Touching on three releases I really liked but didn't make my Top 10 for 2012:
Dirty Ghosts - Metal Moon (Last Gang)
Allyson Barker is Canadian born and bred, but has been based out of San Francisco lately. Their music is noisy rock, with some new wave and psychedelic influences. I liked this album a lot, I was impressed by the loose, noisy rock side of it paired with a more melodic, catchy end. It's a nice mix of offbeat and accessible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZQXmmHb920
Men Without Hats - Love in the Age of War (Independent)
Montreal's Men Without Hats will always have a special place in my heart. During high school, Folk of the 80s (Part III) got my through some rough times, and it still stands up as one of the best synth-pop albums ever recorded. This is the band's first album since 2003's poorly received No Hats Beyond This Point, and it's a solid synth-pop album with a classic sound. Granted, this style of music hasn't aged well, but this is a fine effort. The title track was very evocative for me; when I first heard it, I was struggling through a confusing relationship break up. It resonated well for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7zYQQA1Cwk
Grimes - Visions (Arbutus)
I'd be very remiss to not mention Grimes' meteoric rise this past year. Grimes, the Montreal-based Claire Boucher, has a breakout year on the hot, hot, hot record label Arbutus this year. Her voice is babyish and naive, the music is creepy, deep and gothy. Montreal has been the centre of artsy and strange music in Canada, and Grimes fits into that scene well. She should explode internationally in the coming years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FH-q0I1fJY
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