#we popped into Great Barrington and wandered around

[earlgreyrainydays]

[beckywarrenamazon2024]

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024 — ANTIGUA. Our ship traveled while we slept during the night. So when I woke up this morning, to the actual sound of roosters crowing, I watched historic Fort Barrington glide past our balcony as we pulled into the harbor at the town of St. John's on the island of Antigua. (The "u" is silent.) Fort Barrington and its partner across the harbor, Fort James, were built by the British to guard this valuable port from pirates and the like. Yet Fort Barrington was actually taken and occupied by actual pirates for about four months in the 1800s, until the Brits booted them out again. All of that was before my time.

Antigua is a small island, only about 10x10 miles, but it was hugely important, beginning in the 1600s, in the sugar cane industry, which also made it important in the business of slavery as well as rum. There is still plenty of evidence of all those influences in the culture of Antigua today.

Becky and I had both signed up for an excursion called "Antigua Through The Lens." I chose it because I might learn something about photography, and she chose it because it was likely to take us to interesting and beautiful places on the island. Both proved to be true.

Along with a group of fellow travelers, and under the knowledgeable guidance of a professional photographer (I think his name was Greg), our first stop was the ruins of Fort James, which you may remember from paragraph one. This fort is now a collection of beautifully crumbling buildings and a remarkable number of cannons, still intact and pointing out to sea. Our guide shared a lot of really fascinating history about this fort which I don't remember because that was hours ago!

Next we went to the remnants of Betty's Hope, which was a large and very busy sugar cane processing operation. In its heyday, two huge windmills would crush the sugar cane into pulp and extract the juice. Those two windmills are still the prominent feature at Betty's Hope, along with the remains of the still house and the boiling house.

Next we were taken to the coast. The sight of the clear blue-green water was beautiful and looked, as my mom used to say, "just like a picture." But we were there to see the Devil's Bridge, which is a natural place in the coastal rock where waves from the Atlantic come rushing under a bridge-like formation and spraying dramatically upwards on the other side. It was pretty cool!

Our final stop was at a beach (Antigua claims to have 365 of them, "one beach for every day of the year"). At this beach is a dead tree that, as legend has it, was carved by a wandering woodcarver into the forms of a Rastafarian king and queen. We all took pictures of it.

Back at our ship, we had a small lunch and a well-earned rest. At around 5:00 the ship slowly pulled out of Antigua's Green Bay harbor. Once again I watched from our balcony, once again accompanied by the sound of crowing roosters in the town.

Before the start of evening, we sat for a while in the Explorers Lounge, looking out through the panoramic windows on the path ahead. It's one of our favorite things to do on these Viking cruises. And because we're in the tropics, Becky ordered a Piña Colada, while I chose the more conventional (meaning "boring") Chardonnay.

Then we did one of our OTHER favorite things to do on a Viking cruise. We went to the theater to enjoy a musical production by the Viking Vocalists. Their show tonight was "DUETS," pop music hits by famous duos. It was great!

Then dinner in the small dining room called the Chef's Table. Crab cake, Halibut, other good stuff, each course with a specially selected wine pairing. Yum!

And now we are back in our nest. Tomorrow will bring more adventures. More delights. More surprises. And we are eager for it all!

But for now, it's still today. And it's been a good day.

[jungleindierock]

Jungle Indie Rock - Indie Christmas Playlist 2019

Here is the Jungle Indie Rock Christmas themed playlist for 2019. Is not your average christmas mix!!! 100 songs as always. A nice mix of old and new, covers and originals.There are 100 songs by 100 artists!!

Ok it seem that posting from Playlists from Spotify seems to be working again!! Only taken six months!! So in the new year, we will get back to posting Time Machine and the early Jungle Indie Rock Playlists.

Ok we are going to take a break over the Christmas period, in the past we have posted over this time, but time to take a break!! so sorry but there will be nothing from us after this playlist post until early in 2020.

So a very Merry Christmas from Reb and Feliz Navidad from Mar and all the best for 2020.

Tracklist

The Dollyrots - Fairytale of New York

Green Day - Xmas Time Of The Year

Best Coast - Little Saint Nick

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - X'mas Time (It Sure Doesn't Feel Like It)

The Reverend Horton Heat - Winter Wonderland

Alice Bag Band - No Gifts For Nazis

Beres Hammond - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Bryan Adams - Christmas Time

Pale Waves - Last Christmas

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Wandering Star

NOFX - Xmas Has Been X'ed

Keith Richards - Run Rudolph Run

AC/DC - Mistress For Christmas

Zuzu - Distant Christmas

Bowling For Soup - Frosty The Snowman

Gregory Porter - The Christmas Song

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Little Drummer Boy

The Wombats - Is This Christmas?

!!! - And Anyway It's Christmas

The Joe Gibbs Family Of Artists - We Three Kings

The Hives and Cyndi Lauper - A Christmas Duel

Mahalia Jackson - Silent Night, Holy Night

Blink 182 - Not Another Christmas Song

Wolf Alice - Santa Baby

Courtney Barnett - Boxing Day Blues (Revisited)

The Magnetic Fields - Everything In One Big Christmas Tree

The Toasters - Rudy Christmas A Jail

Otis Redding - White Christmas

Bob Dylan - Must Be Santa

U.K. Subs - Hey Santa Claus!

Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Christmas All Over Again

Billy Idol - Yellin' At The Xmas Tree

My Morning Jacket - Xmas Time Is Here Again

Barrington Levi & Trinity - I Saw Mommy Kiss A Dreadlocks

Bad Religion - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

The Frights - Christmas Everyday

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Jingle Bell Rock

Rufus Wainwright - Spotlight On Christmas

Allo Darlin' - Space Christmas

Dwarves - Drinking Up Christmas

4 Skins - Merry Christmas Everybody

Rocket From The Crypt - Cancel Christmas

King Stitt - Christmas Tree

Cheap Trick - I Wish It Was Christmas Today

The Sonics - Santa Claus

The Fall - (We Wish You) A Protein Christmas

Bob Seger & The Last Heard - Sock It To Me Santa

The Band - Christmas Must Be Tonight

The Vaudevilles - Shot My Baby For Christmas

Smash Mouth - Snoopy's Christmas

Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)

The Decemberists - Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)

Dean Martin - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Screeching Weasel - Christmas Eve

Solomon Burke - Presents For Christmas

John Prine - Christmas In Prison

Eddie & The Hot Rods - It Feels Like Christmas

Louis Armstrong - Cool Yule

CJ Ramone - Christmas Lullaby

Canned Heat - Christmas Blues

Emmy the Great - Zombie Christmas

Gold Blade and Poly Styrene - City Of Christmas Ghosts

Jimmy Jules & Nuclear Soul System - Xmas Done Got Funky

Sia - Santa's Coming for Us

Half Man Half Biscuit - It's Cliched To Be Cynical At Christmas

Lacuna Coil - Naughty Christmas

The Everly Brothers - Christmas Eve Can Kill You

Daniel  Johnston - Rock Around The Christmas Tree

Red Aunts - Little Drummer Bitch

The Fleshtones - Hurray For Santa Claus

The Wedding Present - No Christmas

Alien Sex Fiend - Stuff The Turkey

Helen Love - Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight)

Alan Vega - No More Christmas Blues

The New Pornographers - The Spirit Of Giving

Grandaddy & Band Of Horses - Hang An Ornament

The Brian Setzer  Orchestra - Dig That Crazy Santa Claus

Jeremy Lister - Santa's Lost His Mojo

The Buff Medways - Merry Christmas Fritz

Guided By Voices - Father Sgt. Christmas Card

Gruff Rhys - Slashed Wrists This Christmas

Pointed Sticks - Power Pop Santa

Beck - The Little Drum Machine Boy

Marc Bolan - Christmas Bop

Sixpence None The Richer - The Last Christmas Without You

Dwight Yoakam - Santa Can't Stay

Nick Lowe - Just To Be With You (This Christmas)

Sam Smith - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Donny Hathaway - This Christmas

Descendants - Christmas Vacation

Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Jingle Hell (Stuck In The Chimney)

Reel Big Fish - Skank For Christmas

Voodoo Glow Skulls - Feliz Navidad

X - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

Everclear - Hating You For Christmas

Crocodiles & Dum Dum Girls - Merry Christmas, Baby (Please Don't Die)

Low - Taking Down The Tree

[charllieeldridge]

Exploring Nova Scotia: Our Experience On Canada’s East Coast

How much of your home country have you seen? As Canadians who have been travelling abroad for around 11 years, we’ve explored very little of our home country — and I mean very little. Prior to our recent trip to Nova Scotia, Nick had only been as far east as Edmonton, and I went to Montreal once when I was young!

We were overdue to experience more of Canada, and what better place to start with than one of the furthest eastern points in the country? 

Our 15-day journey through the second smallest province in Canada gave us a taste of the Maritimes and left us wanting more. Each of the seven main areas of Nova Scotia offered a different feel — in terms of landscapes, cuisine, and heritage.  We’ll be writing more articles, and creating more videos from our time in Nova Scotia, but for now, read the rest of this article and check out the video below to find out more about travelling in this stunning province. 

The Invitation to Nova Scotia

It had been a while since we’d been on a press trip. In fact, the last one was when we were invited to visit Chicago — in 2018. Earlier this year we had backpacked around Ecuador and Peru, and enjoyed a digital detox along the way, free of work and campaigns.

We were ready for another partnership that suited our interests, and the Nova Scotia tourism board was the perfect match. 

Once we received the proposed itinerary, we asked to make a couple of changes to better fit our travel style, and they were happy to accommodate our requests. 

We knew right away that the tourism board was going to be great to work with. They understood the value of influencers and online media and that it’s important to create content that our readers will enjoy.  

What a view!

Our trip to Nova Scotia was 18 days, but only 10 days were planned with the tourism board, the rest of the time we were on our own — so, we had lots of time to see the in-between bits of the province (Although, we could’ve stayed double that time).

The Road Trip Route

“Don’t forget to drive on the righthand side of the road!”

Those were my first words to Nick when we picked up our car at the Halifax airport. Living in Grenada, we drive on the left. Plus, it’s practically impossible to drive more than 65 kilometers/hour as our windy roads have obstacles to dodge like people, goats, dogs, and potholes (to name a few). 

Driving in Nova Scotia with its paved roads, lane dividers and traffic lights was going to be a breeze…provided Nick remembered to stay on the correct side of the road.

After loading Google Maps on our phone, we set off to downtown Halifax. The sun was shining, our Dodge Charger was purring, and we were so excited for the start of the journey!

Having your own wheels is a must in Nova Scotia. Our Dodge Charger was a great ride!

With so many epic viewpoints, tasty restaurants, and offtrack spots to explore, having your own wheels in Nova Scotia is essential. Not only that, but since it’s such a compact province, driving around here is pretty straightforward — it’s basically impossible to get lost. 

The only thing you need to decide is where you want to go, and which scenic route you want to take. 

If you look at a map of Nova Scotia, you’ll see a very jagged coastline with a bunch of “fingers”, numerous bays and coves, and an uncountable amount of lakes (well, over 3,000), rivers, and streams. Needless to say, the drives here are stunning. 

Our road trip route in Nova Scotia looked like this:

Halifax ⇢ Peggy’s Cove ⇢ Mahone Bay ⇢ Lunenburg ⇢ Blue Rocks ⇢ Liverpool ⇢ White Point ⇢ Shelburne ⇢ Barrington ⇢ Yarmouth ⇢ White Point ⇢ Kejimkujik National Park ⇢ Digby ⇢ Annapolis Royal ⇢ Wolfville ⇢ Urbania ⇢ Pictou.

We then crossed the Canso Causeway to Cape Breton Island.

Pictou ⇢ Mabou ⇢ Ingonish ⇢ Baddeck ⇢ Margaree Forks ⇢ Inverness ⇢ Halifax

History & Culture  

We travel the world to learn about other cultures, customs and ways of life. By simply visiting the eastern coast of Canada, we found ourselves in our home country, but with new cultures and cuisines to experience. 

With just 15 days to travel around Nova Scotia, it was a bit difficult to learn everything about the history and people here (and to visit all the historical sites, and sample all of the traditional cuisines). But, we did our best and had nothing but positive experiences with the welcoming people of the province.

From the Mi’kmaq, the French Acadians, and the Africans, to the English, Irish and Scottish – as well as the many who have immigrated here more recently, Nova Scotia is a melting pot of cultures and people. 

The Mi’kmaq have called Nova Scotia home for over 13,000 years. During our trip, we visited the Kejimikujik National park which is home to ancient petroglyphs, and the waterways here were used by the Mi’kmaq as travel routes to move them between the Bay Of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean — by means of a dugout, wooden canoe. 

Loved this tree at the Kejimikujik National Park

In Latin, Nova Scotia translates to “New Scotland”, and there’s still a strong Scottish influence in the province, especially on Cape Breton Island and the town of Pictou. From Ceilidhs (get-togethers) and fiddle music to their accent and cuisine, the Scottish roots are prominent here.

We spent some time in the town of Pictou, which is where the first Scottish settlers arrived aboard the Hector ship in 1773. Here, lamp posts are decorated with Scottish tartans, a replica of the Hector sits in the bay, and there’s a yearly Festival Of The Tartans (in Pictou County) which celebrates all things Scottish — bagpipes, traditional games, food, highland dancing, and more.

Pictou was a beautiful little town!

We also visited some of the Acadian communities in the southwest part of the province, as well as Cheticamp on Cape Breton Island. The French were the first Europeans to arrive in Nova Scotia in the 1600s, and they set up their base in Annapolis Royal — a lovely little community that we stopped in on our way to Wolfville. From there, the Acadians spread out around the province. 

During our road trip, we saw Acadian flags with signs informing us that we’ve arrived in an Acadian community. The Acadian influence is prominent in Nova Scotia and it reveals itself in the food, language, and architecture.

No matter which town or community we were in, it seemed each had some sort of historical significance. The next time we visit Nova Scotia, we want to immerse ourselves further in the culture and learn more about the Acadians, Africans, and Mi’kmaq people and perhaps give more time to camping, national parks and the outdoors. 

Highlights From Nova Scotia

Many of the places we visited, and the things we did stick out in our minds as highlights from our journey. During our brief visit, we were able to get a taste of what each area of Nova Scotia has to offer. Here are just a few of our highlights:

Halifax

This city of around 430,000 people is set on the second-largest natural harbour in the world… as you can imagine, it’s an incredibly picturesque place. 

We wandered up and down the Waterfront (a pedestrian-only walkway) while stopping in for poutine, beaver tails, and craft beers along the way. We popped into the Atlantic Maritime Museum, wandered through the Farmer’s Market, and rode an amphibious vehicle (Harbour Hopper) through the streets of Halifax…and directly into the Ocean. 

The Waterfront in Halifax is a great place to walk

Across the bay, just a 5-minute ferry ride away, is the community of Dartmouth. Colourful buildings, street art, little cafes and a great walking path are all reasons to visit here. Plus, you’ll get a great view of Halifax from across the water.

With numerous international cuisines to dine on, historical sites to visit, endless events to attend (we were there for the annual Halifax Jazz Festival!), and a chilled-out vibe, Halifax was a great first stop on our Nova Scotia trip. 

Taking the 5-minute ferry from Halifax to Dartmouth

Where To Stay

We stayed at two different places in Halifax.

The Westin Nova Scotian (in the newly renovated rooms). The view across the harbour was spectacular, the breakfast buffet was excellent, the staff were friendly and the location was great.

A cute Airbnb in one of the historic homes in the city. Again, a great location, just steps from the waterfront. 

Don’t forget to grab your Airbnb coupon to receive up to $55 off your booking.

Where To Eat:

There are numerous options for local and international cuisine. Some of our favourites include:

The Bicycle Thief – great location, tasty food, and friendly staff. Try the lobster roll and the rigatoni ragu. 

Johnny K’s – Donair is the official food of Halifax, and they say that you haven’t truly been to the city until you’ve eaten one. These aren’t the same as the traditional Middle Eastern doner kebab or shawarma, there’s a twist. (we personally prefer the traditional ones, but hey, when in Halifax!)

The Five Fishermen – excellent restaurant serving delicious cuisine. Try the lobster and the tenderloin steak.

Food Stalls – located on the waterfront, there’s a cluster of food stalls. Try the beaver tail, poutine, and ice cream. Plus, the Stubborn Goat beer garden is a great option for cold beers on a sunny day. (The only downside is they serve drinks in plastic cups. Bring your own reusable cup to help with the excessive use of plastic).

This was a tasty lobster roll!

Lunenburg

Located on the South Shore is the UNESCO listed (fish obsessed) town of Lunenburg. The town revolves around fishing and is evident as soon as you arrive — fishing boats in port, fish ornaments on shops and churches, shipbuilding and fisheries museum, and fish on the restaurant menus!

We were told by our walking tour guide that the people of Lunenburg lived and died by the sea — as in the past, numerous people sadly lost their lives while fishing in treacherous conditions.

With its location right on the water, and the Georgian, Victorian and Colonial-style homes, this is a very picturesque place. Apart from wandering around and enjoying the port town, don’t miss the Ironworks Distillery which produces dangerously delicious fruit liqueurs, plus harder booze such as rum, vodka, and gin. Even if you’re not a drinker, the building it’s set in is worth a visit. 

We really enjoyed Lunenburg and would’ve stayed an extra night if we had time

Where to Stay: We stayed at the Bagintine Inn, which had a great view of the water. Even though there’s a bar and restaurant down below, we didn’t have any issues with it being too loud. The location is excellent.

Where to Eat: The Savvy Sailor has tasty (filling) breakfast, with a great view. For dinner, we ate at the Salt Shaker, and while the food was good, it didn’t blow us away. Staff were great and the location was excellent. We heard good things about the Grand Banker Bar and Grill…but didn’t have a chance to try the food, only the beers.

Kayaking at Blue Rocks

The community of Blue Rocks is a quick drive from Lunenburg and is a popular place for photographers. But, we weren’t there to photograph the blue shale rocks, we were there to do some kayaking! 

As we pulled in, the Atlantic Ocean was rough and the white caps were pretty big. I was nervous and thought the water was too choppy to kayak. Nick (with his common sense) assured me that the guide wouldn’t take us somewhere dangerous.

And, he was right. 

As soon as I voiced my concerns to the guide, he said there was no way he’d take clients out in that water. Where we were going was protected by little islands and rocks. The company was called Pleasant Paddling, and it was definitely pleasant. 

Even though the Atlantic was rough, where we kayaked was nice and calm

We paddled through narrow channels while spotting bald eagles, numerous black ducks, and other sea birds. We even had some curious seals swim towards us. Getting on the water and learning about Blue Rocks (and the province as a whole), while burning off some of the food we had been eating, was a great way to spend the morning. 

Pleasant Paddling offers 3 different tours, starting from $60 per person. Click here to learn more. 

Whale Watching at Digby

Located just outside of Digby is the Digby Neck. This peninsula is an excellent place to embark on a whale-watching trip out into the Bay of Fundy. The sun was shining as our boat passed Long Island and circled the bottom of the peninsula at Brier Island, before heading out into the open Bay of Fundy.

Time for some whale watching

We all had our eyes peeled, hoping to spot a humpback whale. 

Thankfully, even though we were a little bit early in the season, we spotted one! The crew knew this whale and had named him “Rooftop”. We spotted him a few times during the day, as he showed off by putting his fluke in the air. 

As the day was coming to an end, we were extremely fortunate to spot a Finback Whale. This is the second largest whale in the world, and they move very fast in the water. For whatever reason, this whale decided to hang out with us and allowed us to “ooo and ahh” and take some pictures and videos, before descending down into the depths. 

There’s just something special about seeing wildlife in its natural habitat. 

Bring warm clothes for whale watching…and check out the video above for whale clips!

Where To Stay: We stayed in Digby itself and enjoyed checking out the town the day before. We stayed at the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa, which was set on a gorgeous property. 

Where To Eat: I recommend the Shoreline Restaurant in Digby. The town is known for having the best scallops in the world, and the bacon-wrapped scallops and pan-fried scallops with garlic and butter are delicious. 

Whale Watching: The company we went with was Petit Passage Whale Watching, and we had a great experience. Make sure to bring warm clothing, even in the summer months. It’s $85 for adults and $30 for kids. Click here to learn more. 

Tidal Bore Rafting

Have you heard of this?! It’s an experience you can only have in Nova Scotia — nowhere else in the world offers it. 

Here’s what happens…

Where’s the boat?! Tidal bore rafting was so much fun

The tides in the Bay of Fundy are the highest in the world, fluctuating between 3.5 meters (11ft) and 16 meters (53ft). When the rush of the incoming tide meets with the outgoing Shubenacadie River, it creates swells, waves, and rapids. 

We hopped on a zodiac and headed out on the river to ride these waves!

Even though we were gulping down mud and water (due to laughing so hard), we had such a great time. The boat launched over the waves while we held on tight. Once we completed our rapids, we headed to the banks of the river to do some mud sliding. 

Mud sliding was a great way to end the day

This trip really brought out our inner child and we had such a blast. Highly recommended! To learn more about tidal bore rafting, click here. 

Cape Breton Island

I’m listing the whole island as a highlight, as there are just too many things that stood out for us here! The famous Cabot Trail drive is a must, but I recommend not rushing it. Drive a little bit, then stay the night somewhere and explore around that area, before continuing on the Cabot Trail the following day. 

Inverness town has a beautiful oceanfront boardwalk, excellent golfing, craft beer brewery, and camping opportunities. The Glenora Inn and Distillery is the longest-running producer of single malt whiskey in North America (there are only 2), plus, the accommodation and restaurant there are excellent. 

The boardwalk along the beach in Inverness is a great place to walk

The Margaree River offers fantastic fly fishing opportunities. Even though Nick didn’t catch a fish (the weather wasn’t in his favour), there were 40-pound salmon jumping out of the river there! If you’re interested, pick up a salmon fishing license for around $62. You can buy flies and a license at the Tying Scotsman.

The Cape Breton Highlands National Park offers numerous hiking trails and scenic pull-outs. Definitely make sure to get out of the car and do some walking. We walked The Skyline Trail and while it has stunning views, it was quite busy. If you’re looking for a quieter, more natural hike, then I’d recommend giving yourself a bit of extra time to enjoy a less popular trail.

View from the Middle Head Trail

Ingonish Beach has a sandy or rocky beach, depending on the tides. There’s a freshwater lake here, camping opportunities, and the stunning Keltic Lodge. The lodge was the most scenic accommodation we had during our trip, and conveniently, it’s the starting point for a great short hike — Middle Head Trail. 

To sum up, don’t miss Cape Breton Island!

Where to Stay: 

Genora Inn and Distillery. The property is located just outside of Inverness and is beautiful. Don’t miss the tours of the distillery, dining at the restaurant, and the live music at night.

The Keltic Lodge is home to the world-renowned Cape Breton Island Golf Course, is the starting point for the Middle Head Trail, and is set in the most picturesque place! The restaurant served great food (the burger and pasta were delicious), and our room had an excellent view. Located at Ingonish.

The Inverary Resort is a lovely property located right on the lake. You can rent kayaks, SUP or jet skis and enjoy a day on the water. There are different room styles to choose from. The new restaurant needs more staff, but the food was tasty (try the mussels and halibut). Located in Baddeck.

We booked a 3 bedroom chalet at Lakeland Cottage for a couple of nights while Nick went fishing and loved the little cabin. It was spacious and there were walking trails nearby. Just a 10-minute drive to Inverness, and near to Margaree Forks.

We enjoyed our stay, the tour and the restaurant at the Glenora Inn

Where to Eat:

The Red Shoe Pub comes highly recommended for food and music, but we decided to spend the evening at the Glenora Distillery restaurant instead.

The Celtic Music Interpretive Center has lunchtime ceilidhs and serves up good food. Try the salt cod fish cakes. 

The Dancing Moose: Owned by a Dutch couple, they serve up Dutch Pannekoek (pancakes), and other tasty homemade food. 

Rusty Anchor Restaurant: Near Pleasant Bay, this spot has a great outdoor patio, friendly staff and good seafood dishes.

Eating at the lodges. Each of the accommodations we stayed at in Cape Breton Island (except for our chalet outside of Inverness), had an onsite restaurant with tasty food. So, we opted to stay there and relax for the evening. 

What’s Next? 

Now that we’ve returned to Grenada, we’re just letting our Nova Scotia trip sink in. While we were in the province, we took lots of video and photos and will be creating 3-4 videos showcasing the best places to visit, the best things to do, our experience tidal bore rafting, and a list of things you won’t want to miss in Halifax.

We’ll also be writing lots of articles and continuing to share photos and posts on Facebook and Instagram. Stay tuned for more from this small, but action-packed province. 

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[13610152128364555]

Top 10 Albums of 2018

It’s that time again. What a year. Thank gods we had great music for a little reflecting, some much-needed re-energizing, and of course, a lot of rabblerousing.

Here are my picks for the year’s 10 best albums. What turned your tables in 2018? Let me know at reynardloki@gmail.com.

Happy 2019!

Rey

10) Sleep — The Sciences [Third Man Records]

San Jose psych-doom power trio Sleep have emerged from the purple haze to release “The Sciences,” their fourth studio record — their first in nearly two decades — giving stoner rock fans everywhere 53 glorious minutes of dark, dank, primordial heaviness that few if any bands can deliver. Anchored by Jason Roeder’s surgical-strike stickwork and vocalist Al Cisneros’ syrupy, sludgy, downtuned bass, master axe-smith Matt Pike plows through the kind of menacing riffs one can imagine flying off Hephaestus’ anvil as he’s forging Poseidon’s new trident — just as the god of the sea is packing his bags (and bowl) for a journey into the deep.

Listen on Spotify.

9) Mojo Juju — Native Tongue [ABC]

Born in Australia of mixed heritage — Aboriginal (Wiradjuri) and Filipino — Mojo “Juju” Ruiz de Luzuriaga, in her third full-length LP, digs deep into race, family, immigration, colonialism, identity politics and Indigenous heritage across 16 soulful, sultry, deeply personal and exquisitely original tracks that stretch across styles, genres, vibes and even languages. In a troubling era where xenophobia is on the rise, “Native Tongue” deftly explores what it means to be “the other.” “Just because you own the airtime, you think you own the sky,” she proclaims on “Think Twice,” lassoing a global Zeitgeist that is impossible to ignore — and making it far groovier than anyone thought it could be.

Listen on Spotify.

8) JPEGMAFIA — Veteran [Deathbomb Arc]

For his third studio album “Veteran” (a reference, at least, to his four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force), the 28-year-old mad-scientist glitchcore rapper/producer JPEGMAFIA (aka Barrington DeVaughn Hendricks) pulls out all the stops and then some to deliver one of the most distinctive hip-hop albums in years — if his wild and wooly aural experiments can even be considered hip-hop at this point. Vulcanic bass lines slither over shattered post-industrial beats as the New York native, now based in Baltimore, stretches his restless, inquisitive mind (he has a master’s degree in journalism), riffing on such far-ranging matters as Defense Department discharge forms and the fashionista handbags made famous by singer Jane Birkin (the one-time collaborator/lover of Serge Gainsbourg). The production is totally frikkin’ insane; the samples alone set him apart, from the bizarre epiglottal workout (a looped ODB vocal) that snakes through “Real Nega” to the brilliant rapid-fire Bic pen-clicking in “Thug Tears,” which triggered, at least in one fan, an ASMR (“autonomous sensory meridian response”), the unique auditory-tactile synaesthetic feeling of euphoria that has been used to describe a “spine-tingling” event. In fact, the whole 47-minute affair is fairly spine-tingling — and a bit bone-rattling, too. (h/t: JF)

Listen on Spotify.

7) Art Brut — Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out! [Alcopop!]

The Berlin- and London-based art-punk quintet comes crashing back after seven years of silence with their exuberant, hook-laden fifth studio LP, a tightly-wound 35 minutes jam-packed with gorgeously odd, party-ready, rock-steady mini-anthems with more horns, harmonies, group ah-ahs and sing-alongs than your drunken final campfire jam at band camp. Cheeky speak-singer Eddie Argos keeps things humming along with blisteringly droll deliveries of super-catchy, instant-classic lines. “I hope you’re very happy together, and if you’re not, that’s even better,“ he sniggers to an ex-lover in what could be the most gleeful break-up song ever written. In “Too Clever,” Argos distills the waggish self-reflexivity that has been his touchstone since the band emerged 14 years ago: “Sometimes the smartest man in the room would rather be outside — howling at the moon … Ah-woo!” Press play and let the bad/good times roll...

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6) Young Jesus — The Whole Thing Is Just There [Saddle Creek]

For their third studio album, art rockers Young Jesus have crafted fresh, expansive highways and byways across the musical map. Ranging like the plains of boozy philosopher-poet bandleader John Rossiter’s Midwestern roots — and shot through with the jazz-inflected post-rock his Chicago hometown made famous — “The Whole Thing Is Just There” shows the now Los Angeles-based four-piece at their edgy-yet-dreamy, exquisitely exploratory best. Enveloped by a spacious production, Rossiter muses nimbly, often ironically, over complex arrangements interspersed by instrumental improvisations, with angular shards of guitar peppering lush soundscapes. “If saints aren’t given voice to teach of burns, we’re led to blood periphery,” he warns on the brooding, labyrinthine opener “Deterritory,” before the band opens the throttle and doesn't let up for the rest of this multifaceted 49-minute masterwork. 

Listen on Spotify.

5) Daughters - You Won’t Get What You Want [Ipecac]

The hyper-intense post-grindcore noise mavens from Providence come out swinging on their fourth studio full-length (their first after an eight-year hiatus), showing that age hasn’t mellowed them out one bit. Above droning swirls of machine-edged walls of guitar, monomaniacal tank-tread basslines and call-to-battle drums, lead caterwauler Alexis S.F. Marshall lords over a gathering storm, slinging scorching, misanthropic observations of humanity’s dark side. “It may please your heart to see some shackled, wrists and throat, naked as the day they were born,” he howls on “Long Road, No Turns.” For 48 grinding, often terrifying minutes, Daughters exercise a powerful, all-consuming yet controlled cacophony — the kind of music killer hornets must listen to when they swarm. Still, there are intermittent flashes of beauty amidst the menacing Sturm und Drang of this post-apocalyptic wasteland, like one of those hornets pausing on a lonely flower, drawing a touch of sweet nectar before buzzing off for the kill.

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4) Unknown Mortal Orchestra - IC-01 Hanoi [Jagjaguwar]

While recording their fourth full-length “Sex and Food” (also released this year) in such far-flung locales as Mexico City, Seoul, Reykjavik, Auckland and Portland, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s Ruban Nielson (guitar, bass), his brother Kody (drums) and their father Chris (keyboards, flugelhorn, saxophone — the latter two often patched through effects) found themselves hunkered down one night in Hanoi. There the wandering New Zealand minstrels met up with Vietnamese musician Minh Nguyen (on sáo trúc, a traditional Vietnamese flute) for a casual jam at Phu Sa Studio. What emerged from that session are seven inspired tracks of sexy, smoky, brooding, propulsive Miles Davis-inspired exploratory improvisation. “IC-O1 Hanoi” may only clock in at 28 minutes, but it unfurls otherworldly mood for miles.

Listen on Spotify.

3) Jeremy Dutcher — Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa [Independent]

Toronto-based operatic tenor, pianist, composer, ethnomusicologist and Indigenous activist Jeremy Dutcher mines his First Nations roots for his striking, inspirational debut, a labor of love that is the culmination of five years researching and transcribing the traditional music of the Maliseet, an Algonquian people of New Brunswick, Quebec. “When I first got to hear these voices, that work for me was a profoundly transformational moment in my life,” he said in a CBC interview. “It was a process of deep listening — to sit there with these headphones and really hear what these voices had to tell me.” Featuring the grainy, century-old recordings of his ancestors’ songs (which he uncovered on wax cylinders at the Canadian Museum of Civilization), the endangered Wolastoqey language (spoken by around 100 people), modern sounds and rhythms, and his own penetrating, emotive voice winding through sprawling post-classical rearrangements of traditional First Nations music, “Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa” (“Our Maliseet Songs”) is an ambitious, fascinating and important work — a richly deserving winner of the Polaris Prize, one of Canada’s most prestigious music awards. Dutcher says his art is rooted in “Indigenous futurism,” one aspect of which is recovering traditional languages and viewpoints to counteract the Western narrative that seeks to erase them. Celebrating ancestral voices while looking to the future in a fight for today, this is one for the ages.

Listen on Spotify.

2) King Tuff — The Other [Sub Pop] 

On his dark-themed yet fun-filled fourth studio album, Vermont’s reigning king of psychedelic garage rock roams new territory, plumbing the worrisome depths of our current technology-driven, environmentally-destructive reality. Backed the impressive drumming of longtime collaborator Ty Seagall and aided by blasts of brass and sinewy synths, King Tuff (aka Kyle Thomas) rolls through crunchy, bluesy riffs, peeling back the layers of our iPhone-addled brains to reveal the poetry, nature and wilderness that we’ve lost along the way to our self-inflicted digitized annihilation. “So take me to your telescope and point me to the void, save me from the ones and zeros before it all gets destroyed,” he beseeches on “Circuits in the Sand.” If The Doors would’ve been the perfect final act to take the global stage as Armageddon rains down on Earth (“The End,” of course, being the last song we’d ever hear), King Tuff, with “The Other,” stakes a fairly convincing claim to the rabblerousing penultimate slot. 

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1) Caroline Rose — LONER [New West] 

Somehow, Caroline Rose has managed to explore tough themes like sexism, misogyny, loneliness, self-doubt, infidelity and death, while delivering some of the most instant-party gems of 2018. Arch yet artful, Rose’s satire-spitting, synth-heavy third studio LP slips into seductively murky corners that burst open into dazzling technicolor skies on a dime. “I go to a friend of a friend’s party,” she deadpans on the opener. “Everyone’s well dressed with a perfect body. And they all have alternative haircuts and straight white teeth, but all I see is just more of the same thing,” The album, however, is anything but. With razor-edged turns of phrase, in-your-face punk attitude and catchy, curvilinear melodies, “LONER” certifies the Long Island songstress as a genuine pop maestro whose super-sly winks belie her 28 (!) years.

Listen on Spotify.

Honorable mentions:

Cassper Nyovest — Sweet and Short [UMG/Family Tree]

South African rapper Cassper Nyovest’s club-ready fourth studio album signals a return to his roots in kwaito (Afrikaans for “angry”), a heady mix of hip-hop and house music that originated in Johannesburg in the 1990s featuring slow tempos and African sounds, samples and slang that has grown into a potent youth culture. 

Listen on Spotify.

Peter Brötzmann and Heather Leigh — Sparrow Nights [Trost]

For their first studio album, Scotland-based improv pedal steel master Heather Leigh (whose excellent solo album “Throne” was also released this year) and German free jazz sax legend Peter Brötzmann show off the intimate, minimalist intensity they’ve developed over three years of collaboration. Probing and melancholic, “Sparrow Nights” is often rapturous, at times profound.

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Tomáš Kačo — My Home [Independent]

On “For Chopin,” the opening track on his long-awaited debut album, 31-year-old virtuoso pianist and composer Tomáš Kačo takes the master’s lead, playing the famous Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 (first published in 1832). But soon, the song diverges into his own expressive, jazzy strands to create not only an homage but an audacious musical conversation that stretches across the centuries. History plays a central role in “My Home,” which features some of the vibrant traditional gypsy music that Kačo’s father played for him when he was a just a young Romany pianist studying at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. A special treat: legendary bassist John Patitucci joins in for the duet “Marov.”

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Scud + Nomex — Maschinebau EP (re-release) [Praxis]

In 1997, London techno-scuzz impresarios DJ Scud (founder of Ambush! Records) and Nomex (founder of Adverse Records) joined forces to launch the Maschinenbau label, releasing just two 7”s. Praxis had to good sense to re-release these deliriously filthy and abusive breakcore/industrial noise tracks just in time for the 21st-century robot invasion.

Listen on Bandcamp.

Ÿuma — Poussière d’ètoiles (“Stardust”) [Innacor]

In Poussière d’ètoiles (“Stardust”), Tunisian duo Ÿuma (singer Sabrine Jenhani and guitarist-singer Ramy Zoghlami) offer an intimate, minimalist blues-folk gem, sung in Arabic, that isn’t afraid to tangle with the difficult cultural politics of their homeland. In “Mestenni Ellil” (“I wait for the night”), they explore the desperation of two young lovers who can never be together due to the girl’s arranged marriage — a practice that is sadly legal and common in Tunisia.

Listen on Spotify.