Hope (2016)
The Strumbellas
One of the first albums I think I listened to completion that wasn’t one of my fathers or anyone elses, this album has a special part in my heart and I think it’s shapped who I am so much (prepared for this one to get longer then the others) I first heard Spirits in a bowling alley, I believe it was my birthday, and I remeber it being the only song I stopped what I was doing, as I wanted to know what song it was, hoping for it not to turn into one I’d forget and only hear once. But thankfully it was the hit of the summer, so it got plenty of air time (plus Can-Con) helped that too.
This album has been with me through the highs and the lows of my life, I know I can always count on the soothing violins performance from Isabel Ritchie, or the comforting voice of Simon Ward to get me through it, even if most of the songs are deep downers in lyrics, they’re a shared sorrow of grieving.
They were for awhile was my choice for my favourite band, albeit I only really love this album, the others had their moments. But this one made me feel like they had synergy, unfortunately Simon left to be closer with his children, and to solo, which means he got a replacement and I think a lot of the spirit in Hope left with him. I’ve only heard the new stuff on radios in like Sobey’s so idk if it’s that bad but Simon couldn’t be replaced, he was the heart of it all.
Top Tracks:
Spirits Shovels and Dirt We Don't Know Hired Band Young & Wild The Night Will Save Us Wild Sun
Skip Past:
Idk they're all really good man. I guess if I had to say, Dog. I feel like that track runs a bit to long sometimes
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum (2005)
Tally Hall
Album that got me into Tally Hall (as a casual fan that doesn't know their ties from each other.) Variety of sounds but all feel like they fit as one piece, same can be said about their vocialization which is one of my favorite parts of Tally Hall. A star knocked for the weirder songs, Two Wuv and Be Born just of gross me out (which sucks because Two Wuv got such a good gutiar rift :[ )
Top Tracks:
Welcome to Tally Hall Taken for A Ride Banana Man Spring and a Storm Haiku Ruler of Everything Dream
Skip Past:
Be Born Two Wuv
Note: Downloaded a full verison from the Internet Archive but still do own, for some reason Musuic Bee wouldn't rip hidden tracks for this album, not sure if my disc have them
GO KICK ASS 3 (2025)
Complation of Local Toronto and Canadian Rock
Variety of sounds, for better or worse, refreshingly human sounding as the production quality isn't squeeky clean but adds to the charm (at least for some tracks as others get drained by music.) If you like songs that sound like they came from Myspace, this album is for you.
Top Tracks:
Old Mountain Low - Only Details Last Drag – Short Turn To Fame Glitch Kingdom – Final Destination Mip Power Trio – Press Rewind
Terrible And The Horribles – Margaret's Bleeding The Mendozaz – Shotgun Shells and Serenades Whine Problem– Dance, Doll Starship Experience– Tuesday Afternoon Sitting On A Park Bench Rhinosaur– The Dreth
Skip Past:
Three Impotent Males– Pavlovian Response Sweet Baby T– Emperor's New Jeans Kevin Murphy's Murder– In Our Places Mackenzie King– You or Me Bilious– Out of Hash
Big Shiny Tunes (1996)
Complation of Alt Music
Had been given this by my dad, just a random assortment of 90s Rock. There are some I like from this album but most I feel are just okay for background music. Feels more promotional then an actual Complation CD.
Top Tracks:
Better Than Ezra– King Of New Orleans Bush – Machinehead Garbage– Queer
Skip Past:
Marilyn Manson– Sweet Dreams Limblifter– Tinfoil
