Yet another blogger releases a best of '07 list? Unfortunately, this time, it's me.
Here goes:
Armchair Apocrypha
Andrew Bird
After ...& the Mysterious Production of Eggs, my expectations were high for the whistling master and violin virtuoso Andrew Bird to produce another masterpiece. The album's more subdued sense of humor and somewhat darker instrumentation (more electric guitar!) work well with its title and theme...oh yes, the apocalypse. Every time I listen to "Yawny at the Apocalypse" I can feel a shiver run down my spine. At TGH's 2-year anniversary I declared Fiery Crash my favorite song of 2007, and it still holds true.
Andrew Bird - Cataracts
Buy Armchair Apocrypha from Amazon.com
Little Jabs
Two Hours Traffic
Throughout the year I've found myself continually falling in love with this album's playful take on the intersection between pop music and life. I hope you find yourself listening and giggling too. Two Hours Traffic may have begun my (bad) jokes about being addicted to Canadian artists.
Two Hours Traffic - Nighthawks
Buy Little Jabs (directly from the band)
Boxer
The National
Admittedly, I've spent more time listening to Alligator this year than Boxer, but mostly I've just spent a lot of time with the National. In "Brainy" Matt Berninger sings, "You might need me more than you think you will," and I'd agree: without the National to bring a sad smile into dark places, I think would have lost my mind this year.
The National - Apartment Story
Buy Boxer from Amazon.com
The Shepherd's Dog
Iron & Wine
This album came as a pleasant surprise. Though he's kept his beard (too bad), Sam Beam is a new man - suddenly he's comfortable with a dramatic piano, guitar solos, and a real drum part... it's crazy! And beautiful...because the man's voice keeps everything in line.
Iron & Wine - The Devil Never Sleeps
Buy the Shepherd's Dog from Amazon.com
The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter
Would I miss the opportunity to plug my favorite famous musically-inclined Oberlin alumnus? Never. Josh Ritter, who critics call "the new Bob (Dylan)" produced another prolific album. Beat that, Wesleyan!
Josh Ritter - Open Doors
Buy the Historical Conquests of... from Amazon.com
Page France and the Family Telephone
Page France
There's something in Michael Nau's songs that always manages to strike me unexpectedly, despite their cryptic and often whimsical lyrics and dainty instrumentation. This year I've found myself listening to ...and the Family Telephone on repeat, finding some deeper meaning for which words escape me. Goodness, what a great cop-out.
Page France - Wet Dog Afternoon
Buy ...and the Family Telephone
A Cork Tale Wake
Chris Bathgate
Not only do I love this album, but Chris Bathgate has been one of my favorite discoveries this year. Usually I'm not a fan of music that takes itself too seriously, but Bathgate's talk of life-changing moments and awakenings grabbed me. Not to mention his delicate, beautiful instrumentation.
Chris Bathgate - Serpentine
Buy A Cork Tale Wake
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Of Montreal
This album made the list despite my disappointment after seeing them live this year. Why? Because, to state it simply, I was converted to an Of Montreal fan this year entirely because of this album.
Of Montreal - Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider
Buy Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? from Amazon.com
Peel (self-titled)
Peel
I've been dancing to this album's chaotic electro-rock city soundtrack all year and not writing about it on TGH. Shameful? Yes. Catchy? YES.
Peel - Oxford [alt link]
Buy Peel from Peek-A-Boo Records
Heroes and Sheroes
The Eames Era
This album was responsible for filling my ears with female-fronted indie pop all year, and I'm grateful. I think you'll find you are too.
The Eames Era - Could Be Anything
Buy Heroes and Sheroes from Insound
Honorable Mentions:
1990s: Cookies
LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
Pela: Anytown Graffiti
Sea Wolf: Leaves in the River
Not on the list: Bishop Allen. This is because, for me a least, The Broken String didn't really feel like a new release. I listened to the album as though it was the remastered version of 2006's greatest hits...otherwise it would be here.
Coming soon: best songs of 2007.
Here goes:
Armchair ApocryphaAndrew Bird
After ...& the Mysterious Production of Eggs, my expectations were high for the whistling master and violin virtuoso Andrew Bird to produce another masterpiece. The album's more subdued sense of humor and somewhat darker instrumentation (more electric guitar!) work well with its title and theme...oh yes, the apocalypse. Every time I listen to "Yawny at the Apocalypse" I can feel a shiver run down my spine. At TGH's 2-year anniversary I declared Fiery Crash my favorite song of 2007, and it still holds true.
Andrew Bird - Cataracts
Buy Armchair Apocrypha from Amazon.com
Little JabsTwo Hours Traffic
Throughout the year I've found myself continually falling in love with this album's playful take on the intersection between pop music and life. I hope you find yourself listening and giggling too. Two Hours Traffic may have begun my (bad) jokes about being addicted to Canadian artists.
Two Hours Traffic - Nighthawks
Buy Little Jabs (directly from the band)
BoxerThe National
Admittedly, I've spent more time listening to Alligator this year than Boxer, but mostly I've just spent a lot of time with the National. In "Brainy" Matt Berninger sings, "You might need me more than you think you will," and I'd agree: without the National to bring a sad smile into dark places, I think would have lost my mind this year.
The National - Apartment Story
Buy Boxer from Amazon.com
The Shepherd's DogIron & Wine
This album came as a pleasant surprise. Though he's kept his beard (too bad), Sam Beam is a new man - suddenly he's comfortable with a dramatic piano, guitar solos, and a real drum part... it's crazy! And beautiful...because the man's voice keeps everything in line.
Iron & Wine - The Devil Never Sleeps
Buy the Shepherd's Dog from Amazon.com
The Historical Conquests of Josh RitterJosh Ritter
Would I miss the opportunity to plug my favorite famous musically-inclined Oberlin alumnus? Never. Josh Ritter, who critics call "the new Bob (Dylan)" produced another prolific album. Beat that, Wesleyan!
Josh Ritter - Open Doors
Buy the Historical Conquests of... from Amazon.com
Page France and the Family TelephonePage France
There's something in Michael Nau's songs that always manages to strike me unexpectedly, despite their cryptic and often whimsical lyrics and dainty instrumentation. This year I've found myself listening to ...and the Family Telephone on repeat, finding some deeper meaning for which words escape me. Goodness, what a great cop-out.
Page France - Wet Dog Afternoon
Buy ...and the Family Telephone
A Cork Tale WakeChris Bathgate
Not only do I love this album, but Chris Bathgate has been one of my favorite discoveries this year. Usually I'm not a fan of music that takes itself too seriously, but Bathgate's talk of life-changing moments and awakenings grabbed me. Not to mention his delicate, beautiful instrumentation.
Chris Bathgate - Serpentine
Buy A Cork Tale Wake
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?Of Montreal
This album made the list despite my disappointment after seeing them live this year. Why? Because, to state it simply, I was converted to an Of Montreal fan this year entirely because of this album.
Of Montreal - Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider
Buy Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? from Amazon.com
Peel (self-titled)Peel
I've been dancing to this album's chaotic electro-rock city soundtrack all year and not writing about it on TGH. Shameful? Yes. Catchy? YES.
Peel - Oxford [alt link]
Buy Peel from Peek-A-Boo Records
Heroes and SheroesThe Eames Era
This album was responsible for filling my ears with female-fronted indie pop all year, and I'm grateful. I think you'll find you are too.
The Eames Era - Could Be Anything
Buy Heroes and Sheroes from Insound
Honorable Mentions:
1990s: Cookies
LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
Pela: Anytown Graffiti
Sea Wolf: Leaves in the River
Not on the list: Bishop Allen. This is because, for me a least, The Broken String didn't really feel like a new release. I listened to the album as though it was the remastered version of 2006's greatest hits...otherwise it would be here.
Coming soon: best songs of 2007.
Labels: Andrew Bird, chris bathgate, Eames Era, Iron and Wine, josh ritter, Of Montreal, page france, peel, the national, top list, two hours traffic
I apologize for the lack of posts today/yesterday (Tuesday). Hopefully more will be coming soon, if time allows.A Cork Tale Wake was released in July, and only in the past two weeks have I come to realize that I exist in the same universe as Chris Bathgate. Even now, I've only heard two tracks off the album, and I'm ready, compelled even, to fork over some more money to hear the rest because I suspect that if I didn't I'd be missing out on something big. I say "Big" not in the sense that I'd be missing some cultural phenomenon or the most hyped release of the year (because this is clearly neither of those), but... it would be like missing the chance to watch the birth of a star, the most phenomenal and unnoticed of events.
The simplest of gases, the universe's general populous, have lived their lives until now clustered in clouds. A single gravitational disturbance changes everything. The gases collapse and heat builds until the temperature becomes so unbearably high that atoms overcome their similarities to join together in fusion. A galactic star child is born, and it takes light years for folks on Earth to get the news. Even then this goes utterly unnoticed by all but a select few, who know that somewhere in the night sky we can now see (what is a now ancient image of) new light in the universe.
Somehow I got caught on the star drift, being a physics nerd and all, and forgot about Chris Bathgate. His songs are love-children, telling us to "Let the name of your love be known / on every single love you own." In "a flash of light followed by chaos," a car-born kiss is accomplished with the safety off, all while guitars mumble along to tell us how.
Chris Bathgate - A Flash of Light Followed By
Chris Bathgate - Every Wall You Own
Buy A Cork Tale Wake (eMusic also has it)
Chris Bathgate's Website/Myspace
Labels: artist profile, chris bathgate, folk
