2007 top ten

Avett Brothers “Emotionalism”

Soulsavers “Its Not How Far You Fall It’s The Way You Land”

Angels of Light “We Are Him”

Jon Jackson “Green Apples”

Burial “Untrue”

The Besnard Lakes “Are the Dark Horse”

Bonnie Prince Billy “Ask Forgiveness”

Black Moth Super Rainbow “Dandelion Gum”

Jesu “Conqueror”

Alex Delivery “Star Destroyer”

Dax Riggs "We sing of only blood and love"

Dax Riggs has many faces including Dry Pussy, Corruption, Golgotha, Daisyhead & The Mooncrickets and Agents of Oblivion. He is probably most noted for Deadboy and the Elephantmen or Acid Bath. This is a wonderful rock record. Dark and spooky. My biggest complaint would be that not one song reaches three minutes. Too short Dax, The same with deadboy, give us a little more.

"Once"

Let me preface by saying I have never been one with an appreciation for soundtracks.
The few exceptions are typicaly classicaly oriented. That said, run out and buy "Once".
This soundtrack is filled with an aching beauty that elevates these songs beyond "soundtrack".
I think Glen sounds a little like Cat Stevens on the opening "Falling Slowly" with Marketa Irglová singing along clean and sparse. "If you want me" is a haunting call for love. I could do with out "Broken hearted hoover fixer sucker guy", for me it is the one low point on the record. Marketa's"The Hill" is absolutely heartbreaking.
Also worthy of being searched out is "The Swell Season" by Irglová and Hansard from 2006. They just sound so good together.

Ingrid Michaelson "Girls and Boys"

Ingrid Michaelsons "Girls and Boys" kind of puts me in a weird place. It is a lovely and brilliant recording. I just hope it can get past its "Greys anatomy and target commercial" box. I honestly did not expect this record to be this good. I absolutely love it. And I am left searching for "Slows the Rain".

Bat for Lashes "Fur and Gold" is a lushly beautiful and quirky recording. I think the best description I have heared so far is dido/joanna newsome/kate bush/bjork had Devendras illegitimate lovechild. Freak folk? no, I think not. Mystical? oh yeah. I love its simple/sparse arrangements. It is rhythmic and seductive filled with handclaps and shakers etc. The British ladies continue to invade (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen) while managing not to get in each others way stylisticly.

DEVENDRA BANHART "SMOKEY ROLLS DOWN THUNDER CANYON"

Devendras new album "SMOKEY" is singularly beautiful. A delicate music that is at times quirky, yet somehow manages to remain tender and accessible "I Remember". At times I cant tell if certain songs and their seaming genre shifting are homage or Mr. Banhart poking the past with a sharp stick (the Elvis-ey Shabop Shalom) but I do truly enjoy this record although perhaps not quite as much as the Young God Records era Banhart and its apex "Rejoicing in the Hands" This is a solid step forward for a brilliant young (he is 23) songwriter.

I do think it would be nice to hear some traditional bossa nova from the young man.

Music News

Probably the most exciting thing in this areas music scene (for me at least) is the change of ownership of the local "Big Easy" club. It would appear that it has been sold by Bravo Entertainment and Purchased by Knitting Factory Entertainment.
Those of you familiar with my obsession with the New York jazz scene (every thing from John Zorn and Naked City to Cassandra Wilson or Steve Coleman) may or may not recall my desire to go to the Knitting Factory. I have never quite mad it but now it appears one will be coming to me.
Hopefully the first thing to go will be the flaming guitar and the seemingly endless stream of Rap and Metal. Please don't misunderstand I do enjoy both rap and metal but many other things as well. Things have been looking up lately. A name change? Soon? In the past few months or so we have been graced by Buckwheat Zydeco, Pato Banton, The Avett Brothers, Gary Jules, Bright Eyes, Built to Spill, Satllite Party (Perry Ferrell's new thing) as well as Megadeth and E-40. The future looks bright with "symphony on the edge"(yes as in classical music), Brandi Carlisle, A Fine Frenzy, Matt Nathanson and two Modest mouse shows.
The other good news is the promise that they will no longer put a curfew on a concert and push you out the door just so they can have the saturday night "dance party". In reality I am suprised Built to Spill came back since last time they were told to get of the stage.

So regardless, the future looks bright. Hopefully we can handle a full fledge "Knitting Factory" That is the name I am rooting for...

http://www.knittingfactory.com/

The Broken Family Band "Hello Love" (IMPORT)

Wow, The Broken Family Band. Jangly Americana, Country, Metal, Folk, I don't really know since this band keeps shifting their style around. I do know that they are from Cambridge and that this is a gorgeous recording. It think they are finaly settling in and it feels less affected. Perhaps I like it because I feel a little more hope in it. Hope is what I have/need right now. Try You Get Me on for size.

A Fine Frenzy "ONE CELL IN THE SEA"

Alison Sudol has an amazingly beautiful voice. That is really the first and only thing you need to know. In addition she has spent time touring with the likes of Rufus Wainright and Brandi Carlisle. In fact, she plays the Big Easy later this month.

One Cell in the Sea is a stunning record filled with beautiful, upbeat and melodic melancholia. While subversivly disguising itself as a pretty little pop record. With lyrics that at times evoke Joanna Newsom and a voice as seductively beautiful as Karen Berquist, this record gets in my soul.

find it, buy it.

If you already own the cd,

several bonus songs are offered on her site

with the promise of more to come.

Manchester Orchestra "I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child"

"I'm like a virgin losing a child" is the first full length outing by Manchester Orchestra, a brilliantly executed rock album. sort of a cross between Death Cab for Cutie and Explosions in the Sky with maybe a little of The Cure or Wilderness thrown in for good measure. Bitterly poetic and informed, this record swings back and forth thru varying emotions, pounding and rocking all the all the way thru with the exception of three tracks affecting incredible beauty and aching melancholy, I can feel your pain, Sleeper 1972 and Don't let them see you cry .

Ministry "Houses Of The Mole"

"Houses of the Mole" was a return to form for Ministry. More akin to the sound/feeling of "Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste" than "Filth Pig" or "Dark Side of the Spoon". I do have to say I am getting somewhat tired of the "W" obsession. That said, no one can pump out the stuttering samples and brain crushing guitar riffs quite like Ministry. With more than one album of songs that have more similarities with a punch in the face or a boot to the head than anything else, it is nice to feel a slight return of some of the groove from "Taste".

Tegan and Sarah "The Con"

I believe the reason I like Tegan and Sarah so much is that the vocals absolutely remind me of Dale Bozzio from Missing Persons. Such a unique voice with the shared vocals. "The Con" is a beautiful record, perhaps their most sophisticated yet. More uptempo and bouncy than I would normaly prefer but man is it infectious. It would be hard not to appreciate these twin sisters coming into their own. This is the record they were destined to make.

Dave Douglas "Sanctuary"

Sanctuary is 2 hours of engaging and difficult music. brilliantly executed by Douglas and company. Finding the time to sit and listen to it in its entirety can be difficult but I find it to be a refreshing break from everything. Identical bands of bass, sampler and trumpet on the left and right channels with the center held by drums and clarinet. Filled with edgy improve around a nice rythmic core. This will be a delight for fans of free jazz and improv and difficult for those needing more standard structure.

Destroyer "Destroyer's Rubies"

I don't know what the hell Dan Bejar is talking about 90 percent of the time on Destroyers Rubies and I love that. Regardless, this is a brilliant record. I guess I would describe it as "nuanced". There is a lot going on here. I find it very similar in scope but not in tone to Midlakes "Van Occupanther". This record creates a space then hovers around in it manicly for just under an hour. Mr, Bejar is perhaps better known as a "New Pornographer" and while I love them I think I enjoy "Destroyer" at least as much