As previously mentioned, CFNY Edge 102 counted down the top 102 Canadian new rock songs of all time today. They just aired Underwhelmed seconds ago, so you're getting this awfully quick. I threw this together while watching the Leafs game and filled in the cracks with a little help from my friends.
- Sloan, Underwhelmed - One of my ten Canadian tracks, and it's a word!
- The Tragically Hip, New Orleans is Sinking - No brainer. You could see this coming a hundred miles away. It's another of my ten Canadian tracks, to top it off. Only one song could beat this one...
- The Demics, New York City - If they were going to celebrate a Canadian punk song from the late 70s, this is the one to celebrate because it's the best of the bunch. They were local, too.
- Arcade Fire, Rebellion (Lies) - Props to CFNY for putting Arcade Fire in the top ten, even if it's the wrong Arcade Fire song.
- Nickelback, How You Remind Me - I call bullshit.
- The Pursuit of Happiness, I'm An Adult Now - Now we're talking! I recently shared the video for this song. This is a band I have fond memories of and I included this song as one of my ten Canadian tracks.
- Billy Talent, River Below - The Billy Talent love-in continues...
- Spirit Of The West, Home For A Rest - I don't think you're allowed to listen to this song once you've graduated from university.
- Martha & The Muffins, Echo Beach - You knew this was coming. It had to be there, 'nuff said.
- AlexisOnFire, This Could Be Anywhere In The World - The ranking of this tune has clearly been inflated based on the fact it's a recent hit. Think back to when Bush's "Swallowed" was ranked the top video in the history of MuchMusic. I dig this tune though, and led off SLS16 with it.
- Our Lady Peace, Naveed - This is one of my favourite OLP song. It's true, you can look it up.
- Rough Trade, High School Confidential - These lists are always fairly predictable. Certain songs must be listed to prove it's not biased towards recent songs. High School Confidential is a fine tune, but should it be this high on the list? Of course not.
- Finger Eleven, One Thing - I call bullshit. "One Thing" was popular, and had mass appeal, but it's not Finger Eleven's best work and it doesn't belong in the top 102
- The Gandharvas, The First Day Of Spring - Great choice. I was just thinking about this song.
- The Viletones, Screamin Fist - I'm man enough to admit I didn't know this song. These lists need late 70s punk songs, and it seems The Demics and The Diodes weren't enough.
- Sam Roberts, Brother Down - After hearing the latest Sam Roberts album, my respect for this dude has soared. Brother Down is a fine tune that appeared on SLS8.
- Matthew Good Band, Apparitions - I knew Matt Good was going to be on this list somewhere, and this is probably their biggest hit. I once interviewed him.
- The Diodes, Tired of Waking Up Tired - I got to know this song when CBC radio was putting together their list of essential Canadian music. It's a neat tune, and you've got to pay respect to the pioneers, eh?
- The Tragically Hip, Wheat Kings - A truly beautiful, Canadian classic. I'm tearing up just writing about it.
- Alanis Morissette, You Oughta Know - Is this "new rock"? Maybe... but it's the only tune of hers that might qualify as such.
- Barenaked Ladies, If I Had $1000000 - This one is from that yellow tape and therefore worthy. I'm surprised it's not higher.
- Lowest Of The Low, Eternal Fatalist - I recently shared this one. Shakespeare My Butt still rulez!
- Pure, Anna is a Speed Freak - I hadn't heard this one in years. It's great!
- The Extras, Circular Impression - If you listened to the most recent Humble & Fred podcast, you heard me request this song.
- Blue Rodeo, Diamond Mine - I'm always surprised when they play Blue Rodeo on 102.1. I wrote about that, and the fact this is my favourite Blue Rodeo song, right here.
- Tea Party, The River - It's my favourite song from a band I never really liked.
- Teenage Head, Let's Shake - Good shite... classic.
- Death From Above 1979, Romantic Rights - I'm happy to hear this one up there. It's recent, but it's awesome. In fact, it was my second favourite song of 2005.
- Moist, Push - Here's the Moist song I was waiting for...
- Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, Having An Average Weekend - This song will forever be loved for it's promise a hilarious Kids in the Hall episode is forthcoming.
- Treble Charger, Red - Everybody's favourite Treble Charger song belongs on this list.
- Three Days Grace, (I Hate) Everything About You - Hmmm, this one is debatable. If a Three Days Grace song had to be ranked this high, I suppose we're lucky it was this one.
- Men Without Hats, The Safety Dance - Many forget this one is Canadian. It's one of the better 80s tunes, but is it "new rock"?
- Odds, Eat My Brain - Speaking of Canadian videos that featured cameos from other Canadian artists, the video for this tune had cool appearances by Junkhouse and The Pursuit of Happiness.
- I Mother Earth, One More Astronaut - Other IME songs should have been ranked ahead of this one.
- Payolas, Eyes Of A Stranger - I hear this one all the time on my Oh What A Feeling albums, and it always takes me back.
- Neverending White Lights, The Grace - Again, this song is sweet and all but experienced a higher than appropriate ranking because it's so fresh.
- Econoline Crush, All That You Are - I knew these guys were going to make the top 102. My favourite factoid about them is the fact their band name comes from a Neil Young lyric.
- Doughboys, Shine - I was hoping the Doughboys would break through, and this is probably their best song.
- Bedouin Soundclash, When The Night Feels My Song - I call bullshit. This song doesn't belong in the top 102.
- City And Colour, Save Your Scissors - This dude is all over the top 102, isn't he? We've got him with Alexisonfire and Neverending White Lights. Enough is enough!
- Blue Peter, Don't Walk Past - Do I know this song?
- The Tragically Hip, Fifty Mission Cap - How can I complain about a Hip song about Bashin' Bill?
- Sloan, Coax Me - Great selection. Nobody will complain about this one.
- 54-40, Ocean Pearl - It's easy to forget these guys, but they were so damn consistent. Hit after hit after hit, and I rarely think about them.
- Our Lady Peace, Clumsy - I'm cool with this.
- Rusty, Misogyny - Yay, Rusty! We were just talking about them.
- Parachute Club, Rise Up - Sadly, I only think of that damn McCain's commercial now. I know the song meant something to this city, but kids today are only thinking about frozen pizza.
- Sum 41, Pieces - I beg to differ.
- Arcade Fire, Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) - All of Funeral could have made this list.
- Spoons, Nova Heart - This is another song I know from the Oh What A Feeling collection.
- Billy Talent, Devil In A Midnight Mass - CFNY hearts Billy Talent.
- New Pornographers, Mass Romantic - Great selection.
- Northern Pikes, Teenland - I am so glad this song made the list. In primary school I used this song for an independent study project while in the gifted program. True story...
- K-OS, Crucial - I'm a little surprised this song made the list, even though I dig this dude.
- 54-40, Baby Ran - Just to repeat myself, this band was solid and quite under appreciated.
- Vital Sines, Collage - Don't laugh, but I'm pleading ignorance.
- Nickelback, Someday - I call bullshit.
- Sum 41, Fat Lip - I suppose this song had to be here.
- Breeding Ground, Happy Now I Know - I don't know this tune, do I?
- Metric, Dead Disco - Ahead of Combat Baby? No way, Jose.
- The Tragically Hip, Bobcaygeon - You'd better believe it.
- Chalk Circle, April Fool - This was my first concert!
- Our Lady Peace, Starseed - This list was going to be heavy on the OLP and Hip because they couldn't ignore the staples.
- I Mother Earth, So Gently We Go - My favourite IME song, for what it's worth.
- Dream Warriors, My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style - I'm very happy they didn't forget the Dream Warriors. I loved this album from King Lou and Capital Q from Jane and Finch.
- Sarah McLachlan, Possession - Ya gotta respect the queen of Canadian new rock.
- Tea Party, Temptation - I'm calling bullshit on this one.
- Images In Vogue, Lust For Love - One of my favourite 80s songs!
- Sloan, The Other Man - Sloan's all over this list, and rightly so.
- 54-40, One Gun - This was the first song I ever heard on MuchMusic on the first day it fell to our cable tier.
- Rheostatics, Record Body Count - These guys never really broke, but every critic adores them.
- Sam Roberts, Where Have All The Good People Gone - Nice choice.
- Grapes Of Wrath, All The Things I Wasn't - Brilliant selection. I loved this tune.
- Skinny Puppy, Testure - Not my cup of tea.
- Mobile, Out Of My Head - I'll pass, it's too poppy and too recent.
- Nickelback, Photograph - Bullshit!!!
- B. B. Gabor, Nyet Nyet (Soviet Jewelry) - I'm pleading ignorance.
- Three Days Grace, Animal I Have Become - Nice try 'NY, this ain't the Thursday 30.
- Hot Hot Heat, Bandages - I'm glad Hot Hot Heat made the list.
- Jane Siberry, Mimi On The Beach - I must confess to never liking this song. I know I'm supposed to, but it bores me to tears.
- The Tragically Hip, Locked In The Trunk Of A Car - It's better for us if you don't understand.
- Big Wreck, That Song - My brothers hated this song, but I always like it. It seems I'm not alone!
- Trans-X, Living On Video/Vivre Sur Video - I'm pleading ignorance.
- Watchmen, Stereo - I miss these guys.
- Limblifter, Ariel Vs. Lotus - I hadn't heard this one in a while. It's nice, but I don't think it's top 102-worthy.
- Pukka Orchestra, Might As Well Be On Mars - I think the Edge was short on 80s music. Cool video, tho.
- Hayden, In September - Wasn't I just writing about Hayden? I love this song.
- Strange Advance, Worlds Away - I'd have preferred We Run.
- The Forgotten Rebels, I'm In Love With The System (Not Myself) - I get it. You have to acknowledge our punk scene from the late 70s if you're going to recognize Nickelback's Someday. It's still not a fair trade.
- The Weakerthans, The Reasons - I caught these guys in the summer and this song was a highlight. When they recreate this list in five years, the Weakerthans won't make the cut.
- Barenaked Ladies, Be My Yoko Ono - Our first BNL song and a CFNY favourite, I'm surprised it's not ranked higher.
- Chalk Circle, This Mourning - This was my first concert!
- Billy Talent, Try Honesty - How many Billy Talent songs made the top 102?
- illScarlett, Heaters - Even though I really dig this tune, only time will tell if it belongs on a list like this. I suspect it doesn't.
- Pursuit Of Happiness, Hard To Laugh - From the awesome Love Junk, this was a great single.
- I Mother Earth, Not Quite Sonic - Three tunes from IME is just a little too much. At least replace this one with Levitate.
- Tea Party, Save Me - No way, how can we have three Tea Party songs and only one Moist song?
- Rheostatics, Claire - I'm a little surprised another Rheostatics song beat out this one.
- Delerium, Flowers Become Screens - Zzzzzzz.
- Death From Above 1979, Black History Month - The first of two DFA1979 songs, it's too bad they're now defunct.
- Our Lady Peace, Superman's Dead - A great start to the list, OLP had a major hit with this tune.
