2011: Got the string quartet that I've only been talking about for about eight years off the ground, made a record with the rock band, contributed to my three favourite Canadian albums of the year, played San Francisco with The Weakerthans and Grand Forks with The Sadies, toured with NoMeansNo, had a full-scale orchestral work (a collab with a dear friend) performed, finally saw not only Devo but also Randy Newman and The Residents, bought a car, went skydiving, quit smoking, got engaged. Not bad.

Now! The tricky parts: recording and touring Strength Of Materials, releasing the new Vengeance Trio album and touring same, actually getting married. Shouldn't be too hard. Idiots do this stuff every day. I've seen them.

We will begin with a Strength Of Materials house concert at the monthly speakeasy of our awesome violin player, Meredith Bates. That's on the 21st of January. Got any plans? I didn't think so.

And now, since you asked, the best records of 2011.

MICACHU AND THE SHAPES Chopped & Screwed

CHRISTINE FELLOWS Les Femmes De Chez Nous

PJ HARVEY Let England Shake

KATHRYN CALDER Bright And Vivid

GREAT AUNT IDA Nuclearize Me

TUNE-YARDS w h o k i l l

DEERHOOF vs. Evil

ST. VINCENT Strange Mercy

BELLRAYS Black Lightning

DIRTY PROJECTORS & BJORK Mount Wittenberg Orca

photo by Dave Mockford, October 2011