Best Records of 2007, IMHO
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1. Andrew
Bird – Armchair Apocrypha
The
former violinist and multi-instrumentalist (and perhaps the world’s
finest whistler – it’s scary) for the Squirrel Nut
Zippers continues to find his voice as a solo artist. I loved the
Mysterious
Production of Eggs
so much I couldn’t imagine this holding a candle. It does.
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2. The
National – Boxer
This
one snuck up on me. And now my iPod is telling me that I listened to
this more than anything else this past year. What can I say? It’s
kinda hypnotic and it soothes me.
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3. Peter,
Bjorn & John – Writer’s Block
A
collection of impossibly catchy pop tunes.
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4. Wilco
– Sky Blue Sky
Another
Wilco album that I didn’t like on first listen. Another one
that just kept getting better and better.
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5. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer
The
album's two best tracks: "Heimdalsgate Like A Promeathean
Curse" and "A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger"
should win an award for most obnoxiously obtuse hipster song titles.
But I’ll forgive them for this great pop record, and for the
fantastically tacky teal leather boots singer Kevin Barnes was
wearing as part of his drag motif at Pitchfork.
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6. Kings
of Leon – Because of the Times
I
somehow missed Aha
Shake Heartbreak
and this whole phenomena. This record has a lot of really good ole
southern rock: “Knocked Up,” “Charmer,”
“Black Thumbnail,” “Ragoo,” and “Fans”
among others.
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7. Panda
Bear – Person Pitch
Noah
Lennox of Animal Collective channels Brian Wilson. Beautiful
harmonies in an off-kilter, psychedelic wrapper.
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8. Dinosaur
Jr. – Beyond
I
was blown away by what a return-to-form this was for the reunited
Dinosaur Jr. Wow.
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9. Radiohead
– In Rainbows
Easily
my favorite album of theirs since “OK Computer.”
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10. Eddie
Vedder – “Into the Wild” Soundtrack
To
complete 2007’s nineties revival, I enjoyed Eddie taking up
the acoustic guitar on these anthemic folk songs.
Best Shows:
White Stripes at Madison Square Garden
Van Halen at Madison Square Garden
Andrew Bird at Beacon Theatre
Built to Spill / Cat Power at McCarren Park Pool
Modest Mouse at McCarren Park Pool
Ted Leo / Thermals at McCarren Park Pool
The National at South Street Seaport
Of Montreal, New Pornographers at Pitchfork Festival