Well folks, the year is winding down once again. I feel like just a few months ago we were ringing in 2008, but the truth is that another year has passed us by. This will be my first post in a series of posts celebrating “The Best of 2008″. To start off the series, I’d like to talk about my favourite EPs of the year. There have been quite a few EPs released this year to keep us going while we await new full lengths from our favourite artists. Artists such as Andrew Bird, Final Fantasy, The Decemberists, Antony & the Johnsons, Animal Collective and Coldplay have all released EPs this year. Some have been better than others, but they have mostly been solid. So here is my list of the Best EPs of 2008:

5. Animal Collective - Water Curses EP

Starting out the list is Animal Collective’s Water Curses EP. The first two songs on the 4 song EP are amazing and the last two are just so so, but what makes this EP so special is the title track of the EP, “Water Curses”. This song is among my favourite all-time Animal Collective songs. They could have just put out the EP with this being the only song on it and I would still consider it a great success. I may be building this song up too much. You’re probably going to listen to it and be like…”Ok it’s not that good”. So forget what I just said. This EP is terrible. “Water Curses”? Awful, Awful song….

Animal Collective - Water Curses

Animal Collective Myspace

4. Andrew Bird - Soldier On EP

Next we have the brilliant multi-instrumentalist/whistler extraordinaire, who is back with this excellent little EP to tide us over until his next full length album, which will be entitled Noble Beasts and is slated for a January 27th, 2009 release. I have this feeling that nothing Andrew Bird puts his hands on can turn out bad. I have loved pretty much everything I have ever heard from him and this EP is no exception. “The Water Jet Cilice” is pure beauty in song. Check it out.

Andrew Bird - The Water Jet Cilice

Andrew Bird Myspace

3. Stars - Sad Robots EP

I absolutely love this EP. Stars have always brought the drama and this EP is no different. It is comprised of 5 new songs and a new live version of the Stars classic, “Going Going Gone”. I was also lucky enough to be able to see Stars perform some of the songs from this EP live in New York City a few months ago. I am really eager to hear what the next Stars album will sound like. I really hope it goes in the same direction as this excellent EP.

Stars - Undertow

Stars’ Myspace

2. The Decemberists - Always the Bridesmaid (A Singles Series) EPs

This is a series of 3 EP’s of odds and ends that obviously wouldn’t fit on the new album that the Decemberists are working on entitled Hazards of Love, which will be released in March 2009. Colin Meloy has always been a fan of the EP, releasing a number of them before this one, including his Colin Meloy SIngs series, in which he covered songs of Morrissey, Shirley Collins and Sam Cooke on three EPs. This series of EPs is quite spectacular if you ask me. I really like every song on them. My favourites would have to be “A Record Year” off of Volume 3, and the cover of the Velvet Underground’s “I’m Sticking With You” off of Volume 2. Valerie Plame is also a pretty awesome song. You can find that one of the first volume.

The Decemberists - Record Year

The Decemberists Myspace

1. Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP

And the winner is….of course! This one’s a shoo-in. Just an amazing EP from start to finish. “Mykonos” is still arguably my favourite Fleet Foxes song period. It looks like Fleet Foxes are going to clean up this year in most of the “Best of 2008″ lists. Check in soon to see if they top the list of best song of the year, or best album of the year.

Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant

Fleet Foxes Myspace

Honorable mention goes to the Another World EP by Antony & the Johnsons, the Plays to Please EP by Final Fantasy, and the No Way Down EP by Air France.

So Fleet Foxes take best EP of the year…what a surprise. These guys are just amazing. I really hope they keep it up on whatever they decide to release next. The next thing I’m working on is my list of the top songs of the year. After that I will reveal my list of the top 20 albums of the year. It’s actually quite fun to look back and see what you really listened to a lot of during the year. You should do it too.

What are your favourite EPs of the year?

Until next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner

Is it just me or does the music you listen to sound better in the fall. What is it that makes the fall such a beautiful season? Is it the leaves? the colder weather? the grey skies? I think the reason I love fall so much is that it makes everything around you come to life. Shades of red, yellow, orange and pink colouring the world around you. Regular city streets becoming yellow brick roads right before your eyes. It’s pretty amazing when you take the time to notice. I have been looking forward to the fall for a long time now just so i could listen to all my favourite fall music. Here are 7 songs to listen to while you watch the leaves fall…

1. Department of Eagles - No One Does It Like You

I just listened to this band on my latest bus trip to New York City. My first thoughts were, “wow this band sounds a lot like Grizzly Bear”. It then dawned on me that it had to be the same singer. There’s no way their voices could be so similar. Turns out it is the same singer and he goes by the name of Daniel Rossen. It also turns out that Rossen was a member of Department of Eagles before Grizzly Bear even existed. I am really loving this band right now and this song is amazing (and perfect for fall).
(Department of Eagles Myspace)

2. Midlake - Bandits

Midlake is arguably my favourite band of 2008. It just so happens that I discovered them last fall and I associate their music very much with the season. It just seems to fit. They have a new album in the works which will most likely be called The Courage of Others. Keep your eyes out for it.
(Midlake Myspace)

3. Band of Horses - Window Blues

Band of Horses are good any time of year. But they sound especially nice in the fall. Have you seen them live? Because if you haven’t you are really missing something. I wasn’t a huge fan of the band until I saw them live and heard Ben Bridwell belting out those tunes. Ever since that fateful night I have been thoroughly obsessed with them. Apparently they are also working on a new album, about which Bridwell has said that he already has 27 songs written. I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to hear them.
(Band of Horses Myspace)

4. Grizzly Bear - Easier

Grizzly Bear’s album, entitled Yellow House, has been on repeat for me ever since I hear the opening bars of this song. Their music just drew me in right away. You really must check this band out, and they are perfect for fall. After you hear this song, take a listen to “Little Brother” my other favourite track on the album.
(Grizzly Bear Myspace)

5. Sea Wolf - Middle Distance Runner

Yeah…I kinda like this song. It seems there is a little trend emerging. 4 of the 5 bands I’ve mentioned so far have animals in their names. I didn’t do it on purpose I swear. It just so happens that my fall bands have animals in their names. I could have mentioned Fleet Foxes too but I think I speak about them enough. Anyways, this band is also one of my new finds that I have really been listening to a lot of over the past few months. Their first full length album, entitled Leaves in the River, was released last year and rumour has it they have a new album called A Wolf At The Table slated for a 2008 release. I’m very excited to hear it.
(Sea Wolf Myspace)

6. Birdie Busch - Old Fashioned Way

This is my favourite track off of Birdie’s first album The Ways We Try. I think it is such a sweet and beautiful song. Perfect for a lazy fall afternoon. I was lucky enough to get a chance to interview Birdie a few months ago and she is definitely someone to watch out for. And she, as well, has a brand new album in the works.
(Birdie Busch Myspace)

7. Nick Drake - Pink Moon

And last but not least…the King of Autumn, Nick Drake. My fall season doesn’t exist without him. It’s as if he wrote his songs tailor made for this season. If you aren’t familiar with his music you should really check him out.
(Nick Drake Myspace)

My question to you is…what do you like to listen to in the fall?

Again, I’d like to apologize for my lack of blogging lately. I have just finished most of my midterms and it was an arduous journey, but I finally have a little time to breathe. Hopefully this will result in more blogging.

Until next week (fingers crossed)…

-The Middle Distance Runner

It’s been a hectic week for me. I just wrote a 3 hour midterm on the history of China, and now I am studying for my second midterm on Canadian Politics, which is Wednesday. Have no fear though. This doesn’t mean the music has stopped! Just because one chooses to take classes in the summer doesn’t mean one can’t have a little fun in between. So here are my top five songs from last week, that I have been playing on repeat in between my studies on Confucianism and Daoism.

5. Middle Distance Runner (no relation) - Shoot The Shit

It just so happens that we go by the same name. We didn’t come out of the same womb or anything. But I have been listening to this bands debut LP, entitled Plane in Flames, a lot lately. This song gets me hyped! These guys are definitely worth checking out. One thing we don’t have in common is musical ability. Although I have dabbled in my Mac Book’s “Garage Band”, none of those files will ever see the light of day. Consider yourself lucky.

4. Abba - “I Have A Dream”

Ok, I’ll admit it. I saw Mamma Mia last night. And yes I am aware that The Dark Night came out last night as well. I willfully saw Mamma Mia, and I am proud to say that I loved it! What are you gonna do about it? huh punk? This is the first song in the movie, sung by the lovely Amanda Seyfried. Who knew she had a voice. And a really nice voice at that. Everyone in the movie sang really well. Pierce was just okay, but everyone else was stellar. Especially Meryl Streep singing “The Winner Takes it All”.

3. Dr. Dog - “The Old Days”

This is my immediate favourite upon first listen of Dr. Dog’s new album Fate. I’m still unsure as to whether I consider myself a Dr. Dog fan or not, but they do make some catchy music. And I’ve always been a sucker for lush vocal harmonies and they can lay down some pretty sweet ones. Just listen to the song “Hang On”. Love it!

2. Crystal Castles - Untrust Us

Just getting into this band. They make some pretty nice electronicky kinda music. And not only that, they are Canadian! This song is the first song off their debut self-titled album. Some nice nintendo sounds, mixed with some random jibberish vocals, makes for a great song.

5. Fleet Foxes - “Mykonos”

I Just saw Fleet Foxes perform live in Montreal on Tuesday at Divan Orange. It was an awesome awesome awesome show! Yes 3 awesomes. It was that good. I’m pretty obsessed with this band’s Sun Giant EP, especially the song “Mykonos”. If you have a chance to see these guys play live, you must do so! Before they become too big.

Ok guys, I gotta get back to the Plains of Abraham…

Until next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner

I don’t know about you but there’s nothing I look forward to more than when the artists I love put out new albums. Often though, the intense excitement and high expectations that I have lead to disappointment when I actually do get to hear the new releases and they aren’t exactly what I was hoping for. Once I get over that initial disappointment however, I usually come to love the albums. The fact remains, new albums are exciting! Some great new releases that I have been listening to lately are Man Man’s Rabbits Habbits, Aimee Mann’s @#%&*! Smilers, Fleet Foxes’ self titled LP and Wolf Parade’s At Mount Zoomer. Now let’s take a look at what is on the horizon…try not to drool.

Ratatat: LP3 - July 8, 2008

I absolutely cannot wait to hear this new album by New York City duo Ratatat. Since first hearing about them two summers ago, I have been incessantly listening to their first two LPs, Ratatat and Classics. I only hope that their third LP, which is aptly entitled LP3, will have the same magic that made the first two as good as they are. I’m expecting something a little different this time around. While the first two albums were great, they were pretty similar sounding, so I think we can expect a little bit of variation.

Here’s a little taste of the new album: Shiller

CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy): Donkey - July 21, 2008

Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, you have definitely heard of CSS. I remember a time when nobody knew who they were. Until a certain Apple ad changed everything. Now, CSS is everywhere… and good for them! But the pressure is on for them to follow up their debut self titled album with something worth listening to. Here’s a sample from the new album called Rat is Dead (Rage). Sounds pretty good to me!

The Stills: Oceans Will Rise - August 19, 2008

Here’s a band that i haven’t thought of for awhile. Recently signed to Arts & Crafts Records, The Stills, who hail from my Montreal hometown, will release their third studio album on August 19th. I am very eager to hear how they have changed in the last 2 years. Their second album, Without Feathers, was much different from their first, Logic WIll Break Your Heart. Is this a sign that their new album will be much different from their second? We will have to wait and see. But for now, here are some samples from the new record:

Rooiboos/Palm Wine Drinkard

Being Here

Imogen Heap: Untitled Third Album - September, 2008

I have been waiting for a new album from Imogen for a long time now. It’s been three years since her last solo album Speak For Yourself and I think it’s about time we hear some new stuff from her. Being the awesome person that she is, she has been recording video blogs for some time now documenting the creation of her new album. You can check out her latest vblog (the 24th) below. Look for her new album to drop this September!

Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping - October 7, 2008

I have been following them for many years and I consider them one of my all time favourite bands. While their last release Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? was probably one of my least favourite Of Montreal albums, I am still reaaaally excited to hear what they have in store for us this time around. The new album, which is to be entitled Skeletal Lamping, and will hit stores on October 7th, might just be the strangest thing we have heard from Kevin Barnes and his crew yet.

Here’s what Barnes had to say about it on Of Montreal’s Myspace Blog: “I wanted to make an album that was unpredictable and, at times,startling, yet always hummable and catchy. some of the transitions are intentionally awkward. I did this to keep the listener off guard and to dismantle people’s perception of how an album is supposed to be constructed. I am so bored with art that makes sense and ‘works’. I wanted to do somethings that didn’t ‘work’.”

Metric: Unknown Title - Summer 2008

According to this article a new Metric album should be hitting stores at some point this summer. I wouldn’t expect it before the fall but this is still exciting news! I don’t think Emily Haines has ever put out anything that wasn’t great. Whether it be with her band Metric or on her own with the Soft Skeleton, her music has always been amazing and I expect no less from their new LP, whenever it does come out. Here are two new songs that we can expect to hear on the album:

Give Me Sympathy (Acoustic):

Twilight:

Here are some more albums to look out for:

Holly Throsby: A Loud Call - July 12, 2008

Midlake: The Courage of Others (Tentative Title) - 2008

Final Fantasy: Heartland - Unknown Date

Well that’s all for now. It looks like it is going to be a pretty exciting summer and fall. Lots of new music for us to live our lives to. If you have any more information about future albums from these or other artists, please let me know!

Until next week…

-The Middle Distance Runner