Our Favourites From 2016
TAKE A PEEK AT OUR ANNOUNCERS' TOP PICKS OF 2016
2016 was an interesting year. There were a lot of ups, a lot of downs, a lot of great music, some awesome movies and some amazing live shows as well.
We’ve asked all the Rock 95 announcers to pick their favourites from the year, including favourite songs, albums, movies and live shows.
Take a read below!
Craig
Song
If I listened to it in 2016, I probably turn the volume down a little by now. But not with Monster Truck – Don’t Tell Me How To Live. I drown the family out of the car with this.
Movie
Any movie I went to see in 2016 was a cartoon, but out of those I watched at home, 10 Cloverfield Lane did it for me. You forget how absorbing an actor John Goodman can be.
Live Show
Desert Trip. The Stones, The Who, McCartney, Neil Young….Awesome…..that’s what I’d say if I went, but I didn’t.
Ozz
Song
Hot Air Balloon by Atwell
Album
Gord Downie – Secret Path
Movie
Finding Dory (Disney Pixar)
Live Show
Big Sugar and Tom Cochrane at the Birthday Bash
Cat
Song
My favourite song of 2016 is The Pretty Reckless’ Heaven Knows. I love Taylor Momsen’s voice, and it’s really nice to see a strong female led band making amazing rock music.
Album
Arkells Morning Report. I LOVE that so many amazing Canadian Bands are making it big internationally. Their music only seems to get better with every album they make.
Movie
Deadpool. Ryan Reynolds was born to play this character. It’s hilarious, full of action and curse words…plus I still secretly really like superhero movies.
Live Show
Blink 182…not the same without Tom Delonge…but still amazing and totally took me back to the good old days of playing Enema of the State on repeat in my disc man.
Randy Richards
Song
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – SOB – just because
Album
Three Days Grace – Human – the question was…How would Brad Walst do as the band’s new front man? Well, quite well as it turned out. The band’s first two singles topped the charts
Movie
Star Wars – The Force Awakens. I love the Millenium Falcon!
Live Show
Way Home Music and Arts Festival – if you like music, you can’t go wrong with Way Home…most fun outdoor festival of the year…
New Rock Noah
Song
Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam – A 1000 Times. This song came out of nowhere for me. I was doing my usual research for an episode of The New Rock Hour, when I stumbled onto this gem. I like the old school, sing-song, nursery rhyme melody and the way the singer seems to sing right on the edge of his breaking point.
Album
PUP – The Dream Is Over. PUP saw world-wide success, including multiple world tours, after the release of their first album ‘PUP’. With such overwhelming success from a first album, there is always a lot of pressure for a band when creating the sophomore album. This pressure often leads to a disappointing 2nd effort. Such is not the case for PUP. On this record they dug deeper, came together as a cohesive team, and melted faces. If you need further proof, listen to the first 2 tracks, “If This Tour Doesn’t Kill You, I Will” and “DVP”.
Movie
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. Some people I’ve spoken with about this movie found it a bit too crude. I, however, found it HYSTERICAL.
Live Show
Conor Oberst at Massey Hall. Conor Oberst just happens to be my favourite songwriter of all time. He’s been in a bazillion bands (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk, Desaparacidos, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and so on) , and had an extensive solo career. This show was very intimate, just Conor and a friend backing him up. He played his entire new album and then returned after a break to play some old favourites including a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Passing Through” that had the entire audience singing and clapping and celebrating and mourning all at the same time. The entire evening was a surreal experience to which I had AMAZING seats.