Chris (Talk Show Host)
photo by Spectrelight Photography
What are your top five albums that were released in 2022? (In order 1-5)
I can’t put ‘em in order cuz this list changes every day, but here are 5 of the records that I have enjoyed a whole dang bunch over the previous 347 days:
Voivod - Synchro Anarchy
My favourite metal record of the year, and prolly my fave Voivod release since the early '90s.
Otoboke Beaver - Super Champon
Does what it says on the box: it’s a fuckin chaos masterpiece.
Plosivs - Plosivs
I’m a sucker for anything John Reis is involved in and this one really strikes that Hot Snakes chord, but augmented with an ultra catchy pop sensibility.
A Wilhelm Scream - Lose Your Delusion
The only skate punk-adjacent band I can handle anymore; I’m glad they've found a way to subtly evolve their sound while retaining some shred. I think this is their best yet.
Osees - A Foul Form
I think I listened to this one more than anything else this year. A flawless, 22-minute anxiety purge. It’s like meditation but with more screaming.
*I won’t skirt the rules and add a 6th, although if I did it would have been Cave World by Viagra Boys. But I ain’t no cheat
What band did you discover in 2022 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? How so?
Not a band, but this year I attended Fest for the first time and that’s probably had a bigger impact than anything else. It served as a pretty clear reminder that the most important thing about being in a band is just hanging out and making tunes with friends.
How will you remember 2022? (In terms of music)
The year I turned 40 and jumped into my first Los Angeles mosh pit fully masked and emerged unscathed. Also: the year I found myself fully divested of any remaining fondness for NOFX.
What can we look forward to from you in 2023?
Probably not much!
What records are you looking forward to most in 2023?
I know Propagandhi is working on new stuff, so if that comes out in 2023 (it won't) I’ll be obsessed. Mostly I’m just looking forward to hoovering up every new thing I can cram into my stupid earholes, whether I know it exists yet or not.
Live shows are still a mixed bag as we adapt to social gatherings in a COVID world. What is something positive you see about touring right now? Anything you’d like to see change?
I am not super qualified to answer this one cuz we’ve never really been a touring band. It was hard enough to break even when we toured Europe five years ago, but at least it was fun. It seems like an extra grueling endeavour in 2022 and beyond, so I admire all those bands making a go of it. If I could magically change anything, I’d make it so that no one has to rely on being a traveling t-shirt salesperson to make a living as a musician.
Chris – social media links
- Twitter: @talkshowhost_ca
- Instagram: @talkshowhostrocks
