some good records of '07

ranking art is not my favorite thing to do, but it is fun to look back on the records that came out this year and ponder their significance. this year there were some great records. even while the major labels and the radio conglomerates peddled their hard to swallow and forgettable idols, internet and community radio (like radio paradise) spread the gospel of good music to those with open ears and open hearts. there was some good new music from legends levon helm and neil young, both of whom will never wallow in irrelevance - dinosaur jr. proved j. mascis is in fact a guitar god - and the bad plus' record "prog" is a must listen simply because they define their own genre of indie-jazz. there were some original new voices this year, like dr. dog, the national, and amy winehouse. there were also a couple of notable misses this year. son volt's "the search" didn't seem to come up with anything new. steve earle's "washington square" seemed to take steve into new and unproductive territory. that being said, here are my top ten records of the year... plus one. and also, spoon's "ga ga ga ga ga" was really good.

+1 - neil young "live at massey hall 1971" - it's not really from '07, but it's an incredible document from mr. young's archives.  i've listened to a lot of neil solo and acoustic, but this one has cowgirl in the sand.  it's always fun to listen to artists when they are on the verge - and that's where this re

cord takes us back to.

10 - okkervil river "the stage names" - will sheff sounds like he's finally gotten comfortable with his voice, and the songwriting is taught and sharp.  john allyn smith sails is an ironic answer to the beach boys' sloop john b.

9 - rilo kiley "under the black

light" - there are many among us who believe jenny lewis to be the sexiest trick in shoe leather, and to not disappoint, rilo kiley's latest effort is a record about sex.  but somehow, she doesn't make it sound like something anyone would want to have.  this record is a sleazy romp with a disco beat.  i'm not certain of how "blacklight" will stand up in their catalog, but for now, i sure enjoy listening to it.

 

8 - band of horses "cease to begin" - is it possible to be aggressive and laid back at the same time?  i don't know if band of horses can still be considered southern since they now reside in seattle, but you can almost smell the magnolia's listening to their newest record.  great harmonies and churning hooks propel this record beyond their peers.

 

7 - various artists  "i'm not there" original soundtrack - eddie vedder, sonic youth, calexico, john doe, yo la tengo, iron & wine, jeff tweedy, mark lanegan, the hold steady, and cat power are among the many covering dylan.  'nough said.

6 - the new pornographers  "challengers" - this record is not nearly as manic as "twin cinemas" and earlier efforts, which one might equate to saying there aren't as many drums in the latest "stomp" show.  their manic energy has been a keystone to their sound.  but challengers grows around mid-tempo songs that are as contemplative as anything on the market.  

5 - nina nastasia & jim white "you follow me" - nina nastasia shares the credit with jim white, the dirty three drummer, not the "searching for the wrong eyed jesus" jim white.  what results is a pensive, sleeper of a record with an impeccable rhythm.  the only draw back is that it's only 31 minutes long.  leave 'em wanting more i guess.

4 - bettye lavette "the scene of the crime" - after bettye's incredible come back, the joe henry produced "i've got my own hell to raise", bettye decided to go for the jugular.  crime scene was recorded in muscle shoals and produced by the drive-by truckers' patterson hood, with the truckers and legend spooner oldham backing her up.  the result is a hungry and dirty soul record that should leave most listeners in the fetal position.

3 - iron and wine "the shepherd's dog" - sam beam shed his sleepy, dreamlike meanderings, and awoke with a new, bluesier, grinder.  he didn't loose his almost loop-able guitar riffs, or his grown in dirt aesthetic, but he did make an exciting record with as much groove as the stones.  he also didn't loose his beard.

2 - wilco "sky blue sky" - the first studio output featuring the new lineup was a head scratcher.  jeff tweedy and company composed some of the most subtle complexity imaginable.  there is a real sense that they are masters of their craft, restraining themselves for the good of the whole.  and by whole, i mean the whole damn world.  

1 - arcade fire "neon bible" - arcade fire from montreal, shows exactly what a band that only obeys themselves is capable of.  they do what they please.  a haunting record with diverse instrumentation, stylized vocals, and obscure lyrics, bible never falls into the trap of being too hip, or too important.  instead, they simply challenge listeners to follow the soundtrack to their minds.  the greatest example of indie art in a long time.