I have been doing this for the past few years, but this year I will give a little taste of the album with my favourite song from each album.

Top 5 Albums of 2012

5 - Polica - Give You The Ghost

Have you ever woke up in the morning with your mind in a fog, but you just have a feeling that it's going to be a great day.  Welcome to this whole album.  This album has a female vocalist that sounds like a female version of Jim James from My Morning Jacket.  Polica capitalizes on two things throughout this whole album.  The combination of beautiful vocals matched with great drum work.  They have filler guitar and synths that keep this album interesting through out.  I haven't quite heard an album like this that was lead by a female vocalist and I wish there was more music like this out there.  It doesn't just have a psychedelic,  a rock or an electronic feel.  It's kind of mixture of every one of the genres that does justice to bands such as Caribou and Daft Punk who have mastered the craft of the casual electronic vibe.  "Lay Your Cards Out" is the song that I have chosen as my personal favourite.

4. - Bear in Heaven - I Love You, It's Cool

Great follow up to their fantastic first album Beast Rest Forth Mouth.  It keeps up with the same feel of up beat electronic music.  Polica and Bear in Heaven would put on a great show together actually to think about it.  One of the things that Bear in Heaven has mastered is the complete album.  They have songs that flow perfectly into one another.  Every sound that you hear through out the album is well thought out and has a purpose.  The lead singer and guitarist keep the music on track through the album, and keeps it from straying to far off of the path.  They have multiple songs weaving into Pink Floyd territory, and also a few that wander into Radiohead land as well.  If you ever get a chance to see them live check it out.  They put on one of the best concerts that I have ever seen.  The song of choice is "Sinful Nature"

3. Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits

So this is what happens when you combine two of my favourite bands.  The lead singers of Wolf Parade and Spoon joined to form this band, and have made a fantastic album in the process.  They split time in front of the mic, and have different vibes with each person.  It's not very often that I put a huge amount of stock into the lead singers, but both vocalists can change the complexion of the song with just the way they sing.  There is a lot of '80s influence throughout this album.  We are talking Smith's or Talking Heads influence rather then Judas Priest or Iron Maiden influence though.  One thing that's brilliant about this album is how they know exactly when to throw the rock back into the album.  Just when you thought you were getting one thing they bring out some thrashing guitars and go in the opposite direction.  Album of the year up until the last two months.  "Baby Get Worse"  is my choice for the album

2. - Tame Impala - Lonerism

I was getting a little worried with the music coming this year, that is until this past month.  Two albums came out back to back that were both amazing in their own way.  What can I say about Tame Impala?  They have nailed the psychedelic vibe while never losing site that they are a rock band.  They sold out their Toronto concert in minutes.  People are starting to take notice.  Remember a band called the Beatles, well Tame Impala is the closest in vocals that I have heard to the Beatles ever.  This album from top to bottom never loses it's sense of where it needs to end up.  There are parts when you can bob your head to the soft melodies.  There are some parts when you can air drum or air guitar, and there are some parts when you can marvel at the electronic background.  This album has every single thing that I hope for in an album, and this band will not be going away.  Remember this band because out of all the bands that I am talking about today they will be the biggest success.  "Elephant" and "Mind Mischief" are the best two songs on the album, but there is a cool video for "Elephant" so that is the choice.

1. Grizzly Bear - Shields

From the first minute that I heard this album I knew I was going to love it.  I really needed to grow into the first few albums that Grizzy Bear came out with, but this album hit me in the face as soon as I first listened to the opening single.  There is no other band using the Beach Boys way of harmonizing now, that is except for Grizzly Bear.  They have three singers, all have a major part in the way that they sound.  What Grizzly Bear used to have problems with was keeping everything together.  Things would come apart within the song, and they would have a hard time putting it back together.  Welcome to "Shields,"  they have made a perfect album from top to bottom there is not a bad song.  They are able to keep the vibe that they have always been known for, and also add more user friendly brilliant music.  Currently they are the best band in the world making a lot of other bands look like children's music, by making a sound that has never been made before.  I saw them live at Massey Hall and they were amazing.  Band of the year, album of the year, and single of the year with "Yet Again."

Have to love the Old Navy commercials with all the cast members from the National Lampoon's Vacation movies.  Multiple Rusty's, priceless!

Hated giving up D'arnaud in the Dickey trade, but if you are going to go for it all you need to make a bold move.  Getting a Cy Young Award winner the year after he wins the award is tough to do.

When I was 21, did I dress as stupid as some of the 21 year olds do now?

Can the New York Jets just fold?  Or never be on National TV again?  Just have them play the Jacksonville Jaguars 16 games in a row and put it on at 2am on Wednesday nights.

Kacaba is selling off their award winning Meritage wine on their website right now.  It's  $44.95 a bottle, it's one of the best reds I have ever tasted.

Could you pay $76.80 for a six pack of beer that comes with two glasses?  For the first time ever you can buy the beer that the Monks have been brewing forever and it has been stated that it's the best beer in the world.  If anybody is looking to get me a xmas gift....

These shootings are senseless, but you are always going to have insane people.  What you don't need is every website and news station falling all over itself for ratings on these shootings.  Everywhere I look there is something to be read about this story.

I would enjoy a ride on a dog sled.  I think that I would pull the dogs after though just to make it even.

Imbibe, if you haven't heard me talk about this place nine thousand times in the past month or so.  Every Wednesday they have a board game night where you can have pints for five bucks.

Would you sacrifice your left pinky for an Ipad Mini?

I desperately want to perfect public speaking.  You never realize how difficult it is until you start doing it on a consistent basis.  I have worked in sales for over ten years and I still get somewhat nervous speaking in front of large groups.

Is it difficult to make an animated webisode for youtube?

Perks of Being a Wallflower - 7.6/10

Don't name your child a name that the first thing you think of is a stripper or a porn star.

Remember that old clapper commercial that had all of the old people clapping to turn off their lights.  It's still on the air.  Throw back commercials for products that are still in production would be fantastic.  I would watch that.  Better then Denis Leary yelling at me about how much his stupid truck can tow.

They need to get rid of Tony the Tiger though, he always looks like he is going to do something terrible to that child every time I see that Frosted Flakes commercial.

I am taking a stand to not see the Hobbit.  Three movies for that book?  Come on!


Whenever I hear "The Final Countdown by Europe" it makes me happy on so many fronts.  Jobe from Arrested Development, and seeing people confused on how they should dance to it.

We had our annual Holiday Party this past weekend for the shop.  I won a night away in Haliburton that includes a fireplace in the room as well as breakfast the next morning.  Only problem with this.  Where is Haliburton?

Conversation with a customer at work recently.

C:  Do you know which one of these computers is backwards compatible to Windows 7?
D:  No, but I could check to see which computers still have Windows 7 on it.
C:  That wasn't my question, I asked which of these computers is backwards compatible (Mocking tone.)
D:  I am not sure, but most of them don't have drivers for Windows 7.
C:  Well could you find out?  (In a more mocking tone)
D:  You want me to go online and check to see if every component of every one of our HP computers has drivers for Windows 7, is this correct?
C:  Thanks for nothing.

For people that don't know computers very well.  This would have taken me approximately 23 hours to do.

Argo - 9.8/10

If you haven't seen Argo, check it out.  It's one of the intense dramas I have seen.  The way it is shot is wonderful with an early 80's vibe.  Plus the storyline has a scifi underline in it.  How can you go wrong?

Next blog should have my top 5 albums of the year.  For those that enjoy my musical taste.

Two people have been transferred to the Caribou fan club.  Welcome Joe and Chris.  We have been waiting.

Drunk eyes - take a look into them, and you will see that the soul has left the body, and the only thing remaining is an ape type character sitting in the corner of a living room eating peanut butter out of the container.

Top 3 Foods that I wish didn't put the nutritional value on them.
1 - Pizza Pockets
2 - Kraft Dinner
3 - Zoodles 

I love that favourite two pubs in Kitchener are right across the road from each other.  Rum Runners Pub, and Imbibe are both fantastic, and have a wide selection of great beer.  Have you ever watched a Guinness being poured into a glass,  It's one of the most gorgeous things that I have ever seen.

Have you ever just looked at a couple and thought this is going to end horribly?

How has the National Enquirer stayed in business so long?  Does anyone actually buy it?  I do get a laugh walking by it every time at the grocery store though.

Are there really monsters under your bed?  This was my favourite headline of all time.

If you are meeting somebody for the first time and they are going for the handshake, give them a salute and see how the response is.

I have never bowed to anyone before, but I feel if I did that I would be entitled to tea after.

Today is the 10th anniversary of Interpol's "Turn out the Bright Lights."  If you don't have the album, give it a download.  Here's a little taste.

I can't ever remember having three rookie quarterbacks having the success Andrew Luck, RG3, and Russell Wilson are having this year.  It's impressive, especially RG3, he doesn't have a lot of talent around him.  NFL is in good hands.

We sell a remote control car that goes 80mph.  Why?

Are people on more drugs now?  Or am I just noticing more and more crazy people?  The scary thing is most of these people have kids.  Good luck in the future planet Earth.

Lawless - 7.1/10
Looper - 8.8/10

Seeing Joseph Gordon Levitt transform into Bruce Willis was impressive.  Seeing Nick Cage transform into John Travolta, not as impressive.  Funny, but not impressive.

I am just figuring this out now, but honey badgers are tough as nails.

Sara and I have three trips booked this year.  We are going to the Everglades in Florida, Columbia, and the Grand Canyon this coming year.

15 degrees in December.  I don't think I have seen that one before.

Had a board game night recently at the families place in Oaktown.  Pandemic is a really good team work board game that involves you trying to save the world from a medical outbreak.  Daryl that was 24 years old, would have just shook his head at Daryl of 34 years old.

I remember thinking about people that were in their mid-30's when I was younger.  They were so old.

For some reason I haven't hit the point of only liking music that I grew up with.  When is this supposed to happen?  "What is this?  I don't know this.  Put Pearl Jam back on....

Currently we are open till 10pm at work.  Who is shopping for a new laptop or TV at 10pm?  "Honey, we should go out shopping for a new laptop before Letterman starts."

Do you know why you want a tablet?

Two sports I would love to join next year.  Curling and Broomball.  I have great memories of these two sports when I was younger.

One thing that I didn't like about living in a small town when I was younger.  Everybody knew everybody's business.  Divorces, break ups, accidents, jobs.  I also don't want to wave at everybody as I drive by.

One great quote that I saw today from another person's post.  'Women aren't vending machines where if you put in enough Nice, sex comes out.'  

I was watching some old Big Bang Theory episodes.  I can pinpoint when the show started going downhill.  When Walowitz became less creepy.  When he was the creepy nerd that was always trying to sleep with women, the show was at it's best and most realistic.  

At sci-fi conventions you get a lot of guys that just throw out their fishing line and hope that a woman gets snagged on to it. 


The whole Star Trek Next Generation crew minus Wil Wheaton is going to be at a con in March.  You can have a picture with the whole crew for, wait for it.  $399.99!!!!