Posts from top 10 records 2007

One morning this spring, I was doing my early morning thing; email, reading blogs, writing blogs, with the Hype Machine in the background and suddenly I was listening intently to a song that commanded my attention. That song, called Jesus For The Jugular, was my introduction to The Veils and their record, Nux Vomica.

I went through a period this summer where Nux Vomica was all I listened to. There is something urgent and intense about this music that comes directly from the leader of The Veils, the lead singer and songwriter, Finn Andrews. He’s very Morrisey-like in his writing, singing, and delivery. In fact, the bonus track, Night Thoughts Of A Tired Surgeon sounds like it comes right off of a mid-80s Smiths record. Maybe that’s why I like this band and this record so much.

But The Veils are not a Smiths clone. They’ve got their own vibe, their own energy. The Gotham Gal and I witnessed it first hand at Bowery Ballroom this summer and came away impressed.

If you like your music delivered with both melody and intensity, check out this record. I am sure glad I did.

Night Thoughts Of A Tired Surgeon – The Veils – Nux Vomica

On the left sidebar, about half way down, there is a player called Streampad.

It looks like the picture to the right.

That player allows you to listen to all the mp3s I post to this blog in a playlist.

And if you click on the icon on the lower right of the streampad player, it will popup into a new window and you can listen for as long as you like.

As I roll out my top 10 over the next couple weeks, the player will fill up with songs from my favorite records of the year.

GIve it a listen.

A bunch of my favorite bands put out records this year that I really enjoyed but none jumped out at me as Top 10 material. When I looked at my last.fm play history and my rhapsody play history, it’s clear that these records were a big part of my listening this year so I feel like I should give them honorable mention. So here they are:

We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank – Modest Mouse – Old school Modest Mouse fans would say they’ve mellowed, new fangled Modest Mouse fans would say it’s not as listenable as Good News. I say that anything that Isaac Brock and crew do is just fine with me. And the addition of Johnny Marr makes them even better. Top tracks include Dashboard, Fire It Up, Missed The Boat, People As Places, and Invisible.

Fire It Up – Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

 

Sky Blue Sky – Wilco – I’ve read a lot of Wilco fan bloggers who think this album was disappointing. It certainly is not as adventurous as Yankee Hotel or Summerteeth, but I really enjoy the 70s soft rock sound (think Steve Miller or Steely Dan). And I particularly like the growing importance of Nels Cline’s amazing guitar playing in the band and on this record. I also love the way this record was the soundtrack to a series of volkswagon commercials. Top tracks include Either Way, Impossible Germany, Hate It Here, Walken, and What Light.

Impossible Germany – Wilco – Sky Blue Sky

 

In Rainbows – Radiohead – All the buzz is about how they released this record via a "pick your price" offer using the web. I loved the way they did it and wish every band would release their music via drm free mp3s directly from the band’s website. What got lost in all the talk is that this is the best record the band has made in a decade and there are several songs that are classic Radiohead, including my favorites Weird Fishes and Jigsaw.

Jigsaw Falling Into Place – Radiohead – In Rainbows

 

Wincing The Night Away – The Shins – This record was on many of the top ten lists I saw in the past couple weeks. I was tempted to put it on my list too. But I was really into it last year (got a pre-release) and I petered out on it early on this year. My favorite tracks on this record are Red Rabbits, Split Needles, Phantom Limb, and Girl Sailor.

Red Rabbits – The Shins – Wincing The Night Away

Ga, Ga, Ga, Ga, Ga – Spoon – Another record that was on many top ten lists I’ve seen. I like their new funkier sound. And I’d really like to see them live. But the record is uneven and I find myself playing a few tracks off of it a lot more frequently than I play the whole record. The two tracks that I absolutely love are Underdog (from the movie soundtrack – I never saw it) and Cherry Bomb. I also really like the opening track, Don’t Make Me A Target.

You Got Your Cherry Bomb – Spoon – Ga, Ga, Ga, Ga, Ga

Boxer – The National – This one is really tough to keep of the top 10. It was on the cusp along with two or three other records, but given that it kind of fit into "solid records by bands I love", it ended up here. It also pales just a bit in comparison to The National’s prior effort, Alligator. But Boxer is a super record, and features one of the best tracks of the year, called Apartment Story. Fake Empire and Start A War are also excellent.

Apartment Story – The National – Boxer

Jessica has taken on the role in our family of finding new bands to fall in love with. She found The Shout Out Louds a couple years ago and they’ve become a staple in our home. This year she found a bunch of bands and two that stand out are Bishop Allen and Vampire Weekend. Vampire’s new record is amazing, but since it doesn’t come out until January, it won’t be on this year’s top 10 list.

Bishop Allen’s The Broken String is a fantastic record. It might have been in my top 10 except for the fact that we just started listening this month and I just don’t know how it will stand the test of time.

I heard The Decemberists, Ben Kweller, and The Magnetic Fields in their music. It’s smart pop and it’s easy on the ears. This is the kind of record that you listen to a few times and then all of sudden you find yourself singing along.

The catchiest song on the record is Click, Click, Click which I blogged at fredwilson.vc. Give it a visit if you want to hear that song.

For those looking for a taste right here, here’s a song called Rain.

Rain – Bishop Allen – The Broken String

Thanks to The Leather Canary for hosting that mp3 for Rain. It’s one of dc’s top songs of the year.

It’s that time of year again. Each day between now and the end of the year, I"ll post one record (I am dating myself with that word)

The next several days are honorable mention days. And we’ll start with the boss because I heard his version of santa claus is comin’ to town on the radio this morning on the way to the gym

This is the second year in a row that Bruce has a record in honorable mention. I think that says something about my view of his work these days. It’s good but not the thing I put on every day

Magic is the best rock record Bruce has made since The Rising. My son Josh’s band is playing Radio Nowhere. Its a great cover song, a straight up rocker

My favorite track is Livin’ In The Future and I am also partial to Girls In Their Summer Clothes, I’ll Work For Your Love, and Terry’s Song

I have friends who love Bruce and think Magic is among his best. They are annoyed that it was ignored by The Grammy’s. I would be annoyed if any of my top 10 made The Grammy’s. Its pathetic to see what goes for popular music these days. Unless its The Boss. Who has remained relevant for almost 40 years

Magic is one of the best records I bought this year. It’s not magical like some of the records to come on this list, but its solid and at times reminds me of the younger Bruce who laughed while singing about Santa Claus. I think that Bruce is long gone, but the one we’ve still got made a solid record this year and I’m happy about that.