Time For A Rewind: The Fuzzbabe Looks Back On 2011

The time of year has come – time to take a look back to appreciate it all before making the new list of things to do and see in 2012. The fuzzbabe has reflected and made note of all the super and not so super music of 2011… or at least in my opinion. I hope you all find great comfort in my consistency in being slightly biased to the Canadian artists. You can’t take the ‘proud’ out of the Canadian. This year I have divided my list into three categories…

1. A walk down memory lane…
The year started off with a bang as in January we attended the Pennywise concert at the Melkweg. Old school always feels so good. Not only did the music rock but so did the whole stage presence and when the lead singer did a flip from the first balcony and landed safely in the hands of his adoring fans below one could only say – cool. A second concert was that of Chad Vangaalen in the Bitterzoet. Chad was touring his new album Diaper Island and while is it not his best album it is good. During the concert he played a few of his more popular songs from previous albums that allowed one to reminisce back a few years to the first time I enjoyed him live in Amsterdam.

2. A joyful blindside… or two…
The first joyful blindside came in February when I attended the birthday dinner of my best friend. She had arranged a nice out for dinner and music at a small local jazz club. While many of the acts were good there was only one that caught my attention, that was the duo of Serena & Nick, in full force better known as Serena Pryne & the Mandevilles. Serena has a unique voice and her passion for the music is evident in her performance. She came through the Netherlands a few times this year and I highly recommend you catch her next time she breezes through. The second surprise of the year occurred this fall with the performance of The War On Drugs in the small upstairs room of the Paradiso. They were excellent and I was captivated by the lead singers voice and song writing style – imagine a cross between Tom Petty and Neil Young… interesting right? It was the music and his uber cool costume – meaning ripped jeans and a classic jean jacket from the 70’s or dare I say 80’s.

3.The ones who hogged my playlist and wore out my headphones…
At the end of the music is all about what moves you into a dance (or at least some sort of head nodding arm swaying action) and inspires you to sing along (in or out of tune depending on your individual skills). When looking back at what I enjoyed the most and what was most selected on my iPod my list would be as follows – and not particularly in any given order:

• Foster the People (Torches) – favorite song is ‘Call It What You Want’
• Young Galaxy (Shapeshifting) – favorite song is ‘B.S.E.’
• Fenech-Soler (Fenech-Soler) – favorite song is ‘Stop And Stare’
• Washed Out (Within and Without) – favorite song is ‘You and I’
• The Rural Alberta Advantage (Departing) – favorite song is ‘The Deadroads’
• The War on Drugs (Slave Ambient) – favorite song is ‘Brothers’
• The Ruby Spirit (Born Under A Veil) – favorite song is ‘From You Its True’
• Braids (Native Speaker) – favorite song is ‘Same Mum’
• KT Tunstall (all – I like all her stuff really)

This is the fuzzbabe signing off for 2011. Be sure to watch this space for more music updates in 2012…