Asteroid No. 4 - Honeyspot (Turquoise Mountain)
Baby Woodrose - Money For Soul (Bad Afro)
BBQ - Complete Recordings (Sounds Of Subterrania)
Big Midnight – Everything For The First Time (Alive)
Black-Eyed Snakes – Rise Up (Chairkickers)
Black Keys - Thickfreakness (Fat Possum)
Bloody Hollies - Fire At Will (SFTRI)
Buff Medways – 1914 (Transcopic)
Buzzcocks - S/T (Merge)
Chickens - 2 (provisional title) (Rubber Road)
Clone Defects - Shapes Of Venus (In The Red)
Dee Rangers – Pretty Ugly Beat (White Jazz)
Dirtbombs - Dangerous Magical Noise (In The Red)
Five Horse Johnson – Last Men On Earth (Small Stone)
Flaming Sideburns - Sky Pilots (Jetset)
Gallery Of Mites - Bugs On The Bluefish (Meteor City)
Holly Golightly – Truly She Is No Other (Damaged Goods)
Penny Ikinger – Electra (Career)
Immortal Lee County Killers – Love Is A Charm… (Estrus)
Langhorns – Mission Exotica (Bad Taste)
Little Killers - S/T (Crypt)
P.W. Long - Remembered (Touch & Go)
Mensen – Oslo City (Gearhead)
Michael Yonkers Band – Microminiature Love (Sub Pop)
Nina Nastasia – Run To Ruin (Touch & Go)
Nebula - Atomic Ritual (Liquor & Poker)
Outrageous Cherry - Supernatural Equinox (Rainbow Quartz)
Pearlene - S/T (SFTRI)
Ricochets - The Ghost Of Our Love (White Jazz)
Rippers - S/T (Screaming Apple)
Riverboat Gamblers – Something To Crow About (Gearhead)
Singapore Sling – Curse Of… (Stinky)
Soft Canyon – Broken Spirit I Will Your Wings (Alien 8)
Soledad Brothers – Voice Of Treason (Loog)
Kelley Stoltz – Antique Glow (Corduroy)
Taxi – Like A Dog (Deadbeat)
Thanes – Downbeat & Folked Up (Screaming Apple)
Steve Turner – Searching For Melody (Roslyn)
20 Miles - Life Doesn’t Rhyme (Fat Possum)
Sonny Vincent - The Good The Bad & The Ugly (Acetate)

Local Yokel Top 5 - 2003
Double Pumpers - Do It To It (Independent)
Casey Comeau & The Halfmilers - Dancing Like Bones (Music For Cats)
Andrew Vincent & The Pirates – I Love The Modern Way (Kelp)
Golden Famile – Eastern Cloudy (Music For Cats)
The Glads – Bad Case Of The Glads (Music For Cats)

AARDVARK'S (no particular order)

from 'round here....
The Double Pumpers - Do It To It indie
Andrew Vincent & The Pirates - I Love The Modern Way Kelp
Golden Famile – Eastern Cloudy Music For Cats
Hi Lo Trons - S/T indie
Soft Canyon - Broken Spirit... Alien8
The Chains - On Top Of Things Get Hip
Deadly Snakes - Ode To Joy In The Red
The High Dials - A New Devotion Rainbow Quartz
Sick Fits - Are We The Young Savages? e.p. Longshot
Casey Comeau & The Halfmilers - Dancing Like Bones Music For Cats
Jim Bryson - North Side Benches Orange/Universal
Detective Kalita – The Night We Ate Cake Kelp
Chris Page – Decide To Stay & Swim Kelp
Sonny Best Band – S/T Iron Gate
The Glads – Bad Case of... Music For Cats
Susan O - Lonelytown indie

from 'round there....
The Dirtbombs - Dangerous Magical Noise In The Red
Ricochets - The Ghost Of Your Love White Jazz
The Band Of Blacky Ranchette - Still Lookin' Good To Me Thrill Jockey
The Little Killers - S/T Crypt
Wanda Jackson - Heart Trouble SFTRI
Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez - The Trouble With Humans Train Wreck
The Bloody Hollies - Fire At Will SFTRI
HipBone Slim & The Knee-Tremblers - Snake Pit Voodoo Rhythm
Modey Lemon - Thunder & Lightning Birdman
Legendary Shack Shakers - Cockadoodledon't Bloodshot
Soledad Brothers - Voice Of Treason Loog
Black-Eyed Snakes - Rise Up Chairkickers
Voltaire Brothers - I Sing The Booty Electric Fall Of Rome
Firewater - The Man On The Burning Tightrope JetSet
Twenty Miles - Life Doesn't Rhyme Fat Possum
The Fondas - Coming Now SFTRI
Trailer Bride - Hope Is A Thing With Feathers Bloodshot
Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys - It's Time Yep Roc
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell Interscope
Lightning Bolt - Wonderful Rainbow Load
Holly GoLightly - Truly She Is No Other Damaged Goods
Beehive & The Barracudas - In Dark Love Swami
The Flaming Sideburns - Sky Pilots JetSet
Gallery Of Mites - Bugs On The Bluefish People Like You
The Asteroid # 4 - HoneySpot Turquoise Mountain
Riverboat Gamblers - Something To Crow About Gearhead
The Langhorns - Mission Exotica Bad Taste
Satirnine - Void Of Value White Jazz
Outrageous Cherry - Supernatural Equinox Rainbow Quartz
The Kills - Keep On Your Mean Side Rough Trade/Red Meat Heart
Baby Woodrose - Money For Soul Bad Afro
The Black Keys - Thickfreakness Fat Possum
Calexico - Feast Of Wire Quarterstick
The Briefs - Off The Charts Dirtnap
Buzzcocks - S/T Merge
Robert Belfour - Pushin My Luck Fat Possum
The White Stripes - Elephant Third Man
Reckless Kelly - Under The Table & Above The Sun Sugar Hill
Hollywood Hate - Product Of Our Environment TKO
Bombshell Rocks - From Here And On Burning Heart

- Attended these favourite Ottawa live shows:

Outrageous Cherry/Holy Hell (Cafe Charisma)*
Reverend Glasseye/Casey Comeau/South of 78/DJ Daisy/ (Cafe Charisma)
The Chickens/Chris Page (The Dominion)
Fifty Men/Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys (BluesFest)
Immortal Lee County Killers/Holy Hell (Tavern)
Bloodshot Bill & The Hubcaps/The Glads (Irene's Pub)
Greenfield Main/Buttless Chaps/Asteroid No. 4 (Kelp/Mint/Rainbow Quartz)
Sights/Dirtbombs (In the Red/Fall of Rome)
Orange Alabaster Mushroom/Telepathic Butterflies (Irene's)
Shikasta/Starvin Hungry/Holy Hell (consistency)
The Four Frames, Unfortunate Sons, and two of Holy Hell (Bronson House)
Of those, the Holy Hell shows were my absolute favourites, although there are still shows yet to attend...
The Triple Bill Swipeout w/ The Double Pumpers/Starvin' Hungry/Shikasta;
Most Anticipated Record release shakedown of the year
The Midways/Skip Jensen & His Shakin' Feet/The Glads and The Stumblers/Mark Ripp Christ-mash;
This list ought to include Flecton Bigsky & The Dreamcatchers, and Good To Go. Go to the shows or Die.

Too Many Fave new releases including Too Many from the above groups; I will include:

Nina Nastasia "Run to Ruin" on Touch and Go;
The Embrooks 7 ' "Back In My Mind" on Butterfly
The VonZippers "The Crime Is Now" on Estrus! Unexpected
The Buff Medways "1914" on Transcopic;
Singapore Sling "Curse of..." on Stinky;
The Woggles "Ragged But Right" on Telstar;
Space Elevator's self-titled CD on Rocket to Rock;
& whatever Get Hip, Sympathy, and Dionysus released that I missed.
Might have to include:
The Rippers "Welcome To The Sound Of..." on Screaming Apple.
The Clone Defects: great sleeve, and I'm guessing greater music in the grooves. Too Many.
Favourite 28 member line-up; most quotable songs from Saturday Looks Good To Me.** I play it when I have too much live music, punk rock, radio show, and songwriting in my head. Matthew Smith's voice gets my favourite cameo appearance on this one, too: "All Your Summer Songs" on Polyvinyl Records.

Most of all, willing to stick my neck respectfully out for The Thanes "Downbeat and Folked Up" on Screaming Apple. I RESPECT!

These must be my three*** favourite sounding places in the world:
Liam Watson's ToeRag in London,
Jim Diamond's Ghetto Recorders in Detroit,
The Sweatbox in Texas,
and Dave Draves' Little Bullhorn in Ottawa.
There are too many others to keep track of...

5 - Some great rock 'n' roll moments stand out in my memory from this year. One is bicycling on Elgin St. while the sound of Chris Page clamours through Centretown, during Bluesfest. Another is RPJ, with Golden Famile, standing still on stage, just a slight smile on his face, barely moving, and coaxing a tremendous guitar solo. Drummer (J.R.) from Immortal Lee County Killers standing on his drum kit. Also the rabid audience response at The Bellrays/Four Frames show, which I caught. Sounds like a building about to explode. Which was a trick also performed by The Deadly Snakes! (Indoors and out) The greatest backspin of the year was also outdoors - and in the rain - "Mr He-is-the-Instrument" Ludwig Wax of Le Nombre. Speaking of rain, wettest performance outside could be The Cynics. What was the wettest performance inside? Most Un-Orthodox live set provided by Howe Gelb. Best live cover of the year is "Mr Roboto" by The Buttless Chaps. Favourite (or the only) wireless performance this year I saw was The Fleshtones, at Bluesfest. Best dance moves and audience interaction Mick Collins and the Dirtbombs, both performances, in Ottawa. Best baked goods brought to a show this year by Rebecca Comeau. (Reverend Glasseye at Cafe
Charisma). Best red shirts to Reverend Glasseye and HolyBob. Best un-intelligible lyrics Reverend Glasseye and His Wooden Legs.

10 - Best T-Shirt was to be Outragous Cherry's bright red, but then I saw The Sin-Tones had the two most important dudes**** in the past three millenia on their shirts. In two-tone AND color.

9 - Two catagories for best poster:
Best Poster - Bloodshot Bill & The Hubcaps/The Glads at Irene's Pub;
and Best Poster by Aardvark, who changed my mind about using posters for house deco. He did a fine job creating our wall paper for the den this year.

8 - A Bumper year for Buttons. My pick would have to be Casey Comeau + The Halfmilers, cause it just fits.
Currently my other favourite button is YOURS! The Shovels. Need it back or trade?

11 - Fave Debut shows in 2003 include The Blackball (Next years release?- watch out!), and Weapons of Mass Seduction.
Funniest song of the year is found on the independently released "Do It To It", by the The Double Pumpers. Oh My God! She shaved her face off!
The Stumblers get best plowing of the drive for the second straight year.
Greatest misplaced recording of the year: "The Room Downstairs".
Biggest Heartbreak being (How could it have?) gotta see them while they're together...Daydream Square.
Best best news of the year may be that DS are back together (as a band).
Best gut wrencher: The Sadies live, with "Forsaken" by FiftyMen as a tear-jerking second.
Most difficult to read title of the year is Morteville Records Marked Men on 45, and easily my greatest gaff of the year as well. Favourite no-see-ums: The Seeds at Wilderbeat, Black Keys at Bluesfest, and all the punk bands who forgot to comb their hair at the border. Your papers must be in order, Comrade!
Best front page photo from Ottawa Sun during Bluesfest*****. Dan Melchoir's Broke Revue should get an award for most rock bands in audience. Best Stage collection of guitars Starvin' Hungry. The blackest blues guitar solo of the year should have caused many white boy boogie copyists to run home crying about Mr. Airplane Man's Margaret Garrett's performance at Bluesfest. Her band-mate (Tara McManus) should get an ambidexterity award for drums/organ/vocals (at once, I might add...), and I give them awards for enthusiasm in their epic attempt to get to Ottawa.
Most maligned CD title of the year could be "2", by last year's most maligned band name winners, The Chickens. (Prediction for next year - The Chickens ensure their chances of superstardom by going on tour to Argentina and The Falkland Is.)
Favourite appearance on radio: The Chains, on CKCU's Live Revolutions; also Jim Bryson, and The Silver Hearts on CBC. Favourite first-time listens for myself are Fred Eaglesmith, who could have the second funniest tune of the year with "I Shot Your Dog".
Another discovery for my ears this year would be "Feast of Wire", by Calexico, on Quarterstick Records.

Favourite promotional appearance: C.H.U.O. FM's Stephan from "Up For A Downslide" on Friday Morning Cartunes.

12- Favourite Guilty Pleasure of the year is BBC world service radio online, science/nature columns. I would argue that Pluto should retain its planetary staus: it has a natural satellite and an atmosphere. If it doesn't, then I would hope the new classification of planetary bodies be refered to as Plutoid's instead of Plutino's.

7- Most honorable good deeds of independence this year is for Music For Cats Records of Ottawa . They issued four million fine disks****** and put on four million fine shows, including Golden Famile, Casey Comeau, The Halfmilers, The Glads, Denisa and maybe more! What paws! Rainbow Quartz Records also honours highly after an in yer earfull of high quality releases, which include Outrageous Cherry, Asteroid No. 4, The High Dials, The Grip Weeds, The Singles, and too many more.

6- Two categories that always strike me as odd awards are the "most improved" and "most gentlemanly". However, there's nothing odd about two awards for second-teen all-star Chris Page. His music is for the corners and the boards! Rather than talk about his own music, he's most adept at passing the puck to Jerry Jerry or A.V. - even when he's got a wide open net. Such conduct! That's why he's on the power play. Promoting coach Jon Bartlett keeps scoring with a club roster in the paper and on the air. Kelp Records Is this years most Slag-o-matic team!*******

4 - Greatest holdup of the year was carried off of The Blacksheep? (don't you mean Bluesfest/Roots Bob? - ed.) stage and off of this earth: Flecton Bigsky (of the Dreamcatchers)and Jay Munly (of Slim Cessna's Auto Club). The years Best Crawl by one of the drummers from The Dirtbombs, across the ceiling of the Birdman Stage.

3 - Greatest Re-issues and Punk rock lessons in guaranteed punkrock grade packaging provided by Get Back and Sanctuary Records. A punk songwriters and punk music players dream. The Damned's Damned Damned Damned. A treasure trove of punk rock music!

2- C.K.C.U. is NOT the second best FM radio. I hope the forthcoming C.K.C.U. on-line magazine Trans-FM out-rates Xpress! I have high hopes for next years read...

1 - Jim Bryson, & Universal/Orange Records for responding to artists and customers requests alike for taste in songwriting content, sound quality, durability, and color of product. These kind of record releases could make pirating obsolete. Best colored vinyl, Best record of the year, North Side Benches.

0 - Three of every four rockers who've travelled in a band tour van should spend a moment considering all this fun. Is the greatest release of all a record of what you say, or a record of what is? Rest.

Dig It? Tune into "Bob Ate My Homework" on CKCU,
Monday's 2-4 PM.
Comments? bobhomework@yahoo.ca

* nickname for Bumpers Roadhouse
** we're not sure what this means
***we count four
**** Jesus & Elvis
*****???
******numbers are APPROXIATE
*******wow!

Jon Bartlett's (Kelp/Greenfield Main/Rhume) Top 10

1. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co. (Secretly Canadian)
2. The Fruit Bats - Mouthfuls (Sub Pop)
3. The Deadly Snakes - Ode to Joy (In the Red)
4. The Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic (Dirtnap)
5. The Black Keys - Thickfreakness (Fat Possum)
6. Super Furry Animals - Phantom Power (XL/Beggar's Group)
7. The Two-Minute Miracles - Volume III: The Silence of Animals (Teenage USA)
8. The New Pornographers - Electric Version (Mint)
9. Grandaddy - Sumday (V2)
10. My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves (ATO)

Moutard’s Heavy Rotations, 2003

Music. You buy it, listen to it, get depressed when you can’t find anything good in yr collection to listen to. Then you go out, buy more with yr rent money, and listen to stuff you already had. It’s a vineryal disease. I should have put a rubber on. Thanx to Feck and Aardvark for keeping me addicted through thick and thin.

I’m sure there’s a ton of great stuff that I missed out on, but I have a pretty good idea of what didn’t suck in 2003. Like the Clone Defects. Or Guitar Wolf. Best of 2003:

The Testors – “Complete Recordings 1976 –1979” (Swami)
The Black Lips – “Black Lips!” (Bomp!)
Lightning Bolt – “Wonderful Rainbow” (Load Recs)
Riverboat Gamblers – “Something To Crow About” (Gearhead)
Buzzcocks – “S/T” (Merge)
The Little Killers – “S/T” (Crypt)
Rocket From the Crypt – “On the Prowl” (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
The Hospitals – “S/T” (In The Red)
New Bomb Turks – “Switchblade Tongues, Butterknife Brains” (Gearhead)
The Flaming Sideburns – “Sky Pilots” (JetSet)
The Kills – “Keep On Your Mean Side” (Red Meat Heart)
Big Midnight – “Everything for the First Time” (Alive)
Federation X – “X Patriot” (Estrus)
Guitar Wolf – “UFO Romantics” (Narnack)
The Fondas – “Coming Now!” (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
The Clone Defects – “Shapes of Venus” (In The Red)
The Dirtbombs – “Dangerous Magical Noise” (In The Red)
The Compulsive Gamblers – “Live and Deadly” (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Hollywood Hate – “Product of Our Environment” (TKO)
The Double Pumpers – “Do It To It” (Indy)
Dead Low Tide – “S/T” (Tiger Style)
Sonny Vincent – “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly” (Acetate)

Mouton crouillé. Crouton mouillé. Il y’a un disque qui me fait vomir violemment, mais de toute façon je l’ai écouté sans arrêt. Si je compte que c’est affreux – comme un salad grec les dimanches, maudit sacrament de moutard(e) épicée – pour quoi est-ce que je l’ai épuisé? What’s up with that? Le dernier cri: The Strokes – “Is This It?” (Rough Trade)

Best shows? Well, the new Turbonegro LP blows a stagnant load of infertility, but they put on one helluva good show in Washington DC at the Black Cat (August 2003). I lost a lot of clothing at that show. Best show I didn’t see? If the So-Cal industry assholes hadn’t bought out all the tix, maybe I could have seen Rocket From the Tombs in LA two weeks ago.

Patrick Shanks (The Glads, The Halfmilers) “Fave Raves” in no particular order.

The Singles - Better Than Before (Rainbow Quartz)
The Thanes - Downbeat and Folked Up (Screaming Apple)
Freddy & the Four Gone Conclusions - Wigged Out Sounds (Get Hip)
Treeberrys - Treeberrys (Sounds of Subterrania!)
The Von Zippers - The Crime Is Now (Estrus)
The Chesterfield Kings - The Mindbending Sounds of... (Living Eye/Sundazed)
Fembots - Small Town Murder Scene (Independent)
The Earaches - Fist Fights, Hot Love (Steel Cage)
Fred Eaglesmith & The Flathead Noodlers - Balin’ (AML Records)
Deadly Snakes - Ode To Joy (In The Red)

From The "TABLE" of Cara Ross...

Since I was playing so much "catch-up" this year, here's a list of things
that I bought that didn't leave my turntable very much:

1) Deadly Weapons - Backstabber 7" (2003 Lipstick)
2) Holly Golightly - Truly She Is None Other LP (2003 Damaged Goods) AND The Singles Round-Up Collection LP (2001 DG)
3) The Gossip - Movement CD (KRS 2003)
4) Supersnazz - Invisible Party CD (2003 Tiger Hole)
5) Betty Harris - In The Saddle LP (1980 re-issue on Charly R&B)
6) Tina & the Total Babes - She's So Tuff LP (SFRI 2000)
7) The Dishrags - Love/Hate CD (1997 OPM)
8) Delmonas - LP (Get Hip re-issue 2003)
9) The Husbands - LP (Swami 2003)

and there were a few lowly boys this year too:

1) Treeberrys - Treeberrys LP (Sounds of Subterrania 2003)
2) Pearlene - Murder Blues and Prayer LP (Dim Mak 2003)
3) The Dirtbombs - Dangerous Magical Noise LP (ITR 2003) AND Ultraglide In Black LP (ITR 2002)
4) Greenhornes - Dual Mono LP (2002)

And I think my fav show of the year, apart of course, from Bluesfest and
all its trickle down madness, shockingly was: "Saturday Looks Good to Me" @ Irene's, with Pearlene at the Dominion a tight runner-up. Bring on '04!

Karen McLane (Music For Cats Records / Nothings from Today)

Favourite Albums

Deadly Snakes - Ode to Joy In The Red
Asteroid #4 - HoneySpot Turquoise Mountain
Nina Nastasia - Road to Ruin Touch & Go
Jim Bryson - North Side Benches Orange Record Label
The Dirtbombs - Dangerous Magical Noise In The Red
The Thanes - Downbeat and Folked Up Screaming Apple
Buff Medways - 1914 Transcopic
The High Dials - A New Devotion Rainbow Quartz
Soledad Brothers - Voice of Treason Loog
Double Pumpers - Do It To It indie
Calexico - Feast of Wire Quarterstick
Compulsive Gamblers - Live and Deadly Sympathy for the Record Industry

Favourite Club Shows

Reigning Sound, Space Elevator, Ghost Stories - Silver Dollar, Toronto
Dirtbombs, Sights - Dominion, Ottawa
Deadly Snakes, Golden Famile - Dominion, Ottawa
Asteroid #4, Greenfield Main, Buttless Chaps - Dominion, Ottawa
Wilco, Neko Case - Metropolis, Montreal
Soledad Brothers, Andrew Vincent and the Pirates - Dominion, Ottawa
Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Golden Famile - Dominion, Ottawa
Calexico, The Frames - Babylon, Ottawa
Fiftymen, Double Pumpers - Irenes - Ottawa
The Embrooks - Silver Dollar - Toronto (this one should have been in Ottawa!!)
The Glads CD Release Party, The Midways, Skip Jensen - Dominion, Ottawa

What a Year for Festivals...and I didn't even go to Maberly...
1) Bluesfest, Bluesfest, Bluesfest - Ottawa
(how about wow-fest, you all know who played....)
2) Take Out The Trash - May 22-24 - Toronto
(The Glads, The Midways, Leather Uppers, Deadly Snakes, Le Nombre, The Chains, Les Sequelles, plus more)
3) Wilderbeat Weekender - August 15-17 - Port Burwell, Ontario
(The Sights, The High Dials, The Gruesomes, Orange Alabaster Mushroom, Brian Jonestown Massacre - well 3 songs anyways, plus more)

HEATHER OSBORN
Hosts "ROCK THE BOAT" Tuesdays 1 to 3PM on CKCU FM

2003, the Blues Festival
Most participatory year, thanks to Bob for a participation-style top ten, may I follow suit!

one: Get to the Bluesfest directly from work today; change as fast as possible into sport rock-wear, pack some snacks and jump into a flagged cab. Pull into the center, where my true love resounds in a heritage park. Bam bam rammaling bam gonna make my noise all day!
two: The Three-4-Tens revolved my glance
three: Dad didn't realize rocking out involved so much work-out
four: Filling Boogie's void with rocks, sticks and pinecones (on CKCU 93.1 FM)
five: Dave Swim cooning to my right and Jim Wieler strumming to my left and Richard Parks "guooom gooum gooooooouuum"
six: Bob and Holy Hell (they were the best of times...)
seven: "Snuck down the border to appear on stage with Rocket 455 and get recorded by Jeff Meier." "who are, the Fortunate Sons?"
eight: The Bloody Hollies, nine: The Little Killers, ten: The Hospitals, eleven: the Horrors!, twelve: The Legendary Shack Shakers, thirteen: '68 Comeback
fourteen: Mr. Airplane Man - stage forth, and ten-inch
fifteen: The Double Pumpers, local eruptions
sixteen candles: The record i'm still playing from last year: Sugar Shack; the one that trumped my whole last year's top 24: 25 Years of Being Childish

Mick Collins: `` ' '`` `, `` ''' ' ''' `''' `, ' ' '`'`' ''' ,` '' `' ' ' `'' `' `''' '' ' ``' ''. ``' `, `' '` '`!
Pat Pantano's escort to the stage to shake it baby shake it
Howe Gelb's stage presence
The Fleshtones' rockability

best new friends: The Stumblers, Music For Cats' KarenX2 and RPJ1020
best band experience: The Bluesfest bubble, recording for Music for Cats
best poet: Bob Whitmore
best smelling in public: Pat Shanks
top three rock superwomen: Ko Melina, Wendy Case, Lisa Kekaula
best slow burn: Dan Melchior

A REAL STUMBLIN' YEAR
Richard Parks’ Favourite Records of 2003 w/ commentary by Peter Smith*

In Spite, Bill Dankert & The Real Austinaires, Veto
In 1990 Bill Dankert drummed on Billy’s Live Bait by the Geardaddies. The best record to ever come out of Minneapolis (feel free to argue this point with me anytime). This time he’s out front playing guitar and singing. The music covers both kinds of music: country and rawk. The album is grounded by great song writing. Dankert has a knack for picking out the small details that just ring true. I defy anyone who has woke up hungover to not crack a knowing smile during the song “Two Beer Buzz”.

Honey In The Hive, The Bigger Lovers, Yep Roc
This is power pop at it’s most sublime. Chiming guitars, catchy hooks and sweet vocals.
P.S. Wish I could say the same – maybe I’m just stuck in my generation.

Slippage, Slobberbone, New West Records
Every year should have a great Replacements record.

After School Special, Teen Machine, Pop Squad Records/Screaming Apple
After hearing the 7” of “Hot Mom” on Friday Morning Cartunes I sought out this record. When it finally arrived in the mail I was not disappointed. In fact I wasn’t really expecting an almost complete history of 70’s pop radio on one disc. From Bowie space pop to Abba like harmonies this is a record to hum along to with a smile.

Better Than Before, The Singles, Rainbow Quartz
Not just a Beatles knock-off. These guys take the merseybeat sound meld it with modern day Detroit (Jim Diamond is twiddling the knobs) and add great vocal harmonies with great songwriting. None of these guys are older than 22? Hope I live long enough to hear them come into their prime.

You Can Call It Your Mammy If You Wanna, South Filthy, STFRI
As Mr. Aardvark has stated a supergroup of sorts featuring Msr. Jeffrey Evans(68 Comeback), Jack Yarber(Cool Jerks/Tearjerkers/Oblivians) and 3 Texans from Austin. Great covers and stunning originals. "Sandra Lynn’s Blues" is worth the price of the CD alone.(extra marks for being recorded in the coolest place on earth: Austin Texas!!)
P.S. Why can’t there be more of this – simple, yet versatile – and my kids love it too.

Truly She Is None Other, Holly Golightly, Damaged Goods
Yet another in a long line of great records from Holly Golightly. It features two great Ray Davies songs. A first listen this is pleasant blues/rawk music but it grows on you. I got this in the summer and its still in the CD player every week (partly because my wife really likes this as well).
P.S. I have yet to be disappointed by this one woman, music machine. Please don’t slow down.

The North Side Benches, Jim Bryson, The Orange Record Label
“Sleeping in Toronto” makes CKCU sound positively top 40 whenever I hear it. The whole record is great. Well not great, Perfect!
P.S. Have always liked the dependable Bryson – prefer him without the demand of being ‘The next big thing to come out of Ottawa.

Decide To Stay And Swim, Chris Page, Kelp
Chris finally records under his own name but the music is still great.
P.S. Love the hooks – you can see how easy it is to fall into them if you give it a spin.

Bad Case Of The Glads, The Glads, Music for Cats
This would have been my most anticipated release this year but Jim Bryson took so long so it comes in second. The best beat combo in the nation’s capital fuelled by a kick-ass drummer, strong songwriting, some great singing. A band that I would pay $30 to see live(don’t tell them though as I’d rather see them 5 or 6 times for that price.)
P.S. How can you go wrong with straight-up, in-your-face, cranking tunes? I want more.

Three Times Infinity, The Hentchmen, Norton
50% of the Paybacks lineup delivers a great record driven by punchy organ. A great record I would have discovered earlier but Dave had it hidden in the garage.
P.S. Don’t kid yourself – Just because it’s a side project, doesn’t mean it’s not a main dish. Thank god Richard has too much shit to listen to, otherwise it may have taken until next year to make it onto the best-of list.

I Love The Modern Way, Andrew Vincent and The Pirates, Kelp
Sloppy as ever. AV shows why great songs don’t require over production.

Ditch Lily, Barbara Cue, Man Of Steel
From lazy and languid organ work to crunching guitars. This record takes in many musical styles and moods. Kind of like countrified NRBQ. The real secret to the record is the deep groove that anchors everything together. A marvellous sonic vacation you’ll be sad to return from.

Honeyspot/King Richard’s Collectibiles, Asteroid No. 4 Rainbow Quartz
I bought both these in 2003 although the King Richard record came out in 2002. This band is incredible live and no less so on record. Honeyspot is alt/country done up the way it should be with great songs, stellar guitars and kick ass vocals. King Richard’s is pysch pop with chiming guitars great songs and kick ass vocals. This is a great band. Do not miss out.
P.S. Country music should always be this good. My favourite new listen of 2003. I just hope they come back to Ottawa again.

Dancing Like Bones, Casey Comeau and The Halfmilers, Music For Cats
It’s hard to beat a band that combines great country playing with beautiful female vocals. Casey singing has come into it’s own and RPJ’s guitar playing is sublime.
P.S. Casey’s voice is stunningly powerful, and her band is so damn good they could be their own great combination.

Not on Richard's

The Downbeat 5, STFRI
Thanks Johnny – at 11:53am I heard this band on your show – wife and husband with some serious backup. Rocks just as hard as the Paybacks, and I want it, I need it.

For those of you keeping score at home:
# of records Dave Draves had a hand in: 5
# of Kelp releases 15: 2
# of MFCR releases 15: 3
Worst hangover of the year: Sunday Morning after The Birdman Festive Party 2002. Thanks John!

Reissues:

Wide Awake, The Vulgar Boatmen, No Nostalgia:
What if Lou Reed had become a College Professor in the Mid-west instead of doing heroin in Manhattan? The Vulgar Boatmen take simple grooves, marvellously obtuse lyrics about life’s small moments and distinctive vocals and create songs that make your ears smile. The hooks last forever in your head. This collection touchs on all three of their albums and if you have never heard this music I cannot urge you enough to find a copy as soon as you can.

V/A - Root Damage, Their Sympathetic Majesties Request Vol 2, Allright This Time Just The Girls, Sympathetic Sounds Of Toe-Rag Studios London, SFTRI:
The vaults of SFTRI all jammed full of great material. 3 of these are double CD’s and I can’t find a song I don’t like on any of them. Rawk music this good makes you look forward to a drive of at least 5 hours.

*Peter Smith is what we call Dave Swim when his guitar wanking gets a bit excessive.

Jennifer's Top 10 Albums of 2003
Hosts "Minimum Wage" Fridays 7 to 8PM on CKCU-FM

1. Holly Golightly: "Truly She Is None Other"
2. Chris Page: "Decide To Stay And Swim"
3. Sunride: "Through The Red"
4. Hipbone Slim And His Knee Tremblers: "Snake Pit"
5. The Greenhornes: "Dual Mono"
6. The Mistreaters: "Playa Hated To The Fullest"
7. Big Sandy And His Fly-Rite Boys: "It's Time!"
8. New Bomb Turks: "The Night Before The Day The Earth Stood Still"
9. The Cramps: "Fiends Of Dope Island"
10. The Legendary Shack Shakers: "Cockadoodle Don't"

Best EP:
The Empiricals: "The Empiricals"

The "Wish I'd Known About This Sooner" Award:
Reverend Glasseye and His Wooden Legs: Black River Falls

If, for any reason, one of the above cannot fulfill its obligations then
Baby Woodrose: "Money For Soul" will take its place.

never fall in love with a bar
Jenn Elliott stakes her claim....

DIRTBOMBS - Dangerous Magical Noise (In The Red)
BUZZCOCKS - S/T (Merge)
JACKIE MITTOO - Champion of the Arena (1976-77) (Blood & Fire)
BIG SANDY AND HIS FLY-RITE BOYS - It's Time! (Yep Roc)
THE WRENS - The Meadowlands (Absolutely Kosher)
NO LUCK CLUB - Happiness (Ill Boogie/75Ark)
JOE ELY - Streets Of Sin (Rounder)
YEAH YEAH YEAHS -FEVER TO TELL (Interscope)
THE SHINS - Chutes Too Narrow (Sub Pop)
OUTRAGEOUS CHERRY - Supernatural Equinox (Rainbow Quartz)
NINA NASTASIA - RUN TO RUIN (Touch & Go)
NEW BOMB TURKS - Switchblade Tongues, Butterknife Brains (Gearhead)
LES GEORGES LENINGRAD - Deux Hot Dogs Moutarde Chou (Blow the Fuse)

780
Wednesday Night Heroes - Superiority Complex (Longshot Music)
The Operators **780** - Power Version EP (Longshot Music)
All Purpose Voltage Heroes - Decorate Your Monster Shirt (indie)

613
Chris Page - Decide To Stay & Swim
Double Pumpers - Do It To It
Jim Bryson - North Side Benches

Andrew Carver's Top Stuff
Cool music from 2003 (or thereabouts) in vaguely chronological order, by week.

1. Fortunate Sons live at Bronson Ave.
2. The Chains, "On Top of Things" (Get Hip) and live at the Dom
3. Bad Times, s/t (Goner)
4. Sidonie, "Let It Flow" (Rainbow Quartz)
5. Donovan's Brain, "Leap Forward" (Career)
6. Robyn Hitchcock, "Luxor" (Editions PAF)
7. Baby Woodrose, "Money for Soul" (Bad Afro)
8. Honest John Plain and the Amigos, s/t (Angel Air)
9. Asteroid No. 4 and Golden Famile at Bumpers, and "Honeyspot" (Turquoise Mountain) and "Eastern Cloudy" (Music For Cats)
10. Essential Logic "Fanfare In the Garden" (Kill Rock Stars)
11. Testors "Complete" (Swami)
12. Isolation Years "It's Golden" (Stickman)
13. Double Pumpers and Fiftymen live at the Dominion Tavern and "Do It To
It"
14. Calexico "Feast of Wire" (Matador)
15. Acid Mothers Temple, "Univers zen ou de zero a zero" (Fractal)
16. Sunn 0))) "White1" (Southern Lord)
17. Outrageous Cherry, "Supernatural Equinox" (Rainbow Quartz) and live at
Bumpers with Holy Hell
18. 25 Suaves, "1938" (Bulb)
19. F/i, "The Past Darkly/The Future Lightly" (Lexicon Devil)
20. Singapore Sling, "The Curse Of ..." (Stinky)
21. Telescopes, "As Approved by the Committee" (The Committee To Keep Music
Evil)
22. Thanes, "Downbeat and Folked Up" (Screaming Apple)
23. Bluesfest in general. And in particular:
24. The Paybacks
25. Le Nombre
26. Nathaniel Meyer with the Shanks
27. The Sadies
28. The Dirtbombs - also "Dangerous Magical Noise" (In The Red), live at the
Dom and "Pray for Pills" 7-inch (Corduroy).
29. Saturday Looks Good To Me, "All Your Summer Songs" (Polyvinyl) and live at Irene's
30. Dennis Most and The Instigators, "Wire My Jaw" (Dionysius)
31. Dead Meadow, "Shivering King and Others" (Matador)
32. Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3, "Static Transmission" (DBK)
33. Mondo Generator, "A Drug Problem that Never Existed" (Ipecac)
34. Comets on Fire, s/t (Alternative Tentacles) and "Field Recordings From
The Sun" (Baddabing!)
35. Neil Michael Hagerty, live at the Dom and "Howling Hex" (Drag City)
36. The Hentchmen, "Three Times Infinity" (Norton)
37. Crybabys, "What Kind of Rock'n'Roll" (Sanctuary)
38. Sleep, "Dopesmoker" (Tee Pee)
39. Soft Canyon, "Broken Spirit, I Will Mend Your Wings" (Alien8) and live
at Zaphod's
40. Davis Redford Triad, "Blue Cloud" (Holy Mountain)
41. Dan Melchior's Broke Revue, live and "This Is Not the Medway Sound" and "Oldtime Futureshock" (Smart Guy)
42. Matt Mayes and El Torpedo, live at Zaphod's
43. The Chickens and Chris Page live at the Dom and Bluesfest, plus "2"
(Rubber Road) and "Decide To Stay and Swim" (Kelp)
44. Little Killers, s/t (Crypt)
45. Modey Lemon and Pollux live at Bumpers and "Thunder and Lightning"
(Birdman)
46. Pretty Things, "The BBC Sessions" (Repertoire)
47. Sonny Best Band, s/t (Iron Gate)
48. The Glads, live all over and "A Bad Case of ..." (Music For Cats)
49. Jennifer Gentle, "Ectoplasmic Garden Party" (Lexicon Devil)
50. Brain Donor, "Too Freud To Rock'n'Roll, Too Jung To Die" (Brain Donor)
51. Sunburned Hand of the Man, "Headdress" and "Closer to the Bone" (Manhand)
52. Les Rallizes Denudes, "December's Black Children", "le 12 mars 1977 a
Tachikawa" and "Double Live" (some bootleggers)

Nathaniel Hurlow's top 11 picks for 2003 (in no particular order, of
course);

Little Killers - S/t (Crypt)
Starvations - Get Well Soon (GSL)
Sick Fits - Are We The Young Savages? (Longshot)
Unrelated Segments - S/t 10" (Sundazed)
Deadly Snakes - Ode To Joy (In the Red)
Songs Ohia - Magnolia Electric Company (Secretly Canadian)
Marked Men - LP & EP (Rip Off, Mortville)
Constantines - Shine A Light (Three Gut)
Leatherface - Discography pt.2 (Rejected)
Bloody Hollies - Fire At Will (SFTRI)
Dirtbombs - Dangerous Magical Noise (In the Red)

LIVE;

Reigning Sound/Space Elevator/Ghost Stories - Silver Dollar, Toronto
Candy Snatchers/Bitchin Camaros/Maximum R'N'R/Million Dollar Marxists - Babylon
Kill-A-Watts/Sick Fits - Bumpers
Bluesfest - the whole damn thing
Deadly Snakes - Dominion
Leather Uppers - Gloucester Hotel, Toronto
Pearlene - Dominion

Best aural excitation.

BACKSTREET GIRLS - Sick My Duck CD (Facefront)
BACKYARD BABIES - Stockholm Syndrome LP (RCA)
BUZZCOCKS - S/T LP (Cherry Red)
CAMAROS - Romantique LP (Black Balloon)
CAVE 4 - Sheena Was Right LP (Swindlebra)
COOL JERKS - This It LP (Soundflat)
COSMIC DEALER - Crystallization CD (Pseudonym)
DEMOLITION GIRL & STRAWBERRY BOYS - Glittercocks & Pneumatic pumps 10" (Homesick)
DIE LOKALMATADORE - Manner Rock'n Roll LP (Teenage Rebel)
GALLERY OF MITES - Bugs On The Bluefish LP (People Like You)
GRANICUS - S/T CD (Free)
IGGY POP - Skull Ring CD (CDR)
KIDS - Flabbergasted CD (Ghost)
MANNHAI - The Sons Of Yesterday's Black Grouses LP (Revolution Entertainement)
METHADONES - Career Objective CD (Stardumb)
MICHAEL MONROE - Whatcha Want CD (SPV)
MORMONES - Guide To Good And Evil CD (Trust me)
RAILSPLITTERS - Ridin High CD (Acetate)
RICOCHETS - The Ghost Of Our Love CD (White Jazz)
SATIRNINE - Void Of Value LP (Hot Stuff)
SENOR NO - Siempre Te Dire Que No LP (GP)
SHEEK THE SHAYK - Hour Of The Seventh Moon CD (Laughing Outlaw)
SONNY VINCENT - The Good The Bad The Ugly LP (Empty)
SPOONS - Take The World As It Comes LP (No Brains)
THEE ULTRA BIMBOOS - Bimboo Wizard LP (Ranch)
TRANSEX - S/T LP (Hangover)
TRASHCAN DARLINGS - Episode 1 : The Lipstick Menace LP (Eastside)
WHYTE SEEDS - Memories Of Enemies LP (Stockholm)
WILDHEARTS - Must Be Destroyed LP (Gut)
WISEGUY - Burning The Tracks LP (Stardumb)

Stephane’s favorites of 2003!

Fav live :
BLUESFEST !
Dead City Rebels (crazy last show !!), Le Nombre (do they ever put on a bad show ?? do they ever stop drinking ??) and Marmottes Aplaties at the Dominion
Neil Hagerty at the Dominion

Fav Vinyl :
Baby Woodrose – Money for Soul LP – Bad Afro
Catholic Boys – Brainwash City 7” – Kryptonite
The Cramps – Fiends of Dope Island LP – Vengeance
The Deadly Snakes – Ode to Joy – In the Red
The Del-Monas (re-issue) – Do the Uncle Willy – Get Hip
The Dirtbombs – Dangerous Magical Noise LP – In the Red
The Dirtbombs – Possession/Refried Dreams 7” – In the Red
The Dirtbombs – Motor City Baby/I Feel Good 7” – Sweet Nothing
Electric Eye – Muscle 7 “ – Vinyl Warning
Gasolheads (they broke up!) – Lying Shooter Position LP – Lollipop
Green Hornet – Soulscum LP - Hellworm
Holly Golightly – Truly She Is None Other LP – Damaged Goods
The Hunches – Yes. No. Shut it. LP – In the Red
Kill-a-Watts – Then & Now 7” – Kryptonite
The Little Killers – S/T LP – Crypt
The Marked Men – S/T LP – Rip Off
The Orphans – Chinatown/Moscow Massage 7” - Kapow
The Riverboat Gamblers – Something to Crow About – Gearhead
The Sights – Got What We Want LP – Fall of Rome
Anatomy of a… - Various Portland Bands 7” – Extra Ball/Jealous Butcher/Vinyl Warning/Jonny Cat
Japanese Group Sound! – Various – Blood Red Vinyl & Discs
Root Damage – Various 2xLP – Sympathy for the Record Industry
Urine Stains Across Virginia – Various Bands from Virginia 7” – Black Lung

Fav electro-post-punk-whatever-music :
Erase Errata – At Crystal Palace LP – Troubleman Unlimited
Les Georges Leningrad – Deux Hot Dogs Moutarde Chou CD – Blow the Fuse/Fusion III
Quintron – Are you Ready for an Organ Solo ? LP – Rhinestone Records
Ssion – Opportunity Bless my Soul CD – Version City
Volt – 4 song EP 12” - Pollymaggoo Records

Fav local :
The Dead City Rebels – Trashed (Rare & Unreleased) LP – High Society International
The Glads – Bad Case of the Glads CD – Music for Cats Records
The Sick Fits – Are we the Young Savages ? CD – Longshot Music
Andrew Vincent and the Pirates – I Love the Modern Way CD - Kelp

Fav CDs :
Blacktop – I Got a Baaad Feelin’ About this: the complete recordings – In the Red
The Diplomats of Solid Sound – Let’s Cool One – Estrus
Gallery of Mites – Bugs on the Bluefish – MeteorCity
Peaches – Fatherfucker – XL
Iggy Pop – Skull Ring – Virgin
Rancid Vat – The Cheesesteak Years – Steel Cage Records
The Replacements (re-issue) – Sorry ma, forgot to take out the trash – Restless/TwinTone
Various – Dirtnap Across the Northwest – Dirtnap

Stéphane "Ça rock" Thérien
'up for a downslide': every Tuesday night! 9 PM
on CHUO 89.1FM in Ottawa--punk/garage/glam/trash

Damian Sawka's (Double Pumpers, Ukrania! etc...) 2003 Discoveries

Leaf Hound – Growers Of Mushroom (It came out in ’71, but whatever) Akarma/Repertoire
Flaming Sideburns – Sky Pilots JetSet
Nebula – Atomic Ritual Liquor & Poker
Sweatmaster – Sharp Cut (I know this came out last year, but it’s that GOOD – fuck y’all) Bad Afro
The Dirtbombs – Dangerous Magical Noise In The Red
Dead Meadow – Shivering King and Others Matador
Los York’s 68 – S/T (This is even older than Leaf Hound, but man these guys rock)
Kings Of Leon – Youth & Young Manhood RCA

Anti-Flag – The Terror State (Fat Wreck Chords)
Backwood Creatures – Living Legends (Stardumb)
Bombshell Rocks – From Here And On (Burning Heart)
Jim Bryson – The North Side Benches (Orange)
Compulsive Gamblers – Live & Deadly Memphis/Chicago (SFTRI)
Dead City Rebels – The Electromagnetic Feel (Centretown Rock 'N' Roll)
The Downbeat 5 – The Downbeat 5 (SFTRI)
The Dragons – Sin Salvation (Gearhead)
The Dropkick Murphys – Blackout (Hellcat)
Kathleen Edwards – Failer (Maple Music)
Flaming Sideburns – Sky Pilots (Jetset)
Hazelwoods – Leaving You For A Cowboy (Laughing Outlaw)
Mensen – Oslo City (Gearhead)
The Peepshows – Refuge For Degenerates (Burning Heart)
Pistol Grip – Another Round (BYO)
Nebula – Atomic Ritual (Liquor and Poker)
The New Christs – We Got This! (Laughing Outlaw)
Rancid – Indestructible (Hellcat)
Rickshaw – Sonic Overload (Devil Doll)
Riverboat Gamblers – Something To Crow About (Gearhead)
Satirnine – Void of Value (White Jazz)
Slackers – Close My Eyes (Hellcat)
Tammy Faye Starlite – Use Country Female (Diesel Only)
Los Straitjackets – Supersonic Guitars in 3-D (Yep Roc)
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros – Streetcore (Hellcat)
The Swingin' Utters – Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass And Bones (Fat Wreck Chords)
Throw Rag – Desert Shores (BYO)
The Turbo A.C.’s – Automatic (Gearhead)
Turbonegro – Scandinavian Leather (Burning Heart)
The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site (Epitaph)