Coast to Coast to Coast (Baffled Octopi) 25 Best Canadian Songs of 2022

by Mark Anthony Brennan

25. “Blue Juniper” by The Sylvia Platters

Abbotsford/Vancouver band The Sylvia Platters hit a career height with this ’60s sunshine rock-inspired gem.

24. “In Between the Bars” by Krill Williams

A breezy breath of shoegaze air from the brilliant Krill Williams from Calgary.

23. “Box of Glass (ft. Zara Marie)” by Nigel Young

The quirkiness of this track, featuring vocals by Zara Marie, will pull you in, so enjoy the slacker/psych ride.

22. “ARGUING WITH STRVNGERS” by MVLL CRIMES

The raw, angry sounds of London’s MVLL CRIMES are a fun blast.

21. “Late Night Streamer” by Bad Pop

The band formerly known as Hot Panda weave low-key, slightly warped magic.

20. “Motorbrains” by Ultra Mega

The Winnipeg band’s endearing and hilarious recollection of a childhood menace known as Motorbrains.

19. “SUNAUVVA” by Beatrice Deer

Beatrice Deer’s track bristles with originality and energy.

18. “Sarajevo” by Eamon McGrath

A gripping epic about the city of Sarajevo.

17. “Gentle on My Mind” by GODFREE

Country EDM? Check out Montreal producer GODFREE’s take on an old Glen Campbell song.

16. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by TRUTH

Nanaimo’s Monica McGregor (aka TRUTH) renders a sparse but highly imaginative take on a movie classic.

15. “Tourist Town” by JP Lancaster & Jared Jackel’s Bad Vibrations

This tune strikes a wonderful balance between Lancaster’s cool, jazzy vibes and Jackel’s warped psychedelic leanings.

14. “Pull Me Up” by dumb

An ingeniously crafted tune that captures the slacker soul of Vancouver.

13. “Never Been” by Darkometro

A gorgeous tune with eternal grace, from the new duo Darkometro.

12. “Hail Mary (ft. Rasheed Chappell)” by Sargeant X Comrade

A startlingly original work of contemporary R&B, from Calgary’s Yolanda Sargeant with producer Comrade.

11. “Tyrants Palace” by Dead Tired

A stupendous riff highlights this joyride of growling menace.

10. “Mirror” by Russell Louder

Russell again brings their magical touch to experimental dance music.

9. “I Don’t Think We Can Be Friends” by TOVI

Rebecca Emms (aka TOVI) with an electronic blast fuelled with trip-hop angst.

8. “Two Faced” by Megamall

Vancouver garage band Megamall hit a grungy/emo sweet spot.

7. “Chattels” by Brava Kilo & Annie Sumi

A charming tune which is deliberated jumbled to represent the chaos created when goods were confiscated from prisoners at Internment Camps for Japanese/Canadians during WW II.

6. “High Five” by Abby Sage

A lysergic folk groove with an enticing kick.

5. “Teeth Agape” by Tanya Tagaq

Tagaq visceral growled vocals combined with exciting electronics makes for a cinematic experience.

4. “The Weeping Man” by By Divine Right

This beautiful track by the Toronto art rockers is mournful and ethereal.

3. “Chemical Emotion” by JEEN.

Absolutely spellbinding work of pop-rock from singer-songwriter JEEN.

2. “Set yourself free” by AUS!Funkt

Killer rhythms power this post-punk call to the masses.

1. “Walking Feels Slow” by Eliza Niemi

A soft folk charmer with a delightfully eccentric delivery.

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Irregular Dreams’ Favourite Videos of 2022

These are our ten favourites of all the videos that have appeared on our pages in 2022:

“Tongues” by Tanya Tagaq

Tagaq’s song about the colonial attempt to extinguish native languages, with potent imagery by Caitlin Veitch.

“Walking Feels Slow” by Eliza Niemi

The strange simplicity of Ali Vanderkruyk’s video perfectly matches the oddly-delivered confessional prose of Eliza Niemi.

“Which Way” by Amai Kuda et Les Bois

In conjunction with Spoof Animation, Amai Kuda creates a somewhat fantastical Africa while depicting its history.

“Turn to Rust” by AUS!Funkt

Prince Amponsah is the star in this grim but stylish look at urban dystopia to the sounds of post-punk despair.

“The Weeping Man” by By Divine Right

The poignant strains of “The Weeping Man” are set against black and white images of the city at dusk, with some of the most imaginative uses of stop-motion we’ve ever seen.

“Carnival of The Ghosts” by Kobo Town

Mariano Franco’s video gets increasingly fanciful (and animated) as the calypso-rock of Kobo Town rolls on.

“God Complex” by Gentle Party

The experimental chamber pop of Gentle Party is treated to some truly inventive animation by Eva Dominelli.

“Tourist Town” by JP Lancaster and Jared Jackel’s Bad Vibrations

90’s CGI is a good choice of aesthetic for the warped tune by JP Lancaster and Jared Jackel.

“Chattels” by Brava Kilo and Annie Sumi

Chattels is in reference to the personal items confiscated from Japanese/Canadians entering internment camps. Part of the art project ‘Kintsugi’ by Brian Kobayakawa (Brava Kilo) and Annie Sumi.

“Natural” by 36?

Probably the weirdest video of the year, and that is really saying something.

Irregular Dreams’ Best Songs: November

Here are our ten faves right now:

“Fantasy (ft. Les Deuxluxes)” by ALIAS

“Enny One Wil Love You” by Pony Girl

“Ether” by Noise Unit

“Chattels” by Brava Kilo and Annie Sumi

“Subatomic Love” by Pillars of a Twisted City

“im so happy” by EKKSTACY

“Chicken Nuggets” by A Hundred Years

“Battle Cry” byAyria

“Tourist Town” by JP Lancaster and Jared Jackel’s Bad Vibrations

“Precious Life (Last Stand of the Dive Bar Hoodrats)” by TJ Felix & The Wino Delegates

Irregular Dreams’ Best Songs of September

Here are our ten favourite tracks right now:

“God Is” by The Secret Beach

“Box of Glass (ft. Zara Marie)” by Nigel Young

“Webbed Feet” by Mother Sun

“Tyrants Palace” by Dead Tired

“Deux yeux au fond d’une pièce noire” by Jonathan Personne

“Earth Shaker” by Blume

“Westbound” by Naked By The Fire

“Meatgrindr” by Little Fire

“Body Thoughts” by Man Made Hill

“Natural” by 36?