Diamonds in the Rough

Also check out the most over-rated, best of 2005, and best local releases of the year.

Sometimes there’s no justice. With so many releases flooding the stores all the time it is no surprise that a lot of brilliant stuff doesn’t get the attention it deserves. But somebody loves some. Our gang of musics geeks and music snobs shine a light just a few great over-looked and under-rated records of 2005.

Tons of Fun University - The Them They're Talking About – (Mother Press Media)
I might be cheating here, because this is more poetry than anything else. But we catalogued this with our music, not our spoken word. 3 dudes from out west - incredible poets, beatboxers, musicians (harmonica, anyone?). This record gives me goosebumps. And I haven't even seen them live. Yowzah.

The Ponys - Celebration Castle – (In The Red)
Almost no one talks about this, when it's an incredible rock album. Revivalist? Sure. But how many other albums force you to listen to the whole album every time you put them on? It grabs you and won’t let you stop until it’s finished.

Paradoxically, the most accessible experimental shout/synth punk album in recent memory. -Andrew Lee on We are Wolves Bear McCreary - Battlestar Galactica –– (La La Land Records)
Don’t be fooled by the title. This is not your 70’s Battlestar Galactica. This score is amazing and proves that great music can be produced for Television. Bear has created some great themes and instrumentation with some surprises thrown in. So say we all.

Datarock - Datarock, Datarock – (Young Aspiring Professionals)
Sure there were other catchy, poppy, gay albums that weren't worthy of the hype, this wasn't one of them. This is an album to sing and dance to all night without the taint of over-analysis that most music nerds are prone to.

Some of the Fabric Series cds, DJ Heather, Diplo, Rob da Bank, seems like people aren't that interested in just picking up the Fabric experience anymore, at least by the way reviewers write them up.

Acid House Kings ­ Sing Along With… - (Twenty-Seven)
Yes, I know it’s my number one choice, but I’ve been surprised it hasn’t been on more lists.Perhaps it’s the band name, or the crazy photo of these Swedes on the cover that’s keeping listeners away, but more people need to listen to this album.

Tons of Fun University: incredible poets, beatboxers, musiciansCode Pie-This Habit (Flagless Records):
Just being from Montreal this year helped many bands get a leg up, however, Code Pie seemed to fly under everyone's radar. They have a slightly eccentric Arcade Fireness about them mixed in with early 90s college rock. Their music would be at home in the worst dive bar in the city or in the most elegant theatre. A true gem of a disc.

Mon Frere - Real Vampires - (Cake)
This is an EP rather than a full length, but who cares. The EP is overflowing with catchy tunes that stay true to the mid-nineties PNW sound. The difference is lead singer Nouela Johnston who adds a personality to the songs that sets them apart from the same old indie crap. Their full length coming in 2006 on Cake should be great.

IdahoThe Lone Gunman (Retrophonic): Jeff Martin (No... Not That Jeff Martin) proves with each record his accession of Eno's throne.

Ridley Bent - Blam! This release is still picking up steam and requires more than one listen to appreciate the quality of the storytelling, but to some he?s still (undeservedly) stuck in the singer-songwriter ghetto.

Code Pie: Their music would be at
home in the worst divebar in the city
or in the most elegant theatreMarissa Nadler - The Saga of Mayflower May - Eclipse
It's too bad that with all the hoopla about a so-called folk revival, that someone who is a great guitar player with a beautiful voice and lucid lyrical skill gets overlooked in favour of more gimmicky acts. This is a musician with vision and a voice and I'm really excited to see what will follow this record.

Smith Quartet – Steve Reich, Different Trains – (Signum Classics)
Some critics questioned the relevancy of revisiting this piece 17 years after the original excellent version of the Kronos Quartet, a composition that they see as passé. The answer is simple, a classic like this one is there to be played again for each generation and the Smith Quartet deliver it!

Cardiacs - Special Garage Concerts, Volumes 1 and 2 - (Alphabet)
Cardiacs have been terminally under-rated since the dawn of their career over two decades ago. Despite many amazing albums they have never gained much of a profile outside of their fanatical cult. These live albums showcase the most intense weirdness yet heard from them.

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.

Burmese- 'Men'. Sounds like Nomeansno beating the shit out of Steve
Albini in a blender on 'puree'.

This record gives me goosebumps. And I haven't even seen them live. Yowzah! -Heidi Ebert on Tons of Fun University Ben Gunning - Beigy Blur (Zunior.Com)
The biggest sleeper of the year, for most local rabbits' fans I guess this is too "mature" for them. Although most rabbits fans are married, have kids and are listening toadult pop. This recordtotally makes sense if you listened to the rabbits over the years and is Ben Gunning's step away from rock. Beigy blur is smart, delicious and tender, althoughi knowBen hates it when i call him tender.

Smog - A River Aint too Much to Love
Why is nobody talking about this record. This is Callahan's best effort since Knock Knock. Songs like 'The Well' and 'I Feel Like the Mother of the World' offer something new with each listen.

Porcupine Tree - Deadwing - (Lava)
These guys should be a household name by now. The production is top notch and the music is just so insanely good!!!!

Marissa Nadler: a great guitar playerwith a
beautiful voice and lucid lyrical skillThe Boy Least Likely To - The Best Party Ever.
Haven't heard anyone else speak of it, and it's sooo awesome!

Married to Music - Sweet Kicking and Screaming
Not so much under-rated as unfortunately unknown. Hooks n' riffs.

Raised By Swans - Codes and Secret Longing
Like many independent releases, this album did not get the exposure it deserved due to a lack of the money for marketing and touring.

We Are Wolves - non-stop je te plie en deux – (Fat Possum)
Paradoxically, the most accessible experimental shout/synth punk album in recent memory. I can't remember another attempt at the use of screeches and random wave patterns being so catchy and able to engrain itself into my brain. The way these boys use noise to make me get up and pretend to hit a synthetic snare drum is un-fucking-believable.

Most underrated jazz CD was Ranee Lee/ Oliver Jones Just You Just me. Two Canadian veterans of the jazz scene with very little air play.

Best personal campus/community radio moment
Definitely hooking up w/ Derek McEwan (MD @ CJSW) and Jay Hannelly,
Smilin' Jay Willis, and Char Bourne(CJSR) at Whitey Houston on the opening night at South by South West. It felt like we had all shown up in Austin to chew bubblegum, and kick ass and we were allllll outta bubblegum. We became known as 'The Canadians' to quite a few record reps that week. Also there were some misdoings at the final night of the National Campus Radio Conference in Guelph this summer, but you kinda had to be there...