Aja on 16/12/2007 at 19:20

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Or better yet, get Avec Laudenum and work your way up.

Kuuso on 17/12/2007 at 20:14

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Am I really the only one appreciating Panda Bear - Person Pitch here?

N'Al on 17/12/2007 at 23:19

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Ooh boy, hadn't realised this guy's released a new album. Gotta get around to listening to that pretty soon. How does it compare to his previous work?

Sypha Nadon on 18/12/2007 at 06:56

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2007 was a pretty good year for music. I thought 2006 would be tough to top, but I was wrong. It seems that the 2000's are finally starting to improve after a rocky start.

Top ten in no particular order:

Sutcliffe Jugend: "This is the Truth"

- The first album in about 7-8 years to be released under the Sutcliffe Jugend name. Not the all-out noisefest some were expecting, maintains a delicate balance between fragility and chaos. Worth it just for the title track, "Your Weakness," and "Pigboy."

Lily Allen: "Alright, Still"

- I think this one came out in Europe last year but the copyright on the back of the jewel case says 2007 and I got it this year, so I'm lumping it in with my 2007 faves. Almost every song on the album sounds like a single. "LDN," "Alfie," and "Shame For You" are some of the highlights.

Whitehouse: "Racket"

- One of my all-time favorite bands, still in fine form on their 19th studio release. Though not quite as intense a listen as the album they put out last year ("Asceticists 2006"), this is worth a listen, from the oddly intricate instrumentals to the pounding "Afro Noise" vocal tracks (I must say that William Bennet's djembe playing is astounding, and when he yells "Rise up!" with a bloodcurling scream during "Dumping More Fucking Rubbish" it's hard not to get goosebumps) . Whitehouse still remains one of the freshest, boldest experimental acts, and when you consider the fact they've been around for over 25 years now, it's good to see they're still exploring new territory with their sound (rather then churn out the usual Nazi/serial killer/child molester formula that so many other lesser noise bands put forth these days... that was dated back in 1983, darling). The album cover, done by Stefan Danielsson, is perhaps the best album cover of the year.

Nine Inch Nails: "Year Zero"

- "With Teeth" was great but kind of lacked the grand ambitions that usually pay off in spades in regards to NIN (see "The Downward Spiral"). All the songs have something that make them memorable, and they're all pretty catchy, even at their noisiest. I liked "Capitol G," "God Given" and so on, but I think the best track was "The Great Destroyer," especially when Trent yells out "I am the GREAT DESTROYER!" in glorious stadium rock fashion before the song lapses into chaotic Wolf Eyes-style noise. The remix album is worth getting also, as the second disk includes audio files of every sound from the album, letting you remix pretty much the entire album if you so choose. If only other artists were so generous to their fans.

Annie Lennox: "Songs of Mass Destruction"

- Surprisingly good, in particular the songs "Love is Blind" and "Ghost in my Machine." Nice Madonna "cameo." Possibly the best album title of the year. Lennox has a great voice.

Throbbing Gristle: "Part Two: The Endless Not"

- The first new full-lenght TG album since the early 80's, this was an interesting listen. A few of the songs were perhaps a bit too mellow/polite for my liking, but when the band clicked it worked, particularily in the stunning open track, "Vow of Silence."

Psychic TV3: "Hell is Invisible, Heaven is Her/e"

- Ho ho ho.

Ministry: "The Last Sucker"

- Not quite as impressive as last year's "Rio Grande Blood," Ministry still ends on a high note with "The Last Sucker." The David Icke-style cover artwork is very amusing.

M.I.A.: "Kala"

- One of the big surprises of the year. I purchased the album on a whim, having never heard of M.I.A., mainly because I liked the cover. I like how on one hand the album sounds mainstream yet there are also a lot of experimental elements, and the percussive punch of the songs is astounding. I especially liked "Bird Flu" and "Boyz."

Siouxsie Sioux: "Mantaray"

- Of course, the album of the year was put out by the goddess herself. From the gorgeous cover art to the songs themselves, "Mantaray" delivers the goods in spades, and Siouxsie's vocals are in fine form as always. I loved "Here Comes That Day," "One Mile Below," "Drone Zone," and "Heaven and Alchemy." In fact, there really isn't a weak moment at all.

Honorable Mentions:

Misono: "Never+Land"
The Liars: "Liars"

Meh:

New Interpol. I think I'll have to lump them in with "Bands who, no matter how many times I listen to their albums, still have trouble telling one song from the other" (Tool is another band I have this same problem with).

Oh yeah, I'd like to make an addition to my 2006 top ten list and add Scott Walker's "The Drift," which I heard for the first time this summer. One of the most incredible albums I've ever heard in my life, I highly recommend it...

Aja on 18/12/2007 at 18:29

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Well, Pitchfork's released their (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/47446-staff-list-top-50-albums-of-2007/page_1) Top 50 Albums of the Year as well as their (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/47681-staff-list-top-100-tracks-of-2007) Top 100 Tracks. Looks like I wasn't so far off this year.