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Young Galaxy

!earshot year-end picks 2005

Nancy McCormack

My name is Nancy McCormack. I work as a librarian at Queen's university and I volunteer part time at CFRC which is Canada's oldest radio station (older even than the CBC). My show is called "Small Towns and Big Dreams." It is named after a song by Paul Brandt, which I absolutely love (one of a very few great songs that has dogs barking in it). I think the song describes living in Kingston Ontario perfectly.I play folk, alt. country, country and bluegrass on a Sunday morning. I've been doing this for about a year and a half, and I have discovered so many great artists since doing this show.I can't believe the talent out there!
http://qnc.queensu.ca/gazette/4337eee0923a6.pdf

Top 3 records of the year
1. Iron & Wine / Calexico EP In the Reins – (Overcoat Records)
Both bands are brilliant and bringing them together produced something even more exceptional. As one reviewer put it:“there isn't a disappointing song anywhere on this record.

2. Abigail Washburn - Song of the Travelling Daughter – (Nettwerk America)
This artist melds Appalachian music and bluegrass with Chinese folk music to make us wonder why no one thought about trying this sooner.

3. Nickle Creek - Why Should the Fire Die - (Sugar Hill Records)
It's hard to believe that this group has been together more than ten years when they are all still in their early 20s. This is a folk/bluegrass album that shows what a bunch of child prodigies who are now maturing both musically and lyrically can do.

Most under-rated record of the year
The Duhks – S/T –
These guys are so good, it's hard to find a bad song on the CD. In fact, there isn't one.

Most over-rated record of the year
Corb Lund - Hair In My Eyes Like A Highland Steer - (Stony Plain).
One decent song (The Truck got Stuck) which makes the rest of the CD so much more disappointing.

Best local release
There was a local group named Steep Field (Kingston Ontario area) who released a good CD this year. I don't know the first thing about them unfortunately.

Best personal campus/community radio moment
I was playing "You'll never leave Harlan Alive" by Brad Paisley and saying what a great job he does singing it, when a listener who knew of a cover of the song by Patty Loveless insisted not only about telling me all about it over the phone but also made me listen to it as he played it for me over the phone. That's somebody who loves music as much as I do.

Record you are most anticipating for 2006
There are so many! I'm really looking forward to Calexico's next release due in the Spring of 2006. Also can't wait to see what Abigail Washburn does next.

If you would like more information, please have a look at page four of this link:
http://qnc.queensu.ca/gazette/4337eee0923a6.pdf

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