reidmix

Top 12 Bands in 2007 (According to Last.fm) January 20, 2008

For symmetry, Last.fm tells me the bands I listened to over the year. I like this list because it not only shows just releases that came out in 2007 but what captured my heart.

Often times, a band comes out with an album that led me to a prior release that I connected with more deeply (Y.A.C.H.T, Thee More Shallows), some didn’t even come out with an album in 2007 (Lucky Dragons). And of course, some released and are spot on with my Top 10 albums of the year.

I also like to spotlight the record labels that find and produce these great bands. If you find a band you like, chances are that record label is a font of other bands you may like. For me 4AD was the first great label I keyed into and forever compare to.

The last 4 bands were in a dead heat, so I went from my top 10 to 12 bands. I hope you find something new and pick something up.

01. Lucky Dragons on Marriage Records and States Rights
Funny how you can discover a band and they become your number 1 for that year. I was completely overtaken by Luke Fischbeck’s mode of expression. This will come as no surprise for my regular readers. From the mexican-mashup of Norteñas to last years’ slice of humor Widows. From number 5 of last year’s top 10:

• New Alium
• Un Lagrima en la Discoteca
• Fake Is Forever

02. Panda Bear on PawTracks
We all know Panda Bear from Animal Collective — the drummer wunderkind, also known as Noah Lennox. Who, when you’ve listened to his first album, has come from modest roots, but since have taken us on quite a journey of styles and selections of his favorite music and influences with last year’s album, Person Pitch.

• Comfy in Nautica
• Bro’s (Edit)
• Untitled 1

03. No Age on FatCat (and 5 other record labels)
I was introduced to this local LA band in a roundabout way from NYC’s Insound Let’s Get Digital series. This band relased 5 single series released simultaneously around the world is a collector’s dream (nay, nightmare, I just realized I was still missing “G” from the series and Youth Attack is sold out). Keep an eye out for their SubPop release in May:

• Get Hurt
• Neck Escapah and Neck Escaper
• Dead Plane
• My Life’s Alright Without You

04. Y.A.C.H.T. on States Rights and Marriage Records
I’m a big fan of Jona Bechtolt, his awesome site, his free source music, and I even follow him on twitter. Am I a cyberstalker? Um, no, just a fan. But Jona’s message of optimism, stated clearly as the title of his last album “I Believe in You. Your Magic Is Real,” is a bit of a adage I espouse. He also appears on that amazing Worried Noodles compilation. If you like these check out Jona’s downloads page.

• See a Penny (Pick It Up) and So Post All ‘Em
• Hock It (We Two Remix)
• I Love a Computer

05. Animal Collective on PawTracks, FatCat, and now Domino
Down from #1 last year doesn’t mean much if you read my blog. With their release on Domino, Strawberry Jam seems to have garnered a lot of praise and broken into the “mainstream.” Nonetheless, songs like Reverend Green and Fireworks are exciting as they are pop-friendly. Make sure to check out Archive.org for new and live songs.

• Grass, Prospect Hummer, Pride & Fight [reposted from last year]
• Peacebone
• People [Sample]

06. Thee More Shallows on Turn and Anticon
I discovered this Bay Area band thru UK’s record store boomkat. Their latest album, Book of Bad Breaks, is pretty good but I think their prior album, More Deep Cuts, is a masterpiece. From the ambling rock sound to the symphonic spaces of Freshman Thesis and their hair-raising lyrics from Ave Grave: “In the beginning we rounded them up / All of the traitors to luck / And then we killed them and put all their bodies / Into one massive grave,” I was sold.

• Night at the Knight School
• Freshman Thesis
• 2AM
• Can’t Get Close to You

07. Annuals on Ace Fu
So much free music from the Annuals. They’ve signed with Sony, indie no’mo. I still highly suggest their debut album “He Be Me.”

08. Loney, Dear on SubPop
There needs to be more music to share from this swede:

• I Am John
• The City, The Airport and the CSS Remix

09. Low on SubPop
I’ve known about Low for years, first from the Shanti Project Collection. But back then I was all Red House Painters. Their latest album brought Low back into view from me, with the gentle (not) urging from Tim. Now I’m going through their back catalog of great albums, soundtrack’s without movies, and Christmas ventures. Eggs even covered them!

• Dinosaur Act
• Like a Forest
• Sunflower

10. CocoRosie on Touch and Go
I tried so hard to get into CocoRosie when Noah’s Ark came out (granted I loved the eponymous track). I have a theory it was Devendra’s vibe that drove me away (I know some would disagree). But their latest album re-secures them as innovators in a trip-hop world.

• Werewolf
• Noah’s Ark
• Good Friday

11. Dntel on SubPop
If you read my blog, you know that I believe that Jimmy Tamborello is the talent in The Postal Service juggernaut (I know some more people that would disagree). His songs are often collaborations with other artists including Mia Doi Todd, Grizzly Bear, and Lali Puna, Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley fame) and transforming each song into something special.

• Dumb Luck
• The Distance (featuring Arthur & Yu)
• Roll On (featuring Jenny Lewis)

12. Fujiya & Miyagi on Deaf Dumb + Blind
It’s not their debut album but “Transparent Things” might have well been. This album is so fun with a clear love of all good things electronica, krautrock, and japanese kitch. I only regret missing them when they came to LA.

• Ankle Injuries
• Conductor 71
• Photocopier

Well, enough stalling: this post leads me to my Top 10 albums of 2007.