Mix Tape

Aesop Rock – The Harbour is Yours (None Shall Pass) – It’s Barbary coast tales of swashbucklery, mermaids, and scurvy in a hip hop track; take that, Ninjas!

Ataxia – Ethiopian Song (Automatic Writing II) – I know I was being a little too spoiled the past year or so when I kept wanting a new John Frusciante album to come out. I mean, he put out seven albums in ’04 alone, but sure enough, he aims to please and "Ethiopian Song" is the perfect start to the album.

Buck 65 – Way Back When (Situation) – I first heard this track on the CBC back around October when Buck performed it live. It came off pretty awkward at first, but hearing the studio version makes it seem so much better. The whole album is supposed to be homage to the year 1957, and this track solidifies it. Note: on my way to the TWM staff Christmas party, I swear Buck 65 was sitting in front of me on the Parliament bus.

El-P – Habeas Corpus (I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead) – If El-P’s love for Blade Runner wasn’t apparent in his beats alone, this year we got his own take on a steampunk romance in a I-want-to-save-her…forget-it way.

Iron and Wine – Boy With A Coin (Shepherd’s Dog) – It’s "Sexyback" with a beard!

Joanna Newsom – Colleen (Ys Street Band) – I never got to go to Medieval Times as a kid (or even now, for that matter), I never was able to go to a Renaissance Fair, and I always get outbid whenever I try to get a sword off of eBay. This song at least bring me back to a time when the bread was stale, the wenches saucy, and the commoners leprous!

New Pornographers – Challengers (Challengers) – It’s just top-form Neko Case here, a real belter.

Sing Leaf – Ages Ago (Sing Leaf) – It was tough to pick a track off this album. Eventually I decided with the one track on it that is written by someone else! Now don’t get me wrong, I think that Sing Leaf Dave does a bang up job, but I thought that the fact that Brooke Manning’s (Owl Eyes) song fits so well with Sing Leaf deserves a special mention. Kinda like two for the price of one.

The Singing Voices – They’ll Terra-form You (The Singing Voices) – One of my most favoured songs of the year. Even with the sweet trumpet solo aside, who sings about terra-forming?! This guy! (pointing to Tim Rennie).

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