No Filter – December 31, 2018

Tags

2018, 2019, Album, Albums, Alex Hungtai Zhang, alternative, band, Beach House, Best Of, Best of 2018, Bonjay, Bonny Doon, Boyhood, Canada, Canadian, Dan Mangan, Dance, electronica, Europe, Experimental, folk, Fucked Up, Group, Haley Heynderickx, indie, Jeremy Dutcher, Let's Eat Grandma, Mitski, Music, Musicians, pop, Preoccupations, Robyn, Rock, Snail Mail, Superorganism, Suuns, Tune-Yards, U.S. Girls, UK, USA, Yamanataka // Sonic Titan, Young Galaxy

Forgot to post this up
It was mostly playing tracks from the Top 10 Best of 2018 Canadian and International albums.
Have a listen to the New Year’s Eve edition of No Filter on CHUO 89.1 FM.

HOUR ONE:

HOUR TWO:

Best of 2018: International Albums [Top 10]

Tags

2018, Album, Albums, Alex Hungtai Zhang, alternative, band, Beach House, Best Of, Best of 2018, Bonny Doon, Dance, electronica, Europe, Experimental, folk, Group, Haley Heynderickx, indie, Let's Eat Grandma, Mitski, Music, Musicians, pop, Robyn, Rock, Snail Mail, Superorganism, Tune-Yards, UK, USA

The wait is over!
Here are the Top 10 International albums of 2018!
1. Beach House – 7

2. Robyn – Honey
3. Superorganism – Superorganism

4. Alex Hungtai Zhang – Divine Weight

5. Tune-Yards – I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life
6. Mitski – Be The Cowboy

7. Haley Heynderickx – I Need To Start a Garden
8. Bonny Doon – Longwave

9. Let’s Eat Grandma – I’m All Ears

10. Snail Mail – Lush

Best of 2018: Canadian Albums [Top 10]

Tags

2018, Album, Albums, alternative, band, Best Of, Best of 2018, Bonjay, Boyhood, Canada, Canadian, Dan Mangan, Dance, electronica, Experimental, folk, Fucked Up, Group, indie, Jeremy Dutcher, Music, Musicians, pop, Preoccupations, Rock, Suuns, U.S. Girls, Yamanataka // Sonic Titan, Young Galaxy

The wait is over!
Here are the Top 10 Canadian albums of 2018!

1. U.S. Girls – In a Poem Unlimited

2. Boyhood – Bad Mantras

3. Jeremy Dutcher – Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa

4. YAMANTAKA//SONIC TITAN – Dirt

5. Fucked Up – Dose Your Dreams

6. Suuns – Felt

7. Preoccupations – New Material

8. Young Galaxy – Down Time

9. Bonjay – Lush Life

10. Dan Mangan – More or Less

Best of 2018 – Ottawa Releases [Top 10] + 1

Tags

2018, Album, alternative, Area Resident, band, Best Of, Best of 2018, Buck 'n' Nice, Canada, Casa Lagarto, Claude Munson, Dance, electronica, EP, Expanda Fuzz, Funk, Ginny, Group, indie, Jim Bryson, Music, Musicians, Ottawa, pop, punk, R&B, Rock, Sarah Bradley, Shadowhand, Soul, Sparklesaurus, The Heavy Medicine Band

The wait is over!
Here are the “Top 10” picks of Ottawa releases that came out in 2018.
This includes EPs too and I happened to put a tie in the Top 10.
Hope you enjoy the list and check out their music.

Best of 2018 – Ottawa Release [11-20]

Tags

2018, Album, alternative, band, Bearings, Best Of, Best of 2018, Canada, Curl, Dance, Double Magnum, electronica, Empty Nesters, EP, Ethnotechnique, Funk, Group, Holy Christopher, indie, Music, Musicians, My Friend PJ, No Problem Situation, Ottawa, pop, punk, R&B, Rock, Soul, The Creeps, The Haig

It is that time of year!
2018 is coming to an end.
With so many lists going around and forgetting who to put down.
I know it is very early but I want to get this done with.
Starting off with #11 to #20 of Ottawa release which includes EPs too.

Nika Cantabile – Naked Soul Opus 2 [Review]

Tags

2018, Album, Album Review, Canada, Classical, Montreal, Music Video, Naked Soul Opus 2, Nika Cantabile

Nika Cantabile is a Montreal violinist and today she dropped Naked Soul Opus 2.
It is an interpretation album of originals covers from Anime shows/movies and video games.
The one I recognized is Neon Genesis Evangelion’s opening theme song Cruel Angel Thesis.
Take away from the vocals and do it in a way you can just listen to it in a classical-rock sense.
There is a passion by Nika when she plays the songs.
This is an album for those who are fans of Anime and video games who totally remember these songs.
Also if you are fans of Lindsey Stirling too.

Best tracks:
Eternal Snow

Alchemia Story

Kimi wo nosete from Laputa The Castle in the Sky

Naked Soul Opus 2 gets:
/10

Boyhood – Bad Mantras [Review]

Tags

Album, Album Review, Bad Mantras, Boyhood, Canada, Caylie Runciman, Music, Music Video, Musician, Ottawa

This album came out on June 22, 2018.
It’s been a long time waiting for that Boyhood album.
Bad Mantas sees the light of day and it is a fine experimental lo-fi pop album.
It is the follow up from When I’m Hungry which came out 6 years ago.
The only rework is the title track and it sounds better on the new version.
Production value is higher is sounds totally insane!
One of my favorite releases of 2018!

Jeremy Dutcher – Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa [Review]

Tags

2018, Album, Album Review, artist, Canada, Classical, Jeremy Dutcher, Music, Music Video, Musician, Review, singer, Toronto, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa

This has to be one of the most powerful records by Jeremy Dutcher I have heard so far in 2018.
While I am not familiar with the Wolastoqey language.
Music is definitely a global language.
Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa which translate to Our Maliseet Songs.
11 tracks filled with raw emotional and very beautiful music and booming operatic vocals.
Haunting at times with the clips of Wolastoq songs from 1907 wax cylinders.

With so much going on in the world.
We need to pause, think and treat others with respect and kindness.
This is what the album trying to do with healing and reconciling.

Definitely a sure-shot to be on the Polaris Music Prize shortlist and the Junos.

Best tracks:

• Mehcinut (Death Chant)
• Essuwonike (Trading Song)
• Ultestakon (Shaker Lullaby)
• Sakomawit (Chief’s Installation)
• Pomok naka Poktoinskwes (Fisher and the Water Spirit)

I’d give this album:
/10

Mezzanine Turns 20!

Tags

1998, 2018, Album, band, electronica, England, Group, London, Massive Attack, Mezzanine, Music, Music Video, Musicians, Review, UK

Happy 420!
Who knew this album is 20 years old and came out on April 20, 1998.
Talking about Massive Attack‘s third album Mezzanine
Enough has been said about the album since it was a turning point where they delve into darker territory with their trip-hop/electronica sound.
It was their most successful album to date thanks in part to the music video Teardrop.
We can debate as long as we want which is their best, Blue Lines or Protection?
As long the music is good to listen to!
Anyways I am going to give you my Top 5 songs picks from the album!

Wokewave – Reform Absolutely Everything, Tomorrow [Review]

Tags

2018, Album, Album Review, Canada, Duo, electronica, Experimental, Group, indie, Music, Music Video, Musician, Ottawa, Reform Absolutely Everything Tomorrow, Review, Wokewave

At first, I thought it was a joke when I saw this on my Facebook newsfeed.
But no it is for real since I saw they actually released tracks on Bandcamp.
Wokewave is an Ottawa duo (I think one actually moved to Vancouver) consist of Matt Beaudry and Mike Scholz.
Reform Absolutely Everything, Tomorrow is their first effort and it is seven tracks of instrumental experimental electronic music.
There are upbeat tracks in Practolerable Regime/Rojo Oscura and chill/ambient in Instructions Unclear.
It is a mix between Ottawa’s Hard Science with Justice and LCD Soundsystem.
While I find the song titles a head-scratcher or butcher saying them.
Great album to play during a house party for those wanting to dance or as background music.

Best tracks:

• Practolerale Regime
• Prenicium
• Instructions Unclear (LIVE)

I’d give Reform Absolutely Everything, Tomorrow: