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]