Music Blogs

The first installment of our top 100 of 2007 album list.

100. Panamericana by Federico Aubele
Federico Aubele, who hails from Argentina was discovered by Thievery Corporation, and Panamericana is his sophomore effort on their label, Eighteenth Street Lounge. Aubele has succeeded in creating exactly what he set out to do by weaving together some of the very best musical elements from across the Americas. He has come up with something completely unique, but absolutely familiar. No matter what side of the equator you happen to call home.

99.  Coronation Thieves by Dragons Of Zynth
This album is like a jar of moonshine - complete hell going down, but if you can get through the first few gulps, everything becomes warm, fuzzy and rapturous. Complete chaos is controlled with a deftness that simply cannot be manufactured, or gained by luck alone. The record has vast peaks and valleys, wrapped in enough distorted fog to hold your focus while you try to figure out what the hell is going on. But it never becomes annoying enough to turn you off.

98.  Coarsegold by The Dying Californian
The Dying Californian started as a band in Santa Cruz, CA over 10 years ago under the name Nuzzle. As their sound evolved into a more Wilco-leaning alt country animal they changed their name. And it fits. The music has a lonely, melancholic flavor and California indie scene sensibility. The record weaves and meanders at a measured pace, and the harmonies wrap you in a warm blanket of sound that prods you  to stop what you're doing and focus on the experience. And once you do, the CD moves to an easily accessible location in your collection.

97.  Head Home by O'Death
O'Death found new life this year on Ernest Jenning Records with the re-release of 2006's Head Home. And it's a very good thing. If you haven't had the pleasure of hearing the record or seeing them live, now's your chance. The band combines the standard bluegrass instrumentation of acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass and drums, but they play cabaret flavored songs (ala Man Man or Tom Waits) with a punk rock energy. And before you say this should not be included because it's a re-release of a 2006 album, please remember that this is my list, so I make the rules.

96. Oreskaband by Oreskaband
If you  told me I would select a Japanese schoolgirl ska band as one of my top 100 in 2007 last year at this time, I would've told you that you were nuts, but here you have it. Oreskaband has become a sensation in Japan and have been featured all over Japanese television, including an appearance in a TV commercial for the popular Japanese candy Pocky, which doubles as a music video to promote the band. You must hear to believe.

95.  The Budos Band II by The Budos Band
The Budos Band II is an instrumental soul freakout made to be heard by the glow of black light among bongs and hot chicks with afros. Fans of jazz, soul, funk and jam bands may migrate en masse to this fine album, and I would be thrilled if they do. But my greater hope is that The Budos Band helps a younger generation dig into some truly great music of the past.

94.  Anthem by Christian Scott
 This 23-year-old virtuoso was honored with a Grammy nomination last year for his debut Rewind That, and
Anthem builds upon it's success while taking daring steps to find it's own voice. Jazz traditionalists won't appreciate the melding of rock, soul and hip-hop, while smooth jazz fans won't get the complex ideas presented. They will both be missing a fine effort. Christian Scott is reaching for art and succeeding.

93.  Blasts of Holy Birth by Lewis & Clarke
Blasts of Holy Birth makes me feel much the way I did driving through the Delaware Water Gap (Lewis & Clark's home) with my wife next to me and the autumn leaves setting a backdrop. It's calming, but with bright colors, much as it's represented on the cover art. Pianos, strings, acoustic guitars, harp, keyboards, horns and understated drums create a sedate and welcome collection of songs that are delivered without grievance.

92. Digital Shades, Vol. 1 by M83
Digital Shades contains the warm tones and grandiose crescendos that are part of what we love about M83, but the record is decidedly low-key, moody, and at times, otherworldly. It contains some minimal vocal parts that fit well, but the large majority of the sounds are electronic brushstrokes that paint what ends up being a strong ambient effort. Anthony Gonzalez has captured some of the very best elements of Brian Eno's ambient masterworks on this release, which is enough to chalk it up as a success.

91.  White Shoes & The Couples Company by White Shoes & The Couples Company The record is a mostly shiny and happy endeavour. So much so, that it attracted 18 butterflies, 5 songbirds, 3 fuzzy bunnies, a rainbow and a unicorn to my patio as I listened outdoors. If the music's ability to attract cute and mystical creatures isn't enough for you, I would also tell you that the band was named one of the Top 25 Bands on MySpace by Rolling Stone Magazine, and one of the most Crushworthy Bands of 2006 by All Music Guide, who proclaim White Shoes.., "the best indie pop band from Indonesia."