So this year rather than write up a novel about the entire year I decided to do things a little different. I decided that I would post a live video of each of the top ten. Yes a real LIVE clip! Some clips are great quality and others are very handy cam. You already know that these are may favourites, so rather than do a write up I decided to let the artists speak for themselves. Granted these aren't the best selling records and in most cases nor are they some of the most critically acclaimed. They are simply the records I liked best. That being said, I once again did not include compilation or tributes. Had I done so both Buddy Holly tributes 'Listen to Me' and 'Rave On' probably would have made the top five but I am a little biased. Eddie Spaghetti put out a great record this year entitled 'Sundowner' but being it had three originals on it and was seventy percent covers it also for this reason didn't make the list.
Albums I thought I thought were good but didn't impress me as much as I thought might were The Kills 'Blood Pressures', Electric 6's 'Heartbeats and Brainwaves' and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
Most disappointing was Civet's 'Love & War'. I love this band. Live they rule, their first record ruled but 'Love & War' just seemed not up to the girls talent or ability. It felt like they just punched it in.
A handful of mentions incude: Alison Krauss and Union Station's 'Paper Airplane', The Cars 'Move Like This', Emmylou Harris' 'Hard Bargain' and Those Darlins 'Screws Get Loose'. These were all great records that just barely fell short of the top 15.
Best shows of they year were from acts such as the Arkells, the Darlings of Chelsea and Civet.
So without further ado. Here are my top fifteen of 2011:So this year rather than write up a novel about the entire year I decided to do things a little different. I decided that I would post a live video of each of the top ten. You already know that these are may favourites, so rather than do a write up I decided to let the artists speak for themselves. Granted these aren't the best selling records and in most cases nor are they some of the most critically acclaimed. They are simply the records I liked best. That being said, I once again did not include compilation or tributes. Had I done so both Buddy Holly tributes 'Listen to Me' and 'Rave On' probably would have made the top five but I am a little biased. Eddie Spaghetti put out a great record this year entitled 'Sundowner' but being it had three originals on it and was seventy percent covers it also for this reason didn't make the list.
Albums I thought I thought were good but didn't impress me as much as I thought might were The Kills 'Blood Pressures', Electric 6's 'Heartbeats and Brainwaves' and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
Most disappointing was Civet's 'Love & War'. I love this band. Live they rule, their first record ruled but 'Love & War' just seemed not up to the girls talent or ability. It felt like they just punched it in.
A handful of mentions include: Alison Krauss and Union Station's 'Paper Airplane', The Cars 'Move Like This', Emmylou Harris' 'Hard Bargain' and Those Darlins 'Screws Get Loose'. These were all great records that just barely fell short of the top 15.
Best shows of they year were from acts such as the Arkells, the Darlings of Chelsea and Civet.
So without further ado. Here are my top fifteen of 2011:
15. Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive 14. City and Colour - Little Hell 13. The Black Keys - El Camino 12. Fred Eaglesmith - 6 Volts 11. Sixx:A.M. - This Is Gonna Hurt
10 Jack's Mannequin - People and Things The more adult version of Something Corporate
9. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light Not as good as 'The Colour and the Shape' but damn close!
8. Billy the Kid and the Southside Boys - Ours Beautifully written singer/songwriter tunes
7. The Horrible Crowes - Elsie Brian Fallon of the Gaslight Anthem does not disappoint!
6. The Arkells - Michigan Left One of the most talented bands of my list and probably the closest thing to "hipster" I listen to.
5. Butch Walker - The Spade If you know who he is, I don't need to tell you anything else.
4. Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes They have put out better records but this record still kicks 95% of it's competition's ass.
3. The Ripperz - You Are the Moon Such a diverse, honest, real band.
2. The Darlings of Chelsea - Panic Is Worse Than the Emergency Saving Rock N Roll!
1. Jim Jones Revue - Burning Your House Down Resurrecting 1957 but louder.
Remember when people said rock’n’roll was dead? It wasn’t. It still isn’t. You may have to search though ninety percent of all the “rock’n’roll…ick” that is commercially available but it is there. You can stop looking though, I have found it. It was hiding… hiding in the minds and fingertips of the anthemic soulful Toronto rockers the Darlings of Chelsea.
In mid-2009 the Darlings of Chelsea released their debut record ‘The Mimico Sessions’. This record was a six song ep that featured then vocalist Sean Robertson. I remember at the time thinking this band was going to take over the world. It was THAT great. When Robertson departed from the band, the remaining four went on to form the power quartet you now know. Lead guitarist Paul Thompson stepped into the front man and vocal duties naturally and with the greatest of ease. Thompson along with his rock’n’roll terrorist friends/brothers/band mates, bassist Robbie Ruckus, guitar player Jay Millette and drummer Chris Nova have now put out a back to basics, balls to the wall AUTHENTIC rock record with ‘Panic Is Worse Than The Emergency’ last Tuesday.
Although this is the Darlings first full length piece, these gentlemen are no amateurs. Know this; these four men have rocked the independent and mainstream circuit for some time now. They have toured the globe with their previous bands like Robin Black, The Black Halos, CJ Sleeze, Kill Cheerleader and Scratching Post. They know exactly how to do this. The Darlings are already garnering attention nationally as well as in the US getting attention from the CBC, SXSW and countless articles and interviews.
This record is classic rock but still fresh all at the same time. It’s not that tired ass shit you hear at your local state fair. Sometimes when you’re working for the weekend you wonder how the singer still fits in those red leather pants. Not these guys. No stale hoagie poggie crap here. ‘Panic Is Worse Than The Emergency’ is volatile, freewheeling aggressive yet fun eleven songs in thirty four minutes.
From the steady chug-a-long fist pump ‘Lucky Ones’ which opens the record to high octane high energy ‘No Rescue’ to an almost power-pop song like ‘Call To Arms.’ This album is everything it should be. It’s loaded with killer background vocals, sing-along gang vocals, ripping guitars, machine gun drums, solo’s that will blow your doors off and bass lines that will knock your fun parts to the floor. ‘Panic Is Worse Than The Emergency’ is an honest rock record that you, the kids, will cry for. I am going on four days straight of non-stop listening myself. If you think anything less of the product than I do then we can’t be friends… but you won’t, I guarantee it.
Cheers Rockers.
Stream the entire album below courtesy of your friendly neighborhood Darlings. If you like what you here please do go to itunes and pick it up and please don’t miss out on their cross-Canada tour which starts Sept 23. Oh, and I am telling you now you will dig this!
In the April 2010 Spin magazine article in which Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) meets with Stooges legend Iggy Pop, Iggy says the following:
“There are people who live rock’n’roll all the time, but those people don’t last long. After I finish with you guys I am going to feed a cat.”
This has a lot to do with countless bands, but it was probably the greatest downfall of one of my favourite bands in the world.
Some people live it and some people fake it; either way this is detrimental to the people portraying this as well as the bands that back these types of people. Being rock’n’roll all the time was definitely a hardship that Vancouver’s monochrome glam punk-rock’n’rollers felt on a regular basis.
The Black Halos were a band in which though hard work, relentless dedication to their craft, a “DYI” attitude and solid songwriting produced four records fans could rave about with famed producer Jack Endino (Nirvana Soundgarden).
The Black Halo’s were a punk band that formed in 1993 by vocalist Billy Hopeless, guitarists Rich Jones and Jay Millette, bass player Matt Camirand and drummer Robbie Zgaljic. The band’s self-titled debut record was released in 1999 and by 2001 the band’s sophomore smash ‘The Violent Years’ was released.
It was on the Canadian tour for the Violent Years that I was introduced to this band. A couple friends and I went to the show at The State, which is now the Distrikt. This venue has a balcony upstairs with a view that allows you to watch the band from three sides of the stage. The room was pretty full so we went to the balcony and watched the show close to stage left. The band was likely very good. However, whoever hired the sound guy obviously hired Helen Keller because the sound was awful. I wasn’t entirely sold on this band as of yet… their sound anyway. That being said, the show was fantastic. The stage presence was amazing and the band banged it out. One member caught my eye specifically. That member was drummer Robbie Zgaljic. The man was intense from the first second right up until the last. He pounded the kit and had boat loads of charisma just in playing. You got this feeling that he was leading the whole band from the back. I left that night impressed with the stage show and the people but wanted to actually “hear” it. Soon after, my friend played me the Violent Years and I was sold. I was like “This is what I was supposed to hear!?” I played that record nonstop while I thought the band had called it quits for the next few years.
Although a lot of people love the Violent Years and the Rich Jones era Black Halos (so do I), it was the band’s third record ‘Alive Without Control’ that sealed them as one of the best bands in Canada for me. It was during this time that the best Halos line up would come together for me. This line up would consist of Billy, Robbie and Jay. However, after going through several guitarists and bass players, Denyss McKnight would join on bass and Adam Becvare would enter as the lead guitar player. Becvare was asked to do a US tour but was unable to partake due to his obligations to his own band the Lustkillers and the Halos would struggle. In Aug ’04 Becvare would fire his drummer and hop on board with the Black Halos for a tour with American hardcore band Zeke.
Shortly after this tour, AWC would take shape in 2005. It was already half written when the Adam joined. The band finished it after the Zeke tour. The band got everything they could onto that record, including organ, keys, pianos, hand claps, guest gang vocals, tambourine and even a guest solo from Rontrose of the Supersuckers on “Last Call At The Toothless Saloon.” Jay, Denyss, Adam and Rob really went to town writing on that record.
This would be the last we would see of Jay. The ups and downs of the Halos would prove to be something he didn’t want anymore and it was time to pursue other music ventures. Denyss would write for the next record but we would not see him live in this formation again either. Hired guns would enter as replacements: Johnny Stewart on rhythm guitar and Jahmeel Russell on bass.
‘We Are Not Alone,’ the band’s last record came out in 2008. For seven days straight Denyss, Adam, and Rob would work from noon till 6pm writing songs. Rob, a drummer once featured in Modern Drummer magazine, hits so hard that it forced the band to play loud just to get over it. This comes across crushingly beautiful live. Unfortunately, Adam states that is when he lost some hearing. Denyss, the youngest member of the bunch, has the ability to make new rock songs while Adam would make them more Halos’ type songs, Clash-like if you will.
The second time Rob asked Adam to join the band he told Adam that if he didn’t join then the Halo’s were over. Adam knew what the band needed. He had the contacts and experience, but most importantly he had a fan’s view. Adam had followed the band since 1999. That being said, Rob would not only be the backbone of the songs but of the band as well. Rob drove, booked, took on all the finances, all the debt and rehearsal space. It seems to me that Robbie Z was the heart of the Black Halos. I remember one show here in Regina where the turnout was poor and I apologized that our city sucked so badly. Rob just replied “I am just glad you guys showed up.” He seemed happy to just be doing it. Rob seems to be a real genuine, sincere and excellent human being.
On St. Patrick’s Day of ’08 in Montreal, thieves would break into the band’s trailer and steal all their gear and merchandise: records,shirts… everything. Immediately after this there was a tour that Adam prearranged for Europe. The band rented gear, a van and driver there and it was good timing to focus efforts on digging them out of a hole. The final show would be in Spain in June of ’08. Two weeks later Adam was back home in Chicago playing with his other band, the Lustkillers. Billy Hopeless didn’t go to the press to make it official until September of ’09.
Egos, infighting and pissy attitudes of some members would ultimately be the bands demise. Regardless, this band made some of the greatest records Canada has ever seen, with some of the most talent members and staff in the world.
I was really sad that this band that I loved so much had disbanded when I heard the news in September of ’09 but had known for some time in my heart. That being said, the Halos are shining brighter than ever in new bands. Jay Millette is writing, recording and touring with a new band called the Darlings Of Chelsea that will save Canadian Rock N Roll. I just spent a weekend hanging with Adam and the Lustkillers while on their tour though Canada. This included a guest appearance from the one and only Denyss Mcknight on bass. Denyss has a new project in the works that we will have to stay tuned for. Robbie has an alternative/indie rock band Red Vienna that has just released brand new songs on iTunes this month. I can tell you that the Red Vienna tunes are so great that I listened to them for two days straight with no breaks. AMAZING.
This article is dedicated to the band, as they gave us a decade of music though their blood,sweat and tears: especially Robbie for his dedication. If it were not for him we likely would only have two records to play over and over instead of four. Rob, I am so relieved to hear you are back behind that kit.
From the opening guitars of "I Want Your Love" this six song ep is a train chug-a-long sexy boot to the face. Early on you can hear mostly all the influences from bandmates collectively from The Black Halos, Kill Cheerleader, Parkas, Robin Black, Scratching Post and CJ Sleez. This band is taking all the best parts of it's predecessors and making one kick ass rock n roll band. It's pop-filled and still heavy and driving. "New Addiction" starts and you can feel your heart beat faster like you are already at the show sweaty and enjoying it in excitement dancing front row and fist in the air. Two songs in and you are already playing air guitar. Helsinki, a Hellacopters cover is perfect. The build revs you up and the hook lets you take off. We are half way through and the fourth song on the docket takes all the previous and rolls it into one, added with some Black Halo's-esque gang vocals "Let's RIOT!, burn it all down!" and I don't know how much more I can take. Jay Millette's guitar work or who I believe it to be playing is charming and brilliant. The last two tracks "Sleazy Rock N Roller" reaks of cool and "Devil Is A Woman" leaves your middle finger in the air at your ex-girlfriend and a smile on your face. This record has 70's swagger written all over with a current balls out twist. If Dallas Winston from the 80's movie "The Outsiders" was a current character and had a favorite band this huge and agressive rock n roll band would be his favorite. A band making rock n roll cool again in what I think is a yuppy approaching time. I hope this band takes over the world. With only six songs in their arsenal their guns are loaded and they are taking back rock n roll.
