7 Albums From 2007 That Rocked In 2008

Just because a year ends doesn't mean you have to stop listening to albums from the past year (right?). I wanted to give some props to the following albums from 2007 that had some real staying power, well, on my ipod at least. Check 'em (and if you like buy 'em).



7 Albums From 2007 That Rocked In 2008:


The Forms by The Forms
Comment: This whole album is awesome. Every single track. Do you realize how hard it was to choose one track to post?
Listen: "Bones" (box.net mp3)
Amazon MP3 page is here.
eMusic page is here.


Mosaic by Love Of Diagrams
Comment: I don't know why this track was not included on the original release. Hopefully, the demos that were on the internet this year will make for another great album in 2009.
Listen: "Big Chord Champion" (box.net mp3)
Amazon MP3 page is here (without bonus tracks).
eMusic page is here (with bonus tracks).


The National Anthem Of Nowhere by Apostle Of Hustle
Comment: Andrew Whiteman (of Broken Social Scene) does it again. He should get his own "Broken Social Scene Presents..." album next, yo.
Listen: "My Sword Hand's Anger" (box.net mp3)
Amazon MP3 page is here.
eMusic page is here.


Ragged Rubble by Double Dagger
Comment: While I (unfortunately) missed every opportunity to see Double Dagger live this year, I am certain this will be rectified in the coming year. Plus, they should have a new LP out soon on Thrill Jockey. I mean, come on... look at them, how can you not love this?

Listen: "The Psychic" (box.net mp3)
Amazon MP3 page is here.
eMusic page is here.


Security by Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Comment: This track really helped me get through the last year of the Bush regime.
Listen: "Filibuster XXX" (box.net mp3)
Amazon MP3 page is here.
eMusic page is here (older material).


Weirdo Rippers of No Age
Comment: I had to listen to something while waiting and waiting for Nouns to leak, err, I mean get officially released by the nice people at Sub Pop.
Listen: "Boy Void" (box.net mp3)
Amazon MP3 page is here.
eMusic page is here.


You Are Beautiful At All Times by Yppah
Comment: Great music for walking around the city in a daze. Try it sometime.
Listen: "I'll Hit The Breaks" (box.net mp3)
Amazon MP3 page is here.
eMusic page is here.
NOTE: This album was originally released in 2006, but when I first came up with this post I did not know that. I have decided to include it anyway.

Consider CLICKing
- Three. Count 'em. Three new Le Loup tracks have been recorded and are available @ Daytrotter... here. Awesome.

- FYI: Frisk Frugt is Anders from Kirsten Ketsjer. Indie encoding phenom PUKEKOS recommends you take a listen... here.

- Social Registry BONUS: "Hibernation/Ditch (Live @ SXSW 2008)" By Blood On The Wall

- Best Of 2008: BIGSTEREO's big best of post... here.

- Best Of 2008: Not your usual best of list. Clouds In The Head has four end of year mixes... here.

- Best Of 2008: Transmissions From Wintermute' Years Best New (for me) Music... here.

- Best Of 2008: Wow, that's it no more. Here are the rest of the Pop Tart Suck Toasted best ofs (unless there is like a best PTST videos post or something like that in the works)... Albums #1-2 (here) #3-4 (here) #5-6 (here) and Singles #1-10 (here) #11-20 (here) #21-30 (here).

- Best Of 2008: Tullycraft's Top Ten Songs... #5 (here) #6 (here) #7 (here).

- Best Of 2008: Surviving The Golden Age's Top Songs Part 1... here.

September 2007 Mix

Holy shit! September 2007 rocked. Remember it with me.

Download the zip: "September 2007 Mix" (sendspace)

1. "adeadenemyalwaysmellsgood" (beggars mp3) by Future Of The Left

2. "Knowledge In Hand" (box.net mp3) by The Forms

3. "We Are Gods! We Are Wolves!" (hardly art mp3) by Le Loup

4. "The Psychic" (stationary heart mp3) by Double Dagger

5. "Neck Escaper" (upset the rhythm mp3) by No Age

6. "Perfect Skin" (fanatic mp3) by Health

7. "To Fix The Gash In Your Head" (killer rock and roll mp3) by A Place To Bury Strangers

8. "Duplexes Of The Dead" (ysi mp3) by The Fiery Furnaces

9. "Attitude (Misfits Cover)" (box.net mp3) by Mika Miko

10. "The Punks Are Writing Love Songs" (mp3) by Tullycraft

11. "The Girl (Beck Remix)" (ysi mp3) by Dr. Dog

12. "For You" (mp3) by C.O.C.O.

13. "The Killers" (toolshed mp3) by Robert Pollard

14. "Car Radio" (mp3) by Spoon

15. "Jenny I'm Sneaking Out" (mp3) by Oranges Band

16. "You Is My Hot Rabbit" (box.net mp3) by No Age

17. "Heart And Soul Dub" (social registry mp3) by Jah Division

18. "A Sunday Smile" (mp3) by Beruit

19. "A Big Deposit" (box.net mp3) by Please Dept.

20. "Guitar Feelings (Unmastered)" (box.net mp3) by The Muggabears

21. "NO MORE LONG YEARS (Risk Remix)" (franki chan mp3) by Matt & Kim as remixed by Risk.

22. "Up On Your Leopard, Upon The End Of Your Feral Days" (scjag mp3) by Sunset Rubdown

Consider CLICKing
- Aural States has a new contest plus an awesome Thrushes mp3... here.

- You love covers, right? Sure we all do. This week's Contrast Podcast is part one in a two part covers theme... "Covers that are very different (from the originals)" (mp3). Track list and deets... here.

- Yesterday, PTST brought us a "blast from the past," Soundgarden's Superunknown. Relive (for the second time for the first time) those halcyon mid 90's... here. Yes, "Spoonman" is a silly song. And "Blackhole Sun" was overplayed to the extent that I still can't listen to it the whole way through. But you know what, I was always fond of "Let Me Drown" (ysi mp3). The guitar sounds almost UltraMeg-ish. Dig it.

- Shoegazers, Panda Riot has a new new new downloadable at RCRDLBL... here.

- WTF???

- Finally, The Spinto Band have a new poppy promo mp3 for your listening pleasure from the upcoming Moonwink... "Pumpkins And Paisley" (daily rind mp3). Pre-order and get a free 7"... here.

The Next Best 26 Downloadables Of 2008 (So Far)

Let's look back on the past few months, here are the next best 26 downloadables of 2008 (so far).

"Antoine And Birdskull" (box.net mp3) by Jaguar Love

"Black Rice" (flemish eye mp3) by Women

"Calypso" (box.net mp3) by Abe Vigoda

"Catalogs" (FIXED box.net mp3) by Double Dagger

"The Cock-A-Doodle-Doo-Of Democracy" (box.net mp3) by Shooting At Unarmed Men

"Come Saturday" (box.net mp3) by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

"Cooker" (made out of babies mp3) by Made Out Of Babies

"Crimewave (Crystal Castles vs. David Wolf)" (box.net mp3) by Health remixed by Crystal Castles and David Wolf

"Dilo Como Yo (Remix)" (box.net mp3) by Patato & Totico remixed by Antibalas

"Electric Arc" (box.net mp3) by The Oxford Collapse

"Four Beds for BOAT" (box.net mp3) by BOAT

"Fun" (box.net mp3) by Screaming Females

"Ghost In The Trees" (box.net mp3) by Thee Oh Sees

"GO to WHERE its Clear" (box.net mp3) by Paul Fuster

"In 'N' Out Of Grace (Live in Berlin, 1988)" (sub pop mp3) by Mudhoney

"Little Sisters Of Beijing (Brenmar Remix)" (box.net mp3) by These Are Powers remixed by Brenmar

"Never Stop" (box.net mp3) by Deerhunter

"No More Long Years (Crimp Yr Hair rmx)" (box.net mp3) by Matt & Kim remixed by Crimp Yr Hair

"Nude" (daily rind mp3) by Melvins

"Play Your Part (Pt. 1)" (box.net mp3) by Girl Talk

"Rum For You (Edit)" (box.net mp3) by BUKE AND GāSS

"Sea Legs (Low Scores Remix)" (box.net mp3) by The Shins remixed by Low Scores

"Terminal Five" (box.net mp3) by N** Y*** T****

"Was It You (Demo)" (spoontheband mp3) by Spoon

"We Are Young" (box.net mp3) by The Shaky Hands

"Where Do You Run To" (box.net mp3) by Vivian Girls

The first 23 mp3s are here.

Consider CLICKing
- For your viewing pleasure: "With Confidence Anthem" (youtube vid) by BOAT

- New New New Kristin Hersh mp3: "Mississippi Kite" (cash mp3). This one is extra Throwing Muse-y.

- WNYC's Soundcheck presented "The Story of Sonic Youth" (wnyc mp3) yesterday. Show info is here. Sonic Youth is here. Listen: "Expressway To Yr Skull (Edit)" (box.net mp3)

- Paper Thin Walls has leaked my favorite track (so far) from the presently iTunes-only Deerhunter album, Microcastle. Get "Nothing Ever Happened" here. Did you know PTW is calling it quits. Sucks, right? Unless this is some joke and they relaunch. I'm just wondering if Parts & Labor is going to have two drummers now???

Catalogs By Double Dagger

Today I bring you a track off the Bored Meeting 7" by Baltimore's own postpostpunkers Double Dagger.

They look like this:


Downloadable from Bored Meeting 7": "Catalogs" (box.net mp3)

Buy the Bored Meeting 7"... here.

This is the Bored Meeting 7" track listing:
1. Bored Meeting
2. Catalogs
3. I Was So Bored I Wanted To Hang Myself on the Dancefloor (Chalmers remix)

Downloadable from Ragged Rubble: "Stripes" (box.net mp3)

Buy Ragged Rubble CD... here or here. Mp3... here.

Check out the lyrics to "Stripes"... here.

Myspace page is here.
More mp3s are here.
Stationary Heart page is here.
Toxic Pop is here.
Emusic page is here.

Consider CLICKing
- Discovery the "Modern World" by The Modern Lovers @ NEVVER... here.

- Prefix Mag posts the new YACHT remix of Ratatat... here. Me Too Me Too (because my older brother also has a gun)... "Mirando (YACHT Remix)" (box.net mp3)

- Listen to the mixture of indie pop MiLK & Fruit Juice @ French to bad English blog The Man Of Rennes Steals Our Hearts... here.

Nova By NOMO

Lazy. Hot. Summer Saturday.

What to listen to? How's about some postafrobeat?

Yeah. Gonna listen to NOMO.

Downloadables:
"Nova" (box.net mp3)
"Three Shades" (box.net mp3) (Did you get this track already?)

Myspace page is here.
Ubiquity Records page is here.
eMusic page is here.

Consider CLICKing
- How's about some "hazy, hip-hop-based downbeat shit"? Stones Throw artist Koushik has a couple of free mp3s available in advance of Out My Window. One is a song... "Lying In The Sun" (stones throw mp3) and the other is a mixtape... "Koushik - Mixoremixes" (stones throw mp3) (tracklisting)

- Instrumental Analysis talks up B'more music fest, WHARTSCAPE 2008 (featuring Celebration, The Mae Shi, Double Dagger, Parts & Labor, and much much more) and a number of other Mid-Atlanic happenings this weekend... here.

- Speaking of Baltimore... check out this more-than-a-year-old compilation of local Baltimore music at The City Paper. Download The End, Part Two: The Beginning (The Wham City Compilation)... here.

- Do I even need to mention this?

No More Long Years (Crimp Yr Hair rmx) By Matt & Kim

Damn! Another great weekend of free live music and I will not be around to enjoy it. Boo Hoo. In the meantime, I will be banging my head to Philly DJ duo Crimp Yr Hair's remix of "No More Long Years" by GT favs Matt And Kim.

Listen: "No More Long Years (Crimp Yr Hair rmx)" (box.net mp3)

Myspace page is here.
IHEARTCOMIX page is here.
Moshi Moshi is here.
Some old GT Matt & Kim posts are here and here and here and here and here.

Consider CLICKing
- Mike Patton (of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle plus a whole bunch of other projects) singing Italian pop songs from the 50's and 60's? Check them out @ captain's dead... here.

- New New New music from B'more postpunks Double Dagger @ Built On A Weak Spot... here.

Crimp Yr Hair


Matt & Kim

Immigration Reform By Smart Growth

Smart Growth is a "planning and transportation theory that concentrates growth in the center of a city to avoid urban sprawl; and advocates compact, transit-oriented, walkable, bicycle-friendly land use, including neighborhood schools, streets that work for everyone, mixed-use development with a range of housing choices."

Smart Growth is also Dennis Bowen of Double Dagger. He is a man who really likes The Police and maybe a little Big Beat.

Downloadable Boots... Authorized Live Recordings (thanks to the original taper):
"Immigration Reform" (box.net mp3) (source: aural states)
"Third World Stereo" (box.net mp3) (source: beatbots)

Watch an excellent live vid of Double Dagger: "Luxury Condos For The Poor (Live @ Whartscape 2007)" (youtube).

Consider Clicking
- Swan Fungus gives you an awesome collection of rants about, uhhh... dying from "ordinary drinking water," sharing the personal deets of your life online, beer, and some much more (also there's some mp3s)... here.

- Increase Your Weirdness asks "has metal ever been any better than this?" Find out... here.

- The blog silence is a rhythm too posts some Kelpe... here.

- Culture Bully reviews this week in mashups... here.

- WNYC's Soundcheck looks at the consumption of music five years after iTunes (mainly of NPR listeners, though):


- "You Can't Do Wrong And Get By" @ 100,000 Miles Away... here.

- Waves At Night posts some Ratatat, and it's not just "Mirando"... here.

- Something to play LOUD this weekend: "Chicago Falcon" (mp3) by Budos Band

- Largehearted Boy points out this boot by Spoon... here.
Listen to a Smiths cover: "Panic" (archive.org mp3)
Listen to an oldie: "Government Darling" (archive.org mp3)

Tonight: Double Dagger/dd.mm.yyyy/So So Glos/Sh Sh Sh Shark Attack/DINOWALRUS/Bombs

Tonight @ Death By Audio
Presented by Brooklyn By Hand

Double Dagger
Listen: "Luxury Condos For The Poor" (mp3)
Also: Double Dagger guest edits ptw... here.

dd/mm/yyyy

So So Glos

Sh Sh Sh Shark Attack
Listen: "Bad Water Chromosome (Demo)" (box.net mp3)

DINOWALRUS
Listen: "Numbers, I Hate Numbers" (mp3)

Bombs
Listen: "The Excitement" (box.net.mp3)

The McLaughlin Group By Andrew WK

Did you listen to "Andrew WK on Fair Game" (box.net mp3) when I posted about it... here? If not, you missed some best the 50 some odd seconds of "over-the-top rockulism" this year.

Listen: "The McLaughlin Group" (box.net mp3)

This is the lyrical core of the song:

If it happens Pat
May he rest in piece peace
Death comes in the night
On little cat's feet
The next man on the moon will be Chinese

Listen to the whole Fair Game clip (above) to find out what it means. As to getting it out of your head, that's your problem.

Andrew WK's official site is here.
Myspace page is here.
Load Records page is here.
Read about Andrew's possible hairpiece and some other weird shit at his wiki.

Load BONUS: "Big Party" (mp3)

Consider Clicking
- So, Low Scores (formerly Bulk Buttons) failed to be chosen for the Jamie Lidell remix contest. Wanna hear what was prolly a little too weird for Jaime? "a little bit of feel good (ls remix)" (mp3)

- New New New * No Age + Religious Knives = XXJFG... here. Speaking of No Age, the Cloak/Dagger album is entitled No Age. Does this album sound like No Age? Find out @ CYSTSFTSS... here.

- More No Age. Watch them play Juan's Basement @ p'fork tv... here. Speaking of p'fork, did you see them profiled in Businessweek... here. Sellouts! (I kid, I kid). Also new at p'fork, they posted by Sinkane led Sudanese immigrant Ahmed Gallab... here. Listen: "Autobahn" (p'fork mp3).

- Vice Records has two free mp3 you might want to check out. Both are from their new "gigantic band" division:
"Three Eyes Open" (vice mp3) by Dark Meat
"Torture" (vice mp3) by King Khan & The Shrines

- Captain's Dead has a kickass boot of Ugly Casanova (one Isac/Isaac Brock). Make sure you listen to bluegrassed-up version of "Styrofoam Boots"... here. Listen: "Things I Don't Remember" (sub pop mp3)

- Instrumental Analysis has a review of Double Dagger's live show... here. Listen: "Rearranging the Digital Deck Chairs (Live on WFMU)" (mp3)

- NEVVER posts "Shake Shake" by The Coathangers... here. Want more Coathangers?? Watch "Tonya Harding" (vimeo)

- New New New Grizzly Bear @ EAR FARM... here.

- White Demin "mess you hair up" @ spinner... here.

- Hey UK, The Black Lips (through BoobySands) have posted a sing along version of "Bad Kids" (youtube).

- Whoa! ATP + MBV in NY

- More free NIN... here. Remix it... here.

- Bushwick Is Beautiful makes the case for the electrofolk stylings of Goldfrapp on vinyl... here.

Cheap And Cheerful By The Kills

I know I really like "U.R.A. Fever" (youtube), but the new The Kills record is not getting great reviews. What do you think?

Downloadable: "Cheap And Cheerful" (box.net mp3) (source: insound)

Myspace page is here.
New album stream is here.
Domino Records page is here.

Consider Clicking
- Double Dagger guest edits the 'single files' @ ptw... here, here, and here.

- Raven Sings The Blues likes the Curses! remix of "Perfect Skin" (not remixed mp3) by Health... here.

- thepunkguy posts a #1 Hit! (in the UK in 1981)... here. pssst... It's "Ghost Town" by The Specials

- Check out some b-sides @ The Big Quasar.

- Thee Emergency's had the song of the day @ KEXP's blog... here.

- That Wye Oak album is coming out soon. Listen: "I Don't Feel Young" (mp3). Also check out a Wye Oak Monarch boot... here.

- Superfuzz Bigmuff is getting the "Deluxe Treatment." More about that here.

- New New New Shooting Spires mp3 @ SUCKAPANTS... here. PLUS, New New New No Age @ Pretty Much Amazing... here.

- LoFi EXXXTREME!

- Foals and last.fm want YOU to remix "Electric Bloom" (last.fm)... here. Listen to some of the remixes... here.

- Music Biz Roundup: 17dots disputes the whole "Amazon is #2" thing... here. And, Matador and Idolator ask what is up with the whole with people actually buying vinyl??? here and here (respectively).

- Melvins has a new album, Nude With Boots coming in July. More about that at CMJ... here.

- Someone I know would probably like these Feist remixes @ My Music, it has a flavor... here.

LIVE: Widow Of My Dreams By Obits

Need I remind you of the awesomeness of Hot Snakes? If the answer is yes, watch this: "Braintrust" (ughh.. wmv). Now we've already heard John Reis' new band The Night Marchers.

Listen (if you haven't already): "Who's Lady R U?" (mp3)

So what is Rick Froberg up to? He got the Obits. These recordings may be rough, plus one appears to be cut out a little too soon, but these make me pretty excited for an album recorded in a studio (which should be finished in a "couple months").

Listen:
"Widow Of My Dreams (Live)" (mp3)
"Talking To The Dog (Live)(Cut Off?)" (mp3)

Watch:
"Milkcow Blues" (youtube)

Myspace page is here.

Consider Clicking
- If you haven't already watch Iggy Pop & The Stooges perform "Burning Up" by Madonnaat that thing that happens once a year in Cleveland... here.

- Have you seen the trailer for... the greatest sequel of ALL time? Laying it on too thick? No.

- Three... three new Breeders vids for your consideration:
"We're Gonna Rise" (youtube)
"Bang On" (youtube)
"Overglazed" (youtube)

- GT favs, Double Dagger have a 'single file' over at ptw... here. P.S. It's not this song (which is definitely crackerjack): "The Psychic" (mp3)

Top 11 Downloadables That Were Not Freakin' Everywhere in 2007 a/k/a t11mp3twnfe2007

This post is entitled Top 11 Downloadables That Were Not Freakin' Everywhere in 2007 or simply t11mp3twnfe2007. This list is comprised of bands that I think should have received a lot more attention than they did in 2007. I just wanted to thank the following bands for making 2007 awesome:

The Crystal Stilts
Comment: Love that kick-drum percussion plus surfy gits.

Double Dagger
Comment: Double Dagger do not fuck around. Nuff said.

The Duke Spirit
Comment: Chris Goss does good with the Duke Spirit.

El Jesus De Magico
Comment: Ohio. Ohio. Ohio.

The Exeter Popes
Comment: Their sound pays tribute to the same bands as Oxford Collapse but their name references a different town in England. Coincidence?

Freedom Haters
Comment: Besides having the greatest band name of the year, these cats can write songs yo.

The Future Of The Left
Comment: 2/3's of Mclusky is good enough for me. SAUM would be on this list too, but all I heard of them was this. Plus, I don't live in Australia.

O'Death
Comment: They serve up slabs of countryfolkpunk goodness. If you haven't heard it check out their Pixies cover of "Nimrod's Son" (ysi mp3). It's the best damn Pixies cover I have ever heard, know why? Because they make it their own.

Pterodactyl
Comment: Just the right blend of guitar, bass, drums, and samples. Perfecto.

The Shaky Hands
Comment: This band writes songs that stick in my head (and yours too, prolly).

Shepherdess
Comment: (postpunk * catpowerness) + violin = Green Seat!

Download: "t11mp3twnfe2007" (zip)

Oh yeah... the track listing:

(I'm A) Donkey For Your Love By BOAT AND The Next 26 Best Downloadables Of 2007

Q: 'member this?

Here's more:
1. "(I'm A) Donkey For Your Love" (mp3) by BOAT

2. "Fractured Skies" (mp3) by Parts & Labor

3. "Dumb Luck (Low Scores Remix)" (mp3) by DNTEL

4. "Evergreen" (mp3) by Celebration

5+6. "Capricornations" (mp3) and "Attitude (Misfits Cover)" (box.net mp3) by Mika Miko

7. "The Underdog" (mp3) by Spoon

8. "They Might Follow You (Demo)" (box.net mp3) by Tiny Vipers

9. "No One Does It Like You" (mp3) by Department Of Eagles

10. "Mr. Prison Shanks" (mp3) by Made Out Of Babies

11. "I Saw The Bright Shinies" (mp3) by The Octopus Project

12. "Witches Vs. Wolves" (mp3) by S-S-S-Spectres

13. "Flying To You" (mp3) by Unlove

14. "Crimewave" (mp3) by Health

15. "Run To The Facts" (mp3) by Yea Big + Kid Static

16. "Sharpshooter" (mp3) by The Mary Timony Band

17. "Luxury Condos For The Poor" (mp3) by Double Dagger

18. "Cold Hands" (mp3) by Black Lips

19. "Green Seat" (mp3) by Shepherdess

20. "Electric Pilgrim" (mp3) by Screaming Females

21. "Don't Touch My Shit" (mp3) by The Coathangers

22. "Knowledge In Hand" (mp3) by The Forms

23. "We Are Gods! We Are Wolves!" (mp3) by Le Loup

24. "Get Hurt" (mp3) by NO AGE

25. "For You" (mp3) by C.O.C.O.

26. "To Fix The Gash In Your Head" (mp3) by A Place To Bury Strangers

The Psychic By Double Dagger

So... I saw these photos and they launched me into an investigation of Double Dagger.

One of the photos:


I like. They use drums, bass, and vocals (yes, much like C.O.C.O., but in a different way).

Listen:
"The Psychic" (mp3)
"Luxury Condos For The Poor" (mp3)

Myspace page is here.
More mp3s are here.
Stationary Heart page is here.
Emusic page is here.

Consider Clicking
- Pixies on the radio in 1991? Must be Captain's Dead (plus comments about a 14 year olds' birthday wackfest [pregnant pause] priceless)... here.
- Stereogum has new new new Octopus Project, "Truck"... here.
- Best Fwends get "Super Recommended!" by s k a t t e r b r a i n... here.
- The Black Lips interface with the corporate gods of AOL... here. Use yr ears: "The Black Lips On The Interface" (mp3)
- MMMMmmmmm... 'lil Smoky Cheeseball... here.
- Ack! The Muggabears fer free or The Sky Drops for $6 (plus I got to Q it over to Manhattan). It's "Million" (mp3) Vs. "The Dead Kid Kicks" (mp3)