My Favourite Songs of 2012 #11-20

Top 20 say whaaaaat?

20. Tallest Man on Earth - 1904
Either you love him or hate him. Me? I love him. Another great track from a little guy with a big guitar. I found some of his earlier work a little too whiny...his vocal control is way better here; therefore, much more enjoyment for my eardrums.

19. Bat For Lashes - Laura
I wasn't sure of this song the first time I heard it. I found it a little too dramatic for my simple lifestyle. Day after...whistling it in the shower. Day after that...whistling it in the shower. Day after that...whistling it in the shower. And so on. Now I appreciate it. A lot.

18. Lee Fields & The Expressions - You're the Kind of Girl
This year's Charles Bradley? You bet. I'm loving this whole album...start to finish. Just buy it. Lee Fields released his first record back in 1969. That's insanity.

17. Beach House - Myth
I looooooove this song. It's soooo dreamy and soooo poppy. It's dream pop. Put this song on next time you stroll around in the rain. Give your life a little ponder.

16. Father John Misty - Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
Father John Misty is awesome. How can you just disband from Fleet Foxes and then give birth to 'Fear Fun'? Joshua Tillman, boom.

15. Alabama Shakes - You Ain't Alone
This one still rubs me the wrong way a little. I saw Alabama Shakes' songs pop up all over the 'Best of 2011' lists last year (even mine). Now, twelve months later they are again topping a ton of lists with the exact same songs. Loopholes...

14. Japandroids - The House that Heaven Built
Yesssss. This song just pumps me right up. I want more. Please, give me more. A nice tip of the hat to a Vancouver gem.

13. The Lumineers - Big Parade ('Hear Ya' Live Session)
I vividly remember standing at the urinal during a Yellow Ostrich show back in March at the Media Club. I looked up and saw that a band called The Lumineers were playing the next night for $8 a ticket. I thought to myself, "I've heard a few of their songs and I like them...but man, a double header mid-week? You're not 20 anymore Ryan". Fast-forward 10 months and The Lumineers are selling out the Commodore at $35 a pop. Idiot.

12. Grimes - Oblivion
Oh hey Vancouver...what's up? I swear I'm not being biased here. I was pretty pumped to see her top out the Pitchfork 'Top Songs of the Year' recently. I'm not much of a musician but I can't imagine that being an easy task at all. You go girl.

11. Pacific Air - Float
I hate it when bands change their name...especially in the middle of a break-out season. Most people may know a similar song that was released by a band called KO KO earlier this year. Don't be fooled, same band. It might take me a year to get over this one. Just make sure your next release is as good as Long Live KOKO and we should have no issues going forward.

My Favourite Songs of 2012 #21-30

Coming in hot and corked here people. Lot's of great songs to choose from this year...it was seriously difficult to even put the top 30 songs in any particular order.

30. Brendan Losch - Son of a Gun
A nice pleasant song. When I am sitting at home on a sunday afternoon in my pyjamas, this song is on my soundtrack nearly every time. That tambourine and handclap combo is dynamite.

29. Danny Brown - Grown Up
I think this is the only Hip Hop song to crack the my Top 50. I know that I'm not very well-versed on my hip hop game (apparently a guy named Frank Ocean is pretty good) but for some reason this song just had my head bobbing every time it came on.

28. The xx - Angels
Although most of the songs off of Coexist do very little to excite me, perhaps the slowest of them all was the one that made the greatest impact. Their first single 'Angels' is a spindly and delicately romantic song that recaptures the spare, insinuating sensuality of the bands first album.

27. Freelance Whales - Locked Out
There aren't too many Freelance Whales songs that I don't like. I think it's their layered instrumentals that my eardrums enjoy but I haven't quite put my finger on it. Anyways, this song off of Diluvia was one of my favourites.

26. Sonny & The Sunsets - Pretend You Love Me
I'm not typically a huge fan of pedal steel-featuring ballads but for some reason this is an easy listener. Layers of unexpected flute-slides and choir vocals mixed in with a little country twang is the winning combo in this sad, rainy day song.

25. Night Panther - Snudge
I've heard Night Panther's sound described as Hot Pop and Sex Pop. There are rumours they spend the majority of their live shows half naked and dry-humping their keyboards. Either way, these guys created a radiant, mid-temp electronic track that is both sweet and whimsical. Many a summer nights were spent with this song in mind.

24. Allah-las - Tell Me (What's on Your Mind)
Just a simple, well-executed song. Straight to the point rock-pop gem with a psychedelic/country feel to it. Yes please.

23. Wildcat! Wildcat! - Mr Quiche
I originally had this a little further down my list until a couple of days ago. I was out walking the dog and listening to my "Best Of"playlist on the ole iPod. This song came on (after a couple months of not hearing it) and just made me think back to warmer times and days on the beach.

22. The Orwells - Mallrats (La La La)
I remember the first time I heard this song over at Rollo & Grady...it got me so fired up. I'll admit that it's not a song for all occasions but when it's Go Time, throw 'Mallrats' on and prepare to get fired up.

21. Lord Huron - Time to Run
You may or may not be seeing another Lord Huron song on this list at some point in time. This album (Lonesome Dreams) was a game changer for me this year and was the soundtrack to so many days on the beach and walks in the rain. Loved it...and of course this was one of my favs from the record.

My Favourite Songs of 2012 #31-40

Alright...straight into the heart of the 30's. Here are some more of my favourite songs of 2012. Merry Christmas and enjoy the tunes!

40. Ty Segall & White Fence - I Am Not a Game

39. Pussy Wizard - Fazzze It Out

38. Trails and Ways - Nunca

37. Sleigh Bells - Born To Lose

36. The Local Strangers - Uptown

35. Frightened Rabbit - State Hospital

34. Tanlines - All Of Me

33. Mystery Pills - Anti-Pattern

32. alt-j - Something Good

31. Plants & Animals - Lightshow

My Favourite Songs of 2012 #41-50

Okay, here we go! I've been reading (and listening) to a few other people's "Best of 2012" lists so far. Some pretty solid stuff out there. Congrats music industry, another great year in the books. Just remember folks, these are just MY favourites...there were so many awesome albums released over the past 12 months. Make sure to go out to live shows, buy records and remain open-minded to all genres of music. I sincerely hope you enjoy listening the these lists as much as I enjoyed making them. Cheers and Happy Holidays.

50. David Wax Museum - Will You Be Sleeping

49. Passion Pit - Take a Walk

48. Santigold - Disparate Youth

47. Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sounds

46. Davey & The Chains - I Was There

45. Japandroids - Younger Us

44. Heartless Bastards - Marathon

43. Eternal Summers - You Kill

42. Cat Power - Ruin

41. Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards 

Saturday Pass Along - December 8, 2012

Not much to report these days...just the usual christmas shopping and planning out the 'Best of 2012' lists. Here's a quick hit of what is my headphones these days to pass the time.

Free mp3:  Sleeping Bags - Walk Home

Free mp3:  Dude York - The Lake

Free mp3:  Thad Kopec - White Wolf

Free mp3:  Tilly & The Wall - All Kinds of Guns

Free mp3:  Har-di-Har - Campaign

Free mp3:  Andy Shauf - You're Out Wasting

Free mp3:  Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Give me a Sign

[playlist] Another Day, Another Ski Season

When I made the decision to open a restaurant last year, no one mentioned it would cause me to miss the 2011-12 ski season entirely. Determined to not watch my friends get all the laughs this year, I bought a season pass to Grouse Mountain, pulled the old gear out of storage and am focused on making the most of my winter in Vancouver. Although this winter may not be filled with as many days as I am mentally prepared for, it will surely still suffice.

The first day I got up this season was November 26th...it was also my first time at Grouse Mountain and the views were as promised. A couple of hours, numerous laps of the same (and only open) run, some big smiles and a couple of sunshine-filled pints later, I can officially say that the season has begun. Here is a small portion of my playlist to the 2012-13 ski season. Ride safe my friends...

1. Wire - Ex Lion Tamer
2. Dropkick Murphys - Walk Away
3. Youth Brigade - Sink With California
4. Sex Pistols - Submission
5. Bouncing Souls - Gone
6. Social Distortion - Reach For The Sky
7. Lagwagon - Violins
8. Rancid - Journey to the End of East Bay
9. The Distillers - Sick of it All
10. The Rebel Spell - Drain