Every year we ask our talented contributors to send us their thoughts on the past twelve months. These surveys appear untouched, and the only instruction was to answer the question however they see fit. –Dakota Arsenault, Music Editor
How long have you been with Live in Limbo and what do you do for the site?
5 years this last November! I am the Music Editor, I write and take photographs and I host LiL’s movie themed podcast Contra Zoom. You should give it a listen!
What were your three favourite albums of 2017?
I didn’t have a sure thing standout, so here are the 6 albums I gave a 9.5/10 to in alphabetical order.
- Alvvays- Anti-Socialites
- Chris Stapleton- From a Room: Volume 1
- The Districts- Popular Manipulations
- Hiss Golden Messenger- Hallelujah Anyhow
- Protomartyr- Relatives in Descent
- Queens of the Stone Age- Villians
What was the most underrated album of 2017?
Either Jens Lekman- Life Will See You Now or Algiers- The Underside of Power.
What was your favourite Canadian album of 2017?
Here is my top five! It was a great year for music.
- Alvvays- Anti-Socialites
- Feist- Pleasure
- Fast Romantics- American Love
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor- Luciferian Towers
- Midnight Vesta- Seconds
What were your three favourite songs of 2017?
In no particular order here are five of my favs.
- – Kendrick Lamar
- Feel It Still – Portugal. the Man
- Hot Thoughts- Spoon
- Follow the Leader- Foxygen
- Wedding in Finistere- Jens Lekman
How many concerts and/or festivals did you go to in 2017?
33 shows, and 83 different artists! Not as much as I usually do, but I had to slow down this year a bit.
What were your three favourite concerts of the year?
Here are my favourite shows, in order!
- Spoon- Massey Hall
- Queens of the Stone Age- Budweiser Stage
- The Lone Bellow- Opera House
- the Man- Field Trip
- Justice- Osheaga
What festival had the best lineup (regardless if you attended or not)?
I already forget who played where. Probably Primavera Sound in Spain though.
What/who was the biggest musical disappointment (live or album) for you?
Live probably The Shins. I saw them for the first time in 2012 when I only knew a few songs and they blew me away, but this year at Osheaga between the poor sound and the crowd they just didn’t put much into their show. I left I was so disappointed.
What band did you see live for the first time that really impressed you?
Chris Stapleton was a real highlight. It was his first time playing in Toronto and he kicked a ton of ass. It makes sense that he is now headlining festivals this year.
What was your favourite new musical discovery of 2017?
Protomartyr knocked my socks off as I have learned I’m a sucker for great post-punk/rock groups. Other new highlights include Algiers, Tyler Childers, Mark Battles, Nick Hakim, Foxygen and Jens Lekman.
Who were you disappointed to miss seeing live this year?
I really wanted to see Jay-Z as I haven’t seen him play since I was 14 and his new album was amazing.
Who should we be looking out for in 2018?
King Krule finally seems to be making big strides after I have been a fan of his since 2013. In 2016 his album A New Place 2 Drown didn’t get a single rating other than my own in our internal album ratings system.
Who’s going to be headlining (or at least playing) all the 2018 festivals?
I made this survey before it became apparent that Eminem, The Killers and Jack White were being booked everywhere, so this question is kinda moot.
What was your favourite review, photo set or interview you did for LiL this year?
Well for a review, my Queen + Adam Lambert one was shared by the band and it literally broke the website for a few days as we were overwhelmed with traffic.
My favourite photo set either came from the Birds of Bellwoods or Fast Romantics shows.
My favourite podcast episode was either the Top 10 Films of 2016 or the fun Halloween episode compared three different film adaptations of Dracula.
