Weekly Top 10: Canadian Bands

Our first Weekly Top 10 of the new year features our favorite selections from our neighbors to the north. We also tried to diversify our selections, so even though the Canadian music scene is known for being a very close-knit, interrelated group, we've attempted to branch out as much as possible. This means that there's only one selection from The Unicorns' and Broken Social Scene's family trees (so don't hate). Check it out below, courtesy of new playlist providers, Playlist.com.

Most Prolific Artists of the Decade: #41-50

Our latest list-- the Most Prolific Artists of the Decade-- looks to chronicle the most important (for better or for worse) artists of the decade. For one reason or another, be it their positive (or negative) cultural significance, landmark moments for music, staying power or otherwise, these artists mattered a great deal this decade.

In no way is this a list of our favorites of the decade. On the contrary, many of our favorites are not present, while others whom we're actually not fans of, have made the list. So without further ado, check out our the first part of our Most Prolific Artists list below. Next to each artist's name, you'll see a basic numeric list of all primary recordings this decade. For many of these, their impact should probably be self-explanatory. Enjoy, and if you haven't yet read our list of the Best Songs of 2009, or Best Albums of the Decade, read up on those too.

50. Nick Thorburn -- The Unicorns (1 LP/1 EP), Islands (3 LPs), Th' Corn Gangg (live band), Reefer (1 LP), Human Highway (1 LP)

49. of Montreal -- 6 LPs (most recent: 2008's Skeletal Lamping)/2 EPs

48. The Strokes -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2006's First Impressions of Earth)/1 EP

47. Sigur Rós -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2008's Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust)/2 EPs

46. The Killers -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2008's Day & Age)

45. Arctic Monkeys -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2009's Humbug)/2 EPs

44. Lady Gaga -- 2 LPs (most recent: 2009's The Fame Monster)/1 EP

43. The Black Eyed Peas -- 4 LPs (most recent: 2009's The E.N.D.)/4 EPs

42. Chris Brown -- 3 LPs (most recent: 2009's Graffiti)

41. Rihanna -- 4 LPs (most recent: 2009's Rated R)

Weekly Top 10: Songs Featured on How I Met Your Mother

This week's Top 10 is inspired by one of my favorite shows on television, How I Met Your Mother. Basically, I was watching a marathon's-worth of the show, and decided that this would work fairly well as a theme. Though it's not based entirely on music like some other sitcoms, it does have its moments where music plays a central and deciding role in the action. Trust me, you'll enjoy this, just like the show.

[Previously on Animal Noises: Weekly Top 10: Greeting Songs]

Tuesday's Releases (9/22): Now Streaming

We're back for another week of releases, streaming for you up on Spinner. This week's another huge Tuesday for new albums, even though it seems that Spinner doesn't have some of the most notable ones (Monsters of Folk, Brand New, Why?, The Twilight Sad-- just off the top of my head). Regardless, they're up for you to check out before acquiring. Credit for the original idea, as always, goes out to LargeHeartedBoy.

• Vapours, Islands
• Unmap, Volcano Choir
• White Water, White Bloom, Sea Wolf
• The Almighty Defenders, The Almighty Defenders
• Give Blood, Rain Machine
• Album, Girls

[Previously on Animal Noises: Tuesday's Releases (9/15): Now Streaming]

Islands' Vapours Now Streaming

There's been a landslide of early album streams lately, probably due to a landslide of releases over the past week. However, we, and the artists, continue on. Nick Thorburn's Islands is the most recent to put their album up for fans to stream (on MySpace). I'd recommend checking it out, as the band tries to recapture some of the magic from Return to the Sea. For those simply interested in waiting however, Vapours is out September 22nd, via Anti-.

[Previously on Animal Noises: New Islands, "No You Don't"]

New Islands, "No You Don't"

It's not that people hated Island's latest release, Arm's Way, it's just that it didn't properly fit the Nick Thorburn mold we had all grown so accustomed to. Well, I think we're seeing a rebirth of that model on Islands' upcoming effort, Vapours. Premiering on Pitchfork today, Nick Diamonds brings back the goofy, synthy pop we know and love, and I, for one, could not be happier. For anybody who likes things involving The Unicorns, Islands, Human Highway, Th'Corn Ganng or Reefer, you need to listen to this song now. Do it. Track courtesy of Pitchfork.

Islands- "No You Don't"

John's Track of the Week: "Where There's A Will There's A Whalebone"

Song: Where There's A Will There's A Whalebone

Artist: Islands

Album: Return to the Sea

Year: 2006

Trust me, it's only coincidence that I spoke of Human Highway earlier, and now, am giving props to yet another Nick Thorburn-related track.  Just as some background to anyone who may not be acquainted with Mr. Thorburn, he was the frontman for The Unicorns from 2000-2004.  The Unicorns were a Canadian indie/psychadelic group, and were critically acclaimed, until their breakup.  Since then, Thorburn has been involved in numerous projects, including the aforementioned Human Highway, Islands and Th' Corn Gangg- a hip hop project, as well as the solo album he's currently working on, for release later this year.

Islands' first record, Return to the Sea, was released in 2006, and many can consider it a continuation of The Unicorns' stream of consciousness, with Thorburn's usual fixation on aspects of death (not in a morbid way, of course).  It is believed that this song was a big part of the inspiration for Th' Corn Gangg performances, which were comprised mainly of hip hop collaborations of Islands and Unicorns songs with rappers Busdriver and Subtitle.  The second half of the song features rapping, which is surprisingly good, and lends support to the need for a Corn Gangg studio record.  One has yet to be released at this time.  Enjoy "Where There's A Will There's A Whalebone" below though, as it's one of Islands' best.