Tuddd's Muddd

The Best Albums of 2010

"Another year has come and passed.

Quick, you poo stabber!  Bring on '11 fast!" [shakes fist at God]

--Maya Angelou

    So, another shitty year!  Here's a list of crappy shit that happened to me this year. much of which I've already bitched about on this blog:

--Big, scary fire at my mom's house, during which mom awoke on top of a BURNING MATTRESS and was lucky to escape unharmed.  Alas, the business that I run out of mom's house wasn't so fortunate. 

--My car was broken into twice.

--A third time that my car was broken into, it was stolen by some punk-ass neighborhood kids who tried to extort $$$ out of me before giving the car back.  Eventually I wound up stealing the car back from these brainless pieces of shit before the cops informed me that since they were too fucking stupid to figure out how to register the car as "unstolen," it was probable that I would be arrested at gunpoint for DRIVING MY OWN CAR. 

--Apartment was robbed; they grabbed my poor roommate's computer, a pile of unused MetroCards which I had accumulated while volunteering last year, and, um, some of my "saucies" in addition to grabbing my car keys, thus leading to the above automobile thievery.  Motherfuckers. 

--Was informed that if I want to cure my extremely severe case of sleep apnea, I would likely need to undergo a surgical procedure wherein the doctor would basically rip the lower part of my face off, break my jaw, and insert an extension and screws into said jaw before a 7 month healing period characterized by "at times excruciating pain" and "inability to chew [my] own food."  Where do I sign up?!

--Got mugged. 

--Cliff Lee chose the City of Brotherly Love/inhumanly awful, despicably heartless, projectile vomiting white trash over the Big Apple.  God fucking dammit!

--Had over a grand swiped out of my checking account when someone stole my ATM card at my birthday party. 

--Perhaps worst of all, no Cheeseburger album this year, despite the fact that they supposedly have one all recorded and ready to go.  Seriously, have you heard any of the garbage that kids are listening to these days?  Rock and Roll ain't gonna save itself.  GET ON THAT SHIT DUDES!

--Friends came, friends went, and still yet another friend set out on an absurdly improbable (yet also absurdly awesome) journey of self-discovery.  To those that stuck around, I love you all.  To the lousy chickenshit assholes who didn't, please feel free to sit on one of these and rotate. 

    Well now!  List time.  Here's the rules and assorted deets.

• This is not an "all the albums I heard in '10 ordered from best to worst" list.  No way Jose.  These are the cream of the crop from the 90+ new albums I heard this year.
• This list only includes albums and EPs from the calendar year 2010.  I can't stress that enough, people.  Thus, reissues, singles, and compilations of previously-released/widely available stuff are disqualified.
• No, I didn't accidentally leave the Deerhunter album off the list.  The Deerhunter album is, in fact, horrible.
• Oh Don Piano.

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1.) Fang Island - Fang Island -- Ladies and gentlemen, set your serotonin glands to "monsoon!"  For those of us jaded bastards unaccustomed to the unconditional, massive outpouring of joy that's found on Fang Island, it may seem at first like there just has to be a catch somewhere.  The pixie dust has to wear off at some point, no?  I mean, did they spring fully-formed from Rick Nielsen's 5-neck?  Did they collectively make a deal with some sort of bizarro demon that allows them only to create perfect, fizzy, euphoric poppy prog-metal?  Or, alternately, are they *gasp* a Christian rock band? 

Fortunately not.  They are, however, a synthesis of some blue-chip musical acts: the fist-pumpin', arena-ready melodicism of Cheap Trick; the AOR prog arrangements (and sometimes-goofy synths) of Rush; the sheer joy of a Phish "Harry Hood" jam.  Moreover, they're able to transcend the seemingly obligatory navel gazing of most indie acts by unabashedly going for the home run ball where most indie "rockers" are okay with a sac bunt.  As such, if these guys don't have a major label deal by the next few months I will be very, very surprised.     

In closing, if you dislike this Fang Island album, you dislike joy.  That is all.

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2.) Beach House - Teen Dream -- Although I've liked much of Beach House's previous material, this album is the great leap forward that establishes Beach House as one of the world's finest bands.  Seriously.  Admittedly, there's a limited sonic palette that a band can traverse when their instrumentation consists simply of voice, guitar and piano, but there's more at play here thematically and texturally than one might originally notice at first listen.  [And more importantly, what a voice it is.] 

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3.) Gorillaz - Plastic Beach -- As someone with very little interest in/knowledge of all things hip hop, I would imagine that this album has pretty much all the hallmarks of a successful hip hop mixtape.  You have humor ("Superfast Jellyfish" is flat-out hilarious); guest spots both arresting (Bobby Womack on "Stylo") and super cool (Lou Reed's 'luded out turn on "Some Kind of Nature"); and flawless production (everywhere, but probably most notably the synths on "Glitter Freeze" and "Empire Ants").   

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4.) Marnie Stern - Marnie Stern -- On her third full-length, the femme fatale of fingertapping takes such a huge step forward that she nearly renders her previous output totally obsolete.  [Not really, but check it --  this is a really good album.]  The real improvements come not only in the songwriting, but also in the dynamics: would either of her previous albums have ventured into the self-assured stomp of "Her Confidence" or the rich emotional territory of the album-closing "The Things You Notice"?  Prob'ly not.  Of course, this is not to say that this an album of slow jams - in fact far from it - songs like "Cinco de Mayo" and "Gimme" still have the over-caffeinated freaky prog Stern's best known for. 

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5.) Mogwai - Special Moves (bonus edition) -- Yes, I know that I tend to like live albums more than most folks do, but if the idea of what basically amounts to a "best-of live" outing doesn't appeal to you, then it's doubtful you're a fan of the band in question.  Of course, I could have lived with a couple more tracks from '06's ridiculously underrated Mr. Beast, but then again that's my solution to everything.  Bonus points because I was actually at one of the three shows (at Music Hall of Williamsburg in April '09) that supplied the material for this release. 

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6.) Melvins - The Bride Screamed Murder -- Although the first two Melvins albums with Big Business' Jared and Coady were lean, mean riffin' machines, some longtime fans didn't really care for the perceived streamlining of the Melvins sound, presumably preferring some more typical Melvins "weirdness" weaved in n' out of the non-stop riffage.  I am not necessarily one of those people.  Personally, I thought (A) Senile Animal and Nude With Boots were the best things they'd done in the new millennium, but what do I know.  Anyway, The Bride Screamed Murder has plenty to satisfy both camps.  If you like experimental stuff, you've got Marine Corps-style marching chants, an impossibly sludgy cover of the Who's "My Generation," weird l'il interludes, and a lengthy sound collage at the end of the album.  And if you just like it when the Melvins rock the fuck out, songs like "Electric Flower" and especially the colossal "Pig House" will peel the paint off your house.

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7.) Liquor Store - Suckin on Mommy's Dick -- No, this album does not exist, since all Liquor Store has to their name release-wise is a 7" of "Trash Sandwich" b/w "Free Pizza."  But if it did exist, it would have likely beaten the everloving fuck out of most of the other namby pamby bullshit that came out this year. 

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8.) Holy Fuck - Latin -- Although this album has nothing as immediately great as LP's "Lovely Allen" or "Royal Gregory" (although "Silva and Grimes" and "Stay Lit" come close), Latin's seamless flow between tracks leads the listener through an intensely hypnotic soundscape.  [A plug for their live show: Holy Fuck are incredible live so get off yer ass and see them live when they come to your neck of the woods.]

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9.) The Austerity Program - Backsliders and Apostates Will Burn EP -- It's pretty rare that a band's live intensity is matched EXACTLY by its recorded output, but these guys' brutal arrangements and Albini-like recording techniques result in an album that practially reeks of blood, sweat and tears.  [No, not the band.]

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10.) Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky -- Embarrassingly, this is my first real exposure to Swans, other than a handful of tracks heard here and there.  Which is inexcusable, because this album to me sounds like a cross between Glenn Branca, Can's weightier stuff, Leonard Cohen and Harvey Milk, with some Tom Waits thrown in.  Terrifying and creepy and cacophonous and very unpleasant.   

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11.) Sleigh Bells - Treats -- You know what?  I like eMusic's review of this album so much that I'm just going to steal it. "The hip-hop beats sputter like someone dropped a boombox in a swimming pool. The gloriously cheeseball riffage could've been dubbed off an old Van Halen cassette. It's cheerleader music for punks. It's punk music for cheerleaders."  Right on. 

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12.) Metallica - Live at Grimey's -- The night before showing up at Bonnaroo, Metallica recorded this l'il tidbit in the basement of a Nashville record store, with the brief setlist comprising mostly songs from Metallica's "Before We Sucked" golden period.  Of course, I love a good live album as much as anyone, and I appreciate that Metallica made this available for purchase only at indie record stores, and all that happy horseshit.  What I think is self-parodyingly retarded was the grassroots campaign by internet Metallifans rabidly imploring people to "support Metallica by buying this limited release!!!11!1"  Yeah, you know what?  It really is about time that a little underdog indie act like Metallica got some support after years of toiling in obscurity.  Jackasses. 

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13.) Torche - Songs for Singles EP -- Superlative Sun State sludge supastahz pick up where '08's ridiculously good Meanderthal left off on this EP that somehow manages to leave a smile on yer fat face at the same time that it's bludgeoning you over the head with super duper riffs galore.  Now, if you're not used to sludgy music that has a sense of humor, fear not: watch the hilariously adorable official video for the song UFO for a quick primer on what makes Torche so great.

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14.) Kylesa - Spiral Shadow -- For all the brainless "hipster metal" crowing that this band endures, you'd think that they'd co-written these songs with Devendra and paid Sufjan to contribute melodica arrangements.  Well, they didn't, and there are moments on this album that straight fucking crush, as well as some much more textural stuff, supposedly influenced by the band's newfound love of Built to Spill.

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15.) Melvins - Melvins EP -- Gotta love the "quality material-to-crap" ratio on this one.  Includes three tracks.  The first: 8+ minute of the Wipers "Youth of America"/AWESOME.  The second: extended version of the ubercreepy "Dies Iraea" (a/k/a cover of the theme from The Shining) from Nude With Boots/AWESOME.  And the third: remix of "It Tastes Better Than the Truth" from the same album/MEH.  Well, you know what The Single Greatest Musical Artist In the History of Recorded Music has to say about that: .66666666666 repeating is none too shabby.

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16.) Bad Religion - 30 Years Live -- There are a few old chestnuts (think pre-All Ages) on this one, but I for one am impressed that the inventors of "melodic hardcore" managed to cobble together a decent live set like this one that so heavily features a lot of newer stuff.  If you're one of those people that thinks Bad Religion has been just releasing the same album for the last 16 years, it's doubtful this will do much to sway your opinion, but if you're not an asshole you should enjoy this. 

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17.) Harvey Milk - A Small Turn of Human Kindness -- For a band that's so distinctly steeped in creating artfully disturbing sludge, this album can be considered a bit of a career highlight (or lowlight).  Yes, here we have huge, steaming pile of unpleasantness, completely inappropriate for anyone who spends less than half their day plotting the deaths of themselves/others. 

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18.) Jonsi - Go --  If you favored the fruity felicity of the last Sigur Ros album, feel free to felch yourself with this frilly, fanciful, frolicy fudge-factory. 

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19.) The Thermals - Personal Life -- The most humorless and blatantly emo album that the Thermals have ever put out is also *SURPRISE* the worst album the Thermals have ever put out.  But it's still decent.  It's really to the band's credit that they're able to take a group of songs which aren't among their best, which are essentially about loathing/distrusting your significant other, and make it at least somewhat listenable. 

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20.) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs -- So, let me get this straight: in order to show how dreary, dull, and stifled suburban life is, Arcade Fire actually managed to write an album that is, for the most part, dreary, dull and stifled-sounding?  Huh.  Although this is pretty damn far from being a great album (and not even in the same species as Funeral or Neon Bible), you still have two legitimately great songs ("Sprawl II" and "Half Light II"), a few damn good ones ("We Used to Wait," "Rococo" and "Suburban War") and some near misses.  While Arcade Fire's first two full-lengths used depressing topics as the springboard for some of the best music of the millennium, Win n' Regine may need to mix it up a little.  Y'know, maybe write happy songs about happier stuff.  Hey, I got it!  Maybe Arcade Fire's next release should be written about this year's Fang Island album!  Yeah!  [crickets]

The 25 Best Songs of 2010

WHEEEEEE!!!!

It's year-end list time! 

You know what that means!

It means I try to do one of these year-end lists in one sitting, and wind up getting so bitter about shit that by the end of it I'm ready to gouge my eyes out with a brick of sharp cheddar!

Like I said, WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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1.)Fang Island - Patterns On The Wall (feat. Andrew W.K.)

I can say without hyperbole that the last 90 seconds of this song is probably the greatest thing in the history of the human world.  <Cue Pavlovian response on the ol' tearducts.>  That is all.   

Video: no video of this song available, so click above and you can listen to the actual song just like they used to do in the days before "Tee Vee."  You're welcome, dick!

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2.) Surfer Blood - Swim

I've said it before, but I'll say it again- this song sounds like Blue Album-era Weezer covering Asia's "Heat of the Moment" while secretly enjoying itself by sitting too hard on one of these.  Not too shabby!  Moreover, here's hoping their major label debut is more "Swim" and less "Slow Jabroni!" 

Video: Studio version.  Watched a few concert clips and these guys really didn't seem to be that great of a live band.  Thoughts?

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3.) Gorillaz - Superfast Jellyfish [feat. De La Soul and Gruff Rhys]

The best rap song I've listened to since NWA's Efil4zaggin.  Wait, did I say "best?"  Because I meant to say "first!" 

Video: "Official Visual Video."  Whatever the fuck that means. 

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4.) Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

<3 U, Regine.

Video: Arcade Fire's most recent SNL performance.  Can Regine pull it off?  You decide!

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5.) Arcade Fire - Half Light II

Yup, "Half Light II" has all the grandiosity/massiveness/arena-ready bombast of a U2 song without, you know, being unbearably awful like a U2 song.  Shouldn't this song be the soundtrack to a misleadingly optimistic Archer Daniels Midland commercial or something, with bucketloads of smiling multicultural faces, "arty" animations and aerial video of amber waves of grain from sea to shining sea as captured by a helicopter cam?  Who's with me on this one?

Video: Studio version.  Why wasn't this released as a single?!

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6.) Sleigh Bells - Crown on the Ground

Whatever you do, Alexis, please don't lose that ass. 

Video: live, filmed in NYC at (le) poisson rouge last December.  Hot fucking damn. 

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7.) Fang Island - Life Coach

Since every single goshdarn motherhumpin' stinkin' godforsaken friggin' blessed bleedin' cotton pickin' fershluginer article written about Fang Island (including ones on this site!  Seriously, check for yourself!) is legally mandated to mention the "everyone high-fiving everyone" self-description of what Fang Island's music sounds like, allow me to fulfill said obligation now: this is the high-fiviest song from the high-fiviest album of the year. 

Video: Official music video for the song, which is pretty piss poor with the exception of them awesomely recreating the castle guy from the cover of the album.   

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8.) Gorillaz (feat. Mark E. Smith) - Glitter Freeze

Yup, more Gorillaz wackiness, this time featuring awesomely chilly 80s synth lines, Mark E. Smith's unmistakable, inscrutable blacked out rambling, and an updated version of the beat from Rock and Roll part 2.  Fuck yeah.

Video: Official music video, starring a ship.

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9.) Crocodiles - Mirrors

Very much in the vein of last year's second-best song, the freaking awesome "I Wanna Kill."  In fact, yes, one could note that this one is in the vein of a lot of Crocodiles stuff.  I dig this shit.

Video: live in-studio version recorded by Insound.  As I've stated before (in various states of inebriation), these guys put on a nice live show, especially since adding the full band.

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10.) Beach House - 10 Mile Stereo

The best song on an album full of stunners. 

Video: live version at Webster Hall from earlier this year.  I shoulda fuckin' been there, goddamn it. Notice Victoria kinda eats shit at about 3:50, heheh.

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11.) Melvins - Pig House

A quintessential riff-packed multi-part Melvins hyper-jam.

Video: Live in Seattle.  Video starts about a minute or so into the song [bummer].  Towards the end, however, shit hits the fan when Jared puts down his bass, jumps offstage and personally bum rushes some unlucky bastard the fuck out of the building.  From the comments: "It helps that Jared's dressed like a space barbarian."  Feel free to read all about the incident here!  Or not. 

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12.) Kylesa - Dust

This is both the prettiest AND the most psychedelic song Kylesa has ever put out.

Video: [edit] hmmmm, looks like they removed the video from YouTube overnight on a copyright restriction.  Yer on yer own on this one, kiddos!

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13.) Marnie Stern - Cinco De Mayo

Important to include a pic of the finger-tapping technique for this song.  Widdlywiddlywiddlywiddly...

Video: studio version/fucking fantastic.

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14.) LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change

How fun would it be to perform this song at karaoke?!  And I *HATE* karaoke!  

Video: from Jules Holland 5/14/10.

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15.) Fang Island - Careful Crossers

Widdlywiddlywiddlywiddly (sorry, getting tired/unmotivated up in here.)

Video: official music video.  Equal parts "awesome" and "seizure inducing," much like [deleted]'s cocaine intake!

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16.) Marnie Stern - Her Confidence

A ballsy, riffy rocker, not unlike '08's "The Crippled Jazzer."  Of course, Zach Hill kills it on this song.    

Video: only a partial performance, but still worth watching.

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17.) Perfume Genius - Learning

I can think of at least two people who will make fun of me for enjoying this song.  [NOTE: those two people comprise approximately 100% of regular Muddd readership.]

Video: ummmmmm

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18.) Zola Jesus - Sea Talk

Uhhhh... yeah... see the comment on #17... [hides behind couch}....

Video: official music video.

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19.) Prince Rama - Lightening Fossil

Yup, this is some real hippie bullshit right here.  In other words, "I'll have a little more of what the comments for #s 17 and 18 are having, thankyouverymuch."

Video: studio version. 

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20.) Fang Island - Davey Crockett

"Hi, we're Fang Island.  This is our one-two-three-fourth time so far on this list, and Tuddd still can't seem to think of anything interesting to say about us that doesn't involve the term 'widdly widdly.'  Fuck you, Tuddd, you unoriginal, ambitionless bastard."

Video: live in studio at KEXP.

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21.) Marnie Stern - For Ash

You

Out

Shine

Them

All.

Video: live.  Another show that I shoulda been at.  Fuk.

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22.) The Magnetic Fields - You Must Be Out of Your Mind

Since by this point I've apparently resorted to just quoting lyrics instead of coming up with original content;

"You can't just go 'round sayin' stuff

Because it's pretty

And I no longer drink enough

To think you're witty."

HA!!

Video: studio version.

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23.) Beach House - Zebra

Um, <3 U, Victoria?  Fuck, I got nothing.  NOTHING!!!!

Video: probably a nice live or studio verison from somewhere or nowhere.  Check for yerself.  I'm getting kinda ornery up in here.

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24.) Boston Spaceships - Come On Baby Grace

OK.  One of the reasons that this year's GbV reunion was so great is because it hearkened back to the time when Uncle Bob was actually capable of writing more than one or two decent songs in a whole fucking year.  This is oh-ten's good Bob song.  Skip ALL the others.  I am serious.

Video: crapola, I can't find anything.  Instead, watch this video of an even better Boston Spaceships song.

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25.) Mark Sultan - Ten of Hearts

God I love this one.  I wish there was a video of it somewhere online so that, on the off chance YOU haven't heard it yourself, I could share this song's awesomeness with you.  But, alas, there isn't, so I can't.  So watch this instead because it's hilarious and because I feel like throwing in the towel.  Tuddd out.

Albums I've Heard So Far in 2010, From Best to Worst, With Exactly One Sentence Written About Each, Sorta [part 1]

    Bored; pissed off that I missed Crocodiles last night because I fucked my foot up by stepping on a bunch of pins and other sharp shit that had been left on the floor inexpicably (don't ask).  And there's little chance I'm going to brave the throngs of brainwashed AnCo worshippers at the Avey Tare-DJ'd Crocs show this Friday at Glasslands.  Frickity frack, y'all. 

    Anyhow, here's my favorite 20 albums I've heard so far this year, with a sentence written about each.  Keep in mind that there's all kinds of shit I haven't yet heard (just off the top of my head Zoroaster, Helmet, Swans, The Sword, Deerhunter, Grinderman, Kylesa, etc.), so expect this list to change size, shape and odor by the time I get around to pinching off my year-end lists.  We'll see how motivated I get to finish this off with another couple lists of ~20 albums in order of descending goodness, but for now sink your teef into this loaf. 

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1.) Fang Island - Fang Island -- How rare is it that the indie blogosphere actually embraces a band that goes "widdly widdly widdly" on lead guitar, and it's not this chick performing said widdly widdly?

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2.) Beach House - Teen Dream -- Stylistic limitations be damned, the melodies are just sooooooo damn sweet, delivered by means of the year's finest vocal performance.

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3.) Gorillaz - Plastic Beach -- Normally I hate anything even remotely hip-hop tinged, but this album has 4 important characteristics not present on many other hip hop recordings: 1.) humor; 2.) brains; 3.) guest appearances by legendary musicians; 4.) great, lush 80's-ish synth lines.

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4.) Mogwai - Special Moves -- Moggy live; I was at this show (as evidenced by the several times I'm visible in the accompanying "Burning" film); yippee!

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5.) The Austerity Program - Backsliders and Apostates Will Burn - Simply put, one of the most intense recordings you'll ever hear. 

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6.) Melvins - Melvins EP -- I talked some shit about this release earlier in the year, but two important facts need to be considered: 1.) "Dies Iraea" is fucking awesome, and 2.) since Electroretard is out of print, you need this for the fucking insane 8+ minute cover of The Wipers' Youth of America.

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7.) Melvins - The Bride Screamed Murder -- Not as lean and mean as the first two Big Business-augmented Melvins albums (for example, this album's final two tracks are beyond useless), but "Pig House" and "Electric Flower" fucking shred. 

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8.) Holy Fuck - Latin -- Not as melodically monolithic as their last one, although the unrelenting beats and flawless pacing make this the best workout album of the year (always a good idea to take your workout soundtrack advice from someone who's morbidly obese).

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9.) Arcade Fire - Suburbs -- Yes, there are several great songs on here, but plenty of skippable stuffs too. 

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10.) Sleigh Bells - Treats -- Yup, so I'm pretty much obsessed with Alexis Krauss and that's all there is to it.

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11.) The Thermals - Personal Life -- If you only like their faster stuff, you're going to want to skip this, but although the music is toned down, the caustic self-examination remains. 

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12.) Bad Religion - 30 Years Live -- Every live concert EVER BY ANYBODY should start with the song "Fuck Armageddon, This Is Hell."

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13.) Harvey Milk - Harvey Milk -- Don't worry, these guys hate themselves as much as you do.

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14.) Harvey Milk - A Small Turn of Human Kindness -- Bleak, bleak, bleak; like early-Swans bleak, man.

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15.) Surfer Blood - Astro Coast -- It's easy to dismiss this as just "Swim" plus a bunch of lesser crap, but this is a deceptively smart li'l record via "yay Beafi."

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16.) Lost in the Trees - All Alone in an Empty House -- Despite never having heard the Bon Iver album (and having no intention of ever doing so), I'm prepared to McConfirm that this album is way way better.

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17.) Torche - Songs for Singles EP -- Tasty stopgap tidbits (6 of the 8 songs are under 2:20) by the happiest, least straight sludge metal band that I know of.

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18.) Jonsi - Go -- If you liked the fruity optimism of the last Sigur Ros album, feel free to felch yourself with this frilly, fanciful, frolicy fudge-factory.

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19.) Crocodiles - Sleep Forever -- As spotty as it is bratty (like last year's Summer of Hate), but hot sandwich fuckin' damn is "Mirrors" incredible.

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[^in lieu of an actual album cover, which apparently doesn't exist on said intarwebz]

20.) The Netherlands - Fantasmatic -- Sick metal riffs, bull-in-a-china-shop rhythms, and plenty of goofiness.

The Souper 20 - Best Albums of the 2000s

Bear with me-- this is a very early draft... notice the time at which it was posted.....

...also notice there are no albums from this 2009 on this list....

...there's sure to be some stuff I left off.  Y'know, some real forehead slappers.  Mistakes/accidental omissions will be amended as I see fit. 

...kinda bummed that The Melvins' The Maggot actually came out in '99... I had it mixed up with The Crybaby (which did come out in '00) because their covers are pretty much identical.  Woulda made the top 20 right around 17 or so.

...Guns N' Roses' "Live Era" double disc also just missed being included somewhere in the top 10 because it, too, came out in late '99.

...if you're counting best-ofs on this list, Guided by Voices' Human Amusements at Hourly Rates actually would take the top slot.  Hence it being awarded the coveted "#0" slot.

...the Built to Spill live album would have made the list if you could take out the two 19+ minute jams.  The rest of the shit be tight. 

Naptime.

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20- Godspeed You Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists

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19- Tapes 'N Tapes - The Loon

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18- The Darkness - Hmmmm take your pick honestly.  It's reasonably pathetic to admit this, but I've actually thought about this for a decent amount of time before getting this list together and I've always thought the two Darkness albums are pretty much equal, which of course goes against the whole "their second album was shit" thing.  

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17- The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust

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16- Oxford Collapse - Remember the Night Parties

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15- Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

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==oops, In Rainbows should be here

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14- Cheeseburger - Cheeseburger

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13- Earth - The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull

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12- Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievances

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11- The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine

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10- Tool - Lateralus

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9- Mogwai - Mr. Beast

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8- Interpol - Turn Out the Bright Lights

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7- The White Stripes - White Blood Cells

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6- Comets on Fire - Blue Cathedral

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5- Comets on Fire - Comets on Fire

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4- Arcade Fire - Funeral

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3- Pelican - City of Echoes

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2- Raveonettes - Chain Gang of Love 

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1- Radiohead - Combination of Tracks from Kid A, Amnesiac and I Might Be Wrong aka I Might Be Kidnesiac

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0- Guided by Voices - Human Amusements at Hourly Rates (best of)

The Best Albums of 2007 pt. 1 (list #11)

    Better late than never, eh?  Well, what say we get right into it.

    I'm reluctant to brand 2007 "the year of" anything in particular because I don't really see any recent trend as being definitive.  There were unlikely comebacks, stunning debuts, disappointing clunkers and puzzling choices.  Personally, 2007 was the year that I finally fell out of love with Robert Pollard's non-archival releases.  (*SOB* Parting is such sweet sorrow!)  My favorite record store closed down, my dad died, I quit my shitty job, and I started my own business.  But enough about me.

    Before we get started, first: the ground rules, which remain the same as last year : this only counts albums released in '07, and not reissues, so no Daydream Nation, Nico's The Frozen Borderline or ELO's Out of the Blue, or the Blossom Toes or 13th Floor Elevators reissues.  But pretty much everything else is fair game -- live albums, limited edition EPs, retrospectives compiling old tracks, whatever.  Also, this list only contains albums that I personally own -- none of that Limewire bullshit.  And, yes, I will eventually have mini-reviews posted for all 70+ albums I heard in '07.  This is just the first half.

    Oh, and winner of the yearly "Sufjan Stevens Illinoise Memorial Trophy" (given to the album responsible for so much spillage of music journalist ejaculate that my adding a review would surely result in nothing but redundancy) is Panda Bear's Person Pitch.

    So let's have at it, shall we?

2007: The Year in Albums

1.) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible -- All those of you that expected Arcade Fire to follow up the incredible Funeral with an equally worthy sophomore record, stand up.  The general consensus was that the rich emotional depths that were successfully mined to such stunning effect on Funeral would just be too much to be equaled a second time around.  Fortunately, as it turned out, the band members didn't need to suffer through further family tragedies -- as they famously did prior to Funeral's release -- to find the inspiration necessary to create another excellent album.

     Replacing the mournfulness of Funeral with righteous, bilious outrage at a world gone mad, Neon Bible isn't a protest record in the traditional sense in that its disillusioned fury is not focused on a sole target.  Instead, Win Butler's lyrics paint with a broad stroke, with the prevailing themes of perseverance (as in "Keep the Car Running") versus suffocating hopelessness ("Black Mirror," notably) and justified paranoia ("Windowsill") coloring much of the material.  In one of the most original first-person narratives since Steely Dan's "Don't Take Me Alive,"  "Antichrist Television Blues," (supposedly originally titled "Joe Simpson"), eviscerates the unconscionable greed and lecherous hypocrisy of "God-fearing" showbiz parents literally from the inside out.

    Not that it's perfect.  For one, they probably shouldn't have put the two "Don't wanna..." songs back to back (Antichrist Television Blues and Windowsill).  And "My Body Is a Cage" sounds like leftovers from  "Intervention" But these are relatively minor quibbles, and by never coming within shouting distance of the sophomore slump, Arcade Fire have established themselves as the best band in the world. 

2.) Radiohead - In Rainbows -- Consciously turning away from the compulsion to reinvent themselves yet again, what we have here is easily the most comfortable Radiohead's ever sounded.  Disclaimer: this is most assuredly not a RAWK album, nor is it given to overly ambitious flights of electronic fancy, and the ideological axe-grinding is kept to a minimum.  Wisely, this leaves plenty of room for what's always been the most striking instrument in their arsenal: Thom Yorke's voice.  As usual, Nigel Godrich's production is picture perfect, framing Yorke's gentle melodies with ebbs and swells that serve to augment instead of overpowering the material.  And with the focus firmly on the melodies, Yorke uncorks some real stunners.  Best song: The wordless coda of "Nude" is the most sublime musical moment of the year.

3.) Deerhunter - Cryptograms -- A complex, at times harrowing inward journey so instantly identifiable and evocative that you can practically hear the unwelcome clamminess of cold sweat percolating within your speakers.  Just as with their fantastic live show, Deerhunter manage to expose insecurities without wallowing in gratuitous unpleasantness -- although some severely macabre themes are visited throughout the album's course, the main impression Cryptograms leaves is the painstaking care that clearly went into its production, not to mention the obvious appreciation of Floyd-esque subtlety and dynamics.

4.) Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond -- The beast awakes!  Nearly twenty years after the dissolution of the "classic" Dino Jr. lineup, who'd'a thunk they'd drop a legitimate contender for album of the year right out of the gate?  And with Beyond being jam-packed with great song after great song, one comes away with the feeling that this reunion will not be of the simple one-and-done variety. (Well, that and the fact that they've been touring almost incessantly for the last two years.)  Within the Dino Jr. catalog, only You're Living All Over Me tops Beyond.  Yes, it's better than Bug.  Way, way, way better. Best song: the multipart "Pick Me Up" which traverses several distinct sections before locking into the year's best guitar solo.

5.) Robert Pollard - Crickets: The Best of the Fading Captain Series, 1999-2007 -- A two disc  retrospective highlighting the best and the brightest from Robert Pollard's now-retired Fading Captain Series label, encompassing forty+ solo albums, through-the mail collaborations, and other assorted idiosyncratically-named side projects.  Unfortunately since Pollard's first two proper solo records (Not in My Airforce and Waved Out) were released by Matador, there's nothing to be found on here from those undeniable classics but fear not, this sumbitch still has a ton of great tracks.  As a Fading Captain Cliffs Notes of sorts it holds up as well as can be expected (if not better), but in the name of all that's holy, where the fuck is Submarine Teams?  Includes 6 previously unreleased tracks for the diehards.  Best song: how about a top six?  1.) "Pop Zeus," arguably Pollard's finest composition ever, 2.) "Sensational Gravity Boy, 3.) "Stifled Man Casino," from the first Airport 5 collaboration (with former GbV member Tobin Sprout), 4.) the grungy-as-fuck "Time Machines" from Lexo and the Leapers, 5.) the semi-lecherous "Tight Globes," and 6.) the defiant chest-beater (and live favorite) "Alone, Stinking and Unafraid."

6.)  Cheeseburger - Cheeseburger -- Do you like to party?  Well, do ya?!!  Cheeseburger takes rock back to... well, I'm not sure when, (when was rock ever this fun?) but a time when in order to forget your troubles all you needed was a pocketful of quarters for the jukebox, a keg and a group of drunk-off-their-ass crazy friends.  Think all the fun, showmanship and off-color humor of a more-belligerent AC/DC, with the bombast crammed down from arena size just enough to fit in your corner bar.  Or, better yet, your basement. 

7.) Guided by Voices - Live From Austin -- Well, a mediocre-to-averageish GBV show was/is pretty much better than anything anyone else (Robert Pollard included) can put out there these days.  Also comes on DVD.  On this show, recorded for the Austin City Limits television program during a stop on the band's farewell "Electrifying Conclusion" tour in 2004, Uncle Bob reaches into his seemingly bottomless well of songs to rock out with just-added rarities ("Do the Earth," "Navigating Flood Regions"), "new" shit from their underrated Half Smiles of the Decomposed album ("Gonna Never Have to Die," "Girls of Wild Strawberries,") and all-time faves ("Echos Myron," "Tractor Rape Chain").  Highlights: rhythm guitarist/blacked-out superhero Nate Farley tumbling off the stage during "Fair Touching;" Bob accidentally introducing surprise guest Pete Yorn as "Tom Yorn," Bob totally muffing the lyrics during "Pendulum" only to be saved by right hand man/lead guitarist Doug Gillard, (who receives a "Thanks, Doug!" from an appreciative Bob) and the ensuing "you can suck and still rule" monologue.

8.) Pelican - City of Echoes -- Sorry, but it has to be said: one's enjoyment of this album is directly related to how much the sloppy drumming annoys/distracts you.  But if you can learn to focus on the riff-savvy songwriting and fantastic guitar interplay instead, you're golden.  Best post-metal record since last year's stunning Enter by Russian Circles.

9.) Panthers - The Trick --  Brooklyn band's follow up to 2004's super-awesome Things Are Strange sets you up with a stunning array of heavy riffing, then knocks you out with clever, passionate lyrics.  These ten tracks are over quick, with most clocking in at under three-and-a-half minutes, and I salute the brevity, but I feel that the addition of a slow-burning, meandering track (like Things Are Strange's "We Are Louder" and "If You Were Young Once, Rage") or two would have varied the dynamics just enough to really knock this one outta the park.  One of the top "heavy music" records of the year.   

10.) Hull - Viking Funeral --  Hull manage to cram everything that's great about metal into one incredible 17 minute track: bone-crushing riffs, dextrous guitar work, psychotic growls, dramatic climaxes, and just enough bluesy noodling to occasionally drag the listener back to normalcy.  Having caught these guys live a couple of times and heard some of their other jams, you can bet I'll have my ear to the ground listening for info about a new release. 

11.) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Is Is EP -- A collection of 5 songs written between Fever to Tell and Show Your Bones.  And that's important to state: this is a collection of songs which are actually able to stand on their own, away from the preconceptions/baggage of the vaunted YYY live show.  While I listened to Fever to Tell thinking "boy, these songs don't hold a candle to their in-concert counterparts," this record proves that they're capable of putting together an incredibly tight, cohesive EP of damn good music.

12.) Interpol - Our Love to Admire -- an uneven record, and the weakest of their three LPs, but still strong enough to yield several gems.  (First single "The Heinrich Maneuver" is not amongst said gems.  Spoiler alert!) And although Our Love doesn't reach the heights of their previous two full-lengths, at least they didn't try to shoehorn some radio-friendly crap on there somewhere, y'know, since they're on a major label now and all.  In fact, the closest anything comes to being "extravagant" or "bloated" on this record is the orchestra on "Pioneer to the Falls," which compliments the song *perfectly*.  Seriously, guys, thanks for not trying to sound like the Goo Goo Dolls or whatever.   

13.) Sigur Ros - Hvarf/Heim -- This consists of two distinctly separate EPs, the first of which (Hvarf) collects unreleased tracks and a couple of alternate takes, and the second of which (Heim) culls tracks from a mostly acoustic tour of the band's native Iceland.  While these guys have been accused (as has the entire post-rock genre) of relying too much upon simple quiet-loud dynamics to create their stunning crescendos, Heim shows that the band are not simply slaves to their wattage.

14.) Type O Negative - Dead Again -- Probably the band's most consistent release since their 1994 breakthrough Bloody Kisses.  Should you choose to listen, be ready for the following: gratuitous riffing spread across multi-part suites, Brooklyn accents, rolled "r"s, self-deprecating lyrics, incomprehensible soapbox harangues, and keyboard interludes so lame that Richard Marx hears 'em and says, "that's gay."  To have seen these guys live recently (their show at Irving Plaza in May was the single most disappointing show I caught all year ), one might have come to the conclusion that they were better off heading gracefully into retirement (or rehab/jail), that won't be necessary.  Well, at least for another few years or so.  Prepare to be thoroughly offended.

15.) Baroness - The Red Album -- The skullcrushing riffs!  The formidable chops!  The...  The... uninspired vocals!  Seriously, this is a top notch metal album sabotaged somewhat by some dreadfully monotonous and repetitive vocal melodies.  Fortunately, the emphasis here is placed heavily enough on lengthy instrumental passages that the singing isn't an automatic turnoff.  Best song: "Grad," which is -- you guessed it -- an instrumental.

16.) Pissed Jeans - Hope for Men -- Basing their fury upon boredom, self-doubt and loathing a loathsome society, Pissed Jeans use an impossibly sludgy presentation to hammer their point home.  Sludgecore to the max.  Basically, Hope for Men is the musical equivalent of shitting yourself at work -- on purpose.

17.) Os Mutantes - Live at the Barbican Theater -- A recording of the influential Brazilian group's first performance from their comeback tour in 2006.  I've had the pleasure of seeing Os Mutantes live twice, and I'm a bit puzzled why they would have chosen to release their first show back; many of these songs were further limned out and expanded as the band became more comfortable playing them.  In that way, this can be seen as a somewhat expanded, live version of their stupendous Anything Is Possible best-of release.  While many have been critical of the "Jesus Christ Superstar"-ish presentation of some of the songs (probably most flagrantly obvious on "Technicolor"), the full band and choir really comes through in the clutch, especially on the more complex vocal arrangements.  And while the prominent place in the band's sound assumed by Sergio Dias' surprisingly chops-y lead guitar playing has been criticized in print countless times, f that noise with a broomstick: Os Mutantes is a band for whom self-indulgence, bombast and absurdity are not dirty words.

18.) Panda Bear - Person Pitch -- [Yeah, I know I wasn't going to post a review for this bad boy, but I figured I'd share this.  While perusing the eMusic member reviews before I snagged this record, I came across a negative one which dismissed Person Pitch as little more than  "Beach-Boys-on-a-radio-in-another-room-in-a-church noise."  Wait, you're trying to tell me that that's a negative review?!]

19.) Boris with Merzbow - Rock Dream -- Limited edition release of a live collaboration between shapeshifting Japanese metal band Boris and acclaimed noise merchant Merzbow.  Recorded in Tokyo earlier this year, the track selection includes examples many of the more well-known phases of Boris' career: lengthy doom/noise suites ("Feedbacker" clocks in at nearly 40 minutes), straightforward raveups (Akuma No Uta's Ibitsu and Pink's "Pink" and "Woman on the Screen"), the title track from this year's uberchill collaboration with Michio Kurihara, Rainbow, and all kinds of fascinating shit from here and there.  To be sure, Boris are a formidable machine live (I seen 'em twice), although I'm not sure Merzbow's additions to this recording are all that significant -- the songs are great enough without smearing an Echoplex all over 'em.

20.) Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell -- There are two possible schools of thought on this record: 1.) "wow, they pinched out another?  Aren't these guys like two decades past their prime?"  or 2.) "fuck tha haters, their recent records have been good."  If you're in camp #1 you're probably not going to be convinced to check this one out either way.  For those in camp #2, this is a solid record, not as good as Empire or Process but better than No Substance and New America.  

21 and 22.) Two Gallants - The Scenery of Farewell (EP) and 2GS (album) -- I'm reviewing these together because to my ears they could have conceivably originated from the same sessions; the material sounds that much alike.  Or they could be leftovers from last year's #13 What the Toll Tells.  Anyway, these guys do a gritty and proficient amalgam of folk and punk -- it's amazing Adam Stephens can pull off "grizzled" when he looks like Neil Patrick Harris with stubble.  Although I don't like any of these tracks quite as much as "Prodigal Son," "Steady Rollin'," "Waves of Grain," or "Long Summer Day," but as that album aged particularly well, so should these two.

23.) A Place to Bury Strangers - A Place to Bury Strangers -- Make no mistake, these guys are probably my favorite "new" NYC-area band (hey, that's some great Kool-Aid! Top me off, wouldja?), but that's largely based on their seizure-inducing live show (c'mon, they even use a strobe light for Kirk's sake!).  This album is somewhat of a mixed bag, recorded lo-fi on the cheap, drenched in feedback and swathed in the effects produced by frontman Oliver Ackerman's homemade guitar pedals.  While I usually commend a band for such a blatantly DIY presentation, a little more polish would have really helped to translate their sophisticated layered/swirling live sound onto record.  Not to be overly critical, but would Loveless (one of this album's obvious musical touchstones) have been as awesome without Kevin Shields' maniacal Svengali-esque overproduction?  I think not.  Musically, you're getting a julienned amalgam of My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, Ministry, and the like.  If you're going to wear your influences on your sleeve, you might as well be influenced by the best.

24.) Interpol - Live EP -- This tasty little number is available only at select indie stores -- a nice tip of the cap to a community that embraced Interpol's dark aesthetic from the beginning now that the band is on a major.  The six songs represented here, recorded in London, are all good choices.  My only complaint is that Carlos D's bass is not as prevalent in the mix as it should be, robbing the band's tight-as-hell rhythm section of its meloidic element.  But still easily worth the purchase.

25.) Praxis - Tennessee 2004 -- In the year's second most aggressive display of chops (to the Fucking Champs, listed below), we have virtuoso Buckethead dropping surgically precise, flashfingered guitar bombs over the equally impressive drumming of ex-Primus drummer Brain, rooted down by the thick-as-molasses, confident dubbiness of Bill Laswell.  The many solo sections prove that this band might just have too much talent for their own good, so it's no shock that they sound their best paying tribute to Hendrix on the Band of Gypsies classic "Machine Gun."

26.) Crippled Black Phoenix - A Love of Shared Disasters -- Mournful, dreary, doleful album which at times exhibits similarities to the bodies of work of Mogwai and Portishead (members of which are in CBP), with several gothy ballads mixed in here and there.  In most places the album works quite well (the proper songs, notably) but the unnecessary repetition of interludes "The Whistler" and "Long Cold Summer" and the clunky inclusion of a Tennyson poem set to music bloat it a bit. 

27.) Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone -- Overwrought?  Yes.  Gratuitous?  Hell yeah.  Maudlin?  Check.  Emo?  Um, sure, that too.  But make no mistake, this is a fine album, and it works a lot better than plenty of recent records by more highly respected denizens of the post-rock genre.  The music on this record mines its raw material from many heavy emotional sources; "It's Natural to Be Afraid" constructs an intricate latticework of impending dread, practically dissolving into abject darkness before giving way to delicate passages of hope and strident beauty.  "The Catastrophe and the Cure" emphasizes patience in times of trouble, with a (melo)dramatic, sublimely gentle climax seeing the listener through.  Unfortunately, the album ends with a whimper, as the new age tinkling of "So Long, Lonesome" sounds a bit too Weather Channel-y for these ears. 

28.) Los Straitjackets with Big Sandy - Rock En Espanol vol. 1 -- "America's instrumentalists" and surf rock torch-bearers Los Straitjackets have tried to find a way around the fact that the larger mass of the record buying public often has trouble digesting sizable swaths of vocal-less music: by hiring Tijuana crooner Big Sandy to sing Spanglish semi-translations of '50s/'60s rock classics, they've created a record with several curiously mixtape-worthy offerings.  Best song: the cover of the Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night," recast here as "El Dia de Noche."

29.) LCD Soundsystem - The Sound of Silver -- Hmmm.  Beyond "All My Friends" and "North American Scum" (both of which are great), I'm not the biggest fan.  But those tracks alone are good enough to secure a decent ranking, though.

30.) Red Fang - Tour EP II -- loved these guys' live set opening up for the Fucking Champs   -- what you get here is some good ol' fashioned meat n' taters stoner metal.  Nuthin' fancy, just some mighty fine listening.  Not to mention the year's best bass solo in the middle of "Suicide." 

31.) Times New Viking - Paisley Reich -- Noisy, raw, kinda awesome punk shit with extremely lo-fi production values.  Seriously, this makes Bee Thousand-era Guided by Voices sound like it was produced by Rick Rubin in a 48 track digital studio.  The drums sound like garbage cans, the keyboards sound like guitars, the guitars sound like a circular saw vs. copper pipe in a steel cage death match, and the vocals sound just flat out fugly.  Enjoy!

32.) Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Jukebox Explosion --  A collection of random tracks culled from 7"s, compilations, and other out-of-print sources.  You know what yer gettin' here: grungy, sloppy riffs; delirious, crackhead-in-a-dumpster sound effects/assorted percussion; and Spencer's hellish, HomelessCrazyElvis vocals.  If I were into self-mutilation, I'm assuming this is the type of shit I'd like to listen to while pulling my own toenails out.

33.) Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow -- second solid offering this year by these guys, and with another collaborator.  As Boris is seemingly devoted to exploring each n' every corner of LOUD music possible, it's important to note that Rainbow takes a step back from the doom/punk/thrash hybrid of Pink, with the band and guest guitarist Michio Kurihara visiting more subdued, subtle territory.  Personally, I never wanted to put the word "subdued" (or any like synonym) into a Boris review, and too many of the tracks wind up sounding new-agey and weak.  While it's impossible to tell what influence Kurihara had over these sessions, it's pretty safe to say that Boris without Kurihara is better than Boris with.  But fear not; in all likelihood this album doesn't signify any long-term deviation from great records like Akuma No Uta and Pink; knowing these guys, if you look hard enough you'll probably find that they've put out another ten or so import-only slabs of awesome within the last few weeks that you'll never get to hear.

34.) Deerhunter - Fluorescent Gray EP -- companion piece of leftover tracks from Cryptograms, this EP consists of one standout track, the noisy and cathartic "Wash Off" (arguably the band's best overall song) and a few tracks which, truth be told, are waaaay better live than on these studio versions.  Here "Dr. Glass" is wispy and weak; live it's a bass-heavy and groovy number, arguably the creepiest funk song I've ever heard.  The title track also benefits greatly from the live treatment.  Best song: Guess.

35.) BOAT - Let's Drag Our Feet -- What we have here is lo-fi indie pop largely bereft of guitar, with vocals by a guy (or guys) singing in a wobbly, bashful upper register typical of said indiepop genre.  Take it or leave it, but what saves BOAT from the dustbin of genericness is the nifty songwriting on this album, accompanied by clever, endearing lyrics ranging from bashful self-deprecation to humorous boasting to lovelorn sincerity to flat out goofiness.  Nice little record.  Best songs: 1.) "Make Way for the Genius to Appear," 2.) "Come with Me We'll Win," 3.) "I'm a Donkey for Your Love."

------------

EDIT: the second half of this list can be found here.   Merry Christmas to you all, and to all a good night.  Or should I say, "Feliz Navituddd!"

Hey, Rolling Stone, just give it up already

    I don't know why I keep subjecting myself to this sort of bullshit, but for some reason I just clicked my way through Rolling Stone's best 100 songs of 2007.  (And, yes, click I did, since for some god-forsaken reason said list is spread across twenty-five separate pages.)  Now, of course, since this is Rolling Stone, there's bound to be any number of songs by talentless thugs bragging about how rich they are (now that's art!), but that's not what rammed the proverbial bee up my bonnet.  On the incredibly rare instances where I actually recognized a given artist, Rolling Stone invariably chose the wrong fucking songs. 

    Seriously, is there anyone in the world (other than those apparently working at Rolling Stone) that prefers Grinderman's "Honeybee" to "No Pussy Blues?"  "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe" by Okkervil River is a fine song, to be sure, but better than "Unless It's Kicks?"  No way, Jose.  And is "Keep the Car Running" really definitive song off of Neon Bible?  Really?  Not even close.  I was shocked that they at least got "All My Friends" right.  Grrrr indeed.

    (Note: as a brief explanation, it's likely this seemingly minor annoyance wouldn't have made me as bitter had I not spent pretty much all day working on my own year-end best of albums list.  So, y'know, a bit of an explanation for y'all.)

Arcade Fire with LCD Soundsystem and others, October 6th, 2007 at Randall's Island

    What is there to really say after a show like this other than "I wish I'd brought my camera?" 

    Honestly, Arcade Fire put on the best live show I've ever seen, and the two best live sets I've seen this year.  Plus, Neon Bible is my favorite album of '07 so far, and "Intervention" is the year's best song.  Should this stand up, they'd be in line for the rare Triple Crown of Rock and Roll (best tour, album and song) that would seem to signify that *surprise* they're the best band in the world.  Seriously, who can top 'em?  Comets on Fire?  Maybe, if Avatar had been louder and more unpleasant.  Mogwai?  Whither the stateside live shows?  Radiohead?  Well, we'll just see how this In Rainbows dealie turns out.  Plus, if they keep pulling shit like insisting on playing at the Theater at MSG, they aren't going to help their standing. 

    So I picked up my friend in Chelsea around 5 PM before the show, disappointed that I was unable to score any weed, but hoping to get something at the show.  This was the first time I had been to Randall's Island in five years, since the terrible Boo 7 festival.  What a nightmare -- I remember that some brain surgeon told me "you'll love The Executioners, they're awesome."  I didn't and they're not.  The only pleasant memory I have of that shitshow was that a buddy of mine smoked some angel dust and was running around like a retard in Candyland. 

    Got inside right as Les Savy Fav were finishing their set, which worked out just fine; not so much a fan.  Immediately, a Brooklyn oom-pah band started up right behind where we had put down my pick-a-nick blanky.  Wish I had more to report re: Blonde Redhead, but I have the feeling that a giant outdoor festival is not the ideal forum in which to appreciate their music.  What I noticed seemed kinda droney and mopey, not to mention that they had to compete with a beautiful sunset.  Shortly, we had met up with another friend who fortunately had weed, so we smoked a joint before LCD Soundsystem.  Holy fuckin' sheet, mang, what a surprise - these guys were incredible.  I have a pretty big soft spot for electronic-ish acts that actually play their instruments onstage instead of some dickhead just flipping records.  Very, very danceable, and my friend (an amazing dancer in her own right) wound up racking quite a few admirers amongst said onlookers. 

    The crowd was expectedly almost 100% white hipster kids, which led my buddy Josh to remark that we should go loot Williamsburg because, face it, it's totally empty.  Lots of ironic tee-shirts.  What exactly is the significance of "Iowa is for lovers" though, and why would anyone buy that shirt? 

    By now the sun had totally set and the stage rush started when the intro to Arcade Fire's set (a crazy Christian preacherwoman animatedly suggesting that enemas be doled out as punishment, I think) began.  By now I was kinda drunk and still stoned, and I predictably started panicking when I lost my friends in the stage rush.  As the set opened with "Black Mirror," "Keep the Car Running," "Laika" and "No Cars Go" I feverishly tried to contact them... finally they met up with me by the beer tent.  Of course, as usual, I got a l'il weepy weepy during the midset "Intervention" and the "Neigborhood" songs.  Song-wise, no "Windowsill" or "Ocean of Noise," but no gimmicky shit, either, and a couple of cool rarities.  Encore: "Headlights Like Diamonds," followed by a "Wake Up," a song tailor made for 20,000 plus to belt out the wordless "Whoa-oh-oh" chorus. 

    Walked back to the car exhausted, and drove home pretty confident that, again, I won't be seeing a better show in '07.  Win commented during the show that Arcade Fire won't be playing New York for the next couple of years, which... I mean, what am I supposed to be pissed?  They've already played NYC eight times this year by my count, and I got tix for all but the ultra-impossible-to-get Judson Church shows.  It's understandable that they'd want to keep shit more manageable than they did during the seemingly neverending tour for Funeral, so let's not begrudge 'em that.  Slash PLEASE COME BACK AS SOON AS YOU CAN!

Best Albums of '07 So Far (List #7)

    It's been too long, blah blah blah/I've been busy moving in addition to working ~70 hours a week, so yada yada yada.  The title of this entry is a bit misleading because it's actually a list of all the new (released in '07) records I've heard this year, not just "the best."  But, thankfully, you'll soon discover that said records are arranged in a handy worst-to-best order.  And I know, I should have heard more new shit so far this year than just eleven albums but.... yeah.  Let's have at it.

Best Albums of 2007 So Far (List #7)

11.) Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City -- Really, really not enjoying this one.  Lyrics are so heavily "I'm a socially conscious, independent minded teenager"-tastic that it's tough to take anything on this one seriously.  And I liked Silent Alarm quite a bit. 

10.) Menomena - Friend and Foe - More like Meh-nomena.  T'heh. 

9.) Robert Pollard - Silverfish Trivia -- a fairly boring record.  The ultimate destination of Pollard's late career "maturation"/devolution will eventually have him sounding like, say, Carly Simon or some shit.  Seriously, this sounds nothing like early GbV, so be warned.  Not unpleasant, but totally fangless.

8.) Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero -- way, way too long, but still some cool ideas on here.  Trent's always going to sound like Trent. 

7.) Deerhunter - Fluorescent Grey EP -- Cryptograms leftovers?  NICE!  (Especially "Wash Off"!)

6.) Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone -- More melodramatic post rock from these dudes.  A good record, despite its predicability.  Warning: borders on emo-ish levels of gratuitous heartstring tugging.

5.) Cheeseburger - Cheeseburger -- Fun, fun fun.  Imagine Glenn Danzig suddenly sprouting a sense of humor and fronting a Stooges-inspired garage rock band.  Great party record.

4.) Type O Negative - Dead Again -- Their best since Bloody Kisses, hands down.  Combines all the best elements of their aesthetic throughout the years: lo-fi spooky-kid metal, long, multi-part songs, hilarious lyrics, righteous riffage, rolled r's, Brooklyn accents.

3.) Panthers - The Trick -- Hard-hitting follow up to the totally fucking awesome Things Are Strange.  These guys really excel at rocking the fuck out, but I'm a bit puzzled why they didn't throw a couple of "We Are Louder"-style changes-of-pace to shift the tempo out of overdrive for a couple of minutes or so. 

2.) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible -- Strong, strong effort right here.  I half expected them to fall flat on their faces, but this has a ton of solid tracks, even if half of them sound kinda like the Hold Steady.

1.) Deerhunter - Cryptogram -- Finally, some Pitchfork hype that actually lives up to itself.  Dense, thick, powerful, and runs the emotional gamut without getting too emo-y. 

still to come in '07:
QOTSA
Pelican
Rush
Titan
Boris
Tom Morello's solo project
Radiohead?
Robert Pollard - Crickets best-of-Fading Captain comp, new Circus Devils, and a Takeovers follow-up (and probably a ton more other shit I don't know anything about yet).
Interpol?
Mogwai?
Chinese Democracy (heh)