Seems like I always beat everyone to this. I have heard some excellent stuff so far in this very young year.
A Few Highlights...

Au Revoir Simone 'The Bird of Music'
Eluvium 'Copia'
Menomena 'Friend and Foe'
Explosions in the Sky 'All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone'
Air 'Pocket Symphony'
Jesu 'Conqueror'

What does everyone else think so far?

quote:

Originally posted by modestryan:
Eluvium 'Copia'

Dayum, I didn't even know he had a record coming out! Coool

So far in 07 I've been too preoccupied with the Menomena album to listen to anything else. I really like it.

quote:

Originally posted by modestryan:
Explosions in the Sky 'All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone'

I think this one isn't very good. Really disappointing for their first album in 4 years.

I regret to say that I've yet to listen to a single album from '07 yet. In fact, the only new album I've listened to in a month is Ys. Moving and starting a new job will do that to you, I guess.

I did get ahold of the new Explosions in the Sky, but I've only listened to about 30 seconds. Obviously, no real opinion yet.

quote:

I regret to say that I've yet to listen to a single album from '07 yet.

It's freaking January 4. Did anything even come out Tuesday?

Right now it's all about the singles for me. Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah all have a few songs out, and they all make me really excited for those releases. I wish Ted Leo would put out a song, though.

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:
It's freaking January 4. Did anything even come out Tuesday?

Nothing noteworthy. But, I like that RL already found an album to be disappointed by.

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:

quote:

I regret to say that I've yet to listen to a single album from '07 yet.

It's freaking January 4. Did anything even come out Tuesday?

You're so coy, Leland.

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It's freaking January 4. Did anything even come out Tuesday?

True, but their have been loads of albums available to hear for awhile - even though they were'nt officially out.

I downloaded the new Patrick Wolf record, The Magic Position. One of the singles from the record got a very high rating from Pitchforkmedia in their track reviews section. I like his last record, Wind in the Wires a great deal. So far this new one has a more upbeat feel to it but I've only gotten through the first half of it. I will nominate it for one of the absolute worst album covers of 2007. I don't think it actually comes out until February some time....

quote:

Originally posted by less_success:

quote:

It's freaking January 4. Did anything even come out Tuesday?

True, but their have been loads of albums available to hear for awhile - even though they were'nt officially out.

I just don't download ahead of the release date anymore. I've received incomplete albums and unfinished mixes (Picaresque), while others have subjected themselves to outright fakes (Kid A, The Campfire Headphase) and made fools of themselves damning or lauding something intentionally meant to mislead. The recent confusion over "Snakes and Martyrs" being "Wolf Like Me" was a hoot—the fact people were still referring to them incorrectly so late in the year was laughable (obviously these are true music fans).

I'm not going to ruin my enjoyment of something just to get the jump on everybody else. And even if the album is finished, and it is complete, I'm still an old soul when it comes to the complete package: Orphans feels a little richer with a 94-page, hardbound book in my hands.

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:
Orphans feels a little richer with a 94-page, hardbound book in my hands.

I hear you on that. Doesn't it piss you off when an artist does very little to "enhance" the packaging? I hate it. *lightbulb* Here comes a new thread!

quote:

I just don't download ahead of the release date anymore. I've received incomplete albums and unfinished mixes (Picaresque), while others have subjected themselves to outright fakes (Kid A, The Campfire Headphase) and made fools of themselves damning or lauding something intentionally meant to mislead. The recent confusion over "Snakes and Martyrs" being "Wolf Like Me" was a hoot—the fact people were still referring to them incorrectly so late in the year was laughable (obviously these are true music fans).

I'm not going to ruin my enjoyment of something just to get the jump on everybody else. And even if the album is finished, and it is complete, I'm still an old soul when it comes to the complete package: Orphans feels a little richer with a 94-page, hardbound book in my hands.

That's fine, leland. I haven't had those bad experiences with downloading music, personally. I did deal with the TV on the Radio album, but quickly realized that the song titles were not correct, and did find it laughable as well that people still didn't realize it was a mistake. Also, you bring up a good point; the mixing/mastering for Cookie Mountain was not finished on the leaked version. That's precisly why I bought it when it was released in the US.

In fact, I basically agree with what you're saying. I always encourage people to purchase the real deal. It really isn't the same listening to some MP3's on your computer then actually owning the release with all of the accoutrements. However, I can't afford to buy every album I want to listen to, and I tend to be very picky about what I like. Usually there's only about 20-30 albums released in one year that I will actively listen to. As a consequence, it's pretty much necessary for me to do some pre-screening before I pick something up I'm not sure I will like. I've just been burned enough times spending $15 on something I end up not really enjoying.

I didn't realize my comment would stir anyone up. I was just saying that I hadn't had time to listen to any new music lately. That being said, I vote to quash this conversation and refrain from crowding the thread anymore then I already have

quote:

In fact, I basically agree with what you're saying. I always encourage people to purchase the real deal. It really isn't the same listening to some MP3's on your computer then actually owning the release with all of the accoutrements. However, I can't afford to buy every album I want to listen to, and I tend to be very picky about what I like. Usually there's only about 20-30 albums released in one year that I will actively listen to. As a consequence, it's pretty much necessary for me to do some pre-screening before I pick something up I'm not sure I will like. I've just been burned enough times spending $15 on something I end up not really enjoying.

Hey, I'm all for screening. It's the people who justify stealing simply because they think they deserve to be entertained that annoy me.

A lot of them never had to copy a tape. Man that sucked.

You go over to a friend's house who has a stereo with two decks, pop in a blank tape, press play and record—at the same time, unless you had the fancy jobbies with a button that controlled both sides—then find something else to do for however long side A takes to copy. 30 minutes later, come back and flip the tapes for side B. Find something else to do. Oh crap! Side B got stuck! Do-over.

CD to CD seemed way too hard when I was in high school. I still went the way of CD to tape. It gave me another reason to sit there, listen to music and smoke cigarettes. I cured the smoking, but not the sitting or the listening.

Speaking of, I miss making mixtapes. But not Tiny Mix Tapes. Mix CDs just ain't the same.

What were we talking about again?

quote:

However, I can't afford to buy every album I want to listen to, and I tend to be very picky about what I like. Usually there's only about 20-30 albums released in one year that I will actively listen to. As a consequence, it's pretty much necessary for me to do some pre-screening before I pick something up I'm not sure I will like. I've just been burned enough times spending $15 on something I end up not really enjoying.

I sympathize with you on that. I've been using Rhapsody for the past year and a half, and it's been a real godsend. For $15 a month, I can download full albums and even transfer them to my Mp3 player. Best of all it's legit, the artists get paid, the quality is consistent, and I don't have to worry about f**ked up track names. I can only think of a few cases in the past year where they didn't carry an album I wanted - Jenny Lewis, Thom Yorke, and Joanna Newsom.

There is something nice about having an actual CD though. If I know something has great packaging, like Orphans, I'll still buy the physical copy.

quote:

You go over to a friend's house who has a stereo with two decks, pop in a blank tape, press play and record—at the same time, unless you had the fancy jobbies with a button that controlled both sides—then find something else to do for however long side A takes to copy. 30 minutes later, come back and flip the tapes for side B. Find something else to do. Oh crap! Side B got stuck! Do-over.

Yeah, that's good stuff. My wife still would rather use tapes then CDs, so I find myself making her tapes from time to time. Certainly not as easy, but you're right, it just doesn't feel as special when you just burn a CD for someone. It's not just the music on the mix, it's the work put into preparing the mix that makes it a special gift.

I don't think there's anything wrong with downloading stuff as long as you support the artist by

1. Buying the physical release at some point
2. Attending shows by the artist
3. Buying other goods from them (shirts, etc)

I buy a lot of used and traded-in promos, and I realize that the artists never get a cent for that. But if I like a band, they'll get money from me in some fashion.

I also try, as often as possible, to buy direct from labels, where the bulk of the money goes to the people who've done the lion's share of the work. Sometimes, when the label is the artist's own (Joe Pernice's Asmont, John Stirrat's Broadmoor), it's extra nice knowing that the artist is getting almost all of the money.

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
There is something nice about having an actual CD though. If I know something has great packaging, like Orphans, I'll still buy the physical copy.

This is something I have been stuggling with lately. I love having the CD with all the packaging and liner notes, but at the same time, it just costs so damn much. Amazon and buying used discs has helped with this, but I always end up buying some online and downloading them.

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I also try, as often as possible, to buy direct from labels, where the bulk of the money goes to the people who've done the lion's share of the work. Sometimes, when the label is the artist's own (Joe Pernice's Asmont, John Stirrat's Broadmoor), it's extra nice knowing that the artist is getting almost all of the money.

I've been doing this a lot more of late. I've found that many times the CD's are cheaper than they are in the store, and only a buck or two more than on, say, iTunes.