This time, I am ranking topness as a measure of "how long can I listen to them before I burn out on them and need a break":

1. Sulk
2. The Charlatans
3. The Ocean Blue
4. Shed Seven
5. TBA [too many tied for this spot]

I don't remember how I discovered them, but there's this Swiss indie band on Bandcamp called the blue herons. A few times a year they will record and release a new song, and basically give it away — their sutff is “pay what you want”, even if “what you want” is zero. When I stumbled across them, they had about half a dozen songs out, and I got them all for free.

Eventually I realized that I listened to them so often, and enjoyed them so much, that it was only right that I give something back. So when their next song came out, I volunteered to pay way too much for it, to pay enough for all the earlier freebies. And I've paid for every song since then, more like the price I would expect to pay for any other song. I feel better knowing that I am doing my bit to help support an indie creator.

And for the last few, I haven't even listened to it first, I just buy it and download it as soon as it comes out. We're at the point now where I trust them, cuz they have never let me down. Their periodic reappearance in my inbox is a source of quiet delight in my life.

a new Subways album — first one in like eight years and they are still great

I am a fan of numerous movements and eras in rock music, but I recently noticed an oddity about my fandom:

Each movement has its major figures, innovators and leaders, and landmark albums. But, very often, my personal fave album in the movement is a more obscure one by a lesser light. Just something about that particular collection of consistently good songs and performances that speaks to me more — it happens more often than I'd expect.

British Invasion
Major figures would include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Who. But my fave British Invasion album is Shake Some Action by Flamin' Groovies.

punk
Major figures would include The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, and The Clash. But my fave punk album is (I'm) Stranded by The Saints.

Madchester
Major figures would include The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, and The Charlatans. But my fave Madchester album is the self-titled debut by Ocean Colour Scene.

shoegaze
Major figures would include My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Slowdive. But my fave shoegaze album is Against Perfection by Adorable.

Britpop
Major figures would include Suede, Blur, Oasis, and Pulp. But my fave Britpop album is the self-titled debut by Rialto.

Go figure, eh?

Day 29: A song you believe is a genuinely good one-hit wonder

Hot Smoke and Sasafrass by Bubble Puppy

I also seriously considered going with Something in the Air by Thunderclap Newman but, technically, they had more than one hit...

Day 23: A song you love that's an opening track on an album

We Are the Lucky Ones by The Flys

So many I coulda gone with, since so many bands are smart enough to start strong and open with a great track. A major contender here was Delivering the Goods by Judas Priest, a song that gives me chills it's so well done. But once again I opt to give a bit more exposure to the more obscure, and I never met anyone else who ever heard of British band The Flys. We Are the Lucky Ones was the opening track on the North American release of their eponymous debut album (and only album over here, at least that I ever saw). There were lots of good songs later in the album as well, but nothing else I ever heard from them approached the towering achievement of this one.

Day 19: A song you'd play for your haters 

New Song by Howard Jones 

This was an odd one for me. I'm not actually aware of any haters. Therefore no idea whom to address a song to. But I thought about it and figured that, if anyone were going to hate me, most likely it would be because they don't understand me. (I can't see anyone understanding me and then hating me, somehow.) So I thought of a song that might help to promote understanding, and I chose this one because of the lines in its chorus:

See both sides
Throw off your mental chains

I dunno, maybe if I had haters, they might need to hear that?
 

Day 16: A song that's fun to scream along to.
(Note: NOT just "sing a little bit loud". I mean scream. The singer doesn't have to be screaming but you do.)

Walk Like a Man by The Four Seasons

For me, this one is a screamer because I can't hit those notes quiet. The only way I can push my range up there is to hit it hard and loud.

Day 14: A song you like that uses an unconventional instrument

The Minister by The Move

Seems to me that it's unusual to use an oboe in a guitar-rockin' tune like this one, but it was not unusual for The Move to do this...

Day 12: A song you like to sing at karaoke

Sour Suite by The Guess Who

This song was actually a hit single (in my region, at least), but today I am surprised by how few of my fellow Canucks remember it. But I always had a special fondness for it, it touched me deeply, and it was one I loved to sing – in the shower, around the house, whatever.

A few years back was the first time I was ever invited to karaoke, and I wasn’t sure if I felt like participating or not… but I decided that if they had Sour Suite, then I would take it as a sign. I went. They had it. I did it. I loved it – a great moment!