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| From | Hersh Forman <hiforman@yahoo.com> |
| Subject | Re: Top 20 for 2007...and then some! |
| Date | Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:46:20 -0800 (PST) |
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Has nobody here heard Ken Sharp's delightful "Sonic Crayons"??? I haven't seen it pop up even once yet!
Sheesh.
----- Original Message ----
From: AssociationWorks <AssociationWorks@comcast.net>
To: audities@smoe.org
Cc: mrhonorama@hotmail.com
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 5:39:35 PM
Subject: Top 20 for 2007...and then some!
Someone suggested a little more descriptive commentary for people's
top picks. A great idea! So, here goes...
1. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE - Traffic & Weather
At their worst, FOW are better than most bands (indie or otherwise) in the
songwriting and arrangement department. There's an undeniable wamth and
charm to everything here - from the goofy stories aped from real life
clichés to the thoroughly accessible and memorable melodies of their songs.
2. FRISBIE - New Debut
Smart, crafty literate pop of the highest order. Almost worth the wait since
their phenominal debut from 2000. www.myspace.com/frisbiemusic
3. BLONDE REDHEAD - 23
Atmospheric, haunting, intensely melodic.with the perfect balance of beauty
and braun. I wish more bands could make records like this one.
4. MINIPOP - A New Hope
Supremely melodic shoe-gazey pop from SF. Check 'em out:
www.myspace.com/minipop
(for fans of Lush, Ride, Cocteau Twins, Darling Buds)
5. THE NINES - Gran Jukle's Field
Steve Eggers could not write a bad melody if he tried. Even though this
record borders on kitsch - with overtly gratuitous nods to ELO and Disco-era
Bee Gees, it's still a damn fine pop record.and better than many that came
out this year.
6. JASON FALKNER - I'm OK, You're OK
see Nines description and substitute "Steve Eggers" with "Jason Falkner" and
"ELO and Disco-era Bee Gees" with "obscure 80's new wave"
7. ROGUE WAVE - Asleep at Heaven's Gate
Another fantastic new record panned many hipper-than-though indie purists
who think the only good record can be made in a bedroom on a four-track.
Fuck 'em!
8. THE WELL WISHERS - How I Won The War
If you can't like yourself.who can you like? Even though the singer is a
shameless self-promoter and cynical, overly-opinionated snob, his new band
has finally churned out a halfway-decent album.
www.myspace.com/thewellwishers
9. ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE - No Need To be Downhearted
The basic formula is lilting melodic Britpop, with twists and turns into
psychedelic electronic noodling, and quiet, strummy folk.
10. MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK - Even If It Kills Me
Some of the best pure power pop you'll hear from 2007! "Calling All Cops" is
*the* power pop song of the year!
11. THE POLYPHONIC SPREE - The Fragile Army
An epic, magnum opus of pop! The single "Running Away" alone, is worth the
price of admission!
www.myspace.com/polyphonicspree
12. BRAD BROOKS - Spill Collateral Love
One of my favorite Bay Area artists. Supremely talented and a musical palate
that stretches the boundaries of pop www.brad-brooks.com
13. MAPLE MARS - Beautiful Mess
Their best release yet!
14. NUSHU - Nevermind Lullabye
Lisa Mychols rules!
15. THE ORCHID HIGHWAY - s/t
A little bit of psychedelia, a little bit of pouty Britpop, and tons of
Beatle-esque harmonies make this a thoroughly enjoy- able. and varied album.
www.myspace.com/orchidhighway
16. BLACK TIE REVUE - Code Fun
This Pittsburgh, PA band plays straight-up, high-octane POWER POP .pure and
simple. The songs are catchy, the guitars are loud, and the melodies are
strong enough to reel you in with a grin (for fans of The Wildhearts, Cheap
Trick, Red Planet, The Cars) www.myspace.com/blacktierevue
17. BIRDS OF AVALON - Bazaar Bazaar
This Raleigh, North Carolina band mixes up everything from 70s-inspired hard
rock, psych-rock, prog-ish guitar wankery and even shades of power pop Check
out the song "Bicentennial Baby" www.myspace.com/birdsofavalon
18. WALKER KONG - Deliver Us From People
Fantastic Mpls/St. Paul band. For fans of Robyn Hitchock & The Go-Betweens!
Check 'em out: www.myspace.com/walkerkong
19. THE ALICE ROSE - Phonographic Memory
Great new band from Austin, TX...mixing classic 70s pop sensibilities w/ a
modern indie flair - lush instrumentation et al. Check 'em out!
www.myspace.com/thealicerose
20. THE ATTORNEYS - Stereocracy
Like their power trio heroes The Police and The Jam, this Brooklyn NY band
fills their sonic space with as much breadth and spunk as three young guys
can muster and finesse the final mix with modern sensibilities of bands like
Hot Hot Heat and The Futureheads. www.myspace.com/theattorneys
Honorable Mentions:
BOB POLLARD - Coast To Coast Carpet of Love/Standard Gargoyle Decisons
TED LEO - Living With the Living
GREAT NORTHERN - Trading Twilight For Daylight
FUTURE CLOUDS & RADAR - s/t
EISLEY - Conversations
AUTOMAT - s/t
NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - Challengers
HOT HOT HEAT - Happiness Ltd.
PETER BJORN & JOHN - Writer's Block
KAISER CHIEFS - Yours Truly, Angry Mob
THE THRILLS - Teenager
LEWIS TAYLOR - The Lost Album
THE SHINS - Wincing The Night Away
ARTHUR YORIA - Handshake Smiles
Biggest Disappointments:
WILCO - Sky Blue Sky (Yawwwwwwn....)
SPOON - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (let's start the "overrated" thread again with this
one!)
ROONEY - Calling The World (All the sheen of a chrome bumper...but without
any good songs)
AMY WINEHOUSE -Tabloid bits on her trainwreck life are significantly more
interesting than her music.
MIKA - Someone get me a gun.
LAVENDER DIAMOND - Imagine Our Love (see comment on Mika above)
THE WHITE STRIPES - Still don't get it.never will. Never!
QUEENS OF THE STONEAGE - Era Vulgaris (still waiting for a worthy follow up
to "Songs For The Deaf" so I can play it at '11" and let Gabe know that I
still have a pair)
Contenders for 2008.
THE CRAYONS - What's Wrong With You (produced by the Churchills!)
WISELY - s/t
IAN AXEL - If this amazing piano-pop prodigy puts out a full-length in
2008.the world will be a much better place!! www.myspace.com/ianaxel
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