We’ve tallied all the Thumbs Up’s and Thumbs Down’s for the month of October and the Froglix listeners have proven to have quite the diversity of tastes. Forty-five (45) tracks from thirty-three (33) artists received votes, but alas, not everyone can be a winner. Represented in the Top Ten alone though are artists we have described before as rock, modern rock, alternative rock, Brit alt-rock, ambient, electro, electronica, indie pop, ska, power ska, reggae, punk, post-punk, singer/songwriter, and actually quite a bit more. So without further ado…take a listen to October’s favorites…

October’s Top Ten
(in alphabetical order)

28-200 :: I Kiss U
Attention Thieves :: Let It All Out
Case Of The Mondays :: Indie Girl
Mars Accelerator :: Fill For The Glacial Till
Mobile Wash Unit :: September Was Winter
Ring Of Truth :: Why Should This Be?
Rude City Riot :: Victoria
Small City Calling :: Atlantic: Castaways
Treading Lemmings :: Comeuppance
Variety Workshop :: U Suck Noodles

– DMitch

artist: Rude City Riot |  genre: power ska, punk, reggae | label: Skaspot/Stomp

In the midst of a rather busy show schedule this past summer, the Kings of Canadian Ska somehow found the time to record, master and release their debut, full-length album.  How do they do it!? Do these cats ever sleep!?!?  As the saying goes, “all good things to come to who wait, but only the things left behind by those who hustle” and you’d be hard pressed to find a band who hustles more than Rude City Riot.  Without a doubt these cats are on adrenalin overload 24 – 7…good thing for us it translates well into their music!

Their latest studio release is also their first full length album entitled Nothin’ But Time…and it is indeed a gem.  We have been following this band for a while and have been duly impressed all along the way with their unique blend of ska, rock and a little reggae vibe thrown in there for good measure.  Think the energy and intensity of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones coupled with the soulfulness of The Specials and you’d be close.  In addition to being the title track, ‘Nothin’ But Time’ jumps in fast and furious and really sets the tone for the RCR brand of power ska that your friends at Froglix have come to know and love.  That song is unquestionably bad ass.  Equally impressive are tracks like ‘It’s Raining’, ‘Rudies Don’t Care’ and ‘Pray for You’ that all sport more of a traditional 2 Tone vibe.  ‘The Reaper’, which swings even further to the dub side of the spectrum, is simply marvelous music.

Before hearing this album, we knew these boys good jam out on some high octane tuneage so to be able to experience the cooler side of their ska pillow just added to our already high opinion of this band.  Two thumbs way up for both RCR and Nothin’ But Time.

- Drago

Congratulations are most certainly in order for Rude City Riot who will be celebrating the release of their newest CD on June 6th at The Media Club in Vancouver, BC…but wait there’s more!  Nothing But Time is not only RCR’s first full-length disc it is also the first of 2-record with Stomp Records!  Yup.  No joke.   Needless to say, your friends at Froglix are big fans of both RCR and Stomp and are thrilled, intrigued and delighted at the possibilities that this collaboration can bring.  As for the album, while we cannot reveal our sources, we have been given a sneak preview of several tracks that will be and included…and it’s good.  Check that…damn good.  RCR throws down their patented version of power ska and tosses in a few surprises for good measure.  Ska fans rejoice…it’s almost here!

- Drago

The word out of the Great White North is that the Kings of Canadian Ska, better know as  Rude City Riot (Stomp Records), are working on a full length studio release.   The drop date is scheduled for March 22nd, providing there are no unexpected delays.

How’d you like to catch a sneak preview of their new material?  Yeah…so would we.  Well, we haven’t gotten anything yet but when/if we do, we’ll put it out there fo sho.  In the meantime, rumour has it that RCR will be previewing some of their new material at their Jan 28th show in Vancouver.  So if any of the Froglix Faithful are even in remote proximity of Malone’s that fine evening, it’s highly recommended that you go see them live and report back…stat!

- Drago

listen/download now: OuterSound :: January 2011

We couldn’t very well let January come to a close without an OuterSound Indie Music Podcast could we?  Absolutely, not…so here it is.  This, our very first episode of 2011, is dedicate to the winners of this year’s Froglix Music Awards (aka The Froggy).  Music from Treading Lemmings, Diversifyd, Attention Thieves  along with the general meanderings of yours truly await you at iTunes.  Download it today…don’t cost nothing and it’s chock full O’ goodness!

Make 2011 the  year you rock out loud!

As 2010 comes to a close, naturally, we tend to reflect on the year that was…and what a year it’s been here at Froglix!  We’ve made a number of technical upgrades and changes, incorporated more video content into our postings and last (but certainly not least) we’ve welcomed our good friend Thurdeen to the Froglix fold as our newest writer.  Further, and most importantly, we have been introduced to a bevy of talented musicians from around the world all striving for the same goal…to have their voices and their music heard by a global audience.  We consider it an honour to have been able to play even a small part in making that happen.  It has truly been a tremendous year in indie music and we are looking forward to what we are sure will be an incredible 2011 with great anticipation.  However, before we jump ahead, we would be remiss if we were not to take one more look back at the year that was and offer up our own “best of.”

Ladies and gentlemen, it is a distinct honour, nay a privilege, to present the First Annual Froglix Music Awards!  Winners of this year’s “Froggy” awards have been selected by the listeners and readers with input for DMitch, Thurdeen and myself, of course.  With a year filled with so much excellent music it was indeed difficult to narrow it down…but with no more gilding the lily or anymore adieu I give the winners!

Treading Lemmings

Artist of the Year | Album of the Year

Small City Calling

Best Indie Pop Artist or Group | EP of the Year
Song of the Year (Castaways)

The Sky Life

Best Alternative Artist or Group

Killer Godzilla

Best Alt-Rock Artist or Group

28-200

Best Ambient/Electronica Artist or Group

Sickhoose

Best Punk/Hardcore Artist or Group

Attention Thieves

Best Grunge/Hard Rock Artist or Group

Diversifyd

Best Reggae Artist or Group

Rude City Riot

Best Ska Artist or Group

Sacha Sacket

Best Singer/Songwriter

listen now
OuterSound – August 2010

OuterSound is back in a big way with a bevy of select indie gems from around the world.  Froglix is proud to present yet another cast of phenomenal indie artists for August’s episode.  Enjoy!

Zion Judah :: Higher Consciousness
Rude City Riot :: Imposter Man
GoldRat :: The Judas Cow
Small City Calling :: Castaways
ThisOrder :: Unus
Damn Vandals :: Union Jack Boxes
Casper Jones :: Bleeding Heart
Mobile Wash Unit :: September Was Winter
Grimus :: In A Glimpse
Toykult :: Super Cleaner

- Drago

genre: Power Ska
label: Skaspot Records

listen now…
Imposter Man
Same Old Story

From the untamed wilderness that is the Pacific Northwest comes a gift…and a marvelous gift it is indeed.  No, it’s not amateur video footage of Sasquatch doing the Macarena (although that would obviously rock).  It’s better.  Much better.  Those crazy ska-nucks, Rude City Riot, recently released a double-sided digital single as a follow up to their debut, self-titled album and our friends at Skaspot Records were kind enough send us a copy.  Brilliant!  With “Imposter Man” and “Same Old Story”, RCR picks up right where they left off with the their last studio offering.  Power ska at its best.  The melodic elements of 2 Tone meets the edginess of third wave, pulling up just short of the ska-core precipice.  These cats continue to impress.

- Drago

genre: ska
label: Skaspot Records

In case you missed it, our favourite Canadian ska band, Rude City Riot, was a featured guest on CBC Radio One’s “On the Coast“ hosted by Stephen Quinn this past week.  RCR played (5) tracks live on the air, followed by another (5) off air and topped it off with a free concert outside on the patio of the CBC Vancouver building.

Some say ska is dead…but Froglix says nay nay.   With bands like Rude City Riot wildly waving the rude boy banner in the Great White North, ska is alive and well my friends.  Alive and well.

- Drago

upcoming shows

The votes have been tallied and the choice of the people…err the Froglix Faithful anyway…is quite clear.  The top 10 artists as selected by the listeners for March 2010 are (insert drum roll here)…

Diversifyd
Tenpenny Joke
The Sky Life
Everything Zen
Ring of Truth
Black Knight
Hand Painted Swinger
Killer Godzilla
Rude City Riot
The Exits

- Drago