5-3

5) Matt Mays& El Torpedo - Selftitled
This album really came out of nowhere for me. I didn't like "Cocaine Cowgirl" when i first saw the video, but eventually i heard the album at the Cave's Cavern Lounge of all places, liked what i heard, so i bought it. Within a couple days i was spinning it multiple times a day. Matt Mays' tough, blue-collar voice reminded me of what i liked in my favourite roots-rock veterans like John Fogerty and Levon Helm of the Band. The guitar heavy sound is augmented by lots of organ and the occasional dash of pedal steel. It's a fine sound, melding the heavy distortion of big guitar rock with the finer side of country-rock.. Mays' voice may seem overdone to some, but when he's singing about the Canadian coast, such as on the great "the Good People", it sounds totally authentic to me. Bonus points: easily the best guy amongst any 'rock-star' i've met, and he puts on one hell of a show.
4) The Coral - The Invisible Invasion
The first Coral album was fantastic. It was exploding with energy and ideas, but still showed their inexperience. Surely their next albums would be even better. The followups, "Pass it On" and "NightFreak and the Sons of Becker", were pretty unimpressive compared to their debut, the latter a really lame set of seemingly unfinished ideas. Fortunately, the Coral's newest disc makes good on the promise of their selftitled debut, finally combining their love of psychedelic atmosphere, the bizarre and rock n roll. I love the way every song is loaded with sounds, be it weird organs, odd ambient noises, or one of those ridiculous squiggly guitar sounds that only the Coral can do. James Skelly's voice is lovely and even, sounding perfect in the still "Late Afternoon" and maniacal on "Arabian Sand". But i must say, i do miss when he lets his voice get a little bit rough, such as on "I Remember When" from their debut. However, it's perhaps the only missing ingredient on what is a fantastic pop record.

3) The Blue Van - The Art of Rolling
Easily the most kickass straight up rock record of the year. Take your classic 60s combo of guitar, bass, madman drummer and organist and you have the Blue Van. They don't sound a thing like modern music, but too bad. They're so damn good it's hard not to get swept up in one of their rave-ups. I listened to this cd close to 20 times in the space of 3 days once, i was that hooked. It's the most simple and exciting music that got made this year. Want to check out a track? Try "Product of DK" and just try not to bob your head with the music.