Pro Picks

Your top Zunior artists pick their favourite albums on Zunior.com. The pros pick the best!

1. Tim Vesely (Rheostatics/The Violet Archers)

"Some albums I like a lot:

Clark the band - The Woods
John Tielli's clearly focused, personal musical vision done with a rocking, solid band, and catchy as hell.
Mike O'Neill - The Owl
This record made me realize the beauty of a thing like Zunior. You can make an awesome album, sell it to people affordably and get paid for it without even having to leave your house.
Scribbled Out Man - All Different
Prairie genius on Toronto Island." - Tim

2. Mike O'Neill

"Mardi Gras -The Wooden Stars
Country violins is probably my favourite song.. The inbreds toured with the Woodenstars and they had a giant dictionary in their touring van that was kept in a central location for easy access. They are a cool band. This record will challenge you if you're listening to it for the first time. For example go to the zunior track listing page for mardi gras and check out the 10th track - the Gravenhurst Militia. the song starts and you think- cool it's got a "that's what I like about you" vibe but then after 6 seconds all these robots storm the track and just when your beginning to feel that beat the robots switch direction. A poor analogy but an excellent record. I can't do it justice. Anyway it's a very rewarding album if you give it some time.
Storybook Endings- The Golden Seals
These are great tunes. I should be folding my laundry at the place down the street and the radio should be playing Dave Merritt songs or covers of Dave Merritt songs on every station. Instead I'm hearing "19 something" by Mark Wills. Have you heard that? Listen to it you won't believe it. a new low. Here's a link to the lyrics. http://www.lyrics007.com/Mark%20Wills%20Lyrics/19-Something%20Lyrics.html and the lyrics are the best part. Back to The Golden Seals. The melody lines that he sings are so free. It doesn't hurt that he has the vocal range of Chaka Chan.
This Is It Here We Go- Local Rabbits
A great great record- I especially like The Firey Wall. At Least You Got the Cake is as exciting as listening to Cinnamon Girl if you ask me. The band plays so well on this recording. Ryan Myshrall's playing is outstanding. As usual Gunning's phrasing is ridiculously original and by the third listen you realize that he's telling you another great story." - Mike

3. Jill Barber

"Al Tuck - Brave Last Days I mail-ordered this record directly from the Murder Records catalogue back in highschool; it's filled with all the laments and turns of phrase that make Tuck one of this country's finest songwriters.
Julie Doiron, Heart and Crime I procured this album on vinyl in my final year of University; it's a beautiful, tender collection of songs, that are mellow, and heart-tugging in all the right ways.
Wintersleep (2nd self-title) One of my favourite recordings from this year; a melodic rock album that guides you consistently through dynamic, emotionally and lyrically-charged songs from beginning to end." - Jill

4. Ben Gunning

"3 picks in no particular order:
Al Tuck - Brave Last Days
Clark the band - The Woods
Scribbled Out Man - All Different" - Ben

5. John Tielli (CLARK the band)

" Wooden Stars - Mardi Gras: This album is full of dark, twisted humour. It has a timeless quality; unconventional but infectious rock meshed with elements of progressive jazz. Also fantastic: The Moon.
Rheostatics - Whale Music Concert: A concert album taken from the height of the band's career in the early 90's. I attended this Bathurst Street Theatre concert which was magical.
The Inbreds - Kombinator : The Inbreds prove that with great, heartfelt songs you don't need complex multi-layered arrangements." - John