As I awoke from my deep, dark slumber...

Wow, another six months have gone by with me postless. Anyone (and that means the one or two of you) that bother to read my blog are probably like "does this guy still exist?" Well, after many months with my nose to the grindstone and getting a master's degree (YAY), I want to have fun again! And I find writing about music fun. So here is (finally) a mid-year recap of my favorite (oh, let's just say the best) albums of the first half of 2008. Those coming up will just have to work harder...

CUT COPY--In Ghost Colours (Modular)

All I can say is, if you haven't bought this album yet, shame on you! Playing like a seamless mix of 80's New Order and 00's Daft Punk, Cut Copy raise the bar with this, their second album, by creating songs that actually generally match the level of the music this time around. "Feel the Love" and "So Haunted" do a good bit to bring the indie pop, while "Lights & Music" and "Hearts on Fire" conquer the indie disco side, while "Out There on the Ice" and "Far Away" are personal faves, merging both worlds. The vocals are catchy and unpretentious, and DFA member Tim Goldsworthy does an excellent job producing. Do not let it pass you by!

HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR--Hercules & Love Affair (Mute US)

I have a feeling Tim Goldsworthy may want to call and thank me for placing two of his productions at the top of my list here, but this album really is deserving of attention. I will be the first to admit this is NOT TO EVERYONE'S TASTE as illustrated by the recent offering of the lead single "Blind" as a free download from iTunes in the US, where it received much more derision than elevation. That alone shows how ahead of the trend this is, and how a vocalist like Antony Hegarty can polarize opinions. From my first hearing of "Blind", I was immediately transported back to the Bronski Beat "Smalltown Boy" and Soft Cell "Torch" era. However, this is no pastiche...this is the real deal. Using a variety of singers and the talents of DJ Andrew Butler, this album is generally a success from start to finish, with Antony's other contributions ("Time Will" and "Raise me Up") being particular highlights. Who knew the Mercury Prize winner could sing this kind of music so well? ("You Belong" sounds like Inner City reborn.)

VAMPIRE WEEKEND--Vampire Weekend (XL)

Not one to usually cave to hype or trends, I have to admit I keep going back to this album. The thought of four Columbia grads doing Afro-beat inspired pop songs would normally send shudders through me, but this album is truly unique in today's pop landscape. The melodies are catchy, the lyrics funny without being crass, and there is a certain fresh quality to their references that hasn't been seen since the likes of bands like the Specials. Yeah, its all a bit NYC, but since when is that a bad thing? They even name check Peter Gabriel for God's sake! "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa", "M79", and "Walcott" are three non-single faves. Great for summer as well!

GOLDFRAPP--Seventh Tree (Mute)

Well, what an about face this was. This album caused an immense stir when it was revealed to be bereft of sexed-up electronics and whacking beats, in favor of more pastoral gestures. It was a shame to see many disco-nistas run for the hills, because Goldfrapp have cleverly crafted an album full of warmth and subtlety they had yet to explore. "A&E" is possibly the best three-minute single of the year, while "Happiness" and "Caravan Girl" are simply euphoric. Not to mention that "Clowns" is the most Cocteau Twins sounding song we've heard from anyone since their demise over a decade ago (what is Allison saying about titties?) In any event, this was a beautiful diversion and escape. Now what's next, classical? Prog? Industrial?

THE PRESETS--Apocalypso (Modular)

Wow, Modular is cleaning up this year and Australia gets some respect! This album is remarkable, as it is such a quantum leap forward from their last, and has a great balance of electropop singles and industrial stormers. "My People" and "A New Sky" are futuristic slabs of dark techno, while "This Boy's in Love" and "If I Know You" effectively outdo the Pet Shop Boys at their own game. Any weak moments are more than made up for by the sheer embrace of synthetic textures and the strength of great songwriting.

SPARKS--Exotic Creatures of the Deep (no US label yet)

I feel guilty listing this as already released, but the US is still waiting (possibly In the Red will pick this up as they released the last Sparks album which did rather well). Quite simply, this may be the best Sparks album in 25 years. I'm not just saying that. This album takes everything that was good about their previous work and combines it into one strong effort. "Good Morning" and "Photoshop" serve the pop side well, "Strange Animal" and "Lighten Up, Morrissey" do good service to alterna-rock, and "Let the Monkey Drive" is reminiscent of their more recent classical influenced experiments. Russell's voice has never been stronger, and if these brothers can continue to produce music of this calibre 40 years into their career, they will definitely be having the last laugh.

PORTISHEAD--Third (Go! Discs)

After 11 years of hibernation, Portishead returned with the darkest and most uncompromising album of their career. As a band that dwells on the dark and depressing side of life, that is saying something. Once expectations get thrown out the window regarding any kind of trip-hop or DJ scratching, we are left with a visceral piece of modern art that is utterly unique in shape and purpose. Beth Gibbons vocals are still front and center, connecting the old and the new, although here she lets the music surround her performance, as opposed to her trying on a new voice for every song. The progression from "Deep Water" to "Machine Gun" alone shows the wild variety of sounds they have been toying with for the better part of a decade. A proliferation of Hammond Organ would suggest Deep Purple as a reference, but it is churned through the Portishead sound in such a way that it could only be them. Glad to have you back, if for nothing else to know that somebody out there feels worse than me.

THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS--The Age of the Understatement (Domino)

Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys fame decided to take a break with his friend Miles Kane, and upon a trip to France, came up with this incredibly engaging piece of retro-pop that totally shreds those Duffy-chasers. Sharp writing skills and big orchestral arrangements courtesy of Owen Pallett (of Arcade Fire fame), this plays like a more romantic version of the Monkeys giving space so the melodies can shine. "My Mistakes Were Made for You" and "The Chamber" are particularly mature recordings for 23-year-olds, and while they do go a bit to ape the sound of prime-era Scott Walker, is that such a bad thing? Nobody else has done this kind of music in the last 20 years which such panache (excepting Marc Almond), and nobody so young! It's a revolution!

SAM SPARRO--Sam Sparro (Universal)

We have Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Adele, and more retro-Brits waiting in the wings. It's about time a guy got some respect, and Sparro is, quite possibly, the best blue-eyed soul singer in a generation (sorry Jamiroquai). Combining elements of soul, electro, and funk, Sparro creates something that doesn't rely on retro alone, but pushes into new territory. Lead single "Black & Gold" is a case in point--a song that could have been oversung and oversold, Sparro's delivery is restrained enough to let the song speak for itself. Even when he gets funky, as on "21st Century Life", he melds so well with the music that it would be difficult to imagine one element without the other. He even outdoes Prince with "Hot Mess", which should be Christian from Project Runway's new theme song!

CYNDI LAUPER--Bring Ya to the Brink (Columbia)

Who would have thought Lauper would be gracing this list instead of Madonna? While I still love the queen, her latest does not send me into orbit the way the previous four did. That being said, Ms. Lauper, a queen in her own right, has released the second best album of her career (She's so Unusual is pretty unsurpassable at this point). While not a complete Cyndi devotee, I will admit that I have loved many of her songs, and her Christmas album is my favorite holiday record (see "December Child" or "Christmas Conga"). With a voice that could shred taffeta, Lauper has learned (probably too much) from Cher's example, but still has managed to craft a superb and modern dance-pop record with a bunch of A-list producers that probably did not cost as much as Madonna's recent choices. She will probably also not be conquering the charts the way Madonna does, but that does not mean her efforts have gone unnoticed. Best pop songs are "Into the Nightlife", "Echo", "Grab a Hold", and "Rain on Me", but there are plenty of forays into disco and dance too, with "Rocking Chair" (with the aid of Basement Jaxx) a personal favorite. Nobody sings like Cyndi, and fans who don't like this album need to realize that we're not in 1983 anymore. Admittedly, "Lyfe" is the only song that should be cut, but unfortunately it contains the album's title in the lyrics.

As an advance warning...there is no appearance from Justin Timberlake on this record.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF 08:

Aimee Mann-- @#%&*! Smilers//Coldplay--Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends//R.E.M.--Accelerate//ABC--Traffic//The Whip--X Marks Destination//Neon Neon--Stainless Style//Hot Chip--Made in the Dark//Walter Meego--Voyager//Guillemots--Red//Destroyer--Trouble in Dreams//Hoosiers--Trick to Life//Madonna--Hard Candy

GREAT ALBUMS PREVIOUS TO 08 THAT WERE FINALLY RELEASED STATESIDE:

Robyn--Robyn//Kylie Minogue--X//I Am X--The Alternative//Ed Harcourt--Beautiful Lie

ALBUMS THAT WERE BETTER THAN EXPECTED:

Sigur Ros--Med Sud...//Wombats--Guide to Love, Loss, and Desperation//Alanis Morissette-Flavors of Entanglement//Elvis Costello--Momofuku//Santogold--Santogold//B-52's--Funplex//Duffy--Rockferry//Donna Summer--Crayons//Gnarls Barkley--Odd Couple//Hoosiers--Trick to Life//Ladytron--Velocifero//M83--Saturdays=Youth//MGMT--Oracular Spectacular//Temposhark--Invisible Line//Radiohead--In Rainbows (technically a 2008 CD release)//Ting Tings--We Started Nothing (sorry XO)//and the aforementioned--Cut Copy, Presets, Hercules & LA, Sam Sparro, Vampire Weekend, and Cyndi Lauper

ALBUMS THAT WERE A BIT OF A DISAPPOINTMENT:

Calvin Harris--I Created Disco (too monotonous)//Feeling--Join With Us (too sappy)//Guillemots--Red (sometimes trying new things isn't the best course of action)//Janet Jackson--Discipline (more pop less sex pls)//Fischerspooner (didn't even release an album, just bad singles--what happened?)//Moby--Last Night (a valiant effort, but a bit too "been there, done that")//Fratellis--Here We Stand (not fun, really)//Long Blondes--Couples (I like synths as much as the next guy, but...um...)//Louis XIV (so bad I completely deleted it from my playlist)//Sia--Some People Have Real Problems (bahring)//Scarlett Johannson--Anywhere I Lay my Head (nuff said)

ALBUMS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:

Morrissey//Annie//Grace Jones//Franz Ferdinand//Sophie Ellis-Bextor//CSS//ABC (US)//Keane//Jem//Lily Allen (digging the myspace tracks!)//St. Etienne (another singles collection)//Peter Gabriel//Darren Hayes DVD//Tracey Thorn//The Cure//Pet Shop Boys//Royksopp//Patrick Wolf//Kaiser Chiefs (working w/Mark Ronson)

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH?:

Shirley Manson//David Bowie//Roxy Music (promises, promises)//David Sylvian//Dido (thought it should have been out by now?)//the Knife (soon?)//Tears for Fears (are no more?)//Daft Punk//Daniel Merriweather//Amy Winehouse (should I ask?)//Massive Attack//the Prodigy//Divine Comedy//Boy George (again, should I ask?)//Liz Fraser//Siobhan Fahey//Kate Bush (ahem...)

AND...

Yay on me for finally creating a post with added pictures! Hopefully media files will be next!

Huzzah! The best songs of 2007!

Now that I have rounded up the top full lengths of 2007, here is a list of my picks for top songs.

I can almost guarantee that none of them will win any grammys...

1) Roisin Murphy "Let me Know" BEST POP SONG OF 07!
2) Kylie Minogue "Wow" CLOSE RUNNER UP (every time I hear it, I think of 80's Kylie better)
3) Siobhan Donaghy "Medevac" MAGICAL
4) Siouxsie "If it Doesn't Kill You" CATHARTIC
5) Amy Winehouse "Back to Black" RAW
6) Garbage "Tell me Where it Hurts" JOINS PANTHEON OF THE PRETENDERS
7) Robyn "With Every Heartbeat" ELECTRO-MASTERPIECE*
8) Groove Armada feat. Mutya "Song for Mutya (Out of Control)" BEST DRIVING SONG
9) Junior Senior w/Kate & Cindy of the B-52's "Take my Time" FINALLY A U.S. RELEASE!
10) Sophie Ellis-Bextor w/Fred Schneider of the B-52's "Supersonic" MORE B-52 MAGIC!
11) Shout Out Louds "Tonight I Have to Leave It" BEATS ROBERT SMITH AT HIS GAME*
12) Darren Hayes "Who Would Have Thought" BEATS DEPECHE MODE AT THEIR GAME
13) Tracey Thorn "Raise the Roof" CELEBRATORY
14) Erasure "I Could Fall in Love With You" OPTIMISTIC
15) Feist "1 2 3 4" EVERYWHERE
16) Delays "Love Made Visible" OVERJOYED
17) Justice "D.A.N.C.E." DUMB FUN AND GREAT PRODUCTION
18) Britney Spears "Heaven on Earth" HER BEST SONG IN YEARS
19) Peter Bjorn & John "Young Folks" WHISTLING IS HOT!*
20) Marc Almond "Redeem Me (Beauty Will Redeem the World)" INSPIRING--WELCOME!
21) Patrick Wolf feat. Marianne Faithfull "Magpie" SO CREEPY
22) Stephen Lindsay "Kite" BEAUTIFUL AND TIMELESS
23) Girls Aloud "Call the Shots" EXCELLENT POP SONG
24) M.I.A. "Paper Planes" HAPPY SOUNDING W/DARK UNDERTONES--A CLASSIC
25) Arctic Monkeys "Fluorescent Adolescent" SMITHS FOR THE OUGHTIES?
26) Fratellis "Flathead" THANKS APPLE
27) Lily Allen "Smile" BEST REVENGE SONG OF 07
28) Sarah Nixey "The Collector" QUITE DISTURBING
29) Nina Persson "Black Winged Bird" YEARNING*
30) Jens Lekman "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar" DORK DISCO-LOVE THEM KEY CHANGES*
31) Pipettes "Judy" PURE POP CLASS
32) Lucky Soul "The Great Unwanted" EVEN CLASSIER
33) Bat for Lashes "What's a Girl to Do?" HARPSICHORDS RULE!
34) K-os "The Rain" THE MALE AMY WINEHOUSE?
35) Mark Ronson feat. Daniel Merriweather "Stop Me" SMITHS FANS INSULTED
36) Sugababes "About You Now" PEPPY ELECTRO-ROCK
37) Rihanna "Don't Stop the Music" PEPPY ELECTRO-HIP-HOP (LOVE THE MJ SAMPLE)
38) Nine Inch Nails "God Given" REZNOR RE-DISCOVERS ELECTRONICS
39) Simian Mobile Disco "I Believe" INDIE ALSO-RANS DISCOVER ELECTRONICS
40) Information Society "Burning Bridges" POP ALSO-RANS RETURN!
41) BWO "Give me the Night" THANK YOU SWEDEN*
42) Client "Lights Go Out" LEATHER-TRONICA
43) Duran Duran "Nite-Runner" TIMBALAND MAKES THEM MATTER AGAIN
44) Mika "Relax (take it easy)" BETTER THAN SCISSOR SISTERS LAST ALBUM
45) Kaiser Chiefs "Everything is Average Nowadays" EXACTLY
46) KT Tunstall "I Don't Want You Now" THE GHOST OF KIRSTY MACCOLL RISES!
47) Rosebuds "Get Up Get Out" THE GHOST OF NEW ORDER RISES?
48) Richard Hawley "Tonight the Streets Are Ours" THE GHOST OF ROY ORBISON RISES...
49) Rufus Wainwright "Tiergarten" HELMED BY A PET SHOP BOY
50)Arcade Fire "No Cars Go" BETTER THAN SPRINGSTEEN

*(asterisks show artists of Swedish origin. This does not include songs written or produced by Swedes. Seems like the Swedes are had a great year.)

Can it be??? (A 2007 WRAPUP):

Time absolutely flies. I cannot believe it has been four months since my last post (sorry to any of the few who may read this). Being the crazed music fan that I am, I thought it was time to take stock of some of the highs and lows in pop music this year, and what a great year it has been for music while simultaneously being a shit year for the music business (see past and future posts). When will people see fit to actually purchase what they listen to again? Haven't they ripped off artists and those who make their living through the transfer of music in the past decade enough? But I digress. Music has really had a split personality in 2007, what with expensive production values given to those who can seemingly produce hits, while indie and up-and-coming artists get crappy production and poor record deals because of lacking funds. Radiohead received such praise for offering their album "In Rainbows" early for a fan-determined price, yet came under intense fire from not only business people, but other artists as well, calling them arrogant asses for doing something only a band filled with millionaires could do. 2007 was a year of major changes, as well as a year of celebrity meltdowns ala Amy Winehouse and Britney Spears. C'mon girls...get your acts together! YOU DESERVE BETTER and so do we! That being said, you both released albums that were pretty darn good. OK, enough with the lecturing. Here is a quick list of my top CDs of 2007 (and why):


1
ROISIN MURPHY
Overpowered

All I can say is Roisin surpassed all others in 2007. She is utterly original and a major talent. Overpowered saw her harness what she learned from the critically-praised-but-commercially-ignored Ruby Blue, and take control of things by globe-trotting to put together an electronic dance album with a warm, beating heart at the center. She writes, she sings, she dances (see her "unhinged" style in the "Let Me Know" video). She knows what she wants. From the ultra-classy title track, to the disco jewel of "You Know Me Better", to the electro stomp of "Movie Star", to the slamming "Cry Baby", there is not one wasted track on this album, including the bonus cuts. In addition, there were several more excellent tracks floating around the net and as B-Sides. I struggle to think of another artist who has really updated the 80's in such a way without succumbing to some kind of retro kitsch. This is the record Annie Lennox should have made in 2007.


2
ROBYN
Robyn

I know this shouldn't really count as it originally came out in 2005, but now that it has finally been issued in England in remixed form with some additions, the definitive statement has been made, and hopefully Robyn is busy working on the next one. Seriously, there is very little here to dislike. "With Every Heartbeat" was an electro masterstroke of a song to break her in the UK, and there are so many other gems here: "Be Mine!", "Who's That Girl"(produced by fellow Swedes the Knife), "Crash and Burn Girl", "Handle Me", "Konichiwa Bitches", "Cobrastyle", and a remixed "Bum Like You" being highlights. More please...


3
ARCTIC MONKEYS
Favourite Worst Nightmare

Funnily enough, this album has ascended in my opinion during the year, even though it failed to match the sales heights and hype of album their first. Not only are there some great singles here ("Brianstorm", "Fluorescent Adolescent", "505"), but AM really create a distinctive mood of disconnect in the British underbelly reminiscent of bands from way back like the Specials and the Smiths. There is something with these guys that's difficult to put my finger on, and sometimes they push the aggressive side a bit too hard, but overall they are very strong and distinctive, and it's nice to know there is a band out there that makes me still care about Britpop.


4
TRACEY THORN
Out of the Woods

What can I say about this I haven't said before? While this album didn't really have that completely killer single, there were many fantastic songs throughout, and the shifting moods helped show Tracey's versatility and vulnerability in almost any great style of music. Sample for instance, "A-Z" (poignant electro with a message), "Get Around to It" (horny housewife disco with a DFA sound), "Hands Up to the Ceiling" (bedroom nostalgicoustica), and "Grand Canyon" (Everything But the Girl house with heart). And that doesn't even include "By Piccadilly Station I Sat Down and Wept", "It's All True", or "Raise the Roof". A welcome return.


5
DARREN HAYES
This Delicate Thing We've Made

I must admit I was new to the Darren party this year. I was never much of a Savage Garden fan, and his first solo album left me completely cold. This, however, was something special, and while it is probably too long and indulgent to be perfect, there is so much to like and admire. Standouts for me are the as-good-as-Depeche Mode "Who Would Have Thought", the cathartic "Step Into the Light", and the inspiring "On the Verge of Something Wonderful". Influences from Kate Bush to Prince are apparant, and the fact that Darren has such an interesting personal story doesn't hurt either. While you may not like it all, there is something here for almost everybody.


6
KYLIE MINOGUE
X

Maybe I'm just a big fan and others cannot see the fascination, but in my opinion, very few artists do pop music better than Kylie. She has a buoyant personality, even in the face of a deadly disease, and that shows in her music. While she could have recorded an album of confessional soapboxing best left to Melissa Etheridge, Kylie comes up with one of the most optimistic mission statements of her life. It's not all perfect, but it is hard to discount the glee found in "Wow", "In My Arms", "No More Rain", "2 Hearts" and "The One". Full of potential hit singles, X is the album that should have followed Fever instead of the overly self-conscious Body Language. So when's the US tour???


7
SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR
Trip the Light Fantastic

I seem to have chosen lots of imports this year. Another pop diamond the US missed was Sophie Ellis-Bextor. While some have claimed this to be somewhat of a disappointment commercially, the music more than makes up for that. Almost every album track is great in one way or another, and her voice is so unique when compared to the faceless crap that gets pushed on a daily basis. The fact that she worked with her husband from UK hitmakers the Feeling AND Fred Schneider of the B-52's on the same album is crazy alone! Here, she gives us the best of several worlds: Pop, rock, dance, disco, electronic, balladry, 60's retro. A great album that deserves more attention and sales.


8
GIRLS ALOUD
Tangled Up

Speaking of faceless crap, it took me a long time to accept the girls for what they really are...pop geniuses. Originally I thought they were OK, but my opinion sank a bit when cover songs kept popping up. A couple years on, and they have come back with a truly stunning project that is frontloaded with lots of sass and attitude with little room for balladry. Their songs are incredibly complex, with choruses juxtaposed with verses, and chained together in the most maddening of ways. This ingenuity keeps the listener constantly on their toes, with song lyrics delievered in ways all other contest winners would kill for. Girls Aloud are this generations Bananarama. Additionally, they have made such an impression that Franz Ferdinand are now working with their producer.


9
SIOBHAN DONAGHY
Ghosts

Ah, the little heard Ghosts. If Kate Bush were young again and had a pop twist, this would be it. Such a shame this album sold poorly and Siobhan had to join the cast of Rent in the UK instead of doing a full tour, but a girl's gotta eat. All kidding aside, this album was a messy joy from start to finish, with her testing the limits of her vocal range and including a title track with lots of backwards singing. Highlights (and they were very high) remain the transcendental "Don't Give it Up", the unshakeable "Sometimes", the sparkly "Goldfish", and the driving "Medevac". Most singers dream of having this kind of personal control and writing input on a project, and if this ex-Sugababe never gets it again, at least she got it once. Here's hoping...


10
JUSTICE
Cross

I mentioned this album previously in my mid-year faves, and it is still there at the end of the year. Justice did what Daft Punk hasn't been able to do in almost a decade, and that is to make a cohesive electronic record steeped in American electro-funk and industrial stadium rock with variety and soul. Of course, we got the obligatory pop single in "D.A.N.C.E.", but overall this album was much darker and experimental, from "Genesis" to "Waters of Nazareth". And while some may find the compression a bit much, I think it adds to the general air of claustrophobia they are trying to achieve. Plus you can dance your ass off to it.


11
LILY ALLEN
Alright, Still

Love it, love her. Like the soul of Kirsty MacColl came back and inhabitied the frame of this cute and kooky troublemaker with a gift for bubbly tunes with aid of superproducer Mark Ronson. And so very English. "Smile" was an anthem. Don't stop now...


12
M.I.A.
Kala

Wow, what a record. Parts are kinda hard to grasp on the first couple listens, and while I wasn't sure it was as good as Arular at first, now I think it may be better. "Bird Flu", "Boyz", "Jimmy", "Paper Planes". Ain't no denying.


13
SIOUXSIE
Mantaray

Emerging from what seemed like a deep sleep, Siouxsie proved that she could come up with something utterly compelling without her Banshee cohorts, and what a record. "If it doesn't kill you" may be her best lyric and vocal ever, and there's more where that came from. And the album cover is amazing.


14
PATRICK WOLF
The Magic Position

Coming out of nowhere for me this year, this guy was much more successful for me at what he did than that kook Mika. Shades of a male Kate Bush are here, but Patrick is an original, which is definitely hard to come by today (unless you are M.I.A. who is nothing but original). A very pleasing album with lots of great songs and a creepy moment from Marianne Faithfull.


15
THE VEILS
Nux Vomica

I feel like the outcast talking about this album which hardly anybody else seems to be mentioning, but this is the best Nick Cave has made in years! No, seriously, Finn Andrews is the very talented son of Shriekback guru Barry Andrews, but his sound is completely different. A different set of backing musicians was used here as well than from his first album a few years ago. The best thing to come out of New Zealand in 07, his voice has a worn quality that can be very tender, and yet very agitated when necessary. More people need to hear this NOW.


16
LUCKY SOUL
The Great Unwanted

Albums of this style that are this good are few and far between. Bringing that Beautiful South feel back to pop, Lucky Soul came up with some really great songs and have a great singer in Ali Howard. It is also great to hear a band that actually plays instruments and can write and arrange catchy pop songs without the aid of much machinery (if any). Another underrated and underselling album, 2008 should belong to them in a perfect world.


17
PIPETTES
We are the Pipettes

Finally issued in the US (with new artwork), the same basic album remains, and what an album it is. Making a nice pair with Lucky Soul, Pipettes fit that retro-pop-band-with-memorable-songs to a T. And they're cute to boot. I would much rather have my kids listening to this than that Hannah Montana crap in a heartbeat.


18
SARAH NIXEY
Sing, Memory

While I find it depressing that we couldn't get a new Black Box Recorder this year, Sarah Nixey's solo record made up for it with aplomb. Coming on like Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne's witchy sister, there were some fantastic songs on this record: "The Collector", "Strangelove", "Masquerade", "When I'm Here With You", "Endless Circles". And don't forget the ace cover of the Human League's "Black Hit of Space". If this was just the debut, I cannot wait for more.


19
THE SHOUT OUT LOUDS
Our Ill Wills

The best poppy Cure record since the Kiss Me era. No, seriously, who knew Swedes could do Robert Smith better than Robert Smith. An easy-to-love album produced by Bjorn of other 07 Swedish breakouts, Peter, Bjorn & John.


20
ARCADE FIRE
Neon Bible

An early 07 winner, this album took what makes Springsteen good, and got rid of what makes him bad, and added Echo & the Bunnymen in his place. "No Cars Go" and "Keep the Car Running" are purely anthemic, while "Ocean of Noise" haunts still.


21
NINE INCH NAILS
Year Zero

Trent Reznor's best record since The Downward Spiral. Not as self-indulgent as the Fragile. Not as rocky as With Teeth. More electronic than Pretty Hate Machine. Excellent.


22
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
Sound of Silver

James Murphy out-Bowie's Bowie and out-Byrne's Byrne on this album that sounds like a mix of every album from the last 25 years that I really liked. A critical favorite, and one of mine too.


23
BAT FOR LASHES
Fur and Gold

Could you get more Wicca than this? I love the song about the wizard when she starts talking about how they love him so much they drink his blood. Gothy, to be sure. And she uses harpsichord. How very renaissance. Love it.


24
AMY WINEHOUSE
Back to Black

This album started the year higher for me, and has slowly slid due to her antics in the press, but it is still one of the best of 07. I guess I just expect her to treat herself better because she has so much talent, unlike...


25
BRITNEY SPEARS
Blackout

...who came up with a really great electronic pop album despite all the drama. Shall I go on?
Getting wasted? Crotch shots? Bad driving? Partying topless with strange dudes? Running in the ocean in your underwear? Losing custody of your kids? Embarassing awards performance? Bad music videos? Stealing swag from photo shoot? Shaving head? Such a shame, because "Heaven on Earth" is her best song since "Toxic". (I know she's from the south, but I have southern friends who don't act like this).


AND the HONORABLE MENTIONS:


MARC ALMOND
Stardom Road

We're glad you're alive and singing. You sound great! How about an original album now?


KIM WILDE
Never Say Never

OK, I won't. You did good Kim. It won't break new ground or anything, but you came up with a cohesive rock/pop effort that stayed true to form with some nice surprises. And it's really hard remaking ones own songs and making them still sound good. Many have failed. You didn't. Welcome back.


INFORMATION SOCIETY
Synthesizer

What a nice surprise! And the new lead singer sure sounds like Kurt a lot. This album is a highly enjoyable guilty pleasure for me, and it plays like a love letter to the synthesizer (see title track). Lots of good pop stuff that brings back the late 80's vividly, but in a good way.
(Paul Robb, you are a genius).


SHRIEKBACK
Glory Bumps

Thank you, thank you, thank you Barry Andrews for being you. Absolute craziness nonetheless, but there is noone like you, and this is the best thing you've done in 20 years. Not many will hear it, but those that do will appreciate it loads.


DURAN DURAN
Red Carpet Massacre

They really tried here, and while more successful than Astronaut, it could be a bit too Timba-fied. If they want hit songs, this may have been a good choice (we all know they still love Nile Rodgers and Chic), but I would have liked to have seen them work with someone who could bring out their new wave traits a bit more. Maybe Jacknife Lee or William Orbit. In any case, RCM is their best in a long time.


JUINOR SENIOR
Hey Hey My My Yo Yo

Finally being released in the US 2 years after Japan (and still not out in the UK), it seems like JS are going to be relegated to novelty status, which is such a shame because this is such a great album. Short, tight pop songs with hooks galore that recall everything from early Wham! to George Harrison, guest vocals from Kate & Cindy of the B-52's just add to the charm (and their first album in 18 years arrives in 08--WOOHOO!).


RADIOHEAD
In Rainbows

I would be remiss if I didn't mention this highly touted masterpiece. It is great, to be sure, but as a fan of the CD and LP, I cannot bring myself to calling it an official 2007 release, as the CD hits US stores on Jan. 1, 2008. So I will save my review for next year's installment, when I am sure it will place higher on my list than this. Radiohead, EMI misses you...


Come back for upcoming lists involving disappointing efforts of 07, and anticipated efforts of 08!

Thanks for reading!

I've heard it all before...or have I???

Thought I should mention projects to look forward to in the second half of 2007 that might be worth searching out. The jury is still out on the quality of these offerings, but their names have been bandied about, nonetheless (this is just a taste):

Madonna-I confess...
Kylie-welcome home.
Siouxsie-ruler of them all.
Goldfrapp-cannot wait...
M.I.A.-break the mold!
Roisin Murphy-utterly fabulous
KT Tunstall-what a sweet girl & talented to boot
Duran Duran-c'mon guys, it's your last chance. If Timbaland can't help you...
Annie Lennox-more fun than Bare, I hope.
Dido-should be very interesting with Jon Brion on board.
Hard-fi-the single is OK, so hopefully good.
PJ Harvey-always a surprise
VHS or Beta-sounds promising...
BWO-single is great, and hopefully much better than Halcyon Days.
The Cure-worrisome without keyboards. Is Robert Smith losing it?
Hot Hot Heat-single is great-these guys are good fun.
Dot Allison-intriguing
Darren Hayes-surprisingly intriguing from a pop perspective
Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode)-liked the last one, but really wanted another Depeche record...
Junior Senior (for the US/UK)-party CD of the year?
Martina Topley-Bird-sublime and haunting...more please...
Babyshambles-can you get it together Pete??
British Sea Power-hopefully a bit darker than the last effort
Dexy's Midnight Runners (22 years!)-Kevin Rowland, is your head on straight?
the Prodigy (with lead singers back)-Hallelujah!
R.E.M. (rocking again)-we'll see...Monster, anyone?
Sia-interested...


early 2008...supposedly:

Basement Jaxx-with Yoko Ono! Paging Grace Jones...
Shirley Manson-sorely underrated rock goddess goes solo
Annie-where have you been?
Massive Attack-SO long between albums, but Live With Me could suffice for a while...
Belle & Sebastian-Camera Obscura is on your heels...
Franz Ferdinand-Can't wait to see where they go next...
Coldplay-oh well, they had to work with Eno eventually.
Underworld-why so long? 4-5 years and the whole world changes...
Radiohead-does Thom Yorke have another solo record complete & ready to go?
Nine Inch Nails (part 2)-Part 1 was excellent.
Divine Comedy-always love Neil, and would take just about anything.
U2-Paging Bono...
Moby-supposedly dance-y. Hurrah!


artists that have mentioned recording, but where are they in the process?:

Saint Etienne-just did a big show in the UK, but is there an album coming?
Guillemots-fantastic Mercury Prize nominated, but very quiet in the US
Elbow-??
Doves-??? (how long does it take?)
Peter Gabriel-always working, rarely releasing
ABC-they say it's done-where is it? 10 years is a long time to wait...
Portishead-what did I just say about 10 years? Especially when you only had 2 CDs...
Neneh Cherry-stalled? maybe nobody cares??
Morrissey-on tour & always recording it seems, new deal with Warner in the works?
Daft Punk-played Lollapalooza, but where is the album to erase Human After All?
OMD-touring and recording (hopefully). This could be inspiring...
Avalanches-has it been that long?
Michael Jackson-seemingly always in the studio somewhere...do we care anymore?
Courtney Love-scarifying.
Roxy Music-you have been promising this for 3 years now. 26 years since Avalon. Do we care?
Britney-ugh...


where are they now???:

Fiona Apple-one internet sensation and then...disappears for long periods...
Kate Bush-one double CD in 12 years, she says she doesn't want to wait so long...time is ticking
Human League-say they'll never record again after Secrets (their best) tanked--a shame
Jem-Dido soundalike--maybe she sounds too much like Dido?--trying to fix that??
Mark Hollis-MIA
Boy George-what a mess...can he prove he was a major talent again?
Terry Hall-longer and longer gaps, his discography is all over the map
Ian Broudie/Lightning Seeds-very quiet for a while (including solo)--we want you BACK!
Tears for Fears-Curt did a quiet solo CD...where's Roland? Thought you were back together??
the The-Matt hasn't made a classic in 15 years. Such immense talent--where are you??
Yello-usually pretty quiet anyway
David Sylvian-even quieter. 9 Horses was good, and he's touring. A solo in the works???
David Bowie-heart attacks can really slow you down. Been a while though. Where's an album?
Toni Halliday-Curve split & the Killers called. Any chance of solo, as you are married to a millionaire?
Elizabeth Fraser-great on the Massive Attack tour, but no solo Liz or Cocteau in 10 years? 2long
the Sundays-these guys just disappeared...where are they now?
Siobhan Fahey-promises of solo stuff, but few deliveries. Singles were great, where's the CD?
New Order-may be a while with all the fighting
The Darkness-Justin out of rehab yet?

A quick rundown of what to expect and what never to expect, apparantly.

Win some, lose some...

I have been thinking of following up my original post with an "upgrade/downgrade" list of other titles that have been released this year. These are reflections of my opinions, yet I hope that they can help you (the reader) put things in perspective when considering what to spend your hard earned cash on. So, here's the list:

UPGRADE (I enjoy these very much, and they are definte leaps in quality over previous efforts):

!!!
The Cribs
Feist
Tracey Thorn
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Siobhan Donaghy
Peter, Bjorn & John
Interpol
The Pierces
Rihanna
Kim Wilde
The Rosebuds
White Stripes
LCD Soundsystem
Groove Armada
Sarah Nixey
Modest Mouse
The National
Chromeo
Shriekback
K-os

(other great albums from artists without previous track records):

The Bird & the Bee
Digitalism
The Fratellis
The Good, the Bad, and the Queen
The Pipettes
The Long Blondes
Kate Havnevik
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Mika
The Mary Onettes
Mark Ronson
St. Vincent
The View
A Fine Frenzy

OK... (Neither upgrade nor downgrade, just pleasantly good):

Tori Amos
Bjork
Marc Almond
Rufus Wainwright
Travis
Jarvis Cocker
Air
Client
Maximo Park
The Editors
Bloc Party
Erasure
Suzanne Vega
Chemical Brothers
Keren Ann
Crowded House
Art Brut
Maroon 5
Aqualung
Kaiser Chiefs
Polyphonic Spree
Sondre Lerche
Kings of Leon
Idlewild
Apples in Stereo
Blonde Redhead
Prince
Idlewild
Astrid Williamson
Wilco
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

(and others from new artists that were OK):

Au Revoir Simone
The Cinematics
Paolo Nutini
The Klaxons
The Feeling
Calvin Harris
Daniel Agust


DOWNGRADE (artists who have done better with previous efforts):

Sinead O'Connor
Dolores O'Riordan
Bryan Ferry
The Stooges
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Paula Cole
The Bravery
Joseph Arthur
Unkle
Fountains of Wayne
Brett Anderson
The Magic Numbers
Marilyn Manson
Avril Lavigne
Kelly Clarkson
Mandy Moore

I could go into specifics, but for now, this will have to do. Some of these may end up on the best/worst list at the close of 2007, and more will be explained then. For now, feel free to soak it in. Thanks for reading!