The Dø - A Mouthful (2008)

This album is all over the place, opening with chanting kids, but quickly moving on to female- fronted indie rock, folk, and pop, before ending with some decent Blondie by way of Lilly Allen rapping (seriously). She even works in a song sung in Finnish(?). On their own, the songs are quite good, and with all that diversity it is amazing that the album still holds together. It's like she took a cool mixtape a friend made her and then covered it and made it her own.

She & Him - Volume One (2008)

There are a couple songs on this album that just kill me ("Sentimental Heart", "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"). Overall, it sounds good. Her voice is pleasant and emotive and she's obviously influenced by a variety of 60's female vocalists, some soulful, some poppy. And in true 60s form, the singles are surrounded by some filler. I'm not sure why they chose to include the two covers, since they're two of the weaker tracks.

Black Mountain - In The Future (2008)

I listened to Black Mountain’s sophomore album long and hard. I feel that it required a rather extensive listening because the genrefication of their style (“Space Rock,” I’ve been told) can be difficult to place. Ultimately, I feel their efforts are influenced just enough by metal/rock legends, such as Zeppelin and Sabbath, to allow me to struggle past the monotonous stretches, and just unique enough to be a reasonable addition to rock fanatics playlist. Between their two albums, Black Mountain has a respectable catalog, but as for In The Future by itself? I personally would have enjoyed a little less space, and a little more rock. Notable selections: "Stormy High," "Angels," "Tyrants"

The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust (2008)

If you're like me you don't mind that the Raveonettes sound like the Jesus And Mary Chain. You probably also don't mind looking band member Sharin Foo. This album has a couple more electronic-y bits thrown in here and there but for the most part has their trademark fuzz/surfguitar/minimalist sound. If I was still working at the bar this would be oft played around 10:00 on my sunday night shift like every other Raveonettes album that preceeded it.. My choice tracks "Dead Sound" and "Blush".

Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster... (2008)

I already had four of the twelve songs from the album on at least one previous EP, so the album doesn't feel all that new. However, it is a minor complaint, since the songs mostly range from good to great and the new tracks are more of the same hyperactive and playful indie pop that I loved on the EPs. Listening to the album is kind of the equivalent of stuffing your mouth full SweeTarts and drinking a Jolt: explosive, fun, and rather juvenile.

The Boggs - Forts (2007)

The best songs on Forts ("Arm And Arm", "Forts") add propulsive rhythms and beats to their roots-influenced indie rock. Overall, the percussion is often upfront and alternates between driving through and dancing around the songs. The lyrics are shouted, chanted and sung, creating a spirited, if chaotic, feeling. How did I miss these guys last year?

British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? (2008)

It's an impressive album, full of epic songs that build slowly until the pounding drums kick in and then soar through ringing guitars and passionate vocals. How you feel about rock anthems will probably determine how much you enjoy this album. There are less of the playful oddities of the first two albums, but the move away from indie-aesthetic serves the songs well. "A Trip Out", "Waving Flags" and "Atom" stand out.

The Dirtbombs - We Have You Surrounded (2008)

I always look forward to another exciting set of fuzzed out garage rock and the Dirtbombs usually deliver. However, We Have You Surrounded doesn't pack the same punch as the stellar Dangerous Magical Noise or Ultraglide in Black; the lyrics are darker and the music is moodier. Although there are a couple standout tracks upfront, the second half of the album slips into 8 tiring minutes of psychedelic noise, perhaps representing the coming apocalypse.

The Harlem Shakes - Burning Birthdays EP (2007)

One of a handful of EPs that made my year end list of favorite albums. It's fun, enthusiastic and catchy NYC indie rock. Every track is awesome, although "Carpetbaggers," "Sickos" and "Red Right Hands" are awesomer.

Love Is A Mix Tape: Life And Loss, One Song At A Time (2007)

Another great book I just read. It's all about how people integrate music into their lives, marking particular activities, feelings and friends with songs and sets of songs. It made me wish I had compiled more mix tapes and that I still had some of the ones I had given away. It strikes the perfect balance between funny and sad, cool and touching. By the end, I knew I would enjoy coming back to this book again and again, so I immediately packed it up and sent it to share with a friend so we could talk about it.

Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love: A Journey To The End Of Taste (33 1/3) (2007)

I loved this book. I may read it again, soon. It's always a pleasure to read a book that incorporates cultural theory into a well-written and lively narrative on popular culture, in this case to support a discussion about aesthetics. It probably helps that Carl Wilson is not an academic, but a music critic. The book really gets going around chapter 7 when he starts discussing taste and who has bad taste and it never lets up after that. It doesn't matter if you like, dislike or don't care about Celine Dion; the book is more focused on taking a closer look at your own tastes and what shapes them.

The Whigs - Mission Control (2008)

I loved "Technology" from their last album, but the rest of the songs were missing the hooks. Since then they've turned up the amps, spread out the hooks, and made a much better album. The scratchy strained vocals are perfect for this propulsive bar band garage rock.

The Magnetic Fields - Distortion (2008)

The songs sound like every other Magnetic Fields album, just with layers of Jesus & Mary Chain influenced distortion. As with their other albums, somes of the songs are great ("California Girls", "Too Drunk To Dream" and "Drive On, Driver") and some are eh.

The Ruby Suns - Sea Lion (2008)

Like Vampire Weekend, the Ruby Suns incorporate African pop into their songs, although their music is structured more like Panda Bear's. That's cool though since it sounds good. Actually they pull from a variety popular and world music styles to make their indie pop. Overall, it's pretty fun.

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (2008)

Catchy indie rock that incorporates joyful sounds of African pop. Sort of an indie Graceland. What's not to like?

Throw Me The Statue - Moonbeams (2008)

The summery album art seems like a good fit for the happy and lo-fi indie pop. The casually sung vocals and cheesy Casio keyboard background beats might deter some people, but they compliment each other nicely. They sound a little bit like the Magnetic Fields and Jens Lekman.

The Long Blondes - Someone to Drive You Home (2006)

This album raises the question: How many bad, mediocre or otherwise tiring songs can an album have and still be good? The singles "Once And Never Again", "Giddy Stratospheres" and "Separated By Motorways" are awesome, but there are five or six songs that I would rather not hear again. This could have been a sweet EP.

Kelley Stoltz - Circular Sounds (2008)

Fun, melodic indie pop that builds on classic pop touchstones, such as the Beach Boys and the Kinks. I like almost every song well enough, but the album doesn't get me excited. It's solid, but doesn't particularly stand out.

Candie Payne - I Wish I Could Have Loved You More (2007)

Retro and cool, Candie Payne follows in a great lineage of seductive singers like Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield and Portishead's Beth Gibbons. Her songs are smooth, romantic and bluesy, with a little attitude and a bit of a hip shake. I can't get enough of "Take Me" and "I Wish I Could Have Loved You More."

Nada Surf - Lucky (2008)

The first album of the year that I really liked. The songwriting is pleasant and upbeat and a couple of the songs (Whose Authority, I Like What You Say) stayed in heavy rotation all through January. Lucky may not be challenging enough for some people, but I can enjoy listening to this album in the morning over coffee with my wife.

2007 Top List Aftermath

The idea for this blog came out of a series of emails battered back and forth with a friend of mine after we compiled a list our friends' favorite music: http://www.itscalledlove.com/2007lists/

Why bother?

Since words can never really do my favorite music justice, the idea is to keep a review short and simple, and answer the question: why should I bother listening?