Shanies: Song of the Year

My Song of the Year award is typically a pretty easy one, so long as I decide to be honest. Basically, I just have to go to the various media players I use (iTunes on my Mac, MediaMonkey on the PC, and Google Music on the phone) and count the number of times I listened to a song. This year, was a bit ridiculous, so my choice was quite obvious.

I still recall the first time I heard this song, in the back of my friend Jaime's car, being played by my friend Serkan. We were on our way to a wedding, but this song got me so ridiculously pumped up that I didn't even know what to do with myself. I had been a huge Alert the Medic fan since hearing them live the year before, but was unaware of their new album, and thank God Serkan introduced me.

Now, I suppose I'm cheating a little, since it's technically 2 tracks: the opening (waiting in the wings) is a 2 minute build up that eventually explodes into the incredible rock anthem that is Cut, Copy, Paste. In the past, I have typically deconstructed my song of the year to identify exactly what elements build up such an incredible track, however, I can't even begin to do that for this song, since it's the beautiful cohesion of lyrics, pounding drums, growing guitars, and the fullness created through it all that I truly fall in love with.

However, the worst part (both for us and this band) is that Alert the Medic is still small enough that it's next to impossible to find any of their stuff on YouTube. I've put a crappy live video below, but I encourage you to go to Spotify, Rdio, Google Music, or whatever you're listening to these days and put on the opening 2 tracks to their album Phantom Moves.



And at least we can find a good version of my runner up... The Great Sabatini's creepy little intro, Akela.


-Stop bottling up the bottles for the sake of your emotions

Crushed Underfoot

The Great Sabatini... Montreal's masters of sludge... just released a new EP, Sunday School.

I love it. Oh how I love it. But most importantly, they released a new version of one of my favourite tracks, "Tiny Kingdoms."

Bathe in noise.
-What purpose do you serve anymore if not to hold me back?

Sludgeheads Rejoice

It's a new year and I'm going to take the opportunity afforded by my first post to do a shitty job. There you go... I'm setting expectations low for 2013.

Truth be told, I already kinda screwed this one up. I managed to give an honourable mention for EP of the year to a band that I hadn't even been kind enough to share yet. I am of course referring to The Great Sabatini. In addition to having one of the most amusing band names ever, this band creates a wall of sound that is both unique, intense, catchy and deadly. They've been around since 2007, which makes me a little pissed off at the Shaking Judy & Big Fat Pie boys for not sharing sooner (or they did and I was too drunk and forgot). I honestly do want to describe this band more, however, their sound is best described as genre-defying. Their songs are often sporadic, unsettling and completely unpredictable, yet through all the madness, they still stumble across tune that completely captivate.

Best of all, while Matterhorn, their latest EP, can be purchased through bandcamp for a measly $8, my personal favourite, The Royal We, can be downloaded for free.

So, what are you waiting for?


-A) I love you, B) I hate you... C) ?