| Author | Message | ||
     kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1954 Registered: 05-2005 |
Must be that time now, tomorrow is December 01 and Uncut and Stylus have already published their albums of the year, Mojo and Q will publish theirs in the next few days. I posted about Uncuts list in the "Early Contenders" thread earlier, so will post it here again in case anybody missed it. "No1 album is LCD Soundsystem. Other notables are PJ Harvey at No3, Wilco at No5,Robert Wyatt at No6,The Hold Steady at No7 (didnt get released till January 2007 in UK),White Stripes at No8,Radiohead at No9, Battles at No12, Neil Young at No13,Grinderman at No16 and Brooooce at No 20" Here is what Metacritic have so far, cant see much changing in the next few weeks given that the new releases will dry up http://www.metacritic.com/music/ For what its worth, heres my top ten. The year has been improved by releases in the last couple of months by Pinch, Burial, Les Savy Fav, Robert Wyatt and Radiohead. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver Pinch - Underwater Dancehall Burial - Untrue Radiohead - In Rainbows Spoon - Gagagagaga Les Savy Fav - Lets Stay Friends The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls In America Robert Wyatt - Comicopera The National - Boxer Low - Drums and Guns | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1955 Registered: 05-2005 |
Actually, that link for Metacritic is wrong, should be this one. http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/20 07.shtml | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 205 Registered: 01-2007 |
It is always interesting but think I pay less attention to it now than I use to, Probably should get the LCD Soundsytem at some point,probably with my Borders tokens from the in-laws. For me Comicopera and the Richmond Fontane 13 Cities were the highlight. Kev you do all the hard work for us with the links etc cheers | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 288 Registered: 05-2005 |
Machine Translations - Seven Seven Honourable mentions: Crowded House - Time on Earth The Panics - Cruel Guards ....both of these have improved with age like a good wine...no comments about those bands whining away..... Re-release of the year: Not Drowning Waving - The Little Desert Rediscovery album of my year: If I could only remember my name - David Crosby | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1077 Registered: 08-2006 |
I haven't organized these yet, but here are my faves from the year, in no particular order: Arcade Fire - "Neon Bible" Fountains of Wayne - "Traffic and Weather" MIA - "Kala" Rilo Kiley - "Under the Blacklight" Gogol Bordello - "Super Taranta!" Lucinda Williams - "West" The Mekons - "Natural" Wussy - "Left for Dead" Bruce Springsteen - "Magic" Public Enemy - "How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul???" Miranda Lambert - "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" Apples in Stereo - "New Magnetic Wonder" Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - "Some Loud Thunder" | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 863 Registered: 10-2004 |
The High Llamas - Can Cladders | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1959 Registered: 05-2005 |
Mojo's top 10 is as follows 1 Radiohead 2 Arcade Fire 3 Bruce S 4 Arctic Monkeys 5 LCD Soundsystem 6 The Good The Bad and the Queen 7 White Stripes 8 PJ Harvey 9 Robert Wyatt 10 Kings of Leon Q's top 10 is 1 Arcade Fire 2 White Stripes 3 Arctic Monkeys 4 Radiohead 5 The Good The Bad and the Queen 6 Bruce S 7 Kings of Leon 8 The Shins 9 The Hold Steady 10 Rufus W | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 751 Registered: 08-2004 |
Ravonettes - Lust Lust Lust Son Volt - The Search Richmond Fontaine - 13 Cities | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1973 Registered: 05-2005 |
JEFF CAN CLADDERS IS REALLY VERY VERY GOOD ISN'T IT? SOME OF IT REMINDS ME OF oops sorry capslock..reminds me of these cheesy singers you used to get doing a musical piece in the middle of the UK tv show The two Ronnies, way back in the 70's does anyone know what I mean, or even care!! | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 871 Registered: 10-2004 |
Well yeah, Can Cladders is the one truly great album to have come out this year, imho. Sky Blue Sky has some great songs too, but little else seems to hold up for me. I've never seen the Two Ronnies, but somehow, I think I may know what you mean regardless. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1963 Registered: 05-2005 |
Pretty decent top 10, then things get dodgy towards the end 2007's best albums As voted by the Guardian's music writers Friday December 7, 2007 The Guardian 1 LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver What we said: "Sound of Silver houses two songs that pack a devastating emotional punch ... This is dance-rock for grown-ups: extraordinary." 5 stars 2 Radiohead: In Rainbows What we said: "It may represent the strongest collection of songs Radiohead have assembled for a decade." 5 stars 3 The Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America What we said: "The Hold Steady's bar-room rock is a perfect, if counter-intuitive accompaniment to Craig Finn's downbeat tales." 5 stars Article continues 4 MIA: Kala What we said: "An album that could only have been made in 2007." 4 stars 5 Klaxons: Myths of the Near Future What we said: "Indie chancers trying to pass this ropey stuff off as a dance revival is insulting and pointless." 1 star 6 Kings of Leon: Because of the Times What we said: "Like a hunk of blue cheese, Tennessee's Kings of Leon seem to be getting better with age." 4 stars 7 Grinderman: Grinderman What we said: "Not many rock records make you laugh out loud, fewer still make you laugh out loud intentionally." 4 stars 8 Battles: Mirrored What we said: "These hi-tech New York instrumentalists finally propel themselves into quite another league." 5 stars 9 PJ Harvey: White Chalk What we said: "The austerity of Harvey's self-imposed constraints is uncompromising but rewarding." 4 stars 10 Feist: The Reminder What we said: "While nothing here is wholly original, it is a pleasure for as long as it plays." 3 stars 11 Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare What we said: "There's nothing to scare off the more lumpen sections of their audience, but more than enough to make the discerning listener wonder what they might do next." 4 stars 12 Robert Plant and Alison Krauss What we said: "The music is sparse, blues-inflected country, suggestive of dusty rooms illuminated by shafts of golden evening light, in which these two exquisite voices can roam and relax." 4 stars 13 The Felice Brothers: Tonight at the Arizona What we said: Not reviewed 14 Arcade Fire: Neon Bible What we said: "An album this mired in fathomless darkness shouldn't sound so dazzling, but it does. A thrilling enigma." 4 stars 15 Les Savy Fav: Let's Stay Friends What we said: Not reviewed 16 The Good, the Bad & the Queen: The Good, the Bad & the Queen What we said: "You're left both marvelling at the album itself, and considering what a unique figure Albarn cuts." 4 stars 17 Britney Spears: Blackout What we said: "A torrent of ferociously distorted synthesizers, electronically treated vocals, snapping drum samples and bovver-booted glam rock beats." 4 stars 18 Bruce Springsteen: Magic What we said: "Continues to suffer from a difficulty in locating a decent tune, but there is plenty to enjoy." 3 stars 19 Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter What we said: "The constant Dylan and Springsteen comparisons can't be easy. But Ritter just gets more assured." 4 stars 20 El-P: I'll Sleep When You're Dead What we said: "A series of abrasive and rattlingly nonconformist tracks with densely packed parcels of syllabic invective." 3 stars | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1965 Registered: 05-2005 |
Word magazines albums of the year Radiohead Nick Lowe Richard Hawley Tinarawen Arcade Fire Laura Viers Epic45 Chemical Bros Maps Cherry Ghost | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1966 Registered: 05-2005 |
My top 10 reissues/compilations of 2007 Fruit Tree Box Set - Nick Drake Box Of Dub: Dubstep and Future Dub - Burial,Skream, Digital Mystiks etc Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth Theres A Riot, Stand, Fresh - Sly and The Family Stone Closer, Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division Tribulation - Bim Sherman Satta Massagana - Abbyssinians Two Sevens Clash - Culture Real Life, SecondHand Daylight, Correct Use of Soap - Magazine Sweet Talking - The Heptones | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1984 Registered: 05-2005 |
gotta get that dub ox kev! | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 888 Registered: 10-2004 |
Even though I still haven't got it, I reckon I'll place Microdisney's Daunt Square at the top of my best reissues/comps of 2007 list. I thought the Joy Division reissues on vinyl were nice, BUT, I bought a copy of Closer (to replace my worn original) and it was an off-center pressing. Took it back, exchanged it for what turned out to be another off-center pressing. That means there's a big batch of 'em out there, all off-center, which makes the pitch fluctuate and sound wobbly. Luckily, it's only off-center on side 1, and it only affects the last song, but still, why go to all the trouble of faithfully recreating the vinyl reissue for audiophiles and then send it to a plant that does a shoddy job? Closer is also the 4th off-center pressing done as an audiophile quality vinyl reissue I've had the misfortune of buying this year. End rant! | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 933 Registered: 01-2005 |
Kevin, Great list for the reissues/compilations of 2007. I would add: 1. "I Wanna Bo Backwards" - Robyn Hitchcock. Five disc boxset with improved sound and plenty of cuts I've never had before. Nice review of it in the current RS. 2. "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" - Pink Floyd Three disc boxset. Piper in mono, stereo and various singles with nice photos and liner notes. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1969 Registered: 05-2005 |
Heres the Observer magazine top 50. Good to see Burial in the top 10 and The Good The Bad etc at No1. As usual cant get the proper link for the Observer to work so you can navigate to it from here. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 937 Registered: 01-2005 |
Another addition to the reissues/compilations of 2007. Bud Powell - Live At The Blue Note Cafe, Paris 1961. The Three Bosses (Bud on piano, Kenny Clarke on drums and Pierre Michelot on bass) are in great form here. This reisse adds 4 extended cuts with Zoot Sims on tenor sax joining The Three Bosses. Great liner notes and the sound is fantastic! The Blue Note Cafe was featured in the movie 'Round Midnight. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 756 Registered: 08-2004 |
Dexy's - Projected Passion Revue (springs to mind) | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1870 Registered: 05-2005 |
There are some albums released this year which I've got but not yet played, including The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Bill Callahan and The Cribs, so this list may change at some point. Anyway, here is how it stands right now. 1 The Panics - Cruel Guard. A truly aweseome record. They've made the album they've been promising to for a long time. It's pop, it's soul, it's the best thing to come from Perth since David McComb. 2 Bruce Springsteen – Magic. Bruce-hating Eurotrash be damned, this rocks! 3 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Alternapoptastic. 4 Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge. The man can do no wrong. 6 Ryan Adams - Follow The Lights. OK, it's a seven track EP, but that's album enough for me here. 6 My Friend The Chocolate Cake - Home Improvements. Brilliant Australian chamber pop. 7 Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger. Worth the money for the increbible Halloweenhead alone, but the rest is great too. 8 Elliott Smith - New Moon. What a tragic waste of a talented life his death was. A very beautiful record. It holds together far better than a leftovers album should. 9 The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls In America. The best Thin Lizzy meets Replacements meets Springsteen album of the year. 10 The White Stripes - Icky Thump. Celtic blues metal. Or something. 11 Buffalo Tom - Three Easy Pieces. Hope they play Australia next year. 12 Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare. Proves they were no mere hype. 13 Feist - The Reminder. Thanks for the tip Kevin. And speaking of dour Glaswegians... 14 The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters. Reminds me of one of my favourite cities in the world. 15 The Editors – An End Has A Start. Despite the Joy Division-channelling I liked it a lot. | ||
| XY765 Member Username: Judge Post Number: 387 Registered: 01-2006 |
I'm not the man to answer this question as only about 33% of the stuff I bought this year was from 2007 but a pretty unremarkable year for music in my book. If LCD's Sound of Silver is regularly getting in people's top 5 that proves my point, nice record but hardly groundbreaking or innovative. I think the best thing I've heard this year was Fuxa's tribute EP to Suicide with Martin Rev, Dean Wareham and Sonic Boom. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1972 Registered: 05-2005 |
Those crazy US alt rock stars have surprisingly good taste. A quick scan of the listings seem to show that albums by M.I.A, Battles, Panda Bear, Animal Collective and Robert Wyatt are really really popular. And I saw 4 or 5 of them plumping for Burials album Untrue, which shows they dont just check for cool, weird stuff. Although Burials music sounds like it comes from a different planet altogether. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/fe ature/47091-guest-list-best-of-2007/page _1 | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1877 Registered: 05-2005 |
I forgot Bloc Party's A Weekend In The City. I'll make that the new 11 and move the rest down one after it. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1974 Registered: 05-2005 |
Pitchforks 100 favourite tracks of the year. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/fe ature/47681-staff-list-top-100-tracks-of -2007 Do you think it would be going out on a limb to say that either LCD Soundsystem, Panda Bear or Animal Collective will be their album of the year when they announce it this week? | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1975 Registered: 05-2005 |
Popmatters top 60 albums of the year. Loads of left field stuff propping up the lower regions, the top 10 is fairly conservative, if not downright strange imo. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/features/ar ticle/52152/the-best-albums-of-2007/ | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1976 Registered: 05-2005 |
This link has a list to Simon Reynolds (Melody Maker, Uncut, author of Rip It Up amongst his many credits) favourite sounds of year. Reynolds has long been the best music writer in the UK imo. http://blissout.blogspot.com/ | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 940 Registered: 01-2005 |
I wonder why the new Levon Helm - The Dirt Farmer, didn't make the Popmatters top 60? It's brillant. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1977 Registered: 05-2005 |
I know Pitchfork takes a bit of a battering back and forward on this here message board, but this is a truly inspired top 10 imo. The rest of its not to shabby either. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/fe ature/47446-staff-list-top-50-albums-of- 2007 | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1979 Registered: 05-2005 |
NMEs list is a lot better than I would have expected. Its one of the few listings I have saw that includes The Shins album. I was beginning to think it had actually came out at the end of 2006 given its omission from most lists - I guess they are suffering a backlash from having a No1 album? 1. Klaxons – Myths Of The Near Future 2. Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare 3. Radiohead – In Rainbows 4. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible 5. Les Savy Fav – Let’s Stay Friends 6. Kings Of Leon – Because Of The Times 7. MIA – Kala 8. Biffy Clyro – Puzzle 9. The Cribs – Men’s Needs, Woman’s Needs, Whatever 10. Battles – Mirrored 11. LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver 12. The Shins – Wincing The Night Away 13. Pj Harvey – White Chalk 14. Babyshambles – Shotters Nation 15. The White Stripes – Icky Thump 16. The Coral – Roots & Echoes 17. Future Of The Left – Curses 18. The Good The Bad & The Queen – The Good The Bad & The Queen 19. Richard Hawley – Lady’s Bridge 20. Block Party – A Weekend In The City 21. The Enemy – We’ll Live And Die In These Towns 22. Black Lips – Good Bad Not Evil 23. Maps – We Can Create 24. The Maccabees – Colour It In 25. The Hold Steady – Boys And Girls In America 26. Kate Nash – Made Of Bricks 27. The Horrors – Strange House 28. Bright Eyes – Cassadaga 29. Lethal Bizzie – Back In Bizznizz 30. Queens Of The Stoneage – Era Vulgaris 31. The Pigeon Detectives – Wait For Me 32. Grinderman – Grinderman 33. Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Decay Sustain Release 34. New Young Pony Club – Fantastic Playroom 35. Super Furry Animals – Hey Venus 36. Holy Fuck – Holy Fuck 37. Jamie T – Panic Prevention 38. Justice - 39. Jeffery Lewis – 12 Crass Songs 40. El-P – I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead 41. Menomena – Friend And Foe 42. Patric Wolf – The Magic Position 43. Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience And Grace 44. Gruff Rhys – Candy Lion 45. !!! – Myth Takes 46. Kaiser Chiefs – Yours Truly, Angry Mob 47. Enter Shikari – Take To The Skies 48. The View – Hats Off To The Buskers 49. Interpol – Our Love To Admire 50. Beirut – The Flying Club Cup | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1980 Registered: 05-2005 |
Rolling Stones Top 50 http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/1 7601851/the_top_50_albums_of_2007 | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1981 Registered: 05-2005 |
Heres the albums of the year list from TinyMixTapes. Almost as good a list as Pitchfork imo, but not quite. http://www.tinymixtapes.com/2007-Tiny-Mi x-Tapes-Favorite,4902 | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1982 Registered: 05-2005 |
Now that most of the lists are in, artists such as LCD Soundsystem, Panda Bear (and his parent group Animal Collective), Radiohead, Arcade Fire, MIA, Bruce Springsteen, Spoon, Burial, Battles, Kings of Leon and The Good The Bad and The Queen all seem to have done their reputations no harm whatsoever. All we are waiting for now is Village Voice Pazz and Jop to have Kanye West as their No1 album, or will they surprise us?  | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 2004 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kev Your admin on best ofs etc demands a huge round of applause! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1984 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spence, thanks for that, but most of it was done to while away the lonely hours on night shift at work!! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1985 Registered: 05-2005 |
What the "stars" think http://arts.independent.co.uk/music/feat ures/article3271357.ece | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 220 Registered: 01-2007 |
I might try and get the Panda Bear, sound like it will be good | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1986 Registered: 05-2005 |
Frank, the Panda Bear is fantastic, especially if you like the Beach Boys. I played Richmond Fontaine 13 Cities last night after you reminded me of it, that is a great record. Wire magazine's top 10 albums of the year 1 Robert Wyatt 2 Burial 3 Panda Bear 4 OM 5 LCD Soundsystem 6 Von Sudenfed 7 Pram 8 MIA 9 Battles 10 Ricardo Villalobos | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 222 Registered: 01-2007 |
Umm Kevin I'm note sure you sold it to me there with the Beachboys reference (I like thme in small doses),I went looking for Panda Bear at lunchtime but they didn't have it at Action records and when I went in to HMV the queue was massive and they were asking £13,I might download it instead. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 391 Registered: 05-2005 |
Ok, finally getting to this. I'm useless at doing that whole 1-10 thing so instead, i'm just going to lump them into a few categories. 1. MYLIFEISSOMUCHBETTERHAVINGHEARDTHISALBUM ICANNOWDIEHAPPY!! The Panics - Cruel Guards Vic Chesnutt - North Star Deserter Lucinda - West Arcade Fire - Neon Bible 2. THISISRATHERFABULOUSITHINKI'LLPLAYITAGAI NANDAGAIN Spoon - GaGaGaGaGa Hold Steady - Boys & Girls in America Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers Elliot Smith - New Moon The Shins - Wincing the night away The View - Hats off to the buskers A very special 3rd category: 3.ITAKEBACKEVERYTHINGBADISAIDABOUTHIMTHI SISAPRETTYFINEALBUM Bruce - Magic Kevin, thanks for posting all the various lists. Although, if I miss January's mortgage payment, I'm holding you responsible! Several of them I'm looking at as shopping lists. If I don't have the the album, It's on my list of albums to buy... | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 1089 Registered: 08-2006 |
Catherine, your list headings gave me a nice chuckle in the midst of a dreary afternoon. Cheers. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1988 Registered: 05-2005 |
Catherine, heres more for you to consider forking out for, will your stereo sound good in a tent? http://www.musicomh.com/music/features/a lbums_review-2007_1207.htm | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 886 Registered: 09-2006 |
That's a good guess on the Village Voice poll, kevin, though I also have the feeling that Arcade Fire could pull ahead. | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 393 Registered: 05-2005 |
That's one impressive list, Kev! Just in case, I've been stockpiling cardboard boxes and plastic sheeting, so I should be able to sort myself out.. At least with that list, I can automatically knock off a few. Sorry M.I.A. and all your mates, but I just don't get it. That should save me a few hundred at least... | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1997 Registered: 05-2005 |
Catherine, heres Metacritics end of year list which shows the best reviewed albums of the year, this may help create more financial meltdown for you!! Critics in outbreak of good taste shocker!! Although if you look at the top 10 lists further down the page nobody actually made Burial No1 http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/20 07.shtml | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1998 Registered: 05-2005 |
so, has it beeen so bad a year that only about 3 or 4 of us posted our best albums - so come on people theres still time for you to post. | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 227 Registered: 01-2007 |
I thought I had Kev in no particular order Beirut Robert Wyatt Radiohead Wilco Bruce Springsteen Okkervil River | ||
| peter ward Member Username: Peter_ward Post Number: 59 Registered: 06-2005 |
If I had to choose 10 kevin, they would be: LCD Soundsystem - Sounds of silver Feist - The Reminder The National - Boxer Panda Bear - Person Pitch The Field - From Here We Go Sublime Radiohead - In Rainbows The Papercuts - Can't Go Back Wilco - Sky Blue Sky Pop Levi - The Return To Form Black Magick Party Okkervil River - Stage Names Of the above my favourite is Boxer, it's grown in stature with me with every listen. | ||
| frank bascombe Member Username: Frankb Post Number: 228 Registered: 01-2007 |
I forgot The National and Richmond Fontaine | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 568 Registered: 04-2006 |
Kev, this year wasn't bad. As every year i liked and loved a lot of music. My favourites are James Blackshaw - The Cloud of Unknowing The Pitchfork review does a better job than i can ever do: For fans of acoustic guitar music, James Blackshaw's The Cloud of Unknowing is a gift that's long overdue. Blackshaw's fourth album gracefully glides over the same sonic ground that his contemporaries generally tread with reverential obedience or dilettante tactics. Growing into his prodigious own at the relatively young age of 25, Blackshaw has finessed his 12-string acoustic guitar into a veritable solo symphony that's as schooled in uncommon beauty as it is in complex 20th century composition. But don't fear the esoterics: For everyone else, The Cloud of Unknowing is the gem no one expected to find. Blackshaw writes high drama into instrumental music with subtlety and charm, speaking on sentiments and stories without requiring a single lyric (or, most of the time, any accompaniment at all). A rare intersection of genre advancement and general accessibility, The Cloud of Unknowing is one of the true masterpieces of its own heralded realm... Blackshaw seems fully settled, engaging his pieces and ideas with the unflinching belief of Tony Conrad in 1964 or Steve Reich in 1965... The Cloud of Unknowing carves out a new, peerless space altogether-- one that puts Blackshaw at the top of his class. Robert Wyatt - Comicopera I am a long time fan and his latest effort is as great as ever. I think i don't must say anything about this work, the man, his voice. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife A festival for my old Prog-rock heart. I would like to say that The Decemberists are after this release my favourite Guitar/Indie/or whatever you willcall this - band. Kevin Ayers - The Unfairground What a year! A new Ayers album and a new Wyatt one. Kevin Ayers new songs are sophisticated and sounding relaxed. Perfect! Basia Bulat - Oh, my Darling! Young canadian lady. Singer-/Songwriter, but much more happier. Made me happy! Low - Drums and Guns Somewhere inbetween. Kind of Music I like. Glenn Jones - Against which the sea continually beats Cul de Sac leader Glenn Jones' second acoustic guitar release. Fahey related, for sure, but nevertheless a work of it's own. Razorsharp. Devendra Banhart - Smokey rolls down Thunder Canyon I bought this album depite the facvt that his forerunner was bullshit. Every album of him had very, very good songs thereonand also a lot of boring shit. But his new one can make you addicted (if you give him a chance). The Sea and Cake - Everybody The easiness of being. Perfect! Harmonia - Live 1974 From the depths of the basement into the light. A concert with around 50 people there.Isn't it crazy that a recording from 1974 is -imo- lightyears ahead of it's time. Beats the ''electronic'' highlights like Burial, Panda Bear, Animal Collective by far (BTW: Kev, you must check out 'CLARK'. A good starter good be 'THE TED E.P.') Other records that beautified my days: PJ Harvey - White Chalk Meg Baird - Dear Companion The Go! Team - Proof of Youth Edwyn Collins - Home again Six Organs of Admittance - Shelter from the Ash Surprise of the year (to me): Radiohead's new album. Quite good. Reissue of the Year: John Fahey - Yes! Jesus loves me. Chorals, Chorals, Chorals! Nick Drake - Fruit Tree. Well done, well done! What I missed or just forgot to listen to resp. to buy until now: Pram - The moving frontier Michaela Melian - Los Angeles I am sure I forgot the one or other album worth to mention, but I will finish now. Best wishes Andreas | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 2032 Registered: 05-2005 |
Andreas, that Kevin Ayers album, is genius. Its so well crafted. Its consistently good from beginning to end, even though there's quite a mixture of musicians on it. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 2007 Registered: 05-2005 |
Readers of The Guardian show impeccable taste Top 10 Albums There were a few anomalies but no surprises in this category, with Radiohead's In Rainbows coming in first, closely followed by LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver and Arcade Fire's Neon Bible. Further down the list, the National and Panda Bear get honourable mentions for touching many hearts, despite not making any of the fabled critics' top ten. We dutifully informed Radiohead of their win and bassist Colin Greenwood had this message for you, the GU Music reader: 'We're really chuffed about this. It's very exciting, a nice end of year Christmas present. Thank you." 1) In Rainbows, Radiohead 2) Sound of Silver, LCD 3) Neon Bible, Arcade Fire 4) Untrue, Burial 5) Kala, MIA 6) Because of the Times, Kings of Leon 7) Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss 8) White Chalk, PJ Harvey 9) Boxer, the National 10) Person Pitch, Panda Bear | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 2011 Registered: 05-2005 |
Mixmags top 20 albums. You've got to think it can only go downhill for LCD Soundsystem now, the album has cleaned up in "serious" music mags, broadsheets, and now dance magazines. 1. LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver 2. Justice – Cross 3. Burial – Untrue 4. Digitalism – Idealism 5. Gui Boratto – Chromophobia 6. SMD – Attack Decay Sustain Release 7. Mark Ronson – Version 8. Klaxons – Myths Of The Near Future 9. Chemical Brothers – We Are The Night 10. Dizzee Rascal – Maths + English 11. Commix – A Call To Mind 12. Matthew Dear – Asa Breed 13. Onur Ozer – Kashmir 14. Plan B – Paint It Blacker 15. Bjork – Volta 16. The Field – From Here We Go Sublime 17. Jay-Z – American Gangster 18. Felex Da Housecat – Virgin Blaktro And The Movie Disco 19. High Contrast – Tough Guys Don’t Dance 20. Radiohead – In Rainbows | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 2014 Registered: 05-2005 |
Pitchfork readers have voted http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/fe ature/47707-2007-pitchfork-readers-poll | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 1934 Registered: 05-2005 |
Last night I played The Broken West album I Can't Go On, I'll Go On again and now I want to include that amongst my albums of the year. I imagaine they've listened to a Beatles album or two in their time, but it's still great. There's a bit of The Byrds and The Rolling Stones in there too. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 2040 Registered: 05-2005 |
I have come to the conclusion that Bruce's album is the best album Ian McNabb never wrote. Poor bastard deserves the Boss's royalties too! | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 570 Registered: 04-2006 |
I think I have to add 'All Hours Cymbals' from Yeasayer to my list. really like that stuff. And what a pity: this refreshing and interesting new band will play in Berlin on the same day when 'boring and self-repeating' old Neil Young will have his concert in Berlin - and I have the slight suspicision that my wife will surprise me on my birthday with a Neil Young concert ticket.... | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 2030 Registered: 05-2005 |
If any further proof was needed that this was the year of LCD Soundsystem http://www.villagevoice.com/pazzandjop07 / Spence, The Clientele were voted No 87!! Bloody hell, that list goes on for ever - I gave up at No 247, and there were still at least four pages to go. | ||
| XY765 Member Username: Judge Post Number: 413 Registered: 01-2006 |
Kevin, I've been meaning to reply to your Music in 2008 thread, hopefully will get a chance to do that this weekend. If LCD's album is the best of 2007 then you're spot on with it being a meciocre year for music, it's a good album but hardly a classic IMO. I got the Burial one on your recommendation, one listen and it's certainly got a lot going on in there... | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 2031 Registered: 05-2005 |
This Robert Christgau fella that some of you refer to as The Dean, I take it now he's getting on a bit he's turned into a contrary old buzzard, either that or he is a piss taker supreme? His list from the Village Voice poll has got to be one of the worst I have ever seen from a "name" writer. http://www.villagevoice.com/pazzandjop07 /ballots.php?cid=89 |