Old habits die hard. I still listen to tons of music every year. I still keep track of what I've listened to and what my favorites are. And, for the zillionth year, I create a top albums list at the end of the year.
Here are a collection of the albums I grew fondest of this year. It is more or less in order, though not specifically so.
My friends Meghan and Joe are getting married in May. Meghan recently asked a few friends, including me, to come up with playlists for their outdoor wedding reception afterward.
Her instructions to me: "Keep it upbeat...throw in some old stuff...about an hour...stuff people might dance to."
I take playlist-making quite seriously, probably waaaaay more seriously than I need to. So I started working on it almost immediately. Every few days I tinker--adding a few songs, removing a few, rearranging the order. I'll probably be fussing with it until the morning of the wedding.
Here is something to listen to if you are stuck at your office or at home with some terrible relatives.
For the past five years, I've make up a Christmas mix CD to hand out in lieu of cards and junk to co-workers and a few friends. It is always fun to put together. I mix a lot of obscure holiday songs and usual stuff (this year features a musical saw and a throat singing version of "Jingle Bells") with standards and classics. I think it is an odd but really listenable collection of stuff.
If you can get through the first song on this one (a lovingly bad amateur carol), there are some gems on this one. I've posted the whole thing here for you to listen to.
Enjoy.
Click the play button to listen.
Here is the track listing:
"Rocking Disco Santa Claus" / Sisterhood "Imagine Santa" / dj BC "Christmas Reindeer" / The Knife "The Christmas Song (Michael Kessler Open Fire Mix)" / Mel Torme "Toyland" / Doris Day "Star Of Wonder" / The Roches "Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming" / Sufjan Stevens "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" / Julian Koster "The Christmas Spirit" / Johnny Cash "Christmas Night in Harlem" / Louis Armstrong "Silver Bells" / Heritage Hall Jazz Band "Merry Christmas, Baby" / Charles Brown & Band "Pretty Paper" / Willie Nelson "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me" / Stevie Wonder "The Christmas Song" / Bela Fleck And The Flecktones "I'll Be Home For Christmas" / The Beach Boys "Jingle Bells (Reprise") / Bela Fleck And The Flecktones "Christmas Treat, Peppermint" / Sisterhood "Auld Lang Syne" / James Taylor
I'm actually kind of proud of myself, as this is the first year in several that I've managed to compile and put this list out before mid-January. Hell, it is still the first third of December. Perhaps I'm turning over a new leaf or something.
Below are my favorite albums from this year, in more or less the order in which I prefer them to be. Most of the links have previews of the albums.
In past years, I've done up my yearly "Best Album" lists all purdy like: I've had links to artist info, sample MP3s, etc. I planned to do the same thing this year. But that takes time. Time I'd like to have to devote to such practically pointless pursuits, but don't.
So, I never posted the list. I kept putting it off, and off, and off. Now it is almost mid-January (the list was finished by December 1st) and I still haven't gotten around to posting it. So, without further ado, here is the list of my favorite albums in 2007. No bells, whistles, javascript, or links. Just the damn list:
Fourteen Autumns, Fifteen Winters by The Twilight Sad
Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem
Transparent Things by Fujiya & Miyagi
Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
Fantastic Playroom by New Young Pony Club
Boxer by The National
A Drink And A Quick Decision by Grand National
Era Vulgaris by Queens of the Stone Age
t by Justice
We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse
I'm not big on cross-posting, but in past years I've listed my Top 10 albums of the year on this site. Now that I have Orangejello Lemonjello, it makes more sense to put them there.
Stop over to see what clipped my ticket this year, musicially.
I'm going to spin off most of the music stuff I have here to my brand-spankin' new MP3 music blog, called Orangejello Lemonjello. It's up and running now. I'm guessing I'll put up 2 or 3 postings a week with stuff I'm listening to, thinking about, etc...all relating to music. Usually accompanied by some downloadable tunes.
All other assorted nonsense can still be found here as well.
Here is a new twist on my ephemeral new "Favorite Song Ever." While the recipient of this honor changes often, this weekend I experienced something I'd never come across before...a tie!
It isn't unusual for more than one new Favorite Song Ever candidate to vie for my attention, but usually after a few days of duking it out--a leader emerges. This time, I realized there was a pending showdown when I discovered two songs (within about 12 hours of each other) that I couldn't get out of my head. After a weekend of going back and forth, I just couldn't make up my mind. So, I decided these two ditties would share the distinction!
The first among the equals is a new single by Buffalo Daughter called "Peace." If you are among the 6 people in the US who've heard of Buffalo Daughters and aren't employed in a record store--I think you should give this song a chance. Buffalo Daughter's music is usually a sloppy collection of a few interesting ideas, surrounded by a whole bunch of kinda cutesy, pointless drivel. However, this song is pretty amazing start to finish.
Reasons why it should be my new Favorite Song Ever: Great hooks, sense of fun, actually changes things up quite a bit (but still sounds like everything fits together). Reasons why it shouldn't be my new Favorite Song Ever: Starts off slow and takes a bit to get moving (a good new FSE hits you from the very first notes). Bonus points: They're Japanese.
Click play below to hear "Peace":
The other contender: The Killers' new song "When You Were Young." Early reviews of this track had me skeptical--calling it a mixture of Bruce Springsteen and new wave. Now that I hear it, I understand why people are saying that. The song has an Springsteen-like epic sense of grandness. The lyrics make you wish this had been released months ago--because the references to boys, riding down highways, and such would make this a tremendous summer song.
Reasons why it should be my new Favorite Song Ever: Builds like a great movie. Fantastic hooks. Reasons why it shouldn't be my new Favorite Song Ever: It's fun, but not as fun as most FSEs. Bonus points: The band's upcoming album is named after Sam's Town--which is the one Las Vegas casino that still offers $1.99 steak dinners to lure in the suckers.
I often announce to my friends that I have a new favorite song and then force them to listen to it with me. To me, this is a rather ephemeral distinction--I seem to have a "new favorite song" about every two weeks or so. During its tenure, I'll listen to the song, sometimes simply putting it on repeat over and over again.
There really isn't any predictable criteria for a new favorite song, except there has to be at least one absolutely killer hook in it. They usually feel a little poppy, too.
Click the play button above to hear my current "new favorite song": Sound Team's "Your Eyes Are Liars."
