As requested, on with the music!
I've decided to just go with the songs I liked this year. For a variety of reasons, I didn't get a bunch of albums I was excited about, and though I've listened to most of them on Rhapsody, (Mog.com, where I hang out and do a lot of music stuff, became "Rhapsody enabled" or "Rhapsody enhanced" or something, and, for the time being anyway, I've taken the kool-aid. ) I don't feel like I can completely pass judgment on them yet. So, in no particular order, on to the songs.
Lily Allen "LDN"--I love the happy, catchy melody matched with the incredibly cynical lyrics. I liked this even before I saw the youtube thing where she shows her third nipple.
Silversun Pickups--"Lazy Eye". What the hell's it about? I have no idea, and frankly, I don't care! I love the whole "Feelies meet the Pixies" vibe, and I always turn it up when they get to the screaming part.
Spoon--"The Underdog". Horns! Horns! More horns! The horns get me every time!
Amy Winehouse--"Rehab." I'm a little sick of it now, and it's become sadly ironic, but she can really sing, and that old school soul sound is fantastic.
The Hives--"Return the Favour". Yes, they've spelled favor in the British, also known as "incorrect" way, but this song rocks my socks off. I really like their new album, especially because Howlin' Pelle Almquist appears to have decided to become Singin' Pelle Almquist, which just improves the sound tremendously. (No official video for this one yet, so we've got a rather crappy live excerpt, which still sounds pretty good to me--just imagine this longer and clearer..)
The White Stripes "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)" The return of the song title with parentheses! I feel like it's the 80's again! I'm kinda in awe of Jack White's talent, and this song, to my way of thinking, has it all--the wonderful melody, the face-meltin' guitar, and the great lyrics. Like all the best White Stripes songs, this one sounds like it's a classic that's been around for years.
John Fogerty--"I Can't Take it No More." Fogerty's back, and he's pissed, and he's one of the few musicians daring to take on the war.
The Apples in Stereo--"Can You Feel It?" "Same Old Drag"--the two best songs from their New Magnetic Wonder album, which is really good as a whole. I voted for "Can You Feel It?" for official song of summer, but nobody counted my vote. Great upbeat power pop that I never get sick of.
Feist--"I Feel It All". Usually the female acoustic singer-songwriter is right up there with dental surgery among my favorite things, but this is a great song. I was won over by this clip of her singing it on the bus with Jimmy Kimmel.
Okay, one album. Rentacrowd by the Len Price 3 is the album I listened to the most, and the album I listened to from beginning to end more than any other in 2007. These guys have channeled the early Kinks and Who and put together a fantastic record. It's all great, but here's the video for the title track:
