What's Going On In The Head Of Randy....: Best Of 2007

Best Of 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007

This time around I started my best of list back in October and continued to work on it up til this morning. I would add/remove cds as new ones came out as well as rediscovering ones that I missed out on. My official list had 70 cds that I thought were worthy of consideration and from there I whittled it down to my top 30. I thought about doing just a top 20 but I felt that I was leaving out too many good releases for the year. Depending on 2008 it may go as low as 20 or stay at 30. I share about 5 with Paste Magazine and I have no idea how many of mine will make Pitchfork's top 50. Its usually a nice competition I have with them to see how pretentious they can be. Anyways my list is below with a description of each cd.

30. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Bruce is back and decided to bring the E Street band with him. Its not ’84 and Born In The USA its more of a view of modern times and the state of our country. Bruce doesn’t shy away from politics here and takes a dig at corporate radio on the opening track “Radio Nowhere”. It’s a great rock album from a man who has seen and done it all.

29. Jill Cunniff – City Beach
If you were a Luscious Jackson fan (I was a huge one, saw them 6x) you will enjoy this cd. Its full of NYC inspired sounds and eclectic arrangements that give you a chance to relive the 90s once again. Jill mixes it up with some moody and mellow beats, some break beat and world music influences.

28. Polyphonic Spree – The Fragile Army
I usually cannot make it thru the full cd (never have been able to on earlier releases as well) but I appreciate what the Spree offers. I like the full sunshine cult like hymns and with this cd, they are more song oriented and cohesive.

27. Kent – Tillbaka Till Samtiden
Kent is a band from Sweden who hit it big in the late 90s. Since then Kent has gone back to singing in Swedish with just a few songs done in English. This isn’t a big deal since the sound is what I love about them. With a bit of Depeche Mode influence, Kent delivers a more electronic and dance oriented album.

26. Klaxons – Myths Of The Near Future
This one was a last minute entry and I am still on the fence here. There are some very cool songs but I am not sure if it has lived up to all the hype. For a good 6-7 months NME and other music rags couldn’t get enough of this band. The hype has dissipated over the last few months and it makes you wonder if they will surface next year with another cd. Like fellow mates Kasabian, The Klaxons had to endure constant comparisons and crowns. The Klaxons ushered in the era of nu-rave, a conglomeration of dance beats, live instruments and lots of British ego.

25. Kristin Hersh – Learn To Sing Like A Star
For many of her solo releases, Kristin has relied on the stereotypes that it needs to be soft and acoustic. I am glad to see that Kristin has taken a page from her step sister’s (Tanya Donnelly) book and tried her hand in the world of pop. Kristin doesn’t disappoint and it’s a shame that its only now we are seeing this side of her.

24. Foo Fighters – Echos, Silence, Patience & Grace
The Foo’s can sound the same at times but they have mastered the Alternative radio sound and I find myself listening every time they are on the radio. There is something about the band that draws me to each cd and this one is no different. “The Pretender” is a great song and it sounds even better when turned up loud and driving down the expressway.

23. Deadstring Brothers – Silver Mountain
Pure Alt Country, full of slide guitars, twang and whiskey soaked lyrics are all here on the latest Deadstring Brothers release. The vocal sharing is key here and some of the strongest songs are one’s sung by Marsha. You don’t find many Alt Country bands with female vocals and this is desparately needed for the genre.

22. Siouxsie - Mantaray
I love this cd, its not goth, not industrial, not electronic, not pop but somehow a blend of all of these things. Siouxsie Sioux has broken away from the Banshees and Creatures sounds and delivers a fresh take on Alternative dance sound. If you are new to Siouxsie or have been a fan for years this cd will keep you entertained from start to finish.

21. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
This time out, the Sonic Youth influences are gone and its back to a lighthearted California sound. It was a great summer record, the sunshine and pop melodies made for a great backyard soundtrack. With hints of the Band and other late 60s early 70s bands, Wilco has given us a straightforward Americana release that plays thru without any interruptions.

20. Grinderman - Grinderman
All I have to say is Nick Cave, anything he does is brilliant and Grinderman is no different. Nick strips off the baggage of the Bad Seeds and turns up the guitars. It’s obnoxious at times but the controlled chaos has a point. It’s a release for Nick and one that he can exercise his limitations that might be present when he is behind a piano.

19. Kula Shaker - Strangfolk
Crispian Mills had one of the most successful debuts and pretty much blew it with his 2nd release. 8 years later Crispian returns with a cd that doesn’t quite capture the mania but does a good job at reminding us why we loved Kula Shaker back in ’96. The blend of 70s guitar and Indian sitar proves once again that the Beatles were right way back then.

18. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Simplistic, intelligent and innovative are a few words that can be used to describe Spoon. The Austin, TX band has been around for a while but hadn’t really made its way into the hearts and minds of the masses until their last release. Spoon picked up where Pavement left off and added a bit of indie dance groove into the lo-fi sound. The horns, handclaps, and sparse sound of instruments keep you guessing how these songs were assembled. They don’t feel thin but it’s not a wall of sound either.

17. The Raveonettes – Lust, Lust, Lust
I loved the first Raveonettes EP “Whip It On” for its dark and moody feel. Their next 2 cds moved from the minor key and became a bit too 50’s kitsch for me. Their latest cd teeters between the dark and light world they have created and keeps you interested and wanting more. The opening track channels the Jesus And Mary Chain with its controlled noise and is one of the best examples of feedback I have heard in years.

16. Son Volt – The Search
Jay Farrar doesn’t disappoint here, he keeps the Alt Country sound alive while throwing a few curve balls to keep it interesting. The mix of horns turned me off at first but after a few listens I came around to appreciate what Jay was trying to accomplish here. The political lyrics are toned down a bit but are not gone and the music takes over.

15. Iron & Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
Previous Iron & Wine cds would bore me but this one is different. It seems like Samuel Beam decided to add a few more instruments and leave the lo-fi recording style from before. It’s by no mean a huge commercial record full of ad jingles but it has a fuller sound that keeps your attention.

14. Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
J.Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph reunited after 16 years and recorded as if it was 1990 all over again. The loud guitars, feedback, trademark Mascis vocals and dry rock n roll are all present for this cd. It’s more of a nostalgia trip than anything since it seemed like Dino Jr never really had a proper send off. Maybe now people will understand what the band was all about and give them the respect they deserve.

13. Pinback – Autumn Of The Seraphs
Pure Indie Rock and probably the only cd I will have in common with Pitchfork but I have to give it up to Pinback. They know how to take that pretentious sound and keep it fresh and exciting. The mix of piano and guitars along with the alternating vocals creates a moody sound landscape.

12. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Baby 81
BRMC blended the early Brit Rock scene with some garage rock on their debut and by their 3rd release had embraced the Alt Country scene. This time out, they decided to give their fans some reverb and fuzz but stick to the states for the sound.

11. Dean & Britta – Back Numbers
If 60s kitsch, soundtrack music is what you like Back Numbers is your cd. Dean & Britta from Luna fame are back with their 2nd release and remind you that the era of duets is not long gone it’s just been underground. The lush production and classic Luna sound is present but on a more intimate scale.

10. Jesse Malin – Glitter In The Gutter
Not as popular as Adams but still amazing in his own right. Jesse blends genres and interjects a bit of punk rock into his latest release. He snags the Boss for one song and writes one of the best singles of the year “In The Modern World”. This guy very little air play and some bad press which I thought was unfair but what can you do. His cover of “Bastards Of Young” is brilliant.

9. Josh Rouse – City Mouse, Country House
Living under the radar for years, Josh continued to make classic Americana records that told stories and filled the room with sweet acoustic and mellow twang. On his latest release, Josh does a bit of genre jumping and includes some soul which he pulls off quite well. His often whispering vocals don’t stick out and just paint the surface of the beats. If you like toe tapping, upbeat acoustic pop Josh is your man. But it doesn’t end there; he is a master at creating beautiful songs with lush arrangements as well.

8. Stereophonics – Pull The Pin
Stereophonics have had an identity crisis the last few years. They strived too hard to appeal to American audiences which only backfired and left them mocked in both presses. This time out, they went back to their roots and gave us a brash, in your face, full of attitude record that makes up for past failures. Although many people don’t agree I see a lot of Oasis and the Jam in this cd.

7. Travis – The Boy With No Name
The last cd had a few good songs but was stale and seemed like the end of Travis. A few years off the radar and some much needed R&R, Travis return with an excellent release which comes close to the pure genius of The Man Who. The sounds that Coldplay stole and made so popular are here but jazzed up with a bit of sunshine. Songs like Selfish Jean play loudly from the radio while others are soft and introspective making you step back and take a look at your own life.

6. Air – Pocket Symphony
I dubbed this cd as headphone music when it first came out and I still believe this. The atmospheric beats and rhythms can be missed if you are not fully concentrating. As background music, it seems a bit plain and dull which is why I think it was not given higher reviews. Once you let yourself go and immerse your mind into the music you will understand what I mean.

5. Grant Lee Philips - Stranglet
One of my favorite musicians and one that rarely disappoints makes it onto the list once again. Grant Lee crafts a melody out of thin air and then spins it into a complete masterpiece. Grant made his start with his band Grant Lee Buffalo but has been solo for the last decade. His music is Americana with some new folk and a bit of rock n roll. He blew me away last year with his cover cd and took it to another level with his last release.

4. Interpol – Our Love To Admire
This cd took a few listens and it wasn’t until I put on the headphones did I really grasp what Interpol was giving us this time around. The music is big and has a stadium like quality about it. It swirls around your head and fills the room. The wall of sound builds and gives you glimpse of the past while providing you a peek into the future. Interpol started out by building on the bases of Joy Division but found a way to pave a new path into their sound. At times the lyrics may not make much sense but the soundscape created around them is what really matters.

3. Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger
Its not a year if Ryan isn’t present. He only had 2 releases this year but both were amazing in their own rights. Easy Tiger is pure Americana and showcases Ryan’s strengths as a singer/songwriter. He isn’t trying to impress anyone here, he has played the genre jumping game and has settled into a style that fits him best.

2. Buffalo Tom – Three Easy Pieces
It’s been 9 years since the last BT release and during that time all 3 members went their own ways and released solo works. The time off was good for them and this cd shows how BT can still craft a great melody within a 3 piece band. Both Bill and Chris take turns with the vocals and in classic BT fashion, offer two distinct writing styles. For a three piece BT offer a wide range of music, a bit of distortion, some country and lots of classic Alternative and Americana to suit your needs. They may happen to be one of the most underrated bands of the last 20 years but have been a staple on my cd player/iPod for years.

1. The National - Boxer
Dark, brooding, melancholy, somber are just a few words that can be used to describe the National’s lastest cd. Its beauty lies in lyrics, baritone vocals and unique arrangements. The mix of horns along with subdued guitars and stacatto drum beats makes for an intense listening experience. Think of this cd as a late nite with a lovely lady drinking martinis til the wee hours. The minor keys don’t bounce around your head like the latest pop sensation instead burrow deep into your psyche surfacing at odd times begging you to listen just once more.