "Ok Computer" or this one, but this was the gateway into their world for me. There are not a lot of better guitar albums overall that I've ever heard. Additionally, great B-sides during this era. As you can tell, I like B-sides, I may need to do a post on this sometime.

The Black Crowes "The Southern Musical Companion" (1992)

I want to say that this was my first Black Crowes album and then I went back and bought "Shake Your Money Maker". This album is filled with dual guitar goodness from Rich Robinson and Marc Ford on every song. The opener Sting Me sets you up and Remedy knocks you down. A couple of slow ones in Thorn In My Pride and Bad Luck, Blue Eyes Goodbye and then the fury of Sometimes Salvation and Hotel Illness. I know I'm not ranking these albums but this one is definitely in my top 3 of best second albums ever. Never get tired of listening to it.

Counting Crows "Recovering The Satellites" (1996)

A difficult album from the emotional place that lead singer Adam Duritz was in during the recording process, this is also the one where the band "plugged in". No doubt "August And Everything After" is a mellow classic. T Bone Burnett brings out the best roots flourishes in all artists he produces but this release completely fits where Duritz was at. You know, dating and breaking up with the females in the "Friends" cast and that sort of stuff. Produced by Gil Norton of the Pixies' "Doolittle" fame, this album is noisy and abrasive in places but it works. It showed the band could do mellow and rocking equally well. Loved the first single Angels of the Silences and I still do. This one definitely needs a vinyl re-press stat.

Stone Temple Pilots "Purple" (1994)

Still love this record. I do like "Core" quite a bit but "Purple" is my fave STP record a) because the songs are there and b) because of the memories attached to it. I just remember me and my friends driving around with this album blaring throughout the summer of 1994. In terms of the music, this is a step forward for STP in terms of sound; it still has the grunge flourishes that defined "Core" but also has some nice acoustic sounds (Pretty Penny) and trippier bits (Lounge Fly). Plus, you can't go wrong with Interstate Love Song as a summer anthem. Or really as an anthem, period, end of sentence.

Liz Phair "Whip-Smart" (1994)

My friend Simon got me into Liz Phair and I believe this was the first album I picked up by her. And I think I got it for Christmas in 1994 so likely my parents got it for me. Nice, I guarantee you they went into the now defunct CD Warehouse in Burlington with a list and made someone get it for them. It's I guess what they call "lo-fi" but the song writing is there and Supernova should have been a bigger song than it was. She had to wait until hooking up with Avril Lavigne's producers to get her big hit in 2003 (or 2004), but by that point, I had unfortunately moved on.  

The Gaslight Anthem "The '59 Sound" (2008)

I got into Gaslight Anthem in 2009. Not sure if I read about them or if Springsteen mentioned something about them being from New Jersey...but I picked up "The '59 Sound" without hearing any of their songs and promptly played it right through. And then right through again. So many great songs and it's a pretty big leap from their first album "Sink Or Swim" (also good just very raw). These songs remind me of Springsteen but lyricist / singer / guitarist Brian Fallon has his own way with words that pulled me in. He name drops Springsteen, Counting Crows' Round Here and also Tom Petty and you really can't go wrong with any of that.

Pearl Jam "Vs" (1993)

True story, I really disliked Pearl Jam during the "Ten" era. I don't know why, it might be because they were making Bon Jovi less relevant, it might be because I was rebelling for no apparent reason, it might be because I didn't like (and still don't like) the song Jeremy. Who knows? I bought my friend Hutch "Vs" the first week it came out for his birthday. Because I was and still am obsessed with music, I decided to open it up and give it a spin before giving it to him. Not sure how I would have got the shrink wrap back on but anyway. From the opening notes of Go something changed in me and I let Pearl Jam into my world. I played that album likely 2 or 3 times in a row and then the next day, I went and bought another copy for Hutch. There will be a post on Pearl Jam one day...

Third Eye Blind "Blue" (1999)

I mean, I really like Third Eye Blind, I wrote about them in the post "Don't Call It A Comeback" and I went to see them live last summer, so I won't go into a lot of detail here. There are many great guitar jams on this record fused with catchy tunes and the closer Darwin doesn't get nearly enough props in my book.

Foo Fighters "The Color And The Shape" (1997)

Everlong, My Hero, Monkey Wrench, Hey, Johnny Park!, all of these songs are massive. The record itself, for all the turmoil surrounding it (Dave Grohl fires drummer and re-cuts all the drum parts himself) is really solid. There are some nice quiet songs on this one too, plus in this era they cut the memorable cover Down In The Park for the X-Files show or movie soundtrack. It's included in the 10th year anniversary edition of this album and is a great song. I think maybe their next album "There Is Nothing Left To Lose" is my favourite, but this one is up there.

Garbage "Version 2.0" (1998)

I just saw Garbage a few weeks ago, when they performed their first album and its associated B-sides in their entirety. Garbage can still bring it. Their performance was inspired and they ended the night with Push It from this album. Everyone went nuts. The first 8 songs on "Version 2.0" are really amazing, and although I'm not a huge fan of 3 of the last 4 songs, the closer You Look So Fine is one of the best songs in their catalog. I think I listened to this one quite often in the summer of '98. That should totally be a song, Bryan Adams needs to get on it! Also, wait for it (the sound of a broken record), great B-sides from this era also.

Travis "The Man Who" (1999)

Lots of people like to say that Travis is the "poor man's Coldplay", even though Coldplay came out after them. So maybe no one says that they are this. But on this album they do out-Coldplay Coldplay. After their rough-edged first album, it appears Fran Healy listened to Wonderwall and got inspired, turning out some great, textured rock tunes, such as Writing To Reach You, Turn, As You Are, Driftwood, etc. I'm not partial to Why Does It Always Rain On Me? but I can see why people enjoy it. After this one, I really enjoyed Sing from "The Invisible Band" but their later albums left me a little cold until they made a nice comeback last year with "Where You Stand", which took a lot of style notes from "The Man Who".

I Mother Earth "Scenery & Fish" (1996) & The Watchmen "In The Trees" (1994)

Man, I almost forgot both of these! I wrote about both of them in previous posts but they need to be included on the list because they are sooooo good. Incidentally, the Watchmen released a 20th anniversary edition version of "In The Trees" I believe last year, filled with demos, live and acoustic tracks and it is great. And I just read IME is putting out a new single November 6th. Nice.

Okay, I will stop for now, as this is a pretty decent list.

Until next time (I promise I won't be as long between posts, hopefully)...

Don't Call It A Comeback

Long time, no post. The first 4 posts admittedly were already written in my head before they were put down, so these next few have required more thought. So here we go.

I'm going to try to explain my love of 90's alt rock bands, but not the Nirvana's, Pearl Jam's, Soundgarden's, Alice In Chains, STP's etc (though I do like these bands). Instead I'm going to focus on the "little guys", the underdogs, bands people may have forgotten or dismissed as one hit wonders. I can tell you from experience, these bands have more than 1 good song and still get some heavy spins from me. I don't feel it's nostalgia, rather it's music I enjoy listening to that happens to be 15-20 years old!

Gin Blossoms

Most probably know Hey Jealousy and Til I Hear It From You. Maybe also Follow You Down. And they only had 2 albums before disappearing for a very long time. I have always enjoyed the Gin Blossoms. Their straight ahead, catchy jangle pop spoke to me as did their love lorn lyrics. I discovered them in high school and I want to say I purchased "New Miserable Experience" on a family trip to Florida in 1993. When I put the CD in my discman, I remember not being blown away with Lost Horizons, the first track. It's still not my favourite. But then Hey Jealousy rattled off a string of 11 great songs (especially Hold Me Down), save maybe for the country pastiche Cheatin'. Still 10 out of 12 good tunes on a debut album is a pretty good hit rate. I bought some of their CD singles, which included songs that apparently appeared on an earlier EP "Up & Crumbling" (which I still don't have - what is wrong with the completist in me?). Friends and I also ventured to Kingswood Music Theatre at Canada's Wonderland to see them open, yes open (along with the excellent Cracker) for Spin Doctors. I felt a bit bad for the Spin Doctors as most people took off after they played Two Princes 3 or 4 songs into their set. But I guess I didn't feel that bad, because we were included in those people hitting the exit gates. Gin Blossoms were good live. Nothing phenomenal like light shows or anything of the like but solid, meat and potatoes rock. Front man Robin Wilson interacted well with the crowd. I felt the Gin Blossoms were a band on the rise and I was excited to take that ride with them.

In the summer of 1995, they started playing a new Gin Blossoms tune on the radio from an upcoming film titled "Empire Records". The soundtrack actually came out before the movie. Til I Hear It From You was that tune and it was quite engaging. Bittersweet but solid jangle pop. I felt if the movie was as good as the song, it would be amazing. The soundtrack was solid also, but then the movie only got a limited release and one of the markets it got dumped in certainly wasn't Burlington. My friends did pick it up on video and it is a good movie, one that should have been given a wide release. Rex Manning Day, "Damn the man, save the Empire", Ethan Embry, Johnny Whitworth, Rory Cochrane, Anthony LaPaglia, Liv Tyler, Renee Zellweger, need I say more?

Anyway, Gin Blossoms had a new album coming out but this didn't surface until early 1996, preceded by the lead single Follow You Down. This was a good song also. The rise was continuing. In February 1996, I took the bus to Stone Road Mall to get the new Gin Blossoms, called "Congratulations, I'm Sorry". I got back to the dorm room and popped the CD in. I enjoyed the first 5 songs and felt we were well on our way to another winner. But then the wheels fell off a bit and the remaining 7 weren't fantastic. I found out later that one of the key songwriters on the first record got fired after the first album came out and ended up succumbing to his addictions. So they were like a new band starting over again for the 2nd record. And the songs weren't as sharp. The band seemed to realize this also as they broke-up in 1997, not to be heard from again until 2006 on "Major Lodge Victory". I picked this album up on new release day (I really had to look hard for it, but found it at a Music World in Pickering. Music World RIP) and when I spun it, found it to be enjoyable. Better than "Congratulations". The Gin Blossoms were back on the touring circuit and put out another album called "No Chocolate Cake" in 2010. This album was only okay, but still contained some melodic gems such as first single Miss Disarray.

My greatest late era Gin Blossoms memory is when I was in Montreal doing research a few years back and my colleagues and I closed down a bar (literally we were locked in) and the bar tender allowed us to commandeer his iPod and of course he had some Gin Blossoms! It was Hey Jealousy so we rocked that shit forsure and the 5 people in the bar really enjoyed it.

Semisonic

Known for the last call anthem Closing Time and nothing else, my appreciation for Semisonic has grown over the past couple of years. I did and still do like Closing Time and at one point I did own the album it came from ("Feeling Strangely Fine"), but I couldn't really remember any other song from them off the top of my head except Secret Smile, which was a minor hit in '98. Somehow I read somewhere that Semisonic's drummer had written a funny memoir about being a drummer in a semi-famous alt-rock band. It took me a year and a bit but I finally purchased this book off amazon and it was pretty funny. It's called "So You Wanna Be A Rock and Roll Star" by Jacob Slichter. Honest and funny. But this got me thinking, Gin Blossoms have a greatest hits based off two albums (it came out before the 2000's re-birth), so surely Semisonic has one. Jacob's tales made it sound like they made some smart rock music and were maybe known for the wrong song, like Blur are known in North America for Song 2. Don't even get me started on this.

Sure enough on amazon, they were selling Semisonic's Best Of 20th Century Masters for $12 so I ordered that and their greatest hits are pretty good, specifically Singing In My Sleep and Chemistry. Again, solid, straight forward pop-rock. And their lead singer Dan Wilson is co-writing some of pop's greatest hits these days (Dixie Chicks, Adele). So he clearly was onto something. Plus, his duet with Bic Runga on the first American Pie soundtrack, Good Morning Baby, is amazing.

Blues Traveler

The hook brings you back and that is all you need to know.

Ash

This is a three-piece (was a 3-piece, than a 4-piece and now a 3-piece again if they are even still together - I just checked and Wikipedia says that they are!) from Northern Ireland who I discovered via the "Angus" movie soundtrack in the mid-90's. Their songs Jack Names The Planets and Kung Fu were featured and right away, I felt this was a good band. Again, short, catchy pop-punk blasts. In 1996, they released "1977", which is the year they were born (a year after me and they already had 2 albums to their credit!) and it contained the gem Goldfinger. I picked this album up but then lost track of the band until I was browsing in an HMV around 2003 or 2004 and found their first singles collection "Intergalactic Sonic 7"'s". This is a great compilation, where every song is good and there are 19 in total. So I went back and got "Free All Angels", which I guess was a comeback record for the band - about 5 of the singles on the compilation are from this album so that makes sense.

In 2009, they released a new single once every 2 weeks, eventually putting out the compilation albums A-Z Volumes 1 and 2 (I only have Vol. 1 and it is solid).

I still listen to "Intergalactic Sonic 7"'s" quite frequently.

Canadian Content - The Watchmen and Lowest Of The Low

I love both of these bands, although neither has put out any new music since at least 2004. The Watchmen's All Uncovered is one of my favourite songs of all-time, ditto Lowest Of The Low's Bleed A Little While Tonight. I still listen to LOTTL's "Shakespeare...My Butt" a lot (even have it on vinyl). It's a pretty flawless debut album. And one of these years I will make it to the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto for one of The Watchmen's annual shows.

Third Eye Blind

I was swept into Third Eye Blind's world, like everyone else with Semi-Charmed Life in 1997. I think I didn't even initially own their album, my friend Matt picked it up and we just listened to that in the car that summer, constantly. But outside of SCL, they also had "official" hits with Jumper and How's It Going To Be and unofficial hits with Graduate and Losing A Whole Year from their self-titled debut. I like all of these songs as well as I Want You and Thanks A Lot, but the last 3 songs, Motorcyle Drive By, The Background and God Of Wine may be the best 3 end songs (or Side D) on any album. Yes, this is crazy but it really might be true. The crazier thing is that save for The Background, I didn't really listen to the other two songs until I picked up their "greatest hits" comp "A Collection" in 2006. But now I do all the time.

I was quite excited when "Blue" emerged in 1999 and though I think the lead single Anything is right up there with all else the band has done, it certainly is not the most obvious choice for a lead single. But I was into it. "Blue" certainly does contain some radio friendly gems such as 10 Days Late and Never Let You Go, but also some bold experimentation. The song Slow Motion didn't have verses included until "A Collection" due to the album's release proximity with the Columbine shootings and the verses touching on this, among many other, topics. It's a pretty dark tune.

We then had to wait until 2003 for "Out Of The Vein". I remember I was in Vancouver doing focus groups at the time and hit the Virgin Megastore during some downtime and found this album in the racks. I picked it up and immediately popped it into my discman. At first, I wasn't sold on this record, but I did keep listening to it for the duration of that trip and before long, I found it had some great songs. Forget Myself, Crystal Baller, Palm Reader and the hidden song Good Man are all stand-outs. Like most '90's alt-bands that had that one big hit, commercial reception to "Blue" and "Out Of The Vein" followed the trend of diminishing returns, but this didn't phase me.

There was then a 6 year break between "Out Of The Vein" and "Ursa Major". During this time, the band toured fairly relentlessly, mostly in US College towns, where they developed quite a cult following. But promises of new music in 2007 and 2008 disappeared (save for the digital-only 3 track "Red Star" EP) and only came true in August of 2009. "Ursa Major" is my least favourite 3EB album but it still has merit. Bonfire is a great tune that holds up well in relation to their classics.

The fact of the matter is Stephan Jenkins is a pretty damn good songwriter and if it takes him 4 to 6 years to write new tunes, than so be it. It takes me on average of 4 years to write a new short story, so I hear you Stephan! Of course, they keep firing guitarists, bassists, etc. so this doesn't help. But their songs speak to me and even 17 years after S/T dropped they still do. There is some depth to the lyrics for sure. They say they are mixing their new album so that will be another 6 years between albums if it actually comes out in 2015...here's hoping so.