Hey, y’all! How ya been? We’ve been pretty quiet over here at SSC, and for that i, personally, am very very sorry. I could give you all sorts of “i’ve been busy with REAL life” excuses, like how the band (pictured to the left–that’d be me on the far right) has been recording a new album and how i started a new full-time writing job, but you do not care about these things–you only care that DJ has been neglecting you and denying you his delightfully witty yet insightful takes on Indie Rock Today. I am here to address that for at least one post. Maybe more, if you’re good and make me feel missed. OH YEAH. IT’S ALL UP TO YOU.
So, the year’s ending, which means that every goddamn blog and music publication feels obligated to look back with some sort of “Best of the Year” foolishness, and frankly, we at Superstarcastic are right there with them, because it’s human nature to look backward as we prepare to sally forth into a new year. 2007: it’s not an ending–it’s a beginning. Especially if you graduated high school this year, since your valedictorian probably said something that lame in his or her speech.
Anyway, you can see that the time away hasn’t improved my self-editing skills. So on to my lists (which, incidentally, are completely The National and Of Montreal-free, and you’re welcome)!
The 10 New Releases I Heard This Year and Thus Are, By Default, My Top 10 of 2007:
10. Les Savy Fav, Let’s Stay Friends
I had the guitarist from my band run this over to my place yesterday so i could put it on my iPod and listen to it in time to justify including it on this list. See, i had completely forgotten that LSF put out a new record this year, and once he reminded me, i knew that it was probably going to be a gaping hole in my list (not like i don’t have a ton of gaping holes, but just work with me here, people). So he brought it over, i threw it on my iTunes, and quickly agreed that it’s amazing, classic Les Savy Fav goodness, and while it should probably be higher on my list, that probably wouldn’t be fair to Bad Religion since i only heard Let’s Stay Friends yesterday.
9. Bad Religion, New Maps of Hell
I’m pretty sure everyone completely ignored this release because Bad Religion has recorded and released the same album more times than AC/DC, but here’s the kicker–it’s actually still really good, and the closing number “Fields of Mars” is so anthemic and glorious that it deserves to be heard even by those who “grew out of” punk years ago.
8. The Go! Team, Proof of Youth
The guest vocals by Chuck D on “Flashlight Fight” easily make that song one of the best singles of the year. More excellent sample-based collage-dance rock that exemplifies the best of what indie dance music should be. If only they were more interesting live…
7. Bottomless Pit, Hammer of the Gods
Andy and Tim from Silkworm enlist a couple friends to craft a classic Chicago-style indie rock record–drums that crack and resonate, and guitars so warm you can hear each individual string plucked during recording.
6. Shellac, Excellent Italian Greyhound
Speaking of classic Chicago: “The End of Radio” is easily one of the best songs Steve, Bob and Todd have ever crafted. While this record also felt to my ears like the most filler-laden of Shellac’s full-lengths (count me among one of those who just can’t sit through “Genuine Lulabelle” without his mind wandering–call me simple, but whatever), what qualifies as “filler” for Shellac would qualify as “essential cuts” on most other bands’ albums.
5. Battles, Mirrored
Seriously, this record is just ridiculous. Indie-prog usually leaves me sleepy and exhausted, but Tyondai Braxton’s vocal manipulations remind me of the Akira soundtrack–unearthly and captivatingly, hypnotically fucked up.
4. Call Me Lightning, Soft Skeletons
Milwaukee’s best band produced easily the best Milwaukee album this year–a stripped-down, minimalist-but-bombastically-intense rock and roll Dungeons & Dragons party with thundering drums, surgically-precise bass and razor-sharp Albini-meets-Les Savy Fav guitar. If you haven’t heard this yet, i suspect that you don’t like having your face rocked off by rockin’ fuckin’ rock. Poor you.
3. Melt-Banana, Bambi’s Dilemma
Speaking of things that can happen to your face–Melt-Banana’s latest will melt it off just like every previous M-B release, only this time they’ll do it with more sugary pop than a case of Mountain Dew. Melt-Banana have achieved what my band has spent its whole career attempting to find–the perfect blend of unlistenable noise and catchy pop genius.
2. Enon, Grass Geysers…Carbon Clouds
Probably the best ass-shaking indie rock dance record of the year. Of course, just about everyone ignored it, because everyone is an idiot except me. Enon rebounded from a lackluster 2003 release (the mostly boring Hocus Pocus) to deliver track after track of infectious gurgling electro-indie-pop, filled with all sorts of wacky sampling, synth-bass, and Toko and John’s alternating vocals. I listened to this about 5 times in a row when i first got it, and i still listen to it about once a week.
And that leaves #1, which actually came out in 2006. But i heard it for the first time in 2007, and it still laid waste to everything i heard this year. Yup, better than Enon, better than Melt-Banana, better than Bad Religion, the best album i heard in 2007, although it came out in 2006, is:
1. Ho-Ag, The Word from Pluto
Ho-Ag are a new/no-wave noiserock spazzfest from Boston, MA, and yes–full disclosure, thy name is me–they’re pals. But despite the couple shows we’ve played together and the nights we’ve spent crashed at each others’ houses on tour, i honestly never realized they were capable of this staggering a work of noisy, schizophrenic genius. Rhythms turn on a dime while synths and theremins gurgle and blurp over guitars sharing DNA with Devo and Pere Ubu. And somehow, the vocals manage to turn it all into something infectious enough to stick in your head for weeks. Don’t take my word for it, though–the closing track is called “The Hooded Sea” and it’s incredible:
Honorable Mentions For CDs Released By My Friends:
Replicator, Machines Will Always Let You Down
The year’s best touring buddies put out a stomping slab of mathy noise-rock this year, and songs with smart-assed titles like “Delicious Fornicake” and “Login With My Fist” deliver like a punch to the cerebellum.
white, wrench, conservatory., S/T
The debut release from our Brewtown sister band is a dizzyingly divine slice of shoegazer minimalism, complete with haunting accordion, layers of guitar effects and the hands-down best female vocalist in the city (and i’m not just saying that because she throws down hardcore on some Cardigans at karaoke).
2007 Live Show of the Year:
Superchunk/Mountain Goats, Metro, Chicago, IL, 06.20.07
A night like this one reminds cynical 30-something smartasses like me how exhilarating rock ‘n’ roll can still be. “Throwing Things” into “Animated Airplanes” into “On the Mouth?” Come the fuck on!!
2007 Disaster of the Year:
Turbonegro, Retox
Dear Turbonegro: you are one of my favorite bands of all time. That is why it breaks my heart to see you guys churning out half-assed Apocalypse Dudes-lite moronic cock rock with none of the razor-sharp punk edge that made Ass Cobra and Dudes classic albums. Please, stop recording new material and just tour endlessly on those two albums, if you feel the need to keep going. There’s no shame in recognizing your peak; just ask one of your idols–Alice Cooper.
Finally, a little bit of self-love, because i can:
2007 IfIHadAHiFi Top Moments of the Year (in no particular order):
-Getting a kickass new utility infielder in Rev. Ever
-Playing a pair of kickass shows with Chicago power-popsters The Dials
-Playing the Steel Bridge Songfest in beautiful Sturgeon Bay, WI and performing our cover of “We Got the Beat” with a member of the Go-Gos about 50 feet away outside the club
-Playing the first-ever Superstarcastival, naturally!
-Spending four days on the road with some of our best friends in the aforementioned Replicator
-Recording what’s going to be a goddamn barn-burner of a new album.
And speaking of that–2008’s Most Anticipated Album of the Year:
IfIHadAHiFi, (tentatively titled) Tragedy Breeds Success (unless we come up with something better)
We just got this stuff mixed, and believe you me, it’sa gonna melt-a yo face. Bring on ‘08!
8 Comments »
Now now, the smashing pumpkins didn’t crack your top 10? 
This, I think, is the most idiosyncratic year-end list I’m likely to see. Props for that, sir ^_^
you forgot the “Police Teeth” record as it surely belongs on that list somewhere…
I didn’t forget shit. How can i list something i haven’t heard?
well, I wonder if I can get it to you by, 1/1/08…
What, no Amy Winehouse? You seemed pretty sold on it back when it came out…
Pretty sure i first heard it in 2006 when it was UK-only. Can’t remember if it made any list i made last year or not, but in my head it’s a 2006 album. Trust me, i had to work that out in my head!
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Comment by jamie — December 28, 2007 @ 12:24 am
but i need my face!!