Year-End Critics' Polls '07

Largehearted Boy is keeping track of the year-end lists in this post:

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2007/11/2007_online_bes.html

Also, Idolator just announced the "2007 Idolator Pop Critics Poll."

http://idolator.com/tunes/announcements/lets-do-it-again-announcing-the-2007-idolator-pop-critics-poll-323885.php

Can't wait to see the results.

Idolator was pretty interesting last year, more so than P&J at least.

is anyone able to access last year's ballots? i get a message that says "Authorization required: You don't have permission to do this" when I click on the link (and earlier it just led to a blank page)

I just got my Idolator ballot -- a reminder that I need to get off my ass and listen to some stuff in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, when Gawker redesigned its comments, it erased the ballots from last year. We've figured out a workaround this year, so it shouldn't happen again.

Are those '06 ballots coming back, Michaelangelo? That will totally suck, if they don't. I'm not sure I kept a record anywhere else of what I voted for!

archive.org
google.com

Matos, Jess, Maura: Good job avoiding dread acronym "ICP".

Wait, so you can still find old ballots by googling...what, exactly?

I'm pretty sure they're completely gone. I tried using Archive.org's Wayback Machine -- no luck, and they're definitely not up on the site.

I found mine by entering: "first name, last name" jackin' pop

Then look at the cached text

Matos, any idea when ballots are going out? I haven't gotten mine yet... (though that may not be an oversight, and my disastrous ballot from last year may have disqualified me...)

OMG my ballot last year was so awesome, I was such a good critic last year

A few Idolator readers who write about music may have noticed an invitation in their inbox today; still others will be receiving one soon. . . .

Chances are if you write about music regularly we've already got an invite on its way to you, but if you want to be considered, email p✧✧✧@idola✧✧✧.c✧✧ and include your name, your email, links to your blog and/or some pieces you've written during 2007. . . .

I predict Calle 13 and Dude N' Nem will deservedly take their places in the number one spots for albums and singles, respectively

....on my ballot. : (

We sent ballots out yesterday. If you didn't get it, write me.

or rather, write p✧✧✧@idola✧✧✧.c✧✧ -- of course, since 85% of the responses I've tried sending from that address are fucking BOUNCING, I'll probably reply from somewhere else. but do it anyway.

that's poll at idolator dot com

I really hate the internet today

fwiw, I got mine just fine.

Matos, I haven't gotten mine yet. I sent you an email yesterday.

I know you did. I can't send out invites until the week. Be patient.

kk. Just asking :)

Ethan and R|T|C want me to push for a ban on voting for white rockers. Sasha will allow votes for Los Angeles rockers No Age though. None of this wimpy multicultural voting for African, Latin, rap and white guy rock though, like I did last year.

god if it's gonna be like that I probably won't even bother, wtf

I keed, I keed. But seriously, those dudes think that my advocacy of increasing the presence of non-rock contributors to alt-weeklies and music polls means I cannot ever admit myself to liking any white rockers, or uh, seeing holes in SFJ theories.

: ( I was planning on voting for 9 white rockers and one token rap act. (also white) I guess I'll have to reconsider.

Yeah, I'm gonna vote for a bunch of white dudes this year as well.

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9gnMiBAj0FHLmYB7lCjzbkF/SIG=13nuhnitr/EXP=1195565248/**http%3A//products.priceclash.co.uk/images/nodrop/220/B000002VDL/music/free-to-beyou-and-me-import.jpg

Oh, so I'm not the only one who found SFJ's piece totally wrong and even a little disingenuous? THE BIG STATEMENT ABOUT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AND RACE was neither convincing or big.

A Paler Shade of White---Sasha Frere-Jones Podcast and New Yorker article Criticizing Indie Rock for Failing to Incorporate African-American Influences

Wade through at your own discretion.

Uncut's list came out November 1 last year. The 2007 list must be out by now?

Uncut's Jan issue comes out today. Apparently with two books, one of which covers the albums and singles lists. The list should pop up online soon.

Paste Magazine
1. The National - Boxer
2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
3. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
4. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
5. Feist - The Reminder
6. M.I.A. - Kala
7. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
8. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
9. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
10. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
11. Radiohead - In Rainbows
12. Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
13. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
14. Loney, Dear - Loney, Noir
15. Kanye West - Graduation
16. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
17. Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
18. Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
19. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Living with the Living
20. Blonde Redhead - 23
21. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
22. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
23. Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
24. Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
25. Over The Rhine - The Trumpet Child
26. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
27. Derek Webb - The Ringing Bell
28. Mary Gauthier - Between Daylight and Dark
29. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
30. Björk - Volta
31. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
32. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
33. PJ Harvey - White Chalk
34. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
35. Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
36. Joe Henry - Civilians
37. Eleni Mandell - The Miracle Of Five
38. Olof Arnalds - Vid Og Vid
39. The Perishers - Victorious
40. Damien Dempsey - To Hell Or Barbados
41. Brandi Carlile - The Story
42. Lifesavas - Gutterfly
43. The Everybodyfields - Nothing Is Okay
44. Norah Jones - Not Too Late
45. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
46. Justice - †
47. Linda Thompson - Versatile Heart
48. The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour
49. Carolina Chocolate Drops - Dona Got A Ramblin’ Mind
50. Battles - Mirrored
51. The Frames - The Cost
52. Thurston Moore - Trees Outside the Academy
53. Fionn Regan - The End Of History
54. Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew - Spirit If...
55. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover
56. Kate Nash - Made of Bricks
57. The Clientele - God Save The Clientele
58. Romantica - America
59. Imperial Teen - The Hair The TV The Baby & The Band
60. The Broken West - I Can't Go On I'll Go On
61. Prince - Planet Earth
62. Joseph Arthur - Let's Just Be
63. Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
64. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
65. Caribou - Andorra
66. Apples In Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder
67. St. Vincent - Marry Me
68. Office - A Night At The Ritz
69. Bat For Lashes - Fur & Gold
70. Ween - La Cucaracha
71. Josh Rouse - Country Mouse City House
72. Bettye Lavette - Scene Of The Crime
73. Warm In The Wake - American Prehistoric
74. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
75. Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara
76. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
77. Jeremy Fisher - Goodbye Blue Monday
78. The New Pornographers - Challengers
79. Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
80. Akron/Family - Love Is Simple
81. Art Brut - It's A Bit Complicated
82. Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings
83. Deerhunter - Cryptograms
84. Liars - Liars
85. Menomena - Friend and Foe
86. Ruthie Foster - The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster
87. White Rabbits – Fort Nightly
88. Do Make Say Think - You, You're A History In Rust
89. Anat Cohen - Noir
90. Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
91. The Fratellis - Costello Music
92. Jesse Sykes – Like, Love, Lust & the Open Halls of the Soul
93. Lori McKenna - Unglamorous
94. Suzanne Vega - Beauty & Crime
95. The Good, The Bad & The Queen - The Good, The Bad & The Queen
96. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
97. Marissa Nadler - Song III: Bird on the Water
98. Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond
99. The Fiery Furnaces - Widow City
100. Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

Harp Magazine's list (nice to see Okkervil top a list other than my own):

50. Tunng, Good Arrows
49. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, 100 Days, 100 Nights
48. Oakley Hall, I'll Follow You
47. Yeasayer, All Hour Cymbals
46. Manu Chao, La Radiolina
45. Bettye LaVette, The Scene Of The Crime
44. Beirut, The Flying Cub Cup
43. Explosions In The Sky, All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
42. Mavis Staples, We'll Never Turn Back
41. Dr. Dog, We All Belong
40. Ian Hunter, Shrunken Heads
39. Patty Griffin, Children Running Through
38. Eleni Mandell, Miracle Of Five
37. Rufus Wainwright, Release The Stars
36. Bright Eyes, Cassadega
35. Animal Collective, Strawberry Jam
34. Ryan Adams, Easy Tiger
33. St. Vincent, Marry Me
32. Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew, Spirit If...
31. Robert Wyatt, Comicopera
30.Grinderman
29. Kings Of Leon, Because Of The Times
28. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, This Is Somewhere
27. Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
26. Steve Earle, Washington Square Serenade
25. Jesse Sykes And The Sweet Hereafter, Like, Love, Lust, And The Open Halls Of The Soul
24. M.I.A., Kala
23. Bill Callahan, Woke On A Whale Heart
22. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Living With The Living
21. The National, Boxer
20. Rilo Kiley, Under The Blacklight
19. Bruce Springsteen, Magic
18. Georgie James, Places
17. The Good, The Bad, And The Queen
16. Wilco, Sky Blue Sky
15. The New Pornographers, Challengers
14. The Shins, Wincing The Night Away
13. Avett Brothers, Emotionalism
12. Devendra Banhart, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
11. White Stripes, Icky Thump
10. Jason Isbell, Sirens Of The Ditch
9. Neil Young, Chrome Dreams II
8. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
7. Radiohead, In Rainbows
6. Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
5. Feist, The Reminder
4. Future Clouds & Radar
3. Iron & Wine, The Shepherd's Dog
2. Band Of Horses, Cease To Begin
1. Okkervil River, The Stage Names

If Rihanna isn't at the top of any given list, they lose. They lose the whole Interwebs. LOSE.

Sharon Jones at only #45 in Paste? Josh Rouse only at #71? Recount!

Mordechai, aren't you aware that R&B is only good when made by relics and retroists?

Oh, so I'm not the only one who found SFJ's pieceMordechai Shinefield's post totally wrong and even a little disingenuous? THE BIG STATEMENT ABOUT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AND RACERIHANNA was neither convincing or big.

Mags that pay attention to metal will be giving big props to Wolves in the Throneroom Two Hunters (Southern Lord).

<sticks out tongue at Alex in Baltimore> Phphhhtt.

You poptimist you...

What is going on with these early lists, people? Hissing Fauna showing up in the mid 20s? And New Magnetic Wonder only making it to 66? This is an outrage!

I know, right.

Quick, someone tell SFJ the news!

Since its inception, Metacritic has provided a cross-section of reviews from a carefully-screened group of the most respected critics

Decibel: Where nobody gives a flying fuck about In Rainbows
Satan bless Decibel and their metal-lovin' ways.

40 - Grave In The Sky - Cutlery Hits China: English For The Hearing Impaired
39 - Trap Them - Sleepwell Deconstructer
38 - Darkest Hour - Deliver Us
37 - Year of No Light - Nord
36 - Pissed Jeans - Hope For Men
35 - Alcest - Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde
34 - Torche - In Return
33 - Between the Buried and Me - Colors
32 - Evoken - A Caress Of The Void
31 - Destroyer Destroyer - Littered With Arrows
30 - Down - III: Over The Under
29 - Engineer - The Dregs
28 - Rwake - Voice Of Omens
27 - Architect - All Is Not Lost
26 - Obliteration - Perpetual Decay
25 - Dax Riggs - We Sing Of Only Blood Or Love
24 - Big Business - Here Come The Waterworks
23 - Rosetta - Wake/Lift
22 - Magrudergrind - Rehashed
21 - Machine Head - The Blackening
20 - Caina - Mourner
19 - Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today
18 - The End - Elementary
17 - Melt-Banana - Bambi's Dilemma
16 - Graf Orlock - Destination Time Tomorrow
15 - Bergraven - Dodsvisioner
14 - Moonsorrow - Viides Luku/Havitetty
13 - Pelican - City Of Echoes
12 - The Red Chord - Prey For Eyes
11 - Deathspell Omega - Fas-ite Maledicti In Ignem Aeternum
10 - A Life Once Lost - Iron Gag
09 - High on Fire - Death Is This Communion
08 - Portal - Outre
07 - Witchcraft - The Alchemist
06 - Neurosis - Given To The Rising
05 - Baroness - The Red Album
04 - Jesu - Conqueror
03 - The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works
02 - Watain - Sworn To The Dark
01 - Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb

Uncut
I love LCD Soundsystem to death. They rocked hard when I saw them, when they blew M.I.A. off the stage. But the new one is just a bit too inconsistent. It looks like some of their staff agree with me that the new Arctic Monkeys is far better than their first. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss and Wilco are predictable entries (is Tweedy old enough to be called a geezer yet?), and White Chalk and Comicopera are surprisingly challenging albums that high on an Uncut list. Voice of the Seven Woods is an interesting guitar album I'd never heard of before. They must not let Simon Reynolds vote anymore, otherwise at least Burial and Pinch would be on there, representing dubstep.

1. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
2. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
3. PJ Harvey - White Chalk
4. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
5. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
6. Robert Wyatt - Comicopera
7. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
8. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
9. Radiohead - In Rainbows
10. Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
11. Björk - Volta
12. Battles - Mirrored
13. Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II
14. M.I.A. - Kala
15. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
16. Grinderman - Grinderman
17. Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!
18. Voice of the Seven Woods - Voice of the Seven Woods
19. Feist - The Reminder
20. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
21. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
22. Babyshambles - Shotters Nation
23. Rilo Kiley - Under the Brightlight
24. Lessavy Fav - Let's Stay Friends
25. Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
26. Manu Chao - La Radiolina
27. Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
28. Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars
29. The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse
30. The Good, The Bad & The Queen - The Good, The Bad & The Queen
31. Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
32. Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
33. Tinariwen - Aman Iman: Water Is Life
34. The National - Boxer
35. Bill Callahan - Woke on a Whaleheart
36. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
37. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
38. The Cribs - Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever
39. Interpol - Our Love to Admire
40. Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
41. Justice - †
42. Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior
43. Manic Street Preachers - Send Away the Tigers
44. Maps - We Can Create
45. Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge
46. Von Sudenfed - Tromatic Reflexxions
47. Nick Lowe - At My Age
48. Thurston Moore - Trees Outside the Academy
49. Ry Cooder - My Name Is Buddy
50. Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond

Q Magazine
It's nice to see Soulsavers and Field Music here, as they aren't on many lists yet. I haven't heard of Cherry Ghost, will have to check them out. They have Klaxons, but no Maximo Park, The Rakes, Good Shoes or The Maccabees. If Q doesn't champion them, who will? Guess it'll have to be NME or lil' ol me.

1. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
2. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
3. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
4. Radiohead - In Rainbows
5. The Good, The Bad & The Queen - The Good, The Bad & The Queen
6. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
7. Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
8. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
9. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
10. Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars
11. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
12. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
13. Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob
14. Cherry Ghost - Thirst for Romance
15. Interpol - Our Love to Admire
16. Manic Street Preachers - Send Away the Tigers
17. Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
18. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
19. Björk - Volta
20. The Rumble Strips - Girls and Weather
21. Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards
22. The Coral - Roots & Echoes
23. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
24. PJ Harvey - White Chalk
25. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
26. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
27. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
28. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
29. Roìsìn Murphy - Overpowered
30. The National - Boxer
31. Soulsavers - It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land
32. Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
33. Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II
34. M.I.A. - Kala
35. Hard-Fi - Once upon a Time in the West
36. Common - Finding Forever
37. Robyn - Robyn
38. Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High
39. Joni Mitchell - Shine
40. Field Music - Tones of Town
41. Keren Ann - Keren Ann
42. The Enemy - We'll Live and Die in These Towns
43. Patrick Watson - Close to Paradise
44. Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!
45. Lucinda Williams - West
46. Sigur Ròs - Hvarf-Heim
47. Kate Nash - Made of Bricks
48. Justice - †
49. Jamie T - Panic Prevention
50. Stereophonics - Pull the Pin

man i really wish i could participate in the idolator pop critics poll but i'm not a critic (as i don't have an outlet for any of my writing), just an ilxor/enthusiastic music listener and fan with opinions that need to be heard :(

"Hail Satan!"

xp

ilx will have its own poll this year, won't it?

Good luck trying.

ILX will have ONE MILLION polls this year.

37. Robyn - Robyn

this should be much higher, but in 2007 it's just really old.

ilx will have its own poll this year, won't it?

-- Fastnbulbous, Tuesday, December 4, 2007

yeah, it should. someone always puts something together...

i volunteer Bee OK for the job

MOJO Best of 2007
I do like Neon Bible more than the first Arcade Fire album, but it's still spotty. Like the last Killers album, its homages to Springsteen are both clumsy and charming. The result is a merely decent album, but happens to appeal to a broad enough spectrum that it's sitting near the top of almost every list. So again the more interesting stories are buried below the top 10s. Actually there's not much of interest there either in MOJO's list, at least until #40. Plant/Krauss, Lowe and Young are the requisite geezer entries after The Boss. I haven't heard the Joni Mitchell, Pissed Jeans, Linda Thompson, Seasick Steve, Willy Mason, Edgar Jones, Amiina or Gravenhurst.

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
3. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
4. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
5. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
6. The Good, The Bad & The Queen - The Good, The Bad & The Queen
7. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
8. PJ Harvey - White Chalk
9. Robert Wyatt - Comicopera
10. Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
11. Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
12. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
13. Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars
14. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
15. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
16. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
17. Field Music - Tones of Town
18. Grinderman - Grinderman
19. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
20. Nick Lowe - At My Age
21. Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II
22. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
23. Efterklang - Parades
24. Björk - Volta
25. Joni Mitchell - Shine
26. Pissed Jeans - Hope for Men
27. Linda Thompson - Versatile Heart
28. The Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur
29. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
30. Thurston Moore - Trees Outside the Academy
31. Gruff Rhys - Candylion
32. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
33. Seasick Steve - Dog House Music
34. Willy Mason - If the Ocean Gets Rough
35. Bettye LaVette - The Scene of the Crime
36. Tinariwen - Aman Iman: Water Is Life
37. Edgar Jones and The Joneses - Gettin' a Little Help
38. The Besnard Lakes - Are the Dark Horse
39. Battles - Mirrored
40. Yoko Ono - Yes, I'm a Witch
41. Amiina - Kurr
42. Gravenhurst - The Western Lands
43. Interpol - Our Love to Admire
44. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends
45. Matthew Dear - Asa Breed
46. Kevin Ayers - The Unfairground
47. Edwyn Collins - Home Again
48. Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation
49. Voice of the Seven Woods - Voice of the Seven Woods
50. Alasdair Roberts - The Amber Gatherers

That list is horrible. Does MOJO realize there's this relatively new thing called HEAVY FUCKING METAL?

http://www.thedirks.org/thegirls/erica-yawn-20030521.jpg

Afropop.org top 10

Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective “Wátina” (Cumbancha) (Belize)
Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni ba “Segu Blue” (Out There Records) (Mali)
Caetano Veloso “Cê” (Nonesuch) (Brazil)
Dee Dee Bridgewater “Red Earth” (Emarcy) (USA)
Erol Josué “Régléman” (High Times Records/Mi5 Productions) (Haiti)
Puerto Plata “Mujer de Cabaret” (iASO Records) (Dominican Republic)
Ricardo Lemvo “Isabela” (Mobiato Music) (Congo)
Sergio and Odair Assad “Jardim abandonado” (Nonesuch) (Brazil)
Vusi Mahlasela, “Guiding Star” (ATO Records) (South Africa)
Youssou N’Dour, "Rokku Mi Rokka (Give and Take)" (Nonesuch) (Senegal)

Largehearted Boy is keeping track of the year-end lists in this post:

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2007/11/2007_online_bes.html

-- three handclaps, Saturday, November 17, 2007 12:44 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Link

So, who will Pitchfork pick for their album of the year?

My guess: In Rainbows.

(If that's wrong it will be Sound of Silver, Person Pitch, or Strawberry Jam.)

25. Joni Mitchell - Shine
26. Pissed Jeans - Hope for Men
27. Linda Thompson - Versatile Heart

a pissed jeans folkie sandwich. i think linda's going on my top 10. that's a good record.

these polls are pretty much interchangeable aren't they. why don't these rags just club together and give us one list and be done with it. nice to see alasdair roberts scrape through in the mojo poll though. i liked that album.

speaking of which…

2007's best albums

As voted by the Guardian's music writers

Friday December 7, 2007
The Guardian

1 LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
2 Radiohead: In Rainbows
3 The Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America
4 MIA: Kala
5 Klaxons: Myths of the Near Future
6 Kings of Leon: Because of the Times
7 Grinderman: Grinderman
8 Battles: Mirrored
9 PJ Harvey: White Chalk
10 Feist: The Reminder
11 Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare
12 Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
13 The Felice Brothers: Tonight at the Arizona
14 Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
15 Les Savy Fav: Let's Stay Friends
16 The Good, the Bad & the Queen: The Good, the Bad & the Queen
17 Britney Spears: Blackout
18 Bruce Springsteen: Magic
19 Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
20 El-P: I'll Sleep When You're Dead

There's starting to be a disturbing lack of Hissing Fauna appreciation.

Just when you couldn't think it could get any worse, it's the Guardian music poll.

It was a bad year.

it was a great year. too many lists are ignoring apparat and mary timony, though

Yeah, that Mary Timony album is growing on me.

The Decibel list shows it was a great year, unfortunately other publications see fit to put Yoko Ono and Britney Spears on their lists.

metal is shit

^^^stfu, prejudice is the fucking worst

Great call dumbass.

x post

So, who will Pitchfork pick for their album of the year?

My guess: In Rainbows.

(If that's wrong it will be Sound of Silver, Person Pitch, or Strawberry Jam.)

i wouldn't be surprised at all if it's Sound of Silver. I could see Kala there, as well. (I haven't even heard either of these records).

For some reason I don't think they'll pick In Rainbows, nor will Strawberry Jam be it... the former seems too obvious, and the latter doesn't seem to have a huge consensus behind it. I don't know though, this is coming from someone who checks out 95% of any given year's albums a year or two after their release dates.

The top fifty I submitted to be totted-up for the Stylus poll;

1. Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position
2. Electrelane – No Shouts No Calls
3. Caribou – Andorra
4. Battles – Mirrored
5. Acoustic Ladyland – Skinny Grin
6. 65daysofstatic – The Destruction Of Small Ideas
7. LCD Soundsystem – The Sound Of Silver
8. Stars Of The Lid – And The Refinement Of Their Decline
9. Studio – West Coast
10. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
11. Beirut – The Flying Club Cup
12. !!! – Myth Takes
13. Six.By Seven – If Symptoms Persist Kill Your Dr
14. Working For A Nuclear Free City – Businessmen And Ghosts
15. Two Lone Swordsmen – Wrong Meeting 2
16. Panda Bear – Person Pitch
17. Bjork – Volta
18. Apparat – Walls
19. The Field – From Here We Go Sublime
20. Menomena – Friend And Foe
21. PJ Harvey – White Chalk
22. The Tuss – Rushup Edge
23. Von Sudenfed – Tromatic Reflexxions
24. Ulrich Schnauss – Goodbye
25. The Clientele – God Save The Clientele
26. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
27. L’imparfait Des Langues – Louis Sclavis
28. Do Make Say Think – You, You’re A History In Rust
29. Two Lone Swordsmen – Wrong Meeting
30. Ash – Twilight Of The Innocents
31. Strategy – Future Rock
32. The Twilight Sad – Fourteen Autumns And Fifteen Winters
33. Miracle Fortress – Five Roses
34. Super Furry Animals – Hey Venus!
35. Pharoahe Monch – Desire
36. Matthew Dear – Asa Breed
37. Fraud – Fraud
38. Floratone – Floratone
39. Siobhan Donaghy – Ghosts
40. Queens Of The Stone Age – Era Vulgaris
41. Radiohead – In Rainbows
42. Grinderman – Grinderman
43. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
44. Basquiat Strings – Basquiat Strings
45. Kanye West – Graduation
46. Rufus Wainwright – Release The Stars
47. Bill Callahan – Woke On A Whaleheart
48. The National – Boxer
49. Phosphorescent – Pride
50. The Good The Bad & The Queen – The Good The Bad & The Queen

Is it this Stars Of The Lid record THAT good, Nick?

The Clash Magazine Rock/Indie
1. Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times
2. Cold War Kids - Robbers And Cowards
3. Arcade fire - Neon Bible
4. Jamie T - Panic Prevention
5. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
6. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
7. Radiohead - In Rainbows
8. The Enemy - We'll Live And Die In These Towns
9. Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
10. Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation

Leftfield Albums
1. Benga - Diary Of An Afro Warrior
2. Battles - Mirrors
3. Apparat - Walls
4. New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
5. Skream - Skreamism III
6. MIA - Kala
7. Mum - Go Smear The Poison Ivy
8. Matthew Dear - As Breed
9. Tunng - Good Arrows - Full Time Hobby
10. Maps - We Can Create

Alternative Albums
1. Feist - The Reminder
2. LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
3. Radical Face - Ghost
4. Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future
5. Iron And Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
6. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apochrypha
7. Elvis Perkins - Ash Wednesday
8. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
9. Richard Swift - Dressed Up For The Letdown
10. Carbon/Silicon - The Last Post

Their categories are pretty muddled. They should have just done a top 50. I'll be checking out Benga, Apparat and Carbon/Silicon this weekend.

That Rock/Indie one is frightful.

Here's the New York Post Drowned In Sound's:

1: LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver
2: Battles – Mirrored
3: Panda Bear – Person Pitch
4: M.I.A. – Kala
5: Jamie T – Panic Prevention
6: Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
7: Liars – Liars
8: No Age – Weirdo Rippers
9: Radiohead – In Rainbows
10: HEALTH – Health
11: Deerhunter – Cryptograms
12: The National – Boxer
13: Les Savy Fav – Let’s Stay Friends
14: Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass
15: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Some Loud Thunder
16: The Maccabees – Colour It In
17: Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam
18: Klaxons – Myths Of The Near Future
19: Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
20: The Shins – Wincing The Night Away
21: Grinderman – Grinderman
22: Blonde Redhead – 23
23: PJ Harvey – White Chalk
24: Efterklang – Parades
25: Justice – Cross

26: Black Lips – Good Bad Not Evil
27: Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity
28: Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
29: Field Music – Tones Of Town
30: Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City
31: The Cribs – Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever
32: !!! – Myth Takes
33: Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha
34: Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare
35: Electrelane – No Shouts, No Calls
36: Thurston Moore – Trees Outside The Academy
37: Beirut – The Flying Club Cup
38: Future of the Left – Curses
39: dälek – Abandoned Language
40: The Sea & Cake – Everybody
41: Mathew Sawyer and the Ghosts – Blue Birds Blood
42: Eugene McGuinness – The Early Learnings Of…
43: Von Südenfed – Tromatic Reflexxions
44: Prefuse 73 – Preparations
45: Pinback – Autumn Of The Seraphs
46: of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer
47: Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbals
48: The Twilight Sad – Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters
49: Jen Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
50: Feist – The Reminder

Unsurprisingly, I didn't vote on that.

Or else it would have read:

1: LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver
2: Battles – Mirrored
3: Panda Bear – Person Pitch
4: M.I.A. – Kala
5: Jamie T – Panic Prevention
6: Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
7: Liars – Liars
8: No Age – Weirdo Rippers
9: Radiohead – In Rainbows
10: HEALTH – Health
11: Deerhunter – Cryptograms
12: The National – Boxer
13: Les Savy Fav – Let’s Stay Friends
14: Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass
15: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Some Loud Thunder
16: The Maccabees – Colour It In
17: Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam
18: Klaxons – Myths Of The Near Future
19: Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
20: The Shins – Wincing The Night Away
21: Grinderman – Grinderman
22: Blonde Redhead – 23
23: PJ Harvey – White Chalk
24: Efterklang – Parades
25: Justice – Cross

26: Black Lips – Good Bad Not Evil
27: Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity
28: Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
29: Field Music – Tones Of Town
30: Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City
31: The Cribs – Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever
32: !!! – Myth Takes
33: Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha
34: Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare
35: Electrelane – No Shouts, No Calls
36: Thurston Moore – Trees Outside The Academy
37: Beirut – The Flying Club Cup
38: Future of the Left – Curses
39: dälek – Abandoned Language
40: The Sea & Cake – Everybody
41: Mathew Sawyer and the Ghosts – Blue Birds Blood
42: Eugene McGuinness – The Early Learnings Of…
43: Von Südenfed – Tromatic Reflexxions
44: Prefuse 73 – Preparations
45: Pinback – Autumn Of The Seraphs
46: of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer
47: Yeasayer – All Hour Cymbals
48: The Twilight Sad – Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters
49: Jen Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
50: Majik Most - You Got Jokes

Kinda surprised not to see Map of Africa anywhere. Didn't people like that?

Kinda surprised not to see Map of Africa anywhere.

This disc got panned almost everywhere I read reviews of it (for representative samples, see the Pitchfork and Stylus reviews). I liked some songs on it -- e.g., Map of Africa and Plastic Surgery -- but I totally see why the disc wasn't well-received overall.

15: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Some Loud Thunder

Did anyone talk about this one even a week after it came out? The first track was the only good one, the production was terrible, and it was such a step down from the first record; I have no desire to hear it again (except for the title track, which is brilliant.)

I'm kind of surprised that White Chalk is doing so well on many of these lists. It didn't do much for me, unfortunately; probably a first for any "real" PJH album.

Yeah, I have White Chalk and it isn't doing much for me either. "The Mountain" is nice, but after a few listens it just comes off as overblown and I need to wait a while before listening to it again. Decent album, but eh.

In ten years you will all come to appreciate Some Loud Thunder for the expectation-smashing masterpiece it is.

j/k

Vibe’s Top 44 Songs
44. Yung Bero ft. Junior, “Sexy Lady” (Epic)
43. Mims, “This Is Why I’m Hot” (Capitol)
42. Elliot Yamin, “Wait for You” (Hickory)
41. Plies, “100 Years” (Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic)
40. Collie Buddz, “Come Around” (Columbia)
39. Omarion, “Ice Box” (Epic/Sony Urban)
38. Bone Thugs-N- Harmony ft. Akon, “I Tried” (Full Surface/Interscope)
37. Prodigy, “Mac 10 Handle” (Koch)
36. Chris Brown ft. T-Pain, “Kiss Kiss” (Jive/Zomba)
35. Alicia Keys, “No One” (J)
34. Lil Mama, “Lip Gloss” (Jive)
33. Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson & D.O.E., “The Way I Are” (Mosley Music/Blackground/Interscope)
32. Lil Wayne, “Feel Like Dyin’” (MP3)
31. Musiq Soulchild, “Teachme” (Atlantic)
30. Playaz Circle ft. Lil Wayne, “Duffle Bag Boy” (DTP/Def Jam)
29. Richie Spice, “Youth Dem Cold” (VP)
28. Lloyd ft. Lil Wayne, “You” (The Inc./Universal Motown)
27. M.I.A. ft. Bun B & Rich Boy, “Paper Planes (Remix)” (mixtapes)
26. Cassidy ft. Swizz Beatz, “My Drink N’ My 2 Step” (Full Suface/J)
25. Ciara, “Like a Boy” (LaFace/Zomba)
24. Gorilla Zoe, “Hood Figga” (Block/Bad Boy/Atlantic)
23. Hurricane Chris, “A Bay Bay” (Polo Grounds/J)
22. The Fixxers, “Can U Werk Wit Dat” (Interscope)
21. The-Dream, “Shawty Is a 10” (Def Jam)
20. Foxx ft. Lil Boosie and Webbie, “Wipe Me Down” (Trill/Asylum)
19. Justin Timberlake, “What Goes Around . . . Comes Around” (Jive)
18. Swizz Beatz ft. Lil Wayne, R. Kelly & Jadakiss, “It’s Me Bitches (Remix)” (Universal Motown)
17. Amy Winehouse, “Love Is a Losing Game” (Universal Republic)
16. Common ft. Lily Allen, “Drivin’ Me Wild” (G.O.O.D./Geffen)
15. Ne-Yo, “Because of You” (Def Jam)
14. DJ Unk ft. OutKast & Jim Jones, “Walk It Out (Remix)” (Big Oomp/Koch)
13. UGK ft. OutKast, “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” (Jive)
12. R. Kelly ft. T.I. & T-Pain, “I’m a Flirt (Remix)” (Jive)
11. Keyshia Cole ft. Missy Elliott & Lil Kim, “Let It Go” (Imani/Geffen)
10. Robin Thicke, “Lost Without U” (Nu America/Star Trak/Interscope)
9. Rich Boy, “Throw Some D’s” (Zone 4/Interscope)
8. DJ Khaled ft. Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman & Lil Wayne, “We Takin’ Over” (Koch)
7. J. Holiday, “Bed” (Music Line/Capitol)
6. T-Pain ft. Yung Joc, “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” (Konvict/Jive)
5. Soulja Boy Tell’em, “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” (Collipark/Interscope)
4. Rihanna ft. Jay-Z, “Umbrella” (Def Jam)
3. Kanye West ft. T-Pain, “Good Life” (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam)
2. 50 Cent, “I Get Money” (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope)
1. Fabolous ft. Ne-Yo, “Make Me Better” (Def Jam)

i like that fabolous/ne-yo song but thats a weeeeeeeiiiiiiird list

haha I don't care for that Fabolous/Ne-Yo song and yes, it is a weeeeird list

I have no strong opinion either way about the Fabolous/Ne-Yo song and that is a weeeeeeeeird list.

Why 44? Is that numerological?

i'm confused.

i feel like im looking at the results of a rigged ilm p&j poll here.

like i like the fabo song but i wouldn't but it anywhere near the top 30 out of the songs on this list. was there any, um, justification given?

"Best Collabo"

oh.

i like that weeeeeiiiiird list

Jazzwise's Albums of the Year

NEW RELEASES
1. Empirical, Emperical (Destin-e)
2. Maria Schneider, Sky Blue (ArtistShare)
3. EST, Live in Hamburg (ACT)
4. Michael Brecker, Pilgrimage (Emarcy)
5. Robert Wyatt, Comicopera (Domino)
6. Wynton Marsalis, From the Plantation to the Penitentiary (Blue Note)
7. The Core, Blue Sky (Jazzaway)
8. Gwilym Simcock, Perception (Basho)
9. Vijay Iyer/Rudresh Mahanthappa, Raw (Pi)
10. Gilad Atzmon, Refuge (Enja)

REISSUES AND ARCHIVE
1. Miles Davis, The Complete On the Corner Sessions (Columbia)
2. Andrew Hill, Compulsion!!! (Blue Note)
3. Bennie Maupin, The Jewel in the Lotus (ECM)
4. Joe Harriott, Free Form (Gott)
5. v/a, Mike Taylor Remembered (Dusk Fire)
6. Noah Howard, The Black Ark (Bo' Weavil)
7. Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy, Cornell 64 (Blue Note)
8. John Handy, Recorded Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival (Jazz Beat)
9. Max Roach, We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (Candid)
TIE Duke Ellington, The Duke Box (Storyville)

I hate that Fabolous/Ne-Yo song but the Vibe list looks pretty reasonable to me in most other respects. it's funny to me though that they published a "top 77 Lil Wayne songs of 2007" but only had 44 songs for the whole year.

i'm not exactly sure how a list like that could do wrong. most acclaimed rap/r&b songs of the year + most popular rap/r&b songs of the year + a few "curveballs". anyone who follows rap is gonna like like 70-75% of that list probably. it's the placement that's a little suspect at best.

yeah Rev, "indifferent" is probably a more accurate representation of my feelings about it as well

9. Rich Boy, “Throw Some D’s” (Zone 4/Interscope)
7. J. Holiday, “Bed” (Music Line/Capitol)

13. UGK ft. OutKast, “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” (Jive)
12. R. Kelly ft. T.I. & T-Pain, “I’m a Flirt (Remix)” (Jive)
9. Rich Boy, “Throw Some D’s” (Zone 4/Interscope)
7. J. Holiday, “Bed” (Music Line/Capitol)

there's a lot of '06 hits on that list (Throw Some D's, You, Ice Box, Lost Without U), but they're a print mag and probably had to make those lists in early November so I guess they gotta play catch up.

I dunno. I didn't hear "Throw Some D's" until it was too late to make my Stylus list and will be including it on my Idolator ballot this year and I'm pretty sure I didn't hear "You" until later. Fwiw, all those songs peaked on the Hot 100 this year.

"You" peaked Feb. 17th. (Seems like it should have been much later than that.) "Icebox" peaked March 10th. "Throw Some D's" and "Lost Without U" peaked March 31st.

revmc.xls

I forgot about "You" and "Throw Some D's"

Some more contenders for the number ten slot on my Idolator ballot (currently occupied by "Way I Are")

eh, songs are typically out for at least 2-3 months before their chart peaks, and all those were on my 06 singles list (except "Ice Box," which I don't like) this time last year.

Why am I even arguing this? I'm going to vote for a song that came out in 2005 and three or four from last year. I figure as long as I associate them with this year, that's good enough.

were they songs that placed in those years' polls? not to be all "you're throwing your vote away" but that seems kinda pointless to me, unless you really can't think of enough songs from this year that you liked.

Did people vote for "With Every Heartbeat" last year? I gave it an honorable mention.

No they weren't. And I imagine (except for the one I'll likely be the only one to vote for, a bit obscure) that they'll do better this year than past years they were eligible. All of them reached their peak of popularity this year, in any case.

2 votes last year for "With Every Heartbeat" I imagine it will place quite highly.

ah, yeah, that kind of thing makes sense. I usually don't do that, but sometimes I make an exception if it's a song like "Since U Been Gone" (which was in my top 20 the year barely anyone listed it, and then top 3 the next year when everyone else listed it).

And I can think of enough songs from this year that I love to agonize over cutting songs I consider perfect from my list. I just consider these songs of 2007 whether they were technically released this year or not.

I didn't hear any of the songs I'll be voting for before mid-December, fwiw.

i'm with alex on this one. i wanna vote for studio's yearbook 1 but since west coast came out this year i figure more people will vote for that so that's what i'm going to go with. likewise i'm voting big doe rehab this year even though i'm a bit tentative about it's slotting since i'll only have had it for about 2 weeks when the idolator deadline comes around.

I just consider these songs of 2007 whether they were technically released this year or not/

i think this is dumb, but this is a ridiculous argument nonetheless.

Why is it dumb? As I said, all of them peaked in popularity this year and I only heard one of them like two weeks before the end of the year, too late to make the eoy list I submitted for Stylus and the rest not until this year.

It is a ridiculous argument, but I'm not sure why there has to be some hard and fast deadline. Why nitpick?

i guess if they came out at the end of the year after deadlines were due it makes sense if you can anticipate that everyone who would vote for the song is going to do it in the next year. like are there going to be a lot of ppl voting for "throw some d's" this year? i think f3nn3ss3y was the only person who voted for it in p&j last year.

The P&J ballots are all messed up, so it's difficult to check. It got 3 votes in JP.

songs that broke this year but aren't from this year are eligible, FWIW. take "Rehab"--got some UK votes last year, will likely get non-UK votes this year. perfectly OK.

ditto the songs the Rev mentions

Someone told me that Nelson George had to get a whole crew of bodyguards after he voted for a Kelis album two years straight.

vibe list is weird as fuck

I just consider these songs of 2007 whether they were technically released this year or not/

i think this is dumb

No, it's smart. And it's been an explicit Pazz & Jop (and now Idolator poll) rule for years -- singles and albums not technically released in a given year are eligible if they made more impact with voters in the current year. It makes perfect sense, since not all voters hear every song on the exact release date, obviously, and since (for instance) songs hit on different radio formats at different times -- they don't all get released then die the next month. So, if they do well, they carry over votes from the previous year. Being anal about release dates is what's dumb. (I'm voting for "You" this year myself.)

That makes sense xhuxk. It also gets rid of my confusion as to why "Boys and Girls in America" is showing up on some lists this year.

It also probably only saw a UK release this year?

Yeah I think it was mainly British/Euro publications that put it on 07 lists.

Yeah, I can't find any information on what the UK release date was, but I'm sure you're both right.

Haha I am going to vote for an album that never actually came out in 06 when it was supposed to and will never see the light of day.

revmc.xls

Haha, I have been wondering all year whether I should include "Icebox" on my 2007 list and justifying doing so by the fact that it peaked in March. But I don't think I will, just because it had its biggest impact ON ME in late 2006.

take "Rehab"--got some UK votes last year, will likely get non-UK votes this year. perfectly OK.

Similarly, take "Young Folks"--got some indie votes last year, will likely get non-indie votes this year.

not a critics poll or even all that interesting but anyway

ITUNES BEST-SELLING ALBUMS OF 2007

1. Maroon 5 It Won't Be Soon Before Long
2. Amy Winehouse Back To Black
3. Kanye West Graduation
4. Daughtry Daughtry
5. Colbie Caillat Coco
6. Linkin Park Minutes to Midnight
7. Various Artists High School Musical 2 (Original Soundtrack)
8. Timbaland Shock Value
9. John Mayer Continuum
10. Various Artists Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture)

ITUNES BEST-SELLING SONGS OF 2007

1. Fergie "Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)"
2. Gwen Stefani "The Sweet Escape"
3. Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah"
4. Avril Lavigne "Girlfriend"
5. Fergie "Glamorous"
6. Kanye West "Stronger"
7. Maroon 5 "Makes Me Wonder"
8. Akon "Don't Matter"
9. Timbaland "The Way I Are (feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E.)
10. Shop Boyz "Party Like a Rock Star"

Did people vote for "With Every Heartbeat" last year? I gave it an honorable mention.

Me!

Is this the first time ever NME have done a TOP 100 Writer's Poll for a Year?

More choices for the NME = more rubbish to laugh at?

http://upload.imgspot.com/u/07/344/13/NMETop100.php.jpg

Who will publish this list on the web first? probably at Acclaimed Music?

http://www.nme.com/images/84_aoymagbits_01.jpg

Why "Albums Tracks" instead of "Album Tracks"? The way they wrote it doesn't make sense. (Though England is also the land of "Records Stores," right? They are so wacky over there.)

i think it means albums/tracks

I think it's just a sloppy copy editor that forgot & between Albums - Tracks - thinking separate lines was OK with the the NME youth

REISSUES AND ARCHIVE
1. Miles Davis, The Complete On the Corner Sessions (Columbia)
2. Andrew Hill, Compulsion!!! (Blue Note)
3. Bennie Maupin, The Jewel in the Lotus (ECM)
4. Joe Harriott, Free Form (Gott)
5. v/a, Mike Taylor Remembered (Dusk Fire)
6. Noah Howard, The Black Ark (Bo' Weavil)
7. Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy, Cornell 64 (Blue Note)
8. John Handy, Recorded Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival (Jazz Beat)
9. Max Roach, We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (Candid)
TIE Duke Ellington, The Duke Box (Storyville)

jazz lists won't get much outrage but daaaaamn son, no Mingus - Cornell 64 on the reissues? that's cold homie.

can't read he1ges0n? that's cold homie!

Or they hope to publish a singles one this week and a albums one the next week to get 2 bumper sellers and the xmas special?
And wrap it in cellophane so no one knows until they get home!
It's the only NME I ever buy so they better not do that!

an 007 metal overview, if anyone wants one, by one of the best music writers right now

http://www.emusic.com/features/spotlight/293_200712-year-in-metal.html

Remaining lists and their top 5 last year:

NME - Arctic Monkeys, YYYs, Muse, Hot Chip, CSS
Spin - TVOTR, Gnarls Barkley, Arctic Monkeys, Ghostface Killah, My Chemical Romance
Rolling Stone - Dylan, RHCP, Sonic Youth, TVOTR, Ghostface
MusicOMH - Arctic Monkeys, Howling Bells, Muse, Campbell/Lanegan, Hot Chip
Prefix - Clipse, TVOTR, Herbert, Liars, Newsom
Playlouder - Jarvis, Cat Power, CSS, Flaming Lips, Lily Allen
Pop Matters - Gnarls Barkley, Hold Steady, Arctic Monkeys, Ghostface, The Ark
Cokemachineglow - Subtle, Clipse, Califone, Case, Sunset Rubdown
Delusions of Adequacy - Acid Mothers Temple, Sonic Youth, Kayo Dot, Long Winters, Band of Horses
Dusted - Walker, Concretes, Dilla, Newsom, Burial
Onion - Hold Steady, TVOTR, Midlake, Jenny Lewis, Belle & Seb
Mixmag - Hot Chip, Nathan Fake, Allen, Plan B, Burial
Pitchfork - Knife, TVOTR, Newsom, Ghostface, Hold Steady
The Wire - Burial, Walker, Newsom, Carla Bozulich, Wolf Eyes

What year is this?

2001 and everyone's waiting for the next Roses/Oasis/Mondays to come along.

Playlouder - Jarvis, Cat Power, CSS, Flaming Lips, Lily Allen

NME Albums

50 Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
49 Interpol - Our Love TO Admire
48 The View - Hats Off To The Buskers
47 Enter Shikari - Take To The Skies
46 Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly Angry Mob
45 !!! - Myth Takes
44 Gruff Ryhs - Candylion
43 Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence Patience and Grace
42 Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
41 Menomena - Friend and Foe
40 EL-P - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
39 Jeffery Lewis - 12 Crass Songs
38 Justice - â€
37 Jamie T - Panic Prevention
36 Holy Fuck - s/t
35 Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!
34 New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
33 Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release
32 Grinderman - s/t
31 The Pigeon Detectives - Wait For Me
30 QOTSA - Era Vulgaris
29 Lethal Bizzle - Back To Bizznizz
28 Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
27 The Horrors - Strange House
26 Kate Nash - Made of Bricks
25 The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls In America
24 The Maccabees - Colour It In
23 Maps - We Can Create
22 Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
21 The Enemy - We'll Live and Die In These Towns
20 Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
19 Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge
18 ? - The Good, The Bad & The Queen
17 Future of The Left - Curses
16 The Coral - Roots and Echoes
15 The White Stripes - Icky Thump
14 Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation
13 PJ Harvey - White Chalk
12 The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
11 LCD Soundsytem - Sound Of Silver
10 Battles - Mirrored
9 The Cribs - Man's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever
8 Biffy Clyro - Puzzle
7 MIA - Kala
6 Kings of Leon - Because Of The Times
5 Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends
4 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
3 Radiohead - In Rainbows
2 Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
1 Klaxons - Myths of The Near Future

Tracks

50 Biffy Clyro - Living Is A problem Because Everything Dies
49 Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing!
48 QOTSA - Sick, Sick, Sick
47 Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
46 Richard Hawley - Tonight The Streets Are Ours
45 Black Lips - Bad Kids
44 CSS - Off The Hook
43 Kate Nash - Foundations
42 The Enemy - It's Not OK
41 MIA - Boyz
40 The Horrors - She Is The New Thing
39 Late of The Pier - Bathroom Gurgle
38 Lightspeed Champion - Galaxy Of The Lost
37 The White Stripes - Icky Thump
36 The Hives - Tick Tick Boom
35 Bloc Party - The Prayer
34 XX Teens - Darlin'
33 Cold War Kids - Hang Me Out To Dry
32 Those Dancing Days - Those Dancing Days
31 Gallows - Abandon Ship
30 Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Let's Make Out
29 Jarvis - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time
28 Björk Earth Intruders
27 Howling Bells - Low Happening
26 Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
25 Kings of Leon - Charmer
24 The Gossip - Standing In The Way of Control
23 Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
22 Klaxons - It's Not Over Yet
21 SFA - Run Away
20 Dizzee Rascal - Sirens
19 Santogold - LES Artistes
18 Hadouken! - That Boy That Girl
17 MIA - Jimmy
16 Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
15 Battles - Atlas
14 Black Lips - O Katrina!
13 Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
12 Foals - Hummer
11 Grinderman - No Pussy Blues
10 LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum
9 Arcade Fire - Intervention
8 Foals - Mathletics
7 Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
6 The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
5 Rihanna - Umbrella
4 The Teenagers - Homecoming
3 The Cribs's - Men's Needs
2 Glasvegas - Daddy's Gone
1 Klaxons - Golden Skans

They really are going to regret Biffy Clyro at number eight in years to come in a Carter/Wonder Stuff type of way.

won't be an nme in eight years.

They really are going to regret Biffy Clyro at number eight in years to come in a Carter/Wonder Stuff type of way.

-- Dingbod Kesterson, Wednesday, 12 December 2007 13:15 (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

As opposed to being really proud of listing The Horrors, Hadouken, and Justice.

amazed you didn't go for the MIA zing there. too broad?

Who?

Oh, her. I liked that "Chewing Gum" track she did, I've not heard anything since.

No, that "Chewing Gum" was - Helen Shapiro or whatever her name was?

The poll certainly proves that Girls Aloud's valiant attempts to sound as much like Biffy Clyro as possible on their new album were in vain.

scrubs is shit

dr cox is a zing icon.

Surely the janitor is the US branch of LBZC?

apatow, more like CRAPATOW

this guy knows my work.

You seen my work, you know my steez
It's a slim chance that I'ma hesitate to squeeze, please
Money never made me (no) money never played me (NO NO)
.. and Money bet' not make (?) or I break his ass
Subtract his ass when I step through his hood
Fuck droppin you, I'm into stoppin you for good

[Lil' Fame]
Stop him if you could {"You're as cold as ice"}

Idolator published Time Magazine's list:
Albums
1. Amy Winehouse, Back To Black
2. Radiohead, In Rainbows
3. Feist, The Reminder
4. Miranda Lambert, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
5. LCD Soundsystem, Sound Of Silver
6. Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
7. Battles, Mirrored
8. Robert Plant And Allison Krauss, Raising Sand
9. M.I.A., Kala
10. Kanye West, Graduation
Songs
1. Amy Winehouse, "Rehab"
2. Feist, "1-2-3-4"
3. Rihanna, "Umbrella"
4. LCD Soundsystem, "All My Friends"
5. Radiohead, "Jigsaw Falling Into Place"
6. 50 Cent, "I Get Money"
7. Plain White T's, "Hey There Delilah"
8. Manu Chao, "Me Llaman Calle"
9. Aly And AJ, "Potential Breakup Song"
10. The Fratellis, "Baby Fratelli"

Meanwhile, on the margins: African, Latin and Caribbean music magazine The Beat does not publish their critics poll list until March! I used to look at Latin Beat magazine's list on the newstand at Tower. Not sure where I can find that publication now (and I did not like it enough to want to subscribe).

‘Robert Plant And Allison Krauss, Raising Sand’ is for 50-something women who listen to NPR.

(I just described my mother. Do you think I have mother issues?)

Also, its weird to see The National’s ‘Boxer’ being so middle-of-the-road. Usually my favorite album will be in the top 5 of many critics polls.

Why isn't beggin' in the tracks polls anywhere?

Time's list isn't anywhere near as bad as I would have expected it to be. I mean, Battles!

Baltimore City Paper's top 10
http://www.citypaper.com/special/story.asp?id=14965
1 M.I.A. Kala (Interscope)
2 Dirty Projectors Rise Above (Dead Oceans)
3 UGK Underground Kingz (Jive/Zomba)
4 Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge)
5 Jesu Conqueror (Hydra Head)
6 Battles Mirrored (Warp)
7 LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver (Capitol)
8 Valet Blood Is Clean (Kranky)
9 Yellow Swans At All Ends (Load)
9 Kanye West Graduation (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
10 Parts and Labor Mapmaker (Jagjaguwar)

two 9's because of a tie, apparently. I only know/like the 3 albums I voted for, but I'm kind of perversely pleased by the fact that I haven't even heard of some of the artists on this list ever.

Rock-a-Rolla's top 30:

1.Oxbow 'The Narcotic Story'
2.Neurosis 'Given To The Rising'
3.Tomahawk 'Anonymous'
4.Dillinger Escape Plan 'Ire Works'
5.Big Business 'Here Come The Waterworks'
6.Dälek 'Abandoned Language'
7.John Zorn 'Six Litanies For Heliogabalus'
8.Om 'Pilgrimage'
9.Jesu 'Conqueror'
10.Sleepytime Gorilla Museum 'In Glorious Times'
11.The Locust 'New Erections'
12.Angels Of Light 'We Are Him'
13.High On Fire 'Death Is This Communion'
14.Unsane 'Visqueen'
15.Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso UFO 'Crystal Rainbow Pyramid Under The Stars'
16.KTL '2'
17.Pig Destroyer 'Phantom Limb'
18.Fog 'Ditherer'
19.Qui 'Love's Miracle'
20.Pelican 'City Of Echoes'
21.Orthodox 'Amanecer En Puerta Oscura
22.Thurston Moore 'Trees Outside The Academy'
23.Sunburned Hand Of The Man 'Fire Escape'
24.Shining 'Grindstone'
25.Magik Markers 'Boss'
26.Battles 'Mirrored'
27.Caina 'Mourner'
28.Merzbow 'Coma Berenices'
29.Pissed Jeans 'Hope For Men'
30.Liars 'Liars'

Not got my rock-a-rolla yet despite subscribing again.

That NME list is hilariously awful.

But, yeah, Klaxons, album of the year!

RONG.

xpost:

nor I. this is from the mailout. it only came out on monday though.

I thought nine of the albums on the NME list were quite good or better, which is about the same as the past five years

i like that rock a rolla list. first one on this thread to actually represent what i heard and found most interesting this year.

That NME list is hilariously awful

And awfully hilarious. How could anyone pick 50 records from 2007 without mentioning the mighty Hissing Fauna? It's starting to look like there's a conspiracy against that record.

man, the new Onion list is totally edgy!

waaaittt let me guess - top 10 include LCD, MIA, Spoon, Battles, Radiohead, etc etc etc etc

Rock a Rolla did a decent job.

pretty much, yeah (except Spoon at #11 and no Battles). SO EDGY!

xpost

How could anyone pick 50 records from 2007 without mentioning the mighty Hissing Fauna?

I totally agree with you. I was listening to some of the tracks from that record last night after not listening to any Of Montreal for awhile and, man, they still blew me away.

Especially the last track, "We Were Born . . ."

no love for Deerhoof?

That came out in January, everyone forgot about it by now. :-p

FACT magazine's 20 best albums. At last someone other than ILM mentions Studio. And there's some dance music!

http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/da/66222

The Chloe and Pantha Prince albums both sound great TBF

Have there ever been fewer debut albums represented in the critics lists than in 2007? Looks like the record biz is going for the safe nowadays.....

w00t @ Jess voting for Charlotte Hatherley

And the tracks

http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/da/66290

A pretty big chunk of the NME list is debut albums, Geir

18 of them in fact. 19 if you count 'Mirrored' as being Battles' debut album

I suspect Geir may deem the work of Battles as amelodic and rhythm dominate.

That came out in January, everyone forgot about it by now. :-p

This kills me every year. I make a point of 'remembering' albums that came out between Jan. and Apr...and then those end up dominating my year-end lists.

weirdness of the vibe list has a lot to do with fennessey's mp3-addled m.o i'm supposing, that glazed-over indifference where any song could be anywhere in the chart

not that i can really talk

yeah, i mean..."Feel Like Dyin'"?

but yeah besides that and 'make me better' (just...wtffff, awful song) it is not all that crazy a list really. maybe they shouldve dispensed with the numbering.

also, i was expecting that fabo song where he sings about spaceships. if fabo's album comes out it will be the worst critical rigmarole in years.

since the clipse, anyway

Other Music's top 25 (I'm pretty sure these are staff favorites, not top sellers):

1 TINARIWEN Aman Iman
2 PANDA BEAR Person Pitch
3 BURIAL Untrue
4 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE Strawberry Jam
5 PANTHA DU PRINCE This Bliss
6 NO AGE Weirdo Rippers
7 VARIOUS ARTISTS Skull Disco - Soundboy Punishments
8 M.I.A. Kala
9 JAY REATARD Blood Visions
10 MAGIK MARKERS Boss
11 KING KHAN & THE SHRINES What Is?!
12 VARIOUS ARTISTS After Dark
13 THE CAVE SINGERS Invitation Songs
14 ROBERT WYATT Comicopera
15 ERIC COPELAND Hermaphrodite
16 SPOON Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
17 BAND OF HORSES Cease to Begin
18 BLACK LIPS Good Bad Not Evil
19 VAMPIRE WEEKEND EP
20 EFDEMIN Efdemin
21 STUDIO West Coast
22 THE FIELD From Here We Go Sublime
23 CHROMATICS Night Drive
24 ST. VINCENT Marry Me
25 OH NO Dr. No's Oxperiment

top reissues can also be seen on that link

i like the OM list.

WTF! WHY DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIKE BAND OF HORSES??

Every time someone listens to Band of Horses, god kills a kitten.

Or even a small horse.

Or both.

stephen I kiss you

They're sort of a watered-down Built to Spill, so maybe residual love for that band has something to do with it.

The indie rock's been worshipping one watered-down Built To Spill or another (Modest Mouse, Death Cab, etc.) more than BTS themselves for damn near a decade now.

haha "the indie rock" was a funny way to phrase that, sorry, subtract "the" or add a "world/community" at the end.

teh indie rockz

who is this band the Indie Rocks and where can I buy their music

Why hasn't Ricardo Villalobos been mentioned in any of those lists? Is it because it was not an 'album' or that no one listened to it or (scary?!) that no one liked it?

Was there a new Ricardo Villalobos this year that got a lot of hype? (Last year he was on a bunch of lists...)

Fabric36, I guess?

that or fizheuer

fabric 36 never quite lived up to its pre-release hype. i liked it - but didn't love it like some of his other work.

Some debut's on NME sure, but NME doesn't count as NME only likes debut albums. It is a well-known fact that NME hates anyone who has released more than 1 album and 2 singles.

Panda Bear is the worst music I've ever heard.

Reverend is a god among men.

why is glasvegas mentioned on this thread? people are weird

amused to see my #1 of the year isn't on any list at all.. still got it

i don't really like person pitch all that much but rev hating an indie album being backed up by the dude who likes mickey avalon and skye sweetnam is shocker non-shocker of the month for sure.

it doesn't really seem like hateable music to me. it's just... there. resenting its critical love, maybe. but idk. it's kind of like wallpaper or something.

No it is not wallpaper. It is earsplitting. (And actually I don't hate indie, just the way it gets privileged so much.)

(Well, that's to say I don't hate indie on principle. I certainly hate that particular example thereof.)

idk dude whenever i listen to it i just get kinda bored. way too may stretches where nothing really happens. i like the overall mood, but i most def do not get how anyone could really love person pitch.

so you chaps who don't get person pitch - how do you feel about animal collective?

i doubt rev has heard any animal collective, but i think panda's two songs on strawberry jam are better than anything on person pitch besides maybe "i'm not"

I haven't heard Animal Collective, actually. I only downloaded Person Pitch after reading that if I liked LCDSS I'd like Panda Bear. Suffice to say, that wasn't true. Maybe after the cd I'm listening to is done, I'll pull them up on the U-Toob.

xp haha

idk if you'd like them. i don't have a great handle on what indie rockier music you might like. the new album is way more song-y than panda bear if that means anything.

Indie rock albums this year I love: LCD Soundsystem, Charlotte Hatherley, Spoon, Gogol Bordello

Indie rock albums this year I like well enough: Battles, New Young Pony Club, the Hives, the White Stripes, Grinderman

Truth is, I like a lot of indie music. The National, Iron + Wine, and (well I don't know if indie has claimed them but) The Noisettes are all on my year end lists. I just don't like Animal Collective, Panda Bear, St. Vincent, or Joanna Newsom. I actually hate them, and I've put the time in listening to their albums (Newsom I listened to about half a dozen times) to try and get what's going on there. And I just don't get it.

Jinx. Oh yeah, I like the Hives + the White Stripes album. I liked a bunch of indie albums this year. Sorry for not liking whiny freak-folk.

rev you might like this but all those albums kinda groove in an SFJ-type way which doesnt surprise me since your tastes seem to skew more towards rap/r&b/reggaeton (yeah?) and animal collective are kind of like weightless on the bottom end and really compressed. def more indie pop than anything you mentioned.

newsom blows and new animal collective is def not folk, but i have no handle on what you like mordechai but it seems like you would/do hate the fuck out strawberry jam.

Thing is, I like a lot of folk. Or rather, I like music that possibly has some folk resonances. I like Iron + Wine. A ton. Woman King EP is on constant replay in my apartment. It's just that the stuff I just mentioned doesn't click for me. I wish it did because a lot of people are really passionate about it, and I wanna get in on that. But there's something really unpleasant about it. (I don't like Andrew Bird either.)

Also, vis-a-vis Band of Horses, I saw them open for Iron + Wine once and they were horrific. Like people were actually talking through their set because of how painful the music was. The only time I saw a more negative reaction was when Coco Rosie opened for Sufjan Stevens and half the place walked out.

i most def do not get how anyone could really love person pitch.

I do, my roommate doesn't. He loves Strawberry Jam though, and said that the reason I love PP so inordinately is because I also like the Beach Boys a lot more than he does. Which is probably accurate. I can understand why people dislike it though, especially given the all the adulation (I dub this the "Destroyer Effect").

I like those OM and Rockarolla lists more than anything else on the thread so far. A lot of my fave stuff (Edward Ka-Spel, Nurse With WOund, etc.) usually misses out in these polls. Good to see a list for jazz reissues also.

It's also really nice to have all this yearend stuff on one thread.

Discovering Tokyo Jihen and Lansing-Dreiden have made me more interested in looking for more current rock bands I might like, but there's such an overwhelming amount of the stuff that I don't like that it's nearly impossible. I just thought I would mention that. I need to try doing a Tokyo Jihen station of Last FM again, but I know what I'm going to get. I'm going to get a lot of j-rock and j-pop that I either don't like, or that is just okay, but that I won't love or care about.

My top ten is changing about every hour on the hour. I heard too much great music this year.

I have to commend you for having such an international scope.

FACT Magazine Top 100 Tracks of the Year!

http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/da/66290

person pitch is way too distanced to even register half the time with me. the only song i really love on PP is "i'm not" cuz it's really emotional, like all those sampled voices just hanging in the air. it sounds like old choral or like gregorian chant music. it's the one song on the album that actually has some power.

is FACT like the fader of the uk?

lol @ "groove in an SFJ-type way"

I'm listening to "Peacebone" right now. (This is from their new album, yes?) The weird intro is cool, but when it gets into the actual tune it completely loses me.

I'll check out "I'm Not," Jordan. I like Gregorian Chant music when I hear it (I hang out at the Cloisters every now and then). I'll seriously give anything a shot. If you can recommend something on Strawberry Jam, I'll try that too.

The FACT list is really obnoxiously hip, and I like a lot of the things on it.

It's also really nice to have all this yearend stuff on one thread.

-- sleeve, Thursday, December 13, 2007 5:48 PM (Thursday, December 13, 2007 5:48 PM) Bookmark Link

Three hats.

from straw jam, listen to "fireworks" (it's a single) and um maybe "for reverend green". my otehr favorite songs are the panda ones but if you guys really ahte person pitch i wouldn't bother. "chores" is like that same drunk/stoned underwater beach feel of person pitch but an actual song. way punchier. i love it.

yeah this FACT list is good.

They seriously have a song called "For Reverend Green"?!

FOOOOOOOOOR RODN3Y GREEN3
AAAAAAAAND CALLE THIRTEEEEEEN
FOOOOOOOR ROOOOOOOODN3Y GREEN3
AAAAAAAAAAAND CALLE THIIRTEEEEEN

^this is the chorus

I'm listening to fireworks. I've got the same problem with this as I have with all their music... The music seems pretentiously weird (weird for the sake of weird?), and the vocals aren't strong enough to really make up for that for me. And it really goes on way too long for me. And seriously, "the frightened babies poo"?

No, I'm saying the FACT list is way too "mp3 of the week".

xp haha (Actually Kanye West has overtaken Calle 13 as my album of the year. Shit seriously gets better every listen,)

FACT is a free (half-size) print mag right? But their website has really blossomed this year. Kiran Sande does a very nice monthly round-up of all things electronic in his 'Contemporary Fix' column. He's not afraid to dismiss the hype which is refreshing.

"Fireworks" is alright except for the horrible singing (so far).

too bad about "fireworks". i had hope. i like graduation less every time i hear it. just seems way less accomplished than his other albums. still very good though. would be in my top 20 if my list expanded that far.

Actually, the background vocals are fine, it's just the lead vocals that are awful. Otherwise, it sounds a lot like Battles.

I love 'Stronger.' It's on my top 20. Too bad everyone only wants top 10 choices :(

funny that you say that it's trying to hard to be weird mord, cuz i think it kinda hits that perfect balance between weird (the percussion being actual fireworks or whatever) and an actual almost-pop song. i like the vocals a lot. the lyrics are whatever, there are little bits that hit really hard to me and others that are kinda shitty.

This "I'm Not" song is pretty fucking amazing though. Kinda reminds me of (). Good call, Jordan.

I don't think Graduation quite hits the peaks of his first two, but there isn't any fat like there is on Dropout (actually, Dropout doesn't peak quite as high as I remembered) and it isn't 75% awful like Registration. I'm pretty sure at this point it's my favorite Kanye album. I've listened to it five times in the past three days.

Okay, fuck this Animal Collective stuff. This guy needs to STFU.

Well, at least you tried, Reverend.

i think basically everything on dropout is amazing, half of late reg is amazing and graduation is kinda... more even keel and it's way less exciting in that manner. the songs are still great but it's the first ye album that sounds unimportant to me. i like it though! and "stronger" will be in my top 10. i just get nothing out of like "drunk and hot girls" or "barry bonds" or "big brother" etc.

but i got nothing out of "roses" or "bring me down" or "addiction" but besides "stronger" the best stuff on graduation isn't as good as "gone" or "drive slow" or "touch the sky" etc.

I should say, I wasn't particularly impressed with Graduation the first few times I heard it. It just seems so much more nuanced than Kanye's previous albums, or at least he seems less eager to please and less prone to shoving everything that's going on in your face at once.

This guy needs to STFU.

Okay, I think I have completely different taste in Kanye then you, judging by what you think of those particular songs.

(Except for "Addiction" (shut up and stop being such a needy ass) and "Drive Slow" (one of his best songs)

1. stronger
2. good life
3. champion
4. can't tell me nothing
5. glory
6. good morning
7. flashing lights
8. barry bonds
9. everything i am
10. i wonder
11. big brother
12. homecoming

if that gives you any idea where i'm coming from

Does that mean you don't even rate "Drunk & Hot Girls"?

I'm not going to rank them, but I think every song on the album except maybe "Good Morning" is wonderful.

And "Good Morning" itself is fine, just not particularly exemplary.

haha 13. drunk and hot girls i forgot about it. i like how kanye goes "a-ROUSED" but that's about it.

"a-ROUSED" is from "I Wonder". "Drunk & Hot Girls" is actually probably one of my three favorite songs on the album. "Barry Bonds", too. Those two and "Can't Tell Me Nothing" form this great, dark, fucked-up mid-section.

there's lots of good uk indie i've only heard of little of/forgot existed on that FACT list: cajun dance party, foals, wild beasts.

I have massive issues with Stronger. I thought the fun of the Daft Punk song was its structure. How the words get 'faster' and finally dissolve into that beautiful riff towards the end is one of my favorite moments in music. It begs and answers whether the words or the sounds are more important. To make it a rap song misses that. The Kanye version is a bunch of ill conceived couplets -the guy can't rap, he really can't- over a version of a song that, to my mind at least, has had the soul ripped out of it. Which is how I feel about most of his music. It also irks me when people sample from songs that are mostly samples which Kanye does more than once, pretty sure he uses Public Enemy in a couple of places. And the line "You can be my black Kate Moss tonight" also unsettles me for some reason. I don't think it's a race thing, it just, I don't know... very upper middle class and a little stupid, a lot like collaborating with Chris Martin.

So I don't like Kanye West and I don't find his music particularly compelling. I'm all about soul music and his samples are are often a little too obvious. 'Touch The Sky' is Curtis Mayfield's 'Move On Up', Gold Digger is 'I Got A Woman', My Way Home is 'Home Is Where the Hatred Is' by however many people covered that. If you are used to those songs you feel a little put out of place, like the musical equivalent of film's uncanny valley. I have a feeling a compilation of all the sampled songs would far better than any Kanye Album. Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Can, Luther Vandross, Chairmen of the Board, etc, etc. They are all fantastic and not particularly obscure masterpieces shoved aside so Kanye can rap something trite, slightly smug, very poorly written and not fighting anything but his own ego.

Well said. I'd pipe in, but I feel bad about his mother.

I put Panda Bear on my MP3 player and listened to it again on the plane today. It's confirmed, the vocals really bug me. They sound distant and puny, unintelligible and annoying. Garbled vocals can sometimes work, like with Burial. But on Person Pitch the only emotional impact is irritation.

More pleasantly, I enjoyed these:
Modeselektor - Happy Birthday
Chloe - The Waiting Room
Muscles - Guns Babes Lemonade
Apparat - Walls
Matthew Dear - Asa Breed
Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings

I think I might end up preferring them all over the LCD Soundsystem. I picked up a Rolling Stone at the airport for some mindless reading, laugh and cry at their top 50 albums. The Good 'n' Bad, Idolator stylee-

Good - Er...No real pleasant surprises until you get all the way to #16, Les Savy Fav, and #23 1990s. I nearly forgot about that album, good times. Of Montreal #41.

Bad - Let me count the ways. In a transparently insincere bid to remain hip and relevent, M.I.A. is #1. Rilo Kiley, Against Me!, NIN, McCartney, Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Smashing Pumpkins, Fall Out Boy, Dropkick Murphys, etc... Basically a list socially engineered for their demographic. Christgau, Fricke, Hoard and Sheffield list their personal favorites that would never be allowed onto herr Wenner's Masterlist. My favorite forced and contrived entry is Sheffield on The Liars - "These Berlin-based art-twat noise pervs sound like they're actually attempting to write catchy rock & roll songs - and listening to them try is even funnier than watching Manny Ramirez chase pop-ups." Nice Rob, wouldn't want to come off as too sincere. You like it as comedy, gotcha.

"a-ROUSED" is from "I Wonder". "Drunk & Hot Girls" is actually probably one of my three favorite songs on the album. "Barry Bonds", too. Those two and "Can't Tell Me Nothing" form this great, dark, fucked-up mid-section.

-- The Reverend, Friday, 14 December 2007 02:36 (4 hours ago) Link

haha, that's interesting, for me that whole section (really, everything after "Champion" and before "Flashing Lights") is one big no man's land where I'm either bored or annoyed and generally wishing I wasn't listening to the album at all.

^ i feel this way about everything post "flashing lights" except for "the glory"

I kinda agree with that too, but "Everything I Am" really grew on me and in general the last stretch is more pleasant at its worse than how much the middle section grates on me.

basically, wanted to love the album, thought i did, now idk i think it's 3.5/5. definitely a strong third album, but ive def heard at least 10 better records this year.

same here, except i kinda knew i wouldn't love it based on the advance singles, and only thought I did for like 2 listens.

I dunno, I've kind of had a really weird reaction to this album. For the first two months after it came out, I had the same kind of middling response that you guys have (hold up - didn't you have this in your CP top ten, Al?), but then it started making sense in ways it hadn't before. Even a month or so ago, when I first started trying to puzzle together a top ten, I had it posited at maybe 9 or 10, if it made the list at all. But then it got to where I want to listen to it twice in a row every day, and I never do that with albums. It's kind of freaking me out, really.

I feel he's found not necessarily found the perfect mid-point between the aw-shucks warmth of Dropout and the international assholism of Registration, but rather mastered their use, learning how and when to perfectly play them against each other or completely drop one for the other. (Note, that last third he pretty much cuts the ego out entirely and thus is the most sympathetic he's been since his debut.) And the production just fucking slays me. The synthesizers are so fucking audacious and in your face, but its always buoyant or sensitive or intense enough that it never feels cold and repellent the way the back half of Registration did.

hm. i disagree re: the beats. i think my ultimate problem is that i feel let down by the fact that this is his least sonically interesting album. like once i got over "oh synths hm?" i just kinda got... bored. and even though i like kanye as an mc, he isn't carrying songs with so-so beats on graduation like he did with, idk, "spaceship"

you say audacious, i say harsh :/

you say cocks i say COCKS

it was at #10 on a list I turned in last month, yes, definitely not in my top 10 anymore.

"Spaceship" has a great beat. That's kind of interesting about the synth thing, I HATE the way he used them on Registration, but here they are just beautiful.

stephen otm

Also, I think he's learned not to sound so fucking pleased with himself. (He still does, but not to the point where I want to slap him, you know?)

I almost liked the 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' hype mixtape more than the Graduation itself. The last verse of 'Us Placers' is perhaps the most poignant thing he's done (and it helps it isn't him).

Also I can't get behind Muscles probably because he is irritating live and I've seen him a bunch of times now. Battles neither, 'Atlas' reminds me too much of 'Doctorin' The Tardis' and the rest of the album comes off as pointless as the height of that cymbal.

Stuff I liked:
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Burial - Untrue
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Ricardo Villalobos - Fabric36
Studio - West Coast
Justice - Cross
Chromatics – Night Drive

Which is far less traditional indie rock/pop than the last couple of years. Fun fact: The highest selling independently released record of 2007 was the Eagles - Long Road Out Of Eden.

^those are all pretty good albums except radiohead.

rev, i never really was as turned off by his egotism as seemingly everyone else, and idk really why that is.

The last verse of 'Us Placers' is perhaps the most poignant thing he's done (and it helps it isn't him).

Wait, are you calling Pharrell poignant? Remind me never to take anything you have to say seriously.

haha that really confused me cuz i had didn't remember who had the last verse on that song so i didnt know if he meant kanye was like out of character "not him" or what

you know who had to die for these ice creams?
these bapes, these gold chains?
clothing production is not nice, but mean

~~~^^^lol pharell parody verse lol^^^~~~

Every time someone calls Pharrell "poignant", god sews through a little girl in Nicaragua's hand.

/\ Holy shit, Rev.

what's his verse even about? at these stages in their careers, i couldn't even imagine the hilarity that would ensue over the course of a kanye-pharell-lupe super-group super-album.

(Pharrell)
G.R.I.P P.I.M.P
I, any spelling ***** come on that’s me
I bring a burning sensation to the urban eye
Like an eye-drop of Turpentine
You can listen to the serpent, fine
But the earth got gas once it burps its fine
Someone around me they talk about the grease
Not G.H.G, how to cook a quarter ki
Talking all nasal, he aint over that cold
No glove scrub, Manny just over that stove
Perfect paradigm
Wrong place wrong time
Should have been Phizer, GlaxoSmithKline
Number one chemist
Look at him no blemish
Egg shell off white like a DuPont finish
Young, dumb, high strung, who could handle us
I wonder how Gods gon’ paint today’s canvasses
Cause who knew that day that man would just
Go to VA with a Tec and spray campuses
What a way to see the cover of Time
I know that ***** wish he was standing in line
To see it….As if he didn’t do it.

Lupe's a great rapper who got lost on a venture up his own ass.

yup.

and wack beats with wacker hooks.

It's Dormitory Hip-hop.

you made that pharrell verse up right? "but the earth got gas once it burps it's fine"????

is that even the worse line??

No! That's the actual verse in question.

poignant is really the only word that comes to mind.

"Egg shell off white like a DuPont finish
Young, dumb, high strung, who could handle us"

Makes me tear up. It's like listening to Time Of Your Life.

(See what I did there? A little thread-mix and matchin.)

"Young, dumb, high strung, who could handle us
I wonder how Gods gon’ paint today’s canvasses
Cause who knew that day that man would just
Go to VA with a Tec and spray campuses"

this rhyme structure is actually pretty def, too bed the words are indescribably bad.

deft*

Perfect paradigm
Wrong place wrong time
Should have been Phizer, GlaxoSmithKline

Kanye could never elicit this kind of emotion.

Hey Reverend. I was as surprised at the pharell verse as you should be.

http://bp0.blogger.com/_bJX2ryvw3U8/RiWKkS0gFOI/AAAAAAAAAQc/zhIT9VVCHZY/s400/pfft.jpeg

Look, I didn’t say it was the best thing ever. I think it ends well.

Are you really making a case for Kanye as a lyricist here? Come on... the guy can barely make the last syllable match the next last syllable and when it does, it's all cloud/proud, oft/soft and the number of times he rhymes 'me' with 'me'...

Out of interest, does anyone think Kanye has any strength in this?

battle of the heavyweights over here.

OK, to get away from the boring crap above, the Resident Advisor polls are starting to go up. So far:

Top 5 producers

Top 10 comps

THANK YOU

Does anyone else find it weird that there is almost no dance music AT ALL in ANY of the generalist lists (bar FACT's)? Justice scrapes in, I suppose.

Par for the course tho, innit? Nice to see that RA have given some love to that Lee Burridge mix, which I didn't notice getting much otherwise

LCD isn't dance? (I mean sure it's indie, but it's also dance.)

(or am I just out of it in terms of how these things are discussed now?)

(haha "these things" "discussed" "now")

Aren't there normally a few crossover or token records?

NME list is actually more varied this year - Rhianna!

It just seems that indie (loosely, inc folky stuff) AND hip-hop/r&b are the mainstream this year, whereas dance music (and also the whole disco-edit balearic dub disco side of things) has just vanished, which isn't how it feels out here.

The utter style-less-ness of stuff like Q's list shouldn't surprise me, but does. Someone commented that the FACT list seemed overly hip and mp3-blog influenced, but wouldn't/shouldn't what's fashionable have some bearing on these polls. I feel like a dick for decrying their sobriety, but it just seems so dull.

'Atlas' reminds me too much of 'Doctorin' The Tardis'

NOT ENOUGH

xpost

LCD is indie music for dance fans, as someone on here once said.

That's a good example, though. Obviously they have several constituencies and cross all sorts of boundaries, and have the profile to make it onto these polls, but if you look at their remixers - Harvey, Windsurf, Carl Craig (and er Franz Ferdinand and John Cale, but that doesn't help my argument) it's clear that they have the same idea of "what's going on" as I do, so it's then odd that people who like their record enough to poll it, have a completely different idea.

I agree. I was shocked by how popular "All My Friends" got with people because when I first paid attention to the lyrics all I could think was that it was so specific to raves that no one else could possibly get it. How wrong I was!

"That's a good example, though. Obviously they have several constituencies and cross all sorts of boundaries, and have the profile to make it onto these polls, but if you look at their remixers - Harvey, Windsurf, Carl Craig (and er Franz Ferdinand and John Cale, but that doesn't help my argument) it's clear that they have the same idea of "what's going on" as I do, so it's then odd that people who like their record enough to poll it, have a completely different idea."

It's not really that odd. LCD Soundsystem represent the furthest foray into balearic disco etc. for some people in the same way that M.I.A. represents the furthest foray into dancehall etc. for other people (or, indeed, sometimes the same people). To some extent you could argue that both acts process all sorts of stuff so that a good chunk of their fanbase doesn't have to.

Tim OTM--LCD are processing indie for its dance fans as much as the other way round.

The AV Club list is really white-guy indie this year. More so than usual, I mean. Arcade Fire at #1, The National at #2, Band of Horses in the top 5. I was about to say it reads like a Pitchfork list from six years ago, except Pitchfork usually threw in a couple of IDM records and, like, Cannibal Ox.

I know you voted in this, Matos, but still.

the 'processing' meme kind of implies that in a well-ordered world, everyone would be a music geek innit.

Yeah I'm generally not one to tsk tsk about whether people are more indie than they should be or whatever, but I was kind of appalled at that list. (xpost)

I also voted in <I>City Paper</I>'s poll and the results were as opposite of <I>The Onion</I>'s as could be while existing in the same basic area.

yeah, can't really hold any one voter responsible for a poll's results, even when the pool of voters is relatively small.

This isn't a critics poll, but here's Pitchfork's "Guest List: Best of 2007"
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/47091-guest-list-best-of-2007

x-post
I think editors at general interest publications or websites (not pubs or sites devoted to one genre of music) should try to recruit writers to cover a broader spectrum. I think the editors at such locations can be held responsible. Even if their votes only make up a small percentage of the overall poll, I hope writers from dahnce publications and sites, and Living Blues magazine, metal mags, Latin Beat, etc. all contribute and/or are solicited to contribute to the Idolator and P & J polls.

I'm sure you're preaching to the choir with most of the editors and would-be editors here.

I dunno. I've had editors who were pretty narrow in their choices and would really marginalize folks who didn't play ball, esp. at an alt-weekly that will remain nameless.

[also: the singles lists make me feel like i never listen to enough songs.]

I do not think so actually Al. I think most editors are swamped with work and editing and maybe getting lots of indie-rock copy, and they do not spend the time to seek out marginalized genre specialists. Also, some editors just don't care or feel like they have any obligation to reach out and cover more. Plus it depends on who is sending them promos and press releases, which turns into a Catch 22 situation. Folks associated with non-indie rock music think that the editors don't care about their genres (plus some club owners and labels and musicians don't reach out either). Sharon Jones & the Dapkings get more media attention than Denise Lasalle because they consciously bombard indie-rock and mainstream media while Lasalle's chitlin circuit soul label Ecko does not. If dancehall music acts are only appearing on short notice, late at night at clubs in shady locations in DC and their labels are not sending promos or downloads or whatever to the DC alt-weekly, there's not gonna be much coverage unless the editor reaches out.

I was glad that M. Matos responded to my e-mail with information on The Beat, Living Blues, and Latin Beat magazines, with a pledge to contact those folks. Last year, I forwarded a Jackin' Pop poll e-mail to 'world' music publicists Rock Paper Scissors who send it out to the folks they solicit and most of them apparently didn't bother to respond. With some I am guessing that they do not care to participate in polls dominated by American and Brit pop, rock, and rap. Which is a shame.

I e-mailed Bob Boilen of NPR to encourage them to make the spectrum of concerts they include on their website as wide as the music they review on the air. But while NPR reviews Congolese music, their website concert series is still dominated by indie-rock 930 club shows--even though Youssou N'Dour, Tinariwen, Cafe Tacuba, and numerous neo-soul, chitlin circuit soul, and whatever other genre type acts have played in DC.

I'm not saying every editor ever is making an effort to diversity their coverage or pool of freelancers, or even ever editor that posts to this board. But I've seen way too P&J threads where people complained to xhuxk about a lack of this kind of writer/voter and he sounded pretty exasperated about how hard he'd tried with little success to include those people to a degree that would actually impact the results. So it does feel a little like beating a dead horse to talk once again about, hey, there sure are a lot of critics who like indie, but I get what you're saying, and it's good that you're actually e-mailing editors and lobbying for that kind of change.

This isn't a critics poll, but here's Pitchfork's "Guest List: Best of 2007"
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/47091-guest-list-best-of-2007

wow that list is like MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala

but it was fun to read. i always like seeing what musicians were listening to.

x-post

I think XChuck and some others who do reach out are exceptions to the rule. Christgau complained in P & J in the early '80s that he he could not get some hardcore punk fanzine writers to contribute to P & J, so as you noted this is not a new issue. Also, you've been lucky to deal with editors that try to be inclusive (as far as I can tell)at the Baltimore City Paper. Not everyone is so lucky.

again, my original comment was that you're kinda preaching to the choir re: editors that post on this board, not all music editors everywhere, so i don't think we're actually disagreeing.

wow that list is like MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala, MIA Kala

so no different from most of the boring critics' lists, then.

Yeah she's got a real shot at #1 in THE ONLY POLL THAT MATTERS.

Pitchfork?

slight lol at Diplo and Bonde Do Role dude NOT picking 'Kala' tho

JN$OT is a funny mans.

slight lol at Diplo and Bonde Do Role dude NOT picking 'Kala' tho

I assumed in Diplo's case that was a form of modesty - since he produced some of the tracks on it.

EL-P
1. NIN: Year Zero
2. Aesop Rock: None Shall Pass
3. Rob Sonic: Sabotage Gigante
4. Queens of the Stone Age: Era Vulgaris
5. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis: The Proposition
6. UGK: Underground Kingz
7. Cam'ron: Public Enemy #1
8. Gang of Four: Entertainment! (Remastered)
9. Deftones: Saturday Night Wrist
10. Jay-Z: American Gangster

how many rap records do yall think el-p actually heard in 2007

i think southern rap pioneer diplo's list would be funnier to ask that question of.

only one of them actually ever made rap music

also i dont even know what the fuck diplos list is about... whereas nin, nick cave & deftones are all pretty dope

that NIN album kinda sucks, actually. lol @ him being one of the 5 dudes left on the internet still repping hard for cam'ron in '07, though.

dipset do kinda sound like vital nerve-era co flow

ha maaan i had to look up the original southern rap pioneer quote from the pfork review for lolz

"For a couple years now, Diplo and his partner Low Budget have run Hollertronix as a sort of crunk Underground Railroad, stealing away big-balled, white label southern rap into the sophisticated environs of the Northeast."

Crunkerground Railroad was actually the original name of their DJ night.

holla-et tubman

this is todays lollertronix thread now

official 12/14/07 'i'm a dairy queen' tribute thread

Global Rhythms (I'm surprised steve didn't post this already.)

GR TOP 10 of 2007
1. Andy Palacio – Watina (Cumbancha)
2. Anoushka Shankar & Karsh Kale – Breathing Under Water (Manhattan)
3. Manu Chao – La Radiolina (Nacional)
4. Vieux Farka Toure – Vieux Farke Toure (Modiba)
5. Antibalas – Security (Anti-)
6. V/A – Roots of Chicha (Barbes)
7. Stephen Marley – Mind Control (Universal)
8. Ticklah – Ticklah Vs. Axelrod (Easy Star)
9. Gogol Bordello – Super Taranta (Side One Dummy)
10. Calle 13 – Residente o Visitante (Norte/Sony)

JILL ETTINGER
1. Stephen Marley – Mind Control (Universal)
2. Vieux Farke Toure – Remixed: UFO’s Over Bamako (Modiba)
3. Radiohead – In Rainbows (Self-Released)
4. Antibalas – Security (Anti-)
5. Nostalgia 77 – Everything Under The Sun (Tru Thoughts)
6. Ben Harper – Lifeline (EMI)
7. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights (Dap-Tone)
8. Eccodek – Voices Have Eyes (White Swan)
9. Anoushka Shankar & Karsh Kale – Breathing Under Water (Manhattan)
10. Eddie Vedder – Into The Wild Soundtrack (RCA)

TOM TERRELL
1. ANDY PALACIO & the GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE: Watina (Cumbancha)
2. MANU CHAO: La Radiolina: Y Ahora Que? (Nacional)
3. JULIETTE GRECO: Le temps d’une chanson (Sunnyside)
4. ANOUSHKA SHANKAR & KARSH KALE: Breathing Under Water (Manhattan)
5. WILLIE COLON: Crime Pays (Fania)
6. MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO: The World Has Made Me The Man Of My Dreams (Emarcy)
7. QUARTET SAN FRANCISCO: Whirled Chamber Music (ViolinJazz)
8. KERMIT RUFFINS: Live at Vaughan’s (Basin Street)
9. LITTLE AXE: Stone Cold Ohio (Real World)
10. HUGH MASEKELA: Live at the Market Theatre (Times Square)

TOM PRYOR
1. Ticklah - Ticklah vs. Axelrod (Easy Star)
2. Antibalas - Security (ANTI)
3. Andy Palacio - Watina (Cumbancha)
4. Slavic Soul Party! - Technocek Collision
5. Buika - Mi Nina Lola (Dro Atlantic)
6. Calle 13 - Residente o Visitante (Norte/Sony)
7. Martirio - Primavera en Nueva York (Norte/Sony)
8. Puerto Plata - Mujer de Cabaret (IASO)
9. Tabu Ley Rochereau - The Voice of Lightness (Stern's)
10. Bole 2 Harlem - Bole 2 Harlem (Sounds of the Mushroom)

CHRIS HEIM
1. Andy Palacio - Watina (Cumbancha)
2. Various - Roots of Chicha (Barbes)
3. Various Artists - Si, Para Usted (Waxing Deep)
4. Bob Brozman - Lumiere (Riverboat)
5. Mariza - Concerto em Lisboa (Four Quarters)
6. Mavis Staples - We'll Never Turn Back (Anti-)
7. Papa Noel - Cafe Noir (Tumi)
8. Dee Dee Bridgewater - Red Earth (Decca)
9. Kalman Balogh & the Gypsy Cimbalom Band - Live in Germany (Traditional Crossroads)
10. Various - Rough Guide to the Music of Vietnam (WMI)

MATT SCHEINER
1. Stephen Marley - Mind Control (Universal)
2. Ticklah - Ticklah Vs. Axelrod (Easy Star)
3. Xavier Rudd - White Moth (Anti-)
4. Lefties Soul Connection ‹ Skimming the Skum (Groove Attack)
5. Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog (Sub Pop)
6. Yabby You - Deliver Me From My Enemies (Blood & Fire)
7. Turbulence - Do Good (Minor7Flat5)
8. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)
9. Toots and the Maytals - Light Your Light (Concord)
10. Bettye LaVette - The Scene of the Crime (Anti-)

BRUCE SACH
1. Zachary Richard - Lumière Dans Le Noir (Musicor)
2. Pink Martini - Hey Eugene! (Heinz)
3. Céu - Céu (Six Degrees)
4. Magnolia - Magnolia (Les Disques Audiogram)
5. Ariane Moffatt - Le Coeur Dans La Tête (Les Disques Audiogram)
6. Anne Lindsay - News From Up the Street (Violindsay Music)
7. Carla Bruni - No Promises (Les Disques Audiogram)
8. Thomas Hellman - Departure Songs (Justin time)
9. Luciana Souza - The New Bossa Nova (Verve)
10. The National Parks - Timbervision (Les Disques Audiogram)

MICHAEL STONE
1. Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective - Wátina (Cumbancha)
2. Omar Sosa / Promise / Otá-Melodia
3. Niño Josele - Paz (Calle 54)
4. Roberto Fonseca - Zamazu (Enja)
5. Chavela Vargas - Cupaima (Tropical Music)
6. Choro Ensemble - Nosso Tempo (Anzic)
7. Habib Koite - Afriki (Cumbancha)
8. Ági Szalóki / Hallgató (Lament) / FolkEurópa
9. Brazilian Folklore Research Mission (VA) / Musica Tradicional do Norte e Nordeste 1938 / Municipal Culture Secretariat of São Paulo-SESC-SP
10. Abyssinians - Satta Massagana (Heartbeat-Rounder)

BRUCE MILLER
1. Various Artists - Lesotho Calling (Sharp Wood)
2. Group Inerane - Guitars From Agadez (Sublime Frequencies)
3. Group Doueh - Guitar Music From The Western Sahara (Sublime Frequencies)
4. Bachata - Roja (iASO)
5. Daouda - Dembele (Yaala Yaala)
6. Bougouni - Yaalali (Yaala Yaala)
7. Pekos - Yoro Diallo (Yaala Yaala)
8. Various Artists - The Roots of Chicha (Barbes)
9. Puerto Plata - Mujer De Cabaret (iASO)
10. Robert Wyatt - Comicopera (Domino)

DOUG HESELGRAVE
1. Andy Palacio - Watina (Cumbancha)
2. Marcel Khalife - Taqasim (Connecting Cultures)
3. Tcheka - Nu Monda (Harmonia Mundi)
4. Dobet Gnahore - Ni Afriki (Cumbancha)
5. Benny Culture and Singe Shante - Conscience (Megawave)
6. Burning Spear - The Burning Spear Experience (Self-Released)
7. Mickey Hart and Zakir Hussain - Global Drum Project (Shout! Factory)
8. Toumani Diabate - Symmetric Orchestra (Nonesuch)
9. Lee Scratch Perry - A Lee Perry Jukebox (Trojan)
10.Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Dub Qawwali (Six Degrees)

NILS JACOBSON
1. Habib Koite and Bamada - Afriki (Cumbancha)
2. Oojami - Boom Shinga Ling (CIA)
3. Buika - Mi Niña Lola (Dro Atlantic/Casa Limon)
4. Sones De Mexico Ensemble - Esta Tierra Es Tuya (Sones De Mexico)
5. Nik Bartsch's Ronin - Live (Ronin Rhythm)
6. Ojos De Brujo - Techarí (Six Degrees)
7. Tinariwen - Aman Iman (World Village)
8. Enrico Rava - The Words And The Days (ECM)
9. Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective - Wátina (Cumbancha)
10. Various Artists - African Pearls, Vol. 4: The Teranga Spirit (Syliphone)

JOHN SEROFF
1. Alash - Alash (Self-Released)
2. Kenge Kenge - Introducing Kenge Kenge (World Music Network)
3. Lionel Loueke - Vision Forest (Obliquesound)
4. Vieux Farka Toure - Eponymous (Modiba)
5. The Yoshida Brothers - Hishou (Domo)
6. Kodo - Heartbeat (Sony)
7. Dengue Fever - Venus on Earth (M80)
8. Cherryholmes - Cherryholmes II Black and White (Skaggs Family)
9. Lekan Babalola - Songs of Icon (Mr. Bongo)
10. Alex Alvear - Ecuatorial (Self-Released)

JEFF TAMARKIN
1. Vieux Farka Toure - Vieux Farke Toure (World Village)
2. Anoushka Shankar & Karsh Kale - Breathing Under Water (Manhattan)
3. Dee Dee Bridgewater - Red Earth: A Malian Journey (DDB)
4. Corey Harris - Zion Crossroads (Telarc)
5. Pink Martini - Hey Eugene! (Heinz)
6. Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective - Wátina (Cumbancha)
7. Bebo Valdés - Featuring The Legendary Vocalists (Malanga)
8. Habib Koite - Afriki (Cumbancha)
9. Pharaoh’s Daughter - Haran (Oy!hoo)
10. Toni Iordache - Sounds From a Bygone Era Vol. 4 (Asphalt Tango)

STACY MEYN
Hybrid - I Choose Noise (Distinctive)
Recoil - subHuman (Mute)
The Darbuki Kings - Doumtekastan (Massive Music)
Various Artists - Backspin: A Six Degrees 10 Year Anniversary Project (Six Degrees)
Eivissa - Defected in the House (Defected)
Steve Bug - Fabric 37 (Fabric)
Omar Akram - Secret Journey (Real Music)
Various Artists-Urban Mantra-Music Mosaic
Sultan - Yoshitoshi Montreal (Rephlektor Ink)
The Original Chinatown Bad Boys: The Notorious MSG-Six Lessons from the Chinatown Underground (Cordless)

MARIO I. OÑA
1. Manu Chao - La Radiolina (Nacional)
2. Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
3. Born Again Floozies - 7 Deadly Sinners
4. Café Tacvba - Sino (Universal Latino)
5. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup (Badabing)
6. Calle 13 - Residente o Visitante (Sony)
7. Federico Aubele - Panamericana (18th St. Lounge)
8. Mexican Institute of Sound - Piñata (Nacional)
9. Austin TV - Fontana Bella (Self-Released)
10. B*Side Players - Fire in the Youth (Self-Released)

ERNEST BARTELDES
Caetano Veloso - Cê (Nonesuch)
Pacha Massive - All Good Things (Nacional)
Karsh Kale & Anoushka Shankar - Breathing Under Water (Manhattan)
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full (Hear Music)
Céu - Céu (Six Degrees)
Bebel Gilberto - Momento (Six Degrees)
Ojos de Brujo - Techarí (Six Degrees)
Manu Chao - La Radiolina (Nacional)
Arturo Sandoval - Rumba Palace (Telarc Jazz)
Francesca Ancarola - Lonquen (Petroglyph)

TOM ORR
Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective - Watina (Cumbancha)
Colombiafrica - The Mystic Orchestra- Voodoo Love Inna Champeta Land (Riverboat Records/World Music Network)
Jacques Schwarz-Bart - Sone Ka-La (Emarcy/Universal)
Jose Conde y Ola Fresca - Revolucion (Pipiki/Mr. Bongo)
Malouma - Nour (Marabi)
King Sunny Ade - Gems From the Classic Years 1967-1974 (Shanachie)
Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca - Isabela (Mopiato)
Cory Harris - Zion Crossroads (Telarc)
Tinariwen - Aman Iman (World Village)
Benjamin Escoriza - Alevanta! (Riverboat Records)

PHIL FREEMAN
1. Tego Calderón - El Abayarde Contra-Ataca (Universal)
2. Various Artists - New York City Salsa (Fania)
3. Kenge Kenge - Introducing Kenge Kenge (World Music Network)
4. Various Artists - ¡Gozalo! (Vampisoul)
5. Sol Hoopii - King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar (Sony)
6. Tony Allen - Afro Disco Beat (Vampisoul)
7. Rebuilding The Rights Of Statues - Cut Off! (Tag Team)
8. Calle 13 - Residente O Visitante (Sony)
9. Tinariwen - Aman Iman (Harmonia Mundi)
10. El Kinto - s/t (Lion)

TAD HENDRICKSON
1. Manu Chao – La Radiolina (Nacional)
2. Gogol Bordello – Super Taranta! (Side One Dummy)
3. Anoushka Shankar & Karsh Kale – Breathing Under Water (Manhattan)
4. Antibalas – Security (ANTI-)
5. V/A – Roots Of Chicha (Barbes)
6. Sharon Jones – 100 Days, 100 Nights (Daptone)
7. Federico Aubele – Panamericana (ESL Music)
8. Luciana Souza – The New Bossa Nova (Verve)
9. Nawal – Aman (s/r)
10. Andy Palacio – Watina (Cumbancha)

BILL MURPHY
1. V/A – Jonny Greenwood Is the Controller (Sanctuary)
2. Björk – Volta (One Little Indian/Universal)
3. King Jammy – King Jammy’s Dub Explosion (Jamaican Recordings)
4. Femi Kuti – The Definitive Collection (Wrasse)
5. V/A – Roots of Chicha (Barbes)
6. Celia Cruz - ¡Azucar!: A Lady and her Music (Fania/Emusica)
7. Grinderman – Grinderman (ANTI-)
8. Antibalas – Security (ANTI-)
9. Calle 13 – Residente O Visitante (Sony)
10. Jose Conde & Ola Fresca – Revolucion (Mr. Bongo)

ADAM MENCELES
1. The Slackers - The Boss Harmony Sessions (Special Potato Records)
2. Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta (Side One Dummy)
3. The Aggrolites - Reggae Hit L.A. (Hellcat Records)
4. Ozomatli - Don't Mess With The Dragon (Concord Records)
5. Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life (Hellcat Records)
6. Joel Plaskett Emergency - Ashtray Rock (Maple Music Recordings)
7. Psychotropical Orchestra - Invasion Psychotropical (Denso)
8. Bossacucanova - Uma Batida Diferente - (Six Degrees)
9. Nekromantix - Life Is A Grave And I Dig It (Hellcat Records)
10. Xavier Rudd - White Moth (Anti)

I think I'm the biggest Karsh Kale fan around here and I have been disappointed by Breathing Under Water, time to give it another shot maybe. But yeah Palacios in a walk.

Blinded by the Hype!'s 2007 top ten.

Top Albums

1. Battles -- 'Mirrored'
2. Burial -- 'Untrue'
3. Baroness -- 'Red Album'
4. Low -- 'Drums and Guns'
5. UGK -- 'Underground Kingz'
6. Gui Boratto -- 'Chromophobia'
7. Panda Bear -- 'Person Pitch'
8. P.J. Harvey -- 'White Chalk'
9. Radiohead -- 'In Rainbows'
10. Electrelane -- 'No Shouts, No Calls'

Top Singles

1. Rihanna f. Jay-Z -- 'Umbrella'
2. Kanye West -- 'Flashing Lights'
3. Spoon -- 'The Ghost of You Lingers'
4. The Dillinger Escape Plan -- 'Black Bubblegum'
5. Amy Winehouse -- 'Rehab'
6. Justice -- 'D.A.N.C.E.
7. LCD Soundsystem -- 'All My Friends'
8. UGK -- 'International Players Anthem'
9. Battles -- 'Atlas'
10. Kathy Diamond -- 'All Woman'

I'm a little surprised that Tinariwen didn't do better on those Global Rhythms lists.

Are there any good hardcore/post-hardcore lists out there? Just curious, what with No Age, Times New Viking, Psychadelic Horseshit, etc. coming out this year, I wanted to see what else a publication focusing on that scene would like.

Isn't Blinded by the Hype! just, like, one guy? I mean, I like him and all, but dag, maybe I should just post MINE up here. Oh wait I probably will. Just on another thread.

what happened to lollertronix

Blinded by the Hype, indeed.

I hope Matos has sent ballots to the Global Rhythms writers...and XXL online columnists too

Jesus you're a pest, Steve.

here's an idea: assume I did.

re. Global Rhythms

i'm surprised to see Manu Chao's record in so many of those lists. i thought it had been universally derided....or perhaps i'm thinking of his live show.

That Stephen Marley record is hella boring.

i was on his tour bus once.

Groupie.

yeah cash money buses have been a little heated lately so i decided to move on.

no a family friend lives next door to the marley house (dunno which marley actually owns it tbh) in miami and one day a few years ago they were loading shit into the bus when we were out there and they let me and my brother and his friend walk around for a minute or so.

This is where list fatigue begins to set in. The more mainstream lists all start blending together as Xmas approaches.

The Onion
I'm on vacation, so I don't know why I'm punishing myself, but I read nearly all 600+ comments on The Onion's list page. Complaints mainly focused on the lack of hip-hop, and the exclusion of Panda Bear, Of Montreal, and a few other albums that really are no less whitebread (Shins, New Porn, Andrew Bird, etc.) than the interchangeable selections they're kvetching about. Two good things came of it. I found a list with three Finnish albums I hadn't heard of (I've been having these reocurring dreams set in the dark forests of Finland and for some reason it makes me want to make a soundtrack for it), and I was reminded to pick up El-P's I'll Sleep When You're Dead. It just might be better than his first album, not sure why I forgot about it.

1. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible (81 points]
2. The National, Boxer (66 points]
3. Radiohead, In Rainbows (63 points]
4. LCD Soundsystem, Sound Of Silver (61 points]
5. Band Of Horses, Cease To Begin (56 points]
6. M.I.A., Kala (54 points]
7. Amy Winehouse, Back To Black (42 points]
8. Tegan And Sara, The Con (37 points]
9. Wilco, Sky Blue Sky (36 points]
10. Bloc Party, A Weekend In The City (36 points]
11. Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (35 points]
12. Jesu, Conqueror (30 points]
13. Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (29 points]
14. PJ Harvey, White Chalk (29 points]
15. Les Savy Fav, Let's Stay Friends (28 points]
16. The White Stripes, Icky Thump (27 points]
17. Low, Drums And Guns (26 points]
18. Ted Leo, Living With The Living (25 points]
19. Against Me!, New Wave (25 points]
20. Rilo Kiley, Under The Blacklight (25 points]
21. Grinderman, Grinderman (23 points]
22. Bat For Lashes, Fur And Gold (22 points]
23. Fall Out Boy, Infinity On High (22 points]
24. James Murphy & Pat Mahoney, FabricLive 36 (20 points]
25. Iron And Wine, The Shepherd's Dog (20 points]

SPIN
I guess I should get around to listening to Against Me and Fall Out Boy *sigh*. I'm drawing the line at Bright Eyes, I'd heard enough of him. Do grownups really like that stuff? Are Bonde De Role and Brother Ali worth hearing? I didn't even know Wildhearts and BRMC had new albums.

40. Rilo Kiley, Under The Blacklight
39. Turbonegro, Retox
38. Dizzee Rascal, Maths + English
37. Ted Leo & The Pharmicists, Living With The Living
36. Bonde Do Role, With Lasers
35. Say Anything, In Defense Of The Genre
34. Bat For Lashes, Fur And Gold
33. The Wildhearts, The Wildhearts
32. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Baby 81
31. Handsome Furs, Plague Park
30. Brother Ali, Undisputed Truth
29. Panda Bear, Person Pitch
28. Iron And Wine, The Shepherd's Dog
27. Band Of Horses, Cease To Begin
26. Bright Eyes, Cassadaga
25. Queens Of The Stone Age, Era Vulgaris
24. The Shins, Wincing The Night Away
23. Peter Bjorn & John, Writer's Block
22. Elliott Smith, New Moon
21. Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
20. of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
19. Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare
18. Feist, The Reminder
17. The National, Boxer
16. Lily Allen, Alright, Still...
15. Justice, †
14. Bruce Springsteen, Magic
13. The Hives, The Black And White Album
12. Prince, Planet Earth
11. Lil Wayne, Da Drought 3
10. The White Stripes, Icky Thump
9. Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
8. Jay-Z, American Gangster
7. Amy Winehouse, Back To Black
6. Radiohead, In Rainbows
5. M.I.A., Kala
4. Kanye West, Graduation
3. LCD Soundsystem, Sound Of Silver
2. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
1. Against Me!, New Wave

bonde do role are only worth hearing so you'll know once and for all you never want to hear them again. ok, that's mean. everything is worth hearing once. but i don't see the appeal.

The Against Me! album is terrible - awful production and their least engaging batch of songs yet. I have no idea what the appeal is supposed to be.

The Fall Out Boy album is good if you can ignore lyrics.

i don't think the lyrics are that bad.

really good album though you're right.

I like the first Against Me record quite a bit but the ones since (is this their 3rd or 4th?) haven't really made any impression on me.

Omg. Spin picked Against Me! as #1 album? I think I'm going back to reading Spin now.

Man, I remember the first year I read Spin. I was a sophomore in highschool and I hadn't heard of any of the bands on the year end list. Now I know all of them - and I wish I didn't. :(

That Palacio album didn't really grab me... I probably need to relisten?
I like the occasional divergence on those globalrhythm lists... Bjork? Sharon Jones? Ah well, I went with the Cherryholmes, so no room for complaint.
Is there already a place where people are posting their personal top 10s and I'm missing it?

Not a huge fan of Palacio's voice...It sounds empty to me.

After suffering through the mediocre/boring/similar lists from most of the publications above, and their ridiculous NATIONARCADIOHEAD placements, I'm actually looking forward to the Pitchfork list, for once.

Predictions:

- The National in the 10-20 range, Arcade Fire in the 20-30 range, where they both belong. Radiohead I can see making the top 10 on Pitchfork this year. Such a relief.

- The #1 album: who knows? My guesses would be LCD, Panda Bear or MIA in the top 5, with Animal Collective and Radiohead as long shots for #1, but definite top 10 records.

- Looking forward to some surprises in the top 20 or so records. Last year I recall seeing Scott Walker, Boris and Liars in the the top 10, which was refreshing - all of those records are incredible. My #1 of the year was Junior Boys, which was #11 i think.

Clarification: My guesses would be LCD, Panda Bear or MIA as the #1 album, all definitely in the top 5...

another good 'un last year was Tim Hecker's Harmony in Ultraviolet at, what?, 13, 14 or something? such a great record.

I don't think I would like Andy Palacio's sound, either. I wish I had a name for that general style, but there is a sort of very sweet, light-sounding, acoustic roots music that I am really not into. (It's definitely not just about acoustic, or even quiet acoustic, since I'm quite happy to listen to solo oud, for instance.)

Bachata - Roja

I don't understand what this is. There is a group just called Bachata? Something is wrong.

More likely, it's this compilation, which looks awesome, actually:

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7521513

I would like to see more historical compilations of bachata and merengue. (Maybe merengue even more because it's gone through such radical changes in instrumentation over the years.)

Pitchfork's best tracks of 2007.

List: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/47681-staff-list-top-100-tracks-of-2007/page_1

Individual staff lists: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/47485-staff-list-2007-individual-tracks-lists

From Jody Rosen's list in Slate:

23. Mickey Avalon, "Jane Fonda"

I no longer feel alone.

To expand on that last post: Jody Rosen , Ann Powers and Christgau are discussing the year over at Slate.

http://www.slate.com/id/2179977/entry/2179978/

I love the fact that Christgau has an 80GB iPod.

I love this quote:

Let's get this party started quickly. Journey sucks. They sucked in 1981, they'll suck in 2033, and they suck now. Who gives a fuck what Tony Soprano thinks?

Yeah, Jody R0sen must be all like "Oh, my ass. Thanks for handing it to me."

Metacritic cobbling most/all '07 lists together here.

"Most/All," I do not think so. from their site: Since its inception, Metacritic has provided a cross-section of reviews from a carefully-screened group of the most respected critics

Simon Reynolds' year-end thoughts.

here's the more exact link.

How did I miss the fact that Kevin Ayers has a new record out?

is it just me or is everyone putting the paper planes remix w/ bun b and rich boy on their lists and not the original? and if so why?????

http://www.grounduphiphop.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/bunb3.jpg

its such a boring/lazy verse tho.

because crits are still desperate for links between M.I.A. and US rap to help fill out their thesis papers about here.

here=her

"Most/All," I do not think so. from their site: Since its inception, Metacritic has provided a cross-section of reviews from a carefully-screened group of the most respected critics

-- curmudgeon, Monday, December 17, 2007 6:34 PM (58 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

from a stars of the lid review they used:
"I think that there are to many strange instruments in each song"
"It’s not like Stars of the Lid’s previous efforts where filled with booming dynamics and a wide variety of sounds"

"Most/All," I do not think so.

When you have a moment, kindly direct your exacting attention to Metacritic's 2006 aggregator and you'll see that the 2007 list, like those before it, will reflect "critic top ten lists...as they appear."

Furthermore, I said cobbling, not cobbled. In other words, ongoing process, not finished product.

eRading is fudnamental.

x-post

Ha. I am sure they very carefully selected that review. The idea of Metacritic has always seemed better to me than the actual thing. They never incorporate a wide enough musical spectrum for me.

Frieze magazine has a Jace Clayton year in review essay and a conversation between Simon Reynolds and Ann Powers

http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/music_3/

http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/music_2/

ilx will have its own poll this year, won't it?

-- Fastnbulbous, Tuesday, December 4, 2007

yeah, it should. someone always puts something together...

-- Bee OK, Wednesday, 5 December 2007 04:07 (1 week ago) Link

I was thinking about starting one soon, since no one has done it yet...maybe even starting it before 2008 is half over. I might make it top 25 instead of top 50, though.

Metacritic never incorporates a wide enough musical spectrum for me.

Example of what they miss(ed)?

Oh come on, the biases are obvious in the resulting list.

That's not an answer.

There is a ton of international music that doesn't have a chance--because it's not good, obviously.

Do you want genres or artists or what? When I look at that list I mostly see indie rock, metal, some other rock, electronic/"dance" music, hip-hop I guess (though I imagine hip-hop fans would complain about their selection there), and a smattering of jazz. Go read some jazz or world music or better yet, region-specific or "world" music genre specific, end of the year lists. Has all that stuff been considered and found inferior inferior to Feist or Radiohead or whomever? I don't think so.

(Or modern classical. . .)

They only scratch the surface of metal - the Dillinger Escape Plan for instance. Most of the major metal releases of the year aren't in there.

A lot of the ratings and rankings on Metacritic are horseshit, but I'm not entirely convinced that that has more to do with Metacritic's selection of publications and critics than the opinions of the publications and critics available for them to select from.