Virgin Fest ’08
I think the Cribs were added to the Saturday. Many bands to be added in the coming weeks.
I think the Cribs were added to the Saturday. Many bands to be added in the coming weeks.
Finally, I’m getting around to posting this list. I’m having too hard a time putting them in order, so I’ll stick to alphabetical.
Here they are.
Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha. Still not sure what he’s better at, the violin, singing or whistling. This album is a great listen, a nice mosiac of many different sounds. Songs the find their way into your head and stay there. His show in Toronto was one of the best I saw this year.
The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible. Winners of my best concert of the year and most interactive video of the year, Neon Bible really crept up on me. Initially, I wanted Funeral again. What I got was an amazing follow up. Results under pressure.
Caribou – Andorra. A critically acclaimed crossover record; something to keep the cool challenged and the rest interested.
Handsome Furs – Plague Park. Couldn’t have put it better than Burtch.
Jose Gonzalez – In Our Nature. The Swede with the most un-Swedish name. Great ability here. Lighting quick precision fingers on the classical guitar, soft vocals sprinkled overtop. Even though I’m a bigger fan of Veneer, its a good record to buy the sig nif other.
Justice – +. I had no idea I’d really open my mind up to so much dance music this year, but this French duo helped blow it right open. Pick this record up soon, before you hear the whole record as a background to tv commercials.
Miracle Fortress – Five Roses. One of two records here I’d recommend to fans of Brian Wilson. A surprise Polaris nominee. A great start.
Panda Bear – Person Pitch. The other I’d recommend. Love the production on this record. When I hear this album, I picture myself at some crazy beach campire sing-along.
Radiohead – In Rainbows. Winner of best sales tactic of 2007 and still #1 band in my books. Now if I could figure out how to get tickets when they tour here again…..
Wintersleep – Welcome To The Night Sky. Over the past two months, this record has had the most amount of play in my rotation. A great third record, a band growing and opening up. Its nice to see that people are taking notice.
This is not my list for favorite albums of 2007. I’m still working on that as we speak.
This list is kind of a 2007 listening road map for me.
*Some songs may have been released in ’06, but I heard them for the first time this year. As well, they are in no order whatsoever.
Pioneer To The Falls by Interpol. Get it from Your Head’s Not Right.
Down The Line by Jose Gonzalez. Check MOKB.
Bodysnatchers by Radiohead. Check Rocksellout.
Casualty by Look See Proof. Exitfare has it.
Superheroes/Human After All/Rock’n’Roll by Daft Punk off Alive.
Northwestern Girls by Say Hi
Videotape (Acoustic) by Thom Yorke. Get it at Good Weather.
Hljomalind by Sigur Ros. Get it at the Sound Of Marching Feet.
Your English Is Good by Tokyo Police Club
Good To Sea by Pinback. Check Neiles Life.
Phantom pt. II (Soulwax Night Version) by Justice
Damnit Anna by The Morning Benders
Lake Michigan by Rogue Wave
Let’s Dance To Joy Division by The Wombats
Pop Rocks by Saturna
Weighty Ghost by Wintersleep
Sandy by Caribou
Forever Heavy by Black Moth Super Rainbow
Hold Your Secrets To Your Heart by Miracle Fortress. Get it from Matt.
It Will Find You by Maps
West Coast by Coconut Records
1 2 3 4 by Feist
Oh, The Boss Is Coming by Charlemagne
Sing! Captain by Handsome Furs
My Body Is A Cage by The Arcade Fire
Nothin’No by David Vandervelde
Anti-Anti (Stutter remix) by Snowden. Thats a tricky one to find, check iTunes.
Take Your Medicine by Cloud Cult
Music Now by Frightened Rabbit
Winding Watch by Rebekah Higgs
Head to I (heart) Music to see who was voted in the top 33 hottest bands in Canada (hottest meaning as best, most hyped or most popular. interpretation was up to the voter). A big list of bloggers, writers and music industry people who are keeping an eye on whats going on.
Here’s what I sent in.
1) Caribou
2) The Arcade Fire
3) Patrick Watson
4) Miracle Fortress
5) Wintersleep
6) Sunset Rubdown
7) Basia Bulat
8 ) Kevin Drew (**only choice of mine that didn’t make the top 33)
9) Handsome Furs
10) Besnard Lakes
I always find it hard to make a list like this every year because inevitably I forget a couple names. ie. I forgot the #1 choice, you know, that girl from the ipod commercial?
A little while ago I wrote about Wintersleep‘s new record Welcome To The Night Sky. As I keep listening, I thinking it will make my best of 2007 list for sure. Here’s the brand spanking new video for the catchy ‘Weighty Ghost’.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-iW0zL2LI0[/youtube]