CATCHING UP - Best Canadian Songs of 2008 and Lots More

So, I've missed out on some exciting stuff over the last couple of weeks, so I'm trying to catch up in one post. This is my annual review post. We're now celebrating over a year of sovereignty over our might nation.

Canadian Hero of the Year 2008 – No vote this time. It’s my daughter. In your face Strombodopolous.

Review of the crazy Canadian government thing that happened last December.

It was pretty exciting, and it made me feel good that I know more about how the Canadian government works than most Canadians - when the majority of parliament whether in coalition form or not decides on a leader, that's the leader. None of you people vote for the Prime Minister, you vote for your MP. Whichever party has the most MP's gets to pick the PM. If a couple of parties decide to get together to choose a PM, that's the PM. Silly Canadians, you don't live in America where people directly vote for the President.

I predict the Steelers will win the Super Bowl and that 30 years of peace will follow.

Slumdog Millionaire - Good, but c'mon there must be 30 movies from 2008 that are better. All you really need to know is that people in India are completely indifferent and/or kind of annoyed at the movie.

Best Canadian Songs of 2008
1)

Kids Dont Know Shit - Islands
This album was criminally underrated and I could really put fives songs from it on my top ten. But this is by far the most exciting song. At first, the lyrics are so completely dumb, but then they are not completely dumb. Genius.

2)

Our Age - COSTANTINES
A band that just plays rock n' roll. Not gimmicks or tricks. Every time I buy their albums, I think they're just okay, then three months later I can't believe how great it is. This song is one highlight.

3)

The Sound - Human Highway
Same guy from the Islands in folk mode. A fine album, but this song stands above the rest on this album.

4)

Willow Tree - Chad VanGaalen
This is a great song from an album that's full of wonderful music.

5)

Churches Under The Stairs - Brendan Canning
I admit that I was a little dissappointed in this album. There aren't a lot of standout rock n' roll moments that we usually see from the Broken Social Scene crowd. But this song is definitely a standout. Would have been great to see live if I hadn't dropped the tickets out of my back pocket on the way to the show. Sorry Beernada and Maynard.

6)

Black Rice - Women
Dumb band name, good song.

7)

Some Are Lakes - Land Of Talk

8)

Feedback In The Field - Plants and Animals
One of the louder songs from a Montreal band that makes great background music.

9) Sloan: Cheap Champagne
I had a conversation the other day with a friend. She suggested that if I heard Sloan’s old stuff now, I would not like it because it’s too poppy. That’s definitely not true. If I heard Twice Removed or One Chord to Another now, I’d think they were a better version of Spoon. However, with the crap these guys released on their latest album Parallel Play, it makes it hard for me to be a Sloan apologist, especially the way they sucked live. This song called Cheap Champagne is pretty good however. But I couldn't find it on this imeem deal, so here's an oldie, but a goodie by the same wussy guy that my wife loves:

The Lines You Amend - Sloan

10) Bicycles – I’ll Wait for You: A late entry in my2008 Canadian song book. A grower.
http://www.myspace.com/thebicycles

Forgive me Canada, for I have sinned. It has been over 257 days since my last Tim Hortons.

CANADIAN HEROES: Esme "Essie" Fay Johnada

Our latest Canadian Hero is one if Canada's newest citizens. (She's also a citizen of the U.S. and Johnada, of course.) Don't have a lot of time to talk, because of things like poo, but the Royal Cargo came a little early. She had to stay in the hospital a little longer than we wanted, (luckily Canada has a better health care plan than Johnada). But she's doing great now, no longer getting supplemented by my finger, adding weight by the day. Her name is Esme, but she's going by Essie for a while. She probably won't like it when I call her that in front of her first boyfriend.

P.S. For all the French people out there, don't be mad at me for the lack of accent on the second e, that was the First Lady decision.

CANADIAN HEROES - Whoever Did This

These people are even more confused than we are, and we can get excited about that. They have decided that the next Prime Minister of Canada should be Barack Obama - Barack Obama for Prime Minister. Apparently the site was started because a poll of Canadians showed that Obama would defeat all other Canadian PM candidates, included the current Prime Minster, Stephen Harper. This is really going to stop all those nasty rumours that Canadians have America envy.

Unfortunately, I can't get behind the platform, because Johnada only votes for Johnada for Prime Minister. And really, I can't vote for Prime Minister. And America needs Obama a LOT more than Canada. Really!

But I appreciate the effort, and for that whoever created the site is our latest Canadian Hero. I respect anyone who's willing to create a site for Obama, especially those that follow through (unlike me).

P.S. For all you Americans and other non-Canadians that read this site, there's also an election going on in Canada right now. It's kind of scary because the current Prime Minister (who kind of sucks) may get a majority government. What's a majority government, you ask? Well, we'll talk more about this in the upcoming weeks, I suppose, you silly Americans who don't know anything about countries that aren't America.

CANADIAN HEROES - Strombo's Black Shirts

When I first moved to Canada last September, I was amazed by the ubiquitousness of this guy named George Stroumboulopoulos (real spelling) and his show called the Hour during which he interviews celebrities and politicians with a removed, laconic style. He's always being "real" with the people he interviews, he always acts like he's hardcore, and, most importantly, he always wears black. Always!

In so many ways, Strombo is the ultimate tool. He will act as cool as his current guest. He plays like he's all metal, but he often kisses the ass of bands that suck. And his comedy bits are weak, to say the least. But Canadians prefer his toolishnes to the swarminess of Jay Leno, and I guess I'm okay with that.

It's ultimately George's wardrobe that makes the show. Night after night there is a new black shirt that says "I just don't give a shit (even though I really do, since this shirt cost $400)." It's that dichotomy that is the brilliance of Mr. George Stroumboulopoulos and for that reason, Strombo's black shirts are our newest Canadian Heroes.

I was going to add some content about what a jerk George is, but apparently he's not. If you Google Strombo on the net, almost every personal encounter with him is glowing. Plus Bono's a fan, and he likes the Pope, so who is Johnada to argue. (Though I prefer Rick Mercer any day.)

This would have been so much better if Alex still had his moustache: