Canadians love Canadian pop. We like other countries' pop too, but we really dig our own brand. This month's Top 10 is a perfect example of the affinity we feel towards the maple leaf sugar that we tap out of our grand land.
At number 1, The Unicorns. Are you surprised? Of course you're not. The Unicorns are an obvious choice for campus/community radio listeners to fall in love with. They possess all the elements of what we crave as an educated listener: twisted melodies that form sensible pop structures, organic sounds paired with keyboard nonsense, and absurd lyrics that are oddly comprehensible. It's all very avant-garde. It's all very normal. It's all very Alien8 Records.
Second best, we have the Joel Plaskett Emergency with Truthfully Truthfully. It's a little under the weather compared to previous releases. It was a short stop at the top last month for Plaskett, but a pioneer of Canadian indie pop-rock deserves our attention to a new album at least once.
Mint Records, purveyors of pop attitude, feeds our fetish with two new albums. At number 9, The Gay. In a word, gayalicious. You'll need an insulin shot after listening to this. At number 10, drool, the Young And Sexy. Can you stand how terribly adorable this is? Of course not, that's why you had to rush out and buy this album after playing the shit out of it on your radio show! Luuuuussssssshhhhh vooocaaaal harmoniesssss.gaaaaaaaaa (insert slobber here).
Peruse the rest of the chart this month and pay attention to all those great Canadian sugarpops. If you have yet to hear any of these few I've mentioned, bite the bullet and buy one. Rot your teeth on some Young And Sexy today. Better yet, get some cavities with The Unicorns. But be careful, coming down is a bitch.
By Charts Editor Bryndis Ogmundson
| Rank |
Artist |
Title |
Label |
| 1 |
The Unicorns * |
Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? |
Alien8 |
| 2 |
Joel Plaskett Emergency* |
Truthfully Truthfully |
Maple Music |
| 3 |
The Shins |
Chutes Too Narrow |
Sub Pop |
| 4 |
Two-Minute Miracles * |
Volume III: The Silence Of Animals |
Teenage USA |
| 5 |
Jim Guthrie * |
Now More Than Ever |
Three Gut |
| 6 |
Kid Koala * |
Some Of My Best Friends Are DJs |
NinjaTune |
| 7 |
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros |
Streetcore |
Hellcat/Epitaph |
| 8 |
The Strokes |
Room On Fire |
RCA |
| 9 |
Young And Sexy * |
Life Through One Speaker |
Mint |
| 10 |
The Gay * |
You Know The Rules |
Mint |
| 11 |
Barmitzvah Brothers * |
Mr. Bones Walk-In Closet |
Weewerk |
| 12 |
Sun Kil Moon |
Ghosts Of The Great Highway |
JetSet |
| 13 |
The Flaming Lips |
Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell EP |
Warner |
| 14 |
Buck 65 * |
Talkin' Honky Blues |
Warner |
| 15 |
Explosions In The Sky |
The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place |
Temporary Residence |
| 16 |
No Luck Club * |
Happiness |
Ill Boogie |
| 17 |
The Burdocks * |
Airplane Tracks |
Out Of Touch |
| 18 |
Belle And Sebastian |
Dear Catastrophe Waitress |
Rough Trade |
| 19 |
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci |
Sleep: Holiday |
Sanctuary |
| 20 |
Various |
Zed: Live Off The Floor |
CBC |
| 21 |
New Deal * |
Gone Gone Gone |
Sound+Light |
| 22 |
Ghislain Poirier * |
Beats As Politics |
Chocolate Industries |
| 23 |
Basement Jaxx |
Kish Kash |
XL |
| 24 |
I Am Robot And Proud |
Grace Days |
Catmobile |
| 25 |
Vitaminsforyou * |
I'm Sorry Forever & For Always |
Intr_Version |
| 26 |
Rachel's |
Systems/Layers |
Quarterstick |
| 27 |
Ermine * |
Maps Of The Rise And Fall |
Independent |
| 28 |
Various * |
CJSR: Ralph Nader Was Here |
Independent |
| 29 |
Ween |
Quebec |
Sanctuary |
| 30 |
Her Space Holiday |
The Young Machines |
Mush |
| 31 |
Pete Rock |
Lost And Found |
BBE |
| 32 |
The Books |
Lemon Of Pink |
Tomlab |
| 33 |
The Buttless Chaps * |
Love This Time |
Mint |
| 34 |
The Handsome Family |
Singing Bones |
Carrot Top |
| 35 |
The Trews * |
House of Ill Fame |
Bumstead |
| 36 |
The Weakerthans * |
Reconstruction Site |
Burning Heart |
| 37 |
Chris Colepaugh & The Cosmic Crew* |
In Time |
Monarch |
| 38 |
Death Cab For Cutie |
Transatlanticism |
Barsuk |
| 39 |
R.E.M. |
In Time: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988 - 2003 |
Warner |
| 40 |
Plastikman |
Closer |
Mute |
| 41 |
Peaches * |
Fatherfucker |
XL/Kitty Yo |
| 42 |
The Darkness |
Permission To Land |
Atlantic |
| 43 |
The Stills * |
Logic Will Break Your Heart |
Vice |
| 44 |
Radio Berlin * |
Sister Sounds: Remixes |
Global Symphonic |
| 45 |
Various |
Rough Trade 25: Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before |
Rough Trade |
| 46 |
Ashtray Boy * |
The Euro |
Independent |
| 47 |
Tamara Williamson * |
And All Those Racing Horses |
Aporia |
| 48 |
Clear Horizon |
Clear Horizon |
Kranky |
| 49 |
Paul Westerberg |
Come Feel Me Tremble |
Vagrant |
| 50 |
Adventure Time |
Dreams Of Water Themes |
Plug Research |
| Rank |
Artist |
Title |
Label |
| 51 |
Florent Vollant * |
Katak |
Dep |
| 52 |
Laika |
Wherever I Am I Am What Is Missing |
Pure |
| 53 |
Iron Giant * |
No Longer Sleeping |
12th Planet |
| 54 |
Various * |
Peanuts & Corn: Fall 2003 |
Peanuts and Corn |
| 55 |
Troublestarters * |
Wasted Years |
Independent |
| 56 |
Chris Page * |
Decide To Stay And Swim |
Kelp |
| 57 |
Hush Hush * |
Fake |
Popguru |
| 58 |
Hot Little Rocket * |
Our Work And Why We Do It |
Catch & Release |
| 59 |
Various * |
Peg City Skank 2 |
Bacteria Buffet |
| 60 |
Kate Maki * |
Confusion Unlimited |
Independent |
| 61 |
Do Make Say Think * |
Winter Hymn Country Hymn Summer Hymn |
Constellation |
| 62 |
The Distillers |
Coral Fang |
Hellcat/Epitaph |
| 63 |
Ladytron |
Softcore Jukebox |
Emperor Norton |
| 64 |
The Organizers * |
Painting Bricklin Blue |
Rockfort |
| 65 |
The Poets * |
Nothing To Stay For |
Conifera |
| 66 |
Luke Vibert |
YosepH |
Warp |
| 67 |
Mojave 3 |
Spoon & Rafter |
4AD |
| 68 |
Sloan * |
Action Pact |
BMG |
| 69 |
Parsley Sound |
Parsley Sounds |
Mo Wax |
| 70 |
Al Green |
I Can't Stop |
Blue Note |
| 71 |
Hide Your Daughters * |
Twisted & Distorted Gender |
Independent |
| 72 |
Shadez * |
Thee Impossible |
Slo Coach |
| 73 |
A Perfect Circle |
Thirteenth Step |
Virgin |
| 74 |
The Parkas * |
Now This Is Fighting |
Endearing |
| 75 |
Mr. Roam |
The 12 Rack |
Choice Cut |
| 76 |
Missy Elliott |
Fight The Test |
Elektra |
| 77 |
The Thrills |
So Much For The City |
EMI |
| 78 |
Oh Susanna * |
Oh Susanna |
Nettwerk |
| 79 |
Billy Bragg |
Must I Paint You A Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg |
Outside |
| 80 |
Tommy McCook |
Blazing Horns/Tenor In Roots |
Blood & Fire |
| 81 |
Non-Prophets |
...Hope |
Lex |
| 82 |
The Rapture |
Echoes |
Strummer |
| 83 |
Responsibles |
Chronic Seducer |
Independent |
| 84 |
Floor * |
Autonomy Off/On |
Independent |
| 85 |
Philip Jeck |
Seven |
Touch |
| 86 |
Shalabi Effect * |
Pink Abyss |
Alien8 |
| 87 |
LFO |
Sheath |
Warp |
| 88 |
Stars * |
Heart |
Paper Bag |
| 89 |
Paperboys * |
Dilapitated Beauty |
True North |
| 90 |
Hurtin' Unit * |
Country Soul |
Independent |
| 91 |
Iron And Wine |
The Sea And The Rhythm EP |
Sub Pop |
| 92 |
The Creatures |
Hai! |
Instinct |
| 93 |
Tetrezene * |
What Once Was |
New Glue |
| 94 |
Unireverse/Lesbians On Ecstasy * |
Unireverse/Lesbians On Ecstasy Split |
Total Zero |
| 95 |
Lily Frost * |
Situation |
Independent |
| 96 |
Stew |
Something Deeper Than Changes |
Smile |
| 97 |
The Clumsy Lovers * |
After The Flood |
Independent |
| 98 |
Sattalites |
Reggaefication |
Solid Gold |
| 99 |
Danko Jones * |
We Sweat Blood |
Universal |
| 100 |
Films * |
Films |
Worthy |
| Rank |
Artist |
Title |
Label |
| 101 |
Robin Hunter & The Six Foot Bullies* |
Your Heart, My Sleeve |
Independent |
| 102 |
Jimmy Bowskill |
Old Soul |
Independent |
| 103 |
The Straggler * |
Torches, Etc. |
Independent |
| 104 |
Hot Toddy * |
Hot Toddy |
Herman's |
| 105 |
Various * |
CKDU: Radio Free For All |
Independent |
| 106 |
Ranee Lee * |
Maple Groove |
Justin Time |
| 107 |
Melotron |
Sternenstaub |
Metropolis |
| 108 |
Leisure Suite * |
Idle Places |
Independent |
| 109 |
Various |
DFA: Compilation #1 |
DFA |
| 110 |
Frank Black and the Catholics |
Show Me Your Tears |
Sonic Unyon |
| 111 |
The Bottle Rockets |
Blue Sky |
Sanctuary |
| 112 |
Dirty Projectors |
The Glad Fact |
Western Vinyl |
| 113 |
Plaid |
Spokes |
Warp |
| 114 |
Guided By Voices |
Earthquake Glue |
Matador |
| 115 |
Various |
Christmas Around The World |
Putumayo |
| 116 |
Little Miss Moffat * |
Miss Canada |
Independent |
| 117 |
The Band Of Blacky Ranchette |
Still Lookin' Good To Me |
Thrill Jockey |
| 118 |
Jimmy Swift Band* |
Onward Through The Fog |
Independent |
| 119 |
Screwtape Lewis * |
Better Stronger Faster |
Independent |
| 120 |
The Unintended * |
The Unintended |
Blue Fog |
| 121 |
Movietone |
The Sand And The Stars |
Drag City |
| 122 |
The Dixie Hummingbirds |
Diamond Jubilation: 75th Anniversary |
Rounder |
| 123 |
The Weekend |
Teaser: Bonus Level |
Teenage USA |
| 124 |
Various |
Verve Remixed: Vol. 2 |
Verve |
| 125 |
Terry Morrison * |
High Millage Soul |
Independent |
| 126 |
Guided By Voices |
Hardcore UFOs/Best Of Sampler |
Matador |
| 127 |
K.C. Accidental * |
Captured Anthems For An Empty Bathtub |
Noise Factory |
| 128 |
The Twilight Singers |
Blackberry Belle |
One Little Indian |
| 129 |
Anti-Flag |
Terror State |
Fat Wreck Chords |
| 130 |
Elbow |
Cast Of Thousands |
Mag |
| 131 |
StinkMitt * |
Scratch And Sniff |
Teenage USA |
| 132 |
Mario Poupette Et Les Chevettes* |
Mario Poupette Et Les Chevettes |
Independent |
| 133 |
Various |
East Coast Christmas Sampler: Vol. 1 |
Vvvu |
| 134 |
Puffy AmiYumi |
Nice |
Bar None |
| 135 |
Besnard Lakes * |
Voulme 1 |
Independent |
| 136 |
Gesundheit |
Epigrams |
Unmanagable |
| 137 |
The Kingsbury Manx |
Aztec Discipline |
Overcoat |
| 138 |
Corb Lund Band* |
Modern Pain |
Independent |
| 139 |
Shine Like Stars |
Lost Rock |
Robosapian |
| 140 |
Underworld |
1992-2002 |
V2 |
| 141 |
Kings Of Leon |
Youth And Young Manhood |
RCA |
| 142 |
Kitty Smack * |
Kitty Smack EP |
Independent |
| 143 |
Dan Sartain |
Dan Sartain vs. The Serpientes |
Swami |
| 144 |
Various |
Gospel Brunch Classics |
Rounder |
| 145 |
Ryan Adams |
Rock N Roll |
Lost Highway |
| 146 |
Richmond Fontaine |
Post To Wire |
El Cortez |
| 147 |
Various |
The Sound Of San Francisco |
Alive |
| 148 |
Low Frequency Pilot |
Low Frequency Pilot |
Independent |
| 149 |
Eloe Omoe |
Eloe Omoe |
Infrasound |
| 150 |
Iggy Pop |
Skull Ring EP |
Virgin |
| Rank |
Artist |
Title |
Label |
| 151 |
Various |
Gimme Skelter: I Feel Like Making Love |
BuddyHead |
| 152 |
Josh Martinez |
Back Up Princess |
Independent |
| 153 |
Tanyss Nixi & The Angry Mob* |
Tanyss Nixi & The Angry Mob |
Independent |
| 154 |
Lederhosen Lucil * |
Tales From The Pantry |
Independent |
| 155 |
My Dad Vs. Yours * |
Winning Hearts And Minds |
Independent |
| 156 |
The Diskettes * |
The Diskettes |
Humblebee |
| 157 |
Below The Sea |
Endings (EP) |
Where Are My Records |
| 158 |
The Dead C |
The Damned |
Starlight Furniture |
| 159 |
Mamaguroove * |
Fruit Of The Groove |
Independent |
| 160 |
Adam Puddington * |
Can't Sleep This One Off |
Independent |
| 161 |
Matt Mays * |
Matt Mays |
Warner |
| 162 |
Les Georges Leningrad |
Deux Hot Dogs Moutarde Chou |
Blow The Fuse |
| 163 |
Shy Child * |
The Humanity EP |
Grenadine |
| 164 |
Six Parts Seven * |
Lost Notes From Forgotten Songs |
Suicide Squeeze |
| 165 |
Ursula Rucker |
Silver Or Lead |
!K7 |
| 166 |
All Purpose Voltage Heroes * |
Decorate Your Monster Shirt |
Independent |
| 167 |
Riptides/Vapids * |
The Vapids/The Riptides Split |
Goblin |
| 168 |
Quasimojo |
Savant Garde |
Mille Plateaux |
| 169 |
John Henry * |
Charmin Billy |
Independent |
| 170 |
Rubber Dinosaurs |
26 Groovy Greats |
Independent |
| 171 |
Various |
Eclectica: Vol. 2 |
Middle Pillar |
| 172 |
D.O.A. * |
War And Peace |
Sudden Death |
| 173 |
Natalie McMaster * |
Blueprint |
Vik |
| 174 |
Sea Of Is * |
Sea Of Is |
Independent |
| 175 |
1 Year Anniversary * |
1 Year Anniversary |
Worthy |
| 176 |
Lhasa |
Living Road |
Independent |
| 177 |
Erase Errata |
At Crystal Palace |
Troubleman Unlimited |
| 178 |
Cam Penner & The Gravel Road* |
Get Up |
Independent |
| 179 |
Iron Fist * |
Iron Fist |
Independent |
| 180 |
Old Reliable * |
Pulse Of Light |
Bell Wether |
| 181 |
Azure Ray |
Hold On Love |
Saddle Creek |
| 182 |
Stephin Merritt |
Pieces Of April |
Nonesuch |
| 183 |
Hot Club Of Cowtown |
Continental Stomp |
Hightone |
| 184 |
Cracker |
Countrysides |
BMG |
| 185 |
The Gladiators |
Live In San Fransisco |
2B1 |
| 186 |
Nervous Cop |
Nervous Cop |
5RC |
| 187 |
The Fembots * |
Small Town Murder Scene |
Paper Bag |
| 188 |
Novelty Salesmen * |
Novelty Salesmen |
Independent |
| 189 |
Noonday Underground |
Surface Noise |
Setanta |
| 190 |
B. Fleischmann |
Welcome Tourist |
Morr Music |
| 191 |
Yo La Tengo |
Today Is The Day |
Matador |
| 192 |
Great Lake Swimmers * |
Great Lake Swimmers |
Weewerk |
| 193 |
Lyrics Born |
Later That Day... |
Quannum |
| 194 |
Agoria |
Blossom |
Pias |
| 195 |
The Album Leaf |
Seal Beach EP |
Acuarela |
| 196 |
Operators 780 * |
Power Version EP |
Longshot |
| 197 |
Various |
The Songs Of Pete Seeger: Vol. 3 |
Appleseed |
| 198 |
The User * |
Abandon |
Asphodel |
| 199 |
Samuel Thulin * |
To Go Or Stay |
Independent |
| 200 |
Vanity Press * |
Vanity Press |
Independent |