Mixed year, I think, for music. I managed to find some interesting albums though. Even a couple of bound-to-be all-time favorites. I may be posting a zip of a mix sometime this week, but for now, here are my favorite albums of 2007:
10. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
9. Au Revoir Simone - The Bird of Music
This band borders on twee at some points, but they just have a lot of sweet harmonies and 3x keyboard action
8. Underworld - Oblivion with Bells
I love Underworld. I
admit they have lost their edge but still make consistent great
electronic music. Kind of surprised so many people dis-liked this
one. I thought it was better than 100 days off.
7. We Are Wolves - Total Magique
This
band is amazing, especially live. I was really anticipating this
release, their first album was so good. Electro-punk? Is that a faux
pas? I dunno, but that's what they are.
6. Misha - Teardrop Sweetheart
I
sang the praises of this band earlier but I don't think anyone heard
me. And that's fine. I guess. One of my most-listened to albums this
year easily. So pretty.
5. Bjork - Volta
Yes, it pains me to have a Bjork album on my list that is not at #1 or #2, but look at the albums before it! I did love Volta, it's just not the easiest album to listen to, but that's why I love Bjork. She defies everything. I actually liked it better than Vespertine.
4. St. Vincent - Marry Me
I
don't know why I resisted her at first. Oh, right, I read she was in
Polyphonic Spree. But don't hold that against her! This album is
amazing! And yeah you listen and think of every female artist before
her but once you get over that knee-jerk reaction, you'll find a very
layered, complex, sincere album. Can't wait to see her live.
3. Emmon - The Art & The Evil
Emmon
epitomizes why I love the internet. I can be bored one day, listening
to the Knife, and think to myself "hmm, I wonder who this Emmon person
is who remixed You Take My Breath Away" and a few wikipedia clicks and
google searches away, you've found her myspace! I watched a couple
videos and immediately bought everything she ever released from her
label in Sweden. And I don't regret it! She's totally glam electro
pop but she's so unbelievably good at it that you'll over look the fact
that.. she's glam electro pop. Aside from my #1, this was my other
most-listened to album of the year. According to Itunes, at least 84
times. Eek.
2. Bat For Lashes - Fur & Gold
I hear a lot of comparisons for Bat for Lashes but I don't really hear them. The only analogy I can come up with is "it's what Cat Power would sound like if she weren't boring" Completely original, and musical, such a nice balance of light & dark. Her touring band is amazing as well, so.. many... instruments.
1. M.I.A. - Kala
Based on these albums, a pretty good year for music I would say. Still, hopefully 08 will be a billion times better because aside from this, 07 kinda sucked.
Merry xmas & happy new year and all that stuff.
So before I post my traditional year end list of favorite albums no one cares about, let's take a look at the almost made its and the didn't make its because it technically doesn't come out until 08 AND the looking forward to in 08's.
Robyn - Robyn
So this album came out in 2006, I think. Came out in some countries this year, but not due for US release until February 08. Oh well, it'll definitely make my list next year. Almost every song has single potential. Fun, witty, complex pop music delivered like no other, Robyn is destined to be a superstar... again.
Kylie Minogue - X
Is this even out yet? I don't know, I can't follow release dates anymore. All I know is I have it and it's a million times better than her last album, but not quite up to par with Fever. Pretty damn close though. Love me some Kylie.
Santogold - ?
Santogold has an EP that is unbelievably good. No official commercial releases yet, but they're coming soon. Hoping for a full length in 08. Think MIA meets YYYs?
Portishead - ?
New Portishead finally due in March. And they unveiled a handful of new songs at a recent live show, which are amazing.
Outside of my top 10, here's what I was listening to in '07
Basia Bulat - Oh My Darling
Bonde do Role - With Lasers
The Go! Team - Proof of Youth
PJ Harvey - White Chalk
Interpol - Our Love to Admire
Junior Senior - Hey Hey My My Yo Yo
Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
Klima - Klima
Long Blondes - Someone to Drive You Home
Menomena - Friend & Foe
Muscles - Guns Babes Lemonade
New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
Tujiko Noriko - Solo
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad
Siouxsie - Mantaray
The Tough Alliance - New Chance
Kanye West - Graduation
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Isis EP
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
Feist - The Reminder
Aqualung - Memory Man
Clinic - Visitations
Mary Timony Band - The Shapes We Make
What's more exciting and original than summing up your year in a series of lists? Anyway, went to a ton of shows this year and since I'm not going to another one (I'm aware of at the moment) until February, here are some great shows I saw this year:
2/28/07 The Thermals - Subterranean in Chicago
I still can't believe I got tickets to this show. Tiny venue, they kicked so much ass, and it was packed as hell. Such a great band to see live. I think I saw them 3 times this year alone, and 6 or 7 times total, this was easily the best.
3/23/07 Ellen Allien - Smart Bar in Chicago
My first proper DJ gig that lasted like 5 or 6 hours. Safety Scissors opened. I fell in love with Ellen at this show, being unfamiliar with a lot of her work I was really blown away. Also saw the Presets the following night at the Metro which was good times.
4/12/07 The Gossip - Abbey Pub in Chicago
Yes, I've seen the Gossip a million times, this show was special though. So much fun and probably the last time we'll ever see them in an "intimate" venue.
4/27/07 Coachella - Night 1 in Indo, CA
Saw Bjork in the middle of the desert for the first time in years, I think this was even before Volta was leaked I mean released legitimately. Also saw Interpol, Peaches, and whoever else. Traffic was a nightmare and it was hot as fuck but everything else was lovely.
5/6/07 LCD Soundsystem - Metro in Chicago
I'm still kicking myself for missing them with MIA a few years ago. So hard. I just won't get over it. But yeah it was a great show. A lot of their stuff bores the hell out of me but everything translated really well live.
5/12/07 Bjork - Auditorium Theatre in Chicago
This was a special show because of the people I went with but pretty nice choice of songs and great energy. Our seats were kind of shitty but the sound was good and overall one of the better Bjork shows I've seen. God don't I ever
7/27/07 Bat For Lashes - Schubas & 10/2/07 Empty Bottle in Chicago
Another wtf moment in regards to the size of the venue. I mean how are they not playing stadiums yet? So good live, so many great re-workings of songs, and the second show included a new song and a Tom Waits cover.
10/12/07 Final Fantasy - Schuba's in Chicago
I'm still thinking about this damn show 2 months later. Amaaaazing. So my boyfriend almost fell asleep, so what. I was mesmerized the whole night. Another sold out show in a tiny venue that I'm still surprised I managed to get into. Basia Bulat opened who was also lovely and I totally bought her album between sets like I was 12. Well, I made my boyfriend buy it because I was too embarassed.
10/20/07 Morrissey - Star Plaza in Merrillville, IN
What a bizarre night this was. We had really good seats and as hard as I fight it I'm such a Moz fanboy. It's pretty gross. But yeah, great show. Way better than the NY show the following week.
11/23/07 M.I.A. - The Vic in Chicago
My first M.I.A. show and if the rumors are true, probably my last. I can't remember the last time I was that excited tosee someone live. Show was so much fun, as expected. Kala is fucking brilliant.
Am I forgetting anyone? Eh? There were only a couple disappointing shows (Patrick Wolf, the Brunettes, etc) So overall pretty good. I see St. Vincent is touring so I'll be seeing her in February. Other than that I have no idea what to expect from 08.
Before my end of the year list turns into a recap, let me backtrack a little bit. I will, however, continue with my "2 degrees of the Knife" series.
This song, and its video, are just stunning. I had heard a couple of Röyksopp tracks, and a few remixes they did for other artists, but I really was not expecting something like this. Karin Dreijer, of the Knife, does vocals on this track and the result is heavenly.
I hate youtube and its horrible video quality, so I really do suggesting forking over the 1.99 to get the video in hi-res on iTunes or wherever you can find it. If I wasn't lazy I would upload it myself. After getting over my initial obsession with this song and video (I'm still not), I ventured onto more Röyksopp songs and eventually full albums.
They also have a live EP, a Back To Mine comp, and several singles and remixes (most notably, the What Else Is There single, even more notably, the Trentemoller remix) and I suggest you find them all anyway you can.
The album is officially released today, but unfortunately, it's only available (physically) on amazon. But iTunes and emusic has it too.
Audio: Show us the best album (new or old) that you've bought this year.
Bjork at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion / Vespertine Tour
OK so two shows from the same tour, but this one is memorable for everything that happened but the show, not that the show was BAD at all, it was a great show. But this is the event that I met my bff Laura for the first time and we had so many good times. We also spent after the show stalking Bjork with no success, hanging out with Christina and her crew, seeing Matmos and Beck and Margaret Cho rumors. Eating some really expensive leaves. Laughing at the Greenland choir who were all outside smoking, and later taking a picture with them.
Sleater-Kinney at that place at Hollywood + Highland
This was our (mine, Dan, Laura) first S-K show ever, and that counts for something because it triggered a series of events that our easily some of my most cherished memories. At this particular show I met Nikole (who was also at the last show). The venue got moved at the last minute, so we were there waiting, and we got in and it was so beautiful. There were curtains surrounding the circular stage and they started playing One Beat and the curtains opened and my life was changed forever.
Sleater-Kinney in Portland/Seattle x 2
We took a trip out to the Pacific Northwest for 3 Sleater-Kinney shows. We saw Sleater-Kinney Rd, and took our own version of the Hot Rock cover. Man, we're cheezy. But yeah. The first time we heard Giraffe, and so glad I have boots of these shows.
Veruca Salt/PJ Harvey in Chicago 95? 96?
I have almost as many memorable Veruca Salt experiences as I do S-K but I have to mention this one because it was my first VS and PJ show and seeing them back to back was almost too much to handle.
I'm only mentioning the good ones because there were definitely some bad ones (cough S-K in LA cough) but yeah, I've been to a lot of fucking concerts.
What are the 10 most memorable music performances you've seen? (Remember, "memorable" may not be good.)
Submitted by Bill.
This is very difficult because the majority of the memorable moments in my life have taken place during concerts. But here goes:
Sleater-Kinney in Portland, OR / Both farewell shows
Seriously. I felt like Milhouse when Moe turns the "R" in Toys R Us around. Every Sleater-Kinney show was the best and I met so many amazing (and a few creepy) people and it was like a party. A fucked up emotional drama party but still, a party. So glad I went because I never would've forgiven myself if I hadn't. Here's to a Corin solo album and a reunion?
U2/PJ Harvey in Chicago
This is probably my most referenced show ever, competing only with the show below. Dan, Colleen, Jess, and I went to see PJ Harvey and U2 at 1 of 39048243 shows they were playing in Chicago. We all love the PEEJ but only Colleen loves the U so we had shit seats and couldn't see. Colleen convinced me (she didn't have to try very hard) to go with her to another night for which she scored pit tickets. She had the brilliant idea of camping out in line. I was all for it because that was when I liked things and had no responsibilities. So totally unprepared, we were about 8th in line, or the 3rd group of people. Something like that. Here's just a list of what ensued:
-Freezing cold (no blanket)
-Scorching Heat (no sunblock)
-Rain (no cover/change of clothes/etc)
-Worst sunburn I've ever had
-Peeing into a gatorade bottle
-Ending up front and center in Bono's crotch
-Making a sign that said "We <3 Polly"
-Not getting killed by U2 fans for said sign
-Polly laughing at said sign and saying thank you
It was worth it, but I never thought I would survive the 13+ hours we were sitting outside
Bjork in Chicago / Vespertine Tour
The weekend prior to this show involved Margaret Cho, 500+ mile road trip, meeting my friend Belen, and not having tickets to see Bjork at the Lyric Opera House. Scalpers were selling tix for 500 bucks and my bf and I had all but given up when we saw a short line of people at the box office. So we went in, got in line for about an hour, and what do you know they're releasing tickets! So I bought 2 for face value and all was right in the world. Until the usher walked us to our seats. I kept looking at our tickets and like wtf why do we keep walking. She showed us our row, I looked at the stage, and almost started crying. We sat down and I could hardly breathe. We had front row tickets. FRONT ROW. That we got DAY OF the show, while scalpers were selling nosebleed seats for 500$. Definitely one of the proudest moments in my life
Bjork at Red Rocks in Colorado
This show was special for so many reasons. First of all, Denver is one of my favorite places in the world. Second, it's Red Rocks. Bjork. At Red Rocks. Come on. Third, I was with my bf and my bff. Fourth, it was my birthday. Fifth, it was my 21ST BIRTHDAY. We had really good seats, and the weather was crazy and unpredictable, but this was probably my favorite Bjork show I've seen yet. I got a poster at a record store there for the show, it's hanging in my living room.
Tori Amos in Denver, CO
Yeah. I'm so over Tori. But there was a time that I was teetering on the edge of EWF. But the show was such a small part of what made this experience memorable. First, Colleen, Jess, and I in a car for 19 hours, me going 100mph, Jess falling asleep at the wheel, having no money, eating Papa Johns with Rachael in a dirty hotel room, meeting Christina and Sara, having pictures to prove it. Oh yeah we met Tori too and blah blah.
Underworld in Chicago / Two Months Off tour
I should've been at this show with Colleen but for whatever reason we weren't talking (this used to happen all the time, not just with her, I'm sure it's a problem that I have but that's another post) anyway, it was unbelievably amazing. I don't dance. Unless I'm drunk or everyone around me is horrible. But omg. I was drenched in sweat, dancing with frat boys and raver girls and everyone and I have never been to a show where I was just so completely taken over by the music, it was like there was nothing else. Very hard to put into words, but I will never forget this show. And they're touring again this fall what do you know.
This is going to have to be like a 5 part series because I'm not even close to being done.
Video: Show us some great dancing.
