Neverending Math

Here is a list of some of the many great albums released in 2007--see you on '08, baby!

clap your hands say yeah - some loud thunder
of montreal - hissing fauna, are you the destroyer
shins - wincing the night away
menomena - friend and foe
matt and kim - s/t
trans am - sex change
do make say think - you, you're a history in rust
the besnard lakes - are the dark horse
julie doiron - woke myself up
apostle of hustle - national anthem of nowhere
early day miners - offshore
andrew bird - armchair apocrypha
ted leo - living with the living
lcd soundsystem - sound of silver
low - drums and guns
arcade fire - neon bible
fiest - the reminder
dntel - dumb luck
germans - cape fear
blone redhead - 23
good shoes - think before you speak
young galaxy - young galaxy
voxtrot - voxtrot
the national - boxer
battles - mirrored
wilco - sky blue sky
the sea and cake - everybody
bjork - volta
frog eyes - tears of the valedictorian
cinematic orchestra - ma fleur
dapple city - granddance
great lake swimmers - ongiara
shapes and sizes - split lips, winning hips, a shiner
miracle fortress - five roses
st vincent - marry me
editors - an end has a start
spoon - ga ga ga ga ga
au - au
ellen allien - fabric 34
caribou - andorra
architecture in helsinki - places like this
figurines - when the deer wore blue
the most serene republic - population
apparat - walls
sleeping states - there the open spaces
picastro - whore luck
les savy fav - let's stay friends
kevin drew - spirit if
doveman - with my left hanf, i raise the dead
matt pond pa - last light
his name is alive - xmmr

Because I'm hardcore nationalist, I bolded all Canadian albums

Top TEN!!!

This is my proper top ten list. I was wrestling with doing the top 50 but it seems that the ordering outside of the top 10 was unfair. I was also a little apprehensive at putting Panda Bear as my top album but I have been vindicated by the release of P4K's top 50 today. All in all it appears my list falls in line with every other one released in a while so nothing to new hear or see which is disappointing but I think that 2007 was a great year for music, but a disappointing one for Hip-Hop. I am also angered by the fact that Amy Winehouse gets publicity ( I know this is in fact publicity).

1. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
Panda Bear - Bros
2. Okkervil River- The Stage Names
Okkervil RIver - Unless it Kicks
3. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
Band of Horses - No One's Going to Love You
4. The National - Boxer
The National - Fake Empire
5. Radiohead - In Rainbows
Radiohead - Reckoner
6. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Of Montreal - Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse
7. Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
Brother Ali - Uncle Sam Goddamn
8. The Field - From Here we go Sublime
The Field - The Little Hearts Beats so Fast
9. M.I.A - Kala
M.I.A - Boyz
10. Justice - † (Cross)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E (why not?)

Also for the record, Amy Winehouse does and always has looked like a man who I shit out on a cold sunday evening after a particularly rough lunch. As vile as that sounds it is true and I cannot apologize for that.

-jon

8 and GOAL

Happy belated birthday Thom!

This holiday season, may your wishes pile up. Well, That's a Jim Bryson song. It was an attempt at some humour, but what the heck. Here it goes:

Jim Bryson is from Ottawa, he's a musician. Hes playing with the Weakerthans in Winnipeg on the 22nd. Go see him!

Jim Bryson's webpage
Jim Bryson's CBC3 page

Tomorrow is my boyfriend, tomorrow is where I'd like you to touch!

So for all of you tuning in to tomorrow's program, be forewarned:

The mess-ay-ay-ay-ughhhhhhhhhhh!! Jon will not be performing his regular duties; in his place, will most likely sit Patrick Craven, a good friend of ours who knows absolutely nothing about music. But does Jon really, also? Nevertheless, the show will go on and you will hear a slightly biased version of Thom and Jon's Best of 2007. At the same rate, I will not be with you for the following two weeks due to my Olympic conditioning duties in a certain Latin-American country. Those two weeks will be filled with a slightly biased show, "According to Jon."

Todays post features Major Maker, again, but this time with their heart-stopping beat, "Rollercoaster". Here is the track-list tentative for Thursdays program (with the Major Maker link)

1. Jose Gonzalez - Killing For Love
2. Beirut - Scenic World
3. Decomposure - Hour 5
4. Destroyer - Foam Hands
5. Buck 65 - Kennedy Killed The Hat (MSTRKRFT rmx)
6. Copperpot - Demo
7. Crystal Castles - Air War (CFCF rmx)
8. Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How...
9. Dizzee Rascal - Sirens
10. Caribou - Eli
11. Blonde Redhead - 23
12. Hot Springs - Headrush
13. Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha Man
14. Office - The Big Bang Jump!
15. Apparat - Holdon
16. Jens Lekman - You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon)
17. New Buffalo - City and Sea
18. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
19. Kevin Drew - Safety Bricks
20. Shapes and Sizes - Head Movin'
21. Major Maker - Rollercoaster
22. Apostle of Hustle - National Anthem of Nowhere

Round of applause for Jon

Intervention (by Thom)

I think we need to rest this Sunday evening and give Jon a big thanks for hammering out the "Best-of's" in recent weeks. My update will be one big list, posted before Thursday's show.

EDIT: Exam time for jon...

Best of 07 pt. 6- Freeing Us From The Tyranny Of The Guitar

This award goes out to all those special artist who took the courage and used non-traditional rock instruments...

Its not that I hate the guitar, its just that I like the trumpet , accordion, and organ better.

The "Polka Paradise Award"...Does anybody get it?

Beirut - The Flying Club Cup / Lon Gisland EP



Zach Condon managed to woo Natalie Portman this year, and more importantly myself. His use of horns is a far more subdued than his debut effort but still ass a magic touch. The song that has been on repeat is from the EP, a reworked version of Scenic World.

Beirut - Scenic World (EP Version)

Les.Petits - The.mighty.antlers.of.song EPs



THEY USE THE GLOCKENSPIEL!!!!

Les.Petits - Best Tasting Wool in the Whole World

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible



I don't care what anybody says Intervention is one of the best singles of the year and the organ gives me chills at the start of it. Its like what would happen if Bruce Springsteen mated with a Church Choir.

Arcade Fire - Intervention

And just incase the Arcade Fire was not obvious enough.

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna are you the destroyer?



Kevin Barns solo project now I guess. Spawned the summer single (fuck umbrella) Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse. I mean you didn't expect this album to make it anywhere on this top 50 wank-off?

Of Montreal - Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse

-------------------------------------------------------------------

IN OTHER NEWS

The Mountain Goats reveal new album and tour dates. Keeping with the western mans tradition, they snub Detroit.

Best of 07 pt. 5- The Animal Scene

Animal Collective released easily one of their best cd's and collective member Noah Lennox know as Panda Bear released one of, if not the best album of the year. Broken Social Scene members were just as prolific this year with Feist, Kevin Drew and the Apostle of Hustle releasing new material.

The Animal Collective Vs. Broken Social Scene = We are all Winners Award.

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam



New collective, turns out to be one of their best efforts to date in my humble opinion, sadly I have never been great at discussing their sound. The only thing I know is that I love them and this album makes me feel happy in new and exciting ways.

Animal Collective - Unsolved Mysteries

Panda Bear - Person Pitch



I'm going to come out and say it, and this is all I am going about this album. Best album of the year.

Panda Bear - Comfy in Nautica

Apostle of Hustle - National Anthem of Nowhere



ANdrew Whiteman's band the Apostle of Hustle has a special place in my heart with it's latin influenced folk. This album was another suprise of this year, and Mr. Hustle if you are reading I am sorry about the terrible interview I gave you...

Apostle of Hustle - National Anthem of Nowhere

And I refuse to post a Feist Song.

-jon

New Destroyer, New Music

I've just discovered something phenomenal. I love experimental electronica music 50 times more than the next guy, and I love The Walkmen's "We've Been Had" and I love things that involve Ontario and Canada. Thus when I found Decompusure, who is from Elmira (Waterloo) I got really giddy and felt like smiling which is exactly the same feeling I get when Jon's sister smiles and says, "Hey!" to me (except with about half the exclamation that a normal exclamation point denotes.) Even "Hour 7" (Caleb's most pop-hit-like) is a rush.

Decomposure - Toy Electronic Drumsticks

Can also be seen here.

GUYS NEW DESTROYER

My twin has released some new material for his forthcoming album Trouble In Dreams out march 18 on Merge

Destroyer - Foam Hand

I'M JUST SO HAPPY!

-jon

Best of 07 pt. 4-Your Mom

And we are back on the best of 07 road after only a minor detour through 06-ville. This is the award that goes out to all the big Indie acts out there that were able not to disappoint us this year, more specifically 3 fine gentlemen whom only need an acoustic guitar and a sweet vulnerable voice to woo us over.

The Best "Oh My God My Mom Even Likes This Song (alternatively Best Acoustic Album) of the Year are:

Jose Gonzales - In Our Nature



One of two Swedes in this category, this fine gentleman won our hearts over with his soft voice making us feel alright that there is no god... Inspired in part by Richard Dawkins "God Delusion" this album explores the depths of the human condition.

Jose Gonzales - Killing for Love

Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala



The second Swede up for this award he is a great deal happier than his countryman Jose, and he even has a Swedish sounding name, not that there is anything wrong with Jose. After promising never to make another proper album he went ahead and made another proper album.

Jens Lekman - Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo

Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog




The lone Yank on this list Sam Beam's third full length release seems him rocking out, or as close to it as Iron and Wine can get. You have already heard enough about this politically inspired album so no use in saying more...

Iron & WIne - Flightless Bird, American Mouth

thanks for staying,

-jon

Best of 2006

I think we can manage 18 more! Expect, in the forthcoming fortnight, posts of our best of 2007 clustered together.

I now focus on an artist who completely escaped out field of hearing during not only last years BO'06, but all of last year! Fionn Regan was nominated for last years Mercury Music Prize (for you Canucks, it's what the Polaris Prize ripped off, and for you Americans it's kind of like winning the Superbowl or having your nipple protector ripped off my JT.) and he has since lingered in the shadows. From Ireland, it was fitting my Irish friend recommended him to me first.

Lyrical brilliance, and a wealth of guitar ability are in all of his songs. Even better than Damien Rice, he takes a clear stab at any folk effort (good riddance David Bazan.) I give to you, Snowy Atlas Mountain.

Fionn Regan - Snowy Atlas Mountain

Best of 07 pt. 3-Year of Hip Hop

I understand that these post have been coming fast and we are usually not this regular, so for the record let's not get used to it. 

This was my year of hip hop, never before have I ever listen to as much hip-hop that I loved  to the point where my favourite CDs of this year are hip-hop and I proudly proclaim my love for it.  This year's favourites included the albino from Minneapolis, to the tiger from England.  The Best Hip-Hop CDs of the Year are:

Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth 

Hands down the best surprise of this year was "The Undisputed Truth". This is Brother Ali's third full-length album, full of politically charged goodness.  

Brother Ali - Truth is

M.I.A. - Kala

One of my favourite live shows of the year this album from the always controversial M.I.A is a little softer than her debut but still the least accessible album of the three but if  you get into it, oh my god is it good.  I also have a minor crush on her after seeing her dance in detroit.

M.I.A - Paper Planes

El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead

The most cameo heavy album of the year El-P took five years to craft this and it regarding the quality I would wait another five.  Worth the wait, his aggressive style paints a bleak picture.

El-P - Smithereens 

-jon

Best of 07 pt. 2-Shaking of Asses

This award goes out to all of the bands, groups and individuals  that help the masses shake their asses this year.  To the Datarocks, Justices, and !!!s this year we have moved like never before. 

The Helping the Masses Shake Their Asses award will be split three ways between:

Datarock

The Norwegian band's second album first had us moving with after being played on the morning show with the track "sex me up".  It was a desperate attempt on our part to drop some hints to the ladies out there.

Datarock - Sex Me Up 

Justice

Producing the most remixed song of the year is pretty easy when you make on of the best house albums of the year.  This album will find its way to the top ten this year and this should not be a surprise to anyone.  One of the best debut LP's of the year.  Don't worry I won't post D.A.N.C.E!

Justice - The Party 

!!!

I cannot say enough about this album, or band.   Despite their ungoogleable name and tragedy striking the band in December of last year they managed to produced a phenomenal album.

!!! - Bend over Beethoven

OH!, I am so excited for tomorrow's post, well technically later today's post.  

Jon