Top 25 Albums Of 2007 – 16 to 20

December 20, 2007 by · Leave a Comment
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Part 2 of my top 25 albums of 2007, coming to you five at a time because my lame typing skills can’t bang it out any faster than that. How’s it look so far? Did I hit your favorite yet?

16: MIA Kala
In a really weak year for hip hop who’d have thought one of the best songs(Bamboo Banga) would open with a line lifted from Jonathan Richman. There’s sheer beauty in just how aggressive, rhythmic, and relentless this whole disc is. It’s music made to be played loud. Turn it up, and then turn it up some more.

MP3: M.I.A – Bamboo Banga
Buy Kala

17: The Cribs – Mens Needs, Womens Needs, Whatever
The Cribs third album, produced by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand is an energetic blend of pop punk goodness and their accompanying live show was one of the best I’ve seen this year, a powerhouse tour de force. Bonus points for taking chances on one of my favorite tracks, Be Safe, featuring a spoken voice over vocal by special guest Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth.

MP3: The Cribs – Men’s Needs
Buy Mens Needs, Womens Needs, Whatever

18: Bless 1 – Starving Artist
While Kanye,Fifty Cent and Jay-z made mediocre records and spent the year trying to out promote each others ego, Bless 1 holed up in Chicago and self produced this gem of a hip hop record and then gave it away for free via his myspace page. All about the music, the way it should be.

MP3: Bless 1 – The Hunger
Bless 1 Myspace

19: The Silver Seas – High Society
Playing like a long lost seventies classic, when albums were on vinyl records and FM radio still mattered, this blends the sound of that era’s finest, Van Morrison,Jackson Browne,Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, etc. into one great kick back and just listen experience.

MP3: The Silver Seas – The Country Life
Buy High Society

20: The Fratellis – Costello Music
When I first wrote about these guts way back last January I called them the UK version of The Hold Steady, in retrospect that may have been a little over exuberent a comparison on my part but they’re still damn good. The Fratellis can, and do, crank out tunes that come off like a cross between the Buzzcocks and T.Rex. Mostly about girls, girls and girls. Playing good old rock and roll, and they got to make a ipod commercial to boot.

MP3 : The Fratellis -Chelsea Dagger
Buy Costello Music

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Knocking Down Ten On A Saturday Afternoon

October 20, 2007 by · Leave a Comment
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A mini-mixed bag of ten newish songs I’ve come across lately to soundtrack your Saturday afternoon. No special shoes required. Rock on.

Of Montreal – The Kids Are Alright (The Who Cover)
Nada Surf – See These Bones
The New Whole Ususals – No Name Sally
Foo Fighters – Band On The Run
Josh Ritter – The River (Springsteen Cover)
AA Bondy – There’s A Reason
Drug Rug – Day I Day
PJ Harvey The Piano
Shrinking Islands – The Slow-Moving Aftermath
The Silver Seas – The Country Life

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New Music : The Silver Seas

October 9, 2007 by · Leave a Comment
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Did you ever have that dream where you meet some of the most well respected songwriters of a generation and suddenly you’ve absorbed all of their musical knowledge and songwriting skills ? James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Harry Chapin, Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, Jackson Browne, Van Morrison, Brian Wilson they’re all there and you’re just soaking it all in. Well, I haven’t had that dream either, but The Silver Seas must have because their new record High Society is all that and more rolled into one. It feels like you’re listening to an old favorite from the word go, familiar enough to be comfortable yet still new enough to be engaging.

High Society is set for a November 13th release on Cheap Lullaby Records
[The Silver Seas were formerly The Bees (U.S)]

MP3: The Silver Seas – Imaginary Girl
Buy High Society

[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]

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