Jamie here.

So, if you tuned in last show (which of COURSE you did), you caught a special end of the year show.

Now, I have this unreasonable (and probably unhealthy) habit of rating things I like to make fantastic end of the year lists. Actually, as we speak (or as you read my type) I am finalizing my list of Top10 Albums of 2009 (stay tunes for that, sucka).

In this tradition, all us at Y57 tirelessly revisited all of the music entries (and there sure were a lot!) we received this year to extract five worthy contenders for our Top 5 Youth Songs of the Year.

So without further ado here are…

THE Y57 TOP 5 SONGS OF 2009!

#5 “January February” – Greg Mcleod

When I met Greg at a random coffee house, I told him I was impressed with his voice (from the covers he played) and encouraged him to send in a track. A month later, he sends me this adorable Juno-esque (movie not the award) track about previous musical partnerships that are clearly laced with nostalgia. Thanks to an old rhyming dictionary, Mcleod crafts a simple and relentlessly catchy chorus that shamelessly rhymes it’s way into heart.

Recommended if you like: Jason Mraz, Juno, kittens, puppies, rhyming

#4 “Keep Holding On” – Red Cedar

Red Cedar walk genre lines with “Keep Holding On”, but never fully engage with only one style. The harmonica melody that overlays the opening guitar work is heartbreaking, cold, and lonely, and that theme rides throughout the track. At no point does this track inspire optimism, contrary to it’s title, but instead builds upon it’s isolated aesthetic. “Keep Holding On” is one of the most haunting and moving tracks I’ve heard all year, making it sit at a well deserved spot on our list.

Recommended if you like: Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, snow, trees, crying

Myspace: http:// www.myspace.com/redcedarmusic

#3 “Fiends and Ghosts” – The Adherents

If you attended the Y57 Battle of the Bands, you were in for a treat with this 7 piece ska/punk/gypsy/rock/folk/etc outfit. As our last musical guest of the year, The Adherents demonstrated their lack of attention to genre boundaries with a stripped down acoustic rendition of tracks that hit hard and fast. Because of their high-octane performance, “Fiends and Ghosts” earned The Adherents constant airplay during the second half of the year and the #3 spot on our list.

Recommended if you like: Streetlight Manifesto, Hot Water Music, ska, punk, gypsy, folk, world, rock, jazz, r ‘n b, pop, alternative, electronic, techno, indie, shoegaze, death metal, black metal, hardcore, post-hardcore, trip-hop, acid jazz… but not country.

Myspace: http:// www.myspace.com/adherents

#2 “Some Summer Nights” – Julia and Her Piano

Julia McDougall came into our studio on one fateful November night and stole our (Ovey’s) hearts.With an emphasis on melody and vocal performance, Julia charmed our listeners with her smooth, jazzy voice, and lyrical honesty. Oh and she plays the piano well too. We received her tracks late, as the album came out in November, but this song is so enchanting that putting it on our list was natural, and putting it at #2 was a no-brainer.

Recommended if you like: Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, candle-light, making out

Myspace: http:// www.myspace.com/juliaandherpiano

#1 “Trust” – Delta Blue

Since our Battle of the Bands, we’ve played and talked of this band so much. They played live (which I’m sure you recall, faithful listener!) in which they successfully managed to blow our minds, only to put our heads back together so that they can be blown again. Big year by a band destined for big things. If you want more on this band, check out my previous post about them here: http://y57.ca/archives/375.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/1deltablue

Now, if you want in on this for next year, start sending your tracks to music@y57.ca

I am always looking for new music to play on air, and I love it when I get submissions!

As for 2010, big things are already in the works, and the January show should start the year with an appropriate bang!

Have a safe one!

- Jamie

Currently listening to: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart