SOUND BITES

In years past, I've had to wait a little longer to hand out the hardware, so to speak. Whether waiting for the second week of December to ensure that last-minute new release doesn't make the cut or wracking my brain trying to figure out which of the 2-5 nominees gets the edge, my Album of the Year winner usually doesn't get its due until the week before Christmas. This year is different for two reasons: there aren't any albums intriguing enough coming out in December (although I may regret not waiting for Glassjaw), and my mind's been made up about #1 for a while now. The real dogfight is for #2 this year and, as I listened and re-listened while finalizing the ranking in my head, I thought to myself on a few occasions, "I'd rather be listening to #1 right now". Without further ado, let's count these things down! HONORABLE MENTIONS: BENJAMIN BOOKER Witness A GIANT DOG Toy HEADSTONES Little Army MATT MAYS Once Upon a Hell of a Time J. R...

When I posted up my Year in Rock 2017 playlist yesterday, I said to consider all 65 of those songs nominees for Song of the Year. I ended up with a wide-ranging list; full of seasoned veterans and rising talents alike, that playlist is proof of just how diverse rock has become. With such an abundance of styles and sub-genres represented, it's not easy to see the trend; however, if I had to pick out the one thing about 2017's rock music that I noticed above the others, it's that the increasingly blurred line between rock and pop has all but disappeared. A growing number of bands formerly known as capital-G Guitar bands extended their hands to pop this year, whether through subtle stylistic changes, the addition of a keyboard player or by working with a renowned pop producer; hell, Foo Fighters did all three of those things this year. Some attempts were more obvious than others; before Chester Bennington's tragic suicide this summer, we were bemoaning Linkin Park'...

Well, friends, the end of another year has crept up on us and tapped our collective shoulder with its icy fingers. Another year of ups and downs, triumph and tragedy, nearing its conclusion; of course, this means it's once again time to take stock on a year that was and pay respects to some of its musical highlights, as I've done in one way or another for most of my life now. On the surface, 2017 didn't offer all that much in terms of rock music; as hip hop takes firm control as the genre of societal import, much of the excitement that's drummed up for rock music can be attributed to old bands creating new music for old guys like me. The name of the game seems to be stagnation; listen a little closer, though, and you may discover that rock music is as vibrant and diverse as ever. While certain pop-leaning trends emerged among a number of mainstream rock bands, there's certainly no reason to lament the genre's so-called assured demise. If I managed to compile...

I want to preface this article with a clarification: the actions of sexual predators, like those on the growing list of famous people being accused of various degrees of misconduct, are indefensible. I have never and will never condone this behaviour, and there is no intent to excuse or belittle the seriousness of this issue. I hold the highest respect for any and all victims of sexual misconduct who find the courage to confide in us with their terrible experiences. My own terrible experience happened 23 years ago. While attending my first year of college, I was invited by one of the locals I'd befriended to a house party, where we'd hang out, chain smoke and have a few beers. Upon arrival, only the owner of the house was there, a man in his late fifties or early sixties; while waiting for the others to arrive, we cracked open our beers and started making small talk. As time passed, I started to wonder why no one else had showed, but didn't pay it too much mind and con...