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 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping