You favourite albums of 2007 so far
 

Well six months of 2007 have gone and there's already been some amazing music released so far this year. Any faves or disappointments?

Here's my faves so far:

Mark Olson - The Salvation Blues
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Easily my fave this year. Beautiful, honest and heartbreaking. It's arguably the best thing that Olson has ever done, certainly since he left The Jayhawks and his voice has never sounded so vulnerable or lovely

Soulsavers - It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land
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This album took me aback when I first heard it: gospel, soul, rock and dance music, all sung with incredible passion by Mark Lanegan at his smoky-voiced, world-weary best. I think his version of Spiritual challenges Johnny Cash's as the best interpretation of that song

The White Stripes - Icky Thump
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I have to admit I had gone off the Stripes a little, I didn't think Elephant was the masterpiece everyone claimed it was, and Get Behind Me Satan was cute but didn't compel repeated listens. Icky Thump though is a surprise, it's fun and diverse (bagpipes, flamenco guitars and trumpets!) and loud! I love Jack and Meg turning all Steptoe And Son in Rag And Bone - hilarious and damn catchy too!

The New Pornographers - Challengers
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This isn't out yet, but if you pre-order you get to hear a stream of the album. On first listen it lacks the power pop punch of Twin Cinema but IMO it's their best effort yet. It's pretty hard to go wrong with the AC Newman/Dan Bejar/Neko Case triple threat though.

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
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There's a lot of hatin' on this album, but, while it's not as instant as Summerteeth or progressive as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, or experimental as A Ghost Is Born, given a chance it has a lot to love, especially Impossible Germany and Side With The Seeds. I <3 Jeff Tweedy. I still get a kick out of hearing him sing about housework on Hate It Here

Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter - Like Love Lust & The Open Halls Of The Soul
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When I saw Jesse Sykes and her band live earlier this year I couldn't understand why this woman isn't better known. She looks like a cross between Emmylou Harris and Ali MacGraw, has a smoky, unique and awesomely sinister voice, and her songs are gorgeous, atmospheric country noir with a real Neil Young sensibility. I just love her.

Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
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Why can't all comeback albums be like this? Beyond, I think, sounds like it could have been released back in the band's prime. They are still incredible live too, I didn't realise it but I really missed J Mascis' ear-bleeding guitar solos

Also awesome:
Son Volt - The Search
Feist - The Reminder
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
Brandi Carlisle - The Story
Charlotte Hatherley - Deep Blue Sea
Dr Dog - We All Belong
Patti Smith - Twelve
The National - Boxer
Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

Disappointments:
Rufus Wainwright - Release The Stars
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Lucinda Williams - West

Well mine is yet to come in about October or November. It's from that kick ass band from the U.K called Stereophonics. And it will be called Pull The Pin!:nod:

My top 5 so far:

1. Tori Amos - American Doll Posse
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2. Lucky Soul - Great Unwanted
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3. Suzanne Vega - Beauty & Crime
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4. Mary Weiss with the Reigning Sound - Dangerous Game
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5. Frog Eyes - Tears of the Valedictorian
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Also good:
Lavender Diamond - Imagine Our Love
The Bird & the Bee - The Bird & the Bee
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
Laura Viers - Saltbreakers
Cowboy Junkies - At the End of Paths Taken
Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
Patti Smith - Twelve
Feist - The Reminder
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Marilyn Manson - Eat Me, Drink Me
Crowded House - Time On Earth
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Son Volt - The Search
Avril Lavigne - Best Damn Thing :p
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend Blue CD-R
Bryan Ferry - Dylanesque

Disapointments:
Bjork - Volta!
Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain
Chris Cornell - Carry On

I am sure there are more, but I am at work and can't think of them :mad:

Not many stand out to me thus far this year, but here are the few exceptions:

"In Sorte Diaboli" - Dimmu Borgir
"Systematic Chaos" - Dream Theater
"The Arockalypse" - Lordi
"United Abominations" - Megadeth

Disappointment-
"Christ Illusion" - Slayer

Newer releases that I hope are very good listens-
"The Apostasy" - Behemoth
"Paradise Lost" - Symphony X
"Unia" - Sonata Arctica

Two so far:


Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion


Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars

They are this fun indie pop group, very influenced by The Shangri-La's and Sandie Shaw - think The Bird & the Bee but better, with their roots in a modern 1950/60s sound. If that makes sense to you :laugh:

Idk, I havent really listened to any full albums from this year. I'll let you know what I think when "Under The Blacklight" comes out. :)

hmm, favorites so far ...

patty griffin - children running through. oh patty. oh, oh patty. this album focuses less on her songwriting and more on her voice, so i don't think it's my favorite of hers, but it may be my favorite so far this year.

mark olson - salvation blues. you're right sharon, it's so heartbreaking ... i just love it. my favorite track is currently clifton bridge - i just love the lines "some people come here to die/we came here to live/there's a hope in our hearts/there's a future in our soul" <3

new pornographers - challengers. their best album IMO. just gorgeous ... "there's something unguided in the sky tonight" oh neko. oh dan. oh AC.

keren ann - keren ann. who is this girl and where is she from and why does she know so many languages and why is she so cool? this is a slow burn of an album, but it's quite lovely. i hadn't even heard of this girl until a few weeks ago but i highly recommend her.

ricky skaggs & bruce hornsby - ricky skaggs & bruce hornsby. you heard me. it's fantastic. when i first heard about this collaboration a while back i was taken aback; they're odd bedfellows. even if you don't think you like bluegrass, give it a shot.

grace potter and the nocturnals - this is somewhere. i talk about these guys so much you'd think i was on their street team or something. i'm not, i just ****ing love them. go to their myspace and tell me you're not in love with grace, i dare you. this album comes out in august.

vampire weekend - vampire weekend. i don't know a single thing about this band but the album was great. pop music + strings = happy carrie.

jesse sykes and the sweet hereafter - like, love, lust, and the open halls of the soul. i hated this album when i first heard it. but i read an article about jesse sykes and decided to give it another listen. once i got used to her unusual voice i fell in love with it and the twang, oh the twang! swoon.

Oh yeah, I forgot about this one! Thank you to the customer who shared it with me which allowed me to share it with you! :D

OMG, Suzanne Vega looks gorgeous!

I need to pick up Icky Thump soon.

Perry Farrell's Satellite Party - Ultra Payloaded

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

get.

the f*ck out.

i seriously thought i was the only one in the world who knows her. (but why does it not surprise me that you know and love her?) i can listen to "lay your head down" all day. "the sailor and the widow." "in your back." brilliant poetry. brilliant voice.

Doubtful that many (if any) of you here have heard of them but Mother Mother - "Touch Up" is seriously one of the most incredible albums I have heard in my life. It has definitely cracked my fave top 10 evah.

Paul Collins' Beat - Flying High is my favorite album released this year, so far. It's soooo good.

Also lovin'..
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Gore Gore Girls - Get The Gore
The DT's - Nice N Ruff! Hard Soul Hits, Vol 1
The White Stripes - Icky Thump

That's all I can think of..

this is the only CD from this year that I've actually liked thus far, tbh.

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Mika - Life in Cartoon Motion