It's difficult to choose just a dozen Quebec albums released in the last year, you say? cultural journalists Newspaper took part in this heartbreaking game by taking advantage of the rich musical offering of new albums from home.
InuktitutElisapie
Who would have thought that an album with covers of pop/rock hits, sung in a language completely unknown to us, could touch us so deeply in our souls? It's not confusing, Elisapie has appropriated these tracks from Metallica, Blondie or Cyndi Lauper so well that you could swear it was she who composed them. (CB)
Photo by Leeor Wild, provided by Bonsound
Neo-romanticismAlexandra Streliski
Using the simple and effective approach that made her famous, Alexandra Stréliski moves away from the neoclassical movement to better express her romantic influences. With this very beautiful piano album, the artist also sensitively explores new creative spaces, especially through the addition of neo-romanticism and violin. (PM)
Photo Pierre Paul Poulin
SaltCrescent Run
There's something about the outstanding indie rock group from Montreal that makes us proud to be Quebecers. Their new work consists of a series of solid tracks that follow each other both on record and on stage, proving that the group's initial success was not just a flash in the pan. Particularly noteworthy are the tracks “You Can Let Go”, “Alco” and the sweet “Everyone's Moving Out East”, which gives you goosebumps every time. (SEN)
99 nightsCharlotte Cardin
The Quebec singer made a big splash in 2021 with her first-ever album “Phoenix”. But this year she outdid herself. “99 Nights” is very solid from start to finish – we particularly like “Confetti” and “Jim Carrey” – and will help Cardin break out abroad. She deserves it. (RGM)
Instagram Charlotte Cardin
In this secondKarkwa
It's quite a task to come here and lay a new building block for the Karkwa musical monument in Quebec. After more than a decade of silence – and fans waiting – the boys returned in grand style with Dans laSecond, rock that is both explosive and precise, giving us hope that Karkwa hasn't finished playing yet. 'explore. (PM)
Chantal Poirier / JdeM
cosmologyDumas
The album we listened to most in 2023, all languages and origins combined. The master of choruses that stick in our heads is back with a record we love listening to at any time: in the car, at work, at dinner. He's that good. (RGM)
The people we lovePhilippe Brach
“Girls, the people we love… are all going to die. Haha!” introduces Brach on the album opener. The Saguenay singer disappeared from the scene for four years and returned with a cake in his image: completely unpredictable. An album that you have to take the time to deal with to deal with it. Patience is rewarded. (RGM)
There is nothing that I am notArielle Soucy
It's not for nothing that you can read his name in almost all of Quebec's year-end charts. This impressive UFO by the folk naturalist, cobbled together in French and English, foretells a great career for this outstanding wordsmith. (CB)
Image provided by Bonbonbon Records Cedric Belanger
The returnee, Allison Russell
Four Grammy nominations can't lie. The Nashville-based Montrealer's second album confirms that her acclaimed “Outside Child” was no flash in the pan. More dancing, also committed; The charm works even more. Undeniable. (CB)
Image provided by Fantasy Records
Jazz futonValaire
With 16 songs from 16 different universes, Valaire takes us into his latest musical madness with jazzy accents. We love That Depends on You, which makes you want to move your hips on the dance floor, and Tote Bag, which brings together Fanny Bloom, Mike Clay and Luis Clavis. (SEN)
Tiamat, my loveGreg Beaudin
The member of the Dead Obies collective shows all his creativity in this first solo project. With sounds that are sometimes funk, sometimes pure hip-hop or even reggae, rapper Greg Beaudin offers a project characterized by introspection that also leaves room for solid collaborations.
lecanalauditif.ca
HolisticFanny Bloom
Who says you can't approach difficult topics in a lighthearted way? Certainly not Fanny Bloom, who does this great on her current album Holistique. Introspective, danceable, intense, moving, gentle… We don't lack words to describe this pop delight with disco accents that leaves a nice space for the piano. (PM)
