SiS 2007: The Guest List (Miscellaneous)

Wrapping up our look back at 2007, we have three more lists from three different people, including one from yours truly.

First up, Danielle sends in her Top 10 Albums list:
01 Okkervil River // The Stage Names // Jagjaguar (DUH-HUH)
02 Hallelujah the Hills (duh x 2)
03 1990's // Cookies // Rough Trade
04 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club // Baby 81 // RCA (I didn't respect this album, but I sure did love it)
05 Dirty Pretty Things // Waterloo To Anywhere // Interscope (yes I know it's 2006, but I only heard it this year)
06 Caribou // Andorra // Merge
07 Palomar // All Things, Forests // Misra
08 Get Him Eat Him // Arms Down // Absolutely Kosher (gosh, Misra should pay me!)
09 Bodies of Water // Ears Will Pop And Eyes Will Blink // Secretly Canadian
10 Robert Plant/Alison Krauss // Raising Sand // Rounder

Second, here's my list of Ten Other Songs That Should've Been On My Top 10 Songs of the Year list, listed in alphabetical order by artist:
"Timebomb" // Beck // Single
"End Of The Road" // Eddie Vedder // Into The Wild
"Sick Hipster Nursed by Suicide Girl" // Film School // Hideout
"Herculean" // The Good, The Bad & The Queen // The Good The Bad & The Queen
"Sipping On The Sweet Nectar" // Jens Lekman // Night Falls Over Kortedala
"Knocked Up" // Kings Of Leon // Because Of The Times
"Clear Island" // Liars // Liars
"Mistaken For Strangers" // The National // Boxer
"Watch Us Explode (Justify)" // The Polyphonic Spree // The Fragile Army
"Own Your Own Home" // Rogue Wave // Asleep At Heaven's Gate

And finally, phoning it up from Las Vegas, it's Phil Smith, winner of the man to respond to my MySpace bulletin I posted about this frenzy of activity. I posted that you could send in a Top 10 list not related to 2007, and he sent in a few, and I picked his list of Top 10 favorite movies, ranked 10 to 1:
10. Quadrophenia
9. Pulp Fiction
8. Glengarry Glen Ross
7. Forrest Gump
6. High Fidelity
5. Clerks
4. Being There
3. American Beauty
2. Dr. Strangelove
1. It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Thanks to everyone this week who made these posts possible!

SiS 2007: The Guest List (Co-Worker Edition)

Today, we showcase the Top 10 lists of several of my co-workers and what they thought were the best records of 2007. There's four people whose lists are to be shown off, so let's just get down to brass tax, shall we?

Starting off is the list from Greg Khaikin:
01 Apples In Stereo // New Magnetic Wonder // Yep Roc
02 Bloc Party // A Weekend In The City // Vice
03 Band of Horses // Cease to Begin // Sub Pop
04 Weakerthans // Reunion Tour // Epitaph
05 Kanye West // Graduation // Interscope
06 Peter, Bjorn & John / Writer's Block // Almost Golden
07 Turbonegro // Retox // Cooking Vinyl
08 Explosions In The Sky // All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone // Temporary Residence
09 The Polyphonic Spree // The Fragile Army // TVT
10 Modest Mouse // We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank // Epic

Second, we have Jess "I <3 Mail" Pye:
01 Portugal. The Man // Church Mouth // Fearless
02 Rocky Votolato // The Brag and The Cuss // Barsuk
03 Ryan Adams // Easy Tiger // Lost Highway
04 Cloud Cult // The Meaning of 8 / Earthology
05 Willy Mason // If The Ocean Gets Rough // Astralwerks
06 Josh Rouse // Country Mouse, City House
07 The Good Life // Help Wanted Nights // Saddle-Creek
08 MGMT // Oracular Spectacular // Columbia
09 Kings of Leon // Because of the Times // RCA
10 Josh Ritter // The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter // Sony

Rounding third is Dany Sloan (who's fleshed out list can be found here):
01 Bloc Party // A Weekend In The City // Vice
02 Manic Street Preachers // Send Away The Tigers // Columbia
03 M.I.A. // Kala // XL/Interscope
04 The Wombats // A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation // 14th Floor
05 Kubichek! // Not Enough Night // 30:30
06 Young/Lost Ones // Left Coast or Pacifica and His Misadventures at the
Flower Fields // Self Released
07 Les Savy Fav // Let's Be Friends // French Kiss
08 Dartz! // This Is My Ship // Xtra Mile
09 Jamie T. // Panic Prevention // Caroline
10 Rademacher // Stunts // Self Released

And last, but most certainly not the least, Mr. Dave "I Enjoy Butter on Everything" Virr:
01 Okkervil River // The Stage Names // Jagjaguwar
02 Peter, Bjorn & John // Writer's Block // Almost Golden
03 The National // Boxer // Beggars
04 The Wombats // A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation // 14th Floor
05 Hallelujah The Hills // Collective Psychosis Begone // Misra
06 Everyday Visuals // Things Will Look Up // Self-Released
07 The Clientele // God Save The Clientele // Merge
08 Jens Lekman // Night Falls Over Kortedala // Secretly Canadian
09 Apples In Stereo // New Magnetic Wonder // Yep Roc
10 The Rosebuds // Night Of The Furies // Merge

Tomorrow we'll wrap this all up with .... something.

SiS 2007: The Guest List (S. Ober, J. Montgomery)

With the influx of lists increasing lately, today we double up and posts the list of two people that are rather important to my life in completely different ways.

Our first list comes from Sage Ober, Music Director at WSYC-FM, my alma mater, where yours truly got his start way back when. During my tenure there, Sage came in to my life and was named my Assistant Music Director almost immediately, and would go on to be the resident weather girl of The Largehearted Rust Show (wow, I can't believe I just posted that link.) I could say a lot more about her, but I'd like to think some of our fondest memories are more personal (like the Durham Bulls game with Kelly and Ivan and Mac? Go BJ.) I'd like to say I groomed her to like better music, but I don't think I can anymore, and seeing her list is proof that my former job is in good hands. Heck, 50% of her Top 10 reflects my own, and she even pulls a Rick Bowman from yesterday and gives us two bonus records. My hat goes off to you, Sage-O.

01 Feist // The Reminder // Cherry Tree/Interscope
02 Spoon // Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga // Merge
03 Peter, Bjorn & John // Writer's Block // Almost Golden
04 Iron & Wine // The Shepherd's Dog // Sub Pop
05 Band Of Horses // Cease To Begin // Sub Pop
06 The National // Boxer // Beggars
07 Radiohead // In Rainbows // TBD
08 LCD Soundsystem // Sound Of Silver // DFA/Capitol
09 St. Vincent // Marry Me // Beggars
10 Georgie James // Places // Saddle-Creek
Bonus
Field Music // Tones Of Town // Memphis Industries
Battles // Mirrored // Warp

Our second list comes in today from James Montgomery, a man who gets my Wednesday mornings going right with his column, Bigger Than The Sound. Besides this, he also writes other great pieces for MTVNews.com, and has inspired me to strive to be a greater writer than I try to be. That, and I truly think after reading his column on Weezer that he is just the 29-year-old version of myself. Oh, the things I have to look forward to in six years. Below is his abridged Top 10, but you can see his entire Top 20, where he discusses the records ad nauseam, right here.

01 Wilco // Sky Blue Sky // Nonesuch
02 Against Me! // New Wave // Sire
03 Radiohead // In Rainbows // TBD
04 The White Stripes // Icky Thump // Warner Bros.
05 Tegan & Sara // The Con // Sire
06 The Field // From Here We Go Sublime // Kompakt
07 Panda Bear // Person Pitch // Paw Tracks
08 Modest Mouse // We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank // Epic
09 Deerhunter // Cryptograms // Kranky
10 Yeasayer // All Hour Cymbals // We Are Free

Tomorrow, we start looking at some of my co-workers Top 10 Lists. Send yours in etc. etc.

SiS 2007: The Guest List (R. Bowman)

Our second guest list of Top 10 Albums of the Year comes in from Rick Bowman. Besides being one of our guest bloggers this week, he also plays the role of singer and player of multiple instruments in Baltimore's gritty power pop quartet, The Frauds. They're latest album, Hiding Out Loud, is out for you to pick up at your favorite indie record store or iTunes, so please make sure you pick it up and check out the awesome artwork.

Apparently, Rick says he didn't listen to too much music released in 2007, so he put together the best list that he could as he even listed a bonus record:

01 Apples In Stereo // New Magnetic Wonder // Yep Roc
02 Sean Lennon // Friendly Fire // Capitol
03 Band Of Horses // Cease To Begin // Sub Pop
04 Tegan And Sara // The Con // Sire
05 Squaaks // Rock Control // Flatmeat
06 Ween // La Cucaracha // Rounder
07 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club // Baby 81 // RCA
08 Amy Winehouse // Back To Black // Republic
09 Fratellis // Costello Music // Cherry Tree
10 Deerhoof // Friend Opportunity // Kill Rock Stars
Bonus:
White Stripes // Icky Thump // Warner Bros.

Thanks to Rick for sending me his list. Don't forget to send your list in if you want it to be posted before this week is over.

SiS 2007: The Guest List (G. Antonaccio)

This week, I'm leaving the fun up to you. After going off on too many tangents for my own good last week, loyal SiS readers get their turn this week as I post their Top 10 lists of the year. The rules were simple: it could be Top 10 albums, and it didn't have to be albums. It could be movies, concerts, or super cool things that happened to you from April to August. People wrote it in, and here is what we get:

Our first contribution comes in this week from Gianni Antonaccio, a man who I have known for a quite awhile. Besides being one of my best friend's who I can sit and wax ecstatic at wit's end about music, he also is the guitarist that everyone loves to make fun of in the band Infraction. Click on their name, check out their songs on their MySpace, they thank you for your time. I'm just proud to say some of his picks are better than what they would have been a few years ago, I'm proud of you my friend.

I'm also waiting for G Snatch to give me his written contribution on all the fun he had with me at Lollapalooza back in August. Until then, we get this:

01 Foo Fighters // Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace // RCA
02 Minus The Bear // Planet Of Ice // Suicide Squeeze
03 Radiohead // In Rainbows // TBD
04 Kanye West // Graduation // Interscope
05 Band Of Horses // Cease To Begin // Sub Pop
06 Mae // Singularity // Capitol
07 Thrice // The Alchemy Index, Vol. 1 & 2: Fire & Water // Vagrant
08 Motion City Soundtrack // Even If It Kills Me // Epitaph
09 Jimmy Eat World // Chase This Light // Interscope
10 Kings Of Leon // Because Of The Times // RCA

Come back tomorrow when another reader gets to have their 15 minutes of fame.

SiS 2007: The Top 30 of 2007 #05-#01

Finally, after being announced a week ago, and being teased with multiple posts throughout this week, we are finally here. It is time to announce my coveted Top 5 of 2007.

But before we do that, just like any countdown show, I believe we shall have a re-cap of #30-#06 (and this way, all you lazy people just coming on board don't need to sift through other posts to see the rest of the list. Oh well, if you want your mp3's and some insight, you'll read the others!)

30. Panda Bear // Person Pitch // Paw Tracks
29. Dntel // Dumb Luck // Sub Pop
28. Shout Out Louds // Our Ill Wills // Merge
27. St. Vincent // Marry Me // Beggars
26. Kings Of Leon // Because Of The Times // RCA
25. Thurston // Trees Outside The Academy // Ecstatic Peace
24. Fiery Furnaces // Widow City // Thrill Jockey
23. Interpol // Our Love To Admire // Capitol
22. Electrelane // No Shouts, No Calls // Too Pure
21. Field Music // Tones Of Town // Memphis Industries
20. Modest Mouse // We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank // Epic
19 The Shins // Wincing The Night Away // Sub Pop
18. UNKLE // War Stories // Surrender All
17. Film School // Hideout // Beggars
16. The Clientele // God Save The Clientele // Merge
15. Band Of Horses // Cease To Begin // Sub Pop
14. Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew / Spirit If... // Arts & Crafts
13. Elvis Perkins // Ash Wednesday // XL
12. Arcade Fire // Neon Bible // Merge
11. Rogue Wave // Asleep At Heaven's Gate // Brushfire
10. Radiohead // In Rainbows // TBD
09. Georgie James // Places // Saddle-Creek
08. Menomena // Friend And Foe // Barsuk
07. The Good, The Bad & The Queen // The Good, The Bad & The Queen // Virgin
06. The Rosebuds // Night Of The Furies // Merge

And now, without further ado, the Holy Grail is revealed:

05 Jens Lekman // Night Falls Over Kortedala // Secretly Canadian
Before a copy of Kortedala was placed on my desk this fall, I had only heard one song by this Swedish pop minstrel. Now, I have heard all of his songs and I’ve even seen him do that famous Paul Simon cover he likes to do sans chorus. The real subject at hand is that this guy, in his early to mid 20s, is a musical genius: this album will put him on the map. The overly dramatic opener “And I Remember Every Kiss” moves in to the hip shack nods of disco and (dare I say) hip-hop grooves (?) of “Sipping On The Sweet Nectar.” He also tells a poignant tale or 10 (“A Postcard To Nina,”) and gets really, really damn cheesy (“If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This).” God, I love it.

04 The Apples In Stereo // New Magnetic Wonder // Yep Roc
Before the year 2007, I had never listened to Robert Schneider and the rest of his Elephant 6 Collective. And then I was given a copy of Wonder to check out before interviewing the band and I was just blown away by every sugarcoated note. Every song is a burst of sun just exploding in to your face, it’s oh-so bouncy and so happy that it’s impossible to turn this record down. It might fit your mood in the long winter months, but it might make it feel like you’d be in a warmer place.


03 LCD Soundsystem // Sound Of Silver // DFA/Capitol
James Montgomery of Bigger Than The Sound said it was all about “All My Friends.” I say it was all about “Someone Great.” Where "Friends" was his piece of nostalgia, “Great” was my piece of reflection. Beyond that, it’s really a record that has nary a dull moment on it. It’s one of the few records I can play from start to finish anymore, though I really cringe when putting myself through the title track. Either way, it’s one of those records that I’ll remember as getting me through 2007, through its ups and its downs, for being my late night soundtrack, and for helping me get through all the changes this year brought about. Thanks, James.

02 Spoon // Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga // Merge
“Don’t Make Me A Target” picks this album up where Gimme Fiction left off (maybe because it's a Fiction outtake - a ha!) “The Ghost Of You Lingers” is a rather blunt detour that’s rather early on an album. “You Got Yr Cherry Bomb” brings it all together, and the rest is smooth sailing. It's not far from the Spoon tree, really -- or is it? "Finer Feelings" could be easily debatable as their attempt being the Beastie Boys, and while the inclusion of an unreleased cover by a relatively unknown band (The Natural History) in "Don't You Evah" is highly questionable, it all comes together and fits the Ga times five puzzle. Except for the title; I really would've preferred it if they would've stuck with the working title of Trouble Minx.

01 The National // Boxer // Beggars
I can’t still come up with the number one reason behind this year’s number one record. It’s beautiful; it is melancholy; it is soaked in white wine. It rocks (“Mistaken For Strangers”) and it sulks (“Slow Show”) and I still say Sonic Youth is hiding away in that auditorium (“Start A War.”) Maybe it’s because every time I’ve seen them this year (that’s 3 times, btw,) they just get better and better. They are one band that knows how to carry their emotions and show how they can transcend from record to the stage. And Matt Beringer’s vocal is so recognizable: he’s the new Dylan, or at least my Dylan. I really could go on and list many a reason but never firm up just one, and so we will leave it at that.

--

And that's it. Next week, we starting post your top 10 lists (that means send them in if you haven't already) and I'll post some more fun Top 10 lists of my own, I guess?

SiS 2007: The Top 30 of 2007 #10-#06

Now, we are getting down to business.

We've hit the more crucial part of the Top 30, and that would be the Top 10. But rather than give it away in one giant fell swoop, I'm breaking it up n half. You don't want to reveal it all at once, the whole load would be blown, and we don't want that, so with that said, let's take an in depth look at the bottom of the cream of the crop.

The Top 30 Albums of 2007, Part Three Point Five:

10. Radiohead // In Rainbows // TBD
Every few years when Radiohead come around and say "we have a new record," the music world stops. For months, the anticipation builds and builds as a single is revealed here, and then a full-length might leak. This year, they shocked the world by saying "Hi. We have a new album. You'll have it in 10 days." It seemed to me that it was the most anticipated record of all-time. And 10 days later, on October 10th, In Rainbows was unleashed to the world, and we were blessed with some rather amazing tunes. Most of them had been circulating the web in live form for well over a year, and most were just left to compare how they live versions translated in the studio. What this album did for me was pose the question: Is In Rainbows the album it is because it is heavily influenced by (Thom Yorke's) The Eraser, or, is it what Hail To The Thief is not?

09. Georgie James // Places // Saddle-Creek
Sometime last year while still in college, a good friend of mine was all about Georgie James. “Georgie James this, Georgie James that!” he would proclaim throughout the offices of our college radio station. He was a big fan of John Davis’ former project, Q And Not U, and was singing even bigger praises for this 180 of a project he was now pursuing. I would see them later in the summer and was floored by their catchy pop hooks and multiple influences that spanned decades. It was a drag that I had to wait 15 months for this record, though.

08. Menomena // Friend And Foe // Barsuk
I was packing my bags in January, and Barsuk was streaming this record. I put it on and was immediately blown away by how original it was. I also get a kick out of the fact their name is a direct reference to the Muppets. The drums are huge, bigger than any arena could ever fill; the saxaphone is everywhere (+500 points,) and most importantly, it's original! Wait, I already said that. The songs are catchy and complex, all at once (see: "Wet & Rusting,") They are humorous, yet they can also be serious all at the same time. It's friendly, and foe-worthy.

07. The Good, The Bad & The Queen // The Good, The Bad & The Queen // (Virgin)
Every time I hear “Herculean,” I’m reminded of the first time I heard well over a year ago, featuring it on my college radio show. And then I go to myself, ‘Damnit. This (along with who knows how many other songs) should’ve been on my Top 10 songs of the year.’ It should’ve, but overall it’s an even better album. It’s serene and whimsical and is just one of the many tricks up Damon Albarn’s sleeve. Really, what’s he going to do next? He's got this, he had the Gorillaz, and we might see another Blur record in our lifetime. He's so well versed in music, that he could go and make a country/bluegrass record that even I would enjoy it I am sure.

06. The Rosebuds // Night Of The Furies // (Merge)
Kelly and Ivan Rosebud: pioneers of their time? With every album these NC lovers put out, they just seem to get better and better. With their third album, they again set out on a quest to tackle new territory, dropping their former 60s sunny-pop for 80s dark romanticism. Once again, it works in their favor, blending new with old (“Cemetery Lawns,”) and exploring seas never before sailed (“Night Of The Furies.”) I just hope their wave of great albums doesn't come crashing down; I could never fathom their being a bad Rosebuds record, could you?

Tomorrow, we reveal the Top 5, the Holy Grail, have you. And we'll also be seeing what the rest of the Stranded In Stereo world has on their Top 10 lists.

SiS 2007: The Top 30 of 2007 #20-#11 & Top Movies

It's the middle of the week, and coincidentally enough the middle of our look back at 2007. While we look at the mid section of the Top 30 albums, we also take a look back at some of the best movies that came out this year as well. I don't know why, but it was a lot harder ranking this portion of the chart, I'm still not satisfied with how it turned out, so much that at post time your faithful blogger made yet another last minute change and made a rather significant move.

The Top 30 Albums of 2007, Part Two:
20. Modest Mouse // We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank // Epic
19 The Shins // Wincing The Night Away // Sub Pop
18. UNKLE // War Stories // Surrender All
17. Film School // Hideout // Beggars
16. The Clientele // God Save The Clientele // Merge
15. Band Of Horses // Cease To Begin // Sub Pop
14. Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew / Spirit If... // Arts & Crafts
13. Elvis Perkins // Ash Wednesday // XL
12. Arcade Fire // Neon Bible // Merge
11. Rogue Wave // Asleep At Heaven's Gate // Brushfire

The Top Movies 0f 2007:
No Country For Old Men: Badass. I still refuse to say anything because someone might read this and still missed out on seeing the film. It's badass: that is all I will say about it.
Superbad: Might be the funniest movie I have ever seen. Also, the greatest Halloween costume idea I ever came up with after I was a block from the party in another costume (next year, Rusty, next year. Don't go and steal my idea, damnit.)
Zodiac: I don't know about the rest of you, but near 3-hour true crime pieces are something I fawn over at the drop of a hat. And it will get a few minutes longer when that "Director's Cut" is released in January. Thank God.

Tomorrow, we begin to unveil the cream of the crop, the Top 10 Albums of 2007, by looking at #10--#6. Until then, tell you friends and grandparents to stop by the blog to check out all this activity and send in your Top 10 lists so I can put them up throughout next week. Please. Pretty please. Thank you.

SiS 2007: The Top 30 of 2007 #30-#21 & Top 10 Songs

Today, in our second part of this week long blowout to the year that was (er, still is) 2007, we take a look at the bottom third of the Top 30 Albums, while also giving away the Top 10 songs of the year.

And away we go.

The Top 30 Albums of 2007, Part 1:
30. Panda Bear // Person Pitch // Paw Tracks
29. Dntel // Dumb Luck // Sub Pop
28. Shout Out Louds // Our Ill Wills // Merge
27. St. Vincent // Marry Me // Beggars
26. Kings Of Leon // Because Of The Times // RCA
25. Thurston // Trees Outside The Academy // Ecstatic Peace
24. Fiery Furnaces // Widow City // Thrill Jockey
23. Interpol // Our Love To Admire // Capitol
22. Electrelane // No Shouts, No Calls // Too Pure
21. Field Music // Tones Of Town // Memphis Industries

The Top 10 Songs of 2007:
10. "Miles Under The Skin" // Robert Pollard // Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love // Merge
09. "Now Now" // St. Vincent // Marry Me // Beggars
08. "D.A.N.C.E." // Justice // † // Vice
07. "Hit The Heartbrakes" // Black Kids // Wizard of Ahhh's // Self-Released
06. "The Moneymaker" // Rilo Kiley // Under The Blacklight // Warner Bros.
05. "Same Old Drag" // The Apples In Stereo // New Magnetic Wonder // Yep Roc
04. "Need Your Needs" // Georgie James // Places // Saddle-Creek
03. "Oxford Comma" // Vampire Weekend // Yellow EP // Self-Released
02. "Phantom Punch" // Sondre Lerche // Phantom Punch // Astralwerks
01. "You Got Yr Cherry Bomb" // Spoon // Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga // Merge

A few notes on the Top 10 songs:
03. Some might argue that I should have waited until '08, when they drop their full length debut via XL. That song was just too good to wait a year to recognize.
06. I have a huge disdain for this album, yet last night I was having a conversation on the phone with someone about it and makes me want to revisit again because I find myself always defending three or four of it's songs. And I really like "The Moneymaker." It's no "Smoke Detector," though, I'll tell you that much.
10. I have to give the man some recognition somewhere. Sadly neither of his two Merge records, or umpteen other releases of 2007, make my Top 30. This is one of the best songs he's ever committed to tape.

And, as an early Christmas gift to you all, I encourage you to click here to download my Top 10 Songs of 2007 as a convenient Zip file. Put this list on your iPod, burn it as a CD and make it a stocking stuffer, hell, the best place to play it would be your New Year's party as you help send off 2007 in style. This won't be available forever, so download now. Link will expire on or before December 14.

Come back tomorrow when we continue this fun. Feel free to send in your Top 10 lists and if we get enough, I can make fun posts of them next week.

New Hot Chip Video: "Ready For The Floor"

I guess if Heath Ledger were to fall ill, Alexis Taylor could take over his role of The Joker in the upcoming The Dark Knight. If you don't believe me, check out the new clip for "Ready For The Floor" from my beloved Hot Chip. Their third album, Made in The Dark, drops on February 5th via DFA/Astralwerks, easily one of my first albums to garner the "Most Anticipated of '08" title.

Hmm, maybe he could pull off a mix of The Joker and Two Face? you decide.

Vid Vid Vid Vid Vid:


Made In The Dark Tracklisting:
01 Out At The Pictures
02 Shake A Fist
03 Ready For The Floor
04 Bendable Poseable
05 We're Looking For A Lot Of Love
06 Touch Too Much
07 Made In The Dark
08 One Pure Thought
09 Hold On
10 Wrestlers
11 Don't Dance
12 Whistle For Will
13 In The Privacy of Our Love

Download: "I Became A Volunteer" [mp3]

SiS 2007: The Honorable Mentions

In the honorable mention category this year, we look to albums that garnered attention by their album’s getting a national (or in some cases) distribution in America for the first time, and one for another reason.

Presented to you in nothing more fashionable than alphabetical order, because that's only fair

Beach House // Beach House // Carpark
For the first time months, I revisited this record over the weekend. It's a great record for the winter, and it fit with the first big snow we got here in Boston. It's quiet, very lo-fi; it has a very warm feeling to it. The keyboards hum while the guitars just sneak around here and there. "Master Of None" is my jam of 2007. And then, I realized this album came out in 2006. Oh well, there's always their sophomore effort, due in February '08. I can be right on time with that. [Buy Here]

Peter, Bjorn & John // Writer’s Block // Almost Golden
Honestly, this should be my Album of the Year: if you go by the play count on my iTunes here at the office, the only thing that out ranks it is my pick for Song of the Year, and “You Don’t Want Yr Nails Done” by Panther. Although released late last year around the world, this third album from the Swedish trio garnered attention and kept us whistling the same tune for days, weeks, months on end. And the rest of the album is even better. [Buy Here]

Phoenix Foundation // Horsepower // Young American
This album takes the cake for of the honorable mentions. Originally released in their native New Zealand way back in 2004, these beloved Kiwis finally released an album in the states this year, and thought they should start in order. With hints of electronica (“Sister Risk,”) 60s pop (“Celebrate!,”) and bonified rock and roll (“Gone Fishing,”) these boys are poised to make a name for themselves in the states. Their third album was just released down under; hopefully we’ll see it soon over here. [Buy Here]