All in all, a good year from a music perspective:
5. Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela
Rodrigo y Gabriela are a Mexican, guitar-playing duo. Theirs is a great story: they started out playing thrash metal in Mexico, moved to Dublin and played hotels and busked before being discovered by Damien Rice. This is yet another album that was released in '06 but is in my '07 list. They are supposed to be amazing live - check out this Youtube clip -- and was another concert I was sad to miss when they played London a few weeks back. My favorite track is the first one, Tamacun.
4. Bishop Allen, The Broken String
Bishop Allen are a Brooklyn-based indie rock band. Think the intelligent, ironic lyrics of a Ben Folds with the melodies of a Modest Mouse. Okay, I actually don't have this album yet but most of the songs on here are reworkings from a series of EPs they released in 2006, and I saw them play live earlier this year. Fred Wilson gave it an honorable mention. My favorites are Flight 180, Corazon and Castanets.
Beirut is fronted by 21-yr old musical prodigy Zach Condon. He's been heavily influenced by his travels to Eastern Europe when he dropped out of school. The Wikipedia entry has a lot more of the history behind the band. The latest album, Flying Cub Cup, sounds more French than Balkan and I've been listening to it all fall. It's a great sound with Zach's wailing voice over the rich, textured instrumentation: accordion, lots of percussion, and stringed instruments. I was bummed that I had to miss their London gig at the Camden Roundhouse. My favorite tracks are Nantes and A Sunday Smile, and listening to them will forever remind me of my weeks in London.
2. Camera Obscura, Let's Get Out Of This Country
Camera Obscura are the yang to Belle & Sebastian's yin. This album actually came out in '06 but I actually got 'round to listening to it this year, so it's on the list. They're heavily influenced by B&S (another favorite band of mine) and you can hear it in their sweet, twee sound. I played this record over and over during the spring and summer. The songs are sweet but with a sad tinge to them. The title track, Let's Get Out Of This Country, had special meaning as I was contemplating moving abroad. I was glad to be able to catch them in NYC.
If I had to choose one album for the year, this would be it. The album has been reviewed by many and much more eloquently that I could write. What I will say is that there's something about their music that touches you. It gives you goose bumps or makes you want to cry. I've heard people that have seen their show describe it as a religious experience. I believe it. This was the show that I was most sorry to miss when they came through London (though I was away for a good cause). My favorite tracks are Keep the Car Running, Intervention, Ocean Of Noise and The Well And The Lighthouse.
There are other records that I'm looking forward to getting into and haven't yet had the chance to do so including Radiohead's In Rainbows, the New Pornographers and Sigur Ros.
great choices rags
i can't listen to flying cub cub all the way through but i am obsessed by in the masauleom.
fred
Posted by: fred wilson | December 24, 2007 at 11:44 PM