The weather might fool you but next week it's July. So, seeing as we're halfway through the year now (sort of!), here's my round up of the best albums of 2007 so far. I started off trying to make a top 6 (one for each month kind of thing) but there's been so many great albums out that I've ended up with 12. So you get twice as many noew... bargainous! Plus a couple that didn't quite make the grade, and some more to look forward for the next 6 months.
Wincing The Night Away by The Shins (January) ::buy::If you can ignore the daft title, this album is amazing. Most of the songs have quite a summery feel about them, which was a welcome relief from the horrible wind and rain at the beginning of the year. Having said that, it wouldn't go amiss this week either.
Top track: Australia ::mp3::
Top track: Australia ::mp3::
Ridiculous lyrics, great indie music. One of the highlights of last September's Small Town America all dayer was Dartz's equipment packing up and them inviting everyone up on stage to dance along to the cowbells. Genius. It was so hard picking the best track off here, they're all ace. All together now... "You have three sides but you're not a triangle!"
Top track: Pregos triangolos ::mp3::
Top track: Pregos triangolos ::mp3::
Lynn Teeter Flower by Maria Taylor (March) ::buy::A great follow up to debut 11:11, Lynn Teeter Flower is an album bursting with beautiful melodies. Maria's heavenly voice and brilliant songwriting combine to make an amazing LP. Lovely lovely lovely. Oh, and there's a track co-written with and featuring Conor Oberst, yay!
Top track: A good start ::mp3::
Ghost by Radical Face (March) ::buy::Released on Morr Music, this concept album was a long time coming and even now I think you can only get in on import in the UK. According to Ben Cooper he started writing the songs 3 years ago. I'm so glad he put them out eventually, there's some beautiful music on here.
Neon Bible by Arcade Fire (March) ::buy::I think all the superlatives have been exhausted by now. I shall just content myself by saying this album is obviously not as good as Funeral, it never could have been. But it still has some great tracks, and any band brave enough to include a pipe organ has to be worth listening to.
Top track: Keep the car running ::mp3::
American Doll Posse by Tori Amos (April) ::buy::Tori's wonderful weirdness never ceases to amaze me. In this new album she takes on 5 different personas for the first half of a staggering 23-strong tracklisting.
Top track: Beauty of speed ::mp3::
We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse (April) ::buy::
We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse (April) ::buy::If you'd told me beginning of last year that Johnny Marr would be in Modest Mouse I'd have asked you what you'd been smoking. Another album full of strangely odd-but-good shouty singing from Isaac Brock.
These Belgian electro-indie funsters will surely never write another song as sublime as Over The Edge (from Miami) but this LP on Germany's Morr Music is great to chill out to or have a wee boogy with a nice glass of wine. I should know, I've tried it.
Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters by The Twilight Sad (May) ::buy::I was introduced to this band's music with the words "they're as Scottish as rain and very very good" (thanks Dave). He should've added haggis, single malt and Robert Burns to that list. I've not heard an accent this great since early Arab Strap... and I don't even like Arab Strap. But this I do like.
Puzzle by Biffy Clyro (June) ::buy::Number 2 in the album charts? Biffy? Are you sure?! Cripes, the hairy rockers have surpassed themselves this time. This is surely the most un-mainstream album that will grace the shelves of Tesco petrol stations this year. Watch out for new single Folding Stars, its a tad.... epic. Read Stu's review here.
Contact! Contact! by Tellison (June) ::buy::Tellison are amazing. Fact. If you order the album from the Gravity DIP website you might even get a free pencil if you're quick! Stonking indie pop with truly wonderful 3 way harmonies that would make The Beach Boys weep for joy. Or something.
Easy Tiger by Ryan Adams (June) ::buy::The last addition to my round up as it only came out last week. Mr Adams has done it again. Yet another great album full of bittersweet singalong anthems and humalong melodies. Lovely stuff. And a bit of Sheryl Crow for good measure. Or is that bad measure....
Top track: Everybody knows ::mp3::
As always, mp3s included for sampling only. If you like what you hear, follow the 'buy' links and spend some pennies.
As always, mp3s included for sampling only. If you like what you hear, follow the 'buy' links and spend some pennies.
Those albums that didn't quite make it for one reason or another:
Backlash Cop by Jetplane Landing - With this only being Jetplane's 3rd album, there was a lot of anticipation in this house. Then we got the album through the post and proceeded to listen to a 40 year old balding Irishman doing funk. Odd to say the least.
Cassadaga by Bright Eyes - Much as it pains me to say this about my beloved Bright Eyes, this is the biggest disappointment of the year so far. On my first listen I thought it was OK, but after a few I realised how awful some of the songs are. Sorry Conor but I'm not impressed!
Release the Stars by Rufus Wainwright - I'm probably being a bit unfair on poor old Rufus here, the only reason I've included this in the 'could do better' category is because I haven't had time to really listen to it properly yet. Might be able to say something nicer about it at the end of the year in my Album Round Up 2007 Part 2.
Ones to still look forward to:
Planet of Ice by Minus the Bear - follow up to the stonking Menos El Oso, out 20th August.
Under the Blacklight by Rilo Kiley - also out 20th August (start saving those pennies now!), each track on the band's fourth album is written about a different character. Two song titles listed on NME.com are Money Maker and Breaking Up. If the other 3 albums are anything to go by (and Jenny Lewis' solo Rabbit Fur Coat) this promises to be a great indie pop album full of wonderful singalongs. And of course it gives Stu an excuse to look at lots of pictures of the lovely Jenny. Lucky him!
Help Wanted Nights by The Good Life - As reported here, Tim Kasher & co release their fourth LP in September. It's a veritable autumnal Saddle Creek fest!
