(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Cut Copy - Where I’m Going - TBA :: out 2011
Azure Ray - Don’t Leave My Mind - Drawing Down the Moon :: out September 14
The Mynabirds - Numbers Don’t Lie - What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood
Title Tracks - Every Little Bit Hurts - It Was Easy
Ra Ra Riot - Boy - It Was Easy :: out August 24
Aqualung - New Friend - Magnetic North
Damien Jurado - Arkansas - Saint Bartlett
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Conscience Killer - Beat the Devil’s Tatoo
Tycho - Adrift (Shigeto’s Adrift a Dream Mix) - Horizon Line :: a Ghostly International compilation
Wintersleep - New Inheritors - New Inheritors
Best Coast - Our Deal - Crazy for YouDum Dum Girls - Heart of Stone - digital single :: Raveonettes cover
Typhoon - Starting Over - Hunger and Thirst
Andre Williams - That’s All I Need - That’s All I Need
Menomena - Five Little Rooms - Mines
The Love Language - Heart to Tell - Libraries
Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs - Forget It - Medicine Country
Deer Tick - 20 Miles - The Black Dirt Sessions
Blonde Redhead - Here Sometimes - Penny Sparkle :: out September 14
Josh Ritter - Change of Time - So Runs the World Away
Shout Out Louds -Fall Hard - Work
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Higher than the Stars - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
The Depreciation Guild - My Chariot - Spirit Youth
Hey Champ - Neverest - Star
mp3s:

Cut Copy - Where I’m Going (email required)
Azure Ray - Don’t Leave My Mind (email requried)
The Mynabirds - Numbers Don’t Lie
Title Tracks - Every Little Bit Hurts (via RCRD LBL)
Ra Ra Riot - Boy (email required)
Aqualung - New Friend (email required)
Damien Jurado - Arkansas
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Conscience Killer
Tycho – Adrift (Shigeto’s Adrift A Dream Mix)
Wintersleep - New Inheritors (email required)
Best Coast - Our Deal
Dum Dum Girls - Heart of Stone
Typhoon - Starting Over
Andre Williams - That’s All I Need
Menomena - Five Little Rooms (email required)
The Love Language - Heart to Tell
Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs - Forget It
Deer Tick - 20 Miles
Blonde Redhead - Here Sometimes
Josh Ritter - Change of Time (email required)
Shout Out Louds - Fall Hard
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Higher than the Stars
Depreciation Guild - My Chariot
Hey Champ - Neverest (via RCRD LBL)

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

The Mynabirds - Let The Record Go - What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood :: out April 27
JDH - The Crystal Lake - Of All the Things We’ve Made EP (free DL) :: Grandaddy Cover
Mates of State - Laura - Crushes: The Covers Mixtape :: out summer 2010
White Hinterland - Icarus - Kairos
Apples in Stereo - Dance Floor - Travelers in Space and Time
Emanuel and the Fear - Dear Friend - Listen
Phosphorescent - It’s Hard to Be Humble (When You’re From Alabama) - Here’s to Taking It Easy
Clem Snide - Denise - The Meat of Life
matt pond PA - Starting - The Dark Leaves
Jonna Lee - The Light - This is Jonna Lee :: iamamiwhoami on YouTube
Junip - Rope and Summit - forthcoming, untitled EP
BLK JKS - Zol! - Zol! :: out June 8
Ruby Suns - Cranberry - Fight Softly
Butterfly Explosion - Closer - Lost Trails
Thee Oh Sees - I was Denied - Warm Slime :: out May 11
The Go Find - Everybody Knows It’s Gonna Happen only not Tonight - Everybody Knows It’s Gonna Happen only not Tonight
Tokyo Police Club - Breakneck Speed - Champ :: out June 8
Hotels - The Heart that Hears like a Bat - Where Hearts Go Broke
Stars - Fixed - The Five Ghosts :: out June 22
Sambassadeur - Stranded - European
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Even Heroes Have to Die - Brutalist Bricks
April Smith and the Great Picture Show -Colors - Songs for a Sinking Ship

mp3s:

The Mynabirds - Let the Record Go
Jonny Dylan Hughes - The Crystal Lake
Mates of State - Laura (email required)
White Hinterland - Icarus
Apples in Stereo - Dance Floor (email required)
Emanuel and the Fear - Deaf Friend
Phosphorescent - It’s Hard To Be Humble (when You’re from Alabama)
Clem Snide - Denise (via KEXP’s Song of the Day)
matt pond PA - Starting (via Magnet)
Jonna Lee - The Light (via It’s a Trap!)
Junip - Rope & Summit (email required)
BLK JKS - Zol!
Ruby Suns - Cranberry
Butterfly Explosion - Closer
The Oh Sees - I Was Denied
The Go Find - Everybody Knows It’s Gonna Happen Only Not Tonight
Tokyo Police Club - Breakneck Speed (email required)
Stars - Fixed (via AW Music)
Sambassadeur - Stranded
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Even Heroes Have to Die
April Smith and the Great Picture Show - Colors

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Aloha - Moonless March - Home Acres
Band Of Horses - Compliments - Infinite Arms :: out May 18
A Weather - Giant Stairs - Everyday Balloons
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio - High Violet :: out May 11
Boy Eats Drum Machine - Hoop + Wire - Hoop + Wire
Caribou - Odessa - Swim :: out April 20
Sally Seltmann - On the Borderline - Heart That’s Pounding
Club 8 - Western Hospitality - The People’s Record :: out May 18
Codeine Velvet Club - Hollywood - Codeine Velvet Club
Dr. Dog - Stranger - Shame, Shame
Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar - Good Things :: out in July
Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La - I Will Be (oops, not self-titled)
Phantogram - When I’m Small - Eyelid Movies
Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi - Go
Here We Go Magic - Collector - Pigeons
Foals - Spanish Sahara (Mount Kimbie Remix) - [original from] Total Life Forever :: out May 11
Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee - Shadows :: out June 8
Blitzen Trapper - Heaven and Earth - Destroyer of the Void :: out June 8
Irestsu - Humbuzzer - Fang :: out May 24
Eliot Smith - Twilight - From a Basement on the Hill :: remastered reissue from KRS
Hacienda - I Keep Waiting - Big Red and Barbacoa
mp3s:

Aloha - Moonless March
Band of Horses - Compliments (via RCRD LBL)
A Weather - Giant Stairs
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
Boy Eats Drum Machine - Hoop + Wire
Caribou - Odessa (via RCRD LBL)
Sally Seltmann - On the Borderline
Club 8 - Western Hospitality
Codeine Velvet Club - Hollywood
Dr. Dog - Stranger
Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar
Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La
Phantogram - When I’m Small
Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi
Here We Go Magic - Collector (email required)
Foals - Spanish Sahara (Mt. Kimbie remix) (via SoundCloud)
Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee
Blitzen Trapper - Heaven and Earth
Iretsu - Humbuzzer (via Hidden Shoal)
Eliot Smith - Twilight

Speaking of these shows, how do you like the 90-minute format? I’ll tell you the reason I’ve been doing them that way: It’s a LOT of work to publish a show, way beyond just the recording itself. I don’t have as much free time as I used to when I made one a week, so it fits in my life a lot better just to make it every other week, and make it a bit longer than it would be otherwise. I realize an hour and a half might be a little long, but I’m guessing you can stop it if you need to, and come back to it later. It also gives you two weeks, instead of one, to absorb all the new music. Is that how it’s working out for you?

Also, some listeners have told me that this show is their primary source for new music. If that’s the case, did you know that I post one awesome thing every day here, and even more here?

K, anyway, here’s what I’m playing this week:

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Nick Jaina - Sleep Child - A Bird in the Opera House :: out April 13
Hannah Georgas - Chit Chat - This is Good :: out April 27 :: Hear Hannah on CBC’s WireTap (You’ll thank me.)
Broken Social Scene - World Sick - Forgiveness Rock Record :: out May 4
The New Pornographers - Your Hands (Together) - Together :: out May 4
Devo - Fresh - Fresh :: forthcoming, release TBA
Bad Lieutenant - Dynamo - Never Cry Another Tear
Gorillaz - Stylo (feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack) (Chiddy Bang Remix) - [original from] Plastic Beach
A Weather - Third of Life - Everyday Balloons
Laura Veirs - I Can See Your Tracks - July FlameBest Coast - When I’m With You - single
The Depreciation Guild - Sky Ghosts - In Her Gentle Jaws
Tree Wave - Sleep - Cabana EP :: 2004
Drive-By Truckers - Birthday Boy - The Big To-Do
Jakob Dylan - Nothing but the Whole Wide World - Women and Country :: out April 6
She & Him - Thieves - Volume 2 :: out March 23
MGMT - Flash Delirium - Congratulations :: out April 13
Tunng - Don’t Look Down or Back - And Then We Saw Land :: out April 6
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - The Mighty Sparrow - The Brutalist Bricks
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way - I Learned the Hard Way :: out April 6
Wild Nothing - Summer Holiday - Gemini :: out May 18
The Radio Dept. - Heaven’s on Fire - Clinging to a Scheme :: out April 21
mp3s:

Nick Jaina - Sleep Child (via Magnet)
Hannah Georgas - Chit Chat (via Spinner)
Broken Social Scene - World Sick (email required)
The New Pornographers - Your Hands (Together)
Devo - Fresh (email required)
Bad Lieutenant - Dynamo (email required)
Gorillaz (feat Mos Def and Bobby Womack) - Stylo (Chiddy_Bang_Remix) (via RCRD LBL)
A Weather - Third of Life (via Spinner)
Laura Veirs Overture (I Can See Your Tracks & July Flame)
Best Coast - When I’m With You (via RCRD LBL)
The Depreciation Guild - Sky Ghosts
Treewave - Sleep
Drive-By Truckers - Birthday Boy (email required)
Jakob Dylan - Nothing But the Whole Wide World (via Spinner)
She & Him - Thieves (via Pitchfork)
MGMT - Flash Delirium (via RCRD LBL)
Tunng - Don’t Look Down or Back
Ted Leo & the Pharmacist - The Mighy Sparrow
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way (email required)

While my Olympic Fever didn’t register on the mercury until midway through the opening ceremonies, Canadians have been excited for a long time. And now, you can feel the energy in the air. This show is all Canadian music, in honour of the country and its athletes.

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Sloan - Take It Upon Yourself - Hit & Run EP
Jason Collett - Love is a Dirty Word - Rat a Tat Tat :: out March 9
Kate Maki - Upon a Time - Two Song Wedding
Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Action - Heartland
Beast - Mr. Hurricane - Beast
The King Khan & BBQ Show - Animal Party - Invisible Girl
Old Man Luedecke - The Rear Guard - My Hands Are on Fire and Other Love Songs :: out March 30
Basia Bulat - Go On - Heart of My Own
Dan Mangan - Road Regrets - Nice Nice Very Nice
CFCF - Big Love - Continent
Jets Overhead - No Nations - No Nations
The Pinecones - Sage - Sage
Elephant Stone - I Am Blind - The Seven Seas
Woodhands - Dissembler - Remorsecapade
Woodpigeon - Empty-Hall Sing-Along - Die Stadt Muzikanten :: out March 9th
Yukon Blonde - Wind Blows - Yukon Blonde :: out March 23
Elliott Brood - Write it All Down for You - Mountain Meadows
Daniel, Fred & Julie - Runner - Daniel, Fred & Julie
Said the Whale - This City’s a Mess - Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia
You Say Party! We Say Die! - Glory - XXXX
Young Galaxy - Long Live the Fallen World - Invisible Republic
Postdata - Tobias Grey - Postdata
Zeus - Marching Through Your Head - Say Us :: out February 23
Hawksley Workman - Warhol’s Portrait of Gretsky - MILK
mp3s:

Sloan - Take It Upon Yourself (email required)
Jason Collett - Love is a Dirty Word (email required)
Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Action (email required)
Beast - Mr. Hurricane
King Khan & BBQ Show - Animal Party
Old Man Luedecke - The Rear Guard
Basia Bulat - Go On
Dan Mangan - Road Regrets
CFCF - Big Love
Jets Overhead - No Nations (email required)
The Pinecones - Sage
Elephant Stone - I Am Blind
Woodhands - Dissembler
Woodpigeon - Empty-Hall Sing-Along
Yukon Blonde - Wind Blows
Elliot Brood - Write It All Down for You (via KEXP Song of the Day)
Daniel, Fred & Julie - Runner
Said the Whale - This City’s a Mess
Young Galaxy - Long Live The Fallen World
Postdata - Tobias Grey (email required)
Zeus - Marching Through Your Head

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Yeasayer - O.N.E. - Odd Blood
Bryan Free - I’ll Pull You Out - digital single
Four Tet - Angel Echoes - There is Love in You
Cars & Trains - Intimidated by Silence - The Roots, The Leaves
The Watson Twins - U-N-Me - Talking to You, Talking to Me :: out February 9
She & Him - In the Sun - Volume Two :: out March 23
Eels - End Times - End Times
Broken Bells - The High Road - Broken Bells :: out March 9
Let’s Wrestle - We are the Men You’ll Grow to Love Soon - In the Course of Wrestling, Let’s :: out March 23
Metric - Help I’m Alive (80kidz Remix) - digital single
The Album Leaf - Falling From the Sun - A Chorus of Storytellers :: out February 2
Lali Puna - Remember - Our Inventions :: Did I say “out February 4″? I meant April 2. Dang Europeans with their switching the MM/DD and whatnot!
Peter Bradley Adams - For You - Traces
Laura Gibson and Ethan Rose - Younger - Bridge Carols :: out February 9
The Besnard Lakes - Albatross - The Besnard Lakes are the Roaring Night :: out March 9
Rogue Wave - Good Morning - Permalight :: out March 2
Radar Bros - Horses Warriors - The Illustrated Garden :: out March 23
The Raveonettes - The Chosen One - In & Out of Control :: special edition bonus track
Drive-By Truckers - This Fucking Job - The Big To-Do
:: out March 16
Sambassadeur - Days - European :: out February 24
Alex Arrowsmith - Get a Job, Hippie - Modernity Leave :: free album download
mp3s:

Yeasayer - O.N.E.
Bryan Free - I’ll Pull You Out
Four Tet - Angel Echoes
Cars & Trains - Intimidated By Silence
The Watson Twins - U-N-Me (sign-up requried)
She & Him - In the Sun (via Local Cut)
Eels - End Times (via Stereogum)
Let’s Wrestle - We are the Men You’ll Grow to Love Soon
Metric - Help I’m Alive (email required)
The Album Leaf - Falling from the Sun
Lali Puna - Remember
Peter Bradley Adams - For You (.zip file on page)
Laura Gibson and Ethan Rose - Younger (email required)
Besnard Lakes - Albatross
Radar Brothers - Horses Warriors
The Raveonettes - The Chosen One
Drive-By Truckers - This Fucking Job
Sambassadeur - Days

As writer Marc Kevin Hall recently observed, 2009 can be summed up by one word: loss. This was certainly true for me; I lost my job to the recession, and, worse, a longtime friend to death. The music community also suffered losses: Michael Jackson, Jeff Hanson, Vic Chestnutt to name a few. So far, this trend hasn’t abated in 2010, yet. Economic indicators continue to be sluggish, musicians keep dying, a personal friend of ours is withering in the hospital from cancer, and tens of thousands have been killed by the earthquake in Haiti.

So, that’s kind of a downer.

While bad circumstances can get me down, I also tend to be an optimist. I generally give people the benefit of the doubt, as well as difficult situations. I think things will start to get better. We’re on the cusp of passing health care legislation which, although it isn’t as robust as many of us had hoped for, should be the biggest stride towards improvement we’ve seen in years. I think we’re also going to figure out how to make a better, more stable economy. Science is continuing to make some sweet strides, and the world is basically a good place.

Even during last year, when things were the most difficult, there were still things to be thankful for, to smile about. For the first half of the year, I got to perform my calling in an amazing setting with amazing people, AND get paid for it. I met some artists whose work I truly admire. My wife is the most supportive and understanding woman I could hope for, and our daughter becomes more beautiful, smart and loving every day.

This is some of the music that helped me through the more difficult passages of 2009, and were the most enjoyable music I came across. I hope you enjoy it!

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Viva Voce - Rose City - Rose City
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart :: this is C86
Laura Gibson - Spirited - Beasts of Seasons
Ethan Rose - On Wheels Rotating - Oaks :: out soon: Bridge Carols (w/ Laura Gibson) [listen] [pre-order]
Alela Diane - White as Diamonds - To Be Still :: [video]
M. Ward - Rave On - Hold Time
Monsters of Folk -  Say Please - Monsters of Folk
Neko Case - People Got a Lotta Nerve - Middle Cyclone
Bat for Lashes - Daniel - Two Suns :: [video]
Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Shampoo - Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Jeff Hanson - If Only I Knew - Madam Owl
Vic Chesnutt - Society Sue - Skitter on Take-Off
Celilo - Sunken Ships (Live at Mississippi Studios) - [original on] Bending Mirrors
Starfucker - Boy Toy - Jupiter EP
Telekinesis - Coast of Carolina - Telekinesis!
O+S - Permanent Scar - O+S :: [video]
Ramona Falls - Russia - Intuit
Blue Giant - Blue Sunshine - Target Heart EP
They Might Be Giants - The Ballad of Davy Crockett (in Outer Space) - Here Comes Science :: [video]

Also, here are my top 10 favorite albums of the year, arranged in semi-arbitrary order:

1. Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
2. O+S - O+S
3. Ramona Falls - Intuit
4. Laura Gibson - Beasts of Seasons
5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
6. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
7. M. Ward - Hold Time
8. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
9. Viva Voce - Rose City
10. Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Elvis Perkins in Dearland

mp3s:

Viva Voce - Devotion
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Everything with You
Laura Gibson - Spirited
Ethan Rose - On Wheels Rotating
Alela Diane - White as Diamonds
Elvis Perkins - Shampoo
Jeff Hanson - If Only I Knew
Vic Chestnutt - Society Sue
Celilo - Sunken Ships (live at Mississippi Studios) (via The Oregonian)
Starfucker - Boy Toy
Telekinesis - Coast of Carolina
O+S - Permanent Scar
O+S - We Do what We Want To
Ramona Falls - Russia
Blue Giant - Blue Sunshine (via Local Cut)

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

Loney Dear - I am John - Loney, Noir
Yeasayer - 2080 - All Hour Cymbals
M.I.A. - Paper Planes - Kala
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights - 100 Days, 100 Nights
Basia Bulat - In the Night - Oh, My Darling
Deerhoof - +81 - Friend Opportunity
Blonde Redhead - 23 - 23
Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat - Spiderman of the Rings
The National - Fake Empire - Boxer
Okkervil River - Our Life is not a Movie or Maybe - The Stage Names
Palomar - Our Haunt - All Things, Forests
Blind Pilot - I Buried a Bone - 3 Rounds and a Sound
Ratatat - Falcon Jab - LP3
Why? - Fatalist Palmistry - Alopecia
Point Juncture, WA - Once Tasted Ever Wanted - Heart to Elk
Starfucker - Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second - Starfucker
Boy Eats Drum Machine - The Crack in the Sea - Booomboxxx
Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer - Furr
Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance - Youth Novels
Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire - In Ghost Colours
Goldfrapp - Caravan Girl - Seventh Tree
Plants and Animals - Mercy - Parc Avenue

(artist - song - album + purchase link :: extra info)

The Mountain Goats - This Year - The Sunset Tree
The Books - Be Good To Them Always - Lost and Safe
LCD Soundsystem - Disco Infiltrator - LCD Soundsystem
Trespassers William - Lie in the Sound - Different Stars
M83 - Teen Angst - Before the Dawn Heals Us
Maria Taylor - Xanax - 11:11
Harvey Danger - Little Round Mirrors - Little by Little…
Bloc Party - Like Eating Glass - Silent Alarm
Laura Veirs - Magnetized - Year of Meteors
Sufjan Stevens - The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts - Illinnois
The Blow - Parantheses - Paper Television
Grey Anne - The Liking - Facts & Figurines
Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks - Writer’s Block
Band of Horses - The Funeral - Everything All the Time
Beirut - Postcards from Italy - Gulag Orkestar
The Concretes - Song for the Songs - In Colour
Hot Chip - Boy from School - The Warning
The Decemberists - O Valencia! - The Crane Wife
Laura Gibson - Hands in Pockets - If You Come to Greet Me
Viva Voce - From the Devil Himself - Get Yr Blood Sucked Out

Cat Power - Free - You Are Free
Yo La Tengo - Little Eyes - Summer Sun
The Go-Betweens - Make Her Day - Bright Yellow Bright Orange
The Arcade Fire - No Cars Go - Arcade Fire
TV on the Radio - Staring at the Sun - Young Liars EP
Enon - Murder Sounds - Hocus Pocus
Ween - So Many People in the Neighborhood - Quebec
The Exploding Hearts - Sleeping Aides and Razorblades - Guitar Romantic :: OPB profile of Terry Six
Wesley Willis - Rock & Roll Superhighway - Fabian Road Warrior
Jon Brion - Knock Yourself Out - I Heart Huckabees OST
Jens Lekman - You Are the Light - When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog
Lali Puna - Faking the Books - Faking the Books
The Go! Team - Bottle Rocket - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Langley Schools Music Project - Little Deuce Coupe - Innocence & Despair
Brian Wilson - Good Vibrations - SMiLE
Feist - Mushaboom - Let It Die
Camera Obscura - Suspended from Class - Underachievers Please Try Harder
The Magnetic Fields - I Don’t Really Love You Anymore - I