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My Favorite Albums of 2007
Every album I purchased last year is listed below. I'm going to start with the CDs that didn't make the cut, and work up to my Top 25 of 2007. I didn't have the budget to pick up everything I wanted to, so if you've got some favorites or suggestions please drop 'em in the comments. And this took forever so there better be comments! In fact, I'm not posting again until we beat the comment total for the Favorite Albums of 2006 list -- 37.
First off, stuff I heard that didn't make my list:
Traffic and Weather, Fountains of Wayne (C+)
Fountains of Wayne have always walked that line between clever and cloying expertly, and never better than on their masterpiece -- Welcome Interstate Managers. Traffic and Weather is a major stumble, layering on so many pop culture references that you almost forget what the songs are about. The melodies aren't near as sharp as they have been in the past, and the jokey songs are more embarrassing than funny (Oh, FOW..."Planet of Weed?" Really?).
Best Songs: "Someone to Love," "Fire in the Canyon," "Seatbacks and Tray Tables"
West, Lucinda Williams (D+)
It took me forever to listen to this one all the way through, and I think this is the last of her albums I'll be buying. After the stellar opener "Are You Alright?" (featured on the memorable Vegas "I get it!" final season Sopranos episode), this just falls into one big repetitive mope. Where is the shit-kicking passion of yesteryear, Lucinda? And wouldn't The Shit-Kicking Passion of Yesteryear be an amazing album title?
Best Songs: "Are You Alright," "Unsuffer Me"
Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace, by Foo Fighters (D+)
2007 brought the tenth anniversary re-release of Foo Fighters' Colour and the Shape, which I consider to be one of the finest rock albums ever made. This doesn't sound like the same band. There isn't a track on here one eighth as good as one of the B-sides includes on that Shape reissue. I thought their fourth record -- 2002's One by One -- was going to be a one-time only mistake, but it's set the tone for their music since. Lyrics a motivational speaker would find cheesy and music that would sound at home in a 1980's BMX biking movie. If Nirvana would have gone in this direction after their first three excellent albums, maybe it's best things ended when they did.
Best Songs: "Erase/Replace," "Long Road to Ruin"
Chase this Light, Jimmy Eat World (C)
Jimmy Eat World was clearly influenced by Foo Fighters' blend of pop and hard rock, and after the rip-roaring Bleed American I thought they could be the great white hope for rock. Well...no dice. This feels just as empty and half-baked as the new Foo, though it's blandness stings a little less.
Best Songs: "Big Casino," "Let it Happen," "Electable (Give it Up)"
Sky Blue Sky, Wilco (C+)
Maybe it's too much to ask that Wilco return to making songs like "Misunderstood" and "She's A Jar" -- songs that had a pretty powerful effect on my college years, and songs that should never be mixed with alcohol. This just doesn't sound like they're trying. It's not that I need them to be "pushing boundaries of experimentation" all the time -- I'd much rather listen to A.M. than A Ghost is Born -- but I do ask that they not be so goddamn boring. There's got to be an in-between. It's not a total loss -- there's some great guitar work and a few songs that connect, but I won't be listening to this in six months, or six minutes. Everyone says this sounds like a Grateful Dead album. Well, I fucking hate The Grateful Dead.
Best Songs: "Either Way," "Hate it Here," "What Light"
Those the Brokes, The Magic Numbers (C+)
One of my favorite recent albums is The Magic Numbers' debut, which came on like a mix of The Mamas and the Papas and The Ramones. Their punked-out, lightning-fast harmonies felt familiar and fresh at once, and I hoped that this follow-up would give me some more of those sweet upbeat tunes that made their first CD such a blast. Instead, for reasons unknown, they decided to make an album of pretty much nothing but ballads. It's pretty, but immediately forgettable -- save for the couple times, like the awesome "Take A Chance," that they bring the glorious old formula back.
Best Songs: "This Is A Song," "Take A Chance," "Runnin' Out"Walk Hard Soundtrack, Dewey Cox (B-)
Not as funny as it should be (I could write a funnier version of "Let's Duet" in ten minutes), but it's pretty spot-on musically. Reilly has a voice that adapts to all kinds of styles well (he sounds quite a bit like Chris Isaak, actually), and he pulls off every one. Johnny Cash would have been proud to record "Guilty as Charged," "A Life Without You" sounds like a classic Roy Orbison ballad, and "Royal Jelly" is a brilliant Bob Dylan parody.
Best Songs: "Walk Hard," "A Life Without You (Is No Life At All)," "Guilty As Charged"
Follow the Lights EP, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals (B)
Not sure why Ryan Adams has to release every tune that pops into his head, but this was a particularly strong year for the dude. This EP includes some great new stuff, a terrific Alice in Chains cover ("Down In A Hole"), and an acoustic version of his outstanding rocker "This Is It."
Best Songs: "Follow the Lights," "Blue Hotel," "This Is It"
And now, my Top 25 of 2007...
25) The Reminder, Feist
Not really believing the hype on this one. Her upbeat stuff ("I Feel It All," "1-2-3-4," etc) is catchy as hell, I'll grant you that. But the rest of the album barely has a pulse. Songs like "The Park" and "The Water" are about as thrilling as their titles suggest. She's got talent, and there's some good stuff here, but you're not going to convince me she's much cooler than Norah Jones.
Best Songs: "I Feel It All," "Sea Lion Woman," "1-2-3-4"
24) Graduation, Kanye West
A surprisingly lackluster disc from Mr. West. The beats and samples feel pretty standard, the lyrics are nowhere near as memorable as on his past albums, and the boasting has officially gone from funny and warranted to tired and obnoxious. All that would be easier to look past if this disc had a few classic "A" level songs -- a "Jesus Walks" or a "New Workout Plan" or a "Gold Digger" or a "Gone." This is an album of "B's." It's solid hip-hop, but sadly, shockingly, nothing more.
Best Songs: "Drunk and Hot Girls," "Flashing Lights," "Homecoming"
23) Boxer, The National
Really interesting music that always seems just about to fall off the beat. This is the hangover album of the year. The dude's Leonard Cohen/Tom Waits/Ian Curtis voice is just too monotonous for me to fall head over heels for these guys, but if I'm driving in the rain or something I'll reach for this CD. And "Mistaken for Strangers" is super.
Best Songs: "Fake Empire," "Mistaken For Strangers," "Green Gloves," "Slow Show"
22) Challengers, The New Pornographers
It took me a while to decide if my dislike for this album was just because it failed to live up to expectations or because it sucks. And I think it falls somewhere in the middle. New Pornographers are one of my favorite bands, and this is far from up to par. I think a big part of the problem is the production, and seeing these songs performed live, where they worked a lot better, confirmed that suspicion. The band doesn't sound near as urgent as it usually does, and the crashing drums are sorely missed. But there are some good tracks amongst the ones that sound like a crappy New Pornos cover band, and "Myriad Harbour" is kinda excellent.
Best Songs: "My Rights Versus Yours," "All the Old Showstoppers," "Myriad Harbour," "Failsafe"
21) We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, Modest Mouse
As always with Modest Mouse, amazing, beautifully constructed songs are forced to do battle with utter crap. Luckily, the ratio works out in the listener's favor this time out, and this CD contains some of their best tracks. "Missed the Boat," featuring The Shins' James Mercer (see #16) on harmonies, is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. And "Dashboard" uses a John Candy Planes Trains and Automobiles line as its chorus, so you know I'm going to love that.
Best Songs: "Dashboard," "Missed the Boat," "We've Got Everything"
20) New Moon, Elliott Smith
Call me crazy, but I think that Elliott Smith may have been pretty sad. It was depressing enough listening to the guy's amazing music before, but now that he's gone it's even rougher. This two-disc collection of rarities, B-sides, outtakes, etc has some great moments, but here's hoping it doesn't lead to a 2Pac-like release of every time he pushed the record button. Highly inconsistent, the first disc is vastly superior to the second, but there are a few tracks (the crippling "All Cleaned Out" in particular) that can hang with his best stuff.
Best Songs: "Angel in the Snow," "High Times," "New Monkey," "All Cleaned Out"
19) Costello Music, The Fratellis
In-your-face, catchy-as-fuck, and brimming over with excitement, this is the first album on the countdown to show some real life and energy. Not particularly deep, but I don't particularly care. Big-time fun, and man, that bonus track ("Cuntry Boys and City Girls") kills.
Best Songs: "Henrietta," "Flathead," "Baby Fratelli," "Cuntry Boys and City Girls"
18) New Wave, Against Me!
Though it loses steam in the last half, this is some of the most propulsive, powerful punk of the decade. Tom Gabel's vocals are thrilling, especially when he kicks into the high harmonies. And the lyrics, when they're not overly preachy, are fantastic -- most notably on the extremely moving and perceptive "Thrash Unreal." All that, and a stunning duet about long distance relationships ("Borne on the FM Waves") with Tegan Quinn of Tegan and Sara (see #5).
Best Songs: "New Wave," "Thrash Unreal," "Stop," "Borne on the FM Waves,"
17) A Weekend in the City, Bloc Party
An unfairly written off gem of an album. Doesn't quite equal the heights of their debut, but not much modern music does. City uses the second album formula of The Strokes -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The album's finest moments are the slower numbers, but their punkier stuff is still plenty gripping.
Best Songs: "Waiting For the 7:18," "The Prayer," "Kreuzberg," "I Still Remember"
16) Wincing the Night Away, The Shins
Not perfect, but full of perfect moments, Wincing confirms that The Shins are going to be around for a while. It's the least of their albums, but that's hardly an insult. "Sleeping Lessons" is a little marvel of melody and structure, and "Phantom Limb" is the prettiest song of the year.
Best Songs: "Sleeping Lessons," "Australia," "Phantom Limb," Turn On Me"
15) Back to Black, Amy Winehouse
Despite my early love of "Rehab," (maybe you've heard it?) I wrote this off as "Mom Rock" until I actually listened to it. You'd be hard pressed to find a better (and less "Mom") way to open a song than "What kind of fuckery is this?" Less an homage than a worthy successor to the soul music of the past, Winehouse is one hell of a songwriter and an even better singer. It's unfortunate that this year brought us some really interesting new female artists...but they're all drunk and on crack.
Best Songs: "Rehab," "You Know I'm No Good," "Me and Mr. Jones," "Love Is A Losing Game," "Tears Dry On Their Own"
14) Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams
Adams' most consistent album in a long while. I still wish he'd be a little less lazy with his songwriting -- it's always frustrating when a guy that can make classics makes stuff that's just "really good." "Two" is a perfect example -- that song could have been a fucking standard of the alt-country genre had he bothered to write a bridge and sharper lyrics. But it's hard to complain when shit's this good, and tunes like "I Taught Myself How To Grow Old" can hang with early Neil Young.
Best Songs: "Goodnight Rose," "Two," "Halloweenhead," "I Taught Myself How To Grow Old"
13) Alright, Still, by Lily Allen
A modern pop classic, Alright, Still is extremely intelligent and has more hooks than a bait shop. (Thank you.) The first time I heard "Smile" I had to hear it 30 more. The first time I heard "LDN" I had to hear it 50 more. These songs are funny, ridiculously catchy, and surprisingly sweet underneath all the trash talk. Be sure to get the version with the bonus alternate version of "Smile" -- it sounds like something off Elvis Costello's Get Happy.
Best Songs: "Knock 'Em Out," "LDN," "Alfie" "Smile (Version Revisited)"
12) Era Vulgaris, Queens of the Stone Age
I don't know that there's a better straight-up rawk band making records today. This is one of their most diverse records. They try out a lot of different styles -- even R&B on the mighty sexy "Make It Witchu." The riffs and drums here are undeniable, but Josh Homme is a heavily underrated lyricist as well. I can't think of a night at a bar where I haven't wanted to yell "Counterproposal, I go home and jerk off!"
Best Songs: "Turnin' On The Screw," "Sick, Sick, Sick," "Make It Witchu," "3s and 7s"
11) Our Love to Admire, Interpol
A real "grower." Interpol's third album doesn't have an "NYC" or a "C'Mere" -- a pop song that can hang with the classics. It's just got more of what Interpol does better than anybody else in music right now -- rip off Joy Division. Great stuff, and easily my favorite album cover of the year. And "No I In Threesome" is just hilarious.
Best Songs: "Pioneer to the Falls," "The Heinrich Maneuver," "No I In Threesome," "Rest My Chemistry"
10) Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Spoon
Spoon was more than up to the challenge of following up what may stand as their finest album -- Gimme Fiction. This isn't that, but it's pretty terrific. Short, punchy, catchy, and a little weird, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga offers up ten more songs that will make you feel far cooler than you are.
Best Songs: "You Got Yr Cherry Bomb," "Don't You Evah," "The Underdog," "Finer Feelings," "Black Like Me"9) Kala, by M.I.A.
M.I.A. is working on a different plane. For some reason, they released the album's worst song by far ("Boyz") as the single, but don't let that discourage you. Her music is challenging, fascinating, political, even daring. And yet you can dance to it. It took me a while, but I fell hard for this album. The first few listens may seem off-putting, even abrasive. But let it get under your skin, and it's addictive as hell. The Pixies-sampling "$20" is mind-blowing, and "Paper Planes" is my favorite hip-hop song in a couple years. Gunshots as a hook? Amazing.
Best Songs: "Jimmy," "$20," "Paper Planes," "Mango Pickle Down River," "Come Around"
8) Icky Thump, The White Stripes
The White Stripes are seeming less and less likely to release a disappointing album. This album is a blast, from the "where did that riff come from?" magic of "Icky Thump" to the Kinksy "You Don't Know What Love Is" to the hilariously over-the-top "Conquest." "Effect & Cause" is great, but I deduct points since it is the second fucking Stripes song to rip off "Secret Agent Man."
Best Songs: "Icky Thump," "You Don't Know What Love Is," "Conquest," "Bone Broke," "A Martyr For My Love For You"
7) In Rainbows, Radiohead
Their music is not as immediate and commanding as it once was. I've accepted that. Outside of the balls-rocking "Bodysnatchers," this is a pretty mellow affair. But it's not just background noise for smoking pot. This is some really beautiful, surprisingly sexy music. "Nude" sounds like floating, "Videotape" sounds like making out, "All I Need" sounds like slow fucking. And to answer your question -- I paid three dollars for it.
Best Songs: "Bodysnatchers," "Nude," "All I Need," "Reckoner" "Videotape"
6) Under the Blacklight, Rilo Kiley
Jenny Lewis has written many a great song about sex, and this album is about nothing but. An unstoppable pop album, from the Fleetwood Mac-inspired "Dreamworld" to the disco-inspired "Breakin' Up," to the "Let My Love Open the Door" - inspired (by "inspired" I mean "complete rip-off") "The Angels Hung Around." Start-to-finish gold, and that's rare.
Best Songs: "Silver Lining," "The Moneymaker," "Breakin' Up," "Smoke Detector," "The Angels Hung Around"
5) The Con, Tegan & Sara
Following up one of the best pop albums of the decade (So Jealous) couldn't have been an easy task, but the ladies did a hell of a job. Darker and less instantly catchy than So Jealous, the melodies on The Con burrow into your brain slowly, gradually taking complete control. There are moments here (the gut-wrenching explosion into the chorus on "The Con," the out-of-nowhere bridge on "Burn Your Life Down") that are as good as pop gets. The finest lesbian twin sister band in the game today (and I'm counting Good Charlotte).
Best Songs: "I Was Married," "Relief Next to Me," "The Con," "Back in Your Head," "Hop a Plane," "Dark Come Soon"
4) Sound of Silver, LCD Soundsystem
Six of the nine songs on this album are just LCD Soundsystem (James Murphy) doing what it (he) does best -- ass-shakingly catchy dance music that doesn't make you feel like you should be surrounded by Persian guys with glow sticks. His awesome skill of building songs piece by piece for you to hear is on full display here. Drums come in, then a little bass, then some guitar -- he lets you in on the process, and it's exciting to hear. But there are three songs on this album that are so unexpectedly moving and deep and profound and melancholy and beautiful that I almost can't believe they're by the same guy. "Someone Great" is one of the best breakup songs ever written. "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" is a modern equivalent to "New York, New York." And "All My Friends" is quite possibly the best song of the year, with lyrics worthy of extended study.
Best Songs: "Get Innocuous," "North American Scum," "Someone Great," "All My Friends," "New York I Love You, But You're Letting Me Down"
3) Neon Bible, Arcade Fire
I can turn on this album to charge me up in the morning, I can play it on a plane to help me fall asleep. It works anywhere. This is mysterious and powerful music, and while it's not quite Funeral, it's got some moments of almost spiritual power. "Keep the Car Running" and "Intervention" are the big powerhouses, but the quieter songs ("Windowstill," "Black Mirror," "My Body Is A Cage") are nearly as effective. The Talking Heads influence isn't as obvious this time out, and they've added a healthy and welcome dose of Bruce Springsteen (particularly on "Antichrist Television Blues"), whom you'll read about very shortly...
Best Songs: "Black Mirror," "Keep the Car Running," "Intervention," "The Well and the Lighthouse," "No Cars Go"
2) Magic, Bruce Springsteen
I've loved Bruce Springsteen for pretty much my entire life, and I'm not one of those fans who dumps on "the new stuff." I like Lucky Town, for God's sake. But I certainly wasn't prepared for a Bruce album this potent, this gutsy, this powerful so late in the game. I love "Radio Nowhere" so much that it took me a week to get to the rest of the album, but when I did I was stunned to find songs just as kick-ass. There are young bands who would murder for the harmonies on "Your Own Worst Enemy" and "You'll Be Coming Down" (which features one of those soaring punch-in-the-stomach Clarence Clemons sax solos). "Living in the Future" feels like "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," but... yeah ...better. And the unbelievably gorgeous "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" is -- and coming from me this is very high praise -- one of Bruce's ten best songs. How did this album miss the #1 spot? Well, after the first six tunes, Magic loses a lot of...magic. Still...those first six songs...mercy.
Best Songs: "Radio Nowhere," "You'll Be Coming Down," "Living in the Future," "Your Own Worst Enemy," "Gypsy Biker," "Girls in Their Summer Clothes"
1) Because of the Times, Kings of Leon
I listened to no album more this year, and that should ultimately be the decider. As I wrote earlier this year: The crazy thing is, a lot of what I loved about their terrific second album, Aha Shake Heartbreak, isn't here. They've gone in a completely new direction. And somehow it's deeper, richer, fuller, just...better.
"Knocked Up" is seven minutes and you want more. "Charmer" sounds like something Kurt Cobain shouldn't have left off Bleach. "On Call" is one of the best rock singles of the year. "Black Thumbnail" beats My Morning Jacket at their own game. Their rare attempt at a ballad -- "True Love Way" -- is the best song on the album, which is high praise indeed. I'd tell you about the songs at the end of the CD, but I never make it there because I can't stop repeating the first ten songs. A gold mine. Enjoy with beer.
Best Songs: "Knocked Up," "Charmer," "On Call," "McFearless," "Black Thumbnail," "My Party," "True Love Way," "Ragoo," "The Runner," "Arizona"...hell, everything...
Think I missed something? Overrated an album? Underrated an album? Let me know! What would your list look like? And remember, until we hit 37 comments, no new posts bitches!
And for last year's list, CLICK HERE.
I usually just read your posts here, found this site a few months ago when
you joined cinematical, but since you're looking for a comment record, I
thought I'd chime in.
Really the only album on this entire list with which I am even familiar on
a single-song basis is BACK TO BLACK (and I do own and love the entire
album, in that case). I figured I should chime in to up that comment
count, though.
Great list. Agree completely that "Summer Clothes" is one of Bruce's best
songs. Disagree that "Gimme Fiction" is Spoon's best, althought the first
six tracks are flawless - have you heard "Kill the Moonlight"?
Pat, I am still lurking here. I wanted to say a word about Leslie Feist's
album "The Reminder". My biggest gripe is that because of that iPod
commercial, Feist is now becoming better-known and more mainstream. This
sucks, because I really got a kick out of telling everyone about her first
album "Let It Die", and having it seem like I was all cool because I was in
on the buzz before the buzz started to pass on to the cool kids. Once the
cool kids "discover" something...it's no longer cool, especially for us who
like to dwell on the outskirts of mainstream. With that said, I think that
the title cut of "Let It Die" is perhaps the BEST breakup song of the 21st
century, and would easily place among breakup songs of the 20th century. I
know....I am bold.
I don't usually seem to like the same music you do, so I haven't listened
to many of the albums you listed...but I love Tegan and Sara and only have
a few songs, so maybe I'll check out The Con. Also, kinda agreed with you
on Jimmy Eat World's album--I still consider them one of my favorite bands,
even though I've been mildly disappointed with their last few albums.
Clarity is my all-time favorite, Bleed American was good, and Futures was
ok. This one is definitely a little dull, but, as with many bands I used to
love, I've accepted that nothing will be as good as the older albums.
Negative, I know, but that has been my experience with a lot of bands I
liked when I was high school/college age..and I don't think it's really
always their fault. for instance, Saves the Day's album Through Being Cool
is definitely my favorite of theirs, and one of my favorite of all time,
but none of their other albums can top that one for me, because of the time
I was listening to it, and because they were just so young and the emotions
fueling that album were so raw andhonest....but I don't think they can ever
make an album like that again, because they've matured and odn't have that
same energy anymore. That's not to say they can't make great albums
anymore, but for me personally, I don't think I'll ever like them as much
as I do on that album. ANYWAYS back to JEW, I'd have to say the songs you
listed as the best are some of my least favorites...I always skip "Give It
Up"! And I always fee like the song they pick as their 1st single ("Big
Casino") is mediocre. I do like their next single though.."Always Be," I
think? Also, haven't heard Radiohead's album yet..I tried to "buy" it from
their website but was told I was put in the queue and couldn't figure out
how to download it. Thanks for the list!
Pat... good list. We have similar tastes and I bought most of what you have
listed here. I thought Feist's record was a disappointment after her last
one, but agree with you about Bloc Party - no one gave their 2nd disc a
chance, but it was really good.
Good list, although I would have switched the Rilo Kiley and New
Pornographers places in the list. Challengers grew on me in a way I wasn't
expecting.
You're "Magic" assessment is off by 1 song. The first 7 are awesome -- you
left off "I'll Work For Your Love." The opening line ("Pour me a drink
Theresa in one of those glasses you dust off") kicks so much ass. Maybe
not in print, but listen to it again and the way he sings it.
I'm a Springsteen fan from the 70's forward. Two of the best concerts I've
ever seen were The River and Born in the U.S.A. tours. The last album I
loved was Tunnel of Love. I have to be honest, all the hype I've heard
about Magic, everyone saying it's like the old stuff.....I'm not feeling it
at all. I don't think it's anywhere near as good as his old stuff. JMHO.
What's wrong with Lucky Town? I thought it was okay.
Absolutely dead on with Kings of Leon, dude. I doubt I played an album
more times in 2007. Maybe Amy Winehouse. I always want to make a music
list, but I don't think I can write about it in a compelling fashion. You
don't have that problem, fortuneately. Great list.
-M
As someone who grew up in Trenton, NJ, and was deluged with Bruce as the
crown prince of Jersey, I find it fascinating that folks outside of Jersey
love him so much. Anyhoo, great list--I have some of these albums and
didn't fall as deep in love but you got me curious about some others.
Granted I have not heard much of this, but here is what I have to say of
what I did. Era Vulgaris, was in my opinion the best album of the year,
followed closely by Magic. I thought the Radiohead CD was boring, but I
thought that it being free was very cool. I couldn't disagree more on the
White Stripes album. I just thought it was aweful with the exception of a
few stand outs like Conquest and Icky Thump.
"The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter" by Josh Ritter should be
somewhere in your top 10. I think you'd like it a lot. Best tracks:
"Mind's Eye," "Right Moves," "Open Doors"
I liked almost all the albums on your list, but one album i'd put on there
was I-Empire from angels and airwaves, I know no one else likes it but i
just think their great.. my 2 cents
I also forgot about the new Foo Fighters album, which is a pretty good
review of how I felt about it. As you know I love the first three Foo
Fighters albums, but it is becoming more and more embarassing to call them
one of my favorite bands.
Great list, thanks for taking the time to do it. One album worth
mentioning is Strawberry Jam by Animal Collective. It seemed to divide AC
fans and I'm not sure why - some of it is more accessible than most of
their stuff while still being very weird. Check out the song "Fireworks"
to see if it's for you.
Okay Walsh, there's some give and take here. We comment on your entry, you
have to comment back so we have more to comment on. We didn't get to 37 or
whatever on last year's best-of album review of our own accord, and we're
stallin' about 20 short of that here on our own in no-man's-land. It's
been three days. Give us what for!
Blair,
Frances,
#16 'Katie' posted this on Thu 7 Feb 2008, 10:24 am
18) New Wave, Against Me!
Pat - Oh my goodness. I can't believe I didn't read your whole blog post
more carefully the first time. I just came back to see if the comments were
up to your required amount and to say something inane if they weren't so
that you would continue on with the show . . . BUT as I was again skimming
over the various albums I happened to read #18 and realize that you were
talking about a guy I went to school with. I was like, humm. . Tom Gabel,
could that be the Tom Gabel who went to Gulf View Middle School and played
trumpet in band and was gifted with me? I just googled the band and found
out it is indeed. And now his band has Spin Magazine’s 2007 record of the
year!!?? I can’t believe I threw out my notebooks he doodled on in math
class and now he’s famous.
Whoops. .. make that "the Tom Gabel who went to Gulf View Middle School and
played trumpet in band and was IN gifted with me . . . funky typo, sorry.
Meaning, we were in the "special" classes where we wrote poetry instead of
learning grammar . . . our science teacher blew up pickles, our social
studies teacher took us to parades and we were sheltered from feeling like
nerds because we were surrounded only by other nerds. . .
Hey, I went to UF as well! I guess that isn't a huge coincidence
considering it's a school of like 50,000 students, but still... I was in
Gainesville circa 2003. It's a fun town if you can avoid the rampant
douchebaggery. No point here, aside from acknowledging a fellow Gator and
padding Mr. Walsh's comment total.
Patrick, I'm guessing that you were in diapers when The River came out (I'm
SO old) and just out of diapers for Born In The USA (I just heard a bone
creek). The were amazing concerts. But now I'm old and you are young!
Consider yourself a lucky man. I feel the tiniest bit wistful reading about
all the great current music I don't know about anymore.
Nutsy, you and I have our hard times on this board... not that you knew
about, since there was no way of knowing that I was the guy giving Pat a
hard time about There Will Be Blood... but that's not the point. I'm
slightly older than Pat, and I was barely born when The River came out...
Pat, meanwhile, was a zygote.
Go Gators! Thanks, Benjamin. I graduated 12/02 so most likely we didn't
cross paths if you arrived in ‘03. G’ville is one of the strangest places
on the planet. The largest colony of (real) hippies in FL, lots of Hare
Krishnas, born-again/young republican frat boys, rabid sports fans, garage
band punks, cheerful homeless people, Chinese engineering students on
bikes, etc. etc. The one thing I miss about Gainesville: cheap, varied,
plentiful food 24-7. Food options in Naples are mostly either gross
MickyD’s or $30 entrees at snooty Italian/seafood places. Not so friendly
for hippies or Hare Krishnas.
I did know a Ben at UUMC - if that happens to be you . . . what’s up?
Jackson, thanks for your kinds words!! I absolutely DO bite into the ass
of life and while I may be temporarily jealous of you cool dudes, I in no
way, shape or form, would go back or change my life. You made my day.
Thanks again.
The Fratellis' album is fucking awesome!! No love for "Chelsea Dagger"?
I've had that thing on endless loop for the past three days.
Yeah, Gainesville does have quite the interesting demographics. I have
never been to Naples (the Florida one anyway) - I didn't get to explore
much of Florida when I was at UF. And I'm afraid I don't know what UUMC
stands for, so it must have been another Ben... In any case, and most
importantly, Go Gators!
Dang, 29, so close.
Love, love, love that Kings of Leon is your #1! Do you think these guys
could get a little more respect, or do you thin they're doing fine as is?
While I certainly enjoyed reading your opinions on these albums, I'm sad to
say that music in album format isn't really relevant to me anymore. I guess
you can blame it on itunes. Because I'm in school and broke, I only buy
select songs from albums- many thanks to suggestions from Sonny (SPD love,
y'all!)
Greatlist. I would put about 13 of the albums on your list on my top 25
list. The other albums you have listed are ones which I just haven't had
chance to really listen to yet. I had put together a top 20 list, but
completely forgot the Bloc Party album. I think I will have to add it,
(although it isn't as good as their first). Also, as I think I have
commented on your blog before, KoL rocks. Great group and great album.
I should check iTunes to see what albums I have from 2007. I have a
feeling they're few and far between, at best. Besides local/regional
stuff, all I know for sure is BACK TO BLACK. Oh, and They Might Be
Giants's THE ELSE. Oh, and Ween's LA CUCARACHA. I think your reviews tend
toward the more "mainstream" indie stuff, though, if that makes sense--the
kinds of stuff that gets big Pitchfork buzz, for example. Or in some
cases, the not-indie-at-all stuff. I'll report from home later on when I
can/do remember to check out what I've got.
Okay, instead of waiting, I just went here:
Wow, I really am about to go for a three-in-a-row on this entry. Is
that...precedented? It'll bring the comment total to 36, just one shy of
the 37 goal (although you've already made new posts, so you're clearly not
holding us hostage as you had us believe you would).
#37
The cutoff date for the Grammy awards is September 30th. Thus, some
artists will release a single right before that date to be eligible for
song awards for that year's award ceremony. Then, they release the album
after the cutoff date, allowing them to be eligible for album awards the
next year (in addition to other song awards for subsequent singles). It is
done to provide more exposure for an album and artist. Having a song(s)
and an album win awards over two ceremonies equals a big bump in album
sales.
Katie,