Year-End Critics' Polls '07

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)