2007 - What Got My Brain Buzzin'

What a GREAT year for new music! One of the strongest in recent memory, to these ears. I'm excited, too, by the fact so many of my favorite genres to trawl are consistently being replenished by new bands bringing their own unique take on the sounds. 2007 saw a return to form for some I've enjoyed in the past such as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club & the Warlocks; also a change in direction for others like Oyvind Holm forming Deleted Waveform Gatherings; members of defunct bands came back with newfound directions, i.e., Cotton Mather expatriates in Future Clouds & Radar and Stockton;some just had so much time on their hands, aside from normal band duties, to make their own album, like Dungen's Mattias Gustavsson & his Life On Earth project;gods bless 'em all!
So, here's my rundown:



The Top 30, Nos. 11-30
(in alphabetical order)

30. the Aliens - Astronomy For Dogs
29. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum
28. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
27. Dr. Dog - We All Belong
26. Dreadful Yawns - Rest
25. Dungen - Tio Bitar
24. the Fast Camels - The Magic Optician
23. Grails - Burning Off Impurities
22. Grand Atlantic - This Is
21. Great Lakes - Diamond Times
20. Ideal Free Distribution - ST
19. Life On Earth - Look! There's Life On Earth
18. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
17. Pepe Deluxe - Spare Time Machine
16. Stockton - Euphonics
15. Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus
14. The Thanes - A Night In Great King Street
13. Three 4 Tens - Down The Way
12. the Warlocks - Heavy Deavy Skull Lover
11. When - Trippy Happy Jester

...and now,The Top Ten of 2007 as heard by valis

(again alphabetically)

The Bishops - ST
What an absolute ROMP! Bring more!


The December Sound ST (a/k/a "The Silver Album")
Just listen to "Drone Refusenik" and tell me you can't hear the howling wind across the steppes! A bright future ahead as they've digested their influences and spit out originality. In spades.


The Go - Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride
The mighty sr-71 said the following and I can't think of a better way to put it:
" I am listening to the delicious sounds of The Go (either that or Gene Clark cut an album with '67 era Kinks and decided it would be a canny marketing move to shelve it for 40 years before releasing it) - sure works for me, anyway......


the Pillbugs - Buzz For Aldrin
Mark Mikel & Co. come up with *another* double-disc delight for all of us clamoring for the true wafer. They deserve LOVE!


The Redwalls - ST
They just kick ass. Like Noel & Liam-type ass. I'm all for the kickin' of Oasis' ass.


Rockfour - Memories Of The Never Happened
Easily their most fully-realized full length album. A band at their peak."Goes Around" will be an earworm for years.



The Sun Blindness - Like Pearly Clouds
A ride to the outer belts...



David Vandervelde - The Moon Station House Band
Channeling Ziggy-era Bowie and Marc Bolan, too. The title couldn't be more apt.


Voxtrot - ST
This one seems to be dropping off-radar for quite a few Year-end Best Of's I'm seeing and I've no idea why, other than as I'd pointed out from the start-it was a VERY GOOD YEAR.This should be among them. After strong EP releases they make a tremendous album full of what got everyone's attention in the first place.



Yeasayers - All Hour Cymbals
Caught up with this late and that might've given 'em the push into the Top Ten. Stylistically all over the place and a lotta' headphone FUN! (!!!)"Wait For The Summer", "Forgiveness", and "2080" leap...


That's my take on the year that was. -valis