Musicheads take stock of the great tunes for 2007...at least the ones we've liked so far

LCD Soundsystem's "North American Scum" is in my top picks so far, too.
I have 2 or 3 faves on The National's album, Boxer ("Fake Empire", "Guest Room", "Gospel").
I can't quit singing "Truth Is" from Brother Ali.
Jarvis Cocker's "Black Magic" is the perfect balance of new and old with that Tommy James sample and Jarvis' lovely voice.
I'm also playing the heck out the new Afghan Whigs collection, Unbreakable. The segue from "Crime Scene Part One" into "Faded" takes my breath away.

I totally agree with Mr. Deville about the Arcade Fire song. I always refer to it as "The Springsteen Song."

As it's (technically almost) summer now, most of my favorite songs of the past year are tending toward the light and poppy.

I'm partial to Jarvis Cocker's "Quantum Theory", but still love the "Unmentionable Title" song that follows.

"92 Subaru" by Fountains of Wayne has gotten a lot of play because it's so darned fun. You can't mess with the power pop triumverate, hand claps, cowbell, and tambourine all in the same song.

"99 1/2" by Mavis Staples still rocks my world

"North American Scum" just found it's way onto my MP3 player

Joseph Arthur's "Spacemen" is also a fun tune. I love the "one-take" feel and the bits of banter.

"Turn on Me" from The Shins has received hundreds of plays.

Most of "Costello Music" by the Fratellis has me jumping up and down. Particularly "For The Girl"

Technically a 2006 release, but came out in December, so close enough for jazz, Bon Savants "Post Rock Defends the Nation" the song and album. "Between the Moon and the Ocean" is a beautiful song.

And one that I haven't heard on The Current (yet) but "Goes Around" by the Israeli band, Rockfour. Nice jangly 12- string Rickenbacker electric guitar pop with nods to the Beach Boys, the Byrds, and perhaps a little Echo and the Bunnymen thrown in.

some favorite songs from 2007? off the top of my head:

"Red Hands""Dear Ms. Leading" "The Procession" and "The Lake and the River" by The Dear Hunter
"Via Rail" "Forest" "Campfire" "Snowflakes" and "Empire" by Kaddisfly
"Bluetrace" by Stateless
"Kyla Cries Cologne" "April Fool's And Eggman" and "Vice~Versa" by Fair To Midland
"Down" and "Unitl It's Over" by House of Fools
"Uniform" by Bloc Party
"Song For the Field" by Fields
"Running Man" by Aereogramme
"I Knew You When" by Paulson
"Shadows And City Lights" by Deas Vail
"Jane" "Stay the Day" and "vagabond" by Kiss Kiss
"Lightpost" by The Apex Theory
"Victorious Cupid" by Pure Reason Revolution

This one is tough. Stand out songs so far this year? My favorites are slightly off from songs I'm associating with the year, but I'll explain that later. First lets see what other people are into *scrolling up*

Awesome, Barb. Don't you love a great transition during play?

soundscapem n. you always have more off the top of your head than I have in mine ;-)

To sorta expand on Frick's point this is just a snapshot of what I'm digging so far and it is pretty personal.

Here's a half dozen songs for the first six months, many due to these meddling Musicheads:

*"West" by Lucinda Williams. Thanks to Bill! He must have hypnotized us all by talking about it in the Feb 20 Musicheads. (See the discussion.)
*"Saving Grace" by Tom Petty. Yeah, you read that right. You don't have to get it. This is my favorite. Shove off.
*"Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse. Despite the constant airplay this album gets at coffeeshops, I can still enjoy it. (Yeah, the Heads talked about her. See the April 3 discussion.)
*"Take Control" by Amerie. First time I heard it - before I caught the lyrics or the airplay kicked in - I wolf-whistled. I guess that guitar was lifted from Tom Zé. It is a killer, killer take on the girl group sound. Horns, the works.
*"You're a Wolf" by Seawolf. This was a The Current Song of the Day and it inexplicably draws me in. Over and over. To the chagrin of everyone within listening distance. Help.
*"I Can't Sleep" by Sloan. Again with the Musicheads archive. Makes me want to go out and give the world a shake. (See the discussion - yeah its the same as the Lucinda Williams one.)


Honorable mention for the people in my life who have better musical taste than I do:
*"Easy" by Tracey Thorn. Best quote about it? "I didn't realize how much I missed her voice." Tracey's back.


Songs I associate with the year so far but just couldn't list as a personal favorite:

*"Young Folks" Peter, Bjorn, and John. Loved by Baristas everywhere. Catch the Peter Bjorn and John: Live from SXSW feature.
*"Rehab" If you don't know that's Amy Winehouse by now...Lord.
*"Truth Is" that this song is played everywhere, so it is part of the soundtrack of two double-oh seven. Good thing I like it.
*"Shake It" by Ozomatli. Shake, shake, shake.
*"Ice Age" from Pete Yorn. Released last year but I didn't have it, really have it, until this January.


I'll probably have more or less later. ;-)

Err, that's "Can't Stop" by Ozomatli. A certain youngster I know calls it the "Shake It" song and seems to have overwritten my already faulty memory.

"Play that Shake It Song!"

The Arcade Fire's "Intervention" is the song of the year so far. For all the dozens of times I've listened to it, pored over it, appreciated its every nuance, it's still tough for me to put the song into words. It is a massive song, in every sense of the word. The opening pipe organ is the most dramatic intro to a pop song since "Bitter Sweet Symphony", slowly building into an enormous swirl of knee-buckling sound. I honestly don't think it's hyperbole to label "Intervention" as one of the very best rock songs in years -- take another listen and think to yourself when was the last time you heard something so *brilliant*. Not even the mighty "(Antichrist Television Blues)" comes close to matching the power of "Intervention".

#2 is the Pipettes' "Pull Shapes" (I know this was released in 2006, but 2007 has brought it greater exposure. Call it the Go! Team provision). "Pull Shapes" is Kevin Durant to "Intervention"'s Greg Oden: virtually perfect in every sense, a complete package that would be #1 in any other year, yet relegated to second place in the wake of a once-a-decade monolith. Taking nods from everything from ABBA's "Dancing Queen" (in launching straight into the chorus) to classic Phil Spector girl pop, I've sat up at night listening to this song on repeat over and over again. One could probably find quibbles with the Pipettes' concept, their cheekiness, their wardrobe, etc., but "Pull Shapes" is something we should all be able to agree on.

Mac, that's amazing. If you hadn't written so eloquently I would have asked why you only offered two songs, but it is all right there. Amazing. Makes me want to fire up the music right now.

I would like to add that LCD Soundsystem's "North American Scum" and "Someone Great" are Al Horford and Joakim Noah -- twin heavyweights from the year's champion (so far...)

my favorites so far include a couple of pretty obscure songs that are well worth searching out and some better known ones:

Arbouretum - Pale Riders Blues
I haven't been able to get out of my head since the first time I heard an advance of it late last year. It is both fascinating and intimidating to me at the same time. the combination of storytelling lyrics and musicianship goes together perfectly to me.

J Tillman - when I light your darkened door
Another song that I heard late last year but was not available until this year and hard to track down at that (on yer bird records). Stripped down lo-fi folk that focuses mostly on his voice and lyrics with just perfect touches that again remind you of times past in the instrumentation. without even listening to the lyrics the song is heartbreaking to behold (can bring me close to tears even after months of listening to it).

Dizzee Rascal - Sirens
Though it is only receiving a digital release in the US, Dizzee Rascal's third album is probably his most accomplished. the first single Sirens is a perfect example of his melding the urban london grime sound with a more american hip-hop aesthetic.

Shellac - Steady as She Goes
Finally something new from this power trio and the spotty new album opens with two of the best songs from their live sets the past few years. Pure shellac/albini with slicing guitars and powerful tight drums.

White Stripes - Conquest
absolutely brilliant cover of Patti Page. Plenty has been written about it already and it's worth all the praise it has received.

Honorable mentions have to go to:
Modest Mouse - dashboard
Shins - A Comet Appears (if only because it reminds me of the jam)
The Good, The Bad, and The Queen - Green Fields
Battles - Atlas