Best Of 2006 (Page 4)

Music

Band/Artist of the Year
The Black Boot Trio
For the second year in a row an Ottawa band has garnered this distinction. The Black Boot Trio put out an awesome record filled with music reminiscent of the days when Johnny Cash was on the top of his game. The mix of roots rock/country music and lyrics with attitude makes Steve Fai, Stef Bennett and Geoff Taylor one of the best groups in the country. Fai, who writes all the songs, is a talented lyricist and in the opinion of many is the best songwriter in Ottawa. When listening to songs such as "I Love You" and "Let's Get Happy" it is hard to argue.

Best Unknown Band/Artist of the Year
Sandy Foster
Sandy Foster is a jazz singer/songwriter of great respect from Edmonton. She began her career later in life after raising her family. It was good for her children but it meant Canadians had to wait to hear her stellar voice until after her kids were more independent. She began releasing music back in 2003 with a focus on Christian themes. But it wasn't until she released a more mainstream album in 2005 (named Marooned Read our review) that she grabbed Full Spectrum's attention.

Sandy has a top notch singing voice and why she has had to release her music independently and not through a jazz label in Canada or elsewhere is a shame. Marooned, is comparable, both musically and vocally, to the best CDs by Diane Krall, Molly Johnson, or Holly Cole and it is about time she is recognized for it. This past November (2006) Sandy released her first Christmas album (Spruce It Up).

Hear her music at: www.myspace.com/sandyfoster

Band/Artist on the Brink
Cadence Weapon
Cadence Weapon is a hip hop artist from Edmonton, Alberta. Rollie Pemberton (his birth name) has been putting out music seriously since 2005 (if a mix tape put out with his own cash can be chosen as a serious start). Cadence Weapon Is the Black Hand (the mix tape in question) made an impact in the underground hip hop scene and he was signed to Upper Class Records for his 2005 release Breaking Kayfabe.

In 2006, Cadence lost the Polaris Prize to Final Fantasy which is awarded to the best Canadian album of the year with a $20,000 purse. Both Chart and Exclaim magazines have written articles on the young man which we agree is worth the effort and print space. 2007 looks to be Cadence's year to move up in people's mind and perhaps he will become a peer of K-os and Maestro as great Canadian hip hop artists.

Top 10 CDs of the Year (no particular order)

1. Awoo - The Hidden Cameras
2. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood - Neko Case
3. Axis of Evol - Pink Mountaintops
4. Desperate Men... And the Women Who Love Them - Weapons of Mass Seduction
5. Eternal Return - Black Boot Trio
6. Return to the Sea - Islands
7. Broken Boy Soldiers - The Raconteurs
8. As of Yesterday - Trevor Alguire
9. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - The Arctic Monkeys
10. Atlantis: Hymns for Disco - K-os

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