Welcome to the CGCM Podcast/Website. We are a group of music passionate folks from around the world. Although we began in Canada with only the podcast co-hosts, we now realize an entire team of staff from Canada, UK, USA and Sweden! Follow us at our website and/or social media for all our podcasts, album/concert reviews, interviews, photo galleries and more!
Check out all CGCMs BEST OF 2019 lists from each individual contributor. Enjoy listening to the Best of 2019 podcasts, featuring a ton of the music and hopefully you found some things that maybe you missed throughout the year. Feel free to share the lists and/or podcasts around and let us know what you were rocking to in 2019.
Keep an eye on our Upcoming Release page for all the info on the hottest releases throughout 2020. Every article we post has Amazon links (if available) so you can easily buy the album and support the artists. Here’s to 2020 🥂
BEST OF 2019 – Dave Wood (Andy Travis) 🇨🇦
For the most part, I’m a guy still stuck in the ’80s and early ’90s as far as rock music is concerned; and I’m ok with that. There was a certain sound that I still embrace to this day. Not exclusively, but that ‘feel’ is my comfort zone musically and I gravitate to it naturally. You’ll see that ’80s feel creep into my top 10 rock albums for 2019. – Dave Wood
#10 – The Who – WHO 🇬🇧
The Who, (yes those famous British rockers now in their mid 70’s), came back in 2019 with their 12th studio album. I first listened to this album purely out of respect for the rock legends they are. Once I got past the nostalgic feeling, I found myself liking the album and singing along; realizing I like it and would rather listen to it than most of what I hear on the airwaves today. Favourite tracks are “All This Music Will Fade” and “I Don’t Wanna Get Wise”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpKhGNaiS6c[/embedyt]
#9 – Exxocet – Mighty Jungle 🇨🇱
Although they sound familiar, I’d never heard this band until I got a message from fellow CGCMer Trevor McDougall to check them out. Not disappointed! Yes, it rocks a little harder than some of my other picks; but sometimes that’s certainly needed! Thanks, Trevor! Favourite tracks are “Mighty Jungle” and “Night & Day”.
BUY: AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Exxocet – Mighty Jungle by Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWIu-AvFBo4[/embedyt]
#8 – Dante Fox – The Roots of Great White 1978 – 1982 🇺🇸
The sound quality of this release is absolutely sub-par (actually recorded on 8-track tape!), but this release was a treat for me. This CD goes waaaay back to the beginnings of Great White. Dante Fox was the pre-Great White collaboration of Jack Russell and Mark Kendall. Kendall wanted to keep these tapes buried and Jack wanted to release them to the fans. I like being given the option to have a little glimpse into how it all started. Songs like “In Love” went on to be “On Your Knees” and “Money” went on to become “Stick It”. Not for everyone, but cool for the fan that’s curious about the roots of Great White and how it all started. Would love to see more bands do this!
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buPhRJR7Bsg[/embedyt]
#7 – Headstones – Peopleskills 🇨🇦
Nice to see one of my favourite Canadian bands still going strong! For me, this album goes back to the early days with a more punk sound than that last few releases. Tracks of note for me are “Motorcade”, “Dark Side of The Doomed” and “Leave it All Behind”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PObzzCPAc7A[/embedyt]
#6 – Helix – Old School 🇨🇦
Helix came back (I don’t think they really ever went away) this year with their 14th studio album Old School. Brian Volmer has got to be one of the hardest working guys in Canadian rock! It was a treat to have him on the podcast this year walking us through the new album. (episode #60) Personal favourite tracks are “Coming Back with Bigger Guns” and “Games Mother Never Taught You”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Quick Interview: Brian Vollmer by Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPfaVLGTs4[/embedyt]
#5 – Carl Dixon – Unbroken 🇨🇦
Unbroken is a pretty accurate word to describe Carl Dixon (known to many from his Coney Hatch days). If you’re a fan, you know the story of his horrible accident back in 2008 and his very lengthy recovery. His latest album fits in well with his decades-long career. Melodic rock, great harmonies and you may just be inspired along the way. This guy can write! Favourite tracks are “Drive Just Drive” and “Unbroken”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJIqg5pSHr4[/embedyt]
#4 – Tom Keifer – Rise 🇺🇸
Being a mainly ’80s glam/hair metal guy Tom Keifer was and still is on my radar. Yes, the Cinderella days are gone, but Tom Keifer keeps that feeling alive with the 2019 release Rise. His unmistakable vocals and just the right amount of blues, keep this album in check with his past while still pushing forward. Notable tracks for me were “Untitled”, “Rise”, and “All Amped Up”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk9AMdUsyXA[/embedyt]
#3 – ANGEL – Risen 🇺🇸
Full disclosure, I actually listened to this album thinking it was from the Australian band The Angels. Then giving it a full playthrough and just a touch of research was surprised that they’re an American band. Not on my radar before, but they are now! Another one first heard by me on CGCM Podcast. Favourite tracks were “Shot of Your Love” and “Turn Around”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Angel – Risen by Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJwhAMEtKKQ[/embedyt]
#2 – Crazy Lixx – Forever Wild 🇸🇪
Another band I completely thank from CGCM for getting me into. Off the top of my head, I’d describe Crazy Lixx as what Def Leppard might sound like today if they still had balls! Crazy Lixx fans should appreciate this album as it fits in so well with the back catalogue. Nice ’80s feeling melodic rock. Sign me up. Favourite tracks “She’s Wearing (Yesterday Face)”, “Terminal Velocity” and “Weekend Lover”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Crazy Lixx – Forever Wild by Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnG-8JrvCYc[/embedyt]
#1 – Michael Monroe – One Man Gang
Here’s an artist I wasn’t familiar with until I heard him on the CGCM Podcast. To me this album serves as an excellent introduction to Michael Monroe and keeps me coming back and digging deeper into back catalogue albums. The early ’90s melodic rock feel keeps this album playable from top to bottom. Favourite tracks of note would be “Wasted Years” and “Last Train to Tokyo”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Michael Monroe – One Man Gang by Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZegMf2p1J4[/embedyt]
(Bubbling under my top 10 were Whitesnake‘s Flesh & Blood and Franks & Deans ‘Surfin’ Turf’!)
