Top 25 Records of 2007 pt.1

25. Muscles- It’s big and loud and stupid and makes me want to dance around in my room in my underwear and snatch glances of my sweet moves in the mirror while I’m getting ready, and then go out and do a bunch of crazy drugs I haven’t done since I was young enough that that wasn’t sort of pathetic. And there’s NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT…at all…

24. Japanther- Scuffed Up My Huffy
When I lived in Florida I have all of these awesome memories of riding our bikes house shows with a back-pack full of beer, and kids crowd surfing in living rooms and breaking ceiling fans, and everyone eating big plates of shitty undercooked pasta then getting stomach cramps from all running to go skinny-dipping in the ocean, and everything glowing from the phosphoresce in the water… and even though the bands that played these shows were mostly screamo and hardcore bands, in my mind all I can hear is this record when I picture them playing…

23.Cam’ron- Public Enemy #1
It’s tempting to just put this record on here for “Just Us”, but it turns out the rest of the records really fucking good too. Cam’ron may be all crazy and stuff but as long as he’s spitting fire I still love the man. No homo.

22.Wolves at The Throne Room- Two Hunters
I haven’t been really interested in new any black metal releases in while, and based on listening to this record, I’ve been missing a lot. Brutal, beautiful, and completely indicative of both the Olympia independent scene they’re surrounded by and the dark and scary Washington forest they live in.

21. No Age- Weirdo Rippers
Of course any record with a picture of the Smell as the cover warms me over, but this blend of noisy, psychy, hazy punk odds and sods really manages to encompass more then just a little slice of an amazing D.I.Y. experimental scene, but a deeper running current of willfully independent thought and attitude that provides a stark and needed contrast with the usual bullshit and glamour associated with The City of Angels.

20. Radiohead- In Rainbows
After listening to OK Computer to the point of abstraction Electioneering became my favorite track. That pretty much sums up how I feel about this entire record.

19. Clockcleaner- Babylon Rules
Another band that’s press has fallen victim to it’s own crazy antics, violent stage show, obnoxious interviews, etc. The difference between them and so many others, is that instead of the record standing out in contrast, or being over shadowed by all of this, it stands in perfect accompaniment to all of it, a glorious slice of hatred, misery and anger. Thank you may I have another.

18. Grinderman- Grinderman
In trying to make hero’s out of the more renowned of the jazz and blues greats, and in rightfully singing their praises as influences to all of the music we love now, it’s easy to forget that one of things that provided a staple warm up to both genres was the impromptu jam about fucking. Nick Cave didn’t.

17. Ghostface Killah- Big Doe Rehab
“Next thing you know I’m in this bitch’s crib chillin’
Told her my story and like this I had her legs in the ceiling
Cookin’ me fried fish sticks, hot side of them biscuits
While she doin’ this, the bitch still slidin’ on lipstick
Now I got the fat stomach on, she crackin’ a dutch
I’m playin’ with her pussy on the couch, I’m ready to fuck
Like come here miss lady wop, where you put the condom box?
She finished off the last one, oh shit I hear the cops
Handcuffs and talkies, I mashed her white Yorkie
Jettin’ up the stairs, them pigs want revenge like Porky’s
So I slid, hid behind the wall, opened the door
Like ooo I seen my man Meth goin’ in raw
So he jumped up balls out, I hid in the closet
I’m dyin’ laughin’, he said “Yo Starks be quiet! “

16. Dan Deacon- Spiderman of the Rings.
Holy fuck, I feel just like I drank like thirty cups of coffee and snorted a bunch of pixie-sticks and then ran a marathon through toon-town, not the annoying part of Disneyland, but the actual one from roger rabbit with singing bullets and sexy cartoon ladies and weird acidic dip. Nope, just listened to the
Dan Deacon Record. Weird, man.

15. Jay Z- American Gangster
I have yet to see the movie, and have to admit that if there was any hope that this record would act as a tool of promotion, it’s totally had the opposite effect. I somehow doubt that Ridley Scott communicates the same symbiosis of braggadocio and desperation that Jay-Z brings to the table, while still finding time to comment on
Al Sharpton. The King is back.

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