Best Albums of 2012

Fireball XL5 Best albums of 2012

1. Diamond Rings - Free Dimensional (Buy the album here)

2. The Magic - Ragged Glory (Stream and buy the album here)

3. Hospitality - Hospitality (Buy the album here)

4. Chairlift - Something (Buy the album here)

5. The Smittens - Believe Me (Stream and buy the album here)

6. Dent May - Do Things  (Buy the album here)

7. Amanda Mair - Amanda Mair (Buy the album here)

8. The School - Reading Too Much Into Things Like Everything (Stream and buy the new album here)

9. The Hive dwellers - Hewn from the Wilderness (Buy the album here)

10. TOPS - Tender Opposites (Stream the album and buy the digital album for only $5 here)

11. Jens Lekman - I Know What Love Isn't (Stream and buy the album here)

12. Magnetic Fields - Love At The Bottom of the Sea (Stream and buy the album here)

Best Singles of 2012

Fireball XL5 Best singles of 2012

1. Haim - Forever

2. Hospitality - Betty Wang (download the song at the link)

3. TOPS - Diamond Look

4. The Smittens - Burning Streets of Rome

5. Chromatics - Kill for Love

6. Yuna - Live Your Life

7. Lee Fields and the Expressions - You're the Kind of Girl

8. The Magic - Magic Love

9. Jens Lekman - The End of the World is bigger than love

10. The Hive Dwellers - A Woman Named Trudy

11. Frankie Rose - Know Me

12. Jessie Ware - 110%

13. La Sera - Break My Heart

14. Standard Fare - Crystal Palatial

15. Eternal Summers - Millions

November 23, 2012

I had some really good songs left over for this the last new music show of the year, so I blew threw them all in the first two sets.  Also had a great time with the last funky set of music that went from Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo to Lulu.


Best song I heard since the last show - Haim - Forever - See the video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEwM6ERq0gc

Websites I mentioned during the show:

Trailer for Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O36cQ4scvM

Great Video for Lulu's The Boat That I Row:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5usk2yrw0E

Information about Stephin Merrit's Showtunes project:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showtunes


You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-11-23_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - November 23, 2012
TALK - Theme
Haim - Forever
Chairlift - Amanaemonesia
The Magic - Mr. Hollywood
TOPS - Diamond Look
io echo - Doorway
TALK
Hospitality - Friends of Friends
This Many Boyfriends - You Don't Need To Worry
Surfer Blood - Miranda
Courtney Jaye - Queen of Sabotage
Levy - Rotten Love
TALK
George Kranz - Din Daa Daa
Jessie Ware - 110%
Vaughn Mason featuring Butch Dayo - Feel My Love
Etta James - Seven Day Fool
Lulu - The Boat That I Row
TALK (random ending)
Stephin Merrit - Auntie Toothache


(C) - Canadian Content

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

October 19, 2012

Started out with a great song from Gold Motel that turns out be a song from a few years ago, I'm sad to have missed it when it first came out.  The set also featured a song by the Housemartins a band from a while ago that I should probably listen to more.  This was followed by a bit of stripped down set that all happened to feature female lead vocals.

Got a bit funky in the last set, started with a great group from Toronto who I was introduced to by seeing them perform outside of the Younge-Bloor subway station.  The last song of the set was close to my top song and I only found out about it randomly with someone I know watching a bad movie on Netflix, it was a bad movie, but it featured this great song so I guess that is something.


Best song I heard since the last show -   Gold Motel - Slow Emergency   - Listen to the song here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4rjbj24R8c

Websites I mentioned during the show:

About The Housemartins:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Housemartins

See Turbo Street Funk in action:
http://turbostreetfunk.com/

See the great video for the song "Back in Stride" by MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waSM0rXDLys

You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-10-19_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - October 19, 2012
TALK - Theme
Gold Motel - Slow Emergency
Jens Lekman - I Know What Love Isn't
The Housemartins - I Smell Winter
Tyson And His Game Boy - The Only One (C)
The Ice Choir - I Want You Now And Always
TALK
The XX - Angels
Esther Grey - A Gift (C)
The Do - Travel Light
TOPS - Diamond Look (C)
Thee Headcoatees - First Plane Home
TALK
Turbo Street Funk - Ghostbusters (C)
Lee Fields And The Expressions - Ladies
Charles Wright And The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Love Land
Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly - Back In Stride Again
Blue Magic - Just Don't Want To Be Lonely
TALK (random ending)
The Drums - Blue Stripes

(C) - Canadian Content

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

September 21, 2012

I went old school on the first set including my top song of week Teena Marie's "Lovergirl", although I really need to listen to some more current music, that doesn't take away from the fact that it is a great song.  The next set shifted to electro-pop but I finally brought it back to indie pop for the ending set. 

Best song I heard since the last show -   Teena Marie - Lovergirl   - See the  video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geZ7MV8bXYE

Websites I mentioned during the show:

About The Pepper Pots:
http://www.thepepperpots.com/lover/home.php


You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-09-21_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - September 21, 2012
TALK - Theme
Teena Marie - Lovergirl
Cameo - She's Strange
Atlantic Starr - When Love Calls
The Pepper Pots - Time And Place
Nancy Sinatra - Kinky Love
TALK
Rich Aucoin - Brian Wilson Is A.L.I.V.E. (C)
Silver Swans - On The Quiet
Icky Blossoms - Babes
Rae Spoon - I Can't Keep All Of Our Secrets
Nite Jewel - In The Dark
TALK
Eternal Summers - Millions
Ambassador - Valediction
The Holiday Crowd - Never Speak Of It Again
Purdey - Mirrors
Hipflasks - Jellyfish
TALK (random ending)
Voldis - Flashlight (C)

(C) - Canadian Content

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

August 17, 2012

This show started with some songs from a funky mix released by Dent May that he called "Escape From Groove Mountain".  The songs are great and I just can't stop listening to it, what is cool is that you can download it yourself from the links below.  Going along well with this funky set was a request by Milosz for the band White Shoes And The Couples Company.

After a set of some recent indie releases, I ended with some bands that I had either seen live or picked up their recent releases.  In particular I played a selection by The Hive Dwellers which is the recent project by Calvin Johnson.  He recently did a series of lower key shows around Southern Ontario and I was lucky enough to see him twice in Hamilton.  I had  forgotten how much I loved his live show.


Best song I heard since the last show -  Colonel Abrams - I'm Not Gonna Let (Shuffle Inc. Radio Edit) Download it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLJJ8dWPBEQ&feature=related

Websites I mentioned during the show:

Dent May Groove Mountain
http://soundcloud.com/dentmay/escape-from-groove-mountain

Wikipedia on Colonel Abrams:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_Abrams

Wikipedia on Koko Beware:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koko_B._Ware


You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-08-17_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - August 17, 2012
TALK - Theme
Colonel Abrams - I'm Not Gonna Let (Shuffle Inc. Radio Edit)
Andrea True Connection - What's Your Name, What's your number?
Kid Creole And The Coconuts - I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby
Dr. Togo - Be Free
White Shoes And The Couples Company - Senja Menggila
TALK
Yuma - Live Your Life
Frankie Rose - Know Me
The Smittens - Party Time
Koko Beware - I Just Wanna Dance
The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover
TALK
The Hive Dwellers - A Woman Named Trudy
Katie And The Lichen - Misbehavning
Dylan Mondegreen - It Takes Two
Dent May - Fun
Hey Ocean! - Make A New Dance Up (C)
TALK
Page France - The Ruby Ring Man

(C) - denotes Canadian content

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

July 13, 2012

When I first heard my top song of show (in case you didn't know, I start each show by playing the best song I heard since the last show) I thought it might have been a track by The Drums that I had never heard.  But instead it was a great song by a Finnish band called French Films that was actually released back in 2010.  That opened the way for a lot of indie pop songs that I have been meaning to play for a while, as well as a couple of leftover Primavera-related songs.

Best song I heard since the last show -  French Films - Golden Sea
Download it here: http://pitchfork.com/player/download/1946/

Website I mentioned during the show:


Website for Elephant Records:
http://elefant.com/en/index



You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-07-13_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - July 13, 2012
TALK - Theme
French Films - Golden Sea
Pure - Aspidistra
Newsflash - An Englishman
Tropical Fish Invasion - La Di Da
The Melting Ice Caps - Between Eros And Agape
TALK
Milkyway - Feelings
The School - Stop That Boy
Are You Mr. Riley - I Can Wait
The Jordans - Mystified
Thee Windless Gates - In Another Day
TALK
Start! - Words You've Never Heard
Episode 4 - Strike Up Matches
Big Troubles - Sad Girls
Hellvyvelln - Subway
The Coathangers - Buckhead Betty
The Beets - Walking To My House
TALK
ABC - 4 Ever 2 Gether


Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

June 22, 2012

At the end of May I went to Barcelona to attend the Primavera Music Festival, it was a great experience with a crazy number of bands that played till 5 am for 3 nights.  The festival site was along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, the weather was beautiful and the city itself is pretty amazing.  The highlight of the festival was the 3 hour set that The Cure did, but it was also good to find out about some bands that I didn't know about that I really enjoyed.

Best song I heard since the last show -  The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
See the classic video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8CDERzun4k

Websites I mentioned during the show:

Hopefully everybody can see my set of pictures of the bands I saw at Primavera here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150942725736794.415617.604426793&type=1&l=708909d260

See 36 different Primavera performances:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3C4159AC134B4447&feature=plcp

You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-02-22_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - June 22, 2012
TALK - Theme
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
Pegasvs - Atlantico
Beach Fossils - Sometimes
Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Girls Names - I Lose
TALK
M83 - Don't Save Us From The Flames
Sandro Perri - Impossible Spaces
Bleached - Think Of You
Chairlift - Bruises
Girls - Ghostmouth
TALK
Neon Indian - Polish Girl
Death In Vegas - Dirt
Boxeur The Coeur - Our Glowing Days
The XX - Islands
B. Fleischmann and Mr. John Soda - Here She comes
TALK
I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona


Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

May 18, 2012

A show that very much stayed in the indie pop vein with lots of fine new music.  The entire second set came from a recent compilation from Oddbox Records, I remember they did this last year and once again they have delivered with a bunch of great songs.  The bonus is that you can download all of the song I played and many more for free from their website (see the link below).


Best song I heard since the last show -    Craft Spells - Talk About The Past    - Hear the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCTlYeIYgYI


Websites I mentioned during the show:

About April Showers:
http://www.cloudberryrecords.com/blog/?p=1383

Download the Oddbox Weekender 2012:
http://oddboxrecords.com/news.php?id=45

See the video by The School for "I Love Everything":
http://eardrumsmusic.com/2011/07/18/new-single-and-video-from-the-school/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eardrums+%28Eardrums+Music%29&utm_content=Google+Reader


You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-05-18_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - May 18, 2012
TALK - Theme
Craft Spells - Talk About The Past
The Smittens - Burning Streets Of Rome
The School - I Love Everything
April Showers - Abandon Ship
Cat's Miaow - Third Floor Fire
TALK (Odd Box Weekender Set)
Standard Fare - Crystal Palatial
Pale Man Made - In Your Bed
Frozy - Eyelashes
The Give It Ups - Gremlins
Sock Puppets - Because I told You so
TALK
The Legendary Bang - Sound Of Love
Wilderness Children - Plastic Bag From Tescos
Brilliant Colours - English Cities
The Lovely Bad Things - You Done Messed Up
Eux Autres - Molly
TALK (random ending)
The Wedding Present - Swimming Pools, Movie Stars

(C) - Canadian Content

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

April 20, 2012

Every once in a while I put together a show that just comes together really well and everything works, this was one of those shows.  There were three distinct themes for the sets in this show: a funky set to start off, then a set of music from bands playing the upcoming Primavera Music Festival in Barcelona (spoiler alert I'm going!), and ended with a set of music from the Cloudberry Cake Records blog.  Nothing else to say, just listen for yourself.


Best song I heard since the last show -   Heiko Voss - Think About You (First Version)   - Listen to part of the song here (best I could do) http://www.trackitdown.net/genre/house/track/489839.html

Websites I mentioned during the show:

About Heiko Voss:
http://www.kompakt.fm/artists/heiko_voss

List of artists at the Primavera Music Festival:
http://www.primaverasound.es/artistas

Cloudberry Cake Records Blog:
http://www.cloudberryrecords.com/blog/


You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-04-20_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - April 20, 2012
TALK - Theme
Heiko Voss - Think About You (First Version)
Lee Fields And The Expressions - You're The Kind Of Girl
Kings Go Forth - One Day
African Music Machine - Black Water Gold
Michael Kiwanuka - I Need Your Company
TALK (Primavera Sound Festival Set)
Friends - Friends Crush
Chromatics - Kill For Love
Grimes - Avi (C)
Lower Dens - Brains
Beach Beach - Tasteless
TALK (Cloudberry Records Blog Set)
The Gigantic World - Raft
Playing For Time - With My Heart
Great Express - Silent Head
Dot Dash - The Color And The Sound
The Wise Acres - One Day
TALK (random ending)
Cub - One Last Kiss (C)

(C) - Canadian Content

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

March 30, 2012

A song from 1987 that I have never heard of was my top song of the week, thanks to the Popcasting podcast ( http://popcastingpop.com/ ) for exposing it to me.

The second set was interesting as it mostly stemmed from a few of the openers that I have seen lately and really enjoyed, bands names Bleached and Hospitality.  Although I wasn't paying a great deal of attention to them when I saw them, I now wish I had as I have enjoyed listening to since seeing them.  Just goes to show you that you should always try and at least listen to the opening acts to see if you should get the venue early.  This is similar to what happened last year as I enjoyed the albums by both the Craft Spells and Veronica Falls more than the bands they opened for.


Best song I heard since the last show -  Apple Boutique - Love Resistance  - See the video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNaPCUz9FS0


Websites I mentioned during the show:

About the Mary Onettes:
http://themaryonettes.net/


You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-03-30_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - March 30, 2012
TALK - Theme
Apple Boutique - Love Resistance
Bandana Splits - Sometimes
Nervous Curve - Touch Wood
Pepper Rabbit - Rose Mary Stretch
The Mary Onettes - Ready
TALK
Bleached - Searching Through The Past
Tennis - Origins
Hospitality - Eighth Avenue
Heartless Bastards - The Mountain
Youth Lagoon - Afternoon
TALK
La Sera - Never Come Around
Lawrence And The Comfortable Society - Heartache
King Creosote And Jon Hopkins - Honest Words
Cat's Eyes - The Best Person I Know
Gayngs - The Gaudy Side Of Town
TALK (random ending)
Sunny Intervals - Sunset on Parliament Hill


Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

March 2, 2012

Finally a show of relatively new music after all of the best of shows.  I have been waiting a while to play the Dimitri From Paris remix of Sister Sledge which just gives me a great feeling whenever I listen to it.  That led to funky opening set which I followed by a couple of sets featuring songs that have been on my MP3 player for a while.

Best song I heard since the last show - Sister Sledge - Thinking Of You (Dimitri From Paris Remix) - Listen to the song here 

http://www.4shared.com/mp3/f2MSNwrH/sister_sledge_-_thinking_of_yo.html

Websites I mentioned during the show:

The Brassland Records page about Baby Dayliner, however the song of the day isn't from them anymore: 
http://www.brassland.org/  

The Labrador Records page on Amanda Mair:
http://www.labrador.se/artists/amandamair.php3


You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-03-02_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - March 2, 2012
TALK - Theme
Sister Sledge - Thinking Of You (Dimitri From Paris Remix)
Mayer Hawthorne - Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin'
The Intruders - Love Is A Baseball Game
Charles Bradley - The World (Is Going Up In Flames)
The Sparkles - Hipsville 29 BC
TALK
The Henry Clay People - Two Lives At The End Of The Night
Jeremy Jay - Caught In A Whirl
Yellow Ostrich - Hate Me Soon
The Give It Ups - Let's Be Frank
Bleached - Searching Through The Past
TALK
Baby Dayliner - When I Look Into Your Eyes
Kurt Vile - Jesus Fever
Big Troubles - Bite Yr Tongue
Mike Snow - Billie Holiday
Amanda Mair - Doubt
TALK (random ending)

Yo La Tengo - Take Care

Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

January 27, 2012

This podcast features selections from my favourite albums from last year, it was a very good year for me musically with whittling the list down to the final 10 proving to be a difficult task.  Let's hope for the same next year.

Websites mentioned during the show:
About the Säkert! video project for "Can I" http://cani.saekert.com  


You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-01-27_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - January 27, 2012
TALK - Theme
Veronica Falls - Stephen (Veronica Falls)
Kidstreet - Penny Candy (Fuh Yeah) (C)
Lykke Li - Youth Knows No Pain  (Wounded Rhymes)
TALK
Knock Knock Ginger - Safety in Letters (We're Heading For A Fall) (C)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - My Terrible Friend (Belong)
Yuck - The Wall (Yuck)
Yuck - Stutter (Yuck)
TALK
Säkert! - Can I (på engelska)
Säkert! - Honey (på engelska)
TALK
Craft Spells - You Should Close The Door (Idle Labor)
Craft Spells - Scandinavian Crush  (Idle Labor)
TALK
The Acid House Kings - Are We Lovers Or Are We Friends? (Acid House Kings)
The Acid House Kings - Under Water (Acid House Kings)
TALK
Those Dancing Days - Dream About Me (Music Sounds Better With You)
Those Dancing Days - Fuckarius (Music Sounds Better With You)

(C) - Denotes Canadian Content


Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185

January 6, 2012

The best singles I heard that were released in 2011, note not the best singles I heard in 2011 as sometimes I'm a bit behind the times and I try to keep the list limited to actual 2011 releases.  Next show will be the best albums of 2011.


First song of the show (best song I heard in 2011):
Sloppy Joe - Sometimes (Listen to it here:  http://soundcloud.com/whitelilyrecords/sloppy-joe-sometimes  )


You can download the latest show directly here:
http://76.163.12.179/2012-01-06_final.mp3


For information on how to sign up for the podcast or join the Facebook group, see the bottom of this message.

Fireball XL5 Setlist - January 6, 2012
TALK - Theme
Sloppy Joe - Sometimes
Generationals - Ten-Twenty-Ten.
Those Dancing Days - I'll Be Yours
Craft Spells - After The Moment
Lykke Li - Get Some
TALK
Razika - Why Have We To Wait
Acid House Kings - Would You Say Stop?
Knock, Knock, Ginger - It's Your Money Honey (C)
Wild Flag - Romance
Yuck - Georgia
TALK
Those Darlins - Be Your Bro
TV Girl - Baby You Were There
Neon Indian - Hex Girlfriend
Amanda Mair - House
Toro Y Mori - Still Sound




(C) - Denotes Canadian Content


Fireball XL5 Podcast Homepage: http://www.fireballxl5.ca/

Podcast link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/19384881/fireballxl5.rss

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fireball-XL5-Podcast/225528710795185