Ross Neilsen
Alone, Volume 1: Official Bootleg Series
By Eric Thom

Ross Neilsen is a hometown hero in his native Fredericton, NB, having come up the local blues totem pole in the time-honoured way: working his ass off. Fronting his band, the Sufferin' Bastards, Ross goes beyond playing the blues — he attacks it, peppering it with rock energy and a youthful vigour that elevate each and every performance. This explains his multiple ECMA nominations and his regional popularity, which he's fixing to expand based on tireless touring across the country. His work ethic ensures his success in a business where there are usually no guarantees. But Ross is one smart cookie and his original tunes sound every bit as authentic as his choice of covers. This stripped down performance takes him back to his beginnings: a chair, a guitar and a microphone. In this context, his substantial ability on guitar is highlighted and the soulfulness injected into his vocals pays considerable tribute to the old school masters. "She Ain't You" is, for example, a fine demonstration of what this one-man band can do, and how he'll bend a classic tune like "Dust My Broom" to his purposes — the stories become his stories and he knows how to entertain his audience. This is one bastard worth catching live. (Independent)
Scissor Sisters
Angry Samoans / Class of 1984
Ra Ra Riot
City and Colour / Tegan and Sara / Wintersleep / Ra Ra Riot
Jenny and Johnny - I’m Having Fun Now
DJ Muggs vs. Ill Bill - Kill Devil Hills
Prosanctus Inferi - Pandemonic Ululations of Vesperic Palpitation
Profanatica - Disgusting Blasphemies against God
Luke Doucet & the White Falcon - Steel City Trawler
Sonny and the Sunsets - Tomorrow Is Alright
Reid Jamieson - Staring Contest
Various - Kompakt Total 11
Lou Barlow and the Missingmen
The Specials
Vampire Weekend / Beach House / Dum Dum Girls
Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard
S. Carey - All We Grow
Sarah Jezebel Deva - A Sign of Sublime
Cotton Jones - Tall Hours in the Glowstream
Neil Hamburger - Hot February Night
Oneida / Cowards
Ion Dissonance - Cursed
Various - Bloody War: Songs 1924-1939
Mogwai - Special Moves/Burning
Reason - Fools
Bars of Gold - Of Gold
Jon Langford & Skull Orchard - Old Devils
Brad Laner - Natural Selections
Surgeon / Various - Fabric 53
!!! - Strange Weather, Isn’t It?
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Rivers
Fennesz / Daniell / Buck - Knoxville
SMMR BMMR featuring Meercaz, Fist City, Sex Church, Timecopz, Woven Bones
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