Yawn

The only one syllable word fit enough to describe the musical dust bowl of 2007. Underwhelming releases from some acts that blew our hair back in previous years and no band that mightily earned the "new black" status on merit alone. Nonetheless, there were some decent releases that deserve recognition. So without further ado, I poop. Long, but not nearly as satisfying as previous years movements;

 

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1) Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall: 1971
I always thought it a cop out when people would make reissues and/or live albums their favorite album of the year. It oozes a cynicism that comes off as obnoxious moreso than elitist. Now that I am on the wrong side of 25, I kinda see where those people were coming from. A setlist to rival all and Neil's vocals never sounded as crisp. Never. Ever.

 

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2) Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
Neo-southern rock is better than neo-southern-garage rock any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

 

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3) Pelican - City of Echoes
If you liked Pelican but kinda wished they strayed from the 15 minute song structure then THIS is your record.

 

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4) Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Negative points for a moronic album title. Positive points for another release of perfect indie pop from America's Kinks.

 

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5) Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
Either you like the high pitched squeals emitted from the Asian front woman's voice or you don't. I happen to love them.

 

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6) Dinosaur Jr - Almost Ready
People kind of forget that J Masics made some of the best DJr albums without Murph and Lou. Thankfully, he can still do it with them as well.

 

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7) Apostle of Hustle-National Anthem of Nowhere
In Canada, it is required to be involved with at least two bands at once. Like Mitt Romney's religion only catchier and more believable.

 

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8) The New Pornographers - Challengers
Not as immediately gratifying as Twin Cinema, but ultimately more pleasurable. In the music biz, they call that a, "grower."

 

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9) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
A Debbie Downer of an album that pulls back the ambition a bit and leads to the inevitable joke, "hey, maybe they should have called this one, Funeral. BA-ZING!

 

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10) Battles - Mirrored
In Brooklyn, they give out this album with free samples of Tofutti. True story.

 

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11) Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation
The Band covers Wowee Zowee

 

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12) LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
I am obligated to put this album somewhere on my list. Hey, 12 sounds good!

 

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13) Art Brut - It's a Bit Complicated
Someone slipped Eddie some adderall. 'Bout time, gov'nah!

 

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14) Baroness - The Red Album
In all honesty, a much better album than Pelican's City of Echoes, but since I own more Pelican t-shirts, I gotta go with what got me here.

 

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15) Bright Eyes - Cassadega
Still depressed but no longer emotional.

 


16) Jens Lekman -  Night Falls Over Kortadala
This should be higher.

 


17) The National - Boxer
ditto for this

 


18) Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Living with the Living
Ted Leo can do no wrong.

 


19) Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Out of the west and into the pop radio charts for-ev-errrrrrr.

 


20) Radiohead - In Rainbows
It's not OK Computer, and it never will be . Siiiiiiigggghhhhhh.

Others:
Future of the Left - Curses
El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
Deerhunter - Cryptograms
The Fucking Champs - VI
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
3 Inches of Blood - Fire Up the Blades
Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters
Fesit - The Reminder
Animal Collective - Strawberry jam

Shows:
Injury and disinterest led me to only 4 shows all year.
Arcade Fire @ Judson Memorial Church
Arcade Fire @ the United Palace Theater
Band of Horses @ McCarren Pool
The Hold Steady @ Northsix ("Kevin got kicked out of the Hold Steady show for being 'too drunk.' That's like Steven Adler getting kicked out of Guns 'N Rose for doing 'too much' heroin."- Thomas Whalen)

Flicks:
Superbad, Michael Clayton, 3:10 to Yuma, Eastern Promises, Juno, Charlie Wilson's War, Bee Movie, Knocked Up (despite the fact it was about 40 minutes too long)

Here’s hoping to 2008,

Kevin Falahee, Fishkill NY