2007 In Hindsight — Part One
They say everything old is new again. For me, 2007 is a prime example of that statement being a dead-on truth. Vinyl records made a huge comeback in sales and practical use, CD sales fell for the seventh or eighth straight year, and the recording industry continued to flail its collective arms wildly, continuing to file lawsuit after lawsuit despite clear evidence that it isn’t deterring people from stealing music in any way.
As for music itself, I thought we had a pretty good year on our hands. Every genre came to the table with some amazingly terrific albums, even though you might not find every genre represented in this best-of list. As usual, melody, passion, and ingenuity most held my attention, and I think this list speaks for itself (be warned; it’s a long one). Stay tuned for similar year-end updates from the rest of the crew, whenever they get around to doing them.
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2007
10. Frog Eyes - Tears of the Valedictorian
Seeing Carey Mercer and his band of merry misfits live for the first time further cemented my love of their back-catalog while totally psyching me up for their latest. “Caravan Breakers, How They Prey On The Weak and the Old” was the dramatic centerpiece of one of the most intense and singularly insane pieces of live performance I’ve witnessed. Essentially two very long songs interspersed by typically brief bursts of noise, it adds a subtlety and atmosphere to a band that isn’t terribly familiar with either.
9. the Weakerthans - Reunion Tour
This is a last minute decision that I still don’t know if I’m comfortable with. Since this sites inception I’ve been trying to finalize a post about the latest Weakerthans album, focusing on how disappointing an album this incredible is. The disappointment comes from my initial reaction that the band is out of ideas, that they’re treading water musically. But at the eleventh hour I reminded myself that expectations can’t get in the way an amazing piece of work, and the compositions on Reunion Tour are possibly the band’s most cohesive to date, while lyrically and melodically John Samson remains without peer.
8. A Wilhelm Scream - Career Suicide
After being one of the most unanimously-praised punk rock bands of 2006, A Wilhelm Scream was facing some pretty high expectations. It’s somewhat fitting that this album is named after a prominent Toronto hardcore band, because they definitely amped up the aggression on Career Suicide, throwing away just a bit of the dizzying guitar work that marked their last effort in favour of straight-up shredding. Most pleasantly though is the thematic consistency and lyrical prowess on display here, a trait too-often overlooked by bands that play fast, complicated songs.
7. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Tanis has already — and will soon, I expect — say it better than I ever could. All you need to know is that Spoon are writing hooky, gorgeous, minimalist pop songs that don’t pander to the lowest common denominator. Bare bones music the way it used to be done before “pop” was a dirty word.
6. Chuck Ragan - Feast or Famine
As I stated in my previous review, this is passionate unplugged music for punks that are getting older. Ragan celebrates the things that make his life worth living: nature, family, love, hope, and a higher power. It’s a heady cocktail that even loner athiests can get swept up in.
5. Tegan & Sara - the Con
I’m glad to see that four albums in a more widespread audience is starting to catch on to these “indie-rock” beauties. They’ve definitely picked up the “rawk” on this one, assisted by some interesting guest players (Death Cab For Cutie’s drummer and guitarist, AFI’s bassist, and the Rentals’ Matt Sharp), but the genesis of the twosome remains their lovelorn, conflicted lyrics and the quirky pop that goes along with them. No amount of bad indie-mullets can hold them back.
4. Attack In Black - Marriage
After dabbling in more generic fare on their first couple ep’s, this band has really come into their own. More Weakerthans than Propagandhi, these Canadian youngsters meld all the right bits of propulsive punk, folk, and 60’s AOR. The musical style alternates as frequently as the vocals, which are in turns reminiscent of the Get Up Kids, Smoke or Fire, and others (all four members sing). Not perfect, but the energy, enthusiasm, and promise shown on this record (and the vinyl-only follow up full-length just five months later) are truly daunting.
3. the Gaslight Anthem - Sink or Swim
As an aging punk, there seems to be a subset of music coming out that is aimed at me: the punk whose tastes have expanded well beyond the label rosters that make up the genre’s mainstays. To satisfy our tastes, the Gaslight Anthem decided to make a record that kind of sounds like Bruce Springsteen writing a love letter to Joe Strummer. Actually, that’s exactly what one song is (”I’da Called You Woody, Joe”). Some say this sounds like one song repeated over and over…but like the Latterman before them, it’s just way too fucking good a song.
2. Radiohead - In Rainbows
Yeah, they only let us know it was coming out a week in advance. Yes, the “pay what you want thing” was kind of a scam (and likely won’t really “revolutionize” the music business. Yes, they let everyone down when they eventually did find a label to put it out. But I’ll be damned if this isn’t one of the most beautiful albums released this decade, let alone this year. The fact that this comes out ten years after OK Computer should’ve changed everything is surely no accident (”Naked” is a hold-over from that era); the two are not-so-distant cousins in spirit and execution, if not precisely in sound. And the genius move of printing up a discbox with bonus material, incredible packaging, and audiophile vinyl supports a flawless record in ways few bands are smart or brave enough to follow through with. I’m admittedly a huge Radiohead fanboy, but you really only need to listen to the first track to see how good this really is.
1. the National – Boxer
Driving through the Crow’s Nest Pass on a recent vacation to the West Coast, I found myself ensconced in a darkness that simultaneously felt dangerous and terrifying…but also comforting and familiar in a way. Dipping and curving in between and around mountains often cuts off the light of the moon, leaving only the swath of your headlights to remind you that you might not be alone in this world — even if you are completely and utterly alone on the road. The mind tends to wander when your brain is tired and there’s little visual stimuli present in your environment, and when one escapes into a record to keep the brain focused and on point, it had damn well better be a record appropriate for such a desolate situation. The National’s Boxer reflects a musical and lyrical tone of complete solitude and is the perfect accompaniment to a car ride that could turn deadly at a moment’s notice.
Like the very mountains that line the highways in the Kootenays and the Rockies of Canada, Boxer has dizzying peaks and devastating valleys, but it’s the lost and lonely middles that make up most of the disc. The vocals are delivered in a frequently laconic baritone, brought way up front in the mix, which makes it feel like it’s just you and lead singer Matt Berninger locked in a supply closet somewhere and he’s whispering his deepest secrets and fears across the floor to you.
They don’t muck about with excessive harmonies to get the beauty of the songs across. The drums lock into sharp, quick patterns that at times seem almost robotic. The music is a complementary wash of guitars, pianos, and synthesizers that occasionally blend in such a way that one element is not clearly distinguished above the others. Lyrically, Berninger expresses a strong me/us against the world feeling. “Fake Empire” recognizes the difficulties that exist outside of a couple’s relationships, finding a way to deal with another person in the midst of a world that makes no sense. “Brainy” could be interpreted as the story of a lone wolf stalking a woman in the night, trying his best to convince his prey that she “might need him more than she thinks she will.” “Slow Show” is a deeply affecting track, a man fed up with his life and looking to start over by proposing/propositioning a woman he’s “dreamed about…for 29 years…before I first saw you.” “Apartment Story” is a rare up-tempo number featuring two characters rebelling from the conventions of modern life and social obligation in favour of locking themselves in their home for several days until someone comes to find them. “Guest Room” reflects the desperation of a couple whose relationship has become cold and stale. And one of the last tracks when Berninger sings, “Ada, I can hear the sound of your laugh through the wall,” he makes it sound like the sourest, most joyless experience in life’s rich pageantry.
After “Ada”’s lonesome bottom, the piano chords that open “Gospel” let you know that everything is going to be okay. “Gospel” is a reconnection, a holiday reunion that uses subtle horns and insistent acoustic guitar chords to lift you back up to a place where you can breathe again.
I urge you to find your own lonesome, quiet, dark place to experience Boxer. Don’t even try to be the same afterwards.
Honourable Mentions
1. Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice
Another late addition, the majesty of this record is actually a little hard to grasp. Like the title suggests, Planet of Ice runs the risk of coming off as cold and detached. That’s thanks in part to the other-worldly guitar histrionics and ethereal keyboards, but mostly due to the occasionally disinterested-sounding vocals. As great as the music is, lyrically it’s too sexy and not as interesting as their previous LPs.
2. Dillinger Escape Plan – Ire Works
I raved about this album on the site and I stand by every word of that post. However, the ambient parts turned out to be a bit too ambient and you can kind of lose track of what you’re listening to at times. That’s probably about the only thing holding it back.
3. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover
Yes, I’m consistently late to everything Spencer Krug does, but man this album is weird and catchy.
4. Witches With Dicks – Manual
Like Dillinger Four, Witches With Dicks proves you can do pop punk without being sugary, vacuous, and inane. Sure they probably named the band after losing a bet, but sometimes intentional provocation is a sign of better things.
5. Feist - the Reminder
Yeah, we all know it’s a great record. But if the last two or three songs didn’t put me to sleep it would be amazing.
6. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Living With The Living
Trim the fat Ted. Seriously, you’re pretty much one of the best living songwriters. Just trim the fat and this would be perfection.
7. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog
Again, we all know this is an impressive stylistic and artistic change for Sam Beam. That’s cool, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t occasionally bore me. I’ll be the first to admit some of these songs are my new instant favourite Iron & Wine tracks (”Flightless Bird, American Mouth,” “Boy With A Coin,” “Resurrection Fern”), but what’s with the weird affect on the vocals? What’s with every instrument sounding kind of hollow? Why is the acoustic guitar buried?
8. Do Make Say Think - You, You’re A History In Rust
There is nothing about this record that I don’t like, but I find myself listening to purely instrumental albums very rarely. If my appreciation of music didn’t hinge so heavily on lyrics then it’d be top 10 for sure.
9. LCD Soundsystem - Sounds Of Silver
Again, a really good album that I have no real complaints about. But not something I feel compelled to put on every time I’m looking for something to listen to.
10. Against Me! - New Wave
They could’ve made this one of the best ep’s of the last five years, but they wrote two bad songs, put a new song from their live record on it, and it lowered the bar. But tracks two through seven and ten are awesome. I’m not sure if anyone shares this feeling, but I both hate and love that they made this album. Love because it’s very good, hate because it makes a phenomenal and unique band far less so.
Singles/EPs of the Year
1. Fucked Up - Year Of The Pig
Song of the year, EP/single of the year, songwriting of the year. This is amazing.
Acoustic-based solo material from two dudes who used to be in very similar sounding bands. These songs don’t sound the same though, and while Wollard’s side is weighed down by lackluster production, Hale’s has me salivating for Asian Man’s full-length release in a couple of months.
These guys are so good I thought they were Canadian. Gorgeous acoustic/folk numbers from an unexpected source and one of the downright prettiest pieces of wax this year.
Remember when Ben Weasel didn’t record with All-American Rejects members? When songs about girls and being bored were almost all there was? When a song didn’t have to be more than 30 seconds or have verses to be awesome? That’s because you haven’t heard these 30 tracks yet.
Sure it follows the split diagram to the letter: “cover the other guys song in an unexpected style for wacky results!” But there are just really spirited interpretations of very well-written songs, and that has to be appreciated.
WORST/MOST DISAPPOINTING ALBUMS Armor For Sleep - Smile For Them Ugh. So boring. Matthew Good - Hospital Music Just kind of passed by, didn’t make an impression. Sundowner - Five One Four Three It’s the same reason why I didn’t like the City & Colour album: what should’ve been a great idea that complimented the performers voice just came off as under-dressed and kind of dull. Say Anything - In Defense of the Genre I had low expectations going in, but this is just one example of what’s wrong with the music business. Bloated, overly long, and crammed so full of filler I can’t imagine anyone wading through this crap. Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight Whuuuuuuuuu? the Playing Favourites - I Remember When I Was Pretty I wish Joey Cape had just written and sang every song. He’s weighed down by lesser songwriters and it’s a shame; his contributions are solid. Drag the River/Dents - Found All The Parts The usually-stellar DTR just wasn’t putting their backbone into this one. These sound like the b-sides of a band that’s breaking up. YOU STOLE OUR SONG, NOW WE ROCK YOUR FACE 1. A Wilhelm Scream – the Distrikt My favourite shows are the ones where the opener totally outshines the headliner. These guys murdered Strung Out on their tour together and are one of the funnest bands to watch of all time as far as I know. 2. The Weakerthans – the Distrikt Always a pleasure, and this time they played fun new songs. Samson smiles more and more every tour, and it’s kind of fun to see that. 3. Do Make Say Think – the Exchange So awesome they made a frigid winter’s day sweaty. I had no idea so many people were into this group, but seeing their giant, swelling compositions come to life on stage was totally mesmerizing. 4. Wolf Parade/Frog Eyes – the Exchange I’m pretty sure it was this year. Carey Mercer is a trip to watch play guitar. 5. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - the Distrikt He’s a writhing ball of sweaty energy, even if his band looks bored out of their minds. Seriously, the drummer was rolling his eyes hard for at least the first third of the set. I guess I can’t blame him, as they only played to about 50 people. Come on Regina, this man is an amazing songwriter and performer! Get out there! SADDEST BREAK-UPS
AWESOME YEAR-END MIX TAPE
(best live sets of the year)
Drag the River
This year was all about Drag the River for me. I started the year by mail-ordering most of their cds, then started gathering up their 7”s and LP’s. After listening to them almost exclusively for at least a quarter of the year, they broke up. Then in December they announced that their final full-length would be out in January. Then I pre-ordered the LP and got a digital download as a Festivus gift. Then, after listening to it, I discovered that it just might be their best yet. Way to make breaking up even sadder, jerks.
So awesome. Always noisy, always spazzy, always sassy, Blood Brothers were also consistently amazing. Listen to Burn, Piano Island, Burn and try not to have heavy music forever changed in your eyes.
Warlocks, we hardly knew ye. They were awesome and they liked Kurt Vonnegut (as all good young punk rockers should). What else is there?
Seriously. What could be sadder?
(you can’t download it all, but you can get much of it)
1. the Gaslight Anthem – Angry Johnny & the Radio
2. Attack In Black – Marriage
3. A Wilhelm Scream – Pardon Me, Thanks A Lot
4. Bomb The Music Industry! – Bike Test 1-2-3
5. Fucked Up – Year of the Pig
6. Pinback – Barnes
7. Tegan & Sara – Nineteen
8. The Weakerthans – Night Windows
9. The Pipettes – Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me
10. Spoon – the Underdog
11. Spoon – You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
12. Wintersleep – Dead Letter & the Infinite Yes
13. Austin Lucas – Man Alive
14. The National – Slow Show
15. Chuck Ragan & Austin Lucas – Hold My Bed
16. The New Pornographers – Adventures In Solitude
17. Iron & Wine – Flightless Bird, American Mouth
18. Mike Hale – Easy Come, Easy Go
the National - Mistaken For Strangers [3:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
the National - Slow Show: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Radiohead - 15 Step [3:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
A Wilhelm Scream - Get Mad, You Son Of A Bitch [3:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Tegan & Sara - Nineteen [2:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
