Arbitrary though it may be, as sure as the yearly snow falls on fair Chicago, year-end lists emerge with ever increasing self-importance. The list is a basic human need. Absurd at times, yes, but we crave it nonetheless. We crave it almost as much as we crave another Electrical Audio jumpsuit auction ("you gotta get me one of those jumpsuits"). So, this year, we've wrung our hands dry and indulged ourselves in this art of the list. We wanted to be creative, so we kind of loosened up the rules a bit. The sprawling lines below aren't mere top ten lists...they are keyholes into the minds of a bunch of people who spend way too much time sifting through shelves of records (yes, we still do that), commenting on music blogs, and inhabiting music venues, among other things. Anyway, enjoy our merry list-making and thanks for all of your support in 2007. Happy holidays!
Chris Brokaw (The New Year)
hi, my name is chris brokaw. i play drums with The New Year. we have 2 albums on touch and go, and another coming in september 2008. i also make solo records, and play with some other groups. this year, it was a lot of groups, and i decided to enumerate some of the things i got to participate in.
the new year – spaceland, los angeles
this was probably my favorite new year show this year, not sure why. matt sat and played piano for the first time onstage; that was kind of exciting. david bazan played that night and was excellent.
77 boadrum – brooklyn
i was one of the 77 drummers that played with the boredoms in a park in brooklyn for several thousand people. it was really great, totally unique. there were some really spine-tingling moments.
rhys chatham ensemble – great scotts, allston ma
last year i toured with rhys and it was totally amazing - playing 'die donnergotter' (eye from the boredoms favorite song) every night for a week was one of the great thrills of my life. for this show it was several guitarists, bass + drums doing 'guitar trio' (one chord) for about an hour.
solo – lee rosy's tearoom, nottingham uk
i started this solo gig by reading from constance dejong's 'the lucy amarillo stories', something i hadnt really done before (or since). it made sense that night, and it was a really cool, inimate gig.
11th dream day – kino, ebensee, austria
11th dream day asked me to play guitar and organ with them on a short tour. it was amazing and surreal to be inside this music that i've admired for many years. the kino in ebensee is a really cool place in a beautiful mountain/lake region. people come out and go nuts.
thurston moore band – doug fir lounge, portland, or
i didnt get to play on 'trees outside the academy' because i was out with 11th DD, but i did get to do some touring playing guitar with thurston and co. this show was really happening - something just locked in -it was tight.
fflashlights – the hideout, chicago
this is my newish band with doug mccombs and elliot dicks. I really like the hideout. again, one of those nights where it was really locked in...
dirtmusic – murska sobota, slovenia
my very new band with hugo race and chris eckman. our 2nd gig. very crazy audience, especially the hungarians. someone said 'i couldnt get close to the stage, it was like a bosnian wedding up there.’
two dollar guitar – tanned tin festival, castellon, spain
a trio of me + tim foljahn + christina rosenvinge. amazing we pulled it off....everything fell into place.
empty house cooperative – 3rd life studios, somerville ma
the trio of me + dave curry + jonah sacks. a sleepy and ruminative set...
brokaw/farina duo – lizard lounge, cambridge ma
new duo of me and geoff farina, playing all pre WWII country blues tunes. we learned 'in the evening' that day and something really happened with it that night. billy went nuts.
dando/brokaw duo – brixton academy, london uk
me and evan opening for jesus and mary chain. kind of crazy but ok, sound was like grabbing smoke but we pulled it off...
dave derby – spitz, london uk
my pal dave brought me over to back him up on some shows. the spitz was good.
come – middle east, cambridge ma
my old band Come played 2 songs for billy ruane's 50th birthday, first time we'd played since 2001. long live the middle east, long live billy ruane. it was fun + surreal.
thanks for your indulgence.
John Convertino (Calexico)
1. bill evans - the complete village vanguard records what i love about these recordings is the intimacy...the sounds are amazing too, so pure...piano works so well in a trio setting...bill evans has that free spirit with enough melody to keep you on the ground. you can't believe at the end of the songs how it sounds like there are about five people in the crowd clapping...
2. max roach - drums unlimited max died this year, and there have been many words spoken about him, so i will just say, listen to this record, and know that drums can sing too.
3. naim amor - sanquine not officially released yet in the states, i played on this, and joey produced it....but we never were in the same room at the same time...i'm detached enough from my playing on this to just enjoy how great the songs are, how musical and interesting they are to listen too. one of the rare records that i listen to again and again.
4. jacqueline francois - american favorites (sung in french) the french connection continues in my life. i married this year, and my wife speaks fluent french....we were in paris this summer with all the kids....having lunch in the park, while the kids played....this record i picked up in a thrift store, it has all the romance and flourish of paris in the spring.....
5. hank jones - swings songs from gigi hank jones' brother is another drum hero of mine, elvin jones....its the piano-drum connection again, that keeps coming in my life....this is another vinyl record i have that's bottom end is mind boggling...listen to it just for that wonderful acoustic bass....
6. vic chesnutt - north star deserter vic is my hero. song four had me almost puking with amazement...i think these are the canadians he is recording with here....lots of big drums and build ups and lyrics that crack you up crying..
7. nina nastasia & jim white - you follow me anytime to hear jim play drums....nina sings pretty darn good too....
8. herbie nichols - the complete blue note recordings i love this piano player. he has max roach on drums for some of the recordings and art blakey on the others....its all about drums and piano, call and response, recorded at van gelder studios....analog distortion on the drums when art is playing with mallets...its my favorite drums sound...
9. a hawk and a hacksaw - the way the wind blows good soul music from a very sweet couple....we have done some shows together....accordion and drums...played at the same time....an amazing feat in itself....to be so soulful and moving at the same time is beyond....
10. bob dylan - modern times i'm just glad he is still around....the sounds on this record have that purity that i love, not unlike the bill evans or herbie nichols...long live that which is immediate
Jon Langford (Mekons)
Did you realize The Hideout bar on Wabansia was built illegally in a weekend way back in 1895 by Irish immigrant laborers who stole all the materials? Me neither. Now I have a key to that bar.
We played there right at the end of the Mekons 30th anniversary tour and were joined on stage by fantastic guest singers such as Bonnie Prince Billy, Chris Mills, Kelly Hogan and The Kneppler/Tsatsos Overdrive. This was to cover up for the fact that our charismatic lead vocalist Tom C. Greenhalgh had fooked off back to England to attend the birth of baby #4.
Afterwards we (both band & audience that is) rode the CTA over to the Mutiny on Western Avenue with Tim Tuten, the owner of the Hideout, and Cynthia Plastercaster acting as tour guides. That is when I found out about the Hideout. They both told some good stories and pointed out local points of interest along North Avenue. We switched buses and got to the Mutiny roughly on time which wasn't a problem as we had no schedule. Yeah, The Mutiny. You know that bar with the "Bands Wanted" sign painted in the window. No, I'd never been in there either. Even though I used to live down the street. It was full of smoke and painted black and the ceiling tiles were all dangling down. Hogan sobbed when she saw it. It was like every toilet we ever played all across this great land.
Paul Burch and his WPA Ballclub from Nashville were tearing it up in the very back. "Spit It Out!" yelled the mean looking bartender. There is no stage. This time The Mekons were joined by Ted Leo, Tracey Waco and Unca Dave as well as all those other people. It was very loud and most people could only see the tops of our heads. The people who ran the Mutiny turned out to be really nice and said our gig was the second best gig there ever. We never asked which was the best.
Photos by Robert Loerzel (undergroundbee.com)
Andy Moor (The Ex)
video links:
Andy Moor /DJ Rupture Duo w/ photos by Andy
Great Grime session in what looks like my old schoolroom
Basokin Kasai All-Stars ....Congo beat for the future
“The Sky Is Blue Again” – The Ex (1981, Amsterdam)
“Incineration” - Dog Faced Hermans (1986, BBC Scotland)
John Peel interviewed by Paul Merton, pt. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1J07D6gSik
Fave music of 2007 (in no order):
Chekha Rabia – Algerian Rai Singer, CD soon to be released
Rachid Taha – Mon Amour (Diwan 2)
Gal Costa - Relance
Blanquito Man – Cumbia Sobre el Rio
Fat Freddy’s Drop – Cays Cray
Clipse – Hello New World
Sarantis Feat Warrior Queen - Retaliate
DJ Rupture - Secret Google Code
M.I.A. – Bird Flu (Kala)
Dyrrty Goods - Axiom (EP)
Matt Schultz (Enon)
MIA "Kala"
Love As Laughter "Trademark Of Quality"
Dizzee Rascal "Maths+English"
White Stripes "Icky Thump"
Liars “S/T”
Love Of Diagrams "Mosaic"
Chris Wilson (Ted Leo and the Pharmacists)
top 10 bands that opened for us this endless year of touring
1. birds of avalon, ?
we did 11 shows with the birds this year, and it's totally impossible to pick one show that stood out. they brought it every time they hit the stage. not to be missed.
2. dirty projectors, 7-1,king tut's, glasgow, scotland
the last show of 5 weeks in europe. After coming back, i thought the reason they were so great, was because we were so ready to come home. saw them in philly a couple months after, and was completely blown away. we had to put canty on suicide watch. really. they're that good.
3. the thermals, 9-12, mccarren pool, brooklyn
finally had the pleasure of sharing the stage with them. one of my favorite bands happening these days. hope we get to do it again sooner than later.
4. quasi, 10-30, the el rey, los angeles
one of the first bands that took us on tour after i joined the band, and i was so glad to return the favor. Sam is one of the best songwriters i know, janet is one of my favorite drummers of all time, and having joanna on bass makes them sound better than ever.
5. the eternals, the metro, chicago
i've been wanting to play with these guys for quite a while. despite being talked over by some of the crowd, they played an amazing set in their hometown. don't disrespect your elders, kiddies. you might learn a thing or three.
6. man man, 10-7, the beachland ballroom, cleveland
being from philly, i've seen this band a lot over the past few years, and now, more than ever, they are killing.
7. love of diagrams, 3-29, 9:30, washington d.c.
Only our second show with them, out of about 35, but for some reason this one stood out. just saw them again a couple weeks ago, and they're only getting better.
8. aloha, 9-5, nyu, new york
we've done shows with these guys for the last 6 years, and it's always good to play with a band like them, because you kind of feel like you're being challenged. it's always good to be pushed.
9. the joggers, 4-16, hawthorne theatre, portland, or
during our march-may tour, love of diagrams had to cancel this show due to illness, and one phone call later, the joggers showed up. their own songs are incredible, but their zeppelin and yes covers are true testament to their musicianship. wow, i just said that.
10. the a-sides, the aquarium, fargo, nd
the week we did with them was a blast as a whole, but the insanity of this show and the insanity of the college party we (i) wound up at afterwards were priceless.
apologies to kristeen young, partyline, and the gang, who we hadn't yet played with at the time of this writing. can't wait.
Shannon Wright
i didn't really buy many records this year....not much was chipping through my dusty coal heart. so, i had to turn to nostalgia. a few favorite indelible records (yes, vinyl) coming for a visit like some old friends. the smiths, neil young, coil, and minutemen (whom i saw open up for r.e.m. when i was 14 years old, and damn my little 14 year old head was severed).
i saw some shows this year that had some glittery moments: morrissey - now, you may be cringing but damn if that f*cker wasn't good. it's undeniable that his words are lovely. he brought a tear to my eye a few times. sonic youth/daydream nation - yeah, i was nervous about this one. this was the band for me in high school...and they STILL got it. when I heard mike watt on the cassette player...say no more. also, I had to crane my neck because peter buck and robyn hitchcock were standing in front of me. it was surreal. black lips - sloppy goodness... plus, they're from my hometown. hold my dirty little hand.
Toko Yasuda (Enon)
“garden” - silver apples
“enter, hot curry” - madlib
“trademark of quality” – love as laughter
“icky thump” - white stripes
“load blown” - black dice
“tio bitar” - dungen
“all night fox” - howling hex
“gyrate” - pylon (reissue)
Uzeda live at the University of Catania – October 18, 2007
Photos by Maria Vittoria Trovato Taylor Brode (Direct Sales & Advertising)
(alphabetical & w/ some foot notes)
!!! – Myth Takes
Getting better with age. Seriously. i'm not even making an age joke here.
Black Lips – Los Valientes Del Mundo Nuevo
Two words: Mike Bova. Dude's voice is louder than anyone else's throughout most of this record and he is not even in the band. It's pretty amazing when a band from Atlanta playing a show in Tijuana can make somebody miss San Diego. (p.s.- Mike Bova is an old friend of mine from southern California. He is the drunk dude yelling real loud on this album.)
Celebration – The Modern Tribe
I have been waiting for Katrina Ford to do something this righteous for the better part of a decade. She finally gives in to her womanness and it is soooooo emotionally serious. The tribal/ voodoo/ wiccan/ NOLA elements of this album are far less engaging to me than the undiluted feminine parts, (specifically “Heartbreak” and “Evergreen”). The group vocals and epic bridge builds overcome me every time I hear them-- approx 3x a day now for over a month now. I'd be lying if I pretended that TVOTR's role was anything less than crucial. Sitek's production, particularly the horn sections, and Kyp/ Tunde/Jaleel's back-up harmonies are what make this record undeniable. In turn, it has always been Ford's contributions to the TVOTR catalog that has made them extra moving. All in all, so worth the wait.
Clipd Beaks – Hoarse Lords
Ok, so im cheating here. This isn't technically one of my favorite albums of the year. This is, however, the best live band I've seen this year. AND it would seem their label, Lovepump United, is currently the reigning champion of putting out the most consistently solid catalog by bands with the most offensively heinous names this side of Skingraft. Your new year's resolutions should be to 1. get lifted, 2. see Clipd Beaks play. (in the same night). $$$
Dead Child – Dead Child EP
Even better live. You'll see soon enough.
Deerhunter – Cryptograms
Dammit. @@
Deerhunter – Fluroescent Grey EP
Seriously?
Grinderman – S/T
FUUUUUCCCCK. I'm pretty sure even if he was my biological father, I would still be attracted to Nick Cave. If only these dudes were the hetero man's answer to Dan Savage, the world would be a better place.
Jesu – Conqueror
The most unapologetically gorgeous album of the year was written by the man who invented grind. The nerd highlight of my year was getting Justin B. to “autograph” my Napalm Death record. You can see this masterpiece here
No Age – Dead Plane 12"
All the No Age EP's are amazing. I chose this one because Teardrops has the sweetest mail order around. PMA is alive and well and lives in Los Angeles.
Panda Bear – Person Pitch
Jesus Christ. A friend played this for me while we were driving to see Dhunter in STL. We were lil’ faders. Nonetheless, I think it really says something when you can remember exactly where you were the first time you heard a record. I like this so much it may make me negotiate giving the Brian Wilson catalog another chance.
Pissed Jeans – Hope For Men
The first time I heard this I was at work. The ripping chug of its opener, People Person instantly took me over and I before I knew what had happened I had thrown my desk chair clean out my office window, straight through the glass and all. When my boss was all "wtf dude?" I replied with, "Fuck you maaan! Take this job and shove it!" (Ok, so that would never happen.) Wanna know the truth? The 1st time heard this it was an unmastered skipping CDR being played on a 1986 model boom box in Allentown. I took a bus there last December to attend their old bass player's final performance in a frost bitten fluorescent lit warehouse full of sxe teenagers. I was also covered in whip cream and silly string—which sux even more when it becomes frozen into your hair. I actually got the stink eye that night from some kids for smoking a fucking cigarette. Outside. Sober+ New Years+ frost bite+ puritan town= next level dedication, no?
Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
If I had heard this record when I was 18 I would've saved approx. $19,879 in psycho therapy and $27,328 in drug rehab over the last 10 years. Thanks a lot Amy Winehouse, you owe me $40,00.
Foot Notes:
$$$ - I usually do a "best shows of the year" list too, but I don't feel like it this year. I will say that I see about 1-3 shows a week and all of the stand-out's albums were already on the "best album" list, cept this one. Clipd Beaks are one of the only bands (whose work I did not know previously) that actually made me feel lucky to be seeing them. Like stumbling upon a unicorn cuddling w/ a jackalope in an enchanted forest type of thing. And I wasn't even on peyote I don't think.
@@ - I mean, really, what else can I say about this? I think I've said enough. And so has the whole internet.
John Boyer (Digital Distribution/IT)
A couple of records, not on Touch and Go, that I liked this year. As a challenge to myself I tried my hardest not to list reissues.
- Grinderman – Grinderman (Mute/Anti)
- Clockcleaner - Babylon Rules (LOAD)
- Pissed Jeans - Hope For Men (Sub Pop)
- Circle (Any one of the 500 records they released this year)
- Battles - Mirrored (Warp)
- Deerhunter - Cryptograms (Kranky)
- Scharpling & Wurster - The Art Of The Slap (Stereolaffs)
- Warhammer 48k - An Ethereal Oracle (Permanent Records)
- Von Südenfed - Tromatic Reflexxions (Domino)
- Qui - Love's Miracle (Ipecac)
Emily Brigham (Production)
since we all know everything t&g does is amazing, here is my list of favorite non-t&g records of 2007, in no particular order . . .
Grinderman - Grinderman
We Are Him - Angels of Light
In Advance Of The Broken Arm - Marnie Stern
Friend and Foe - Menomena
No Shouts No Calls - Electrelane
Mirrored - Battles
Liars - Liars
Graduation - Kanye West
Boxer - The National
Fur & Gold - Bat For Lashes
All Hour Cymbals - Yeasayer
Night Falls Over Kortedala - Jens Lekman
The Reminder - Feist
Joe Darling (Online Promotion)
1 Rainbow – Boris with Michio Kurihara (Drag City)
this album just restores my faith in the guitar solo. it's also a reminder of music's ability to transcend language. it's the reversal of all of those middle school Japanese girls singing "Take on Me" word for word in karaoke bars. and, let's be honest, there's no more compelling reason to learn the English language than to understand A-ha lyrics. also, if you put Boris's "My Rain" next to The National's "Start a War" in any mix, you're going to the bonus round, receiving a full ride to the Yale graduate school of Mix tape Theory and being awarded a gold star in my book, buddy. so anyway, yes. buy this album. it’s “incendiary,” “transplendent,” reaching “maximum heaviosity,” et al.
2 Weirdo Rippers – No Age (Fat Cat)
i wish someone could satisfyingly explain to me why music is better with a layer of tarnish and fuzz over it. understanding that would help me to determine why No Age is so great. until then, it's simply pop music for fuck-ups.
3 Reflexxions – Von Sudenfed (Domino)
does it make us weak if we prefer to hear a little humanity cued on our Mouse on Mars records? i couldn’t have more respect for these two but, i’m not gonna lie, none of their other albums are probably going to make it to my favorite albums of the year list. Smith evens everything out, saves us from the machines like T2, and helps Mouse on Mars pen their most accessible record.
4 All Hour Cymbals – Yeasayer (We Are Free)
“2080” is kind of a shock out of the gate. i wasn’t sure music like that was possible. these guys toe the line between grandiose and utterly ludicrous Jethro Tull and CSN&Y rehashing. they managed to finish favorably on “All Hour Cymbals.” it’s absolutely stunning and earthy and refreshing. feed that emaciated and long-neglected hippie in you. we’re all a little bit granola.
5 Pride – Phosphorescent (Dead Oceans)
Mr. Oldham, eat your heart out. “The Waves at Night” is the best song that you never recorded. okay, mostly kidding. there’s no inappropriate time to put this record on. plus, Matt Huock sounds a bit like Eef Barzelay which makes me sad that Clem Snide have all but vanished.
6 Woke on a Whaleheart – Bill Callahan (Drag City)
this is my soft spot. i know this album is far from perfect but I listened to this on repeat for six months and still go back to it giddily. it was one in which I kept finding songs that I couldn’t get enough of. at the end of the year, “The Wheel” is one of my favorite songs ever recorded by Bill. his next record should be a gospel record.
7 Let in the Light – Shannon Wright (Touch and Go)
i had the privilege of seeing Shannon perform for the first time this fall. she’s been one of my favorite musicians here since i started. this softer side – lush piano, minimalist accompaniment, giant vocals – is a completely welcome departure.
8 Ears Like Golden Bats – My Teenage Stride (Becalmed)
i’ve successfully hooked almost everyone i know on this record. that’s why I’m so mystified that they’re not being completely mauled by bloodthirsty A&R folks. but i feel like this album is merely the beginning of an extremely accomplished and prolific career for Jedediah Smith. i love the Chills, Orange Juice, the Kinks, the Smiths, GBV...if you say it's derivative, then you're too uptight. it's a melding of all of the very best things in life.
9 Fun Is Near EP – Artifact Shore (Interference Shift)
these Minneapolis gents haven't made their masterpiece yet but they're not far from it. they've got a lot of odds and sods scattered around on comps and splits and stuff but these are the most accessible compositions that they've released yet. maybe it sounds a little bit like eavesdropping on an argument at a construction site. maybe the construction site is underground. and maybe somebody just dropped a cinder block on somebody's hand.
Other 2007 discoveries:
Pictures for Sad Children
– this is a daily comic strip that my friend John Campbell does. It’s funny and sad and cute and brilliant.
Mel Kadel – One of my new favorite artists. His drawings make me think of a more surreal Edward Gorey. Maybe someday, when I’m a rich man, I’ll have a couple of framed originals in my, err, apartment.
Stalking Detroit - It's been my latest obsession to find a copy of this out of print book. I've been absorbing Detroit history and literature like a 21st century "post-apocalyptic wasteland" tick.
Marah Eakin (Publicity)
Marah's Top 10 things of 2007 (in no special order, 'cause they're all so darn special)
- My car. Got it in March, and it's super tiny, and utilitarian, and totally Chicago-friendly. Yay mobility! Yay not being rained on! Yay being able to buy toilet paper and detergent in bulk!
- Daft Punk at Coney Island in August. The ground was made of some weird material that sounded like you were walking on plastic bottles, and it was in a baseball stadium, and before we had Nathan's. mmmm. PLUS it was less massive and less dude-ish than Lollapalooza the week before, so it just felt a little nicer. (Plus at Lolla, there was a guy passed out behind me who looked like he was maybe dead, and insisted he was ok, so that was a little show-distracting.)
- As heartbreaking as they are, my Cleveland sports teams being really good this year. Sure, 2nd place kind of stinks, but... it's better than last place.
- Rabbit Records Soul party at the Hideout this summer. It absolutely breaks my heart when you've got old southern men in suits telling stories about how they haven't sung in 30 years, and how they were just on their porch, and got a call, and.... oh, it was all so good. Best show of the year, I think.
- Rad records we put out this year, accompanied w/ a bunch of really rad shows by Enon, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Shannon Wright, Mekons, Pinback, etc. And being able to look forward to all the rad stuff next year.
- The continued radness of the internets. See: The Daily Swarm, and Jezebel. And, of course, DListed.
- Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl! oh and Friday Night Lights (props to T&G's Chad for getting me into this)
- Chocolate Shanghai Soup Dumpling from Rickshaw Dumpling Bar in NYC - chocolate in a dumpling wrapper, totally melty. All encased in black sesame seeds. and cheap. mmmmmmmmm. (for some reason it has a myspace: http://www.myspace.com/99088164)
- Good records out this year from people who aren't Touch and Go (LCD Soundsystem, MIA, Battles, No Age, Radiohead, Matthew Dear, R. Kelly, Clipse, The Good, The Bad, and the Queen, Jarvis Cocker, Justice, Wilco, Yeasayer, White Williams
- Spending my first full year in Chicago, and having it feel more like home every single day.
Things I am looking forward to in 2008:
- Rad stuff we're doing, and music from other people too! (Magnetic Fields, Cool Kids, Kid Sister, Cat Power, Hot Chip)
- The Wire, season 5
- Making a resolution to clean my apartment more.
- reading " Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History”
- Cleveland winning the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the NBA finals, and the world not imploding.
Miranda Lange (Publicity)
It drives me bananas when people bellyache about the state of music, saying things like, “Oh there’s just nothing good out there anymore” or “I only like Radiohead.” To them I say BOLLOCKS! Despite the naysayers, each December nerdy music lovers across the globe still manage to fervently cobble together their Best Records of The Year lists. There are heaps of magical albums out there, so many in fact that it’s difficult to chisel it all down to a mere ten jams.
But after some to do, I’ve managed to make this small list of the Artists and LPs that I’ve lived with in 2007. I feel strongly about these selections, like they will stay with me and prevail through countless assessments of my record collection.
1. Blonde Redhead - 23 – A supremely beautiful album. If you are a fan of the 80’s canon of 4AD and dancing alone in your apartment, GET THIS! Every song on this album makes me want to hug myself and sway gently in a room flickering with candle light. Somebody knows what I’m talking about, right??
2. CocoRosie - The Adventures Of Ghosthorse & Stillborn – AIR PUNCHES, PAS MARCHE’, TURN OUT AND FLY! Talk about the passion, this band makes me happy and inspired! Ghosthorse is the darkest, strangest journey of their career but if you have an imagination, put it to use by listening to this amazing record. I do it a lot.
3. Grinderman – S/T - When the single “No Pussy Blues” first came up on Myspace I dismissed it as weak Birthday Party rehash. I’m ashamed to admit that I ever had such a thought.! Thankfully when the album came out, my ears were wide open and willing to listen because this record is scorching piece of filthy rock and roll. Grinderman isn’t nearly as visceral as The Birthday Party was but rather it’s as if the Nick and the Seeds abandoned their families for a month and went on some weird men's only retreat and came back with extreme beards and an awful lot of cathartic punk rock therapy in their back pockets. I like this, my vagina likes this.
4. Jay Z - American Gangster – HOVA! HOVA! HOVA! This album is still fairly new but with each listen it reveals another layer of favoloso. Signature champion flow, check! Dope lyrics, check! Depeche Mode citation, check! My booty grooving, check! Nuff said.
5. Bat For Lashes – Fur & Gold - Brooding tunes from a lovely, svelte girl named Natasha Kahn, a more buttery and tactile British version of Bjork. Bring on another set of tunes because I’ve worn holes in these mugs.
6. R Kelly – Double Up – Sexual allegations aside, Kells continues to move me! I got a promo of the album so I ain’t supporting his (allegedly) guilty ass with my dough, don’t worry.
7. Liars – S/T – I like the post punky Liars, the Sitek Liars, the shirtless and hairy Liars and I just love the new breed of self-titled Liars. No song here is alike in style but the album is consistently tribal and hypnotic, a bit like P.I.L.’s “Flowers Of Romance”. You know what I don’t like? I don’t like people who don’t like the Liars. Sorry, I just think ya’ll lazy.
8. Shellac – Excellent Italian Greyhound – DUH!!!!!
9. Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala - Swedish blue-eyed soul with enough orchestral muscle to make a hardened criminal ask yo mama for a dance. Someone made us a Jonathan Richman – Scott Walker sandwich, thankyouverymuch. I love the part on Your Arms Around Me where he starts the song with the lyrics “I was slicing up an avocado…”
10. Milenasong – Seven Sisters - A perfectly witchy disc. There’s something spooky going on here and it suits me well.
One artist to watch in 2008 – Quinn Walker!
Peace!
Chad Nelson (Project Manager)
A couple things I recall liking in 2007, alphabetically (not including any T&G-related stuff):
Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City, Silent Alarm too.
Chocolate milk
It’s like milk, but chocolate.
Fall Out Boy – Infinity on High
Apparently, I’m a 14 year old girl.
“Friday Night Lights”
Season one is unfuckwithable. Jury’s still out on season two.
Jay Z – American Gangster
Fantastic beats + great lyrics = back on top.
Mountain Goats – We Shall All Be Healed and The Sunset Tree
Songs about drugs and varying forms of abuse. What’s not to love?
Ne-Yo “Because of You”
The bridge is the best Michael Jackson moment of the last 15 years.
“Ninja Warrior”
Like MXE, but serious.
Superchunk at Metro
Looking forward to another show in 2012.
“Top Chef”
Sometimes watching people under extreme duress come up with gourmet dishes in ridiculous settings is more enjoyable than fine dining itself.
Adam Reach (34 years old, T&G Production, itinerant madman)
(In no particular order):
Battles/Mirrored (Warp)
Holy Fuck/LP (XL)
Pharoah Overlord/II (No Quarter)
Enon/Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds (Touch and Go)
Slayer/Christ Illusion (deluxe version) (American)
Von Sudenfed/Tromatic Reflexxions (Domino)
Bottomless Pit/Hammer of The Gods (self released)
Wooden Shjips/self-titled (Holy Mountain)
White Magic/Dark Stars EP (Drag City)
Blitzen Trapper/Wild Mountain Nation
Shellac/Excellent Italian Greyhound (Touch and Go)
Lichens/Omns (Kranky)
Om/Pilgrimage (Southern Lord)
Jay Reatard/Night of Broken Glass (In The Red)
Shannon Wright/Let In The Light (Quarterstick)
Arbouretum/Rites of The Uncovering (Thrill Jockey)
Earthless/From a Cosmic Sky (Tee Pee)
Les Savy Fav/Let's Stay Friends (French Kiss)
Qui/Love's Miracle (Ipecac)
Final Solutions/Songs By Solutions (Goner)
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion/Jukebox Explosion (In The Red)
Grinderman/self-titled (Mute)
Justin Sinkovich (Digital Distribution)
It Goes to 11
Percee P – Perseverance
Dead Child – Dead Child EP
The Ponys – Turn The Lights Out
Sterling – Cursed
Liars – Liars
Danzig – The Lost Tracks of Danzig
Queens of the Stone Age – Era Vulgaris
Deerhunter – Cryptograms
Dethklok – The Dethalbum
Film School – Hideout
The Warlocks – Heavy Deavy Skull Lover
Sara Tolbert (Radio/Video)
For the sake of being unbiased I am not listing any of our albums in my top ten. We released some pretty amazing stuff though. Not wanting to disrespect that simply to avoid being judged, I've provided my favorite 10 moments working here this year too.
My favorite albums of 2007
1. Earthless – Rhythms from a Cosmic Sky
Earthless is fantastic for long drives, the gym, tossing on at work or cleaning the house. Its like an audio yin yang; the contrast of their hypnotic guitar and beyond belief drumming and bass result in epic jams that take your mind far far away while your body stays alert and working at an efficient pace. Trippy!
2. Warharmmer 48k – An Ethereal Oracle
My favorite new band. An Ethereal Oracle shows such promise it gives me hope for the future, despite being an album laced with numerous apocalyptic references.
3. Clockcleaner – Babylon Rules
Clockcleaner are loud, offensive and inappropriate, reminding us that things are not always fair and mean people exist. This makes Babylon Rules as essential as eating broccoli; it's good for you, makes you stronger, so you just have to eat it.
4. Grinderman – Grinderman
Nick Cave and some of the Bad Seeds were caught being awesome.
5. No Age – Weirdo Rippers
You’d probably like Weirdo Rippers if you’re the sort who wishes they enjoyed The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds but felt the songs were too clean and polished sounding.
6. Antelope – Reflector
Antelope play perfectly balanced minimalist post-punk that makes sure it has each and every duck in a row. They write pleasant songs that compel toe-tapping and melody humming.
7. The Lamps – Lamps
Just as toe-tapping but not so much pleasant, Lamps personify pent-up aggression through odes and anthems to being in a foul mood. An ideal soundtrack for days you want to pull a Michael Douglas ala the film Falling Down.
8. Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbals
I almost didn’t put this on my list because I can‘t describe Yeasayer without selling them short in one way or another. Rather than penalize them for my lack of vocabulary, I highly recommend exploring the world wide web, perhaps their myspace page specifically.
9. Cheveu – various mp3s
Cheveu didn’t release a full album in 2007 but you can download 14 songs off their website, so that counts. Some say Cheveu heavily tip their hat to Metal Urbain and Wire. However, I think it’s unintentional and more like you’ll want to purchase a ticket and board this bus if you’re a fan of either of those things.
10. Pink Reason – Cleaning the Mirror
Songs so vulnerable you can't help feeling you might be invading someone's privacy. Be warned, though: Pink Reason is horrendous live.
Top ten personal highlights from working at Touch and Go/Quarterstick this year:
#1 Ted Leo covered The Jam's "That's Entertainment" for pledges on The Best Show on WFMU (click to listen).
#2 My Dad so moved by an Enon concert emailed: "Touch and Go legend is embodied in this band ... excitement, attitude, mixed in with integrity that includes 'lets give this thing everything we got with a never say die spirit'" Get this man a blog!
#3 KROQ's Jed the Fish telling his listening audience one of the best bands he saw at Coachella was CocoRosie.
#4 The Mekons performing at the Hideout in Chicago, loading out all their gear, taking two city buses to the Mutiny and playing another show. WHAT A GREAT IDEA!
#5 I did not get to catch both of those Mekons performances but I had an equally stellar evening. My activities included seeing Ted Leo and Pharmacists at the Metro, the Mekons at the Mutiny with guest appearances by Will Oldham and Ted Leo and capping off the night with one of Shannon Wright's only live shows of the year! It was like a mini touch and go/ quarterstick-apalooza and yes, my head was quite sore the following morning.
#6 Watching Pinback autograph CDs at their San Diego instore at Lou's. A woman approach Rob and Zach while singing, "It's good to meet you, it's good to meet you both" to the tune of Autumn of the Seraphs track #3, "Good to Sea."
#7 Ted Leo's heroic "the show must go on" moment on MTV's Human Giant (watch here).
#8 Enon and Ted Leo winning a taco bell contest only to learn a stranger on the internet entered Ted Leo as a prank followed by Enon issuing a truly humorous and heart warming statement about winning and how they would use their prize for the common good (read here).
#9 The day I saw this fan made Pinback video on youtube (watch here).
#10 When indie blogs started reporting Shellac's Steve Albini was answering questions on a poker message board which prompted dozens of non-poker playing indie rock fans to flock to the site. It's over 30 pages of comedic gold, especially when Albini starts giving answers in the form of haikus (read here).
Evan Woodward (Sales/Marketing)
1. Group Doueh Guitars of the Western Sahara / Group Inerane Guitars from Agadez (Sublime Frequencies)
These two slabs of sunbaked guitar wildouts got far and away the most spins in my brain this year. Doueh brings wonky wah-heavy pop psych that sounds truly of another world, an interplanetary GBV. Inerane sport guitars that just go for miles, desert-long weaves of droning tones, coupled with a chorus of wailing females.
2. Uusitalo Karhunainen (Huume)
Pristine, iced out techno with skywide acoustics and subtly powerful pumping beats; like raving in an igloo.
3. Meg Baird Dear Companion (Drag City)
We spent nearly every sunday morning making pancakes with this record on. Meg has a one of a kind voice and uncanny song selection. Each song strolls along with such a sad righteousness. Impossible not to love.
4. Ricardo Villalobos Fabric 36 (Fabric)
To me, Villalobos' installment of the Fabric mix series isnt even techno, its something entirely new. The man has so mastered the interpolating of rhythms and percussion via the turntable, he's a 21st Century Buddy Rich.
5. Tony Allen/Moritz von Oswald Ole (Honest Jon's)
Allen's 05 track gets a glorious reworking from the Basic Channel/Rhythm and Soundman. Bubbling percussion, faded guitars, and a stomping, muted bass line make for a mellow legend.
6. Black To Comm Wir Konnen Leider Nicht Etwas Mehr Zu Tun (Dekorder)
Grim abandoned cathedral drone, zipped through with synth demons.
7. Chrissy Zebby Tembo & Ngozi Family My Ancestors (Chris Editions, reissue)
Critical reissue, bros! Zambian fuzzy psych coupled with funky tempos and enthusiastic, if sometimes forlorn vocals. A beautiful thing.
8. Fennesz/Sakamoto Cendre (Touch)
Sakamoto's somber piano circlings are given the acid-wash treatment by the finest of electronic auteurs. An understated record for a gloomy day.
9. Alva Noto Xerrox Vol. I (Raster-Noton)
Field recordings of modern day technical ambience, pixelated and sprayed in heaps. Exquisite, yet mundane; like hanging out in one of Heaven's finest hotel lobbies.
10. Rafael Anton Irisarri Daydreaming (Miasmah)
A world of cinematic grey gloom wielded by one piano and a processor.
Josh Zanger (Sales Assistant/Tour Promotion)
I did a Top Ten Albums lists for lostatsea.net , so here are my Top Ten Songs of 2007 (in no order):
1) “Happy Now?” Aloe Blacc from Chrome Children 2
Most of my favorite songs from this past year are songs that get to the point quickly. Infectious is the name of the game here, and this track is certainly that. Sorta soulful, partly hip-hop, great beats, and chant-like choruses. C’mon it’s Stones Throw.
2) “Fit Song” Cornelius from Sensuous
I could watch the video for this song all day long. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AeodCMHCFk
3) “Can’t Roll Back” Strategy from Future Rock
It’s hard to deny the combination of electro tinges, improvised jams, and the fatal vocoder.
4) “I Wonder” Kanye West from Graduation
The piano/vocal sample of ’70-‘80s artist Labi Siffre mixes smoothly with Kanye’s thumpy beat production.
5) “Bros” Panda Bear from Person Pitch
The intertwining vocal harmonies are very catchy in an avant-Brian Wilson sort of way.
6) “A Wot” Orgone from The Killion Floor
Music for a ‘70s movie with a car chase: funky, upbeat, stylish.
7) “Barnes” Pinback/ from Autumn of the Seraphs
It was between this and (ironically) “I Hate You, Rob Crow (Single Version)” for my Rob Crow love.
8) “Shy” Matthew Dear from Asa Breed
More unique drum programming and synthplay from the artist who is also known as False and Audion.
9) “What They Said” Skeletons and The Kinds Of All Cities from LUCAS
Good ole hand claps and boot stomps.
10) “Space Madness” Isomer Transition from Mission to Mars
I wouldn’t be surprised if my iTunes reported that I played this one 100 times. Subtle tech-house beat heaviness.
