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The soundtrack to the inside of my head over the last year | Alex Gillies

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Best Album/Band/Music discovered in 2011

Julie Christmas/Made Out Of Babies/Battle Of Mice

Julie Christmas

You even skip a band because they have a weird/silly/nonsensical name? I do, all the time. Sure Made Out Of Babies are on Neurot Recordings but they’re still called Made Out Of Babies. Now that’s the biggest single musical mistake I’ve made in a long time. I picked up a cheap three-way split release on Neurot because there was some Neurosis on there I hadn’t heard. The other two bands were Battle Of Mice and Made Out Of Babies. Both of the latter bands featured a lady named Julie Christmas on vocals.

I was fucking slackjaw after hearing the Battle Of Mice song. I bought the album 24hrs later and was left virtually in tears by the emotional vehemence of its music. A few days later I bought The Ruiner by Made Out Of Babies and listened to it more than any Unsane album I owned. The only tempering aspect of all this was Julie Christmas’s 2010 solo album The Bad Wife. Equally beautiful and bad-tempered. These three albums being just about the best thing in both Metal and music I discovered all year.

Top live shows in 2011

Teargas/No Anchor/Last Chaos @ Burst City

Teargas

It’s probably because it was at Burst City, run by friends and with bands, who are our friends. This was a great and punishing night. No Anchor tried and in some ways succeeded in punishing folks with light and sound. Teargas just proved that not just anyone can make great music. One of the first shows of the year and still a favourite.

Propagandhi @ Hi Fi Bar

Propagandhi

The second of two nights of seeing Canada’s Propagandhi. A band that keeps getting better and better. Almost a religion instead of music.

Built To Spill @ The Zoo

Built To Spill

Indie rock never got so good. They played all the favourites and made good on years of wearing their records out.

The Bronx @ Step Inn

The Bronx

The night before the big festival and several hundred folks crammed into a room fit for only a hundred. Another one of those shows where rock is meant to be uncomfortable and visceral and memorable for enjoyment that all this brings.

Kylesa/High On Fire @ Hi Fi Bar

Kylesa

Metal in its varying degrees. From the power of High On Fire to the psyched out dirge of Kylesa, it’s shows like this one that prove I enjoy metal more now than any other time in my life.

Future Of The Left @ The Zoo (both in Jan & Dec)

Future Of The Left

Snotty, cathartic and funny as hell. Another one of the few rock bands on the planet that have gotten it so damn right. And don’t bother trying to tell them otherwise, you’ll just get hilariously cut in two by their frontman Andy.

No Anchor Album Launch @ Woodland

No Anchor

I have to put this one in. The launch of No Anchor’s third album went a lot smoother than the launch of the second one (which resulted in a heart attack on my part). Still stressful, still fun and worth all the effort when those amps get dialed to 10 and the wash of sound cracks your skull. Sometimes it’s fun not being in the crowd.

Harmony @ The Toff

Harmony Toff

A funny one to put in. From all reports, this was a shit show on the band’s scale but not to me. I put in a few kilometres to get to this, the band’s 7” launch, but it was worth it. I heard all their songs for the first time and was devastated by the brevity, brashness and brilliance of this band. It really is a battle between the forces of darkness and light.

Harmony @ The Zoo

Harmony Zoo

Not the only time in 2011 where Harmony were the support band and I didn’t even bother staying for the main act. No point really when you know there’s no chance the headliner is going to be any better. The trauma is worth so much more when it’s mixed with the volume of full PA.

Harmony @ The Waiting Room

Harmony Waiting Room

Jeez. How much do I have to bang on about this band. It’s embarrassing. At least you didn’t try to listen to the album a 100 times like I have at home. It’s definitely easier being a fan on your own, with your stereo. This intimate show, supported by locals Turnpike, was the second best Harmony show I saw this year but the most beautiful of all their shows – thanks in a lot of ways to the surroundings and folks there.

Footnote: About 15-20% off all music I listened to this year was actually released this year.

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