As I mentioned in my favourite songs of 2015 post, I somehow feel like I missed a lot of music in 2015. In spite of that, I was still able to pull together a pretty solid top 20 list for my favourite albums of the year.
All the best for 2016!
20. Northcote Hope is Made of Steel
19. Smallpools Lovetap!
18. El Vy Return to the Moon
17. Ivan & Alyosha It's All Just Pretend
16. Drenge Undertow
15. Screaming Females Rose Mountain
14. Wombats Glitterbug
13. Torres Sprinter
12. Grimes Art Angels
11. Dawes All Your Favourite Bands
10. Waxahatchee Ivy Tripp
9. The Maccabees Marks to Prove It
8. Surfer Blood 1000 Palms
7. Ron Hawkins and The Do Good Assassins Garden Songs
6. Wavves V
5. The Districts A Flourish and a Spoil
4. Speedy Ortiz Foil Deer
3. Frank Turner Positive Songs for Negative People
The Maccabees came through Toronto for a tour stop at The Mod Club on June 4. The timing is a touch odd because their new album Marks To Prove It doesn't come out until the end of July. However, it was a great opportunity to see this remarkable band live in a great venue. And maybe it's an indicator that they'll swing back around after the album's release. One can hope!
I've been listening to these guys since their début Colour It In came out in 2007 and was excited to catch the band live. We were treated to tunes from across the band's discography, including three (if memory serves) new tunes from their forthcoming album including the solid title track. The band has as much energy on stage as you'd expect from their recorded music and seem like a friendly and engaging bunch.
I didn't keep great notes on their setlist, and no one's posted one that I've seen, but here are a bunch of great tunes that they played. The Maccabees definitely go on the "recommended" list and the "see again" list.
"Young Lions" from 2009's Wall of Arms
"Love You Better" from Wall of Arms
"Latchmere" from 2007's Colour It In
"Precious Time" from Colour It In
"Can You Give It" from Wall of Arms
"Marks to Prove It" from the forthcoming album of the same name
"X-Ray" from Colour It In
"No Kind Words" from Wall of Arms
"Pelican"
If you like these pics, I've got an expanded gallery over on Facebook. "Like" my Page to stay in the loop on all my expanded photo galleries.
The Maccabees have a new album on the way later this year and have let us hear a new tune. It's a straight-up, frantically paced alt-rocker called "Marks to Prove It". The video below is brand-spanking-new. Enjoy.
