Turn the Radio Off

Well, I've resumed my blog just in time for my end-of-the-year list of music that I listened to in the previous year. This year I've got a pretty big list. I've always thought that when I stop caring about new music, I will have died just a little bit. This year's list shows that I'm still alive.

This time, I've arranged the list in more-or-less chronological order.

Morrissey – Ringleader of the Tormentors

Song: "The Father Who Must Be Killed"

In 2004, when Morrissey released You Are the Quarry, I suggested that he consider retiring, because he was never going to produce another album in his career that was that good and this was an opportunity to go out on top. His latest effort has so far proved me right. There is one good thing about his refusal to retire, though, and that is that he is now singing Smiths songs at his concerts.

Stereolab - Fab Four Suture

Song: "Whisper Pitch"

Stereolab had an unobtrusive release this year. Technically I guess it’s an ep collection, but I had never heard any of these songs before, and there’s about a dozen of them, so from my perspective it is an album. Again, nothing special, but there are a few really strong songs.

Dressy Bessy – (Everything)

Song: "Baby Six String"

Back in 2001, when I first discovered Stereolab, I was shocked and ashamed that I had never heard of the ‘Lab before, and I set out to download/buy every song of theirs I could find. I had the same experience when I discovered Dressy Bessy last spring. Their music is the purest example of power pop this side of the New Pornographers, and in some ways, their music is actually superior to the NP. Without question, they were my favorite band of 2007, and what’s sad is that I think they are already defunct.

The Apples In Stereo – (Everything)

Song: "Signal in the Sky"

Dressy Bessy is usually spoken of in conjunction with The Apples in Stereo. They’re both cut from the same musical cloth: power pop bands with lots of catchy hooks. For my money, though, Dressy Bessy does this much better, and the lead singer of Dressy Bessy does not have as annoying a voice as the lead singer from The Apples. Still, they are a very good, underrated band.

Voice of Beehive – (Everything)

Song: "Scary Kisses"

I had a rough summer working 40 hours a week at a crappy job. The pay was decent, but the work left me physically exhausted and mentally numb. The next four bands helped me survive the experience. Voice of the Beehive is actually an old girl pop band from the early 90s. They didn’t really go anywhere, and I hadn’t heard of them before until I began searching for whatever power pop I can find. They made some nice, catchy songs, though.

Belle and Sebastian – (Everything)

Song: "Funny Little Frog"

Much like Dressy Bessy, I’m a little ashamed that I have jumped on the B&S bandwagon late, but this time, it was more my fault. I’ve heard of B&S for at least a couple years now, but I never bothered to really listen to their music until this year. They’re very good, but the comparisons to the Smiths, I think, are unjustified.

Sing Sing – (Everything)

Song: "Going Out Tonight"

Born form the fiery ashes of Lush, Sing-Sing’s Emma Anderson explores new audio directions. I’ve known about this band for a while but it wasn’t until I signed on to my eMusic account that I was finally able to hear them.

Pipettes – We Are the Pitpettes

Song: "Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me"

As I browse the end-of-year best-of lists on the internet, everyone seems to have forgotten about the Pipettes. I haven’t forgotten them. Their ironic/nostalgic polka-dot pop was one of my few joys over the summer. The big question with this band will be how long before they start taking themselves seriously (and thus destroy the whole point of the band).

Jenny Lewis – Rabbit Fur Coat

Song: "Rise Up with Fists"

I’m not sure if I should include Jenny Lewis’ album or not because I don’t think I ever got around to picking up all of her songs. I really like her song “Rise Up With Fists,” though, and she has a clever video for it too. This is one of the more overtly political albums of the year—and maybe that’s why I’m torn. Unless your name is Natalie Merchant, I’m not really interested in hearing you sing about politics and social issues.

Mekons – Pussy, King of the Pirates

Song: "My Song at Night"

I actually don’t know much about the Mekons. This album isn’t necessarily indicative of their music because it is a collaboration with novelist Kathy Acker. Recorded shortly before Acker’s death, it features Acker reading passages from her novel Pussy, King of the Pirates accompanied by music and songs inspired by the novel.

Komeda – (Everything)

Song: "Fire"

I stumbled upon a song by this Swedish band by accident and immediately had to download everything they’ve made. They’re not always listenable, but when they are good, they are very good.

Broadcast – (Everything)

Song: "Papercuts"

A fine example of post-rock. Here we have a rather unattractive lead singer performing bland, mellow lyrics accompanied by groovy late-60s lounge music mixed with weird feedback and computer sounds. I like them.

Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

Song: "Watch Out for Me, Ronnie"

One thing that I learned from this album is that, in the future, I won’t need to download an entire Yo La Tengo album. They have a lot of very good songs, but they also have a lot of crap that isn’t worth playing once or twice.

Love Is All – Nine Times That Same Song

Song: "Aging Had Never Been His Friend"

Love Is All’s debut album is one of my favorite albums of the year. What sets this band apart and really makes them something special is their lead singer who, though she isn’t an especially talented singer, is able to convey a flirty yet confident attitude with her voice, kind of a mix of PJ Harvey and early Harriet Wheeler. And their songs are pure adrenaline.

Sufjan Stevens - Christmas

Song: "Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!"

In time for the holidays, Stevens released a 5-cd (5!) box set of Christmas songs—some traditional, some original. Usually, when an artist releases a Christmas album it is an indication that their downward slide has already begun, but Stevens recorded these songs over the past few years while at the height of his creative powers. The result is an exceptional and completely un-ironic collection of music. Some critics have wondered whether Stevens’ wholesome naivete is real or just an act. This collection settles that question once and for all.

The Grates – Gravity Won’t Get You High

Song: "19 20 20"

If the White Stripes were fronted by an Aussie chick on a pogo stick who wasn’t at all interested in covering obscure blues songs from the 1940s, they might be inclined to call themselves The Grates. Enough said.

The Go! Team – (everything)

Song: "We Will Not Be Defeated"

The Go! Team’s music sounds like an amateurish mash-up of cheesy 70s showtunes and a recording of some inner-city high school cheerleading practice. It’s just like that, except it’s good.

Joanna Newsom - Ys

Song: "Only Skin"

Newsom’s new album has been receiving a tongue bath from critics, but personally, I wasn’t quite as impressed as everyone else seems to be. Perhaps part of the reason is because I was partly spoiled when I downloaded some live versions of three of the five songs on this album late last year, so half the album was just a retread of what I had heard before. Mostly, though, I think that this album is just too ambitious. A few years from now, when Newsom is at the height of her creative powers, she might be able to pull off a one-woman opera, but right now, it just doesn’t hit the mark.

I might have been inclined to name "Only Skin" as my Song of the Year, but that award must go to Dressy Bessy's "Baby Six String". Dressy Bessy might not have released an album this year, but they were without question my favorite band in 2006.

Disasters, disappointments, and “do not dos”:

Paris Hilton

WTF? Seriously, anyone who bought this album should be shot. This is the best reason why the major record companies are completely full of shit.

Regina Spektor

Yeah, she’s cute and all, but she can’t sing worth a damn. Usually that’s not a big problem for me (*cough*Joanna Newsom*cough*) but this girl really, really cannot sing. She can’t write either. The comparisons to Kate Bush are a deep insult to Kate.

“We’re the new [insert legendary band here]!!!”

It’s one thing for critics to draw comparisons between a band and some other band from the past—how else can one contextualize a band’s sound through the written word alone? But problems occur when the new band in question begins to believe the hype. Thus, Oasis believed they were the new Beatles. Yo La Tengo believe they are the new Velvet Underground. Belle & Sebastian believe they are the new Smiths. The Hold Steady are trying to be the new E-Street Band. Bands can never live up to that kind of hype, and so long as the comparisons persist, their music will always be a disappointment when they could have been judged on their own merits.