We all get it. We all try to dwell on the list for days (or weeks) to get it right, but we'll always discover that album that should've made our list after hitting that post button. So here's mine.
Shugo Tokumaru: I'm a sucker for Japanese music of all forms, but this is real quality. I get taken back to the Beatles every time I listen to this album, and its a fitting comparison. Some of the songs suffer from being overlong, but this album still would've broke my top 20.
Josh Ritter: This is all my fault. I didn't like The Animal Years much, but The Historical Conquest drags you in from the get-go. The writing is top-notch, and the hooks are pretty spectacular too.
The Raveonettes: I had Lust Lust Lust for a good month before making my list and I guess I just skipped it over. I had liked their debut, but this album is their best. They've controlled the distortion and used it to their advantage, much like the new Magnetic Fields. Plus, this album hasn't been getting enough love on these boards, so, yeah, I'm punching myself for skipping this one.
Queens of the Stone Age: Another album that I skipped, but Era Vulgaris should be praised for capturing that raw sound that QotSA was originally praised for. Sure, Songs for the Deaf was more consistent, but it was too clean, this album is jagged, and I like that. Plus, their slow-burner, Make It Wit Chu, is a gem.
That's all my regrets, for now. Happy New Year, maybe I can drown these ones out.
Posts: 338 | Location: AVA | Registered: 24 June 2006
Originally posted by pak: Josh Ritter: This is all my fault. I didn't like The Animal Years much, but The Historical Conquest drags you in from the get-go. The writing is top-notch, and the hooks are pretty spectacular too.
I'm glad Josh is getting respect. I don't know why everyone is always so slow to catch on to his music.
My regret is Miracle Fortress Five Roses. It's not top ten material, but it would have been in my top 20. It's very solid, and adventurous. I'm looking forward to getting to know it better over the next couple of months. It's sounds like a good album to study to.
---------------------------- There's an ember in the rafters and it's gonna burn this whole thing down.
I regret not listening to Low's Drums & Guns more, might have cracked my top 20. Although the vocals are hit and miss to me, sonically its rather special throughout.
Originally posted by Ebenezer Borachon: I just realised that I left Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga completely out of my top 40. Not that it makes a difference, but it would have been mid 20s somewhere.
Bah Humbug indeed.
----- Never say you miss her, never say a word. And do everything she'd never do.
Posts: 6634 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005
Originally posted by hudson: Right now, after having a chance to listen to and absorb both El-P's and Lupe's album, I realize they belong in my top 10. Oh well, nobody's perfect.
They certainly are great albums, both are tremendous efforts. I had El-P’s in my top ten but Fiasco’s, though in my top 20, wasn’t in the top ten. I have been listening to it a lot lately and I really do like it a lot. If I made my list over right now, it would be in my top ten as well.
----- Never say you miss her, never say a word. And do everything she'd never do.
Posts: 6634 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005
Originally posted by pak: Queens of the Stone Age: Another album that I skipped, but Era Vulgaris should be praised for capturing that raw sound that QotSA was originally praised for. Sure, Songs for the Deaf was more consistent, but it was too clean, this album is jagged, and I like that. Plus, their slow-burner, Make It Wit Chu, is a gem.
Excellent comments! For many of these very reasons, EV will be in my top 20.
_____________________________ Weep to Water the Trees.
I jumped the gun and didn't wait to listen to the new Wu-Tang album before posting my list, it would have been in the top 15 somewhere and the only rap album on my list. Sorry RZA, my bad.
Posts: 693 | Location: kentucky | Registered: 02 October 2007
Fiery Furnaces "Widow City" keeps jumping on and off my list as well. It's probably one of my favorites by them...I don't really get why it wasn't getting love from the P4Ks and the CMGs.
As for the final songs list, I always post there on a whim, so yeah, I would get rid of probably half of those songs now. But whattayagonnado?
Posts: 338 | Location: AVA | Registered: 24 June 2006
*** Grinderman: My worst oversight. It should have been in my top 10, easily. I really liked it when I originally bought it, but hadn't listened to it much around the time I made my MC list. After listening to it lately, I hear again how much it rocks and how funny it is.
*** Josh Ritter: "Historical Conquests...," along w/Tegan & Sarah and Patty Griffin, came closest to knocking off my #1 (Boxer) as the year went by, but I only listed him at #8. He should have been #2 or, at worst, 4th.
*** I'm Not There OST (various artists, Bob Dylan covers): Got this for Christmas and, WOW, it's easily the best collection of Dylan covers ever. Very few duds and a few songs - especially John Doe's moving rendition of "Pressing On" - that actually improve upon the originals. (Oh no, the Rock Gods may strike me with lightning.) Hands down in my favorite 10-20 releases of the year.
*** Wilco: I bought this for my wife for Christmas. She loves it and it's really grown on me. Yes, it's "Dad-Rock" as some critics have written and not breaking any "new" ground, but that's not so awful. It's damn good. Tweedy's vocals are in really fine form & the guitar work from the new guy is superb. It prolly should have been anywhere between 15 and 40, depending on my mood and how much my wife is influencing me on any given day. ;-)
One that should NOT have made my top 20 is The Hives. Dunno what I was thinking. It was still pretty new to me at the time and, outside of "Tick Tick Boom" (love that song), it was worn out after a few more listens. (I still like it well enough, but it's more like 40-50.)
Overall, I can't recall a year where I bought, listened to and and enjoyed more new music. There were so many good releases this year that an ordered list seemed even more arbitrary than usual. I'm not saying there were loads of masterpieces (only survival over years of listening determines that for me). But there were 40-50 albums that could be listed anywhere between 15 and 50 in darn near any order, depending on mood and all kinds of subjective conditions.
The Raveonettes: I had Lust Lust Lust for a good month before making my list and I guess I just skipped it over. I had liked their debut, but this album is their best. They've controlled the distortion and used it to their advantage, much like the new Magnetic Fields. Plus, this album hasn't been getting enough love on these boards, so, yeah, I'm punching myself for skipping this one.
I didn't know they released one in 07 until I read your post. It sure didn't get any attention or reviews. Too bad. I like them. Gonna check it out. Thanks!
Originally posted by outis: *** Wilco: I bought this for my wife for Christmas. She loves it and it's really grown on me. Yes, it's "Dad-Rock" as some critics have written and not breaking any "new" ground, but that's not so awful. It's damn good. Tweedy's vocals are in really fine form & the guitar work from the new guy is superb. It prolly should have been anywhere between 15 and 40, depending on my mood and how much my wife is influencing me on any given day. ;-)
This might sound bad but it does surprise me how much chicks love that album. Don’t get me wrong, I love Wilco and everything Jeff Tweedy and they have done (the stuff with Bragg, Uncle Tupelo, the Minus 5 album, etc.) but their new one isn’t anything special. You mentioned anywhere between 15-40 and I had it somewhere in my 30-40 range, I think. And that’s where I believe that it belongs, it really isn’t anything other than some solid easy-going music. And yes, Tweedy’s voice has never sounded better but the band—as a whole—has definitely sounded better.
I guess it’s just interesting because the girl I was with didn’t really like much of the stuff I had by them, she would hear it when I played it in my house or in the car but she never seemed to really enjoy it. Sky Blue Sky was the first one she ever asked to borrow so she could hear it on her own and she did really fall in love with it. It was perplexing to me and when I asked her to make a “mock top albums of the year,” she said it would have been her #1.
----- Never say you miss her, never say a word. And do everything she'd never do.
Posts: 6634 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005
Originally posted by FragileKidA: Don’t get me wrong, I love Wilco and everything Jeff Tweedy and they have done (the stuff with Bragg, Uncle Tupelo, the Minus 5 album, etc.) but their new one isn’t anything special. You mentioned anywhere between 15-40 and I had it somewhere in my 30-40 range, I think. And that’s where I believe that it belongs, it really isn’t anything other than some solid easy-going music. And yes, Tweedy’s voice has never sounded better but the band—as a whole—has definitely sounded better.
I left it out of my top 50. It would certainly make my top 75, but I'm with you. It's funny that you mention "the band as a whole" because this probably is the Wilco band with the best 'chops'. I think it would have been pretty cool to hear this group rock it out, if you will. And I'm not talking about the masturbatory jams they've been playing live with this lineup.
_____________________________ Weep to Water the Trees.
My wife gave me a late Christmas present in the form of Bishop Allen and the Broken String. I know some of these songs have been around for close to two years, but I am really enjoying it. It's not cohesive enough to be an amazing album, but the songs are great. Clever lyrics, good production, and a fun possitive attitude. Also, my wife likes it, so I can play it in the car and she doesn't groan and cover her ears.
I would place it in my 15-20 range. I have to live with it a while though.
---------------------------- There's an ember in the rafters and it's gonna burn this whole thing down.
I have so many albums that I know I should've found a place for but I was tired of complicating my list further.
Deerhoof- Friend Opportunity Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Fiery Furnaces- Widow City Ghostface- Big Doe Rehab Spank Rock & Benny Blanco- ...Are Bangers & Cash
These are the ones that immediately came to mind when I was lying in bed after posting my list last night; I'm sure there are tons of others that I'd put if I sat down and went through my collection. There are definitely a lot that I didn't listen to enough.
