1. Alvvays
Heart-snagging jingle-jangle fuzz pop absolutely worthy of its buzz.
2. Jennifer Castle
Pink City
A transient, conversational peek into the brain of an old-soul, stream-of-consciousness, blues-folk storyteller.
3. Lowell
We Loved Her Dearly
An electro bubblegum take on political anthems and personal poetry, with melodies that lodge in your soul.
4. Doug Paisley
Strong Feelings
Minimalist, downtempo alt-country full of quiet satisfactions.
5. Tre Mission
Stigmata
Dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass, industrial electro and R&B tied together with the grime star’s throaty, staccato flow.
6. Biblical
Monsoon Season
A thunderous, spacious heavy rock debut full-length from former members of NOW cover boys the Illuminati and Sebastien Grainger’s Mountains.
7. Sloan
Commonwealth
The T.O.-via-Halifax power pop band get more ambitious with age, as this hugely varied double album attests.
8. Bahamas
Bahamas Is Afie
Afie Jurvanen got personal on his third album as Bahamas, bringing an intimate touch to his melancholic country soul tunes.
9. Timber Timbre
Hot Dreams
Taylor Kirk allowed a bit more romance and soul to infiltrate the spooky blues ballads on his fifth album, but the mood was as dark as ever.
10. Cold Specks
Neuroplasticity
An unexpected psychedelic rock energy put Cold Specks’ gospel folk ballads in a whole new light.
