From: owner-navy-soup-digest@smoe.org (navy-soup-digest) To: navy-soup-digest@smoe.org Subject: navy-soup-digest V6 #2 Reply-To: navy-soup@smoe.org Sender: owner-navy-soup-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-navy-soup-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk navy-soup-digest Sunday, January 5 2003 Volume 06 : Number 002 In This Digest: ----------------- (OAc) Best of 2002 ["Tab Siddiqui" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 03 Jan 2003 00:08:04 +0000 From: "Tab Siddiqui" Subject: (OAc) Best of 2002 I absolutely love reading year-end 'best of' lists, and I find it fascinating that there's a lot of diversity this year, both on the various mailing lists and in the media as well (well, as much as can be expected, anyway ;)). Being a freelance music writer myself, I've heard a lot of groaning about how there 'wasn't a lot of good music' this past year, and at first I thought that was true as well until I really sat down and thought about everything that *was* great in 2002 - there *was* a lot of good music, most of it just flew under the radar. My entire top ten last year was homegrown - not just Canadian, but all from Toronto. While it was a musically diverse list, I'm slightly surprised and rather pleased that this year's list is somewhat more all over the map, both literally and stylistically. That being said, apologies to our international friends for the fairly Canadian-centric focus - if anyone's interested in any of these but hasn't heard of them before or wants to know where to pick up any of these records, feel free to give me a shout. I've broken my list up into two - my top 13 (the last 4 could've well tied for 10th, so...) albums of the year, and singles and shows. Would love to read anyone else's who hasn't already posted, so do keep 'em coming. - - Tab. 1. K-OS  "Exit" (EMI) The Toronto MC's long-delayed, much-hyped debut proved to be worth the wait. Sure, the guy's all too aware of his prodigious talents, but when you can rap, sing, play *and* write as well as he can, it's understandable. "Exit" is a genre-defying triumph - hip-hop with heart *and* soul. Weve been hearing about a so-called renaissance in Canadian hip-hop for years now  "Exit" delivers on that promise, and K-OS' recent deal with influential U.S. label Astralworks may finally open some eyes across the border to the burgeoning scene here at home. 2. Sarah Slean  "Night Bugs" (Warner) The Toronto piano songstress has been a fixture on the local scene for years now, but she finally got around to introducing herself to the rest of the country with her major-label debut, a small jewel of a record that heralds an immense new talent. Kudos to co-producer and kindred spirit Hawksley Workman for fleshing out Slean's marvellous songs in brilliant Technicolor, each tune a mini-opera of its own, full of tragic characters and magical places. Pop music as high art. 3. Broken Social Scene  "You Got It In People" (Paperbag) If you havent yet heard of Broken Social Scene, consider yourself warned - you *will*. The Toronto indie-rock collective started off as the brainchild of Brendan Canning (By Divine Right) and Kevin Drew (kc accidental), but has since expanded into a multi-headed beast populated by their vast roster of musical friends (players come and go as they're available). Not only is the band never quite the same, they never play the same thing twice. Confused? Well, that's the beauty of BSS, and they've made an album that reflects this experimental vibe. "You Got It In People" is a sprawling sonic collage that runs the gamut from fuzzed-out indie rock to lounge-y jazz to sunny pop without ever sounding disjointed or boring. There's a reason this is the current buzz album of the moment - it's a real achievement that brings together some of the best players in the Toronto indie scene and unabashedly celebrates that scene at the same time. Tremendous. 4. Emm Gryner  "Asianblue" (Dead Daisy Records) Why Emm Gryner isn't a star by now remains a mystery, as the Toronto singer-songwriter writes some of the hookiest songs on the planet, the kind of melodic wonders that stick in your head for days after you hear them. Luckily, Gryner continues to plug away, releasing her seventh album in as many years on her own indie label. "Asianblue" is the perfect pop album Gryner's had in her all along, boasting new textures like breakbeats and Wurlitzer and her trademark poetic-yet-caustic lyrics. Gryner wrote much of the record while living in California, and you can hear it in the sunny tone throughout - call it her 'L.A. album'. Now that she's moving back to Canada, let's hope she finally gets the recognition she deserves here at home. 5. Aimee Mann  "Lost in Space" (SuperEgo) If there was any indication that Rolling Stone has gathered way too much moss, consider their recent pronouncement that Aimee Manns latest album was a 'disappointment', while rapidly fading popster Justin Timberlake's album was deemed worthy of a 4-star review. Hmm. The only thing disappointing about "Lost in Space" is the bleak world Mann's characters inhabit, the murky place where depression and drugs are the norm, not pop starlet ex-girlfriends and choreographed dance numbers. Mann continues to be one of the best songwriters around, wrapping her flat and direct yet warm voice around tales that shine a little light on the margins of society. The artful production is note-perfect, and bonus points for introducing Guelph comic artist Seth (he illustrated the elaborate liner notes) to a wider audience. 6. The Roots  "Phrenology" (MCA) Somethings wrong in the state of the hip-hop nation when the likes of Nelly are dominating the airwaves instead of Philly heads The Roots. The ridiculously talented crew pulled together the Philly massive (Jill Scott, Cody Chesnutt, Musiq) to create an album that rocks *and* rolls joyously. Phrenology leapfrogs through genres on the back of drummer ?uestlove's supremely funky live rhythms - let's see The Neptunes try to beat *that*. 7. Jason Collett  "Motor Motel Love Songs" (Independent) Everyone needs to stop talking about Ron Sexsmith. There, I said it. While Sexsmith is certainly an excellent songwriter, we've got dozens more honing their craft quietly under the radar, including Jason Collett. The Toronto singer-songwriter toiled away in obscurity before landing the gig as host of the popular Radio Mondays local songwriters' series, and this recent CD is a compendium of songs from his two indie releases. Both those records were marvellous in their own right, especially last year's brilliant "Bitter Beauty", but this new release is a good introduction to Collett, interspersing some of the 70's AM rock sounds of his first album with the rootsier, acoustic-based fare of the second. Not only is he an excellent singer and songwriter, he's smart enough to call on some incredible friends (Hawksley Workman, Andrew Cash, Leslie Feist, Mia Sheard) to play along. Someone tell Ron Sexsmith to watch his back - there's a new guy in town. 8. Sam Roberts  "The Inhuman Condition" (MapleMusic/Universal) What's in the water in Montreal? Consider this year's crop of Canadian 'buzz bands' - The Dears, Stars, Marlowe... And Sam Roberts tops the list. It's enough to make Hogtown feel a little inferior. Bursting outta La Belle Province with a record deal in one pocket and a hit single in the other, Roberts parlayed flat-out hard work and a handful of great songs into an opening stint for the Tragically Hip and furious word-of-mouth. The jangly retro pop-rock "Inhuman Condition" EP was just a teaser - expect even bigger things when Roberts' full-length finally drops this spring. 9. Norah Jones  "Come Away With Me" (Blue Note) Forget about the critics carping that it's not jazz. Never mind her exotic good looks or her famous father. Bottom line is, the girl can *sing*. Whether you want to call what she does roots-pop or coffeehouse blues-folk, there's no denying the seductive power of that red wine-and-smoke voice. Admit it, the first time you heard "Don't Know Why", you wished that certain someone was nearby so that you could lace your fingers through theirs. 10. Josh Rouse  "Under Cold Blue Stars" (Rykodisc) American troubadour Rouse's latest is ostenibly a 'concept album' about a small-town Southern couple in the 1950s, but it isn't really as high-minded as that sounds - one certainly doesn't need to know that to enjoy Rouse's low-key roots-pop. Rouse ups the tempo a bit on this, his third release, but by and large things are rooted in tasteful acoustic-based arrangements that best serve Rouse's deadpan drawl. Rouse writes about the everyday - he has a knack for sketching familiar characters and situations in a quietly poetic way. Better than Ryan Adams, Rhett Miller, and all the rest of those honky-tonk It Boys put together. 11. Paul E. Lopes  "Whatnaut: House" (Virgin Music Canada) Toronto's status as a hotbed of dance music is cemented with this release by veteran local DJ Paul E. Lopes. Known for igniting dancefloors across the city with his signature funky deep house sound, Lopes not only showcases his own skills on this mix disc, but captures the flavour of his hometown with key tracks by local artists. He pairs up with songstress Ivana Santilli to rework Canadian house hit "Feelin' So Good", and in the process came up with one of the best singles of the year, a warm, sexy soul classic for the new era. 12. The New Deal  "Live: NYC 05.31.02/06.01.02" (sound+light) Lucky for New Deal fans that the bands major-label deal allows them to release live recordings on their own sound+light imprint, because with this group, it's all about the live show. While nothing beats actually being in the thick of an ecstatic, madly dancing crowd while the guys throw down some of their notoriously addictive breakbeat house, these infrequent releases come close. This 2-CD set from a smokin' NYC gig this past summer highlights the progress the Toronto trio has made since releasing their debut last year - several intricate drum+bass sections lay waste to the 'jamband' label and portend exciting things for the band's forthcoming sophomore album. Move over, FDR - there's a New Deal sweeping the rhythm nation. 13. Kelly Willis  "Easy" (Rykodisc) Following up her 1999 classic "What I Deserve" may not have been easy, but that's what Kelly Willis' latest is in every sense of the word. Breezy and relaxed, yearning and soothing, Willis pours her honeyed drawl over her wonderful warm country tunes. Not quite as perfect as its predecessor, but lovely nonetheless. HONOURABLE MENTION: Kathleen Edwards - Failer (look for her to be the new roots-pop It Girl in '03, with forthcoming appearances on Letterman and in Rolling Stone) Neko Case - Blacklisted Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow Do Make Say Think - and yet & yet Akufen - My Way _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus ------------------------------ End of navy-soup-digest V6 #2 *****************************