tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24440495109188352852024-03-15T18:09:26.968-07:00stadiums and shrinesSuttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14495817322457787796noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444049510918835285.post-45237430049992054822010-09-20T22:32:00.000-07:002017-01-05T09:01:02.335-08:00We've Moved to stadiumsandshrines.com!Friends, readers, drifters, spirits. We're so very happy to direct you to a new page with a new url:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://stadiumsandshrines.com/"><span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">stadiumsandshrines.com</span></span></a><br />
<br />
Please update your rss feeds and blogrolls.<br />
<br />
Real Love,<br />
SuttonSuttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14495817322457787796noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444049510918835285.post-76506354463384774922007-12-31T17:43:00.000-08:002017-01-05T09:30:01.946-08:00The Top 50 Albums of 2007<a href="http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9479/bestofsutton2007byf0.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9479/bestofsutton2007byf0.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 210px; width: 550px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br />This is the 3</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: "arial";"> year that I’ve taken on the almighty “best of list" (and I'm still searching for that title, 3rd Annual Davies?)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;">
<span class="image">50. Bright Eyes - <em>Cassadaga</em> (One genius's mediocre release is another man's 50 spot).<br />49. Dr Dog - <em>We All Belong</em><br />48. Blonde Redhead - <em>23</em><br />47. The Good, The Bad & The Queen - <em>The Good, The Bad & The Queen</em></span><br />
<span class="image">46. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - <em>Scribble Mural Comic Journal</em><br />45. Band of Horses - <em>Cease to Begin</em><br />44. Health - <em>Lovepump United</em><br />43. Jose Gonzalez - <em>In Our Nature</em><br />42. pictureplane -</span> <span class="image"><em>Turquoise Trail</em> (props to the Cuz!)<br />41. Dirty Projectors - <em>Rise Above</em><br /><span class="image">40. No Age - <em>Weirdo Rippers</em></span><br />39. Kings of Leon - <em>Because Of The Times</em><br />38. Muscles - <em>Guns Babes Lemonade</em><br />37. Interpol - <em>Our Love To Admire</em><br />36. Figurines - <em>When The Deer Wore Blue</em></span><br />
<span class="image">35. Handsome Furs - <em>Plague Park</em><br />34. Cloud Cult - <em>The Meaning of 8</em><br />33. White Rabbits - <em>Fort Nightly</em><br />32.</span> <span class="image"><span class="image">Phosphorescent - <em>Pride</em><br />31.</span></span> <span class="image">Devendra Banhart - <em>Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon</em><br />30. Eddie Vedder - <em>Into The Wild Soundtrack</em><br />29. Elvis Perkins - <em>Ash Wednesday</em></span><br />
28. Working For A Nuclear Free City - <em>Businessmen & Ghosts</em><br />
27. Rogue Wave - <em>Asleep At Heaven's Gate</em><br />
<span class="image">26. Spoon - <em>Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga</em><br />25. Iron and Wine - <em>The Spepard's Dog</em><br />24. St. Vincent - <em>Marry Me</em><br />23. Avett Brothers - <em>Emotionalism</em><br />22. Jens Lekman - <em>Night Falls Over Kortedala</em><br />21. Andrew Bird - <em>Armchair Apocryphah</em><br />20. Battles - <em>Mirrored</em><br />19. Okkervill River - <em>The Stage Names</em><br />18. Deerhoof - <em>Friend Opportunity</em><br />17. Broken Social Scene Presents, Kevin Drew - <em>Spirit If ...</em><br /><span class="image">16. Yeasayer - <em>All Hour Cymbols</em></span><br />15. The Shins - <em>Wincing the Night Away</em><br />14. Justice -</span> <strong><em>†</em></strong><br />
<span class="image">13. Miracle Fortress - <em>Five Roses</em><br />12.</span> <span class="image">Beirut - <em>The Flying Club Cup</em><br />11.</span> <span class="image">Caribou - <em>Andorra</em></span></div>
<div face="arial">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Mia-kala.jpg/200px-Mia-kala.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Mia-kala.jpg/200px-Mia-kala.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a> <span class="image">10.</span> <span class="image">M.I.A - <em>Kala</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
Whether she was addressing her critics, being a victim of censorship, or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCWRydQ-sr0" target="_blank">climbing stage rafters</a>, M.I.A did it all in style. Antics aside, let’s remember that not one song on <em>Kala</em> could be skipped. I honestly have never heard anything like her. "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sei-eEjy4g" target="_blank">Paper Planes</a>", even with all the airplay, still shocks (and seduces) me. No one knows what to do with M.I.A. And with an assault as strong as <em>Kala</em>, we surrender.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div face="arial">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fe/MenomenaFriendAndFoe.jpg/200px-MenomenaFriendAndFoe.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fe/MenomenaFriendAndFoe.jpg/200px-MenomenaFriendAndFoe.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a> <span class="image">9.</span> <span class="image">Menomena - <em>Friend and Foe</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
Leaked in late 2006, <em>Friend and Foe</em> took a while to sink in. Call it a sleeper. Call it a grower. Call it a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LIBCw8syA" target="_blank">masterpiece</a>.<br />
Maybe it’s the offbeat structure, the unpredictable howling over a piano or simply the appreciation for a good saxophone freak-out that give this record its legs. I’ll sit down with it 3 times or so a month and give it some justice. I guess that makes at least 36 “Duels.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
And it gets better every time.</div>
<br />
<div face="arial">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0a/TheNational-Boxer.jpg/200px-TheNational-Boxer.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0a/TheNational-Boxer.jpg/200px-TheNational-Boxer.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a><span class="image"> 8. The National - <em>Boxer</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
In the first minute of the first song, “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBujZr20O6M" target="_blank">Fake Empire</a>”, I was punched in the heart. And that’s before I looked up the lyrics. <em>Boxer</em> was not to be taken lightly. It was the deepest and darkest place I chose to be this year. Just as important as choosing to play it, was choosing not to play it. I think that means it was an affecting occurrence.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/Arcade_Fire_-_Neon_Bible.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/Arcade_Fire_-_Neon_Bible.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a><span class="image"> 7. Arcade Fire - <em>Neon Bible</em></span></div>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<em>"Don't wanna work in a building downtown<br />Don't wanna work in a building downtown<br />Parkin' the cars in the underground<br />The voices when they scream, well they make no sound<br />Wanna see the cities rust<br />And the troublemakers ridin' on the back of the bus</em></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<em>Dear God, I'm a good Christian man</em><br />
<em>I'm your boy, I know you understand</em><br />
<em>That you gotta work hard and you gotta get paid</em></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<em>The girl's thirteen, but she don't act her age</em></div>
<em>She can sing like a bird in cage</em><br />
<em>Oh Lord, if you could see her when she's up on that stage"</em></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkbzMU8f5lY" target="_blank">Antichrist Television Blues</a></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
No band had bigger follow-up shoes to fill than Arcade Fire. With a new political mind, they wisely utilized the platform given to them. But where some angry records attract attention for the wrong reasons, <em>Neon Bible</em> showcased their infinite talents. If <em>Funeral</em> was an album about themselves, than this record was a reflection of the world they live in. I really wanted to like this on the first listen. But part of me wasn’t sold until I saw how they treated these songs in concert. A possessed Win Butler never gave us a grin, while Regine smiled enough for the both of them. Like lovely Regine, <em>Neon Bible</em> came off strangely triumphant given its subject. I remember thinking the album’s closer, “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyp34v6Lmcc" target="_blank">My Body is a Cage</a>” left us with no hope. It felt as if they were challenging us to “try and celebrate that!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
I’m now wondering if it could be handled the same way people saw the direction of <em>Revolver</em>’s closer “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1u489DqbMQ" target="_blank">Tomorrow Never Knows</a>.”<br />
I hear that song left many unsettled. Here’s hoping the opener of Arcade Fire’s 3<sup>rd</sup> album can break in a similar fashion to that Beatles timeline, or at least offer some light at the end of the tunnel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
Did I mention the songs are good?</div>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/61/RandomSpiritLover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/61/RandomSpiritLover.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 179px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 179px;" /></a><span class="image"> 6. Sunset Rubdown - <em>Random Spirit Lover</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
I’ve stared at the computer screen for 5 minutes now and I got nothing. What Spencer Krug did with this record might be too intricate to blurb about. Even to talk of it you need to get into some sort of far away state. At this point the best thing I can do is ask that you to give it a listen if you haven’t already. You can read my past attempts to praise him <a href="http://www.melodytrip.com/Community/blogs/sutton/archive/2007/10/25/got-a-rubdown-at-sunset-in-the-el-rey-theatre-while-riding-on-the-darjeeling-limited.aspx" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.melodytrip.com/Community/blogs/sutton/archive/2007/08/06/and-then-spencer-krug-said-let-there-be-random-spirit-lover.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>. It really was quite an achievement in music that something this “weird” could be so accepted.</div>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em>"Don’t get too close</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em>You’ll attach to the west coast air in my chest and the way I hold it in there.</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em>It’s the taming of the hands that came back to life when she synchronized swam on the ice in `03.</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em>Oh, but enough about me</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em>Will you live in the physical world?<br />Will you live in the physical world?"</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzYlcgiFBtw" target="_blank">The Taming Of The Hands That Came Back To Life</a></div>
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span> </blockquote>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5c/Strawberry_jam_high_res_cover.jpg/200px-Strawberry_jam_high_res_cover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5c/Strawberry_jam_high_res_cover.jpg/200px-Strawberry_jam_high_res_cover.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a> <span class="image">5. Animal Collective - <em>Strawberry Jam</em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
It’s safe to say most Animal Collective fans adored 2005’s <em>Feels</em>. It offered flashes of a love song sensibility amongst the noise. Their past has trained us to expect (and accept) the unexpected. But <em>Strawberry Jam</em> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6KPDWNAPBU" target="_blank">spoiled us</a>. Literally, the jam was too sweet to be theirs. Known for touring with uninterrupted, art-rock drifting, Animal Collective surprisingly and generously churned out 9 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxvGHQHiY70" target="_blank">beautiful</a>, flowing pop songs.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/LCD_Soundsystem_-_Sound_of_Silver.jpg/200px-LCD_Soundsystem_-_Sound_of_Silver.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/LCD_Soundsystem_-_Sound_of_Silver.jpg/200px-LCD_Soundsystem_-_Sound_of_Silver.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a><span class="image"> 4. LCD Soundsystem - <em>Sound of Silver</em></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "arial"; text-align: center;">
<span class="image"><em></em></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">"Us. And Them. Over and Over. Again."</span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
<em></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
<em>Sound of Silver</em> approached repetition and sequence with open arms. I’ll never forget starting a Friday night road trip with the opening track, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J__dioRBmbk" target="_blank">“Get Innocuous.”</a> Being a first listen for him, Tony immediately made me play it again. I might have found no greater pleasure this year than seeing someone else get so excited about a well-placed song choice. From that moment on, Tony’s car might as well have grown wings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="font-family: arial;">
James Murphy started the record like he was entering a house party. First he took over the DJ table, then drank a few beers and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaYsczkWti0" target="_blank">got witty</a>. Then he downed a few more and wound up <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2V_ZT-nyOs" target="_blank">pouring his heart out</a> to some chick. By the time the cops came, Murphy was passed out in the back with his soul on his sleeve.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/50/Pandabearpersonpitch.jpg/200px-Pandabearpersonpitch.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/50/Pandabearpersonpitch.jpg/200px-Pandabearpersonpitch.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="image"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">3. Panda Bear - </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Person Pitch</span></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">It was at an interesting time of my life when this record came out.<br />There was certainly no shortage of sunshine; I was unemployed and skateboarding with sound-canceling headphones around a pier everyday. But with the waves rolling into shore and birds playing overhead, my mood still couldn’t match the surroundings. At the time it was a funk, now looking back it was a blast. March though, was the month where things starting coming together. One of the largest pieces of the puzzle was that long awaited job offer. I’d argue </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Person Pitch</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"> carried just as much weight.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<em>"I want you to know<br />sticks and stones may<br />break my bones<br />but words will never hurt me<br />all I need to know</em><em><br />I knew so early"</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<em>-Carrots</em></div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
If The National’s <em>Boxer</em> was a place that I rarely wanted to be this year, than <em>Person Pitch</em> was the feeling <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GQCVOLbRU8" target="_blank">I never wanted to end</a>. When the track, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkHVctmFYHo" target="_blank">“Good Girl”</a> transitioned into <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X1eU6MdpZ8" target="_blank">“Carrots”</a>, I could picture a cartoon sun with a giant face smiling down at me. Finally, I could take a deep breath, look up, and know everything was going to be okay.</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2e/In_Rainbows_Official_Cover.jpg/200px-In_Rainbows_Official_Cover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2e/In_Rainbows_Official_Cover.jpg/200px-In_Rainbows_Official_Cover.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a></div>
<span class="image"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"> 2. Radiohead - </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">In Rainbows</span></em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">I had this Top 5 business mapped out in my head long before October 10</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">. Then my favorite band had to go and surprise everyone with a new (and free) LP with only 10 days notice. But my loyalty alone couldn’t make me love this record. As the publicity dust settled, we were left with a solid album. The opening of “15 Step” and “Bodysnatchers” startled you, but the middle of </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">In Rainbows</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"> is soothing, and the finale leaves you thinking. “House of Cards” hit close to home. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0MI3gtaqfY" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">“Videotape”</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"> was an existential tragedy. We needed that second disc to pick us off of the ground. This was the friendliest work they’ve put out since </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">OK Computer</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">But it’s dangerous to start comparing this with their past. Radiohead is the ultimate evolution. Thom Yorke is everyone’s broken heart. This band functions on another level, in another light year.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/01/Hissingfauna.jpg/200px-Hissingfauna.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/01/Hissingfauna.jpg/200px-Hissingfauna.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 200px;" /></a> 1. Of Montreal - <em>Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?</em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">With the highest play count in The Surfside Chalet Apartment Complex history, 2007 was the year <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">of</span> Of Montreal. The ultimate paradox, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hissing_Fauna%2C_Are_You_the_Destroyer%3F" target="_blank"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Hissing Fauna</span></em></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"> was the most fun I’ve ever shared with music, yet it was a record about breakup and chemical imbalance. Hitting my iTunes at the start of the year, it certainly got its time to shine, uniting musical tastes from all walks of life in one room over one set of speakers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Like classic songwriters tend to do, Kevin Barnes created something extraordinary out of pain. His lyrical battle to resist the takeover of a conceptualized glam rock alter-ego, Georgie Fruit, was depicted over candy-coated beats never stumbled upon before. And when he finally gave way to his dark side in the latter half of </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">Hissing Fauna</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">, it of course, only </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBfgQvM7wtE" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">got more enjoyable</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">. All he wanted was a lover with </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT5LSXRYyLs" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";">“soul power,”</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial";"> instead he got his magnum opus.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: bold;">
Honorable Mention:</div>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
M83 - <em>Digital Shades Vol 1</em><br />
Holy F*ck - <em>LP</em><br />
The Go! Team - <em>Proof of Youth</em><br />
We Are Wolves - <em>Total Magique</em>Yeah Yeah Yeahs - <em>Is Is EP</em><br />
Tegan And Sara - The Con<br />
Ryan Adams - <em>Easy Tiger</em><br />
Modest Mouse - <em>We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank</em><br />
Grizzly Bear - <em>Friend EP</em><br />
Apparat - <em>Walls</em><br />
Daft Punk - <em>Alive 2007</em><br />
Bruce Springsteen - <em>Magic</em><br />
Feist - <em>The Reminder</em><br />
Black Lips: <em>Good Bad Not Evil</em>Burial - <em>Untrue</em><br />
Grinderman - <em>Grinderman</em><br />
Boys Noize - <em>Oi Oi Oi</em></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Holiday Wish List</span> (somebody please send me these albums that I am yet to entirely sit with)</div>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
Bon Iver - <em>For Emma, Forever Ago</em><br />
Deerhunter - <em>Cryptograms</em><br />
The Fiery Furnaces - <em>Widow City</em><br />
Pole <em>- Steingarten</em><br />
Stars of The Lid - <em>Stars of The Lid & Their Refinement of the Decline</em><br />
MGMT: <em>Oracular Spectacular</em></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Top 15 Songs of 2007</span> | Or one hell of a mixtape</div>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
15. "Whats a Girl To Do" - Bat For Lashes<br />
14. “Heartbeats” (The Knife cover) - Jose Gonzalez<br />
13. “Accident & Emergency” - Patrick Wolf<br />
12. "Wham City” - Dan Deacon<br />
11. "Music is My Hot Hot, Sex" CSS<br />
10. “Icky Thump” - The White Stripes<br />
9. “Seahorse” - Devendra Banhart<br />
8. “Going to Acapulco” (Bob Dylan cover) - by Jim James of My Morning Jacket<br />
7. "Reckoner” - Radiohead<br />
6. “This Sentence” - Born Ruffians<br />
5. “Bros” - Panda Bear<br />
4. "A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger" - Of Montreal<br />
3. “While You Were Sleeping” - Elvis Perkins<br />
2. ”Fireworks” - Animal Collective</blockquote>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
Well, it was declared back on May 30th with the entry, "<a href="http://www.melodytrip.com/Community/blogs/sutton/archive/2007/05/30/my-early-pick-for-song-of-the-year.aspx" target="_blank">my early pick for song of the year"</a> and it was never topped.</blockquote>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
<strong>1</strong>. “<a href="http://capi001.edgeboss.net/wmedia/capi001/lcdsoundsystem/soundofsilver/audio/lcd_soundsystem_all_my_friends.asx?artistid=marketing" target="_blank">All My Friends</a>” - LCD Soundsystem</blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Live Act (that I had the pleasure of seeing):</span></div>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
3. !!!<br />
2. The Arcade Fire<br />
1. Daft Punk</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<strong>Best Film Soundtrack/Score</strong></div>
<blockquote style="font-family: arial;">
3. Various Artists - <em>I'm Not There</em><br />
2. Jonny Greenwood - <em>There Will Be Blood</em><br />
1. Eddie Vedder - <em>Into The Wild</em></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Comeback</span> - Dinasour Jr.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Video</span> - Grizzly Bear "Knife"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" face="arial">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Album Art</span> - Interpol's <a href="http://sleevage.com/interpol-our-love-to-admire/" target="_blank">animal album art</a> got people talking. Some was good, some was bad. I for one, thought it was pretty neat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
Or was it the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/inrainbowsart/pool/" target="_blank">plentiful fan versions</a> for Radiohead?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
<br />
<strong>Best Music Site</strong>: <a href="http://www.blogotheque.net/" target="_blank">La Blogotheque</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
Ok I must go to bed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;">
If you are still with me. Thanks for being a reader. You have made this past year incredible. Happy Holidays!</div>
Suttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14495817322457787796noreply@blogger.com0