Top 50 Canadian Albums Of All-Time (40 To 31)

06/30/00 8:00am

40. SIANSPHERIC Somnium (Sonic Unyon) 1995
Like a velvet glove dipped in iron, they knew exactly when to punch and when to stroke. Armed with a sinewy intellect and their own brand of gaseous post-rock prescience, they burned a path through the sonic stratosphere. The waves of gentle turbulence and ethereal beauty are still as hypnotic and cavalier as they were on the first listen. A stoner classic. — Neil Exall, The Mercurymen

39. I MOTHER EARTH Dig (Capitol) 1993
"It was Canada's answer to Pearl Jam." Dig burst onto the Canadian music scene during the Seattle years and, according to Christina Dunkley, Nettwerk publicist, marked the prime of the band's career: "I remember when they were actually a good band. Once they cut their hair off, it was all over for me."

38. BARENAKED LADIES Gordon (Sire) 1992
Gordon was one of those albums you bought just to listen to and feel wacky. Listening to it meant that you had to dance around your living room in your underwear; there was no avoiding it. Along with 15 tracks of pure musical hilarity came one of the most easily recognizable Canadian phrases, "If I had a million dollars." — Rob Karbaum, www.manswers.net

37. ERIC'S TRIP Love Tara (Sub Pop) 1993
My favourite album born of the spirited "East Coast Invasion." (Has it been a decade already?) Say what you will for Sloan, but I love Eric's Trip the best, and when I throw this on I always think back to those hallowed days when Canadian music was alive, original and cool. Too bad they broke up. — Daniel Smallegange, Chart writer

36. COWBOY JUNKIES The Trinity Sessions (RCA) 1988
I once spent hours arguing with a friend who had the nerve to tell me that the Junkies were a country band. Margo Timmins' husky alto hardly compares to Shania Twang. Dark, sweet and melancholy, this album is best enjoyed with the lights off and the blinds dropped. And if there's someone sharing that dark room with you, so much the better. — Hannah Guy, Chart entertainment & lifestyle editor

35. BRAN VAN 3000 Glee (Audiogram) 1997
This hodge-podge of familiar samples (Frampton, The The) and genres of music (from hip-hop to country) was regarded with contempt upon its initial release. The cheesy naked nymphet on the cover looked like a bad '70s van mural and a cover of Slade's "Cum On Feel The Noise" led to this reaction: "CHUCK!!" cried Chart's editors. Boy, were we wrong. — Chris Burland, Chart charts editor

34. GUESS WHO American Woman (RCA) 1970
The Guess Who is a band who after 30 years can still touch people and lure many into songs like "American Woman," "No Time" and "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature." American Woman's an album that has survived through the decades and deserves recognition. — Amanda Kowal, Chart's own American woman

33. SLOAN Navy Blues (murderecords) 1998
When disparate '60s, '70s and '80s influences combine into an album of '90s pop-rock gems you know you've got brilliance. When AC/DC riffs can peacefully co-exist with a dead-on Al Jardine impersonation, then you know you've got genius. — John Teshima, Chart writer

32. LEONARD COHEN Songs Of Leonard Cohen (Columbia) 1967
Montreal's greatest poet recorded this beautiful testament to the powers of God, sex and loneliness over 30 years ago and yet it remains ageless, eternal and prescient. "Suzanne," "Sisters Of Mercy," "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye" are the best accompaniment to those long dark nights of the soul since the invention of wine. I'd be lost without it. — Sean K. Robb, computer something-or-other, Chart writer

31. DANIEL LANOIS For The Beauty Of Wynona (Warner) 1993
Lanois' second album is a true Canadian masterpiece, with tales of abduction, murder and drug abuse that name-check Wasaga Beach, Sault Ste Marie and Trudeau. It's often stark and harrowing, but the album's menace is balanced by a subtle beauty that reveals itself more with every listen. Perfect for late-night listening with a bottle of whiskey and a few shooting stars. — Mike Doherty, Chart's man in the U.K.

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