BAND OF HORSES- CEASE TO BEGIN
This just keeps getting better every time I listen to it. There are ghosts in my house!
DUNGEN- TIO BITAR
I have no idea what they are singing (it’s in Swedish) …but it doesn’t matter. This is the best psych folk rock pop period.
LIARS- LIARS
PIL, Jesus and The Mary Chain, mixed with a little Flaming Lips and The Residents and you get one challenging ride to hell and back. Great stuff.
RYAN BINGHAM- MESCALITO
Ex-rodeo rider and Texas local. Just good old gruff alt country.
Hard livin’ and road weary. Can’t stop playing it.
WILCO- SKY BLUE SKY
Great for a late night drive.
THURSTON MOORE- TREES OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY
Who would have thought the Sonic Youther had an acoustic pop record in him. Wonderful!
BLOC PARTY- A WEEKEND IN THE CITY
I’m a sucker for hooky agit post punk! Keep it coming boys!
TIM ARMSTRONG- A POET’S LIFE
Old school raga muffin with a punk snarl….King Tubby would be proud.
THE GO TEAM- PROOF OF YOUTH
Cheerleading music that can turn any scowl into a smile…fun fun fun!
WHITE STRIPES-ICKY THUMP
You know it…you love it!
RADIOHEAD- IN RAINBOWS
Romantic dreamscapes…perfect!
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE- ERA VULGARIS
Rock is not dead…it’s just sleeping in the bed of QOTSA.
EDITORS- AN END HAS A START
More post punk pop about life and death. Melancholy happiness.
SERJ TANKIAN- ELECT THE DEAD
Broadway’s best Metal album. I can’t wait until this replaces Jersey Boys on Broadway.
ART BRUT- IT’S A BIT COMPLICATED
Cheeky Brits make fun pop punk full of funny.
THE SADIES- NEW SEASONS
Canadian alt country. If David Lynch was still making TV shows these guys would be the soundtrack.
PJ HARVEY- WHITE CHALK
Creepy Victorian horror…I like.
OLDIES BUT GOODIES THAT ROCKED ME IN 2007
LINK WRAY- WRAY’S THEE TRACK SHACK
LORETTA LYNN- COLLECTION
THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS- DEFINITIVE COLLECTION
GRAM PARSONS- THE COMPLETE REPRISE SESSIONS
5/14/08
CARY ZEL - Miami Beach, FL
Better late than never:
In no order, really:
Reel Big Fish & Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer – Duet All Night: Covers EP with tongue firmly entrenched in cheek. Great stuff though. And you can’t beat the name.
Regina Spektor – Begin To Hope: This has become one of my desert island disks. I know is was 2006, but I guess I got on the boat late.
J.J. Grey & Mofro – Country Ghetto: Swampy blues from outside of Jacksonville, FL.
Lily Allen – Alright, Still: Really fun early 2007 irreverence.
Rilo Kiley – Under the Black Light: Maybe not as good as the last disk, but “15” and others are great.
The Ike Reilly Assassination – We Belong to the Staggering Evening: Rootsy, down and dirty character studies by Chicago’s Reilly. Who says rock is dead?
Tim Armstrong – A Poet’s Life: Armstrong fronted Operation Ivy & Rancid, but here puts out some great old-school ska/reggae grooves backed by the Aggrolites. I will admit this took a few listens to grow on me, but now I love it.
The Fratellis – Costello Music: Songs you can sing along to the first time you hear them! Have another beer!
Ruthie Foster – The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster: Great authentic soul.
Cat Empire – Two Shoes: Take an Australian rock band with a big horn section and send them to Cuba to record. This is what you get, and it’s pretty good shit.
Great concerts of 2007:
Macy Gray: Hard Rock, Ft. Lauderdale
Rocco DeLuca: Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale
Regina Spektor: Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC
Lily Allen: Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale
In no order, really:
Reel Big Fish & Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer – Duet All Night: Covers EP with tongue firmly entrenched in cheek. Great stuff though. And you can’t beat the name.
Regina Spektor – Begin To Hope: This has become one of my desert island disks. I know is was 2006, but I guess I got on the boat late.
J.J. Grey & Mofro – Country Ghetto: Swampy blues from outside of Jacksonville, FL.
Lily Allen – Alright, Still: Really fun early 2007 irreverence.
Rilo Kiley – Under the Black Light: Maybe not as good as the last disk, but “15” and others are great.
The Ike Reilly Assassination – We Belong to the Staggering Evening: Rootsy, down and dirty character studies by Chicago’s Reilly. Who says rock is dead?
Tim Armstrong – A Poet’s Life: Armstrong fronted Operation Ivy & Rancid, but here puts out some great old-school ska/reggae grooves backed by the Aggrolites. I will admit this took a few listens to grow on me, but now I love it.
The Fratellis – Costello Music: Songs you can sing along to the first time you hear them! Have another beer!
Ruthie Foster – The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster: Great authentic soul.
Cat Empire – Two Shoes: Take an Australian rock band with a big horn section and send them to Cuba to record. This is what you get, and it’s pretty good shit.
Great concerts of 2007:
Macy Gray: Hard Rock, Ft. Lauderdale
Rocco DeLuca: Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale
Regina Spektor: Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC
Lily Allen: Culture Room, Ft. Lauderdale
2/21/08
MARCUS FERNANDES - Sao Paulo, Brasil
1- Lcd Soundsystem (Sound of Silver)
2- Betty Davis (They Say I'm Different) (reissue)
3- Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings (100 Days, 100 Nights)
4- Amy Winehouse (Back to Black)
5- Nação Zumbi (Fome de Tudo)
6- Arcade Fire (Neon Bible)
7- Queens Of The Stone Age (Era Vulgaris)
8- Dengue Fever (Escape From Dragon House)
9- Feist (The Reminder)
10- Beastie Boys (The Mix-Up)
2- Betty Davis (They Say I'm Different) (reissue)
3- Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings (100 Days, 100 Nights)
4- Amy Winehouse (Back to Black)
5- Nação Zumbi (Fome de Tudo)
6- Arcade Fire (Neon Bible)
7- Queens Of The Stone Age (Era Vulgaris)
8- Dengue Fever (Escape From Dragon House)
9- Feist (The Reminder)
10- Beastie Boys (The Mix-Up)
1/20/08
LAUREN LEVINE - Englishwoman In New York, USA
random, heh?
Spring Awakening - Song of purple summer (if i was pushed), but i really love the whole soundtrack. notable because i hated the show.
oh hell -- i'm still an album girl - i could pick out tracks, but i'm just going to chuck down these tasty morsels and hope no one's looking ;)
Feist - the reminder
Teddy Thompson - up front and down low
james morrison - undiscovered
robert plant and alison kraus - raising sand
mark ronson - version
amy winehouse - back to black
Annie lennox - songs of mass destruction
eddie vedder - into the wild
Ray lamontagne - trouble
sara bareilles - little voice
white stripes - icky thump
Sia - some people have real problems -- I know this is this year, but it's one of the perks of entering late!!!
Spring Awakening - Song of purple summer (if i was pushed), but i really love the whole soundtrack. notable because i hated the show.
oh hell -- i'm still an album girl - i could pick out tracks, but i'm just going to chuck down these tasty morsels and hope no one's looking ;)
Feist - the reminder
Teddy Thompson - up front and down low
james morrison - undiscovered
robert plant and alison kraus - raising sand
mark ronson - version
amy winehouse - back to black
Annie lennox - songs of mass destruction
eddie vedder - into the wild
Ray lamontagne - trouble
sara bareilles - little voice
white stripes - icky thump
Sia - some people have real problems -- I know this is this year, but it's one of the perks of entering late!!!
1/9/08
DANNY KEENAN - Sydney, Australia
Whilst my iPod is permanently on shuffle, I couldn’t let go of this last opportunity to nominate full albums. RIP. In no particular order……
THE FRATELLIS – Costello Music
THE WHITE STRIPES - Icky Thump
THE BEASTS OF BOURBON – Little Animals
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Magic
SKYBOMBERS – Sirens EP
KINGS OF LEON – Because of the Times
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB – Baby 81
OLD MAN RIVER – Good Morning
POWDERFINGER – Dream Days At The Hotel Existence
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – Sound Of Silver
Honourable mentions to
Operator Please
Tegan & Sara
Regina Spektor
Hilltop Hoods
The Panics
THE FRATELLIS – Costello Music
THE WHITE STRIPES - Icky Thump
THE BEASTS OF BOURBON – Little Animals
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Magic
SKYBOMBERS – Sirens EP
KINGS OF LEON – Because of the Times
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB – Baby 81
OLD MAN RIVER – Good Morning
POWDERFINGER – Dream Days At The Hotel Existence
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – Sound Of Silver
Honourable mentions to
Operator Please
Tegan & Sara
Regina Spektor
Hilltop Hoods
The Panics
1/5/08
DAVID BARNES - Brooklyn, NY, USA
Bad Blood in the City -James Blood Ulmer
Back in Black - Amy Winehouse
Chasing Mississippi - Dave Barnes (absolutely no relation. but what a great name!)
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 days, 100 nights (this is the band playing behind Miss Winehouse also)
James Hunter - People Gonna Talk (2006 album with lingering power to please)
James Brown - The Payback and Hell (from '73 & '74 Soul Brother #1 at his funkiest)
Don Byron - Do The Boomerang (the music of Junior Walker)
Back in Black - Amy Winehouse
Chasing Mississippi - Dave Barnes (absolutely no relation. but what a great name!)
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 days, 100 nights (this is the band playing behind Miss Winehouse also)
James Hunter - People Gonna Talk (2006 album with lingering power to please)
James Brown - The Payback and Hell (from '73 & '74 Soul Brother #1 at his funkiest)
Don Byron - Do The Boomerang (the music of Junior Walker)
1/3/08
RICK AUSTIN - Los Angeles, USA
Here is my top ten of 2007
1. BAND OF HORSES-CEASE TO BEGIN
2. AMY WINEHOUSE-BACK TO BLACK
3. ARCADE FIRE-NEON BIBLE
4. ASOBI SEKSU-CITRUS
5. RADIOHEAD-IN RAINBOWS
6. ARCTIC MONKEYS-FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE
7. BLONDE REDHEAD-23
8. THE BIRD AND THE BEE-THE BIRD AND THE BEE
9. THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE QUEEN
10. DEAN AND BRITTA-BACK NUMBERS
And I am not wasting one of my top ten picks on this one cuz its a given and probably on more lists than any other album this year......
THE SHINS-WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY
1. BAND OF HORSES-CEASE TO BEGIN
2. AMY WINEHOUSE-BACK TO BLACK
3. ARCADE FIRE-NEON BIBLE
4. ASOBI SEKSU-CITRUS
5. RADIOHEAD-IN RAINBOWS
6. ARCTIC MONKEYS-FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE
7. BLONDE REDHEAD-23
8. THE BIRD AND THE BEE-THE BIRD AND THE BEE
9. THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE QUEEN
10. DEAN AND BRITTA-BACK NUMBERS
And I am not wasting one of my top ten picks on this one cuz its a given and probably on more lists than any other album this year......
THE SHINS-WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY
CHARLIE SINGER - Barcelona, Spain
(alphabetical)
Bat For Lashes - "Fur & Gold" (for the chilled out drone set)
Devandra Bernhart (multicultural folk (?!) original)
Bird & Bee - The Bird And The Bee (second year in a row with a "Bee" band)
Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur (real musicians playing interesting music - what a concept!)
Crowded House - Time On Earth (because neil finn is this best effing songwriter in the world... still!)
Feist - Let It Die (cause i drink the kings of convenience KoolAid... i've never seen the apple ad fyi)
Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature (because i love all things scandi-argentinean)
LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver (for it all... but especially "North American Scum" which is [enter superlative here])
Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch
Nouvelle Vague - Bande A Part (anyone who does a tropicalia cover of "Bela Lugosi's Dead" needs to be acknowledged)
Radiohead - In Rainbows (for the music not the delivery stunt)
James Blood Ulmer - Bad Blood In The City (because he has the best harp player in the world in his band - my buddy David Barnes)
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (i wanted to hate it, but i don't)
Neil Young - Chrome Dreams 2 / Live At Massey Hall 1971 (almost 40 years of great music)
Guilty Pleasure:
Alicia Keys - "No One"
Bat For Lashes - "Fur & Gold" (for the chilled out drone set)
Devandra Bernhart (multicultural folk (?!) original)
Bird & Bee - The Bird And The Bee (second year in a row with a "Bee" band)
Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur (real musicians playing interesting music - what a concept!)
Crowded House - Time On Earth (because neil finn is this best effing songwriter in the world... still!)
Feist - Let It Die (cause i drink the kings of convenience KoolAid... i've never seen the apple ad fyi)
Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature (because i love all things scandi-argentinean)
LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver (for it all... but especially "North American Scum" which is [enter superlative here])
Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch
Nouvelle Vague - Bande A Part (anyone who does a tropicalia cover of "Bela Lugosi's Dead" needs to be acknowledged)
Radiohead - In Rainbows (for the music not the delivery stunt)
James Blood Ulmer - Bad Blood In The City (because he has the best harp player in the world in his band - my buddy David Barnes)
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (i wanted to hate it, but i don't)
Neil Young - Chrome Dreams 2 / Live At Massey Hall 1971 (almost 40 years of great music)
Guilty Pleasure:
Alicia Keys - "No One"
1/1/08
STUART MOWAT - New York, USA (orig from Glasgow, Scotland)
I still listen to whole CD’s, though I admit to running them at random on my CD player! So here are my top 10, in sequence:
1. Decemberists Crane Wife
2. Good the Bad and the Queen
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs Show Your Bones
4. Louis XIV Best Little Secrets Are Kept
5. Linkin Park Minutes to Midnight
6. Blaqk Audio Cexcells
7. Fall Out Boy Infinity on High
8. My Chemical Romance Black Parade
9. Spektor, Regina Begin to Hope
10. Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
And as an honorable mention, try Camera Obscura, from my home country (Makers of Franz Ferdinand and the Fratellis). Their new album “Let's Get Out of this Country” sounds like a cross between the Cowboy Junkies and Altered Images. Give it a try.
1. Decemberists Crane Wife
2. Good the Bad and the Queen
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs Show Your Bones
4. Louis XIV Best Little Secrets Are Kept
5. Linkin Park Minutes to Midnight
6. Blaqk Audio Cexcells
7. Fall Out Boy Infinity on High
8. My Chemical Romance Black Parade
9. Spektor, Regina Begin to Hope
10. Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
And as an honorable mention, try Camera Obscura, from my home country (Makers of Franz Ferdinand and the Fratellis). Their new album “Let's Get Out of this Country” sounds like a cross between the Cowboy Junkies and Altered Images. Give it a try.
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