Best CD's of 2007

AlexdeLarge · December 28th, 2007, 04:43 AM

Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II (the 18+ minute song Ordinary People is a classic)
Neil Young - Live At Massey Hall ( Neils has had many great Live Albums, this one came out of his archives and may be the BEST)
Steve Earle - Washinton Square Serenade
Mark Knopfler - Kill To Get Chrimson
Lucinda Williams - West (another gem)
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
My Morning Jacket - Okonokos (another gem of a LIve CD)

and next Monday the last day of the year Standard Songs for Average People by John Prine & Mac Wiseman comes out, John goes back to his Country roots, can't wait for it to arrive in the mail

DiamondDave · December 28th, 2007, 05:04 AM

The mix CD I burned for my car

AlexdeLarge · December 28th, 2007, 05:57 AM

They don't count Dave, only original, but I must agree, the CD's I burn for my car are my favorite too. But for the purpose of this thread it's original music only. Take another stab at it, i know it's hard because to state of music in 2007 is in the toilet.

kflo · December 28th, 2007, 06:37 AM

radiohead
okkervil river
the national
spoon
arcade fire

AlexdeLarge · December 28th, 2007, 06:52 AM

kflo did Radiohead put out a CD this year? I keep reading about limited distribution, is that true? Do you have it? Is it good? They are a very strange bunch, but talented.

kflo · December 28th, 2007, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexdeLarge

kflo did Radiohead put out a CD this year? I keep reading about limited distribution, is that true? Do you have it? Is it good? They are a very strange bunch, but talented.

they offered it online only (mp3). no cd yet. but i have it, and it's great. not groundbreaking like kid a or ok computer, but a great listen.

Wiggen · December 28th, 2007, 08:35 AM

1. 'Kill to get Crimson', Mark Knopfler
2. 'Raising Sand', Robert Plant and Allison Krauss

DiamondDave · December 28th, 2007, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexdeLarge

They don't count Dave, only original, but I must agree, the CD's I burn for my car are my favorite too. But for the purpose of this thread it's original music only. Take another stab at it, i know it's hard because to state of music in 2007 is in the toilet.

In that case... I'll go with the only one made this year that I bought this year....

Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain

TheFlyingBomb · December 28th, 2007, 10:06 AM

I don't know that I share much in common musically with many here, but these were some of my favorites in 2007.

1. Pinback's "Autumn of the Seraphs"
This is the fourth full-length from these San Diegans, who make what allmusic.com calls "some of the most complex, postmodern indie pop" around. This record doesn't really break much new ground as far as their own catalog goes, but it still stands well with the rest of their work as heads above what a lot of other bands in that world are doing. Think the Cure or some other band like that in a more modern sense, with more intricate guitar lines, no whiny lyrics (most of their subject matter comes off as more pedestrian day-to-day stuff sung pretty melodically), and good, driving beats.

2. Auxes' "Sunshine"
I don't know if this record was officially released in 2007 (I got an advance copy of it from the singer at a show and haven't seen it anywhere since then) but I'm going to include it anyway. This started as the solo effort of NC-musician-who-most-here-won't-know Dave Laney, but turned into a full band with two drummers and three guitar players. It's a spectacle, especially in a small venue. Musically, it evokes complex punk/post-punk stuff with a lot of snaky guitars and steady beats. There are also a couple of acoustic numbers on the record that remind me of maybe Tom Waits if his stuff didn't seem so cliched to me. A nice surprise this year.

3. Ben Weasel and His Iron String Quartet's "These Ones Are Bitter"
Ben Weasel fronted the seminal pop-punk (think Ramones, Green Day, etc. if you're not familiar with the term) band Screeching Weasel for like a thousand years, and this is his second solo effort. The fact that he was backed by members of the All American Rejects (ugh) made me think this might be a real stinker, but I was wrong. It's a well-produced, smart concept album detailing both sides of a long-term breakup. That lines like "what makes you think I’m gonna bite? Could it be all the times I proved you right?" and "now there’s a certain kind of masochism only seen in special cases: let them stick around so you can see their faces" can be sung so catchily really impresses the hell out of me as a songwriter. Also, this album was only released digitally, a smart move for this guy in my eyes, since 99 percent of his old band's fans are dudes in their late 20s to early 40s and are probably buying most of their music online anyway.

4. Glossary's "The Better Angels of Our Nature"
This Murfreesboro, Tenn. alt-country band released it's fifth full-length this year, offering it as a free download months before Radiohead got all the free press in the world for doing the same thing. This is a band I only discovered this year, and they've been a nice surprise for me in 2007. Good, simple, singable country/rock songs about real things and real people. There's probably something for everyone here, at least lyrically. As a side note, the bass player for this band also runs a small label that my own band is working with.

I'll let that lead into the fact that my band did release our first record in August. I don't know that many here would dig what we do (it's loud, it's kinda screamy, it's a little discordant, it's purposefully off-kilter, but hey, that's what we like), and I'm certainly not going to place it among 2007's top records (I'll let someone else do that, ha ha ha) but I figured I'd share it with my fellow fanhomers anyway. Click here if you're interested.

For 2008, I'm most looking forward to the March 25 release of a CD by an as-yet unnamed band fronted by John Reis, who is probably in my top two or three favorite musicians. Kind of a pre-punk, garage-rock (Flamin' Groovies, MC5, etc.) sound that I'm very excited about.

SugarBaby · December 28th, 2007, 03:32 PM

Levon Helm, Dirt Farmer (you all should give this a listen, it's priceless)

I'm sure Knopler is as good as he always is. That's next on my list. That, and Lucinda and Prine.

AlexdeLarge · December 31st, 2007, 04:51 AM

Burn it for me Sugar, you got my addrerss

Happy New Year

Cochise22 · December 31st, 2007, 12:49 PM

Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Vol. 2: No World for Tomorrow

Ween - La Cucaracha

Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight

Cochise22 · December 31st, 2007, 01:04 PM

I also forgot to mention:

Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Chevelle - Vena Sera

SugarBaby · January 1st, 2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexdeLarge

Burn it for me Sugar, you got my addrerss

Happy New Year

Will do. You'll love it. I'm considering going to NY to see him at The Beacon in March.

SugarBaby · January 1st, 2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiggen

1. 'Kill to get Crimson', Mark Knopfler
2. 'Raising Sand', Robert Plant and Allison Krauss

It's odd...Wiggs and I don't like each other, but we do like a lot of the same music.

I heard a cut off 'Raising Sand' on NPR yesterday and I plan to get it too. I hear that Robert and Allison played a small club in Nashville called The Station End, I bet that was a hard ticket to come by. It's just a little hole in the wall, but was one of my favorite places to go hear music when I lived in Music City.

December 28th, 2007, 04:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
AlexdeLarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,438	Best CD's of 2007 Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II (the 18+ minute song Ordinary People is a classic) Neil Young - Live At Massey Hall ( Neils has had many great Live Albums, this one came out of his archives and may be the BEST) Steve Earle - Washinton Square Serenade Mark Knopfler - Kill To Get Chrimson Lucinda Williams - West (another gem) Wilco - Sky Blue Sky My Morning Jacket - Okonokos (another gem of a LIve CD) and next Monday the last day of the year Standard Songs for Average People by John Prine & Mac Wiseman comes out, John goes back to his Country roots, can't wait for it to arrive in the mail __________________ I've been a bad boy again Now I've been a bad boy again And all the trouble that I'm in Makes me a bad boy again John Prine

December 28th, 2007, 05:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
DiamondDave Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MD, on the Potomac River Posts: 5,390	The mix CD I burned for my car __________________ Reagan in 08... Even though he's dead, he's the better choice! Superdelegates - Because even the Democratic party knows it's base is too stupid to make really important decisions.

December 28th, 2007, 05:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
AlexdeLarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,438	They don't count Dave, only original, but I must agree, the CD's I burn for my car are my favorite too. But for the purpose of this thread it's original music only. Take another stab at it, i know it's hard because to state of music in 2007 is in the toilet. __________________ I've been a bad boy again Now I've been a bad boy again And all the trouble that I'm in Makes me a bad boy again John Prine

December 28th, 2007, 06:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
AlexdeLarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,438	kflo did Radiohead put out a CD this year? I keep reading about limited distribution, is that true? Do you have it? Is it good? They are a very strange bunch, but talented. __________________ I've been a bad boy again Now I've been a bad boy again And all the trouble that I'm in Makes me a bad boy again John Prine

December 28th, 2007, 10:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
TheFlyingBomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 787	I don't know that I share much in common musically with many here, but these were some of my favorites in 2007. 1. Pinback's "Autumn of the Seraphs" This is the fourth full-length from these San Diegans, who make what allmusic.com calls "some of the most complex, postmodern indie pop" around. This record doesn't really break much new ground as far as their own catalog goes, but it still stands well with the rest of their work as heads above what a lot of other bands in that world are doing. Think the Cure or some other band like that in a more modern sense, with more intricate guitar lines, no whiny lyrics (most of their subject matter comes off as more pedestrian day-to-day stuff sung pretty melodically), and good, driving beats. 2. Auxes' "Sunshine" I don't know if this record was officially released in 2007 (I got an advance copy of it from the singer at a show and haven't seen it anywhere since then) but I'm going to include it anyway. This started as the solo effort of NC-musician-who-most-here-won't-know Dave Laney, but turned into a full band with two drummers and three guitar players. It's a spectacle, especially in a small venue. Musically, it evokes complex punk/post-punk stuff with a lot of snaky guitars and steady beats. There are also a couple of acoustic numbers on the record that remind me of maybe Tom Waits if his stuff didn't seem so cliched to me. A nice surprise this year. 3. Ben Weasel and His Iron String Quartet's "These Ones Are Bitter" Ben Weasel fronted the seminal pop-punk (think Ramones, Green Day, etc. if you're not familiar with the term) band Screeching Weasel for like a thousand years, and this is his second solo effort. The fact that he was backed by members of the All American Rejects (ugh) made me think this might be a real stinker, but I was wrong. It's a well-produced, smart concept album detailing both sides of a long-term breakup. That lines like "what makes you think I’m gonna bite? Could it be all the times I proved you right?" and "now there’s a certain kind of masochism only seen in special cases: let them stick around so you can see their faces" can be sung so catchily really impresses the hell out of me as a songwriter. Also, this album was only released digitally, a smart move for this guy in my eyes, since 99 percent of his old band's fans are dudes in their late 20s to early 40s and are probably buying most of their music online anyway. 4. Glossary's "The Better Angels of Our Nature" This Murfreesboro, Tenn. alt-country band released it's fifth full-length this year, offering it as a free download months before Radiohead got all the free press in the world for doing the same thing. This is a band I only discovered this year, and they've been a nice surprise for me in 2007. Good, simple, singable country/rock songs about real things and real people. There's probably something for everyone here, at least lyrically. As a side note, the bass player for this band also runs a small label that my own band is working with. I'll let that lead into the fact that my band did release our first record in August. I don't know that many here would dig what we do (it's loud, it's kinda screamy, it's a little discordant, it's purposefully off-kilter, but hey, that's what we like), and I'm certainly not going to place it among 2007's top records (I'll let someone else do that, ha ha ha) but I figured I'd share it with my fellow fanhomers anyway. Click here if you're interested. For 2008, I'm most looking forward to the March 25 release of a CD by an as-yet unnamed band fronted by John Reis, who is probably in my top two or three favorite musicians. Kind of a pre-punk, garage-rock (Flamin' Groovies, MC5, etc.) sound that I'm very excited about. __________________ Oh, whatever. Last edited by TheFlyingBomb; December 28th, 2007 at 10:09 AM.

December 28th, 2007, 06:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
kflo Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,950	radiohead okkervil river the national spoon arcade fire

December 28th, 2007, 08:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
Wiggen Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,311	1. 'Kill to get Crimson', Mark Knopfler 2. 'Raising Sand', Robert Plant and Allison Krauss

December 28th, 2007, 03:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
SugarBaby Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,141	Levon Helm, Dirt Farmer (you all should give this a listen, it's priceless) I'm sure Knopler is as good as he always is. That's next on my list. That, and Lucinda and Prine.

December 31st, 2007, 04:51 AM	#11 (permalink)
AlexdeLarge Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,438	Burn it for me Sugar, you got my addrerss Happy New Year __________________ I've been a bad boy again Now I've been a bad boy again And all the trouble that I'm in Makes me a bad boy again John Prine

December 31st, 2007, 12:49 PM	#12 (permalink)
Cochise22 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 208	Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Vol. 2: No World for Tomorrow Ween - La Cucaracha Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight

December 31st, 2007, 01:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cochise22 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 208	I also forgot to mention: Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead The White Stripes - Icky Thump Chevelle - Vena Sera Last edited by Cochise22; December 31st, 2007 at 01:13 PM.