Tops for 2009

My Top Ten for albums of 2009 have been submitted to the North Shore News - many thanks to audiophile John Goodman. I have given him the caveat audiens for my picks - being far more folk/roots and of course, singer-songwriter stuff. No Lady GaGa (gag-gah) from me. How vile. This is the year of really geeky looking guy bands. And a lot of Canadians.

10: Morrissey - Years of Refusal


9: Andrew Bird - Noble Beast


8: Wilco - Wilco


7: Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest


6: Bruce Cockburn - Slice O' Life


5: Joel Plaskett - Three


4: The Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels


3: Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - Break Up

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - Relator @ Yahoo! Video

2: Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix


and my number one pick for 2009....

1: Neko Case - Middle Cyclone *** A highlight of the year and an obvious highlight to her recording career. Neko Case is outstanding in her vocal talent and this album is a must have by anyone's standards!

Birthday Blessings to Morrissey

Artist: Morrissey
Album: Years Of Refusal
Label: Lost Highway (US), Decca/Polydor (UK)
Rating: 8 of 10

It’s hard to believe Morrissey turns 50 on May 22nd, but luckily he never ceases to be the embodiment of eccentricity, an enigmatic oddball to revere. He fiercely continues to give mainstream pop the cold shoulder (and perhaps rightly so), and is no more acclimatized to the pop music scene than he was twenty-three years ago when he emerged as Britain’s beloved outsider with his 1980’s fêted band, The Smiths.

Never lacking of critics, Morrissey has been countering back with successful solo albums and touring to sold-out shows from L.A. to his birthplace of Manchester, England since 1988. His latest rebuttal, Years of Refusal, seemingly reflects the artist’s acceptance of a life-sentence of sour discontentment. Below its 12-track listing, the album’s subscript reads in lower cased italics “produced by jerry finn, recorded in los angeles, play very loud” and compelling proves that age hasn’t diffused Morrissey’s perspective nor his ability to deliver vocal potency. “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore” hallmarks his sublime falsetto and track two, “Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed”, is lushly layered and enjoyable despite its somewhat disturbing lyrics. The opener, “Something is Squeezing My Skull” scowls with energetic ferocity, stating the big sound theme. Collaboration from long-time band mate Boz Boorer is evident as is punk-pop producer, Jerry Finn’s contribution, which was tragically the 39-year-old’s last effort, having succumbed to a brain hemorrhage only weeks after finalizing the Morrissey recording. A full-bodied intensity flares through to the finale, bonus track, “Shame Is The Name”. Undisputedly, melancholy and wry lyricism, not to mention a notorious quaff, have served Morrissey well and he deserves a very happy birthday.

- Stephanie Kiernan

The Best of 2008 - the year in review for music

It's already been twelve months. It seems like only a few months ago when I was publishing Best of 2007, so when John Goodman emailed me to contribute the The North Shore News annual Year In Review Section, I thought, "You gotta be kidding me? Another December?" It really has flown by.

1. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)
2. Ray LaMontagne – Gossip In The Grain (RCA)
3. The Smiths – The Sounds Of The Smiths (Rhino)
4. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cardinology (Lost Highway)
5. Kings of Leon – Only By The Night (RCA)
6. Lucinda Williams – Little Honey (Lost Highway)
7. City And Colour – Bring Me Your Love (Vagrant)
8. Kathleen Edwards – Asking For Flowers (Universal)
9. James – Hey Ma (Decca)
10. KD Lang – Watershed (Nonsuch)

While this year was rather dry for publishing, I was able to push through my pieces on Kathleen Edwards' Asking For Flowers, KD Lang's Watershed, City and Colour's Bring Me Your Love and Morrissey's Greatest Hits. All great albums, with the exception of Morrissey's so-called Greatest Hits (I know, how can I slag my man?!). I have included them in this year's submission, appearing in this past Friday's paper (NSN December 12th edition, page A19).

The year 2008 can be described as eclectic, still filtering commonality in the collective Best-Of-2008. For more than one nomination The Kings of Leon, Fleet Foxes, Lucinda Williams, Block Party, Wolf Parade, Hey Rosetta!, and the most frequent nominee being Kathleen Edwards for her album, Asking For Flowers. Ottawa-born Kathleen Edwards is as confident and reflective as Lucinda Williams. Her debut album Failer is one of my "desert island pics". The Kings of Leon simply rock. Lead singer Caleb Followill's vocals are so striking to me. I'm in love with everything he utters. Further mention must be paid to Dallas Green and his solo work as City and Colour for the album "Bring Me Your Love", because as I described back in March, his voice is soft as silk, transporting lines to a diaphanous lullaby.



My Top 10 Albums were in no way prioritized. They were submitted in random order because I find it dreadful to remark on art in terms of rating. The absolute worst part of submitting an article for an album is the dreaded numbering out of 10. Holding my breath, I type it in last thing before clicking the Send Button on my email. But that is what we do as humans. It's unfortunate, but it's safe to say society is competitive in virtually all aspects, including art, of existence. What is better or worse, what is fastest, most expensive, you name it, we'll rate it. With rating, measuring, ranking, assessing, gauging, grading or estimating, we limit art - we stifle, regulate and limit it. But Music is really very simple. Above all of the temperament, Music is for enjoying.

Snow Patrol's "A Hundred Million Suns"

Album: A Hundred Million Suns
Artist: Snow Patrol
Label: Polydor/A & M
Released: October 28, 2008
Rating: 7 out of 10
Review by: Stephanie Kiernan


Don’t expect to fall in love upon the first go around of “A Hundred Million Suns” – I’ve personally renamed Snow Patrol’s fifth album “A hundred million Starts” since that’s about how many plays it took for me to warm up to it and wipe off its monochromatic veneer.

Nevertheless, despite the repeated starts of the album in my car and on my iPod, it eventually wedged itself into my psyche. Irish-Scottish ensemble Snow Patrol resumes their clean-cut, soft-alternative sound, while lead-singer-lyricist Gary Lightbody fortifies the band’s tried and true post-Coldplay formula for a perfectly pleasant offering without any surprises.

And while surprises might be vital in satiating the iPod generation, Snow Patrol’s music is nevertheless cheerfully alternative, in addition to having the underpinning of distinguished Irish Producer, Garret “Jacknife” Lee; who’s pixie dust has illuminated other alternatives like Weezer, Kasabian, The Hives, and Bloc Party.

“A Hundred Millions Suns” stamps out 11 sashaying originals, including sixteen marathon-minute “The Lightning Strike” which swoons and flares with echoing high-tempo. Snow Patrol has mastered mellowness with extractions like track 7, “Set Down Your Glass” and track 8 “The Planets Bend Between Us” and yet plodded optimism strikes through “Engines” – a highlight of the release.

This Snow Patrol offering would make a decent Christmas stocking stuffer; just add this review disclaimer to the wrapping.

The Kathleen Edwards' article

So this past Friday, May 16th, 2008, my article for Kathleen Edwards' latest release Asking For Flowers, was published in The News. I'll publish the full review here and make one thing clear: I would NEVER write or describe anything as "genuine gems". That's editing for ya.

Couple of things before the article. First, her official website is really quite lovely. Check out kathleenedwards.com

I found a great photo shoot collection of KE on Flickr here.
Then I found what just may be Kathleen Edwards' own Flickr Site HERE.


This is the unedited, unprofessional version.

Artist: Kathleen Edwards
Album: Asking For Flowers
Label: MapleMusic Recordings
Rating: 8 out of 10

Kathleen Edwards is a musician with a flair for thrashing the monotony of modern-day, anesthetized country music. She’s young, she’s severely talented, and she’s the exact opposite of music’s mainstream. She’s proved herself for a third time with “Asking For Flowers”, a jagged country-alternative album laden with slide guitar, pedal steel, harmonica and piano, all christened by Edwards’ not so perfect but ever provocative voice.

Born only a blink of an eye ago in 1978 in Ottawa, yet Edwards is as confident and reflective as Lucinda Williams. Her radiant 2003 debut album “Failer” wildly transcended the country and folk genres like a bucking bronco. Five years on and still wise beyond her years, these eleven new songs are genuine; heavy with murky, poetic lyrics, all delivered hard with plaintive, true-grit intent.

In the studio she’s taken on co-producer role along with Jim Scott and extolled a pioneer posse of backing musicians. These include Keyboardist Benmont Tench (from Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers), pedal steel ace Greg Liesz (feature musician for Wilco, The Jayhawks and Lucinda Williams), Don Heffington (Bob Dylan’s lineage) and of course her husband, guitarist Colin Cripps, all contribute to this wonderful creation.

From the very first line on the very first track, Edwards establishes certain sentimentality as she wisps “The summer months left me alone/But the fall rolled in on the back of a storm”. With a pesky beat, “The Cheapest Key” is in second position; an alphabetized litany of complaints and objections to perhaps an old boyfriend. But the unquestionable stunner of the album is its unyielding coda, “Goodnight, California”, where Edwards has never sounded so good.

-Stephanie Kiernan, 5/16/08

k.d. lang's latest recording, Watershed

Watershed Review (published February 15, 2008 North Shore News)
- Stephanie Kiernan \Rating: 7 out of 10

It’s two years short of a decade since k.d. lang gave way to writing and recording her own music, she now comes to us at the age of 46 without frills, props or stunts, pouring forth Watershed – a collection of 11 original songs.
Whether a case of artistic drought or a self-imposed retreat, there is something more innate and profound yet to be unearthed within her mellow scale and tune. Perhaps it’s her found spiritualism as a Buddhist that accentuates the sincerity of these pieces.
Watershed gently trickles through restrained, tolerant and mild sounds that leave little trace of our Prairie prancing cowgirl. Kathy Lang emerges soulful from her quiet L.A. existence to write, perform and even produce her latest endeavor that will take her on full tour of North American dates including an impressive three-night stand in New York – not too shabby.

From the frisk and frolic of Invincible Summer to the honour of reminiscing Canadian classics on Hymns of the 49th Parallel, not to mention the duets with the iconic Tony Bennett, k.d. lang still reminds us of a throw-back of sorts.

What seems to make this album tick is an inconspicuous blend of all her incarnations – but all softening of edges. Tender jazz influences like the bossa nova reverberation gelling with steel guitar and rustic banjo, plush piano and string congealing magically with her distinguished vocals. From the push off of track one, I Dream of Spring (her confessed personal favorite) melding into Je Fais Le Planche and Coming Home, it’s subdued delivery that is uncomplicated and natural; just as our homespun chanteuse has become - at ease and comfortable in her own skin, unpretentious and ever humble.
Whatever her secret in maintaining such strong appeal, Watershed melds and drifts across a Sunday morning playlist like a meditation, easily absorbed through the most brittle of senses.

The Best Of 2007

Friday afternoon Mr. Goodman at the NSN emailed me to let me in on his annual list of Top Ten Albums. The lists will be published in the December 14th issue.

These are NOT in order - it's hard enough to narrow things down to ten selections you'd recommend as "must-haves", never mind giving them priority or preference. But I will clarify that the reason LCD Soundsystem makes my list is that James Murphy is a brilliant musician and songwriter whom deserves recognition for this 2007 critically acclaimed recording. It's certainly not for everyone.

If you must surrender to the loathsome consumerism of the season, then I recommend straightening out someone's horrendous music collection with anyone of these gems.

1. "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank", from Modest Mouse - released March 07


2. "Cease To Begin" from Band of Horses - released October 07


3. "In Rainbows" from Radiohead - released October 07


4. "Hospital Music" from Matthew Good -July 07


5. "Shine" from Joni Mitchell - released September 07


6. "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" from Spoon - July 07


7. "The World Is Yours" from Ian Brown -September 07


8. "Neon Bible" from Arcade Fire - March 07


9. "The Reminder" from Feistk - March 07


10. "Sounds Of Silver" from LCD Soundsystem - March 07