Watch this: “Waiting” by Program

“I thought I’d hide, from the world today” is the opening lyric of Program’s debut album. It’s also a bit of a mantra. Which is probably why it’s taken them three years to emerge from their home studio. But before you hear where they are going, the band wanted you to know from where they came.

Under their previous name – Volcano Playground – they recorded an EP that never felt right, and so it didn’t get the release that it (probably) deserved.

Produced by Toronto producer David Newfeld (Broken Social Scene), Program will release “Waiting” on a 7-inch split with Grounders.

Listen to “Waiting” via Bandcamp.

Brian’s Top Albums/Songs 2012

Top 10 Albums

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Melody’s Top Albums/Songs/Shows 2012

This year might not be the end of the world*, but it did mark the end of many things in my life. School, relationships, employment – the latter two multiple times. But, what better to get you through all of these things than some good music. Tied with good friends and food, music completes the trifecta of essentials to get me through all the good and bad times, and that was especially true this year. Sometimes, the perfect album or song enters your life in such a timely manner, it’s almost like that artist had written it just for you. That was Fiona Apple for me. So, needless to say, Apple’s The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do is hands-down my favourite album of the year. But even on a non-personal level, that album is clearly one of the best, both musically in Apple’s stark and bare bones arrangements as well as her masterful words. This isn’t to say that I’ve had an entirely miserable year, I swear there’s a glimmer of happiness still flickering inside me, but you’ll notice that there’s a bit of a theme to all my picks. I would say let’s hope for a brighter new year, but honestly, I don’t mind all the sad-sack, dark tunes. Throw in a few guitar-shredding numbers, and I’m good.

Now, to spare you from more rambling, I will now present to you my top albums of this year in the succinct form of Twitter-sized blurbs!

* I am currently writing this on December 18, so apologies if it really is the end of the world.

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Wini’s Top Albums/Songs/Shows 2012

2012 was a big year for me. I finally moved to Toronto, full-time – which meant I was finally a real adult with responsibilities and a mortgage! Um, yay? I also turned 30 this year… and I’m just going to leave that there.

Moving to Toronto meant attending lots of shows, which made me feel like a kid again, when music and attending shows were all that mattered. Music-wise, it was all about throwbacks and flashbacks for me – so many bands and musicians I loved in my younger years – Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, Garbage, Ben GIbbard of Death Cab for Cutie, to name a few – returned with albums and tours. I can safely say that the highlight of my year – concert-wise – was seeing Ben Gibbard (who I’ve never seen before, solo or with Death Cab) doing a solo acoustic rendition of “Such Great Heights” and “Passenger Seat” on piano. Oh, and Fiona Apple (who I’ve also never seen before) singing “Paper Bag” (even though the show was at the Suck, er… Sound Academy).

I also discovered a couple cool new bands too. I guess Divine Fits qualifies as a new band (even though I’ve always been a big Spoon fan and a Wolf Parade fan, so it’s pretty much by default, right?). Father John Misty was probably my favourite new discovery of 2012. This was my first year attending NXNE, which allowed me to witness so many great bands and nervously interview Eternal Summers in their van!

So, for the part where I get sentimental – the best part of my year (aside from the things I already mentioned above) was joining The Singing Lamb team and writing on a regular basis again. I hope we keep doing it and I hope you keep reading. Now, how about some lists, yeah?

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