It’s been a year without masterpieces, the critical consensus moans. And the critical consensus is right. The Shins didn’t change our lives, and Modest Mouse disappointed. Arcade Fire came through, sort of, and certainly didn’t embarrass themselves. But nobody’s released a certifiable 5-star album thus far in 2007, at least to my ears.
So has it been a disappointing year in music? Not at all. If no one has released a perfect album, many artists have come close. Here’s a list of albums that are in 4- to 4.5 star territory for me, all of them released in the past seven months (or, in a few cases, about to be released). If I wouldn’t take them to the mythical desert island, I’m still happy to have them near at hand, close to the CD player in the suburban den.
Panda Bear — Person Pitch
Frog Eyes — Tears of the Valedictorian
Devon Sproule — Keep the Silver Shined
Richard Thompson — Sweet Warrior
Arcade Fire — Neon Bible
Loudon Wainwright III — Strange Weirdos
Future Clouds and Radar — Future Clouds and Radar
Hallulujah the Hills — Collective Psychosis Begone
Antibalas — Security
The Clientele — God Save the Clientele
Graham Parker — Don’t Tell Columbus
The Weakerthans — Reunion Tour
Patty Griffin — Children Running Through
Wilco — Sky Blue Sky
Ryan Adams — Easy Tiger
Dungen — Tio Bitar
The Twilight Sad — Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters
Rickie Lee Jones — Sermon on Exposition Boulevard
Michelle Shocked — ToHeavenURide
Joe Henry — Civilians
Peter Case — Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John
The Mendoza Line — Thirty Year Low
Grinderman — Grinderman
John Reuben — Word of Mouth
Steve Earle — Washington Square Serenade
John Vanderslice — Emerald City
The Safes — Well, Well, Well
Damien Dempsey — To Hell or Barbados
The Broken West — I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On
Linda Thompson — Versatile Heart
The Bad Plus — Prog
The National — Boxer
Metric — Grow Up and Blow Away
Do Make Say Think — You, You’re a History in Rust
Pentangle — Now is the Time
Spencer Moore — Spencer Moore
Miranda Lambert — Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Galactic — From the Corner to the Block
Mavis Staples — We’ll Never Turn Back
The Frames — The Cost
John Abercrombie — Third Quartet
The Avett Brothers — Emotionalism
And I’m still holding out hope for the new Radiohead and New Pornographers albums.
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I might have to give The Frames and The Avett Brothers 5 stars. I just can’t stop playing either of them. Just my opinion. Also, the new Matthew Ryan should be on that list.
This critic isn’t moaning at all.
Have you actually heard the new Joe Henry? Is it everything I’m hoping for?
The only album on that list that I’d give five (5) stars to is Michelle Shocked’s forthcoming one. One missing and it’s a glaring omission is Romantica’s latest. The best Ryan Adams record I’ve ever heard (it’s THAT good).
Miranda Lambert! Yes!
David, yes I’ve heard the new Joe Henry album. It’s certainly everything I hoped for. I’ve written about him twice in Paste, but I’ll say it again: for my money, Joe Henry is the best songwriter in the world. There’s a song on the new album about Charlie Parker (called “Parker’s Mood") that is just sublime, and perfectly captures the conflicted nature of that tormented man. Joe does conflicted human beings (and hence real human beings) better than anyone. The album is out 9/11.
Chuck, I’m very fond of that new Michelle Shocked album as well. It’s raw gospel, heavy on the Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the Mavis Staples. That’s just fine with me.
I haven’t heard the Romantica album, although I’ve heard some songs. I certainly like what I’ve heard. They came in second place at a “New Songwriters” contest a few months back where I served in the role of a Simon-Cowell-like musical judge. Except I didn’t get to insult the bands, which was also fine with me.
The Avett Brothers gets 5 stars from me.
And what about Bright Eyes (Cassadaga)?
Also, check out Amy LaVere (Anchors & Anvils),
Nathan Moore (In His Own Words), and Julie Lee (Take Me Out To Hear The Band).
Cheers!
http://www.oxfordmusicsnob.com
I’m not sure if this is the right format for this question, but every single Paste sampler gives me new loves. Lately, the second step after receiving the sampler is to cross check it with the Austin City Limits lineup. Are you guys planning to publish a list of “Must Sees” at ACL? I’d be eternally grateful. (And, I must agree with the guy about Cassadaga.)
Elizabeth, I don’t have a direct answer to your question, but you might want to go back and check out the May 07 issue (The Hold Steady on the cover). There’s a good overview of the various summer/fall outdoor fests, including ACL.
No love for Over the Rhine’s new disc?
John, I haven’t heard Over the Rhine’s new disc. Nor am I in a hurry to hear it. There’s no criticism intended. They do what they do very well, they’re nice people, and the songwriting is always thought-provoking and honest. But the whole torch song/sultry siren thing usually puts me to sleep, and it’s just not my cup of chamomile tea.
I didn’t see Buffalo Tom, Sevendust (yes, the alt-metal genre should get some love), and Smashing Pumpkins on that list of albums that deserve at least four stars. I have all those albums and can honestly count only 2-3 duds on them. And the new Jesse Harris album ain’t half bad, either.
I have already heard the New Pornographers’new album through Matador Record’s “Buy Early Get Now” promotion. It is a collection of songs guaranteed to make you feel glad to be alive(or at least they had that effect on me!)This is their best yet, and I already bought tickets for their upcoming show in ATL even though it is not until late October.
Matthew Ryan’s Late Night High Rise is absolutely a five star album. I’ve been listening to it all year and I hear something new with each play. Amazing!
The new Islaja and Odd Nosdam albums are pretty damn good.
I’m also looking forward to “CIVILIANS” by Joe Henry. My favorite recordings this year have been the Rickie Lee Jones & Angelique Kidjo. RLJ came out of nowhere & just impressed me to no end. I feel the new WILCO & Ryan Adams are overrated. peace
My favorite is a tribute to the Television Personalities on a small indie label called “I Would Write A Thousand Words” and interestingly The Clientele do a TVP cover in their live set.
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