Everyday we will be posting a year end survey submitted by team members, they appear unedited with contributors told to interpret questions how ever they see fit. -Dakota, Music Editor
How long have you been with Live in Limbo and what do you do for the site?
This is my first year with Live in Limbo, I am a writer for the site and joined the team in late March. My first gig for LiL was mid April, Andrew Bird at The Danforth Music Hall.
What were your favourite albums of 2016?
- Radiohead- A Moon Shaped Pool
- Sturgill Simpson- A Sailor’s Guide to Earth
- DIIV- Is the Is Are
- David Bowie- Blackstar
- Andrew Bird- Are You Serious?
What was the most underrated album of 2016?
I think I have to go with Andrew Bird’s Are You Serious on this one. It’s a great album that hardly anyone reviewed highly, or talked about this year. He moved away from the familiar frantic sounds of his older work and blended his talents with an incredibly addictive indie rock sound.
What was your favourite Canadian album of 2016?
Andy Shauf’s The Party was definitely my favourite Canadian release of the year. It was my pick for the Polaris Prize. It’s a very raw and relatable album, and Andy wrote, produced and played all the instruments on the record. In terms of art, it’s a crowning achievement, he tells an intriguing and vivid story on top of all the musical layers he built himself. I recommend giving it a shot if you haven’t yet.
What were your three favourite songs of 2016?
- Daydreaming- Radiohead
- Wow- Beck
- Real Love Baby- Father John Misty
How many concerts and/or festivals did you go to in 2016?
Seriously Dakota? I have no idea honestly. But I know I went to 5 different festivals this year. CBC Music Festival, Field Trip, WayHome, Osheaga (just for Sunday) and TURF, and well over a dozen individual shows.
What were your three favourite concerts of the year?
- LCD Soundsystem at WayHome.
- Half Moon Run at Massey Hall
- The Vaccines at The Mod Club
What was your favourite festival you attended of the year?
WayHome.
What festival had the best lineup (regardless if you attended or not)?
This might be biased, but WayHome. I honestly thought after the lineup came out, that it was almost perfect. I felt like they had completely catered to my taste, and tons of my “wish list” acts were on the bill.
What/who was the biggest musical disappointment (live or album) for you?
Unknown Mortal Orchestra at WayHome. They weren’t even bad. I honestly haven’t been disappointed by any music I like this year. They were still fun and I had a blast at their show, but it just wasn’t as tight and clean as I had hoped. 10/10 would see them again.
In your opinion, what was the biggest music story?
I’d have to say David Bowie and Prince’s deaths. They both had such a huge impact on my emotions at the time. It brought me down for days, each of them. Bowie’s passing was less shocking due to his age, but the way he said goodbye was extraordinary. Prince’s felt a lot more wrong. It was sudden, no one expected it and he was taken from us before he had a chance to hang out a little longer and say goodbye. Two massive icons gone without warning. It hasn’t felt like this since Michael Jackson’s passing. Just the magnitude of their deaths and the legacy they each left behind.
What band did you see live for the first time that really impressed you?
LCD Soundsystem. I honestly was blown away by them. Their live set was unbelievable. They almost perfectly recreated a very intricate and detailed sound live. It was very impressive.
What was your favourite new musical discovery of 2016?
The Cat Empire
Who were you disappointed to miss seeing live this year?
Sturgill Simpson
Who should we be looking out for in 2017?
Beck, he’s apparently finally finished his new album and he’s been releasing alot of very accessible but great pop music. I really love everything he does, but I feel like this album is going to give him a massive year with a ton of hits.
Who’s going to be headlining (or at least playing) all the 2017 festivals?
Beck
What was your favourite review or photo set you did for LiL this year?
I have to say The Vaccines show at The Mod Club. I had an amazing time, the crowd was on fire, going crazy, belting out every lyric, the band was smiling, you could tell everyone had an unforgettable night. They nearly played their entire debut album, it was just one of those nights you truly had to be there to understand.
Is there anything else you want to say about 2016 or predict about 2017?
Yeah. Fuck you 2016.
2017, don’t even try to pull this kind of shit on us.
