my top albums of 2007 #10-01

10

Menomena - Friend And Foe
Menomena has been on the rise since the release of this fantastic album. The music is fresh, the lyrics are witty, and there's lots and lots of saxophone.
TLOBF review

09

Jamie T - Panic Prevention
This was one of the first 2007 releases that I heard. And it's barely left my playlist since.

08

Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation
Ah, yes, my love affair with this album is still going strong.
My review

07

LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
Soooooooooooooooooo good. And it became even better after seeing James Murphy & co. open for The Arcade Fire at Red Rocks earlier this year.
TLOBF review

06

Kevin Drew - Spirit If...
Brilliant.
My review

05

The New Pornographers - Challengers
I know I said it before, but the first four tracks of this album are about as close to perfection as any band can get. I put off listening to this one for a while because I feared it would not be too good. Obviously that was not the case... :)
TLOBF review

04

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Bon Iver, aka Justin Vernon, self-released For Emma, Forever Ago back in July, creating quite a buzz in certain corners of the blog-world. Luckily for me I've got a friend in one of those corners who introduced me to it. In the meantime, Justin's been signed by Jagjaguwar and the album will be re-released in February. I'm definitely thrilled that I got my hands on a self-released copy early on... them things are gonna be rare. As for the album, it just may be good enough to land on next year's list too...

03

Okkervil River - The Stage Names
Well, this should come as a surprise to NO one... ;)
My review

02

Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Andrew Bird indeed achieved the impossible by making an album even better than The Mysterious Production Of Eggs.

01

The National - Boxer
The National and Andrew Bird were pretty much battling all year for the #1 spot. The National clinched it with a stellar performance at the Ogden back in September. Boxer is just an amazing album...
TLOBF review

So there it is. I have to say I'd be hard-pressed to find any other year where my top 50 albums are not just good, but exceptional. I hate to say it, but I'm ready for a break in 2008... :)

say it ain't so

Dear god, I think my recent obsession with Babyshambles' Shotter's Nation has hurled me into full-blown Pete Doherty mania. How did this happen?!? Three weeks ago found me in the camp that believes the guy is just a bit of a waste of space, and now... well, now I feel like if I ever see him on the street all I wanna do is give him a big hug. It's amazing what a stellar album can do, is it not?

Some more videos for you:

One of the more palatable tracks on Down In Albion, "Fuck Forever":



Happier times... oh how I *heart* The Libertines:



More new Babyshambles & the "French Dog Blues" (note how much Pete's cartoon self looks an awful lot like his real life self...):



"There She Goes"... rather poor audio quality but a lovely song (they use a stand-up bass on the album - in case I haven't told you, check it out. It's called Shotter's Nation. It's by Babyshambles...):



And lastly a live version of one of my favorite tunes on the new album, "You Talk":



I really don't know what it is... it's been quite a while since an album has hit me this hard, especially an album that I normally wouldn't expect anything from.

Dear Pete, please stay sober, as I've discovered that I really love your music.

XOXO,
Mystik Spiral

my current obsession

Well, besides post-season baseball that is... :)

You may have noticed that I've not added any more "brilliant albums" posts lately... I kinda came to the conclusion that it was a bit of an ill-conceived idea for a couple of reasons. First, it will totally give away my end of year "best" list. And we simply can't have that. Second, I started the feature right before I was asked to write for those other blogs, and I just don't have the time to keep up. Finally, and somewhat after the fact, we over at The Line Of Best Fit have just started a similar feature entitled "The Line Of Best Fit Loves..." that will run every Monday. Check it out!

With that said, here is a tip that may possibly give away my sleeper album of the year. I don't know if Pete Doherty is influencing me somehow via my iPod, but I can't stop listening to the new Babyshambles album. Not unlike the way Pete can't stay off the crack. And the supermodels.

I never would have given this album a thought if I hadn't been asked to review it. But the thing is fucking amazing. From the time I got it until my review was published I listened to Shotter's Nation no less than a couple dozen times. I just can't seem to stop. Not entirely unlike how Pete Doherty can't lay off the... well, you get the idea.

Check this one out, it's a hell of a long journey from the semi-disaster that was Down In Albion, and it gives me a reason to hope for Pete's continued success with his latest stint in rehab. I came to a realization that lost in all his tabloid shenanigans is the fact that he really is a poet and he can actually sing!! Lots of kudos to his 'Shambles for sticking it out. Note also that all this fawning is coming from an admitted Carl Barât fangirl... I'm just sayin'...

For more insight, and some shameless self-promotion, you can read my review!

Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation
available: 10/23/2007
Parlophone

I've included the video for the brilliant, Kinks-influenced single "Delivery" (and at the risk of sounding like a complete bitch, I couldn't help but giggle at this commentary from FluxCapacitor):

The film ends with a terrifying image: Doherty behind the wheel of a car. However it soon becomes clear (due to him driving more than ten yards without being arrested) that the vehicle is being towed by a truck. Pete should consider getting around like this in real life. Safer.

I'm sorry, Pete... you just make it so easy.