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2007 in music… A comprehensive run down of my world and what crossed my ears and musical mind…

Filed Under Duplicated on my LiveJournal, Reviews, Writings/Rants 

This is the first of what might be a few from my LiveJournal. But, seeing that I consider this my main forum for writing and expressing myself now, I see fit to repost this here. For all of the folks who are reading this on their syndicated feed and it’s posting the full entry, terribly sorry about that. I’ve got it nicely tucked away here on my site, but there’s no “after the jump” that I can do there when the RSS pulls it over. “Ooops” is the best way to put that, I guess…

So, here we go… Right after the jump…

Discoveries of 2007
For me, 2007 and latter 2006 were the years that I really got into using BitTorrent. With that in mind, that’s why I never did a 2006 review because I couldn’t wrap my head around it: there were so many albums that I listened to or downloaded and I couldn’t really sort myself with release dates and things like this. I tried this go round, so we’ll see where it leads me.
Explosions in the Sky - This Texas instrumental rock group was my greatest discovery this summer. Their albums were exactly what I needed most times to get myself through studying and being able to focus the way I wanted to. Right next to all of the jazz I listened to last fall, I have to give them major props for moving and soundtrack-esque feel throughout every song and album they have. I have to also mention in a passing moment the band Do Make Say Think, who are Canadians who are similar, but not. That’s all I can really say on their regards.
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - If you think their name is cool, check out their music. Actually just one man under a band name, GCWCF is fairly simplistic music with good catchy lyrics. Acoustic overtones and various instruments overlaid combined to create a lilting and uplifting tone. I’ve heard some rumors of second album, but I guess I’ll just have to see what comes around and what comes up.
Phil Roy - I discovered him by hearing a familiar song arranged differently, and his kindness as a musician hooked me. I was watching some movie on HBO and I heard “It’s Alright,” a song that I knew was by Adam Cohen (of Low Millions, the son of Leonard Cohen). When I looked into who recorded it for the movie, I found Phil Roy. In contacting him and telling him how much I loved the song and I loved his version of it, he mailed me a copy of the album it was on, grouchyfriendly as a “wedding gift.” Very nice of him. Whenever I find a musician like that, well, reaffirms my faith in the goodness of musicians out there… Something I’ll get to briefly…

Kudos In The Musical World
Like every year with more and more revolutions in technology and in the world, there are always some musicians that stand out to me for one reason or another. This is my salute to a few noteable events from the world of music that I think are worthwhile commenting on.
Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer - First of all, two quality individuals/bands right there that have been releasing good quality music for a good long time. And on top of that, good live shows and great about taking care of what needs to be done. Case in point? VA Tech show this year. A free show from these superstars, just as their respect to the tragedy. I don’t care if you like either group, its something that I can respect and fully appreciate.
The Internet and Downloading - This is half tipping my cap and half waggling a finger, actually. A lot of the torrenting sites were shut down for one reason or another this year, and I think that the whole uproar on downloading is getting to be too much. Especially when the RIAA tells us that even copying a CD we buy in stores to our computer is now considered an unauthorized copy. Doesn’t make me put much faith into the music industry right there. However, there’ve been enough moving and shaking inside it from bands who have released full albums for free in one way or another. You can tip caps to Saul Williams, Radiohead, Kill the Alarm, and Foxboro Hot Tubs for that, even if they only had them up for brief times.
Reunions? Oh Yes - Almost like how KISS retires every other year, this seems like this was the year for THE reunions. Heck, look at the names on the list: Van Halen (with DLR), Rage Against the Machine, The Police, and Led Zeppelin? How could you top a list like that unless Axl Rose apologized to Slash? We’ve still got a few weeks, so that might happen. Probably not, but still. Of course I could only hope that Army of Anyone disbands and Stone Temple Pilots reforms. Again, I guess we’ll have to wait another ten years or so through more Poison tours…
Chris Daughtry - While his album was released in 2006 and he was a finalist on American Idol. However, he’s been one of the most successful alumns from that program. Can’t beat that. But his reason for my nomination? He’s bringing back the rock that I enjoy: solid albums with good progression in the songs, and solid ballads, with hook driven choruses. A “big rock” sound, but with the classic and alternative feel that I’ve always loved. That being said, he’s bringing a lot of similar acts out of the rafters that have hidden, and there have been other groups that are finally starting to make big showings again (a la Matchbox 20, Big 10-4) that are keeping this from just being a one man show.

Noteable ReReleases for 2007
Three albums that have been priorly released caught my eye with their reissues this year…
Counting Crows’ August and Everything After: Remastered original disc and then a bonus disc of a live concert on the last night of their first tour. This is back from the days when “Mr. Jones” and “Round Here” were still the only real singles that folks knew. Very noteable and an interesting rerelease, but seeing its been ten years since the first album, very cool too.
Creed’s My Own Prison: Another ten year re-release, but currently/temporarily delayed. Hate them if you’d like, Creed was a step away from grunge, and their debut album was actually good. The first band to have four #1 singles from their debut album is something not to ignore, and there’s good enough reason why. Forget Stapp’s Jesus-like ego, and check out what made them good to begin with, now with acoustic and unreleased cuts on a second disc.
U2’s The Joshua Tree: An epic rerelease that I wouldn’t mind getting as a gift sometime soon, seeing this is my favorite U2 album. I mean look at what the deluxe edition has: remastered original album, bonus CD of b-sides and rarities from the session, bonus DVD of concert footage and other videos (with easter eggs), and a 56 page hardback book. Can’t top that. And with the songs “Where The Streets Have No Name,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” “With or Without You,” and “Running to Stand Still,” it has almost all of the best and most recognizeable U2 tracks all in one place.

I think I’ve stalled enough… It’s time for me to break this one down. I don’t consider my list the pentultimate to all albums from this last year. Its hard to listen to every single album from every week from every walk of life. Obviously, I have my predispositions here and there with various artists and styles, but I try to always push those aside. And this time around, I had over fourty albums that I was narrowing down my list from. So much so that other than just having my Honorable Mentions and Top 10? I have a list of Noteables too. Let’s start there and we’ll work down and back…

2007 Noteable Albums
Two sentences, that’s all you get. In alphabetical order, so don’t think order means dick.
Babyface’s Playlist: From the master of the smooth R&B comes an off color collection by the only man who could pull it off: classic oldies pop-rock cover songs. You haven’t lived till you’ve heard him do James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.”
Emerson Hart’s Cigarettes and Gasoline: The voice and the songs sound familiar from half of the 90’s group, Tonic. And as good as they sound, they’re missing just one thing: Jeff Russo.
Farewell’s Isn’t This Supposed To Be Fun: Indie pop-punk with a bit of synth twist in hook driven bouncy songs. A fun romp from the Carolinas from this group on their debut album.
Jeremy Fisher’s Goodbye Blue Monday: Folkish indie music that sounds as rough as the first single, “Cigarette.” He had me at the Vonnegut referenced title.
Melee’s Devils and Angels: Nicely done piano driven rock a la The Fray and Augustana on this debut, with a bit more edge. Just a bit too much monotony for me as a whole, but over all nice for mixtapes, I’d say.
Mika’s Life in Cartoon Motion: Not only on Stephen King’s top list, but something that caught my ear this year. Like him or not, he’s got catchy songs that get stuck in your head and you’ll be singing along too.
The Nightwatchman’s One Man Revolution: It might not be RAtM, but it’s still Tom. Different from what you’d might expect, but a good album of acoustic protest styled folk songs.
Paramore’s Riot!: Solid sophomore release from these female fronted punksters. Diverse and spanning variety amidst the songs, but I’ll always love their song “Hallelujah” which finally found a studio recording and official release here.
Raine Maida’s The Hunter’s Lullaby: Something sort of different from what you might expect from the frontman for Our Lady Peace. Despite that, definitely check out “Yellow Brick Road,” and the rest of the album.
Timbaland’s Shock Value: Enter the ringmaster, controlling all of his puppets. Solid outing to the point that he’s got another one lined up for 2008, so listen now to be caught up when he drops the sequel.

See, this shows how much I’m learning about WordPress along the way…

Apparently, the whole text of that would be too long for one WordPress entry… Who woulda thunk, eh?

So here’s the final part of my 2007 in review post: the honorable mentions and top 10 of the year. The most important part, persay.


Honorable Mentions
There’s nothing bad at all about being in this group of honorable mentions. A lot of these albums are ones that I feel are phenomenal albums in terms of writing and production and just got eclipsed by so many other great albums… Alphabetical order here again.
Chris Brown’s Exclusive: I can not give enough credit to this kid for all he’s doing. He’ll be the next Usher if things keep up the way they look like. With two hot hot hot singles so far in “Kiss Kiss” and “Wall To Wall,” Chris Brown’s sophomore effort surpasses everything he did with his first album. And if it isn’t enough that the albums sound good, you should check out some of his live performances. He’s not just a singer or a dancer, he’s a performer: full on shows, while singing. Major respect.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s Ten Days Out…: A CD/DVD set that I recently picked up but knew about since November 2006, Shepherd doesn’t disappoint at all. The concept was simple: travel the south and meet the legends of the blues and jam with them. With classics that are older than the dirt that these legends walked on as tots, and the simple 12 or 8 bars that come so familiar to one of the blue’s crowned princes, this album doesn’t disappoint.
Nine Inch Nails’ Year Zero: When the viral marketing on this album went out, it was eaten alive. And even I, who’s not really a NIN fan at all, was sucked into the imagination of this catastrophic world. With everything that lead up to the final drop of this album, the road set itself for Radiohead and other artists to drop their own albums off the internet with campaigns. Not as elaborate as NIN, though. The sonic soundtrack for a post-apocolyptic world, Year Zero lives up to the hype they made for it.
Sara Bareilles’ Little Voice: I remember when I first heard this album, I made a remark that it’d have to be in my top 10 albums for the year. I guess I didn’t really think about the albums that would be up in it at the time, but even still, she nails it. Very solid pop-rock debut from Sara Bareilles with this album. Not soft like some of her contemporaries and not over the top hard, she sticks to the middle road and reminds me a lot of Keri Noble. For this alone, I’ll listen.
Will Hoge’s Draw The Curtains: This one has been flip-flopping with my number 10 on my list, just because I really truely adore this album. Will Hoge has a combination R&B, rock, and blues spirit, channeling Gin Blossoms, Hootie and the Blowfish, Matchbox 20, Jonny Lang, and so many others. With a voice and songs that sound familiar and new, Hoge finally has hit the sound that he seems to be looking for on all of his prior albums. Perfectly executed.

My Top 10 Albums of 2007
I realized as I narrowed albums and bands out of my list, there was something as a whole I was looking for. I was trying to find that album that as I listened to it, I didn’t skip any tracks and that I savored the way it flowed. That it wasn’t just a collection of songs, but an album. That it sat alone and stood out as being something and its own entity. Here’s what I think I came up with in the end, and even then? I came across so many great albums this year alone that some of the ones that are ranked in the bottom five could have very well been in the top five, had it been a different year…
#10 Kill the Alarm’s Fire Away: I found out about this album because it was offered as a freebee off of AlternativeAddiction.com, and I’m glad I did. The former frontman of Granian, Garen Gueyikian, went quiet for a while and then reappeared with this project/band. Alt-rock to the core, these songs became anthems for a lot of my days and helped me feel like I could get through anything. Solid production with solider songwriting. There have been a lot of shows and touring with this album, but I’m waiting to hear what happens with a full length from them, seeing this is considered only a pre-release styled EP.
#9 Kanye West’s Graduation: Mr. West, this has been your year again in so many ways. With two very smoking singles in “Stronger” and “Good Life,” you continue to rocket the charts in so many ways. Sense and sensibility has created a great number of star pairings on this album, and as the tracks progress further and further to the end, it’s all wrapped up inside the story. In reading his interview in Spin magazine in the issue I just received, I can definitely tell how he thought about this one more and more as he worked on it. Well done.
#8 Dashboard ConfessionalThe Shade of Poison Trees: Chris Carrabba blends the best of the guitar and instrumental work from his first few albums with the lyrical prowess of his latter work under this monkier. All of that together creates quite possibly the most listenable half hour of music that I’ve heard this year. I found myself spinning this album whenever I had thirty minutes to kill when I was studying, and the mellowness but upbeat nature of it surprised me and kept me going back to it. Excellent. NOTE: For some reason, my webpage doesn’t want me to write the band name out, so uh, there’s a picture there, I know. Lord only knows why. This is why I’m a lame webmaster…
#7 Big & Rich’s Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace: When I made my best of post two years ago, these guys hit the top three. Not to say that this album isn’t as good because I think it was better than their sophomore album, but this album is something else. Formatted into two sides, the songs are all familiar but new. There’s the classic humor from Big & Rich, but with a new level of radio friendly lengths and thought put into the tracks. Some very nice stand-out guests with John Legend and Wyclef Jean. Also, with a cover of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long,” you really can’t go wrong with these country boys.
#6 Bedlight for Blue Eyes’ Life on Life’s Terms: One of my finds from this fall, I was caught in my “weird band names” phase when I found GCWCF and Explosions in the Sky. That being said, I’ve never regretted finding these guys as well. With more of a 90’s alt rock feel rather than the indie/emo that they’re labeled, these guys have been through a lot. After their 2005 debut album, they lost a guitarist and their vocalist, but turned around with new ones of each to release this introspective collection of songs. Each time I listen to the album, I find a new favorite song. Good vocal and musical hooks that keep you coming back.
#5 Mayday Parade’s A Lesson In Romantics: I half kick myself for not seeing them at Rock the Wreath, but I still feel bad because this is one of the bands whom I truely support and I still haven’t had a chance to go out and buy their album. Florida locals from Tally and Ocala, these guys have the same sort of pop-punk you hear out of Fall Out Boy and every other band out on the scene nowadays. Yet to me? Maybe it’s the Florida connection and how a lot of those themes run through their lyrics and I feel like I’ve been to the places they’ve been from, but these guys hit me in a soft spot that I have for that emo-pop-punk that all other bands in their genre don’t. Course, I’m really a sucker for “Your Song” off of their EP Tales Told By Dead Friends, but from time to time, I really love the closing track from this album “I’ll Be The Wings That Keep Your Heart In The Clouds.” Introspective with real depth to the music and lyrics, these guys aren’t just four power-chords like the next band. There’s something else there.
#4 Jonah Matranga’s And…: Oh Jonah, Jonah, Jonah… Where do I begin with you? Some folks might remember that he came in second place back in 2005 with his outing under the band name, Gratitude. In honesty as that CD grew on me and I got tired of Augustana, I feel that he had the better album. And ever since I heard about And…, it made the list of my “must owns” for 2007. A strong CD with a lighter emo-indie-pop-alt.country-esque flavor, there are some classic onelinedrawing songs on here and some new cuts. Combined, tracks like “I Want To Be Your Witness,” “Not About A Girl or A Place,” and “Every Mistake” show the depth and heart to this indie supergiant. Supergiant? Don’t believe me? He’s had hand and foot in so many projects and bands, you could play 6-degrees of Jonah Matranga with the indie world through inspirations and bands. And his lyrics never cease to have the depth and amazement that I’ve ever found. I find myself unwrapping each album of his with the lyrics in front of me as the words come out of his mouth, just reading them line by line.
#3 Jon McLaughlin’s Indiana: A late-comer to my ears, I wish I had known about him sooner. I discovered his CD while trolling what freebees I could get for buying CDs at Park Ave. His came with a free shirt, and while they were out of shirts, I still chose to get the album: one of my better choices. Piano ballads with strong hooked choruses, McLaughlin gives an unprecidented debut album in the same vein as other songsters like Daniel Powter and (dare I say it?) Jack’s Mannequin. Yes, I’ll put him in with a heavy hitter there, and I think he holds his own. The songs about personal change and about the small town and mid-west feel hit home with soaring epic feel on the choruses, and fun playful interludes between the other instruments. Mostly balladict in nature, the album takes its toll between alternating the softer and upbeat edges of the spectrum between “Praying to the Wrong God” and “Beautiful Disaster,” even taking the time to poke fun at the music industry in the opening track, “Industry.” Clever, concealed, and well contrived.
#2 Small Town Sleeper’s Conversations: It almost doesn’t feel fair to place this album here seeing it’ll return again next year. With an iTunes release date in August 2007 and an actual physical CD release date for February 19, 2008, Small Town Sleeper has dominated this year’s latter half for me. From being a fan since 2003, to opening for them last month, to becoming their Florida Street Team Leader, well, I’ve got a soft spot and a bit of bias for these guys. A solid album from start to finish, Conversations tells the story of these guys and their hard work trying to just be themselves and share their story of laying carpet with big dreams in the future. Rockers like the opening track “Let Me Go” effortlessly flow into balladic interludes like “It Could Be You” and “I Have Been Waiting For.” And this album does everything I hope for in albums: strong intro, lighter mid parts, picks back up, and ends on the huge ballad. Expect big things from these guys.

and finally…
#1 The Weakerthans’ Reunion Tour: Yes, my friends, not Small Town Sleeper. I had heard that these good ol’ Canadian boys had a new album coming out this year and from the very second I heard about it, I knew I had to have it. Always more poetic than lyrical, John K. Samson’s words flow so effortlessly and feel so right, even if they’re so structurally different from anything you might normally call lyrics. For folks who haven’t heard these northern musicians follies, it’s quite a shock at first listen: Samson’s vocals aren’t singing in the sense you expect, and the lines are long and jutting, sticking out like ribs from a starving supermodel; the music is quite melodic and familiar, yet completely new and different; and the combination of the two leads to no choruses that are repeated, but maybe an underlying motive and motif that the title sets forth. And to be honest, with titles like “Virtue the Cat Explains Her Departure,” (which is a follow-up to a song on 2003’s Reconstruction Site and it nearly moved me to tears to hear) “Hymn of the Medical Oddity,” and “Relative Surplus Value,” it’s hard to imagine how these things could be combined into anything that does make sense. But they do. And it’s the type of music that the first time listening through, you might want to be in front of your computer, reading along and googling names and references. Thinking person’s rock. I like it. Always new, but always so familiar.

And with 2008 on the horizon, I’m looking forward to…
A few things. I think it’s notable to mention them here :
Mike Garrigan’s Spring Album - Another name that I haven’t mentioned in a while. Mike’s currently rebuilding his home studio, and when he does, the first album will be cut mid next year and then released late next year or early 2009, and will be following in the footsteps of The Lessons of Autumn and The Promise of Summer. Looking forward to more mood and seasonally driven music from him, seeing it’s been a while since I’ve had new music of his.
Aerosmith’s new album - The bad boys of rock and roll have been in the studio since November sometime for an early 2008 release. I’m hoping that they take some of the bluesy grit from Perry’s 2005 solo release combined with their last effort–Honkin’ On Bobo, for those who don’t recall–and give the fans something better than the shit that was called Just Push Play. And this is coming from a fan who liked Nine Lives.
Small Town Sleeper’s Official 2008 Release - They’ll be back on my charts then, mark my words. But until then, well, 2008 will hopefully be the year for Conversations. You’ll hear me street teaming them a lot, that’s for sure.
Timbaland’s Shock Value II - While low ranking on my list of albums for the year, I have to give the ringmaster credit for what he does when he does it, and the Shock Value series is definitely that. I’m looking forward to this next go round from Timbaland with open ears.
Seven Mary Three’s dayandnightdriving - I’ve been able to hear the lead off single and another track from this up and coming release by the guys known for “Cumbersome,” and I can only hope that 2008 is the year they finally can chase off the ghost. With this being their 6th studio album, they’ve certainly been a hard working band and been putting in the effort. But that only goes so far. You’ll be hearing from me when this one drops February 19th as well…

So there you have it from me, folks.

(Originally written and put online: Monday, December 17, 2007)

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    About The Site


    Thanks for stopping by, folks! My name is Adam J. Cohen, and I'm a guitarist/songwriter in Champaign, IL, recently relocated from Orlando, FL where I'm a UCF grad. Here, you'll find vignettes on my life, setlists from open mics and reviews, and whatever else crosses my mind. Enjoy!