Top 100 Canadian Albums

[Gary_B]

A new book lists the top 100 Canadian albums (http://www.canada.com/globaltv/globalshows/et_story.html?id=981a7cd4-4a31-4c0a-a024-0ffd50445df4) and like most of these list things there is controversy over omissions and ranking.

Here's the list. I've bolded albums I've owned over the years.

1. Harvest, Neil Young (1972)
2. Blue, Joni Mitchell (1970)
3. After the Gold Rush, Neil Young (1970)
4. Music From Big Pink, The Band (1968)
5. Fully Completely, The Tragically Hip (1992 )
6. Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette (1995)
7. The Band, The Band (1969)
8. Funeral, Arcade Fire (2004)
9. Moving Pictures, Rush (1981)
10. American Woman, The Guess Who (1970)
11. Songs of Leonard Cohen, Leonard Cohen (1967)
12. Reckless, Bryan Adams (1984)
13. Five Days in July, Blue Rodeo (1993)
14. Twice Removed, Sloan (1994)
15. Up to Here, The Tragically Hip (1989)
16. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Neil Young with Crazy Horse (1969)
17. 2112, Rush (1976)
18. Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell (1974)
19. Whale Music, Rheostatics (1992)
20. Acadie, Daniel Lanois (1989)
21. Day for Night, The Tragically Hip (1994)
22. Rust Never Sleeps, Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1979)
23. Gord's Gold, Gordon Lightfoot (1975)
24. You Were Here, Sarah Harmer (2000)
25. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Sarah McLachlan (1993)
26. Road Apples, The Tragically Hip (1991)
27. Gordon, Barenaked Ladies (1992)
28. You Forgot it in People, Broken Social Scene (2002)
29. I'm Your Man, Leonard Cohen (1988)
30. Tonight's the Night, Neil Young (1975)
31. Decade, Neil Young (1977)
32. Miss America, Mary Margaret O'Hara (1988)
33. Surfacing, Sarah McLachlan (1997)
34. One Chord to Another, Sloan (1996)
35. Songs of Love and Hate, Leonard Cohen (1971)
36. Cyborgs Revisted, Simply Saucer (1989)
37. Ingenue, k.d. lang (1992)
38. Melville, Rheostatics (1991)
39. Love Tara, Eric's Trip (1993)
40. On the Beach, Neil Young (1974)
41. Not Fragile, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1974)
42. The Best of the Guess Who, The Guess Who (1971)
43. Let it Die, Feist (2004)
44. The Last Waltz, The Band (1978)
45. Night Train, The Oscar Petersen Trio (1963)
46. Down at the Khyber, The Joel Plaskett Emergency (2001)
47. Harvest Moon, Neil Young (1992)
48. Cuts Like a Knife, Bryan Adams (1983)
49. L'heptade, Harmonium (1976)
50. Teenage Head, Teenage Head (1979)
51. High Class in Borrowed Shoes, Max Webster (1977)
52. Hejira, Joni Mitchell (1976)
53. The Goldberg Variations, Glenn Gould (1955 and 1982)
54. Forgarty's Cove, Stan Rogers (1977)
55. Wheatfield Soul, The Guess Who (1968)
56. Si on avait besoin d'une cinquieme saison, Harmonium (1974)
57. Dancing in the Dragon's Jaw, Bruce Cockburn (1979)
58. Frantic City, Teenage Head (1980)
59. Hymns of the 49th Parallel, k.d. lang (2004)
60. Hot Shots, Trooper (1979)
61. Robbie Robertson, Robbie Robertson (1987)
62. The Trinity Session, Cowboy Junkies (1988)
63. Ron Sexsmith, Ron Sexsmith (1995)
64. Nothingface, Voivod (1989)
65. Come on Over, Shania Twain (1997)
66. Everything I Long For, Hayden (1995)
67. Outskirts, Blue Rodeo (1987)
68. Joyful Rebellion, k-os (2004)
69. Sit Down Young Stranger/If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot (1970)
70. Love Junk, The Pursuit of Happiness (1988)
71. Jaune, Jean-Pierre Ferland (1970)
72. Somewhere Outside, The Ugly Ducklings (1966)
73. Electric Jewels, April Wine (1973)
74. Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot (1973)
75. Left and Leaving, The Weakerthans (2000)
76. Clumsy, Our Lady Peace (1997)
77. Harmonium, Harmonium (1974)
78. Share the Land, the Guess Who (1970)
79. Greatest Hits!, Ian & Sylvia (1970)
80. Steppenwolf, Steppenwolf (1968)
81. Ladies of the Canyon, Joni Mitchell (1970)
82. Bud the Spud and Other Favourites, Stompin' Tom Connors (1969)
83. Shine a Light, Constantines (2003)
84. Shakespeare My Butt, The Lowest of the Low (1991)
85. Clayton Park, Thrush Hermit (1998)
86. Smeared, Sloan (1992)
87. Living Under June, Jann Arden (1994)
88. The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Joni Mitchell (1975)
89. Bad Manors, Crowbar (1971)
90. Official Music, King Biscuit Boy With Crowbar (1970)
91. Lightfoot!, Gordon Lightfoot (1966)
92. Mad Mad World, Tom Cochrane (1991)
93. Rufus Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright (1998)
94. Face to the Gale, Ron Hynes (1997)
96. Hobo's Taunt, Willie P. Bennett (1977)
97. Cowboyography, Ian Tyson (1986)
98. Favourite Colours, The Sadies (2004)
99. The Way I Feel, Gordon Lightfoot (1967)
100. A Farewell to Kings, Rush (1977)

I was happy to see a couple of Rheostatics albums on the list. They are a gifted group of musicians. I was amused to see Max Webster and Teenage Head on the list. I saw both of those bands play several times back in the 70's.

[Adam C]

Considering that the list was basically assembled from soliciting top 10 lists from 600 musicians and people related to the music industry I admit that I am surprised that Eric's Trip and Simply Saucer even registered on the list, and so high. Usually I'd expect that technique really sand off the rough edges on such a list. (Though it begs the question, if they are giving props to relatively obscure Canadian underground rock bands where is Godspeed! You Black Emperor?)

On the other hand I am surprised that Canadian jazz guitar eccentric Lenny Breau did not appear on the list since he's a more obvious and better known choice. Ditto for Buffy Saint Marie (whose work I have little familiarity with) and Ann Murray, who are much better known. (And especially Ann Murray whom I would regard as one of the more obvious choices given her continued icon status in Canada despite the utter blandness of her music.)

[mattx110]

Considering that the list was basically assembled from soliciting top 10 lists from 600 musicians and people related to the music industry I admit that I am surprised that Eric's Trip and Simply Saucer even registered on the list, and so high. Usually I'd expect that technique really sand off the rough edges on such a list. (Though it begs the question, if they are giving props to relatively obscure Canadian underground rock bands where is Godspeed! You Black Emperor?)

On the other hand I am surprised that Canadian jazz guitar eccentric Lenny Breau did not appear on the list since he's a more obvious and better known choice. Ditto for Buffy Saint Marie (whose work I have little familiarity with) and Ann Murray, who are much better known. (And especially Ann Murray whom I would regard as one of the more obvious choices given her continued icon status in Canada despite the utter blandness of her music.)
eh, better known to guitarists...
as it stands, he was born and partly raised in maine, and became basically a fugitive in canada to some stupid drug charge that wasn't going to give him jail time. maybe canada is still bitter?

and arcade fire being put above Rush? that's just beyond silly.
and anyone being put above glenn gould?

[Adam C]

eh, better known to guitarists...
as it stands, he was born and partly raised in maine, and became basically a fugitive in canada to some stupid drug charge that wasn't going to give him jail time. maybe canada is still bitter?

Bitter about what? He may not be a household name like K.D. Lang or Neil Young, but he seems well recognised and respected within Canadian music (and the list was constructed by soliciting lists from Canadian musical figures) and there's been increased awareness of him due to Randy Bachman's propagandising for his dead mentor.


and arcade fire being put above Rush? that's just beyond silly.

Possibly, though that adequately sums up my reaction to a lot of Rush's music. Having loads technical chops doesn't necessarily make one's music better, particularly if it's silly prog with a castrato vocalist.

[J. Robb]

That's a pretty sad list.

[Adam C]

That's a pretty sad list.

What do you expect? It's Canadian music. :p

[Expletive Deleted]

There's a distinct lack of Neko Case on that list.

[mattx110]

Bitter about what? He may not be a household name like K.D. Lang or Neil Young, but he seems well recognised and respected within Canadian music (and the list was constructed by soliciting lists from Canadian musical figures) and there's been increased awareness of him due to Randy Bachman's propagandising for his dead mentor.



Possibly, though that adequately sums up my reaction to a lot of Rush's music. Having loads technical chops doesn't necessarily make one's music better, particularly if it's silly prog with a castrato vocalist.

well, lifeson isn't the crazy chromatic speed-demon that a lot of prog-guitarists are, and he has pretty guitars. you get somewhat used to geddy lee's singing... and they have more than "technical chops". music is about context, the harmony. any melody can sound stupid or haunting alone. but the harmony is what takes a tune to another level. and rush is more sophisticated than arcade fire. and yes, more sophisticated is better.

and it's hard for me to gauge where lenny is on popularity. he's inspired at least thousands. but neil young has sold millions. plus, guitarists in general are under-appreciated in jazz circles. some of them squeak by into the realm of wide respect, but a lot of them would never admit to looking up to guitarists and go on about how they want to play like horn players (all the while playing things idiomatic to the guitar).
and liona boyd didn't make the list. she got some flack for being too commercial and working with pop musicians. but another great guitarist playing "art-music" that had to make way for "thrush hermit"?

and with lenny breau, oscar peterson, glenn gould, you've got arguably 3 of the best musicians in the last century or more (although 2/3 of these people are no longer with us). and who doesn't like the band? they can get away with calling themselves "the band" for a reason. canada has no shortage of talent.

[the goddamn batman]

Yeah... teh complete omission of Skinny Puppy from the list bothers me.

I mean, c'mon, that band pretty much defined modern industrial music... hell, electronic music in general wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for Skinny Puppy.

And yet, fucking Sloan is on the list?? Sloan? Weird.:rolleyes:

[HectorP]

Great, Max Webster and Voivod made the cut (but is Nothingface really their best album?).

[elheffe]

There's a distinct lack of Neko Case on that list.

Neko isn't Canadian.

[howyadoin]

Takin' a cue from Gary, here are the ones I've owned:

1. Harvest, Neil Young (1972)
2. Blue, Joni Mitchell (1970)
3. After the Gold Rush, Neil Young (1970)
4. Music From Big Pink, The Band (1968)
5. Fully Completely, The Tragically Hip (1992 )
6. Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette (1995)
7. The Band, The Band (1969)
8. Funeral, Arcade Fire (2004)
9. Moving Pictures, Rush (1981)
10. American Woman, The Guess Who (1970)
11. Songs of Leonard Cohen, Leonard Cohen (1967)
12. Reckless, Bryan Adams (1984)
13. Five Days in July, Blue Rodeo (1993)
14. Twice Removed, Sloan (1994)
15. Up to Here, The Tragically Hip (1989)
16. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Neil Young with Crazy Horse (1969)
17. 2112, Rush (1976)
18. Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell (1974)
19. Whale Music, Rheostatics (1992)
20. Acadie, Daniel Lanois (1989)
21. Day for Night, The Tragically Hip (1994)
22. Rust Never Sleeps, Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1979)
23. Gord's Gold, Gordon Lightfoot (1975)
24. You Were Here, Sarah Harmer (2000)
25. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Sarah McLachlan (1993)
26. Road Apples, The Tragically Hip (1991)
27. Gordon, Barenaked Ladies (1992)
28. You Forgot it in People, Broken Social Scene (2002)
29. I'm Your Man, Leonard Cohen (1988)
30. Tonight's the Night, Neil Young (1975)
31. Decade, Neil Young (1977)
32. Miss America, Mary Margaret O'Hara (1988)
33. Surfacing, Sarah McLachlan (1997)
34. One Chord to Another, Sloan (1996)
35. Songs of Love and Hate, Leonard Cohen (1971)
36. Cyborgs Revisted, Simply Saucer (1989)
37. Ingenue, k.d. lang (1992)
38. Melville, Rheostatics (1991)
39. Love Tara, Eric's Trip (1993)
40. On the Beach, Neil Young (1974)
41. Not Fragile, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1974)
42. The Best of the Guess Who, The Guess Who (1971)
43. Let it Die, Feist (2004)
44. The Last Waltz, The Band (1978)
45. Night Train, The Oscar Petersen Trio (1963)
46. Down at the Khyber, The Joel Plaskett Emergency (2001)
47. Harvest Moon, Neil Young (1992)
48. Cuts Like a Knife, Bryan Adams (1983)
49. L'heptade, Harmonium (1976)
50. Teenage Head, Teenage Head (1979)
51. High Class in Borrowed Shoes, Max Webster (1977)
52. Hejira, Joni Mitchell (1976)
53. The Goldberg Variations, Glenn Gould (1955 and 1982)
54. Forgarty's Cove, Stan Rogers (1977)
55. Wheatfield Soul, The Guess Who (1968)
56. Si on avait besoin d'une cinquieme saison, Harmonium (1974)
57. Dancing in the Dragon's Jaw, Bruce Cockburn (1979)
58. Frantic City, Teenage Head (1980)
59. Hymns of the 49th Parallel, k.d. lang (2004)
60. Hot Shots, Trooper (1979)
61. Robbie Robertson, Robbie Robertson (1987)
62. The Trinity Session, Cowboy Junkies (1988)
63. Ron Sexsmith, Ron Sexsmith (1995)
64. Nothingface, Voivod (1989)
65. Come on Over, Shania Twain (1997)
66. Everything I Long For, Hayden (1995)
67. Outskirts, Blue Rodeo (1987)
68. Joyful Rebellion, k-os (2004)
69. Sit Down Young Stranger/If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot (1970)
70. Love Junk, The Pursuit of Happiness (1988)
71. Jaune, Jean-Pierre Ferland (1970)
72. Somewhere Outside, The Ugly Ducklings (1966)
73. Electric Jewels, April Wine (1973)
74. Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot (1973)
75. Left and Leaving, The Weakerthans (2000)
76. Clumsy, Our Lady Peace (1997)
77. Harmonium, Harmonium (1974)
78. Share the Land, the Guess Who (1970)
79. Greatest Hits!, Ian & Sylvia (1970)
80. Steppenwolf, Steppenwolf (1968)
81. Ladies of the Canyon, Joni Mitchell (1970)
82. Bud the Spud and Other Favourites, Stompin' Tom Connors (1969)
83. Shine a Light, Constantines (2003)
84. Shakespeare My Butt, The Lowest of the Low (1991)
85. Clayton Park, Thrush Hermit (1998)
86. Smeared, Sloan (1992)
87. Living Under June, Jann Arden (1994)
88. The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Joni Mitchell (1975)
89. Bad Manors, Crowbar (1971)
90. Official Music, King Biscuit Boy With Crowbar (1970)
91. Lightfoot!, Gordon Lightfoot (1966)
92. Mad Mad World, Tom Cochrane (1991)
93. Rufus Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright (1998)
94. Face to the Gale, Ron Hynes (1997)
96. Hobo's Taunt, Willie P. Bennett (1977)
97. Cowboyography, Ian Tyson (1986)
98. Favourite Colours, The Sadies (2004)
99. The Way I Feel, Gordon Lightfoot (1967)
100. A Farewell to Kings, Rush (1977)




Oh, and Stompin' Tom?! Seriously?

[Thorlief]

where the heck is Gino Vannelli and his awe Black Cars?

Just kidding. Bryan Adams topping Sloan? Sad

[Jonathan Bogart]

The Band is on the list. Read more better.

[jesse_custer]

Arcade Fire over Rush is quite a mistake. Even if Rush were only technical prowess, they're still far more influential and interesting than Arcade Fire.

[cactusmaac]

Alanis Morisette at No 6?

[Gary_B]

I've been thinking about the list and, as always happens with these kinds of things, there are bands that I think should have made the list and bands that I'm glad didn't make the list.

Heading up the list of acts I'm glad were excluded - Glass Tiger.

Heading up the list of acts I wish were included - 54-40.

[howyadoin]

Heading up the list of acts I'm glad were excluded - Glass Tiger.

Heading up the list of acts I wish were included - 54-40.Seconded on both counts.

Similarly, it would've been nice to see Bryan Adams shut out.

[Gary_B]

Seconded on both counts.

Similarly, it would've been nice to see Bryan Adams shut out.

Seconded right back at ya.

[GRANT!]

No New Pornographers?

[howyadoin]

No New Pornographers?I'm guessing they don't count because Neko is from Tacoma.

[GRANT!]

I'm guessing they don't count because Neko is from Tacoma.


She's not even a full time member.

[leonaozaki]

That list is sad because:

1) Harvest, one of Neil Young's slightest albums, is at the top.
2) Decade isn't a real album; it's a compilation.
3) Rush is on the list at all.
4) The Guess Who are on the list.
5) The Last Waltz is on the list.
6) [/B]Jagged Little Pill is above The Band.
7) The New Pornographers aren't on the list at all.

rob

[Lone Ranger]

1. Harvest, Neil Young (1972)
2. Blue, Joni Mitchell (1970)
3. After the Gold Rush, Neil Young (1970)
4. Music From Big Pink, The Band (1968)
5. Fully Completely, The Tragically Hip (1992 )
6. Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette (1995)
7. The Band, The Band (1969)
8. Funeral, Arcade Fire (2004)
9. Moving Pictures, Rush (1981)
10. American Woman, The Guess Who (1970)
11. Songs of Leonard Cohen, Leonard Cohen (1967)
12. Reckless, Bryan Adams (1984)
13. Five Days in July, Blue Rodeo (1993)
14. Twice Removed, Sloan (1994)
15. Up to Here, The Tragically Hip (1989)
16. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Neil Young with Crazy Horse (1969)
17. 2112, Rush (1976)
18. Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell (1974)
19. Whale Music, Rheostatics (1992)
20. Acadie, Daniel Lanois (1989)
21. Day for Night, The Tragically Hip (1994)
22. Rust Never Sleeps, Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1979)
23. Gord's Gold, Gordon Lightfoot (1975)
24. You Were Here, Sarah Harmer (2000)
25. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Sarah McLachlan (1993)
26. Road Apples, The Tragically Hip (1991)
27. Gordon, Barenaked Ladies (1992)
28. You Forgot it in People, Broken Social Scene (2002)
29. I'm Your Man, Leonard Cohen (1988)
30. Tonight's the Night, Neil Young (1975)
31. Decade, Neil Young (1977)
32. Miss America, Mary Margaret O'Hara (1988)
33. Surfacing, Sarah McLachlan (1997)
34. One Chord to Another, Sloan (1996)
35. Songs of Love and Hate, Leonard Cohen (1971)
36. Cyborgs Revisted, Simply Saucer (1989)
37. Ingenue, k.d. lang (1992)
38. Melville, Rheostatics (1991)
39. Love Tara, Eric's Trip (1993)
40. On the Beach, Neil Young (1974)
41. Not Fragile, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1974)
42. The Best of the Guess Who, The Guess Who (1971)
43. Let it Die, Feist (2004)
44. The Last Waltz, The Band (1978)
45. Night Train, The Oscar Petersen Trio (1963)
46. Down at the Khyber, The Joel Plaskett Emergency (2001)
47. Harvest Moon, Neil Young (1992)
48. Cuts Like a Knife, Bryan Adams (1983)
49. L'heptade, Harmonium (1976)
50. Teenage Head, Teenage Head (1979)
51. High Class in Borrowed Shoes, Max Webster (1977)
52. Hejira, Joni Mitchell (1976)
53. The Goldberg Variations, Glenn Gould (1955 and 1982)
54. Forgarty's Cove, Stan Rogers (1977)
55. Wheatfield Soul, The Guess Who (1968)
56. Si on avait besoin d'une cinquieme saison, Harmonium (1974)
57. Dancing in the Dragon's Jaw, Bruce Cockburn (1979)
58. Frantic City, Teenage Head (1980)
59. Hymns of the 49th Parallel, k.d. lang (2004)
60. Hot Shots, Trooper (1979)
61. Robbie Robertson, Robbie Robertson (1987)
62. The Trinity Session, Cowboy Junkies (1988)
63. Ron Sexsmith, Ron Sexsmith (1995)
64. Nothingface, Voivod (1989)
65. Come on Over, Shania Twain (1997)
66. Everything I Long For, Hayden (1995)
67. Outskirts, Blue Rodeo (1987)
68. Joyful Rebellion, k-os (2004)
69. Sit Down Young Stranger/If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot (1970)
70. Love Junk, The Pursuit of Happiness (1988)
71. Jaune, Jean-Pierre Ferland (1970)
72. Somewhere Outside, The Ugly Ducklings (1966)
73. Electric Jewels, April Wine (1973)
74. Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot (1973)
75. Left and Leaving, The Weakerthans (2000)
76. Clumsy, Our Lady Peace (1997)
77. Harmonium, Harmonium (1974)
78. Share the Land, the Guess Who (1970)
79. Greatest Hits!, Ian & Sylvia (1970)
80. Steppenwolf, Steppenwolf (1968)
81. Ladies of the Canyon, Joni Mitchell (1970)
82. Bud the Spud and Other Favourites, Stompin' Tom Connors (1969)
83. Shine a Light, Constantines (2003)
84. Shakespeare My Butt, The Lowest of the Low (1991)
85. Clayton Park, Thrush Hermit (1998)
86. Smeared, Sloan (1992)
87. Living Under June, Jann Arden (1994)
88. The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Joni Mitchell (1975)
89. Bad Manors, Crowbar (1971)
90. Official Music, King Biscuit Boy With Crowbar (1970)
91. Lightfoot!, Gordon Lightfoot (1966)
92. Mad Mad World, Tom Cochrane (1991)
93. Rufus Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright (1998)
94. Face to the Gale, Ron Hynes (1997)
96. Hobo's Taunt, Willie P. Bennett (1977)
97. Cowboyography, Ian Tyson (1986)
98. Favourite Colours, The Sadies (2004)
99. The Way I Feel, Gordon Lightfoot (1967)
100. A Farewell to Kings, Rush (1977)

Obviously, if you took Neil, Joni and Leonard out of there, I'd hardly own a thing but c'est la vie.

Speaking of french stuff - it seems pretty Anglo-centric but I guess that's to be expected.

I'd rearrange a bunch of Neil (I lost my copy of Harvest 15 years ago and haven't bothered replacing it)

I think there are some interesting, fairly bold choice - great stuff that might have been forgotten - Mary Margarent O'Hara, Hayden and Daniel Lanois (Acadie is out of print for pete's sake - at least last time I checked).

I'm trying to think of who was overlooked here. I'd probably add:

Trusted by Millions, 54-40
So many good songs, but this is their best album

Now and Again, Grapes of Wrath
This was in everyone's collecttion during high school

Crawl with Me - Art Bergman
I overlooked him for a long, long time - lots of great stuff

Love Junk - The Pursuit of Happiness
See 54-50 above

Savy Show Stoppers - Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
Deserve to be on there for their original sound - drunken, underground surf music

And Now the Legacy Begins - Dream Warriors
Not a huge fan - but I've got to give them props for getting hip-hop going in Canada (with apologies to Fresh Wes)

[howyadoin]

I'm trying to think of who was overlooked here. I'd probably add:

Crawl with Me - Art Bergman
I overlooked him for a long, long time - lots of great stuffIs that the album with "Bound for Vegas" on it?

[jessecuster3]

What happened to Hot Hot Heat and Stars?

Love how high Sloan is recognized, even if a ton of people here have no idea who they are.

Broken Social Scene never really grabbed me, but I will have to give them another chance.

As far as The Band, who is Canadian? Robbie Robertson?

[Matthew E]

As far as The Band, who is Canadian? Robbie Robertson?

All of them except Levon Helm.

[J. Robb]

After thinking about it, I think the list bothers me mostly because, due to Canadian content laws dictating radio playlists, I'm sick to death of most of the music on the list.

[GRANT!]

All of them except Levon Helm.

ANd they can't make an exception for Neko Case? She's way hotter then Levon Helm.

[Adam C]

ANd they can't make an exception for Neko Case? She's way hotter then Levon Helm.

I agree! We should petition Parliament to make Neko Case Canadian by birth!

[berk]

my biggest criticism of the list would be how repetetive it is; at a glance, it looks like Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Rush have about 10 albums each.

[Adam C]

well, lifeson isn't the crazy chromatic speed-demon that a lot of prog-guitarists are, and he has pretty guitars. you get somewhat used to geddy lee's singing... and they have more than "technical chops". music is about context, the harmony. any melody can sound stupid or haunting alone. but the harmony is what takes a tune to another level. and rush is more sophisticated than arcade fire. and yes, more sophisticated is better.

So what does Rush do with harmony anyways?


and it's hard for me to gauge where lenny is on popularity. he's inspired at least thousands. but neil young has sold millions.

Well as I said, he's not a household name, but he seems to carry a fairly high reputation in Canadian music, especially as of late. And this list was assembled by canvassing figures in the Canadian music industry rather than the general public.



Oh, and Stompin' Tom?! Seriously?

And yet as a Canadian are you surprised?

[Lone Ranger]

Is that the album with "Bound for Vegas" on it?

That was on his next one 'Sexual Roulette', which is also very good.

Crawl With Me was produced by John Cale - so it's a bit moodier.

I've always kind of seen Bergmann as Canada's Paul Westerberg.

[Lone Ranger]

my biggest criticism of the list would be how repetetive it is; at a glance, it looks like Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and Rush have about 10 albums each.

That's true - but we're a pretty small country. I'll bet a top 100 UK albums would have a ton of Beatles, Stones, Who and Radiohead.

Many of the Canadian acts have had unbelievable staying power.

How many US artists have a 30 year track record? I can think of Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Springsteen and maybe Michael Jackson, but it's a pretty short list considering the size of the talent pool.

Actually, I'm sure there are more - it's early, I haven't had coffee - but you get my point.

[Lone Ranger]

70. Love Junk, The Pursuit of Happiness (1988)

I'm trying to think of who was overlooked here. I'd probably add:


Love Junk - The Pursuit of Happiness
See 54-50 above


Umm... I guess you can scratch my brilliant suggestion.

I saw Moe Berg walking on Queen Street a couple of weeks ago, and I felt a little sad for him because I always thought they should have been a lot more successful.

He's certainly aged quite a bit, definitely looking like an adult now.

[Adam C]

That's true - but we're a pretty small country. I'll bet a top 100 UK albums would have a ton of Beatles, Stones, Who and Radiohead.

Yeah, but Britain has a larger population and has produced way, way more musical acts than Canada has. Using just this NME list of top 100 UK Albums (http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nmes_100_best_albums.htm#Greatest%20British%20Albu ms) and the Observer's Top 100 British Albums (http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Observer100june2004.htm) you'll note while the Beatles and the Stones have more than one album they dominate nowhere near to the extent that Mitchell, Young, Lightfoot, and the Guess Who do on the Canadian list. (And even then they still left off a lot of each.)

[Lone Ranger]

Yeah, but Britain has a larger population and has produced way, way more musical acts than Canada has. Using just this NME list of top 100 UK Albums (http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nmes_100_best_albums.htm#Greatest%20British%20Albu ms) and the Observer's Top 100 British Albums (http://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Observer100june2004.htm) you'll note while the Beatles and the Stones have more than one album they dominate nowhere near to the extent that Mitchell, Young, Lightfoot, and the Guess Who do on the Canadian list. (And even then they still left off a lot of each.)


Oh, I certainly agree that British music is much varied - I was just making a point that it's natural for a few acts to have multiple appearances on a chart like this. I'd love to say it should include smaller and less well known acts, but it's hard for me to argue that the best Jale album is better than the 10th best album by Joni or Neil.

That NME list is a little too varied (although I have a ton of these records). I quite like the La's, but come on, let's get serious. They lean away from the 'classic' stuff a bit too much.

The Observer list makes it easier to add up the repeat acts:

Beatles - 5
Bowie - 6
Stones - 4
Smiths - 4
Zep - 3
Roxy Music - 3

That's 6 bands representing 25% of the chart.

[Adam C]

That NME list is a little too varied (although I have a ton of these records). I quite like the La's, but come on, let's get serious. They lean away from the 'classic' stuff a bit too much.

Well considering it's NME I'm not surprised by some of the inclusions (the list was voted on by their writers) but what are the classics in this case?

[Lone Ranger]

Well considering it's NME I'm not surprised by some of the inclusions (the list was voted on by their writers) but what are the classics in this case?

From a very, very and potentially inaccurate count, there are only 15 or so albums pre-Never Mind the Bollocks.

I know that a magazine like Rolling Stone always seems a little too stuck in the 60s, but this is a very modern list.

It also seems to be pretty heavy in the 1977 to 1983 and 1993-1998 eras (all dates approximate).

I have owned and enjoyed the albums by Supergrass, Elastica, Cornershop and Teenage Fanclub - but I'm thinking they are more top 500 than top 100.

[howyadoin]

I agree! We should petition Parliament to make Neko Case Canadian by birth!Seconded. I'll sponsor her.


And yet as a Canadian are you surprised?Not entirely, no. But every so often I'm still astounded that some people think he has talent.


I saw Moe Berg walking on Queen Street a couple of weeks ago, and I felt a little sad for him because I always thought they should have been a lot more successful.

He's certainly aged quite a bit, definitely looking like an adult now.That is weird. If there was ever a band that would perfectly fit today's pop scene, it's TPOH.

[Matthew E]

Hey, I like Stompin' Tom. You have to admit he isn't like anybody else.

As for the dominance of Young, Lightfoot, Mitchell, etc.... we have to remember that for a long time it wasn't easy for Canadian musicians to have any kind of success. When CanCon came in, that opened the door, but it was quite a while before large numbers of people with talent were ready to walk through it. So any Canadian performers who had their acts together were at a distinct advantage up until... well, the mid-to-late '70s, conservatively, or maybe even the mid-to-late '80s, less conservatively. And when you're talking about artists as gifted as those mentioned above, it's not surprising that they'll place a lot of albums on such a list as this.

[howyadoin]

Hey, I like Stompin' Tom. You have to admit he isn't like anybody else.He definitely isn't like anybody good.

[jesse_custer]

I have a thing for Mitchell's Don Juan's Reckless Daughter.

[berk]

I like Stompin Tom. Apart from his novelty songs, and even a lot of them are fun, he does have some stuff that stands up very well as straight "country" music. Yes, it's simplistic and naive, but in the best possible senses of those terms; IOW, as genuine "folk" music, as opposed to sophisticated emulations of it a la Wilco, etc, sometimes tends to be. Not that even the best of his stuff isn't repetitive and simplistic, and he's too politically unaware to be true folk-singer in that sense - I mean one who voices the unexpressed political and social feelings of the masses - but still, I'm glad he's around and don't think it's wrong he's on the list.

Howyadoin's last post still made me laugh, though.

Check out "The Black Donnellys Ride", probably my favorite song of his. Based on a real-life incident, as so many of his songs are.

[howyadoin]

Check out "The Black Donnellys Ride", probably my favorite song of his. Based on a real-life incident, as so many of his songs are.Is that the biker thing in Ontario? Steve Earle's got a great song about that - "Justice in Ontario".

[Adam C]

Not entirely, no. But every so often I'm still astounded that some people think he has talent.

Well this is the country that continues to diefy the Guess Who and Bryan Adams.


That is weird. If there was ever a band that would perfectly fit today's pop scene, it's TPOH.

I'll have to check these guys out.

[Matthew E]

TPOH is pretty good. My favourite of their albums is Where's the Bone. Also, Moe Berg has a solo album that's worth checking out.

[berk]

Is that the biker thing in Ontario? Steve Earle's got a great song about that - "Justice in Ontario".The Earle song is a great one - didn't know it was about the Donnellys.

Just checked the lyrics; what Earle does is skilfully use the 19th century Donnelly massacre as a lyrical counterpoint to the more recent biker murder trial thing. The Donnelly massacre was the climax of a feud amongst Irish immigrants. I just found a prettty good wiki article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Donnellys)on it. Makes me feel like hunting down a good book on the whole thing.

[berk]

TPOH is pretty good. My favourite of their albums is Where's the Bone. Also, Moe Berg has a solo album that's worth checking out.They've never been great favourites of mine, although I can see they're good, but I read or heard an interview with Todd Rundgren where he was saying he could never understand why they weren't a huge success. Apparently he produced one of their albums, and he was really impressed with their songwriting talent, etc.

[J Kleine]

Here's my list:
1. Harvest, Neil Young (1972)
2. Blue, Joni Mitchell (1970)
3. After the Gold Rush, Neil Young (1970)
4. Music From Big Pink, The Band (1968)
5. Fully Completely, The Tragically Hip (1992 )
6. Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette (1995)
7. The Band, The Band (1969)
8. Funeral, Arcade Fire (2004)
9. Moving Pictures, Rush (1981)
10. American Woman, The Guess Who (1970)
11. Songs of Leonard Cohen, Leonard Cohen (1967)
12. Reckless, Bryan Adams (1984)
13. Five Days in July, Blue Rodeo (1993)
14. Twice Removed, Sloan (1994)
15. Up to Here, The Tragically Hip (1989)
16. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Neil Young with Crazy Horse (1969)
17. 2112, Rush (1976)
18. Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell (1974)
19. Whale Music, Rheostatics (1992)
20. Acadie, Daniel Lanois (1989)
21. Day for Night, The Tragically Hip (1994)
22. Rust Never Sleeps, Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1979)
23. Gord's Gold, Gordon Lightfoot (1975)
24. You Were Here, Sarah Harmer (2000)
25. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Sarah McLachlan (1993)
26. Road Apples, The Tragically Hip (1991)
27. Gordon, Barenaked Ladies (1992)
28. You Forgot it in People, Broken Social Scene (2002)
29. I'm Your Man, Leonard Cohen (1988)
30. Tonight's the Night, Neil Young (1975)
31. Decade, Neil Young (1977)
32. Miss America, Mary Margaret O'Hara (1988)
33. Surfacing, Sarah McLachlan (1997)
34. One Chord to Another, Sloan (1996)
35. Songs of Love and Hate, Leonard Cohen (1971)
36. Cyborgs Revisted, Simply Saucer (1989)
37. Ingenue, k.d. lang (1992)
38. Melville, Rheostatics (1991)
39. Love Tara, Eric's Trip (1993)
40. On the Beach, Neil Young (1974)
41. Not Fragile, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1974)
42. The Best of the Guess Who, The Guess Who (1971)
43. Let it Die, Feist (2004)
44. The Last Waltz, The Band (1978)
45. Night Train, The Oscar Petersen Trio (1963)
46. Down at the Khyber, The Joel Plaskett Emergency (2001)
47. Harvest Moon, Neil Young (1992)
48. Cuts Like a Knife, Bryan Adams (1983)
49. L'heptade, Harmonium (1976)
50. Teenage Head, Teenage Head (1979)
51. High Class in Borrowed Shoes, Max Webster (1977)
52. Hejira, Joni Mitchell (1976)
53. The Goldberg Variations, Glenn Gould (1955 and 1982)
54. Forgarty's Cove, Stan Rogers (1977)
55. Wheatfield Soul, The Guess Who (1968)
56. Si on avait besoin d'une cinquieme saison, Harmonium (1974)
57. Dancing in the Dragon's Jaw, Bruce Cockburn (1979)
58. Frantic City, Teenage Head (1980)
59. Hymns of the 49th Parallel, k.d. lang (2004)
60. Hot Shots, Trooper (1979)
61. Robbie Robertson, Robbie Robertson (1987)
62. The Trinity Session, Cowboy Junkies (1988)
63. Ron Sexsmith, Ron Sexsmith (1995)
64. Nothingface, Voivod (1989)
65. Come on Over, Shania Twain (1997)
66. Everything I Long For, Hayden (1995)
67. Outskirts, Blue Rodeo (1987)
68. Joyful Rebellion, k-os (2004)
69. Sit Down Young Stranger/If You Could Read My Mind, Gordon Lightfoot (1970)
70. Love Junk, The Pursuit of Happiness (1988)
71. Jaune, Jean-Pierre Ferland (1970)
72. Somewhere Outside, The Ugly Ducklings (1966)
73. Electric Jewels, April Wine (1973)
74. Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot (1973)
75. Left and Leaving, The Weakerthans (2000)
76. Clumsy, Our Lady Peace (1997)
77. Harmonium, Harmonium (1974)
78. Share the Land, the Guess Who (1970)
79. Greatest Hits!, Ian & Sylvia (1970)
80. Steppenwolf, Steppenwolf (1968)
81. Ladies of the Canyon, Joni Mitchell (1970)
82. Bud the Spud and Other Favourites, Stompin' Tom Connors (1969)
83. Shine a Light, Constantines (2003)
84. Shakespeare My Butt, The Lowest of the Low (1991)
85. Clayton Park, Thrush Hermit (1998)
86. Smeared, Sloan (1992)
87. Living Under June, Jann Arden (1994)
88. The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Joni Mitchell (1975)
89. Bad Manors, Crowbar (1971)
90. Official Music, King Biscuit Boy With Crowbar (1970)
91. Lightfoot!, Gordon Lightfoot (1966)
92. Mad Mad World, Tom Cochrane (1991)
93. Rufus Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright (1998)
94. Face to the Gale, Ron Hynes (1997)
96. Hobo's Taunt, Willie P. Bennett (1977)
97. Cowboyography, Ian Tyson (1986)
98. Favourite Colours, The Sadies (2004)
99. The Way I Feel, Gordon Lightfoot (1967)
100. A Farewell to Kings, Rush (1977)

Albums that would've made my top 100:
Bruce Cockburn: "Nothing But a Burning Light"
54-40: "Dear Dear" and/or "Smilin' Buddha Cabaret"
Weakerthans: "Reconstruction Site" -- instead of "Left and Leaving"
Luke Doucet: "Broken: and other Rogue States"
Joel Plaskett Emergency: "Ashtray Rock"
The Dears: "Gang of Losers"
Sam Roberts: "We Were Born in a Flame" - this CD was single-licious, despite having a couple duds
The Inbreds: "Kombinator" or "Winning Hearts"
Skydiggers: "Restless"
The Flashing Lights: "Sweet Release"
Meligrove Band: "Planets Conspire"
New Pornographers: "Twin Cinema" - my current favourite from NP, although I've been told "Electric Version" is better
Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene
Sloan: "Navy Blues" or "Never Hear the End of it"

I'm disappointed to see compilations and hits albums taking up space. But I'm really happy to see guys like Joel Plaskett, Sloan, Rheostatics and Blue Rodeo getting decent spots.

[mattx110]

oh yea, and where's the celine dion!?!?!!! this list is a failure!

oh, and the last waltz as a cultural event should be the highest "the band" album. and i know there's a whole bunch of canadian musicians on the tip of my tongue that i can't quite get out that deserve a spot.

[Adam C]

oh, and the last waltz as a cultural event should be the highest "the band" album.

I'm not sure about that. While I enjoyed it much more than Rob/Leo did I, the Band's first two albums are easily the greater musical acheivements in the way they seamlessly blended together various American roots musical styles, paving the way for various forms of roots rock that are now very much a common part of the musical landscape. The Last Waltz merely rests on these acheivements but doesn't offer anything new musically. And as a cultural event to be frank it's little more than a self-indulgent celebration of the band by itself and a bunch of its peers, even if I enjoyed the performances. On the other hand, the Band's performances with Dylan on the Basement Tapes and their first two albums, Music From Big Pink and The Band, did lead to a movement towards roots styles in rock in the late 60s and early 70s. And it's worth noting these albums came in the thick of psychedelia and progressive rock, a contrast which heightened their effect all the more. In that they are much greater cultural events.

[howyadoin]

The Last Waltz merely rests on these acheivements but doesn't offer anything new musically. And as a cultural event to be frank it's little more than a self-indulgent celebration of the band by itself and a bunch of its peers, even if I enjoyed the performances.Plus it had Neil Diamond on it.

[berk]

The other striking thing about the list is how very middle of the road it is. There isn't much experimentation going on there, no one pushing the boundaries of pop music. Maybe that's a fault of Canadian pop music in general - its strength is its weakness, as the saying goes, and the strength perhaps is good taste. Too much fucking good taste, to paraphrase Spinal Tap.

[howyadoin]

The other striking thing about the list is how very middle of the road it is. There isn't much experimentation going on there, no one pushing the boundaries of pop music. Maybe that's a fault of Canadian pop music in general - its strength is its weakness, as the saying goes, and the strength perhaps is good taste. Too much fucking good taste, to paraphrase Spinal Tap.I'd say it's the fault of the people who made up the list, not the fault of Canadian music in general.

[mattx110]

I'm not sure about that. While I enjoyed it much more than Rob/Leo did I, the Band's first two albums are easily the greater musical acheivements in the way they seamlessly blended together various American roots musical styles, paving the way for various forms of roots rock that are now very much a common part of the musical landscape. The Last Waltz merely rests on these acheivements but doesn't offer anything new musically. And as a cultural event to be frank it's little more than a self-indulgent celebration of the band by itself and a bunch of its peers, even if I enjoyed the performances. On the other hand, the Band's performances with Dylan on the Basement Tapes and their first two albums, Music From Big Pink and The Band, did lead to a movement towards roots styles in rock in the late 60s and early 70s. And it's worth noting these albums came in the thick of psychedelia and progressive rock, a contrast which heightened their effect all the more. In that they are much greater cultural events.
well. i like large gatherings. the more famous people, the more famous the moment i always say.

although i see the reasoning behind big pink being higher on the list. it did influence the west coast folk-rockies and fairport convention in the UK, who i think are unsurpassed in being true to the purpose of folk music.

and neil diamond is kinda awesome in a way. i mean... look, we no longer have roy orbison, and diamond is kinda in the same realmish... maybe the last waltz would be better if they banned cocaine from the winterland.

[howyadoin]

well. i like large gatherings. the more famous people, the more famous the moment i always say.Which has little or nothing to do with culture, of course.

[Athena Bast]

46. Down at the Khyber, The Joel Plaskett Emergency (2001)


OMG!!

Joel Plaskett.. holy crap.. that's so awesome. And at 46 too.

Kinda wish Matt Mays & El Torpedo had made it then too.

[mattx110]

Which has little or nothing to do with culture, of course.

ummm... is this sarcastic?

[Paul McEnery]

The thing that surprises me is, no Mr. Tambourine Man.

Because you know, that is pretty much the best-loved recording ever made by a Canadian.

[Athena Bast]

The thing that surprises me is, no Mr. Tambourine Man.

Because you know, that is pretty much the best-loved recording ever made by a Canadian.

The Byrds are Canadian... or am I thinking of the wrong band?

[Jonathan Bogart]

The Byrds are Canadian... or am I thinking of the wrong band?
The Byrds aren't Canadian. I believe Paul's referring to William Shatner's version.

[mattx110]

skid row, ed bickert and don thompson w/ paul desmond, liona boyd, gil evans, which would bring in sketches of spain, jeff healey, diana krall
avril lavigne all deserve spots.

i know, there's no way to create a perfect list, but i'm just throwing in suggestions for discussive purposes.

[Adam C]

ummm... is this sarcastic?

No simply true. It doesn't matter if the event has a bunch of famous people at it, or even if the event itself is famous. It has to have an discernable cultural impact. So far I haven't seen any evidence that The Last Waltz had a cultural impact that would rank it above Music From Big Pink and The Band.

[mattx110]

No simply true. It doesn't matter if the event has a bunch of famous people at it, or even if the event itself is famous. It has to have an discernable cultural impact. So far I haven't seen any evidence that The Last Waltz had a cultural impact that would rank it above Music From Big Pink and The Band.

it was the end of an era (and i know they got back together without the putz robbie robertson the week after). it was a huge event put together by bill graham, where dozens of other musicians got together to honor the retiring of a worldfamous band. that's culturally signifigant. if dylan shows up, it's a big event.

it's a high selling concert film, it was directed by who? i don't think anything about it makes it not signifigant in any way. if anything just to show how pretentious robbie robertson had become.

[Adam C]

it was the end of an era (and i know they got back together without the putz robbie robertson the week after). it was a huge event put together by bill graham, where dozens of other musicians got together to honor the retiring of a worldfamous band. that's culturally signifigant.

It is? What were its effects on musical culture? How was it the end of an era? (I know the film bills itself as such but I've never figured out the logic behind it beyond Robertson's self aggrandizing.)


if dylan shows up, it's a big event.

How does that make it a big event?

[howyadoin]

ummm... is this sarcastic?Nope. Fame and culture are not the same thing at all.


skid row, ed bickert and don thompson w/ paul desmond, liona boyd, gil evans, which would bring in sketches of spain, jeff healey, diana krall
avril lavigne all deserve spots.

i know, there's no way to create a perfect list, but i'm just throwing in suggestions for discussive purposes.Skid Row is from New Jersey.

And Avril Lavigne is a bigger fucking joke than Skid Row.

[mattx110]

Nope. Fame and culture are not the same thing at all.

Skid Row is from New Jersey.

And Avril Lavigne is a bigger fucking joke than Skid Row.

1. sebastian bach is canadian, and he's the only one anyone cares about unless you're a skid row enthusiast.
2. you have 0 sense of humor. i mean, avril lavigne and you thought i was serious? diana krall yes, avril lavigne, no.

3. when famous people gather and end a famous bands career (even if temporarily) with a largely acclaimed film and concert that everyone within an era knows about it's culture. famous people define pop culture. so when they do something, it enters it. britney is crazy. OJ got off (the first time). these are things that are only culturally signifigant because they're famous people.

and adam c, dylan was damn crazy. mercurial bastard, and he almost didn't do the show despite his connection with the band. he then didn't let scenes with him get released with the film. other things he's done and been asked to do for name recognition and credibility. the farewell concert to woody guthrie. the concert for bangledesh. all those "We are the world" things.

he's an icon, and when he goes out and does something in front of a large audience that isn't explicitly paying to see him, it's a big deal. that's how it goes when you have the respect of almost an entire generation and more.

[howyadoin]

1. sebastian bach is canadian...He was born in the Bahamas.


2. you have 0 sense of humor. i mean, avril lavigne and you thought i was serious? diana krall yes, avril lavigne, no.To be honest, I only understand about a third of what you say.

[mattx110]

He was born in the Bahamas.

To be honest, I only understand about a third of what you say.

obviously, reading comprehension, not your thing. it's ok.
i don't care about that.
but you thought i was serious about avril lavigne. and that's unforgivable.

and don't bother with a clever response, i know that you know how to read, i was just joking to avoid any more un-necessary rudeness. and i'm not always an easy person to keep up with in discussion.

you ever respond to an implication of what someone says, assuming he'll be making the same connection and he winds up confused? it happens.

and s. bach was raised in ontario since a younger age than lenny breau, who also didn't make the list, but he always considered himself canadian and so did the winnipeg music scene (who apparantly didn't get to vote here). i'm sure if you check the list some other folks who weren't born in canada made the list though.

now then, are there any canadian sitarists?

[jesse_custer]

My reading comprehension must be pretty goddamn bad, too.

[Jonathan Bogart]

I'd say that when no one understands your writing it's not their fault.

[mattx110]

I'd say that when no one understands your writing it's not their fault.

"no one" is 3 people on the internet with an agenda? i'm glad you haven't met the rest of the world. there's all sorts of people with different opinions. and minds of their own. it's madness out there.

[jesse_custer]

Dude, if there's one thing I don't know how to have, it's an agenda. I was just fuckin' with ya.

[mattx110]

Dude, if there's one thing I don't know how to have, it's an agenda. I was just fuckin' with ya.

ok, 2 people with an agenda, and 1 with a sense of humor... maybe you should teach the other two how to tell and take a joke.

this is the only part of the forum that always turns into attacks and all that. i mean, it could be a lot worse... maybe i just don't have any controversial or contrary opinions on "tv/film" or "community" so i don't notice it other places.

except i'm calling the INC and SNP fascists over in a thread there, so that theory doesn't make sense. it's strange.

[leonaozaki]

oh, and the last waltz as a cultural event should be the highest "the band" album.

The Last Waltz is a smug, pretentious joke. The only good performances on it are by Emmylou Harris and Muddy Waters. The Band's performance of "Helpless" is just sad-- a bunch of coked out rock aristocrats blowing every chord change in sight. Dylan's songs are utterly toothless; if you want to hear Dylan really singing his songs in the mid 70's, go listen to the Rolling Thunder Revue.

On the plus side, it's one of the best arguments for punk rock ever.

rob

[sgt pepper]

As much as I like to knock Canada (which is only fun because they are so sensitive about it), there's a lot of really great music on that list. I forgot that so much good music has come from north of the border.

Sloan is fantastic.

The omission of New Pornographers is unforgivable. Neko or not, it's a Canadian band and everybody knows it.

No Caribou?

[howyadoin]

ok, 2 people with an agenda, and 1 with a sense of humor... maybe you should teach the other two how to tell and take a joke.Jonathan and I are meeting in our top-secret clubhouse later to try out our new decoder rings. Maybe we'll find you funnier then.

[Athena Bast]

The Byrds aren't Canadian. I believe Paul's referring to William Shatner's version.

I figured they weren't. It didn't occur to me about Shatner.

[Athena Bast]

1. sebastian bach is canadian, and he's the only one anyone cares about unless you're a skid row enthusiast.


Skid Row cannot be a Canadian band because with Bach as the only "Canadian" in the band that's not enough to fulfill CANCON requirements.

[mattx110]

Jonathan and I are meeting in our top-secret clubhouse later to try out our new decoder rings. Maybe we'll find you funnier then.

look, i'm sure on any other night i'd find you clever and witty, but i'm actually reading this sober right now, so you're just kinda... boring. i mean, your skills at misreading and reinterpreting a statement so you can tell a rude joke and feel good about yourself are still there, but where's the soul? i'm dissapointed, i really am.
and don't bother commenting, really. i do apologize for any action i may have taken against you in the past, or anything that may have upset you. i will attempt to maintain polite standards of discussion and hope you will do the same. and if you like, you can get the last word, actually. that should help work out the misplaced anger you seem to have. maybe you could channel it back into avril lavigne hating.

on-topic
and it seems like a few deserving people were kept out of the list for not being born in canada despite considering it their home. i'm talking neko and breau, not really sebastian bach, although he's had a better output than some people on the list. but, if you are canadian enough for a juno award or canadian music hall of fame nod...

[Gary_B]

Jonathan and I are meeting in our top-secret clubhouse later to try out our new decoder rings. Maybe we'll find you funnier then.

Are those the rings that instantly add capitals and punctuation?

[Agent Helix]

I can't vouch for how crappy this list is or isn't, but I really like Left & Leaving.