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

Fresh Meat Friday - November 16, 2012

Been too long. I am sorry. Here is what I am listening to right now.

Free mp3:  The Local Strangers - Uptown

Free mp3:  Calvin Love - Bring Back the Summer

Free mp3:  Guards - Coming True

Free mp3:  Mystery Pills - Anti-Pattern

Free mp3:  Dirty Projectors - While You're Here

Sunday Pass Along - November 3, 2012

Been a couple of pretty intense days. Half of me wants to just put on some old punk, a quarter of me wants to listen to some new music, and the last quarter just wants to eat perogies and sleep. Here we go.

Free mp3:  The Misfits - Hybrid Moments

Free mp3:  The Misfits - Astro Zombies

Free mp3:  Joy Division - She's Lost Control

Free mp3:  Wire - Ex Lion Tamer

Free mp3:  Motörhead - Overkill

Free mp3:  Alice in Chains - Rooster

Free mp3:  Generationals - You Got Me

Free mp3:  TV Torso - Clear Lake Strangler

Fresh Meat Sunday - October 28, 2012

I like new music. Do you? Here's what I am listening to this week. Enjoy.

Free mp3:  Lord Huron - She Lit a Fire

Free mp3:  Local Natives - Breaker

Free mp3:  San Cisco - Wild Things

Free mp3:  Vacationer - Gone

Free mp3:  Craft Spells - Sun Trails

Free mp3:  Dune Rats - Pogo

Free mp3:  The Orwells - Mallrats (la la la)

Thursday Pass Along - October 18, 2012

Yo. Off to Seattle for the weekend so probably won't have much time to post any songs up here. These songs will undoubtably be on the road trip playlist. There are a few genres represented so don't settle into a folky haze...especially about 4 songs in. You've been warned.

Free mp3:  Balto - October's Road

Free mp3:  Lord Huron - Time to Run

Free mp3:  Dalton - Breaker

Free mp3:  Death Grips - @deathgripz

Free mp3:  Yellow Ostrich - Ghost

Thursday Pass Along - Oct 11, 2012

How does a guy get more time to do the things he likes doing? Say, listening to new music. These songs are in my headphones right now. Let me know if there is something I am missing.

Free mp3:  Tigerwaves - Countryside

Free mp3:  New Animal - Nightmares of Candy Yang & Black Italian

Free mp3:  Matt & Kim - Now

Free mp3:  Freelance Whales - Dig Into This

Free mp3:  TV Torso - No Idea Why

Free mp3:  Teen Daze - Alaska

Free mp3:  Blackbird Blackbird - All

A Short Birthday Playlist.

It's my birthday. Here's the short playlist.

1. The Sweet Serenades - I Can't Get Enough

2. Django Django - Default

3. Fucked Up - The Other Shoe

4. Rumbleseat - California Burrito

5. Grizzly Bear - Gun Shy

Wednesday Pass Along - September 26, 2012

Wednesdays huh? I don't mind a good Wednesday now and then. Got the day off, getting things done. Here's the soundtrack to my freedom.

Free mp3:  Dirty Projectors - Dance For Me

Can someone please tell me how to get this song out of my head?

Free mp3:  Passion Pit - Take a Walk

Free mp3:  Peace - Your Hand in Mine

Free mp3:  Pussy Wizard - Fazzze It Out

Free mp3:  Life Coach - The Next Generation

aaaand because I like to push buttons...

Free mp3:  The xx - Reconsider

Hump Day Hustle - September 19, 2012

Here we goooooooo. Having a pretty bad day today. Sometimes you just have to picture yourself in the forest with a really good set of headphones. Pressing play is also pretty key to this equation.

Free mp3:  Hieroglyphics - Oakland Blackout

Free mp3:  Gift of Gab - Rhyme Like a Nut

Free mp3:  Gang Starr - Work (feat Big L)

Free mp3:  Breakbot - Another Dawn (feat Irfrane)

Free mp3:  B△D△ - Close Your Eyes

Saturday Pass Along - Sept 15, 2012

Sometimes you just wake up in a good mood. Here's what I put on.


Free mp3:  Vacationer - Good As New

Free mp3:  First Aid Kit (w/ Connor Oberst) - King of the World

Free mp3:  Alt-J - Something Good

[playlist] Friday Mixtape #159

Yeeeah, pretty pumped when I woke up this morning. A while back I put together a small playlist for one of my favourite Music Sites called Friday Mixtapes and they posted it today. The concept is simple...every Friday they post a handful of great music that they (or someone else) put together. You can listen to the songs as an entire mix or have the option to listen/download each song individually.

Anyways, I took a shot at it with a mix of some West Coast favourites (David Vertesi, 41st and Home), a couple all time favourites (Say Hi, The Shivers, Cotton Jones) and filled in the blanks with some other songs that were in my headphones on that particular week. Below is the link to playlist that was posted HERE. Cheers.

Full Friday Mixtape Meatysauce Edition

1. David Vertesi – Mountainside

2. Freelance Whales – Locked Out

3. Say Hi -Take Ya’ Dancin’

4. Oregon Bike Trails – A Summer Thing

5. The Shivers – New Direction

6. Cotton Jones – Somehow To Keep It Going

7. Milo Greene – 1957

8. Vietnam – Summer In the City

9. Hanni El Khatib – Come Alive

10. Trails and Ways – Miracle (Ghost Beach Cover)

11. Friends – I’m His Girl

12. Justice – On’n'on

13. The Knife – You Make Me Like Charity (Cry Wolf Remix)

14. Wanderhouse – Use Me Up

15. KO KO – Float

16. White Denim – Shy Billy

17. AgesandAges – So So Freely

18. 41st and Home – Wilderness Eyes

19. The Belle Brigade – Losers

Thursday Pass Along - Sept 10, 2012

Some good stuff floating around these days. Just got my hands on some new music, a few great shows were announced for Vancouver over the next few months AND my family is coming to visit. Good times indeed. Here's the playlist to my happy.

Free mp3:  Generationals - I Promise

Free mp3:  Davey & The Chains - I Was There

Free mp3:  Little Smoke - Jacuzzi Floozies

Free mp3:  My Morning Jacket - Same In Any Language

Free mp3:  Nervous Cloud - Monarch

Free mp3:  New Animal - Falling Up

Free mp3:  Night Moves - Country Queen

Hump Day Hustle - (from August 29, 2012)

I got chirped earlier today for the lack of hip hop songs posted here as of late. Seriously, if someone out there can show me a recent group or artist as good as Tribe, Big L or Del then I am all ears! Below is a little playlist of some hip hop tracks that do it for me...past and present. Enjoy!

*Disclaimer - I know I have shitty taste in hip hop/rap music. I apologize in advance. Plus, I apologize for all the swear words Mom. Poop. 

1. UGK - International Players Anthem (feat Outkast)
This track is such a classic. I was at the bar the other night and this came on...what followed was a lot of smiling and a bad hangover.

2. Danny Brown - Grown Up
Probably one of the best hip hop songs I have heard in a while. It was a summer anthem and will probably be on my ski playlist.

3.  Nas - I Can
Classic. That is all.

4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Town
Had to start the playlist out with some Seattle hip hop. I'm not so much into potty-mouth lyrics and intense beats as you will probably be able to figure out. Cool flow and great sampling.

5. Blackalicious - Rhymes for the Deaf, Dumb & Blind
I was really into Blackalicious back in the day.Maybe a little too into them.

6. Robb Bank$ - Refined
I was pretty sceptical of this song at first...until about the 3:23 minute mark. Then it's game on! A great beat kicks in and the last 4 minutes just seem like a blur. Zoooong.

7. A Tribe Called Quest - Buggin' Out
"YO! Microphone Check. One - Two. What is this?" Doesn't get much better.

8. Earl Sweatshirt - Dat Ass
 This song is short and good. Can't ask for much more out of a song of any genre. Plus it's called 'Dat Ass'and that pumps me up.

9. Atmosphere - Minnesota Nice
Aw yes, Atmosphere. Another staple of my early years.

10. Das Racist - You Oughta Know
Either you love it or hate it. Das Racist are button pushers. In this case, they push my 'Oh Yeah' button.

11. The Pharcyde - Ya Mama
Another classic. Not sure if you have figured out the flow of this playlist yet? Classic, Current, Repeat.

12. DJ Khaled - Hip Hop (feat Nas, Scarface & DJ Premier)
It's not the best hip hop song I have ever heard but there is a certain sincerity about these guys rapping about the highs and lows of the industry. Maybe it's not all yachts and face tattoos after all.

13. Notorious BIG & 2Pac - Runnin'
Oh man, remember when these two played nice?

14. Azad Right - Wandering Eye (feat Maffew Ragazino)
Threw this one on last minute. Hasn't really grown on me yet but I thought I would give it a gamble. I need to listen to it in my car first before I make any decisions of it's existence in my iTunes library.

In My Headphones - (from August 27, 2012)

Been too long. So sorry. Here is what is in the ole headphones these days. Some new, some old...all gold.

1. Portugal. The Man - Share Me With the Sun 
2. Oregon Bike Trails - A Summer Thing
3. Pinback - Good to Sea
4. Lace Curtains - Cleopatra
5. Generationals - Greenleaf
6. David Wax Museum - Will You Be Sleeping?
7. Andrew Bird - Heretics
8. Poolside - Only Everything
9. Purity Ring - Cawlersout
10. Okkervil River - For Real
11. The xx - Sunset (aka - the song that shut down the original meatysauce)
12. Tom Vek - We Do Nothing 
13. TV Torso - Nobodies

[playlist] The Countdown Is On...#1 (from Aug 4/12)

In one year from today I will be getting married to a very nice woman. The party will be in the mountains at a heli-skiing lodge (pictured above). Here are a few songs that are leading the way out of the gates for our official wedding theme song. I probably won't get my way.

1. John Prine & Iris Dement - In Spite of Ourselves
This one was leading the pack for me until one of my friends recently danced his first song to it. What a prick. Charlotte says it didn't stand a chance anyway due to the mention of panty sniffing in the lyrics. Oh well.

2. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Islands in the Stream
My sister turned me onto this song many years ago. I think it has just the right mixture of cheese and raw sexuality needed to pull off the kind of reception I have always dreamed of. Sexually cheesy.

3. The Black Keys - I'll Be Your Man
As far as I am concerned, this song should be played on repeat at every wedding.

4. Mason Jennings - Ballad For My One True Love
Great song...a little sleepy but it gets the point across. This guy loves a girl and he writes a song about it. Classic dude move.

5. Nat King Cole - L.O.V.E.
This also doubles as one of my favourite karaoke songs of all time. Wedding + Karaoke...Karaoke themed wedding? Oh man.

6. Charles Bradley - I Believe in Your Love
Sooooooooooooul is goooooooooood.

7. Galapaghost - You're All I Need
This song is making it's way back onto a few playlists as of late. It's a bit on the desperate side but in the end he gets the girl.

8. Chicago - You're the Inspiration
I could have picked about 19 other Chicago songs to accompany this one on the playlist. These guys can write a mean love song. This is one of my favourite jams and is definitely fitting to the situation. Sends shivers up the ole spinal cord.

9. Alabama Shakes - I Found You
I'm sure this song will be popping up at a few weddings over the next year or so. Maybe by next summer it will be considered "so 2012".

10. Lee Fields & The Expressions - You're the Kind of Girl
This is a strong contender in my books. Like Salted Caramel Gelato and Pizza, I like to indulge in this at least once a day.

11. The Shivers - Love is in the Air
I can't quite tell if this is a love song or about breaking up. Either way, it talks about undies again so I am guessing it will get the axe anyways. Great song nonetheless...check it out.

12. Iron and Wine - Love and Some Verses
Just listen to it. Pretty close to perfection.

13. Coldplay - Till Kingdom Come
I've never really been able to get into Coldplay. I have no problem getting into this song.

14. I'm From Barcelona - Treehouse
Pretty straightforward song about a guy taking his lady friend to a private place so they can hangout. What grown man doesn't have a secret treehouse? I have 3 of them.

15. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Coldest Days
This song is pretty great. It makes me feel better as a human being knowing that people are writing such good music still. I just wish someone would do a dub step remix already.

15. The xx - Angels
This one might be a little too new and dramatic to short-list just yet. I can't see me disliking this song in the future...let's call it a darkhorse. A very, very dark horse.

16. King Kahn & The BBQ Show - Love You So
Just because it's a little rambunctious doesn't mean it shouldn't at least get a chance. I love these guys...pretty much every track of theirs is gold. This one is super shiny gold.

17. Yellow Ostrich - I Want Yr Love
He doesn't just want your love, he demands it. I don't know who 'Yr' is but they may want to consider getting a restraining order.

18. The The - This Is the Day
Considering the potential English contingency at the wedding I thought I had to sneak this one in there. Bangers and Mash...and accordion solos!

19. Washed Out - Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover)
Don't laugh, this is for real. One of the most popular love songs of all time is given the 2012 treatment.

20. Stars - Ageless Beauty (Most Serene remix)
What once was an amazing song was then made even better. If you haven't heard this acoustic version then you are in for a treat. I can't get enough Stars.

21.  Tennis - Pigeon
We will end this playlist with one of my personal favourites right now. It's got a great 1950's feel to it, the lyrics are pretty straight forward...

In My Headphones (from August 12, 2012)

I'm not sure what it is about this group of songs...all I know is that I have been listening to them non-stop this week. Maybe they will strike a similar chord with you. Some new, some old..all gold.

1. Ben Howard - Old Pine (Peking Duk remix) 

2. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Dear Believer (Timmy the Terror remix) 

3. Gogol Bordello - Start Wearing Purple 

4. Justice - On'N'On 

5. The Hood Internet - That's Who (Hieroglyphics vs Genesis) 

6. The Knife - You Make Me Like Charity (Cry Wolf remix) 

7. Toro y Moi - New Beat 

8. TV on the Radio - Will Do 

9. Wanderhouse - Use Me Up 

10. PEACE - California Daze 

Out with the old...

Hey everyone,

So apparently the good people over at Wordpress won't host my site anymore. I am pretty upset. Now I'm trying out this new Blogger site and will try to make it work...not sure what I am doing quite yet so hang tight.

In the meantime, you might wonder what happened to the original Meatysauce. Well, you have one band to blame for it's demise...The xx.

Jerks. If you get a chance to download ANY of their songs illegally then I would encourage you to! If you can somehow scam your way into their show without paying then by all means, do it! If you get up to the merch table, steal a couple of t-shirts for me!

I spent 5 years (and countless hours) working on Meatysauce Review and they took it away from me for trying to share their great songs with a few of my friends. I would have gladly taken any song down off of my website if any band had a problem with me positively promoting their music. If you are in a band and don't want your music shared with the world, please just shoot the music bloggers a quick email first. We work very hard to seek out and promote good music...you should be happy that we take the time to promote yours!

So, here you have it, the first song on the Meatysauce Review...part II. Suck it The xx, I am still a fan even though I think you are a bunch of idiots. Enjoy!

The xx - Angels