Everyday we posted a year end survey submitted by team members, they appear unedited with contributors told to interpret questions how ever they see fit. Today is the last one submitted by yours truly. -Dakota, Music Editor
How long have you been with Live in Limbo and what do you do for the site?
It has been three years now! I am the Music Editor, I created and host Contra Zoom a film based podcast, I write reviews, shoot a few shows, interview some bands and handle the premieres bands send us.
What were your favourite albums of 2016?
This year I listened to almost 200 records, so I have lots of options but here is my top five.
- Sturgill Simpson- A Sailor’s Guide To Earth
- Blood Orange- Freetown Sound
- Solange- A Seat at the Table
- Frank Ocean- Blonde
- David Bowie- Blackstar
What was your favourite Canadian album of 2016?
A Tribe Called Red- We Are The Halluci Nation
Charlotte Day Wilson- CDW
What were your favourite songs of 2016?
In no order:
Kanye West: “No More Parties in L.A.” [ft. Kendrick Lamar]
Blood Orange: “Best to You” [ft. Empress Of]
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: “I Need You”
Kaytranada: “Glowed Up” [ft. Anderson .Paak]
Hamilton Leithauser / Rostam: “A 1000 Times”
The Avalanches: “Frankie Sinatra”
How many concerts and/or festivals did you go to in 2016?
43 shows and 129 bands! Not my most, but a respectable number.
What were your favourite concerts of the year?
I’ve been going to a lot of shows for a long time and have seen most of my favourite bands, but this year I saw the three best shows I have ever seen.
- Arcade Fire @ Wayhome
- Radiohead @Osheaga
- Paul Simon @ Sony Centre
- Blood Orange @ Danforth Music Hall
- Tame Impala @ Bestival
What was your favourite festival you attended of the year?
Wayhome seemed to have gone through my music collection and pulled out all the bands I love. I was so sad I had so many conflicts!
What festival had the best lineup (regardless if you attended or not)?
Wayhome was pretty great and Desert Trip would have been a blast to go too.
What/who was the biggest musical disappointment (live or album) for you?
Album wise I was super bummed with how boring Chance the Rapper’s last album was, how bad Jake Bugg’s genre shift was and that The Avett Brothers put out a garbage record.
Live I was pretty disappointed with Porches @ Horseshoe Tavern after how great I found his new album to be. Ray LaMontagne @ Wayhome put on possibly the most boring show I have ever seen, his refusal to play any of his singles made the crowd leave in droves to catch Glass Animals and to get a good spot for The Killers instead.
In your opinion, what was the biggest music story?
2016 was the year of death and heartbreak. David Bowie’s death affected me the most, but a close second was the possible farewell tour of The Tragically Hip after Gord Downie announced he had brain cancer. I would be remiss to not mention Prince, Phife Dawg, Sharon Jones, Glenn Frey, Merle Haggard, Maurice White and George Martin all of whom had an impact on my musical teachings sadly also passed away this year.
What band did you see live for the first time that really impressed you?
Neon Indian is one of the most phenomenal live bands and I have no idea why they aren’t more famous. They put on one hell of a dance show.
Runner ups include Todd Terje and The Olsens, Thomas Jack, Repartee and Misterwives.
What was your favourite new musical discovery of 2016?
Anderson .Paak has got to be on the top of almost everyone’s lists as his voice is so new and unique that it’s impossible not to love him. Porches was a fun discovery that I learned from our Best of Album ratings spreadsheet we kept on the site, and Charlotte Day Wilson’s feminine version of Rhye was fun to learn about.
Who were you disappointed to miss seeing live this year?
I’m a massive fan of Parquet Courts and once again, I still have never seen them live. Sturgill Simpson played two shows in Toronto and I couldn’t attend either of them, despite the fact that he has the number one album of the year from me.
Who should we be looking out for in 2017?
DIANA just released their second album, called Familiar Touch and they look to finally hit the big times after a very promising debut didn’t get enough traction a few years ago. They are this month’s featured band on Indie 88’s live sessions, which will hopefully get them noticed.
Who’s going to be headlining (or at least playing) all the 2017 festivals?
Well The Weeknd looks to be a new headliner, starting with Bonnaroo and others will be sure to follow suit. It’s nice seeing a fresh face atop festival lineups even if he hasn’t put out a strong album since House of Balloons despite the fact that he has amazing singles.
What was your favourite review or photo set you did for LiL this year?
My favourite photos of the year was for A Tribe Called Red, specifically the opener Saul Williams
My favourite review was for Paul Simon.
Is there anything else you want to say about 2016 or predict about 2017?
I would like to say that 2016 was an anomaly for big name celebrity deaths, but that just isn’t true. We are at a point where the people who truly capitalized on the invention of television are now at the age where they will start dying. Not to mention the notorious hard lives that most rock stars of the 50-70’s lived, which naturally shortens their life spans. Get ready to shed more tears this year.
