Let me start off by saying that 2009 was a great year for music. I’ve heard a lot of talk about how great 2008 was, and how bored people were with music in 2009, but I have to disagree. Perhaps I paid more attention than in the previous year.

Perhaps it was because my imaginary husband Mark Lanegan showcased his gloomy gloriousness on the Soulsavers release, Broken. Perhaps it was watching Paolo Nutini sing his heart out and feeling like it was the first concert I’d ever been to. I suppose it could have also been caused by my lifelong idol Marianne Faithfull taking on such brave and adventurous covers on her Easy Come, Easy Go record.

Whatever it was, 2009 brought a renewed love of new music to my life. Luckily for me, 2010 is off to a hell of a start. Owen Pallett, anyone? I was lucky enough to see him as Final Fantasy in 2009, on a tiny side stage at Guelph’s Hillside Festival and I was blown away by his humble tripping over spoken words and his amazing, creative, innovative performance. Heartland is beautiful. Stunning, even. If this is any prediction of what the rest of the year is going to be like, we’re in for a treat.