With ‘Best Of 2014” lists popping up all over the place this time of year, I thought it might be fun to take the theme, scrap any numerical value or ranking and simply present 25 great tracks from Fredericton artists that have surfaced over the past year. Over the past few weeks I’ve been digging through the countless bands and individuals currently making music here in Fredericton, some familiar to my ears and hearing others for the first time. It was a pretty fun and enlightening exercise and one that opened my ears to a lot of music I’d missed over the past 12 months. In this five part series, I will share some of my favourites from 2014. Enjoy!
Off Season
For starters, can we just have a moment for Off Season? With a new album being released in just a few weeks, JE has been dropping the occasional teaser track here and there just to keep us all on our toes and aware that he’s got new material in the works. Listen to his track Civil War below. Easily one of the catchiest tracks of the year. And keep your ears open for his new album, Venus, coming in January.
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=1000891380 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]
Force Fields
OK. Force Fields. Some of the strangest and most talented musicians I know. Good guys – every last one of them. Force Fields hold a pretty unique place among city bands and probably draw the most diverse audience. Not metal and not rock, but somehow I still want to break things…in a good way. This band deserves to be heard by everyone. Their 7″ Subtle Hanky is my favourite vinyl purchase of 2014.
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=4916039 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]
Motherhood
“Have you heard the new Motherhood?” “Oh man, you better check out Motherhood.” “Motherhood are playing this weekend. See you there?” If there was an award for Buzz Band of the Year, Motherhood would get my vote. So many people are talking about this band, and for good reason. They’re doing the things and doing them well. A band to watch? You betcha!
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 album=2506001326 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small track=1263650001]
Tige
This was one of those unexpected finds. One of those, “Oh. What are these guys all about?” moments. Sleepy, dreamy and downright beautiful. I don’t even know what’s happening, but I love it.
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=2158315816 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]
Tactus
Ok. I’ll admit it. I really fell out of the metal loop a while back. In a way, it’s been kind of a gift because when new tracks or albums surface, I’m totally caught off guard and usually, I’m totally blown away at the writing, the arranging and the recording. This is one of those moments. TACTUS!
[bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=561790189 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]
Matt Carter | @m_j_c73
