THE SEAMS-CASTAWAY MOTEL - Rueben Degroot, Cameron Latimer, Aaron Grant (whom I remember from the Main at least a couple of years back), and the rest of the crew! This is much more than your usual Country album. Stellar playing! Playful arrangments! Pleasant surprises! I remember first hearing some of these people play at The Butchershop Gallery ( on 26th Avenue, just off Main street) ages ago! I even hung out and jammed with them a bit at their house! Friends of other amazingly talented people such as: Kent McAlister and Ridley Bent! Check out: www.tractorgrease.com for more goodies!

BOCEPHUS KING: ALL CHILDREN BELIEVE IN HEAVEN - A no-brainer! What's up with campus / community radio not getting more behing this brilliant album? Anybody that can combine speggetti western, electronica, The Kinks, meloncholy balladry,Brian Wilson-like melody, among other musical creations and actually make it work with strong songs and imaginative playing and mind-boggling production deserves a hell of a lot more respect. you can still request his video "Wreck of The Century" at Much More Music at: www.muchmoremusic.com/top10.

JOHN GULIAK: 7 STORIES & 13 SONGS - The title track is the crowning glory of this must-have Alt-Country classic! "The Little Ease" has one of the catchiest riffs ever! "Dive" is a lovely ode! "Easy To Fail" is a great road-traveling jaunt! "Big Orange Root" has some hypnotic, trippy guitar courtesy of Paul Rigby, one of the finest fretmasters available! There's even a cover of an almost lost Ford Pier song: "Great Western" and "Oka/Banff"? Wow! Most all of it backed by Mr Guliak's hard-earned, road-tested songcraft taken to new highths! Get this album immediately!

CRAIG JACKS: WAITING FOR MY ANGEL: Another Brilliant album from another inspired songsmith! You may know Mr. Jacks from thePoint Roberts Arts & Music Festival (every B.C. Day long weekend) and the sadly departed Utopia Parkway Recording Studios. This album has all the good spirit of the festival and his former studio. From the memorable melody of the title track, to the jovial, spunky feel of "Hot Set In The Old Town", to the Steve Earl shift of "Make Up Your Mind", to the open road reprieve of "Burnin' Tires" and "Barroom Dreams", to the gorgeous "Cubens In Texas" instrumental, to the more serious tone of "Indian Town", this is another CD you shouldn't let escape your sight. If you don't see it in the store, order it through his site: www.craigjacks.com

CINDERPOP: THEIR SKIES ARE BEATIFUL: One of the few non-roots albums that really caught my ears. I can hear vague later-day Brian Wilsonesque echos, as well as some nods to the some of the best Alt-Pop of the last quarter century (take your pick) here and their. Two, sometimes tree part harmonies, imaginatively punctuated keyboards, strong on melody with a little dirt thrown in on guitars! "Bastion Cooper" provides a fine introduction to Cinderpop's delightfully off-kilter Pop. The kind of rewarding audio experience so sadly shunned in most Pop music these days.

"Exquisit Day" is just that. Chiming acoustic and elctric guitars fill the air as the summery yarn unfolds. "Dear Miss Bliss" has an irrisitable riff ,provided on trumpet by the Salteens' Rob Calder-wrapped around a deceptively light song with deliciously dark turns added to keep you on your toes. "Downstream" is another keeper. Much of the material on this album has had a 5 year wait. I had Cinderpop perform some of these songs live on the radio show back in '99. Good to see it committed at disc at last!

SHELLEY CAMPBELL-BLUE RIDGE REVEILLE: Alright, it is a re-release. But, this woman possesses one of the most affecting, unique and sultry voices around. She can turn a strong musical phrase as well, getting her message arcross in a more subtle,but, no less affecting and powerful and almost cinematic manner. Check out "Drivin' You"-complete with haunting e-bowed guitar. "Typical Truckstop" could be the radio hit she's deserving of, if the CRTC and SOCAN ,in general, would wise up and take notice of talent that's more unique, ultimately more rewarding and more representative of what's been happening with this music the last decade or so.

"New Year's Eve At The Legion" should be sung everywhere at New Years as the champagne is being cracked open! "Beautiful Child" awakens childlike wonder, "Nightsong" is a delightfully light observation of nature transending modern industry. "No Fear" is a reassuring number of the strength of loyalty and faith, and the title track and it's tale of the red clay hills and the emotion it evokes from the writer is quite moving. Come along for the journey, it's a memorable one.

CAROLYN MARK-THE PROS & CONS OF COLLABORATION - An amazing and hilarious live performer who, like Shelley, is as valuable to the Alt-Country scene as Neko Case or any other highly touted songstress. This album is another proud notch in the belt of an all too overlooked scene here in the west. The opening "Overture" is a crazily inventive overveiw of all the songs on the album crammed into one neat 2 minute or so package. "Two Days Smug & Sober", "Chantel & Leroy" and "The Wine Song"'s tales of woe are finely married to some of the most inspired, energetic music and playing of some of the best in this or any field.

Tolan MacNeil, Paul Rigby, Greg MacDonald, Ford Pier, and Diona Davies all add their considerable chops and sense of fun to the proceedings. "Not A Doll" will throw you for a loop with its chorus of "everything happens either not at all or at the same time". "Bigger Bed" will give you a good chuckle with its tale of chaos. And "Hangover" is a definate last number of a long party with its refrain "Oh the pain...oh the pain...oh the horror and pain". But don't let the lyrics fool you, this album is a joy to experience.

MINIMALIST JUG BAND: FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD: Just a man with his edgy tales and his homemade washtub bass, who just happens to be one of the most unique performers on the scene. Offering sound advice about "Posting Crap On E-Bay. Hell, the crack about selling the USA enough crap to buy our land back is enough reason for you to give your hard earn cash to this humble saviour of the great northwest. But that's not all in this special offer. You also get:"Fell Great Today Because I Ate Today", "A Lousey Lover", "Problems In A Box","Now Is The Time", "First Murder Of The Year" and "Making Myself Sick"-featuring some of the most impressive thinking on your feet references to songs quoting mental health. Don't delay... order today...

SWANK: THE SURVIVAL ISSUE: The packaging is just as fun as the album. They've thankfully chucked the jewel case, and given you an actual album cover, complete with a book and some of the best twang, surf, gospel and rock on disc anywhere! "Incident At Rock Creek" would be a proud, high energy opening theme to any action flick. "How Do We Do" is a first class gospel-shouter with a bonus guest vocal from the vivacious Ana Bon Bon. "Lost Respects" is a rockin ode to hard times: "No french cuisine, no maitre d', there's only Shake and Bake"..."How F**cked Is That?" is a wonderfully relaxed nod to the terminally shafted in love.

"Neighbours" is a slow, shuffling tale of paranioa: "keep an eye on your neighbours, take my advice, if they're acting friendly, if they're acting too nice." Crank the volume on "Reverand Pleasant" and "1963 Galaxie" and check out their video, it's on there too. Someday all Cd's will be made this way.

OTHER HONERABLE MENTIONS OF 2004: Lillian Van Wheelden and her invaluable work in CFRO's music library and with House Of Blues, Cindy & Ted of IMU Productions and O & V, Girl Nobody, Mary Ancheta, Herald Nix, Rodney Decroo, Marianne Baker, Young & Sexy, Jenn Barrett, Ardre Chrys, Ronnie Aurtur,John Shepp, Camille Miller, Bob Kemmis, Burcu of Something About Reptiles, Kristy Thirsk, Tyler, Geoff Berner, The Hard Rock Miners, Jon, Wood,Belinda Bruce,Jane Gowan, Kate Wattie, Adrienne Pierce, Nicole Steen, Marcus Rodgers, The Clumsy Lovers, Star Collector, Eric, Shane, Jerry Sentino, Don Larson, Ken Fisher, Conrad Desjarlais, Gary Ingram,Alan Dobb, Steve Dawson, Jesse Zubot, Lilac, Cassidy, Tim Tweedale, Aaron Chapman, Phil Lagoode, Ila Peter, Tom Harrison, Jenna, Victoria, Stuart Derdeyn, Elaine Corden, John Cow, Randy Iwata,Stephen from Universal Music, Scott, Rob from Boompa, Sarah G.,Jeanne Tolmie, Chris Pilling, Jonathan Inc, Ken Beattie from Killbeat, Skyy Powers, Attila Brati, Richard, Mike, Robert, Willy Krueger, Declan, Bob Kemmis, Erin Kinghorn, Kevin Kane and Geoff from Audiofile, Vicki at Zulu, Andrew,Amy, Dave et al at Red Cat, Andy Collins, John Lucas and all in Hinterland and The Georgia Straight, Nancy Lanthier, Mike Lowe, Marc Lesperance, Niko, Keven, Chad and Marc from Motion Soundtrack, Colleen, Dale, Bruce, Carol, Paul and my Dad, Linda McRae, Matthew Presidente and Brad Pedwell, Mongoose, Mac Pontiac, Ford Pier,Adrian Mack, Scott Mcleod, Paul Myers, Butch Murphy, Scott Smith, Ellie Smith, Kick in the Eye, Jonah, Fraser MacKenzie, James Richards, Pete Campbell,Chris Nelson of Going Coastal, Paul Piget, Paul Rigby, Samantha Parton, Alison Russell, Marco Procaccini, Bonnie, Adam, Dieggo,Gwen,Doug Andrew, Brian Barr, Ed Goodine, Walter, Alex and Tony Baloney,Ana Bon Bon, The Cranky Yankee, Genieve, Gabe, Nadine Davenport, The Bills,Tim Readman, Korilee Tonnack, Craig McKerron, Graham Brown, Heather Griffin, Mike Evans, Garth, Patsy Klein, Doug Ferris, Lara Fitzgerald from Zed, El Dorado, Robyn Carrigan, Robin Pollack, Corrine Chu, Andrew Adolf, Andrew Burden, Jane, Victor Smith, Barb, Rupert, Art, Carol, Mark Gibbs, Joel, Clive Goodinson, Steven Hedley, Graham Tuscon, Charlie Haze, Shawn Killaly, Darrin Parris, Citizen A, Adam et all from Peppersands, Leonard Pennifold, Shanaka, Zak, Liz, Marnie Mains, Sister DJ, Ian Tiles, Ray Condo R.I.P., Tony Serka,Bradley, Buttless Chaps,Steve and all of Tugboat, Del Cowsill, Frank Yahr of Rumbletone, Chris and Teresa of Cazart, Kent McCalister and his sharp shooters, Ridley Bent, Sean,Kevin,Chris, Kev, Emily, Brooke, Christine,Amanda, Stacy et al at The Media Club, James at Beautiful House, Rich Hope, Chris Houston, Mistress Jen, Black Hen Jen, Keith Edwards, Rich Andrews, Rheostatics, Randy Carpenter, Randy Miner, Fritz and Max of Kooper Kain, Marq Desouza, Luke Doucet, Escovedo 101:Songs Of Alejandro, you the listener and visitor to this site, acts that performed and chatted on Radio Bandcouver,Stan The Doorman, Christie, Dana, Dan,Ida, Ben, Johnny, Craig, Adam et al at The Railway Club, Jacqui and Lisa of Jacqui Be Good for the brownies, and anyone else I've met, danced with and worked with, THANKS GREATLY & HAPPY NEW YEAR!! THE END!!