Posts Tagged ‘lists’

Canadian Talent + Half Decade = WIN!

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Maffoofoo's Top 5

In case you haven’t already noticed, MuchMusic LOVES Canadian bands. I too love Canadian bands. In fact, I truly believe that Canadian bands trump all American, Scottish (-FF), Aussie, and even El Salvadorian bands. I mean, we seriously have so much talent, whether it is recognized worldwide or not.

The point that I’m really getting at is… if you take (in my opinion) the five best Canadian albums of the past 5 years and compare them to some popular albums from the places listed (especially El Salvador), it is clear that we pwn those n00bs. To give you a tasteling of what I mean, I invite you to search up, listen to, and love the best five Canadian albums of the past five years! >:]
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Best Album Covers of the Past 10 years?

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Gigwise recently posted what they think are “The 50 Best Album Covers of the 2000s”! You can check out all of their top 50 picks, but here are my fave four (with their ranking included)!

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18. Santogold: ‘Santogold’
Maybe it’s just because I love glitter, but I think it really makes this album cover. The more glitter the better I say!

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10. Animal Collective: ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’
Trippy right?! Yeah that’s just a picture! Optical illusions are so confusing but I like them! Downside? Makes my brain hurt if I look at it for too long.

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9. Death From Above 1979: ‘You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine’
Not only is this a fantastic album by a fantastic band (that is now broken up *tear*), but this is a fantastic album cover. Simple looking and simply effortlessly cool. Kinda Andy Warholish too. Rad.

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3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: ‘It’s Blitz!’
Is is blitz! I don’t like eggs usually as a food, but this cracked egg makes some pretty great art!

And now for my own personal choice that didn’t make the list…
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Vampire Weekend: ‘Vampire Weekend’
This album cover makes me miss Polaroid cameras and the way that they could instantly capture a moment. Also this cover completely reflects Vampire Weekend and their preppy fun good times sound! Woohoo!

What album covers are your faves? Did they make the list?

Matt Wells: Music Threat Assessment

Friday, February 27th, 2009

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Rolling Stone magazine has a section called “Threat Assessment: The Good, The Bad, And The Scary”. It’s always in the National Affairs part of the mag and basically shows a diagram of things and people the magazine defines as good for America or bad for America. Simply put, The War in Iraq is considered “Against Us” and Barack Obama promising to bring troops home would be “With Us”.

Have a look so you see what I mean: (here)

So, based on that model I’d like to suggest my own “Music Threat Assessment” where in my own humble opinion I will list the events and or people who I feel are “Against Us” or “With Us” over the past little while, on the topic of music or the music biz.
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The Top 10 Worst Hairstyles In Music

Friday, March 28th, 2008

Like Nickelback, we all yearn to be rockstars. But being a rockstar is tough for many reasons - not the least of which is landing a good stylist and securing a ‘look’ that’ll be memorable, but in a good way. Here’s a list of ten musical hairstyles that we wish we could forget.

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Mike Score
Almost too obvious to mention, the ‘Flock of Seagulls’
haircut gets placed on our list for two reasons: 1) The fact that it is still parodied in the media, so that we can all relive the horror and die a thousand tiny little deaths every time it comes up on screen (Shame on YOU, diet Pepsi!) and 2) Prior to hitting the big time with their hit, “I Ran (So Far Away), (*shudder*), Mike Score was a hairdresser. His ‘do was not the fault of some overzealous stylist, but sorely his own creation. Wowzers!

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80’s Hair Bands
Not wanting to single out one band (ahem, Poison - or Cinderella, pictured above) for this atrocity perpetrated by many, 80’s hair bands belong here simply for the pure wuss-factor of this style. For some reason, rock bands spent hours teasing their hair instead of rocking out. For the sheer oxymoron-iness of the look, (and for the power ballad), 80’s hair bands earned their spot on this list.

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Britney Spears
I think the MTV Music Awards have proved to us all that if you shave your head in a fit of crazy, you shouldn’t buy extensions for $9.99 from a place called ‘Skeevy Weavey.’

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Billy Ray Cyrus
Although Billy Ray was certainly not the first to give us the mullet, (thank you Canadian hockey players), he inspired legions of followers to get a ‘Business in Front, Party in Back,’ style by portraying himself as a sex symbol. Firmly believing in their sex appeal, the two-haircuts-in-one are still being sported by Cyrus’ biggest fanbase much to the chagrin of those of us with, you know, taste.

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A.J. McLean
“Look at me! Look at me! Even though I’m in a boy band, I’m still a man. I can grow super-cool facial hair, and can shave it into rebel patterns that really let my audience know I’m dangerous. Sure, I sing love ballads to 11 year old girls (ew!), but as you can see by my tattoos and goatee I’m really badass.”

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The Emo Cut
Just so you know, if you and all your friends share the same haircut, you’re no longer unique and trendsetting. Now, you’re just kind of a loser with a haircut that makes mothers all over the country want to scream, “Get your hair out of your eyes!” P.S. You look stupid. P.P.S. Cut your bangs.

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Michael Jackson
I know, I know, stop picking on Mikey! Although it is kind of easy, Jackson’s hair is included more as a cautionary tale than anything else. Not only was the Jheri Curl pretty nasty to look at, (and if you ever see someone still sporting this look, stay away, as it’s greasier than a vat of oil), it was also highly flammable. When shooting a commercial for Pepsi (again Pepsi?) in 1983, sparks showered on his Jheri Curl lathered head, causing Second degree burns to the King of Pop. Also, Rick James sported the Jheri Curl as well. ‘Nuff said.

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Bill and Tom Kaulitz
Amazingly enough, these two twin boys from Tokio Hotel have separate looks for their hair, but each style is equally questionable. Tom sports dreads worn underneath a toque AND a baseball hat in a ponytail fashion. But that’s nothing compared to Bill’s ‘do, which looks like he just touched the elecrticity ball at the Science Centre. It’s like 80s Metal Hair on drugs, with a new-school penchant for giant weaves thrown in for good measure. Listen, twins. Dressing alike is unnecessary, but your mane style may be even more unnecessary-er (yeah, we went there). We know you’ve got a kabillion fans and while we do enjoy your attempts at being avant-garde, please consider a good visit to the barber in your 5 Year Plan.

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Amy Winehouse
Bundling a nasty rat’s nest on your head doesn’t make you alternative. Although I appreciate people that buck the trends, there’s something to be said about a hairbrush. And shampoo. And that something is a little thing I like to call hygiene. (Of course, if she took down the beehive, she’d have to look for a new place to put her crackpipe.)

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The Faux Hawk
While it started off as a semi-cool look, it’s been brought down to all-time douchey levels in recent years. We get it, you’re hardcore. (Not quite as hardcore if you’d gotten an actual Mohawk but whatever). Here’s a helpful tip: When guys like Ryan Seacrest, Jack Osborne or Chester Bennington start sporting the same haircut that you have - it’s time to get a new look.

Photographs Courtesy Getty Images