1. RYAN ADAMS – Gold: Last year I was complaining that his first solo album was under-produced and that he needed a good band. He found one. Its difficult not to over state how good this album is and how much progress he’s made in the last couple of years- compare this album to his last album with Whiskeytown which also saw the light of day this year. Clearly the best album of the year. 2. GILLIAN WELCH – Time (The Revelator): I liked her in the past but this album somehow clicks where her earlier ones didn’t The arrangements…

Le Tigre – Feminist Sweepstakes (Mr. Lady): – The true lesbian in me is coming out! Unlike their previous EP which only had a couple decent tracks, this release is a complete success from beginning to end. As experimental as their debut, but more rockin’. Plenty of guitars mixed with samples. Lyrically covering the political and still showing a fun side. There is a whole lotta shaking going on! Rival Schools – United By Fate (Island): – Being a fan of Quicksand I was a bit thrown off at first by the “popiness” of these songs. It didn’t take long…

Best New Stuff of the Year – with random comments 1. Proximo Estacion: Esperanza – Manu Chao. Some might dismiss this as a novelty record where silly sound affects, childlike voices and melodies intertwine in a multitude of dialects. But listen closer. The melodies have the irrepressible quality of nursery rhymes that you can’t get out of your head. There are some incredible horns floating faintly in the background. One song has a mother lovingly talking to her child in Spanish followed by a Latin radio announcer rolling his “Rs”. The songs all evoke strong images of the way we…

Graduating Class – 2001 Pernice Brothers – – The World Won’t End (Ashmont Records) “Most likely to make Big Star & Alex Chilton drop a load in their pants” The New Pornographers – – – Mass Romantic (Mint Records) “Most likely to squelch any further Canadian jokes.” Ted Leo/Pharmacists – – – The Tyranny of Distance (Lookout Records) “Most likely to end up in intensive care for severe tendon damage.” Fugu – – – Fugu 1 (Minty Fresh Records) “Most likely to change the way most people feel about the French.” Death Cab For Cutie – – – The Photo…

Albums Bjork: – Vespertine This consistently gorgeous, lyrically relevant, emotionally soothing opus is a gift from one of the music industry’s true treasures. In every song, we can hear her struggling, stretching and striving for strings of hope, and holding on with all her might An icicle album from the Icelander, to be cherished year-round. David Visan: – Chill Out in Paris This Buddha Bar collection is a balm for the spirit, flawlessly mixed and inspirational in vision. A global mix that is much more than the sum of its parts – a cohesive, uplifting, life-affirming album. The Avalanches: –…

Favorite Things ~ ALBUMS ‘07   Buy new or used through Amazon Arcade Fire ~ Neon Bible (Merge). Recorded and performed in churches, “Neon Bible” is, ironically, a heartfelt diatribe against the evils of organized religion. “Not much chance for survival,” sings Wim Butler, “if the neon Bible is right.” Yet beneath all the disappointment and anger flows a river of faith, apparent in the organ tones of “Intervention,” the prophetic imagery of “The Well and the Lighthouse” and the determined yearning of “My Body Is a Cage.” Strings, brass and gospel choirs enrich the band’s already textured sound and…

CDs 1. Garden State Soundtrack 2. Taking Back Sunday – Decade Under the Influence 3. Tegan And Sara- So Jealous 4. Butterfly Boucher – Flutterby 5. The Butchies – Make Yr Life 6. The Cure – The Cure 7. Snow Patrol – Final Straw 8. Bright Eyes – Lua [cd single] 9. Interpol – Antics 10. The Killers – Hot Fuss 11. The OC – Mix 2 Concerts 1. Little Steven’s Underground Garage Festival 2. The Vans Warped Tour 2004 3. Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson at the Dutchess Stadium 4. Mest and Hawthorne Heights at the Chance 5. Matchbook…

Buy new or used through Amazon 1. Yell Fire!- Michael Franti and Spearhead   Buy new or used through Amazon 2. We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions-Bruce Springsteen   Buy new or used through Amazon 3. Modern Times-Bob Dylan   Buy new or used through Amazon 4. The Believer-Rhett Miller   Buy new or used through Amazon 5. Begin To Hope-Regina Spektor   Buy new or used through Amazon 6. Animal Years- Josh Ritter   Buy new or used through Amazon 7. Crane Wife-The Decembrists   Buy new or used through Amazon 8. Marie Antoinette Soundtrack- Various Artists   Buy…

Buy new or used through Amazon Wilco – “Sky Blue Sky” Buy new or used through Amazon Bruce Springsteen – “Magic” Buy new or used through Amazon Josh Ritter – “The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter” Buy new or used through Amazon Original Soundtrack – “Once Soundtrack” Buy new or used through Amazon Bright Eyes – “Casadaga” Buy new or used through Amazon Amy Winehouse – “Back to Black” Buy new or used through Amazon Feist – “The Reminder” Buy new or used through Amazon The Shins-“Wincing the Night Away” Buy new or used through Amazon Various Artists-“Juno” Buy new…

Mastodon – Leviathan Isis – Panopticon Burnt by the Sun – Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good Old man gloom – Christmas Pig Destroyer – Terrifier Neurosis – The Eye of Every Storm Sunn 0))) – White 2 Tusk – Tree of No Return These Arms Are Snakes – Oxeneers or The Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home TV on the Radio – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes Arcade Fire – Funeral Madvillain – Madvillainy Jill Scott – Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2 MF Doom – MM..Food? Viktor Vaughn AKA MF Doom – Venomous Villain Handsome…

    Buy new or used through Amazon Orthrelm – Ov [Ipecac]     Buy new or used through Amazon Sunn O))) – Black One [Southern Lord]     Buy new or used through Amazon Pelican – The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw [Hydra Head]     Buy new or used through Amazon Kinski – Alpine Static [Sub Pop]     Buy new or used through Amazon Akron/Family & Angels of Light – Akron/Family & Angels of Light [Young God]   Earth – Hex: Or Printing in the Infernal Method [Southern Lord] Animal Collective – Feels [Fat Cat] Red Sparowes – At…