Country & Folk
Readers Poll Results 2005
Calexico / Iron & Wine
In the Reins (Overcoat)
"I had never heard of Calexico before but really dig on Iron & Wine so this album was a great addition to the latter's catalogue and a fine introduction to the former. Who knew Iron & Wine could be so groovy? I went and saw them at Christmas time and when the two bands and all their hangers-on played He Lays In The Reins' there were more people on stage than a Parliament/Funkadelic show! Fantastic!" Matt Capel, Waterloo ON
"The only bad part of this album is that they are unlikely to make another... sad." Brett Shama, Toronto ON
"The best of both worlds." Kortney Jmaeff, Edmonton AB
"Excellent each on their own, and beautiful together." Stacey Paton, Kemptville NS
"I just really love the stories within their songs." Rudy Benedik, Vernon BC
"Simply beautiful..." Eric Rumble, Canmore BC
"The classic Calexico sound with the perfect touch of Iron & Wine what a great split! And then that Spanish opera, oh man... great stuff that never gets old. Classic!!!" Dan Helle, Melfort SK
"Just a beautifully fleshed out album." Andrew Campbell, Bradford ON
"What happens when you put Iron & Wine with Calexico? You get a colourful, orchestral and emotional album; it's moody and just wonderful, there I said it; wonderful!" Pascale Burquel, Granby QC
2. Cuff the Duke
Cuff the Duke (Hardwood)
"This was the year of my country music revolution. I once dismissed country as annoying, twangy junk, but now I just can't get enough of it. With some songs that are immediate and catchy, and others that grow on you with time, Cuff the Duke is the best of both worlds. If there was ever a time to take an interest in Canadiana music, the time is now." Eileen Nonoyam, Toronto ON
"Yee haw." Martina Zanetti, Toronto ON
"Really solid and hokey, but in such a good way." Chase Moser, Montreal QC
"One of the most originally and great sounding acts coming out of Canada this album is so diverse and well crafted." Josh Korody, St. Catharines ON
"Great band and somewhat more poppy than the last record. But harmonies and great riffs prevail. Too bad they kicked the guitarist out of the band." Iain McOustra, Toronto ON
"It's an amazing album!" Courtenay Bainbridge, Toronto ON
"Are they from Whitby or Oshawa? How can such rockin' come from such a crappy hole?" Mark Sanagan, Montreal QC
"Solid songs, both consistent and unique." Steve Bennett, London ON
3. Sarah Harmer
I'm A Mountain (Cold Snap/Universal)
"Her voice is like a taste of Canadian heaven." Eric Anderson, Saskatoon SK
"I love Sarah. And mountains." Lindsey Hayden, Calgary AB
"Just plain beautiful." Shelley Gibbs, Kitchener ON
"One of Canada's most beautiful voices." Daryl Hamilton, Whitby ON
"Harmer's most beautiful songs to date." Ryan Slade, Waterloo ON
"More people should be open to the folk/country sound that Sarah Harmer is playing here... and you can't go wrong covering Dolly." Bobby Hiltz, Chester NS
"All I can say is: wow what a voice." David Hayden, Halifax NS
"A breath of fresh air amidst the stale trash around." Katie Lerman, Surrey BC
"Sarah Harmer's voice blends so well with the old country sound on this album. She really is a country (or escarpment) girl at heart. She alters between making pop music and making good old country music. Harmer can pull it off because of her lovely voice." David Payumo, Toronto ON
4. Jon-Rae and the River
Old Songs for the New Town (Permafrost)
"It makes me cry, okay? Shut up." Nicholas Boshart, Montreal QC
"This album has soul! Especially the covers of Townes Van Zandt's Two Hands' and Joy Divisions Disorder.'" Jeff Friesen, Winnipeg MB
"Jon-Rae's ghosts haunts all of us, or at least his (still living) voice does. His fierce timbre and sporadic wails are the soundtrack to the cheap beer induced haze of my broken heart. My soul remains nicely intact." Paul Gagnon, Toronto ON
"They are already a cult band. When they are on their game, it's the best live show in this country." Steven Himmelfarb, Toronto ON
"The songs are about murder, crying and sinning and make you want to clap, dance and sing along. He has to be doing something right." Dave Love, Kingston ON
"Brilliant, as usual. I saw Jon-Rae and his brood in Vancouver open for the Sadies (speaking of great band from this genre) once. They blew me away. I would love to see Jon-Rae belting out that Shellac cover." Ryan Montemurro, Calgary AB
5. Bright Eyes
I'm Wide Awake It's Morning (Saddle Creek)
"A guy with a guitar belting his feelings out on the microphone. Conor Oberst's lyrics can penetrate your head like the best of them. His songs make you feel like he's in the room singing to you, and he's not afraid to get the brass in to move you further with his music. Just a super album all around." Joe Cousineau, Kanata ON
"Strangely superior to Digital Ash in a Digital Urn." Shannon Elissa, Callander ON
"By far my favourite album of the year. Once I put it in my CD player it didn't come out until months later. I love this album." David Kalviainen, Sudbury ON
"Amazing songwriting, and Emmylou's vocals fit perfectly with Conor's. A match made in heaven!" Russ Lavoie, Calgary AB
"One of three albums released by Conor Oberst this year and definitely the strongest out of the three. Oberst and Mogis dive headfirst into the world of folk/country and pull it off beautifully." Angie Anselmo, Sudbury ON
"Conor Oberst won my heart again. I expected great things after Lifted... and he met my expectations." Stacey Paton, Kemptville NS
"Gentle sweet gooey goodness." Carla Larson, Toronto ON
Readers Poll Results 2005
Calexico / Iron & WineIn the Reins (Overcoat)
"I had never heard of Calexico before but really dig on Iron & Wine so this album was a great addition to the latter's catalogue and a fine introduction to the former. Who knew Iron & Wine could be so groovy? I went and saw them at Christmas time and when the two bands and all their hangers-on played He Lays In The Reins' there were more people on stage than a Parliament/Funkadelic show! Fantastic!" Matt Capel, Waterloo ON
"The only bad part of this album is that they are unlikely to make another... sad." Brett Shama, Toronto ON
"The best of both worlds." Kortney Jmaeff, Edmonton AB
"Excellent each on their own, and beautiful together." Stacey Paton, Kemptville NS
"I just really love the stories within their songs." Rudy Benedik, Vernon BC
"Simply beautiful..." Eric Rumble, Canmore BC
"The classic Calexico sound with the perfect touch of Iron & Wine what a great split! And then that Spanish opera, oh man... great stuff that never gets old. Classic!!!" Dan Helle, Melfort SK
"Just a beautifully fleshed out album." Andrew Campbell, Bradford ON
"What happens when you put Iron & Wine with Calexico? You get a colourful, orchestral and emotional album; it's moody and just wonderful, there I said it; wonderful!" Pascale Burquel, Granby QC
2. Cuff the Duke
Cuff the Duke (Hardwood)
"This was the year of my country music revolution. I once dismissed country as annoying, twangy junk, but now I just can't get enough of it. With some songs that are immediate and catchy, and others that grow on you with time, Cuff the Duke is the best of both worlds. If there was ever a time to take an interest in Canadiana music, the time is now." Eileen Nonoyam, Toronto ON
"Yee haw." Martina Zanetti, Toronto ON
"Really solid and hokey, but in such a good way." Chase Moser, Montreal QC
"One of the most originally and great sounding acts coming out of Canada this album is so diverse and well crafted." Josh Korody, St. Catharines ON
"Great band and somewhat more poppy than the last record. But harmonies and great riffs prevail. Too bad they kicked the guitarist out of the band." Iain McOustra, Toronto ON
"It's an amazing album!" Courtenay Bainbridge, Toronto ON
"Are they from Whitby or Oshawa? How can such rockin' come from such a crappy hole?" Mark Sanagan, Montreal QC
"Solid songs, both consistent and unique." Steve Bennett, London ON
3. Sarah Harmer
I'm A Mountain (Cold Snap/Universal)
"Her voice is like a taste of Canadian heaven." Eric Anderson, Saskatoon SK
"I love Sarah. And mountains." Lindsey Hayden, Calgary AB
"Just plain beautiful." Shelley Gibbs, Kitchener ON
"One of Canada's most beautiful voices." Daryl Hamilton, Whitby ON
"Harmer's most beautiful songs to date." Ryan Slade, Waterloo ON
"More people should be open to the folk/country sound that Sarah Harmer is playing here... and you can't go wrong covering Dolly." Bobby Hiltz, Chester NS
"All I can say is: wow what a voice." David Hayden, Halifax NS
"A breath of fresh air amidst the stale trash around." Katie Lerman, Surrey BC
"Sarah Harmer's voice blends so well with the old country sound on this album. She really is a country (or escarpment) girl at heart. She alters between making pop music and making good old country music. Harmer can pull it off because of her lovely voice." David Payumo, Toronto ON
4. Jon-Rae and the River
Old Songs for the New Town (Permafrost)
"It makes me cry, okay? Shut up." Nicholas Boshart, Montreal QC
"This album has soul! Especially the covers of Townes Van Zandt's Two Hands' and Joy Divisions Disorder.'" Jeff Friesen, Winnipeg MB
"Jon-Rae's ghosts haunts all of us, or at least his (still living) voice does. His fierce timbre and sporadic wails are the soundtrack to the cheap beer induced haze of my broken heart. My soul remains nicely intact." Paul Gagnon, Toronto ON
"They are already a cult band. When they are on their game, it's the best live show in this country." Steven Himmelfarb, Toronto ON
"The songs are about murder, crying and sinning and make you want to clap, dance and sing along. He has to be doing something right." Dave Love, Kingston ON
"Brilliant, as usual. I saw Jon-Rae and his brood in Vancouver open for the Sadies (speaking of great band from this genre) once. They blew me away. I would love to see Jon-Rae belting out that Shellac cover." Ryan Montemurro, Calgary AB
5. Bright Eyes
I'm Wide Awake It's Morning (Saddle Creek)
"A guy with a guitar belting his feelings out on the microphone. Conor Oberst's lyrics can penetrate your head like the best of them. His songs make you feel like he's in the room singing to you, and he's not afraid to get the brass in to move you further with his music. Just a super album all around." Joe Cousineau, Kanata ON
"Strangely superior to Digital Ash in a Digital Urn." Shannon Elissa, Callander ON
"By far my favourite album of the year. Once I put it in my CD player it didn't come out until months later. I love this album." David Kalviainen, Sudbury ON
"Amazing songwriting, and Emmylou's vocals fit perfectly with Conor's. A match made in heaven!" Russ Lavoie, Calgary AB
"One of three albums released by Conor Oberst this year and definitely the strongest out of the three. Oberst and Mogis dive headfirst into the world of folk/country and pull it off beautifully." Angie Anselmo, Sudbury ON
"Conor Oberst won my heart again. I expected great things after Lifted... and he met my expectations." Stacey Paton, Kemptville NS
"Gentle sweet gooey goodness." Carla Larson, Toronto ON