Tim.Maciag

Explorer of Technology, Art, Music, & The Everyday

Author: Tim Maciag

  • Experiences from Breakout West 2012

    This past weekend I was asked by my friend Ben to help him take pictures for the Breakout West festival, the festival that takes place as part of the Western Canada Music Awards.  Being generally a landscape, tree, plant photographer I was quite apprehensive at first, even declining the offer. After chatting with Nova about it and my best friend Ajay, Nova said something along the lines of “well there is some pressure but it would be a great experience.”  Ajay, on the other hand, told me straight out to tell Ben that I would do it (not in so many words…ha).

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    So, with that giant monumental kick in the ass I re-got a hold of Ben and told him that if he still needed a hand that I would be in. With that the weekend was set and looking back on it, oh my was it such a blur. But indeed I had a blast!

    Enter Friday night. I had really wanted to see Sarah MacDougall perform at the Club as I saw earlier this year (at the Club) and have since become a huge fan of her.  That said I simply couldn’t make it out early enough, family obligations, and needed to start the evening a little late. Thus, the first band I saw was Federal Lights (Manitoba) at the Artesian.  A very awesome band performing in a very cool venue (possibly the best in Regina??). As a side note, when Jason and I have our own CD release (which will happen very soon I think) we may likely try to use this venue.  Back on track – Federal Lights (pictured above to the right, all lit up) – these folks were simply excellent!

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    Next I traveled to the Club and was witness to another great band out of Manitoba – Oh My Darling (pictured left).  These 4 women are truly wonderful. I loved their music so much I also made an effort to see them Saturday night as well, although I also planned on trying to see some performers at the Creative City Centre too.  That, however, did not pan out as when I saw them setting up at Crave, I decided to stay as I just knew it was going to be great.

    Shuyler Jansen (Saskatchewan) at The Exchange. Blurry pic but I love it!

    Catching the end of their set I traveled next door to the Exchange and saw Shuyler Jansen (pictured to the right, this pic sums their music nicely I think!). Shuyler and Co. are from Saskatchewan and I was quite impressed with what I heard indeed. It was then and there I thought to myself, what a treat it really is to be in Regina this weekend and to be taking part in this wonderful event – so much good music! I simply thought…wow!

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    After Shuyler’s set I saw the 2-piece band (guitar and drums) Castle River from Saskatchewan (the guitarist pictured to the left). They too were most fantastic! Very reminiscent of the Japandroids I thought or Molten Lava. Finally I ended the evening back at the Artesian to catch The Lonesome Weekends from Saskatchewan – so wonderful!

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    Saturday night was more of the same thing. Bypassing the Rider game to see more music (this was hard, especially since it was a heck of a game) – I’m glad I did as I heard some excellent music again.

    Starting off the night I traveled to the Knox Metropolitan church to hear some fantastic classical music. What a wonderful way to start the evening. It just put me in such a great mood. I then traveled to Crave to see Sarah MacDougall from the Yukon (pictured to the right) and her band. Sarah is such a wonderful spirit. There is indeed a beauty in her music. Her last album, The Greatest Ones Alive, came out in 2011 and for surely, had I heard it in 2011, would have been on my 2011 top 10 album list – possibly even in the top spot inching out Elliot Brood (her first album, Across the Atlantic, which is equally good, came out in 2008).  Anyway, as suspected, she and her band mates put on a wonderful show. It was hard taking pictures as I found myself toe tapping or otherwise just caught up in the music (this was also the same for Oh My Darling and Dana Sipos who performed after).  I think I did manage a few good pictures though…ha!

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    Staying at Crave for the next 2 musicians/groups I saw and heard Oh My Darling again and than Dana Sipos from the North West Territories (Dana is pictured left).  Both put on amazing performances. I really could have ended the night there but traveled back to the Artesian to see Jeffrey Straker (Saskatchewan) who I’ve come to like a lot. Just good, fun music.

    So there you have it. The weekend was indeed a blur but it for surely was a great experience and I definitely heard some wonderful musicians and bands.  I really must thank Ben for the opportunity and especially Ajay for giving me a slap in the face. What really made the weekend worth while was that Sarah MacDougall posted one of my pictures as her Facebook cover. This simply made it all worth the while!

    You can view a selection of the pictures I took over the weekend here:

    The problem with all this picture business is I now find myself drooling over new expensive lenses to help me take better pictures now. Higher (lower) f-stops and wider angles – these lenses ain’t cheap!  Haha! …oh well, I guess there are worse things to invest in 😉 – tMac

  • Picture Taking Adventure Day (10mm, 2012)




    Starting out in Candy Cane Park at 6:30am, to the FNUC and the U of R, to Waterfowl Park, to Wascana Park, taking a bit of a break and afternoon nap and then continuing to Condie Nature Refuge (6:30pm), to Lumsden (10mm), and finally back home. All pictures were taken with a Canon 10-22mm lens using exclusively the 10mm setting.

  • Happiness project for september: the decluttering

    Continuing my happiness project I decided to take one of the first bits of wisdom Gretchen provided in her very own happiness project, i.e. that every month you should set goals, or projects, with varying degrees of manageability.  I liked this idea as it is a way to keep tabs on progress while, also, getting things done 😉

    Reading about Gretchen’s progress, one of her first projects was to tackle clutter. Looking around at the situation here I too thought this would be a good first project to tackle myself.  For me, however, this project felt like it was a little more than not unwieldy so I decided to break it down into two parts:

    1. part 1: clothes (now)
    2. part 2: shelves and other stuffs (end of September)

    So this past weekend I set out to tackle part 1: clothes.  For me, this part was simply a massive undertaking. However, it was truly enlightening and refreshing and all that. Having lost weight over the past year I knew some clothes I would just get rid of as they would be too big and not wanting to go that direction weight-wise again, I decided it would be best to get rid of everything I thought was just too big now, and there was a lot! So VERY cool, yes indeed. However, over the course of going through my current clothing situation I also ended up having the staunch realization that I had/have a problem, re: clothes spending as I realized that I had WAY too many clothing items and that this was contributing to some of the debt I had been accumulating over the years.  All I could do, say, feel, was whoa!  Over the weekend I went through a whole series of emotions from: holy shit!, to what the f%*k, to ok good, at least I’m chipping away, to feelings of depression, to just feeling good about things again and knowing that I was in a state of mind ready to make a change and grow.

    In the process of folding all items I wanted to depart with nicely in piles, I began thinking of what to do with these items. I couldn’t just give them away to people I knew as I was, and still am a big guy, bigger than most people I know – even though I’m chipping away at this and making great progress, as I’ve mentioned here many times – self encouragement here ;).  Talking with my parents, my mom wanted me to try selling some of my clothing items noting some had been barely, if ever, worn. At first I thought this was a good idea as I know, through experience, how hard it is for a big guy to find clothing. However this also brought back emotions of depression and dread as the realization came back of what I had done, re: spending. With that, I packed all the clothes up in bags (*6* full garbage bags of big and tall clothing as the picture above illustrates) and donated all items to the Canadian diabetes foundation. Someone there might be a tad baffled as to how to deal with the situation. I hope they can figure it out though and hopefully they can do the hard work in selling what they can to other fellow big and tall dudes (we stick together gentlemen), or women who like baggy pjs 😉 – with the money they make helping to contribute to finding a cure (both my grandmothers had diabetes).

    I truly felt that a pressure had been lifted (so, yea, these self-help-esque type projects do work).

    So, having done part 1 of my massive declutter project I have some space to breathe.  I feel good about it, and I know now that I had a wee tad of a little problem re: spending, and that now I can face it head on, learn from it, and grow. I’m looking forward to part 2 at the end of the month. I’m sure I might go through some similar emotions but I’m also sure that it will be a good thing – t.Mac

  • le cabine (August 2012)


    potential burns and maciag album cover (inspiration for my next painting) #a
    potential burns and maciag album cover (inspiration for my next painting) #bMy favorite time of year (fall) is en route!

    le cabine (August 2012), a set on Flickr.

    Visiting J and Melly’s cabine. Although the Riders lost and I got into the liquor patch something fierce, I had a very wonderful time with J, Melly, and Bree!

  • My code and guide to living well

    Here is my guideline, or code (aka Cake: Rent a Goalie, one AWEsome show!), or as Gretchen calls them my [ten] personal commandments. These I devised as part of my happiness project and will be the ten criteria I will try to use daily to evaluate the many things that occur, people I encounter, situations I get involved in, etc.  It will be a work-in-progress, like me 😉

    1. Sometime I am (or can be) quick to anger and judge and be rude so the first and foremost code is: Lighten up

    2. Since May 2011 I have been keeping tabs on my exercise and what I eat. To date I have lost a fair bit of weight and still have a ways to go. Thus, my second code is: Exercise and eat well

    3. I often overlook that I have made some pretty significant accomplishments in my life, and am still in the progress of making a couple pretty big ones too (piling things higher and deeper and finding love and happiness). To me though, there is an arrogance in this statement, i.e. look at how awesome I am, and that is not really something I like to portray myself as having/being. Nonetheless, I need to be proud of some of the things I have, and am doing while keeping it light and being my normal jokingly, sarcastically funny and charming self 😉 So: Be proud but be light

    4. Although I love Nova, my family, and my close friends, there can be times, especially with family where it might not seem like I do to the extent that I do.  For instance, having a bad day and taking it out on the first person around (often my brother Joey) or just arguing for arguing sake (often Nova and my parents). I would really like to work on this part of my life, to #1, lighten up and to simply always: Love *&* respect the ones I’m with

    5. I often see people surpass me in life, i.e. get married, buy houses, have (and save) money. Sometimes this affects me a great deal. Staying in university for so long, I know the end will eventually justify it all, but seeing people move up and progress while I remain arguably stagnant at times impacts the ol’ noodle a great deal and that leads to me sometimes not following #4, love and respect the ones I’m with. So, I need to learn how to simply: Be patient

    6. Over the past year Nova introduced me to numerology. I often take such fuzzy things with a grain of salt as I tend to be more sciencey in my opinions. That said, it was interesting to me. Nova calculated that I am a number 6 type personality.  When I read what that was (and other descriptions as some differ however slight) I was amazed at how close it described me and my inner feelings.  So with #5, be patient, comes compromise but with compromise I must also learn to seek balance and fairness with my mental state and well being. So: Compromise *&* be fair to me (strive for balance)

    7. Being seemingly always busy – although there are times I just feel busy and am not. Perhaps this means I am feeling overwhelmed? I need to make sure I make time to do all of the things I’d like to do, visit all of the people I’d like to, and need to visit, and just be me – all of the time. So, I need to learn to simply: Make the time

    8. Something I’ve always struggled with is finances.  Let’s face it, those who know me well, and now I guess you reading this (now there’s accountability) know I like my little tech trinkets and music sounds and plant things and, etc. Anyways, 😉 being a student for so long (and on student loan), and partly due to my lack of #5, being patient, I have accumulated a fair deal of debt. When I look at the situation it can be daunting and I often feel like I have nothing really (tangible anyways) to show for it.  So, I am going to strive to be more aware of this and I am going to: Spend less money

    9. Something I tend to do is bottle emotional things (at times, not all the time of course as sometimes I just explode!), partly due to the fact I don’t like sounding self-caring, but also I don’t like dealing with things when everyone is emotional. It may also be partly due to the numerology aspect, me being a number 6 type personality, taking on the weight (or emotion) of others with my own and often at the expense of my own well being – my whole #6: compromise and be fair to me. So I’m going to strive to: Discuss it, do not bottle it

    10. One thing I really must work on is to: Follow the schedule (just do it now). Self explanatory I think 🙂

    -t.Mac

  • Canceling maciagonline.net, and beginning this

    As the title says. In an effort to save money but keep a blog going and keep up to date with all things wordpress (I use drupal in my research at the uni), I’ve opted to dust off my very old wordpress site here.  So, yay!

    Just to give a brief update, there are lots of things happening in life these days:

    • A thesis is underway with actual research done, analysis underway, and content (being) written
    • I’ve started to log my food and exercise with MyFitnessPal, a very cool program if I might say so myself.  Things here are still progressing, ummm, downward?? (tehe), this is a great thing!  To date (from May 2011) I am down 57 pounds. Still a long way to go but progress and, in this case, downward growth is a good thing 🙂
    • Jason and I have been recording with an actual producer (Orion Paradis). We’re actually very close to having an album completed and, to me anyway, it is sounding great. I’m pretty excited about this!
    • I’ve started my own “happiness project” – an effort to structure my life while trying to keep my head above water and just be happy(ier).

    Finally, over the next little bit, or actually in the next couple weeks, I’m going to move some of my content and posts from my previous site over here.  There is some content I would like to keep, some of course can go by the wayside 😉

    With that, I hope summer has been great for everyone. I’m ready for fall (my favorite time of year) – t.Mac

  • 2011 albums of the year

    With a cleanly shaved face (like a babies bottom, oh dear what have I done!!!) and as with tradition, I bring to you my 2011 top 10 albums of the year. This year was like all others, extremely difficult. Without further adieu…

    10: Eddie Vedder, Ukulele Songs

    The first entry of my top 10 of ’11. This year was my first chance to see Pearl Jam live (with Jenn and Justin; what a great great show!). When I first found out about this album I thought, how good could it really be: one guy fiddling around on a ukulele. Oh wow though, did it ever knock my socks off. My favorites include: Without You, Can’t Keep, Longing to Belong, Once in a While, and Tonight You Belong to Me.  Here’s a youtube of Without You.

    9: Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys

    The number 9 entry belongs to Death Cab for Cutie. I never really was a big fan of Death Cab; could it be their ridiculous name? …not sure. However, ever since I first put this album in my rotation I have loved it.  It’s just a good, solid album. My favorites include: Doors Unlocked and Open, Underneath the Sycamore, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and Unobstructed Views. Here’s a youtube of Doors Unlocked and Open.

    8: Socalled, Sleepover

    Ever since I saw Socalled at the Regina Folk Festival I have been a big fan. There is just something so unique and fresh about his music, something so great. This album simply does not disappoint – it’s great from start to finish. My favorites include: UNLVD, Richi, Beautiful, Work With What You Got, Sleepover, and a cover of Springhill Mine Disaster. Here is a youtube of UNLVD.

    7: Chad VanGaalen, Diaper Island

    Well, this album is a unique entry in my top 10 of ’11 list. Let me state, I LOVE this album. There is not one song on it I don’t like and this was once, earlier this year, a contender to be in the top 3 of my list here. What changed you ask? It all changed when I saw the man and his band live a few months back. Playing a wide range of tunes from this album, the concert really should have been one of my year’s highlights. However, the concert was one of the worst, if not the worst, concert I have ever seen. Playing way too loud (and I like loud music!), and playing out of tune and appearing to laugh about it I was quite taken aback. However, the greatness of this album cannot be overshadowed as it is a very excellent album but still I have a sour sound in my ears and have slid this album down from where it should really be. My favorites on the album include: Blonde Hash, Freedom For a Policeman, Replace Me, Peace is on the Rise, Sara…really, it’s all good!  Here is a youtube of Replace Me.

    6: Sean McCann, Son of a Sailor

    This is such a good album. Being a fan of Great Big Sea (GBS), Sean’s music is very much the same goodness; on the mellower side of GBS. This album is a constant in my workday/playday playlists. My favorites include: Rather Be A Sailor, Simple Song, The Reply, Doing Fine, Long Road…really, every song is great!  Here is a youtube of Rather Be a Sailor.

    5: Cuff the Duke, Morning Comes

    Cuff the Duke is quite simply one of Canada’s best and greatest bands. On the heels of the Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Barenaked Ladies, Rheostatics, Sloan, and Great Big Sea – Cuff the Duke will be known as one of Canada’s musical gems I am sure of it. This album is a great one, in line with all of their previous albums. My favorites include: Count on Me, Standing on the Edge, You Don’t Know What Its Like, You Won’t Look Back, So Many Times Before, and Time is Right.  Here is a youtube of Standing on the Edge.

    4: Shotgun Jimmie, Transister Sister

    Another year, another Shotgun Jimmie album on my list. There is just something about this guy that appeals to me, be it the rawness of his sound, the humor and light heartedness he has – it all just is very refreshing. At the Regina Folk Festival this year he was one of my favorites. This album is just good and fun!  My favorites include: Too Many Flowers, Transistor Sister, Swamp Magic, King of Kreuzberg, Suzy, and Stereo and the Stove.  Here is a youtube of King of Kreuzberg.

    3: Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues

    Getting closer now to the number 1 album of the year!  My number 3 of ’11 belongs to these fine masters of folk goodness. Mr. Rhiendel first introduced me to the Fleet Foxes a couple years back now and I have been a fan ever since. Their folkiness and beautiful harmonies just resonate with me. This album is quite simply a masterpiece. My favorites include: Battery Kinzie, Lorelai, Bedouin Dress, Helplessness Blues, Someone You’d Admire, and Blue Spotted Tail but really, every song is fantastic!  Here is a youtube of Battery Kinzie.

    2: Handsome Furs, Sound Kapital

    Seeing these folks at The Exchange this year was definitely one of my year’s highlights. A day that was full of music – Jason and I playing the Harry Chapin tribute; another highlight, thank you so much Jeff. I will remember playing that tribute gig forever! …and then Jason, Melly, Tara, and I…oh and Bree came later, went to go see these 2 beautiful people. Such a great day!  An interesting fact (perhaps) – this album, along with Chad VanGaalen’s 2011 album were my first 2 LP purchases. I simply love love love this album – every song from start to finish. It’s just so great! But if picking favorites: Serve the People, Repatriated, Bury Me Standing, What About Us, and When I Get Back standout. Here is a youtube of Bury Me Standing.

    1: Elliot Brood, Days Into Years

    After first hearing this album I instantly knew it was something special. Like with the Handsome Furs, I saw Elliot Brood for the first time this year with Jason, Melly, and Bree and oh boy, what a great show indeed (second only to Rammstein in May which was the best show I have ever seen, period!). Every song on this album is great and I am sure that this album will be one I listen to forever. Songs like If I get Old and Northern Air are instant classics for me but there is more. Lindsay, Lines, Hold You, Will They Bury Us, West End Sky, My Mother’s Side, Owen Sound, and yes, Their Will (my personal favorite on the album) – mentioning all songs on the album here, all I think are/will be a permanent part of any playlist I will ever make.  Seeing them live, the energy they have – very special indeed.  Here is a unique version of the song Lindsay.

    Honorable mentions (no particular order, limit of 5)

    • Dream Theater, A Dramatic Turn of Events
    • The Decemberists, The King is Dead
    • Christine Fellows, Femmes De Chez Nous
    • The Dears, Degeneration Street
    • Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Kings and Queens

    Well, there you have it ladies and gents. It was quite tough to dwindle the list to just 10, there was just so much great music in 2011. Many were not menitoned here (oh my, REM, PJ Harvey, Cake, Daniel Ramano…oh my oh my indeed the list goes on!)  As always, I’m sure 2012 will be yet another great year for music! -tMac

  • 2010 albums of the year

    Well it’s that time again for another “albums of the year” post.  This year I had to sort through over 70 albums, sifted it down to about 17, and then began the most difficult of tasks in reducing that 17 down to only 10.  Clearly 2010 was yet another great year for music so, here we go!

    10: Matthew Barber ~ True Believer

    This marks yet another most excellent album from the Canadian songwriter.  It is very true that Matthew is one of Canada’s gems.  His folky style is something that appeals to me a great deal. My favorites on this album include: Insanity or Death, Hawks on the Highway, I Think You’re Going to Feel My Love, and my personal favorite, The Little Things (which reminds me of Alex, Ella, Oliver, and Harry)

    09: Danny Michel ~ Sunset Sea

    Sadly I have not have the opportunity to see Danny live.  He came to Regina a while back and I was going to go but then at the last minute my inherent lameness took over and I did not go.  This album, although only 8 songs, is quite excellent. It simply makes me very happy every time I listen to it.  My favorites on this album include: This Feeling, Norma Desmond, When I’m You, Who’s Gonna Miss You?, and my personal favorite, Maybe You Can Find It In Your Heart

    08: Gogol Bordello ~ Trans-Continental Hustle

    This was one of the albums Jason gave me throughout 2010. I really didn’t listen to it at all until one day when I had all my 2010 albums on random and My Companjera came up in the playlist. I must say that it put a giant smile on my face instantly.  Being truly unique, this is a must hear album in my mind, simply brilliant!  My favorites include: Pala Tute, Break the Spell, Sun Is On My Side, When Universes Collide, Sun is On My Side, Last One Goes the Hope, and my personal favorite, My Companjera

    07: Wintersleep ~ New Inheritors

    It has taken me a little bit of time to warm up to Wintersleep’s 2010 album. I have all of their albums. However, I found their last album (2005) to be a little “canned.”  That said, their 2010 album is simply awesome. Another band I have not yet seen live (they always go to Saskatoon and never Regina) but I am hoping to very soon. My favorites include: Black Camera, Trace Decay, Terrible Man, New Inheritors (I love the lyrics in this tune), and my personal favorite Encyclopedia

    06: Rah Rah ~ Breaking Hearts

    A Regina band! …and a very good Regina band at that. I find it being quite awesome that there are so many excellent local Regina bands, including The Bystanders, The Dustin Ritter Band, Troy and the Jens (etc.) and of course Rah Rah. To be completely honest I was not really a fan of Rah Rah before this album. However, after listening to this album (which Kristy so kindly lent me), I changed my mind completely. I actually love every song on this album and if you haven’t heard it yet, I highly recommend it.  To be consistent, my favorites include: Ghosts, Beaches, Joey, and Communist Man

    05: Old Man Luedecke ~ My Hands Are On Fire and Other Love Songs

    There is certainly something great about Old Man Luedecke. Another one of Canada’s gems, his music just makes me very happy. Perhaps this is a theme of the albums I’ve picked so far (could it be my age?) ~ I really enjoy music that makes me feel happy (oh dear, that was cornball; I need to go watch a die hard show now 🙂 This album, like all his others, is just a treat.  My favorites include: Foreign Tongue, Caney Fork River, Machu Picchu, and my personal favorite, Inchworm

    04: The Mountains and the Trees ~ Made This For You

    Yet another band I need to give credit to Jason for; man, what would I do (musically) without Jason?? 🙂 This was also another album I really didn’t listen to right off the bat. It was actually their CBC Radio 3 Session (live) that, after listening to it …and listening to it again and again that I truly knew I was listening to one of the best bands/musician(s) I had heard in a long while. This album is just excellent all around.  Favorites include: Goodbye Little Town, The Times, Fear of Ghosts, and my personal favorites, Travellin’ Song and Up & Down

    03: Arcade Fire ~ The Suburbs

    Getting down now to the nitty gritty. This album was actually a top runner to be my number 1 album of the year.  In September I had the absolute mind blowing experience seeing the Arcade Fire live in ‘toon town. Being a huge fan of the band since their first album, this, to me, is their best album yet and that (to me) is a true testament to their musicianship as I often find that bands struggle to continually surpass previous efforts (although this is not always the case ~ I find it often occurs). I simply love this album; every song really is excellent.  My favorites, if I have to choose, would include: Empty Room, Ready to Start, Suburban War, and my personal favorite, Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains ~ what great lyrics!)

    02: The Gaslight Anthem ~ American Slang

    This was another late edition to the ol’ playlist. At first a few songs really stood out: Bring It On and Boxer for sure.  After really delving into the album, much more of its greatness became apparent to me.  This is one truly exceptional album. I simply love it and can’t say enough good things about it.  If you haven’t, buy it, but it, buy it…and if you’re lucky enough, see them live! (another missed opportunity this year for me but my cousin Sammy saw them and she said the concert was simply brilliant). I love every song on this album but, of course, my favorites include: Boxer, Bring It On, The Diamond Church Street Choir, Star Lucky, The Queen of Lower Chelsea, …shit, it’s ALL fantastic!

    01: Great Big Sea ~ Safe Upon the Shore

    Being one of the best Canadian bands of all time in my opinion (being a band for 17 years in 2010), it’s about time I honor GBS with the #1 slot in one of my top 10 lists. It’s true that all GBS albums have been in all my top 10 lists (since I started doing this list thing) but have never quite reached that #1 spot (although that really means nothing as they were all still on my top 10 list and all most excellent albums!).  With their latest album, no question it is for surely one of my favorite albums of theirs, as well as simply one of my favorites of all time. It’s just a very fun, easy going album ~ very much like the band itself.  Every time GBS comes to Regina, I’m there, and if you haven’t yet seen them live really it’s one thing everyone should do!  Sadly I missed a little bit of their show in Regina this year due to Joey’s football (he (with Miller) played during an epic snow storm, it really was most epic so missing a bit made it ok), they played many tunes off their new album and they all sounded excellent. Like with a few other albums on my top 10 this year, I like every song on the album: The title track Safe Upon the Shore is just fantastic, Road to Ruin, Dear Home Town, Wandering Ways, Yankee Sailor, (etc.) …the whole album really shines! There is one song though I really enjoy, Good People. It is no secret my thoughts on us, with myself questioning the many things we all do to be hurtful to ourselves, each other, and the environment (etc.). That all said, this song really made me think (and concede) that, yes, there are many good folks out there ~ that, generally, we are all good people (cornball! …haha, oh yes but I think it’s true nonetheless). An awesome album by an awesome band

    Honorable mentions (in no particular order):

    • Disturbed ~ Asylum
    • Dustin Ritter Band ~ Dead Airwaves (Echo When I’m Gone is one excellent tune!)
    • Jim Bryson and the Weakerthans ~ The Falcon Lake Incident
    • Kathryn Calder ~ Are You My Mother
    • The Acorn ~ No Ghost

    And although this album was really from 2009, I only heard it in 2010 (thank you CBC Radio3 and Jason (again)): Richard Laviolette and the Oil Spills ~ All of Your Raw Materials.  This is such an awesome album I just had to mention it!

    Well, there you have it ~ my top 10 of ’10. It was a great year for music!  Here’s hoping 2011 brings more of the same! -tMac

  • 2009 albums of the year

    As promised, and surprisingly before heading back to the worky-work, I was able to do my annual albums of the year {AOTY}.  As with previous years, this year did indeed pose some challenges.  Starting from a population of over 50 albums, I reduced things down to 10, adding some honorable mentions at the end of it all. So with that, here they are, from my top 10 down to my top 1 and most favorite album of 2009.

    10: Sunparlour Players; Wave north. I first heard the Sunparlour Players in 2007 with their CBC Radio 3 {hit}, if the creeks don’t rise and immediately thought that they were most excellent. Their music has a very {rootsy} type feel, banjo, acoustic awesomeness all around.  In Wave North, their 2009 album, you get much of the same; good song writing, good music, very enjoyable indeed.  My favorites include: Battle of 77, Boards, Figure it out, North, Joy in what you lack, and Nuclear

     

    09: Immaculate Machine; High on jackson hill. There is no questioning that this band is genius in my mind.  With their very catchy, truly indie canadian sound they have quickly come one of my favorite bands.  On this album in particular, there are 2 songs that are just some of the most excellent tunes you will ever hear; being {You destroyer and And it was}.  Simply for the song You destroyer, this album is top 10 worthy in my mind.  Other favorites include: I know it’s not easy, Primary colours, You got us into this mess, Thanks me later, and Neighbors don’t mind

     

    08: Wax Mannequin; Saxon. “Streets of Vancouver are flooded, with the blood of the sleepwalking dead…”  “Calgary’s gold is someone’s curse…” Amazing how lyrics can have such a profound effect on ones psyche.  I’ve been a fan of Wax’s for some time.  Unfortunately work prevented me from hitting the club to see him in 2009.  That said, I’m hoping to catch him in 2010 sometime.  This album was a late addition to my collection so I really haven’t fully given it its listening dues but from what I have heard, the word epic comes to mind.  My favorites include: End of me, Doin’, Volcano god, Something to hide, Broken friends, and Feelings

    07: Jenn Grant; Echoes. This album is one of those albums you can listen to and just {be} happy.  Jenn’s voice happens to be one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard.  I first heard of Jenn when Mr. Burns gave me a copy of her 2007 disc and I immediately took a liking to her music.  Her 2009 album is much of the same, mellow acoustics, slide electrics, excellent vocals/lyrics.  My favorites include: You’ll go far, Parachutes, I’ve got the two of you, Blue mountains, and Where are you now

     

    06: Shotgun Jimmie; Still jimmie. I was able to see Jimmie in 2009 when he opened for Attack in Black (and played with them after) at the exchange and let me tell you, I liked him even more after I saw him live.  There is just something about his music that speaks to me; the raw electric guitar and the raw voice; it’s all just very excellent!  My favorites include: Waist deep in the water, Province to province, Road animal, Quicksand, Dawson city, I asked cupid and Mind crumb

     

    05: The Deep Dark Woods; Winter hours. Unique to the Deep Dark Woods is that they are a band from my home province of Saskatchewan {AND} they are a band with such great potential so as to become one of the great Canadian bands {time will tell I guess}.  I’ve enjoyed TDDW since I heard their first album (I think it’s their first) a few years back.  They were also one of the bands in my top 10 that I was able to see live {twice actually}.  I much preferred the first time I saw them but they were good the second as well.  This album is really good and I highly encourage everyone to pick up a copy and give it a listen.  Excellent!  My favorites include: All the money i had is gone, The birds on the bridge, two time loser, How can i try, Nancy, and Farewell

    04: Great Lake Swimmers; Lost channels. Yet another band I got to see in 2009, GLS are quite simply put, one of Canada’s best indeed.  From the mello{w}{odic} acoustic guitars to the hauntingly beautiful lyrics and voice of Tony, Julie, and the rest of the band.  This album is just very {VERY} good and if you don’t yet have it or haven’t had a chance yet to hear it, do yourself a favor.  My favorites include: Still, The chorus in the underground, She comes to me in dreams, Palmistry, Pulling on a line, and Unison falling into harmony

    03: Metric; Fantasies. Metric is just one of those bands that everyone should really like..like, c’mon eh! Wink  Fronted by the beautiful Emily Haines, who is good in her own right {solo career-wise}, Metric’s ability to write very good, catchy, lyrically-rich tunes really shines on their 2009 album.  There is not one song I dislike on this album but to be consistent, my favorites include: Gold guns girls, Help i’m alive, Collect call, Twilight galaxy, Sick muse, and Gimmie sympathy

     

    02: Bidiniband; The land is wild. The Rheostatics are one of my favorite bands of all time.  It saddened by dearly when they decided to break up.  That said, much of their music still lives on as many of them went on to record their own solo efforts {Violet Archers, Martin Tielli, and Dave Bidini}.  This album is Dave Bidini’s first solo effort and let me tell you, much of the magic that was the Rheostatics has transferred here.  I love this album.  It is just excellent in my mind.  My favorites include: How zeke roberts died, The continuing story of canadiana and canadiandy, The land is wild, The ballad of 1969, Terrorize me now, Desert island poem, and We like to rock.  Awesome indeed!

    01: Rammstein; Liebe ist fur alle da  {Deluxe album version}. Ok, now I’m sure many of my friends and family who read this might say, {WHAT} with this entry in my top 10, especially being the top slot.  But I say to these folks who {may} say this, it could not be denied that Rammstein’s 2009 album Liebe ist fur alle da is my number 1 favorite album of the year for 2009.  I was only introduced to Rammstein a year or so ago by my brother Joey and ever since then, I have become an avid fan of their music.  Be it the {dark, smart, funny, ironic} lyrics or, quite simply, the raw power and energy of their music, there is just something about this band that speaks to me.  When I first heard the single on this album, humorously titled Pussy, I was hooked.  The funny thing about the band, and this single in particular (and other similar singles the band has released in the past), some of their songs, singles especially, are simplisitc in nature.  The great thing about it is that the band knows this and openly acknowledges the humor, sarcasm, and sometimes {awfulness} in it all (as in the first single for this album).  Back to this album in particular, Pussy is a song that simply seeks to provoke a feeling, be it laughter and/or controversy; basically a song to make the music world know that they are back; it’s ingenious really and with great success they accomplished it indeed!  Moving away from this line of thought, every other song on this album is a treat.  It must be said that there are 2 versions of this album, a 10-song compilation and a deluxe version with 5 extra songs.  The deluxe version is well worth the extra coin as the extra songs provided are really some of my favorites of the album.  I will be listening to this album long past 2009.  To me, it is just one of those timeless little masterpieces you sometimes are lucky enough to stumble onto.  I like every song on this album but again to be consistent, some of my favored ones include: Halt, Donaukinder, Ich tu dir wen, B********, Liebe ist fur alle da, Roter sand, Furhre mich, Wiener blut, Mehr, Fruhling in paris, and Waidmanns heil.  All in all, a very {VERY} excellent album! 

    Ok, again what a year!! Same as with last year, I have a list of honorable mentions below, which, again, I also had to reduce down to 10! In alpha order:

    Honorable Mentions of 2009:

    • Attack in Black; Years (By one thousand fingertips)
    • Blue Rodeo; Things we left behind
    • Cuff the Duke; Way down here
    • Iron and Wine; Around the well
    • Joel Plaskett; Three
    • Jon-Rae Fletcher; Oh Maria
    • Julie Doiron; I can wonder what you did with your day
    • Megadeth; Endgame
    • Pearl Jam; Backspacer
    • Steve Earle; Townes

    Before I end communicato, there is one last piece of musical genius I would like to mention.  In 2009 my good friend Jason released his latest album titled Twenty Seven.   For Jason this album was a long time in the making and well worth the effort.  Many of the songs deal with society, the environment, friends and family, and of course Saskatchewan.  There are many excellent songs on this album, including: The ballad of pat and grant, The story of pilot butte creek, Coffee cups, and Quit talkin’ about it (just to name a few).  Every time I listen to his album it encourages me to pick up my own guitar and play, and write, and record.  With that, I encourage you all to listen to it. If you like what you hear, let Jason know…

    Well, with that, here’s hoping 2010 brings some more excellent music our way -tMac

  • 2008 albums of the year

    Well indeed it’s that time again for my album picks of the year. Last year I thought this task was most difficult but this year, oh my! So, here they are from my top 10 down to my top 1 and most favorite album of 2008.

    10: The Buttless Chaps; Cartography. I first heard the Buttless Chaps earlier this year when listening to a CBC Radio 3 podcast. I immediately thought they were most suburb and purchased 2 of the previous albums. Later on this year, they released this album and it was the same kind of thing, I immediately enjoyed it. Their true strength is mixing acoustic and reverby electrics to create folk masterpieces. This is a brilliant album. My favorites include: Water By The Wayside, Coal Grey Sky, Cartography, and Before the Night it Buries You

     

    09: Danny Michel; Feather, Fur, and Fin. Sadly earlier this year I had the chance to see Danny Michel at the Exchange but opted at the time not to go to the show. This is most certainly one of my regrets for ’08 but I’m sure he’ll be by this way again hopefully soon. Feather, Fur, and Fin is simply put an excellent album full of folky classics which include many of my favorite tracks of any 2008 album, including: Tell Sally, Sweet Things, Motorcade, If God’s on Your Side, On My Way, Feather Fur and Fin, and Rye Whiskey and Wine

     

    08: AC/CD; Black Ice. 2 distorted guitars, 1 thumping bass, classic rock drums, and bluesy vocals = awesomeness. That is the formula that AC/DC has used for all of their albums since the dawn of time and you know what, it simply works! I was skeptical at first upon learning about this album, thinking that AC/DC’s time has come and gone but after listening to this album over and over I have to say that it sure rocks! My favorites include: Anything Goes, Smash N’ Grab, War Machine, Wheels, Decibel, and Skies on Fire

     

    07: Matt Mays; Terminal Romance. I was most fortunate to see Matt Mays in concert this year at the greasy Pump (which to my surprise was not so greasy). I must say that he and his crew (along with the Arkells) put on quite the spectacle and that further made me believe that his 2008 effort was worthy of top 10 goodness. Arguably, I think this album is his best yet, offering some of my favorite songs to date including: Tall trees, Terminal Romance, Northern Belle, Stand and Deliver, Rock Ranger Record, and Digital Eyes. A very VERY good album indeed!

     

    06: Judas Priest; Nostradamus. Since my uncle John introduced me to the Priest in my high school years, I have been a huge fan and was finally able to see them in ‘Toon town in this past summer. They are simply what I think encapsulates quality musicianship. On their 2008 album, Priest attempted something new and risky for them, a concept album. Critic reviews aside, some of which have been good and bad, I really love this album and even consider it one of my favorite albums of all time. The album, as with many concept albums, is meant to be listened track after track in order and I think it is simply brilliant! Song favorites include: Dawn of Creation/Prophecy, Awakening/Revelations, Sand of Time/Pestilence and Plague, Peace/Conquest, Persecution, Alone, Shadows in Flame/Visions, and Calm Before the Storm/Nostradamus

    05: Skydiggers; City of Sirens. One of my favorite bands of all time includes the Skydiggers. In my mind, they are real, true, spectacular Canadian musicians and they represent all that is good with music. In their 2008 effort they produced a solid quality folk rock album. My favorites include: Where’s my Baby Tonight, Hasty Mart, ‘Till I Arrive, One Last Chance, Incurable, All in My Time, When You Walk By, Hello Beautiful Life, and City of Sirens

     

    04: Great Big Sea; Fortune’s Favour. Yet another band I got to see in 2008, Great Big Sea blew my mind away. They are so good at what they do and on the 2008 album, it sure shows. From Alan’s rocking vocals, to Sean’s softer vocals to the newfie-esque vocals when the whole band sings, it’s just so very excellent. My favorites include: Banks of Newfoundland, England, Love Me Tonight, Long Lost Love, Company of Fools, Rocks of Merasheen, Dream to Live, and Straight to Hell

     

    03: Disturbed; Indestructible. Ok, gettin’ down to the short strokes now. My number 3 album of ’08 is one that I really think is spectacular. This album makes me smile every time I hear it; it’s just so energetic. With their politically driven and down to earth metal lyrics I find myself often giving the devil horns while headbanging at my work desk 😉 Their heavy, guitar driven music is just so awesome; what an album! My favorite tracks include: Deceiver, The Curse, Perfect Insanity, Enough, Haunted, Facade, Divide, and Inside the Fire. What an album!

     

    02: Old Man Luedecke; Proof of Love. This year’s Regina Folk Festival was brilliant. Many acts, including Rock Plaza Central, Jim Bryson, Kathleen Edwards, Jill Barber among many others made it quite excellent. One musician in particular stood out for me and that was Old Man Luedecke. Every track on this album is a success; I simply love every song on it. From his lyrics, to his toe tapping banjo I highly recommend anyone who hasn’t yet heard it to pick it up, you will not regret it! My favorites include everything, but specifically Just Like A River, Thrown by the Bull, Johny has Gone For a Soldier, In the Beginning, The Drawing Near, Proof Of Love; ummm, ok let’s just go back to say I like it all!

    01: Blind Melon; For My Friends. Ok, after much mental debate, this is my top pick for 2008 album of the year. In my view Blind Melon is one of the most underrated bands of all time. After Shannon Hoon, their lead singer, passed away in the mid-90’s I had thought that was the end for this very excellent band. Little did I know because they sure came roaring back in 2008. Fronted by new singer/song writer Travis Warren, who of course will never replace Hoon but does his very own excellent job indeed in his own right! This album is simply perfect, a classic. I encourage all who read this to pick it up and if able, go and see them live which I was able to do this year and let me tell you, what a show! My favorites on the album include: With the Right Set of My Eyes, Tumblin’ Down, Last Laugh, Wishing Well, Sometimes, Down on the Pharmacy, For my Friends, ummm, ok, another album which I like all tracks!

    Ok, what a year!! I even have a list of honorable mentions below, which I also had to reduce down to 10! In no particular order:

    Honorable Mentions of 2008:

    • Ron Sexsmith; Exit Strategy of the Soul
    • Fembots; Calling Out
    • Metallica; Death Magnetic
    • Matthew Barber; Ghost Notes
    • Jill Barber; Chances
    • Motorhead; Motorizer
    • Sam Roberts; Love at the End of the World
    • Kathleen Edwards; Asking for Flowers
    • Hilotrons; Happymatic
    • Arkells; Jackson Square

    Here’s hoping 2009 brings more of the same! -tMac