It's that time of year isn't it? My 10 favorite 2007 releases so far.
No finer collection of music this year. It's a bunch of stuff you've never heard and it all sounds amazing. If you like soul music, you simply can't go wrong with this collection.
Very strong release from the downtempo veterans. It didn't hit me strongly with the first listen but has grown on me something fierce over the year. It's a great accompaniment to the album I've listened to the most this year, although not a 2007 release, Incognito's Bees + Things + Flowers.
I don't go to Andrew Lojero's parties around town with the same regularity that I used to but this absolutely sounds like that Los Angeles. Underground. Creative. Excited. Agitated. We're under freeways and in back alleys and abandoned churches and it's 3 in the morning. The party don't stop because Art Don't Sleep.
What can I say? I tried to deny this album but I'm a sucker for good Raphael Saadiq production and Stone seems further along in her finding her own voice than some other young blue eyed soul singers. Where I find Amy Winehouse's Back to Black derivative and imitative of a certain sound, I somehow find Introducing... interesting and indicative of a certain sound. Joss might not have half of Winehouse's personality but, at the very least, I'm not running through the artist's her records sound like. And that is not to say that Amy Winehouse isn't great but, without fail, I keep thinking that Back to Black is that the music industry found someone to finally make a sophomore Lauryn Hill album and it just so happens to be a drunk off her ass white girl from the UK.
It's the Avett Brothers. Blue-grassy soulful indie pop harmonizing? That's my kind of cocktail.
And the rest:
6. Feist - The Reminder
7. Jay Dee - Ruff Draft
8. Evidence - The Weatherman LP
9. Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
10. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
And the rest:
6. Feist - The Reminder
7. Jay Dee - Ruff Draft
8. Evidence - The Weatherman LP
9. Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
10. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible