The writer of Sally Forth is actually a REALLY funny cartoonist, as shown by his webcomic: http://www.medium-large.com/ It's just that he went as bland as possible for Sally Forth in order to get syndicated.

TMT turned me onto The Devastations album which they claim is a 2008 release but is not in any country I've found. It's gentle, heart-felt, touching... all while not being twee or pussy. I'd put this around when people are near without shrinking away.

I can see this album sticking in my rotation. It's pretty... well, devastating, though. Really eerie in parts. The noise going on in the background of "The Saddest Sound" is one of the saddest, eeriest noises I've heard.

*now sulking for no good reason*

Finally closing out the year...

Albums I would have ranked higher if had the chance...

Smile - Lily Allen - Top 15 material
Love is Simple - Akron/Family - this one in very heavy rotation right now...love their anything goes experimentation but rooted in classic rock sound. First half of album in particular kicks ass...probably would have been low teens/early twenties.
100 Days 100 Nights - Sharon Jones - Can't wait to catch her at Coachella, classic old skool soul, down to the cover art.
45:33 - LCD Soundsystem - Yeah I know, was released digitally last year, but damn, this thing is almost as kick as Sound of Silver.

Late analysis disappointments -

Burial - Untrue...cool sound, really like Arch-Angel...but at close to 60 minutes, not an album that sustains interest on repeated listens...

Raising Sand - Plant/Krause - thought there would be a lot more to this...lot of great mellow albums this year, this is not one of them.

M.I.A - Kala - I understand the enthusiasm, very creative, but not my cup of tea.

quote:

Originally posted by JGlass:

quote:

Originally posted by musicfanatic:
I regret not posting a list before I moved.

Did you leave the 813?

lol, no. I did move from west Tampa to the east side. Still 813 though

This has been the only notable addition to my list in the last month. It's a fantastic folk record that comes in awesome packaging: a slim, hardcover book with each song having two pages, one for lyrics and another for a drawing. The back has a fake library-card sleeve complete with fake library card. The CD fits in the sleeve.

Here are a couple links to free mp3s from their website:

http://www.tgod.ca/mp3s/deceased.mp3
http://www.tgod.ca/mp3s/Chekhov.mp3

Also check out their MySpace page.

Here's where the CD can be bought.

It's close enough to a month since I posted my list and I'm still enveloping myself in 2007 music so what the hell. Out of curiosity, do most of you abruptly stop listening to your favorite 07 music in pursuit of newer, bigger, better, or do you gradually ween off it?

Random thoughts:

The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
I got this album based on emusic's end of the year recommendations since I wanted to give myself eclectic points. I think this is best described as a bluegrass album. Although the more acceptable country euphemisms of alt-country, folk, and 'progressive country' (wtf allmusic?) would apply, this is predominantly acoustic bluegrass with prolonged keening vocal harmonies and the glorious twang of banjo. Again there is some rock in surprising parts of this album, but it's mostly a slow and swooning listening. Great stuff (like Sky Blue Sky, but authentic). Highlights: "Shame", "Will You Return?", "Pretty Girl from Chile", "I Would Be Sad".

The Hip-Hop Scene:
I've gotten a few more listens from Pharoahe Monch's Desire and I'm still loving it. I've grown fond of some tracks from Aesop Rock, especially "Coffee", which is like two tracks in one with like 2 minutes of intermediate awkward silence. I can't say I enjoy the whole album though. I've discovered Panacea's The Scenic Route, which is glistening with sprawling and complex electronic back drops and super smooth lyrical flow. All in all a very mature effort that would've been an honorable mention - at least check out the title track (which reminds me of the superNES Star Fox soundtrack, don't ask) and "Walk in the Park".

I find myself listening to MIA - Kala at least once a week, if not more, usually to augment my strung up mood on the drive home. I don't know if I would've ranked it higher (my number 4), but it's something I'll be listening to for a long time to come - a pleasant surprise.

quote:

Originally posted by La La Love Pixies:
Out of curiosity, do most of you abruptly stop listening to your favorite 07 music in pursuit of newer, bigger, better, or do you gradually ween off it?

Because of the sheer volume of new music I go through, I doubt most people realize that I listen to a hell of a lot more music not made in whatever the current year is. So, the things I listen to just depends on the mood, not the year. If a new album is getting hyped up or intrigues me, I'll put it on. If I really feel like listening to Calculating Infinity, I put it on. I wouldn't say that 2008 replaces 2007 albums, but I do stop actively searching out 2007 albums.

I've been listening to 2007 albums a lot, mostly because 2008 is really lacking in interesting music these days.

I definitely ween off of the albums. Usually, my top 50 albums or so still stay in heavy rotation, and the top 10 are gold for another couple of years at least. Anyway, on topic:

Daft Punk - Alive
Color me surprised. I didn't much care about this release, even after P4k showered it with praise. But this release is excellent, right up there with Discovery, and proof-positive that if anyone should fiddle with Daft Punk's material, its Daft Punk (are you listening, Kanye?). These mashups are amazing, and even make Human After All sound classic. This overtakes Justice's Cross, an excellent effort that was spotty in places. Alive is excellent throughout, and would've made my list.

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
I've been listening to 2007 albums a lot, mostly because 2008 is really lacking in interesting music these days.

Dito.

quote:

Originally posted by Shadrach:

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
I've been listening to 2007 albums a lot, mostly because 2008 is really lacking in interesting music these days.

Dito.

really? i feel like with all the leaking albums there is a ton to listen to for 2008. even if you are not into downloading - there have been some pretty solid releases thus far. i'm happy listening to box, boris, atlas sound, destroyer, stephen malkmus, the low lows, etc. i guess i just don't get the apathy towards 2008.

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
I've been listening to 2007 albums a lot, mostly because 2008 is really lacking in interesting music these days.

Agree as well. There is so much to listen to but I didn't like/care for a lot of it. There are only 2 stellar releases and 3 really good/great ones.

quote:

Originally posted by BAfé:

quote:

Originally posted by Chamberk:
I've been listening to 2007 albums a lot, mostly because 2008 is really lacking in interesting music these days.

Agree as well. There is so much to listen to but I didn't like/care for a lot of it. There are only 2 stellar releases and 3 really good/great ones.

Yeah... I wouldn't argue in favor of anything I've heard from 2008 as being better than anything on my top 20 list from 2007. I've been digging into last year even deeper and finding things that would have fallen in the 40s that are actually fresh and interested.

Yesterday I had a Borders coupon for 40% off all CDs, and $15 in Borders bucks that will expire at the end of the month, from filling out online surveys, and I had nothing I wanted to buy. I ended up just reaching back on my list to things that only slightly interested me last year. Hey, two new albums acquired legally for 3 bucks is worth taking a risk.

Which brings me back to the real subject of the thread. I bought Jens Lekman's Night Falls Over Kortedala, and I actually really enjoyed listening to it. I don't think it would have cracked my top 20, or even 30. But I used to think people were crazy for liking it, and now I understand and respect it. I like it's grand old fashioned style. And his lyrics are really just fun. It's much better than Oh, your so silent.

I also bought Jose Gonzale's Verneer, on a whim, and it's also very good, but not a 2007 release.

I'm pretty happy with all the releases thus far, and think that it's a little premature to be disappointed already. I'm really looking forward to a lot of great stuff. At the very least, there should be some very stellar hip hop released this year, a genre that wasn't exactly stacked last year.

Yeah, I think you guys are kinda crazy for already being upset about releases. It's only a couple months into the year (I had one or two albums from this early on my list, most of my albums were mid-year).

I also think there have been some stellar releases. Hercules & Love Affair, Black Mountain, Die! Die! Die! are all quality in my eyes.

quote:

Originally posted by JGlass:

I also think there have been some stellar releases. Hercules & Love Affair, Black Mountain, Die! Die! Die! are all quality in my eyes.

I like both Hercules & Love Affair and Die! x 3, but grew bored of Black Mountain after a few listens.

That's understandable and it seems you're not the only one... but I haven't! haha

Oh, I forgot to mention that the new Autechre is still killer in my book. And I know there are others but I'm on break right now and would rather not think too much.

Last year: Blitzen Trapper and maybe even Beirut.

I can always put Bon Iver on this year's list (if I do one).

I've only heard the Black Mountain once all the way through, but it brought back fond memories of my high school days (Class of '73)

Should have replaced Panda Bear with Caribou. I don't play too much from "Person Pitch" these days beyond "Take Pills" and "Bros."

Having discovered this only recently, i probably would've added Omar Rodriguez Lopez' Se Dice Bisonte, No Bùfalo to my top 20