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.

Labels: Andrew Bird, chris bathgate, Eames Era, Iron and Wine, josh ritter, Of Montreal, page france, peel, the national, top list, two hours traffic

It's been a long time since I've been to concert where I've been as impressed by the openers as I was at the Bishop Allen show on Sunday. Right now the only comparable example I can think of is when I saw Islands open for Metric 2 years ago and I was so completely blown away by Islands that Metric seemed a bit disappointing by comparison. Though, as always, Bishop Allen were great, but the blown-away factor already happened the first time I saw them; every show after the first time you see a band live is a little like listening a favorite song on repeat. Jason (who's been guest-blogging lately) was going to come too, but had a car crisis and ditched us at the last minute. I went with an Oberlin friend and we still had a great time.
Bishop Allen, Page France, and the Teeth will be touring together for the next month, more dates here.

The Teeth put on one of the most energetic nothing-but-Rock-&-Roll shows I've seen in a while, with Peter & Aaron (I think) sharing vocals and much crazy dancing and instrument-playing. The band's drummer seemed to be hanging out in the back thinking to himself, "yeah, I'm the non-nut in this band." If you're seeing BA in the near future, don't be one of those jerks who misses the opening bands, because missing the Teeth when you've already paid for that ticket is a crime. Now I have to spend money to buy their album, damn it. I'm going to go broke soon.
(I didn't take very many photos of the Teeth, and all the ones I took were pretty bad, the photo is from their myspace)

The Teeth - Shoulderblade
The Teeth - It's Not Funny
Buy You're My Lover Now (released in May)
The Teeth's Website/Myspace
Some older live sets from the Teeth here and here, which are available for download
Page France were up next in their full cuteness, though I might be talking specifically about Michael Nau, with his chirpy voice and all. Their live sound rocked way more than I expected, I was the kid obnoxiously dancing on the far right of the stage. Not to mention that I made an exception to my dislike of that one random girl that lots of indie pop bands seem to have (who inevitably wears the best of female hipster dress, sings, and plays keyboard, the xylophone, maybe a tambourine or maracas) for Whitney McGraw, who was great and actually needed to be there. I wouldn't mention this, except I might be implying something about a different band. Tell me if you figure it out.
(Please credit me for the photo if you use it)

Page France - Here's A Telephone
Repost: Page France - The Ruby Ring Man

Buy ...and the Family Telephone
Page France's Website/Myspace
Up next was Bishop Allen. I had to leave a bit early (all I missed was a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover, I've been told) to catch the metro before it closed, so I didn't have to the chance to steal a copy of the set list. As usual, Bishop Allen put on a great show. Much of the audience didn't seem very familiar with this year's EPs, and "Choose Again" from the Broken String was greeted by relative quiet, possibly surprise. Still, for a crowd of indie kids, Bishop Allen got people dancing. Justin Rice's on-stage dancing is always fun to watch, not to mention the way he stares out into the audience looking a little like a fawn stricken by the heat of the stage lights (no deer, no headlights, no road-slaughter), ever the misunderstood poet. Christian Rudder (who rocks my socks) is cool enough to sell merchandise himself, which I find a little nerve-wracking because you go up to buy stuff and it's him, not some random person. I didn't have to deal with this at the Charlottesville show in March, the band was running late, but at the Black Cat it freaked me out a bit. Stay put, more BA-related fun is coming.
(more photos I took at the show here, please give me credit if you use them)

Bishop Allen - Click Click Click Click (The Broken String)
Bishop Allen - The Same Fire (June EP)

My review of the Broken String
Buy The Broken String (officially released today)
Bishop Allen's Website/Myspace

I got an e-mail last night from Bishop Allen's current bassist, Giorgio, so it's time for a plug. He and BA's drummer Ruddy are in a band called 1986, they released an album called Nihilism is Nothing To Worry About last year and are about to go record another one. I've been listening to bits and pieces of the record, it's a lot of fun.
(the photo is from 1986's myspace)

1986 - Better When You're Stoned (the song could be about my ex, easily. or me, sometimes.)
Buy Nihilism is Nothing to Worry About
1986's Myspace

Labels: 1986, Bishop Allen, concert, page france, the teeth

I tried and tried to put together a top ten list for this year's releases so far and failed again and again. Finally, as I had just given up, this list emerged....
In no particular order.... (Update: all the file links should work now)

(1) Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Until this year's release of Hissing Fauna, Are you the Destroyer? I had dismissedOf Montreal as one of those truly pretentious bands I would never get into. This album proved me absolutely wrong, and I don't know anyone who feels as though Of Montreal sacrificed any of its uniqueness to do so. Tell me if I'm wrong.

Of Montreal - Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider
Of Montreal - Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse
Buy Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? from Insound

(2) Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
I'm wide awake, it's morning was the album that turned me from a casual Bright Eyes' listener to an all-out fan, and with Cassadaga it's clear Conor Oberst has perfected his craft and matured as an artist. Don't miss the Four Winds EP, which it stands on its own as a great complement to the album. My review of Cassadaga from back in April.

Bright Eyes - Four Winds
Repost: Bright Eyes - Classic Cars
Buy Cassadaga / Four Winds EP from Insound

(3) The Eames Era - Heroes and Sheroes
See previous post. This is perfect pop in a girly indie package, and every track on the album is lovely.

The Eames Era - When You Were a Millionaire
The Eames Era - Dear Gabby
Buy Heroes and Sheroes from Insound

(4) Page France - ...and the Family Telephone
Page France for me is the epitome of what indie pop gets right - that only by describing the world in terms of its idiosyncratic details and the singularity of any one person's experience can you capture life's beauty in its full complexity. And Page France can remind me of all this while putting a smile on my face.

Page France - The Ruby Ring Man
Page France - Hat and Rabbit
Buy Page France and the Family Telephone from Insound

(5) Feist - the Reminder
I initially expressed concern over this album, only to slowly find myself listening to it again and again without realizing it. The Reminder takes everything that makes Leslie Feist's music great and wraps it all up in one neat accessible package.

Repost: Feist - 1234
Repost: Feist - I Feel it all
Buy The Reminder from Insound

Honorable Mentions:
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

Labels: Bright Eyes, Eames Era, Feist, Of Montreal, page france, top list