1 WOODHANDS

Heart Attack (Paper Bag)

Nerdy, explosive synth rock. This duo turned in a spastic dance record steeped in Toronto indie rock.

2 $100

Forest Of Tears (Blue Fog)

Western-tinged six-piece chock-full of dusty authenticity harking back to the time before there was anything “nu” about country.

3 D-SISIVE

The Book (Urbnet)

After a six-year hiatus, rapper D-Sisive ditched the pop culture references to deliver a formidable slice of urban life.

4 THE D’URBERVILLES

We Are The Hunters (Out of This Spark)

D’Urbervilles are like a more playful Constantines, their penchant for post-punk pop hooks filling in for folky twang.

5 BUCK STARBALL

They Took Your Drugs Away (independent)

Insanely (or maybe just insane?) catchy trippy electro-indie-rap from the still criminally-unknown drug-addled producer/MC.

6 ELIZABETH SHEPHERD

Parkdale (Do Right!)

Forget what you thought Parkdale sounded like. Shepard lets loose a well-tuned poetic string of soulful jazz.

7 FUCKED UP

The Chemistry Of Common Life (Matador)

Toronto’s hippest hardcore punk outfit scored more critical acclaim with this epic follow-up to 2006’s Hidden World.

8 LAURA BARRETT

Victory Garden (Paper Bag)

Barrett’s intellectual kalimba pop sprouts into full band treatments on this fruitful gem.

9 ANDRE ETHIER

Born Of Blue Fog (Blue Fog)

On his third solo disc, the ex-Deadly Snakes frontman makes a passionate case for being Toronto’s Bob Dylan.

10 QUEST FOR FIRE

(Storyboard)

Stoner rock has never been more accessible than on this intense debut featuring former members of the Deadly Snakes and Cursed.

music@nowtoronto.com