By Lukas Clark-Memler

Introduction
Another year has ended; another list has been compiled. Often I get this feeling that in 100 years, all that will remain of today’s pop culture will be a number of well-thought-out lists. While many critics are driven to paroxysms at the thought of another year-end list, the fact is that they are essential to annual retrospective analysis. There is a feeling of security and consistency in ‘Best Of’ lists; inasmuch as one can feel safe in the presence of a numerically-ordered selection of things. But in truth, the rapid acceleration of technology and the advent of social media has completely changed the way humans organize their internal thoughts. We no longer think in prose, or even full sentences; we think in lists.  Read more...

Lady Antebellum was the big winner at the Grammys with five awards, including record and song of the year for the band’s yearning crossover ballad “Need You Now,” but rockers Arcade Fire won Sunday’s biggest prize, album of the year, for their highly acclaimed The Suburbs.

Arcade Fire’s Win Butler was visibly stunned as the group accepted their trophy and then quickly rushed to perform the last song of the night.  Read more...

Frazey Ford’s solo debut album Obadiah was released last week to praise from critics and fans alike; today Obadiah enters the Canadian Top Current Album Chart at #74 with 729 albums sold and lands at #6 on the Overall Digital Album Chart, putting Frazey among such artists as Eminem, Sheryl Crow and Jack Johnson, and ahead of Drake and M.I.A. Obadiah also appears on six different regional charts. Frazey also came in at #44 in the US on the Billboard HeatSeeker.  Read more...