Sunday, December 30, 2007

Simon's List



1. Radiohead - In Rainbows





2. Jesu - Conqueror






3. Burial - Untrue



4. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible





5. Deerhunter - Cryptograms




6. Les Savy Fav - Let’s Stay Friends




7. The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are Dark Horses




8. The Forms - The Forms





9. Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew - Spirit If





10. Grinderman - Grinderman




11. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky




12. Low - Drums & Guns





13. Shocking Pinks - Shocking Pinks





14. Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin



15. Cripple Black Phoenix - A Love Of Shared Disasters



16. Pelican - City Of Echoes




17. Thurston Moore - Trees Outside The Academy





18. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam





19. The National - Boxer







20. Future Of The Left - Future Of Left





21. The Pony’s - Turn The Lights Out





22. Liars - Liars




23. Elliott Smith - New Moon





24. Dinosaur Jnr - Beyond




25. Panda Bear - Person Pitch

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Lullaby's Albums of the Year


Sean's List


Honourable Mentions - Dungen - Tio Bitar, Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls DownThunder Canyon, Icarus Line - Black Lives at the Golden Coast, Bruce Springsteen - Magic, Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation, The Ponys - Turn the Lights Out, Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight, Dinosaur Jr - Beyond, Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars, Kanye West - Graduation, Justice - +, Blonde Redhead - 23, Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare, Ghostface Killah - Big Doe Rehab, Baroness - Red Album, Kevin Drew - Spirit if.., Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81, Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.




21. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover

The first record from Spencer Krug that i've come to like, truly impressive sophomore effort from his other band.





20. Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild

Eddie Vedder's first ever solo album and companion piece to Sean Penn's exceptional film, Into the Wild. I had listened to this quite alot before seeing the film. Even though the album was already quite impressive, when seeing the film the music is taken to a complete new level.




19. Battles - Mirrored

Battles have pretty much commericialized the term "math-rock" in the underground music scene this year. Some of the music created here is purely remarkable.



18. Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil

For awhile there I really didn't think much of this album at all. Then one evening is just all clicked together. This is one great garage rock record.




17. Besnard Lakes....Are the Dark Horse

Dark and Gloomy yet has many pop sensiblities strewn across this excellent album.





16. Nicole Atkins - Neptune City


One late night I witnessed Nicole Atkins play the David Letterman show, very curious i researched her and got her debut album quick smart to be blown away straight away. A strong voice with a sound so lush.





15. Caribou - Andorra

A collection of excellent eclectic electronic pop songs from Dan Snaith.




14. Cass McCombs - Dropping the Writ

Probably my "new" favourite Singer/Songwriter artist of the year. While the songs are kept fairly simple, he executes them with such grandeur.





13. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam


Constantly pushing the boundaries of modern pop music, the music might be a bit strange to the casual listener but that's because it's quite strange. Each listen brings something new to my ears which is always refreshing.




12. Liars - Liars

I spent most of 2006 trying to come to terms with Liars third album "Drum's Not Dead" no matter how many times i listened to it, nothing happened. Though everyone else i pretty much talked to said it was amazing. Sure it was intriguing but I struggled and still struggle to find that brilliance. More importantly Liars came out with their fourth album this year with a more "conventional" sound and boy is it fabulous. Dark sounds with a jagged edge. If pollution had a sound this would probably be it.



11. A Place to Bury Strangers - A Place to Bury Strangers

Some say it's practically like the second coming of Psychocandy, with saying that it's not too far away from the truth, this is an exceptional modern day ear shattering shoegaze noise record.



10. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

Whenever someone says there is no good rock and roll around these days, I just tell them to listen to this record.




9. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible


A grand sophomore effort, probably the best released this year. Without comparing it too Funeral, the album has remained as fresh as the day it was released. One incredible song after the next.



8. Belles Will Ring - Mood Pattern

My favourite Australian album of the year, another 60's neo-psychedelic group. Great record.




7. Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

I was intrigued by this album from the very first time i heard it. Sam Beam steps up his game, not that he had to. Devil Never Sleeps rocks.




6. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

My favourite modern day singer songwriter places it safe in 2007 with the release of just one album and e.p. Ryan ties several of his influences together upon the Tiger.


5. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga


I've always been a casual Spoon fan, but my respect levels increased tenfold this year with the release of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, just simple effective songwriting.




4. Radiohead - In Rainbows

Another slice of Radiohead magic, took a little while to get used too, but when the transistion was made it delievered on many levels.




3. Deerhunter - Cryptograms

Nothing more can be said about how amazing this album really is. Creative, dark, atmospheric. One of the best of the decade.




2. Okkervil River - The Stage Names.

The Stage Names for me is one of the most evocative albums of the year. With Sheff's fine songwriting he has nine incredible songs to add to the Okkervil River canon.



1. The National - Boxer

This one grows and continues to grow, it was a pretty great feeling when this one struck a chord with me as not only did it evoke much admiration from me, it got itself to the number one place in my annual top albums list and 2007 wasn't an easy year to perform such a task. The songs are dark, broody and ominous. Ada is something special.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Top 51 Tracks of 2007.











1. Okkervil River - Our Life is Not a Movie But Maybe

I said to myself along time ago that this track would probably be placed here, I guess i never changed my mind.

2. The National - Mistaken By Strangers

The drums, the words, the chorus, the energy, the mood.

3. Rilo Kiley - Dreamworld

This song almost takes my breath away, too good.

4. Patrick Wolf - Overture

A Sea of orchestrations inhabit this track, strong opener.

5. Devendra Banhart - Seahorse

Someone said earlier this year, shortest 8 minute song ever, they were right, pure awesome.

6. Spoon - Don't You Evah

You can't pass that groove and simplistic guitar playing.

7. Ryan Adams - Everybody Knows

Loved it first time I heard it.

8. Deerhunter - Spring Hall Convert

Epic songwriting/structuring

9. Radiohead - House of Cards

Hard decision but this one seems to click with me alot.

10. Iron and Wine - Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car

Perfect introduction to the new Iron and Wine sound.



11. Arcade Fire - Black Mirror

Neon Bible is just a platter to choose from, so i mean how do you choose? I went this option as it was the first track to really grow on me earlier this year.

12. Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun

Terrific song from Vedder, turns out to be a cover, still just as good.

13. Modest Mouse - Florida

Loved driving along to this song, so rocking, great guitar work.

14. LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great

Lovely track, quite saddening at the same time.

15. Belles Will Ring - Older Younger

Another band making great retro style 60's pop music, love it.

16. The Good, the Bad and the Queen - Herculean

Heard this track late 06 at a mates place, it instantly reminded me of the Beta Band for some reason, great song.

17. Air - Mer du Japon

Air magic.

18. Battles - Atlas

This track gets the Marc Bolan tag alot, but that's probably why I dig it, that beat is so glam.

19. Animal Collective - Cuckoo Cuckoo

Really liked this one, love the piano intro descending into pure madness.



20. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Berlin

Rock and Roll motherfucker!

21. Paul McCartney - Mr Bellamy

My highlight from the album, i also just read recently that Paul invited Thom Yorke to play on this track, though Thom had to decline, saying his skills werent quite up to scratch.

22. A Place to Bury Strangers - My Weakness

Oh so many great tracks to choose from, the intro is just awesome.

23. Dinosaur Jr - Back to Your Heart

Lou sings this one, it always resonated with me, loved hearing it live.

24. Wilco - Impossible Germany

Dug it the first time round, still dig it just as much.

25. Feist - My Moon My Man

Apparently this song is even more popular then 1,2,3,4 these days, still it's massivly catchy and awesome.

26. Les Savy Fav - Brace Yourself

Great song from a Great record

27. Queens of the Stone Age - Make it Wit Chu

I was hooked when i heard this song back on the Desert Sessions, being released as a Queens tracks surprised me a little, still a badass as anything.

28. Cass McCoombs - Crick In My Neck

Just one of the many great songs from Dropping the Writ

29. Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan

A really good album, this one should hit you immediately.



30. The Ponys - Double Vision

Loved it the moment i heard it, and loved it even more when it appeared in Entourage.

31. Nicole Atkins - Party's Over

Song after song, it was tough choosing but i felt this was a great end to the album and excellent song.

32. Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation

This song could have been written back in the 70's in the hills of Laurel Canyon, totally awesome.

33. Blonde Redhead - Publisher

This is just like one of those tracks you hear a fair few times and then from out of nowhere just smacks your right on the nose.

34. Menomena - Evil Bee

Took me awhile to come around on these guys, but this track just had it all.

35. The Panics - Sundowner

I saw this track live earlier this year and it blew me away, after i heard this song no other song mattered for the rest of the night. A great close to Cruel Guards.

36. Ghostface Killah - Yolanda's House

Instant standout track from Ghost's 2007 effort.

37. Besnard Lakes - Disaster

Possibly one of the best opening songs to an album this year.

38. The Field - A Paw in My Face

Catchy mood electronica.

39. Icarus Line - Vintage Gardens

This album totally took me by surprise, great return and this song was just one amongst so many great songs.



40. Yeasayer - 2080

Just caught this track towards the end of the year, should get massive attention in 2008, rad tune.

41. Dungen - Svart är Himlen

2 minutes of fist pumping swedish psyche rock, awesome drumming.

42. Caribou - Melody Day

Just charming.

43. Grinderman - No Pussy Blues

You pretty much know what you're getting with this song just from the title alone but damn that feedback continues the excellence.

44. Arctic Monkeys - 505

Really enjoyed Favourite Worst Nightmare, a hell of a lot more then i did their debut, pretty rocking record but this track finalises the album in such great fashion taking the band off into a new direction.

45. The Soulsavers - Kingdom of Rain

I was never sold on this album, but i was quite intrigued by their sound flying gospel influences on their sleeves, Lanegan's dry vocals are quite prominent here and as the chorus imerges the song has you sold.

46. Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere

I ummed and argghed over checking out Magic, but i'm sure glad i did, there are plenty better songs on the album but this is a pretty great rock song and a good representation of the album.

47. The Polyphonic Spree - Light to Follow

This song stuck out quite prominently, each time i gave Fragile Army a spin, just had the quirkiness the other songs lacked.

48. Midnight Juggernauts - Into the Galaxy

Wasnt a huge fan of the album, but once i heard this track i couldnt stop listening, so catchy.

49. Fountains of Wayne - Traffic and Weather

The record accumulated a few good reviews, so i decided to check out the record, not really my thing apart from a few really great pop tunes, this one was one of the better pop songs of the year.

50. Rooney - I Should've Been After You

Really dug their sound from the debut record, but this album wasn't much to talk about, this song is great though, pure pop.

51. Interpol - Mammoth

As much as I dig this band, the album was quite ordinary, though a few really cool tracks this one was always really enjoyable for me.