The Top 31 of 2007: The Whole Bloody Affair

Well, we've finally finished this long, drawn-out countdown to the #1 Album and Song of 2007! Thanks to all of you who kept up with it, and for everyone who has visited Audio Overflow in 2007! 2008 is looking to be quite an exciting year, both for this blog and for music in general (more on that at a later date). For now, here's a quick reference guide to Audio Overflow's Top 31 of 2007! Enjoy!

Cale's Top 31 Albums

#31: Modest Mouse: We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

#30: Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

#29: Cocorosie: The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn

#28: Dan Deacon: Spiderman of the Rings

#27: Rogue Wave: Asleep at Heaven's Gate

#26: The Aliens: Astronomy for Dogs

#25: Smashing Pumpkins: Zeitgeist

#24: Caribou: Andorra

#23: Stars: In Our Bedroom After the War

#22: Emma Pollock: Watch the Fireworks

#21: Animal Collective: Strawberry Jam

#20: Dillinger Escape Plan: Ire Works

#19: Eisley: Combinations

#18: Metric: Grow Up and Blow Away

#17: The Apples in Stereo: New Magnetic Wonder

#16: Radiohead: In Rainbows

#15: Okkervil River: The Stage Names

#14: Tegan and Sara: The Con

#13: ContraNova: Infinity In All Directions

#12: The Most Serene Republic: Population

#11: LCD Soundsytem: Sound of Silver

#10: Architecture in Helsinki: Places Like This

#9: The Shins: Wincing the Night Away

#8: Justice: †

#7: The New Pornographers: Challengers

#6: Band of Horses: Cease to Begin

#5: Bright Eyes: Cassadaga

#4: Loney, Dear: Loney, Noir

#3: St. Vincent: Marry Me

#2: Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

#1: Field Music: Tones of Town

Jill's Top 31 Albums

#31: LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver

#30: A Fine Frenzy: One Cell in the Sea

#29: Chromeo: Fancy Footwork

#28: Bjork: Volta

#27: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band: It's Not Big It's Large

#26: Stars: In Our Bedroom After the War

#25: Ani diFranco: Canon

#24: Alison Krauss: A Hundred Miles or More

#23: Common: Finding Forever

#22: Kelly Clarkson: My December

#21: DJ Jazzy Jeff: The Return of the Magnificent

#20: Pharoahe Monch: Desire

#19: Fall Out Boy: Infinity on High

#18: Jill Scott: The Real Thing - Words and Sounds Vol. 3

#17: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings: 100 Days, 100 Nights

#16: PJ Harvey: White Chalk

#15: Serj Tankian: Elect the Dead

#14: Jill Scott: Collaborations

#13: Ryan Adams: Easy Tiger

#12: Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy: Cornell 1964

#11: Edith Piaf: La Vie en Rose: La Môme

#10: Prince: Planet Earth

#9: Michael Bublé: Call Me Irresponsible

#8: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Raising Sand

#7: Hairspray: Soundtrack to the Motion Picture

#6: Mary J. Blige: Growing Pains

#5: Kanye West: Graduation

#4: Tegan and Sara: The Con

#3: Jay-Z: American Gangster

#2: Sondre Lerche: Phantom Punch

#1: Rufus Wainwright: Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall

Cale's Top 31 Songs

#31: "From Brighton Beach to Santa Monica" by The Clientele

#30: "Setting Sun" by The Aliens
#29: "Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car" by Iron & Wine
#28: "A Girl in Port" by Okkervil River

#27: "Hop a Plane" by Tegan and Sara
#26: "Follow Through" by ContraNova

#25: "Sugar Assault Me Now" by Pop Levi

#24: "Bodysnatchers" by Radiohead

#23: "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice

#22: "Don't Make Me a Target" by Spoon

#21: "Missed the Boat" by Modest Mouse
#20: "Werewolf" by Cocorosie

#19: "The Men Who Live Upstairs" by The Most Serene Republic
#18: "Hold Music" by Architecture in Helsinki
#17: "She's a Rejector" by Of Montreal

#16: "Peacebone" by Animal Collective

#15: "The Twist" by Metric

#14: "If Silence Means That Much to You" by Emma Pollock

#13: "Taking Control" by Eisley
#12: "All My Stars Aligned" by St. VIncent

#11: "Same Old Drag" by Apples in Stereo
#10: "Lake Michigan" by Rogue Wave
#9: "North American Scum" by LCD Soundsystem

#8: "A House is Not a Home" by Field Music

#7: "Phantom Limb" by The Shins
#6: "No One's Gonna Love You" by Band of Horses
#5: "1, 2, 3, 4" by Feist
#4: "In Our Bedroom After the War" by Stars
#3: "No One Can Win" by Loney, Dear
#2: "I Must Belong Somewhere" by Bright Eyes

#1: "Challengers" by The New Pornographers

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Again, thanks for reading. See you next year!

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The Top 31 of 2007 - #1

Cale's Pick

Field Music: Tones of Town

Released: February 20, 2007

I mean, honestly, who didn't expect me to pick Of Montreal for my album of the year right? I had spent more than a year raving about it being the best Of Montreal album ever, and I've gone on the record several times stating that Of Montreal is my favorite band. To have them at #2, well that must have thrown all of you off!

But at the end of the day (or year, I suppose) there was only one album this year that I would consider completely perfect, one that I wouldn't change a single thing on if I were given the opportunity. That album is Tones of Town by Field Music. (Who? Shame on you!) I was instantly captivated when I first discovered this album while taking a 45 minute drive alone on a dark night back in January. Every song from, "A House is Not a Home" to "Working to Work" is a wonderful example of not only how music should sound, but how it should be made, how it should feel, and how it should affect you. The level of musicianship on Tones of Town is absolutely phenomenal. It's pop music, with violins and cellos, pianos, guitars, pristine vocals, and hints of Queen-esque intrumental flourishes. It is smart, coy, clever, and innocent; sometimes all in the same line. Gentle harmonies of genuine lyrics sweep delicately over meticulously constructed instrumentation with little to no effort at all. It is, again, a truly perfect album. So perfect that even on my worst days I cannot bring myself to skip over a single track. So perfect that when it finally ends, it's a struggle for me to not let it begin playing all over again and again and again.

The appeal of Tones of Town is only heightened by the notion that it may be the last album that Field Music ever makes. The members of the band put the project on haitus for an indefinite amount of time, which is to say they've probably called it quits. But as it stands, they will forever be remembered, by me at least, for this tremendous achievement. Tones of Town is a must-hear, a must-own, and anyone who disagrees should kindly disappear from the face of planet earth.

It is perfect, and therefore it is the only reasonable choice for my #1 album of 2007!

The Top 31 Songs of 2007 - #1

"Challengers" by The New Pornographers, from the album, Challengers.

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Jill's Pick

Rufus Wainwright: Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall

Released: December 4, 2007

Actually, I think the title of this album has a lot of exclamation points in it. Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy! I'm the kind of girl that likes exclamation points, but for the sake of my sanity, I'm going with the title I've given it.

I am not a Rufus Wainwright fan. I never have been. There's just been nothing impressive about him to me until recently when he decided to pay tribute to Judy Garland by recreating her famous (infamous?) Carnegie Hall concert from 1961. And really, who doesn't like Judy Garland? That concert was epic because she wasn't 100% on her game, she seemed drunk or high or both the entire time, and while some of those songs really suffered from her being off-key, she really put her heart into it. It is, without a doubt, the best Judy Garland show ever. This concert was epic because Rufus Wainwright really paid tribute to his hero: from the title, to the posters, to the way the stage was set up, to the 36 piece orchestra, to following the exact same set-list as the original concert. He even went as far as inserting his own anecdotes in the same places Judy inserted hers.

Judy wasn't 100% in 1961 and Rufus wasn't 100% in 2006, but you can tell he adores her just by the way this tribute concert sounds. I have a soft spot in my heart for old standards, so this is fantastic for me; I'm constantly passing off mixes with standards on them trying to expose people to that kind of music. Rufus Wainwright has a huge fan base and by going this direction, he's brought them back for an audience that maybe hasn't heard them yet. (Or has and never paid attention to them because of what they are.)

Even though this album only just came out, I've listened to it about 50 times. It's a nice album to bake to. (Holiday cookies anyone?) And yes, you will find me singing along.

Oh. Skip "The Man That Got Away". She couldn't do the whole long holding note thing and neither could he.

My most favorite track on the whole thing: "Who Cares? (So Long As You Care For Me)"

Songs you really, really, really should hear (really):

--"Almost Like Being In Love/This Can't Be Love"

--"Just You, Just Me"

--"Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart"

--"Swanee "

--"Who Cares? (So Long As You Care For Me) "

--"Do It Again"

--"You Go To My Head"

--"If Love Were All"

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The Top 31 of 2007 - #2

Cale's Pick

Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Released: January 23, 2007

Over the last decade or so, Of Montreal has released a lot of albums. Cherry Peel was the first LP that the band ever put out. It was filled with a bunch of quirky guitar pop songs, each with their own unique sound (nearly every word was accompanied by it's very own chord). From there, the band (or Kevin Barnes) spiraled into what I have lovingly called "drug-induced circus music" on their two brilliant concept albums, The Gay Parade and Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse. After that, they brought things back down closer to where they had started with Aldhils Arboretum, a decent, but flawed album. After taking two years off, Kevin Barnes started to craft Of Montreal albums almost entirely on his own. 2004's Satanic Panic in the Attic shows Kevin's first real foray into electronic pop, though guitars and real drums were still very prevalent. Then came the band's (mainstream) breakout album, The Sunlandic Twins. With that album, Of Montreal became to favorite "drive across town with your window down" CD to every pubescent girl in the world. It's electro pop was absolutely captivating, and and strange for those who had been with the band since the beginning.

Hissing Fauna, shows Of Montreal as a band who has finally come into their own, carving out a spot in indie music history in the process. It is, in my opinion, their best album; not to mention the first Of Montreal album that takes an introspective approach to music. It is a dark, dark album. Therein lies the genius of it. Despite it's darkness, it is also incredibly fun to listen to, to dance to, to sing along to, and to freak out with. Folks could deny the genius of Kevin Barnes prior to it's release, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who could say such a thing now! It is a magnificent record. One that never grows old, and one that reveals new things to enjoy every time you put it on. I downloaded the leaked copy of Hissing Fauna in September of 2006 and I've been listening to it pretty consistently ever since! The fact that this album has been around so long and yet still can make it in the Top 3 of 2007, should really tell you a lot about it.

For giving me more than I ever could have imagined (yes, it is cheesy), Of Montreal is #2.

The Top 31 Songs of 31 - #2
"I Must Belong Somewhere" by Bright Eyes, from the album, Cassadaga.

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Jill's Pick

Sondre Lerche: Phantom Punch
Released: February 6, 2007

when i listen to this album i get the urge to talk really fast but in this case type really fast and use long run on sentences devoid of capital letters, proper grammar, and punctuation that all just flow together because well this album is absolutely flouncy hyper quirky frantic fun and really when i put it on it's like i've loaded up on a whole bunch of sugar and coffee and i'm on a high that makes me as predictable as this album (read: not predictable at all) that's going to leave me sobbing like a two year old when i finally come down yes it's that much fun even the songs that you wouldn't think are that much fun are that much fun.

The best track: "John, Let Me Go"

My favorite tracks:
--"John, Let Me Go"
--"Say It All"
--"Face the Blood"
--"If Not Now, Then When"
--"She's Fantastic"
--"Airport Taxi Reception"
--"Well, Well, Well"

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The Top 31 of 2007 - #3

Cale's Pick

St. Vincent: Marry Me

Released: July 10, 2007

You always remember the first time you hear a new artist. For Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, I was sitting at my computer with a freshly downloaded copy of Marry Me and I thought, "Oh great. Chick music!" And I brushed it aside. But as is often the case with albums that I brush aside, I come back to them and love them. I don't know why I decided to give St. Vincent another listen, but I am thankful that I did. Annie Clark is a truly talented musician, teetering on the brink of genius. Marry Me which is a collection of songs that she's been working on for years, is an absolutely perfect solo debut! Quirky pop songs, sweeping ballads, and inventive sing-alongs fill every last second of this album. It's the all-too-common "first album" that people spend their lives writing. Now that Annie Clark has proven herself as one of music's most notable female musicians, she has the ever-daunting task of making a second album that equals or betters her first. Most artists only dream of achieving such a daunting goal, and only a few ever achieve it. For the time being though, Marry Me will continue to keep me company for months, and probably years, to come. At the time of my review for the album, I hailed it as one of the best female debuts of the last decade. Today, I stand by that statement wholeheartedly. Marry Me is a brilliant piece of music, and one that I will have a hard time forgetting.

For using an Arrested Development reference as the title of her album, St. Vincent is the proud recipient of my #3 spot.

The Top 31 Songs of 2007 - #3

"No One Can Win" by Loney, Dear, from the album, Loney, Noir.

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Jill's Pick

Jay-Z: American Gangster

Released: November 6, 2007

I've heard it called a "hip-hop concept album", where Jay-Z can exist as character inside another world. But is it really a concept album? When I looked it up, concept album means "an album whose recording are unified by some theme, whether lyrical or instrumental or narrative or compositional." Aren't all of his previous albums concept albums?

I say forget the "hip-hop concept album" question and focus on the fact that it's really, in my opinion, almost as good as "The Blueprint".

It is this mix of Rap, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Retro-Soul, and Soul Funk with genius lyrics, and about the 4th listen I started to wonder when Jay-Z started channelling Biggie. "Hustle hard in any hustle you pick" ("No Hook") is my new motto.

The best track: "Pray"

My favorite tracks:

--"Pray"

--"No Hook"

--"Roc Boys (The Winner Is)" (I wish there were more beats like this.)

--"American Dreamin' "

--"Say Hello "

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The Top 31 of 2007 - #4

Cale's Pick

Loney, Dear: Loney, Noir

Released: February 6, 2007

If there was ever an album that caught me entirely by surprise this year, it was Loney, Noir. Yet another one of those crazy Swedes who assault us with brilliant music, Emil Svanängen, or "Loney, Dear," has created an album that is endlessly endearing. I have no recollection of how I first came to hear about Loney, Dear, or what drove me to download his debut album here in the states. But I did, and I was immediately blown away by what I heard. Emil's voice is peculiar. At times it can sound confident, yet frail. His lyrics lead you to believe that the overriding characteristic is frailty. The album is unquestionably honest as well, filled with his self-doubt, feelings of insecurity, and declarations of love. You get the feeling that you're reading his diary, or that he's telling you his secrets through his music. How could you not fall in love with that? Quite simply, I couldn't help but do so. I still slip in this album every now and then when I'm driving to work at 5:30am or on a long road trip and I realize that it has not worn on me at all. If anything, it's gotten better. It has been passed over by a lot of folks this year, and for that I'd like to plead with you to give Loney, Noir a shot. It is one of the most beautiful albums to release in 2007, and one I'll continue to listen to and enjoy for years.

For being Swedish, yet really really cool, Loney, Dear makes it to #4 on my list.

The Top 31 Songs of 2007 - #4

"In Our Bedroom After the War" by Stars, from the album, In Our Bedroom After the War.

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Jill's Pick

Tegan and Sara: The Con

Released: July 24, 2007

Up until now, I'd only liked parts of Tegan and Sara albums. In fact, "I Know, I Know, I Know" is in my top 10 list of my favorite songs of all times. Don't even get me started on the simple brilliance that is "My Number". But this is the first time I've listened to one of their albums and just liked it more and more the further into I got. They remind me of how Ani diFranco albums are, all so different from album to album, unafraid to try something...new. I spend so much time with this album in my ears I find something new to admire with every listen.

I'm just going to leave it with this: "Soil, Soil" makes me so happy I can't express it. It's me. I love when lyrics do that.

The best track: "Soil, Soil"

My favorite tracks:

--"The Con"

--"Soil, Soil"

--"Burn Your Life Down"

--"Back in Your Head"

--"Nineteen"

--"Like O, Like H"

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The Top 31 of 2007 - #5

Cale's Pick

Bright Eyes: Cassadaga

Released: April 10, 2007

My list has seen a lot of changes since I began compiling it months ago. #1s shifted constantly, an album that was once in the Top 10 didn't even make the list, and other crazy things went down too. Through all that, pretty much the only constant was Cassadaga, an album that started at #5 and stayed at #5. Conor Oberst's unique style of making music is so familiar to me now, that it's hard to be surprised by anything he does. I either like it or I don't, and that feeling is pretty concrete at the beginning so it rarely changes. Fortunately for Bright Eyes, I loved Cassadaga. It is, in my opinion, the best Bright Eyes album to date. Conor spends less time wallowing in sorrow, and more time dwelling on personal antecdotes or commenting on the state of the world (without using names...I hate when people use names). The songs are sometimes catchy (really?), sometimes touching, always poignant and relevant. As it is with pretty much Conor Oberst has ever been a part of, many people will be turned off by his admittedly horrendous voice (he does sing, "Well I could've been a famous singer if I had someone else's voice" afterall). But if you can suck it up and just take it for what it is, you'll walk away entirely satisfied. Hopefully.

For outdoing himself, Conor Oberst (and whoever else is in Bright Eyes) make it to #5.

The Top 31 Songs of 2007 - #5
"1, 2, 3, 4" by Feist, from the album, The Reminder.

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Jill's Pick

Kanye West: Graduation

Released: September 11, 2007

I personally think that Mr. West is some kind of musical genius. (There's that word again and someday we'll talk about that.) I do. I can't help it. The beats are tight (to borrow a phrase from, oh, I don't know, NWA) and the lyrics tend to run on the smirking smart side. I always look to his lyrics for the cleverness, the subtle jabs, the oh-so-poetic groupings of words that either make me chuckle (like "...since OJ had Isotoners...") or snort out a "Oh, that's so true."

There's a lot to be said about Kanye West. To me, it's like he gets what Hip-Hop and Rap was and what it should be. If you don't like him, this album won't do a thing for you. If you do, you should be able to appreciate, as I do, the ways he forges ahead even further into his ego, his talent, and his production standards. That genius thing puts so much space between himself and other rappers that maybe he is as awesome as he says to be.

My favorite thing about this album is his use of Labi Siffre, a 1970's Folk/Jazz performer on the track "I Wonder". I like that rappers like Kanye West and Nas aren't afraid to push the limits of their genre by bringing in a little Jazz or Folk or Gospel, all things you wouldn't expect to hear on a Rap album.

The best track: "I Wonder"

My favorite tracks:

--"I Wonder"

--"Stronger"

--"Good Life"

--"Can't Tell Me Nothing"

--"Flashing Lights" (which really I think is my favorite song on the entire album)

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Video of the Week - Week 51

"Put the Lights on the Tree" by Sufjan Stevens, from the Songs for Christmas collection.

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The Top 31 of 2007 - #6

Cale's Pick

Band of Horses: Cease to Begin

Released: October 9, 2007

It could, and has, been said that Band of Horses is a band that should not exist. The argument most often goes a little somthing like this: "They sound exactly like My Morning Jacket, The Shins, etc." It's a valid argument. They do sound a lot like My Morning Jacket. The question I have is, what's so wrong with sounding like other great bands, especially when you have the talent and content to distance yourself from them? You see, even though Band of Horses may not sound like the most original band out there, Ben Bridwell's lyrics put most other bands to shame, his voice blows away My Morning Jacket, and the actual talent that the rest of the band has on their respective instruments should silence anyone who says they're just ganking on other bands' styles. It's one thing to have Nickleback come out, suck up a storm, and then have every other band try to mimic that for a decade, it's another to just coincidentally have a similar sound and yet hold your own entirely. I'm defending this band, and this album, for a reason. That reason is because Cease to Begin is absolutely gorgeous, and 100% enjoyable for almost anyone. It is a masterpiece of indie and southern rock, and will be getting regular plays from me well into 2008 and probably beyond.

They're #6 for a reason people. It's because they're amazing!

The Top 31 Songs of 2007 - #6
"No One's Gonna Love You" by Band of Horses, from the album, Cease to Begin.

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Jill's Pick

Mary J. Blige: Growing Pains

Released: December 18, 2007

It took me a really long time to like (let alone appreciate) Mary J. Blige. I dismissed her casually without much thought. Then someone gave me a copy of "The Breakthrough" and said I should give her another chance and I did. I'm glad I finally paid attention because really, the woman is the Queen of Hip/Hop Soul. Not all of her stuff is great, but what there is that is fantastic is mind blowing.

What I like about Mary J. Blige is she's had a rough life but she's made the best of it. And from that rough life, she knows exactly who she was, who she is, and who she will be. I admire that.

There's not much to say about this album. There are stand out tracks. There are songs that have a Disco feel to them. There are songs to make you happy, songs to make you sad, slow jams for long make out sessions. Everyone from NeYo to Ludacris to Tricky appears on this album, but you never forget it's Mary J. Blige that you're listening to.

My favorite track: the Michael Jackson sounding "Just Fine"

Songs you should give a listen to:

--"Just Fine"

--"Work That"

--"Hurt Again"

--"Til' The Morning"

--"Fade Away"

--"Talk to Me"

--"Hello It's Me"

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The Top 31 of 2007 - #7

Cale's Pick

The New Pornographers: Challengers

Released: August 21, 2007

My initial review of Challengers was a bit harsh in places. As it turns out, the more I listened to the album, the more its greatness dawned on me. It is, in my opinion, just as strong, or better than, Twin Cinema. The band spends a lot of time keeping the tempo up on their previous album. Just when you want it to calm down for a track or two, it kicks you in the groin, tells you to "man the hell up" and continues in its power-pop ways. And it is a great album! But Challengers is different, and perhaps that's why it just seemed a bit off to me at first. The big difference is that Challengers isn't afraid to take a breath every now and then. In fact, much of the album is spent on songs that don't pack the punch of Sing Me Spanish Techno" or "All of the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth." In the end, I can't be disappointed in such a thing. The band is showing me a side of themselves that they've shyed away from in the past. So while "The Spirit of Giving" or "Unguided" is unbelievably jarring the first time you hear it, it's ultimately a better song than you would have anticipated because it's something new from a band that has relied heavily on the exact opposite sound for years. Challengers is challenging. But once you give it an honest shot, it's hard to walk away disappointed.

For giving more than I expected, The New Pornographers land in the #7 spot on my list.

The Top 31 Songs of 2007 - #8

"Phantom Limb" by The Shins, from the album, Wincing the Night Away.

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Jill's Pick

Hairspray: Soundtrack to the Motion Picture

Released: July 10, 2007

Quite simply: there is no way for me to avoid the happiness I seem to feel from listening to the soundtrack for (the latest version of) the movie Hairspray.

My favorite track: "(You're) Timeless To Me" (John Travolta and Christopher Walken)

Songs you should give a listen to:

--"(You're) Timeless To Me"

--"I Can Hear the Bells"

--"(The Legend Of) Miss Baltimore Crabs"

--"I Know Where I've Been" (Queen Latifah)

--"Without Love" (Zac Efron, Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelly And Amanda Bynes)

--"You Can't Stop the Beat" (Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, Elijah Kelly, John Travolta And Queen Latifah)

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Winners of the 4th Annual Cale Awards.

Well folks, after a month of polling, campaigning, and annoying you with updates you don't care about, the 4th Annual Cale Awards have finally finished. Below you'll find the winners according to the general readership of Audio Overflow, as well as my own personal pick for each category. Thanks to all of you who participated! Have a Merry Christmas!

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Britney Spears: Blackout
2nd - Boddicker: Big Lionhearted and the Gallant Man
3rd - Interpol: Our Love to Admire


Cale's Pick:
Boddicker: Big Lionhearted and the Gallant Man - Because I've been trying to think of worse albums for the last 10 months and I'm still coming up empty. It's the single worst thing I've ever heard!

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Britney Spears – “Toy Soldier”
2nd – Boddicker - “Bon Vivant”
3rd – Maroon 5 – “Kiwi”

Cale's Pick:
Boddicker – “Bon Vivant” - Because I've been trying to think of worse songs for the last 10 months and I'm still coming up empty. It's the single worst thing I've ever heard!

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Readers' Pick
1st - Rilo Kiley: Under the Blacklight
2nd - Feist: The Reminder
3rd - Air: Pocket Symphony

Cale's Pick:
Rilo Kiley: Under the Blacklight - I waited 3 years for a new Rilo Kiley album and what I got was a mediocre attempt at trying to sound like Fleetwood Mac. Personally, I'd aim a little higher.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Caribou: Andorra
2nd - LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
3rd - ContraNova: Infinity in all Directions

Cale's Pick:

ContraNova: Infinity in all Directions - I went in expecting the worst, and came out with one of the most memorable and lasting musical experiences of the year.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - The Decemberists: The Crane Wife
2nd - The Flaming Lips: At War With the Mystics
3rd - The Pipettes: We Are the Pipettes

Cale's Pick:
The Decemberists: The Crane Wife - It wasn't my album of the year in 2006, but I've been surprised to find that it is just as good today as it was way back then. Perhaps better.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - The Flaming Lips
2nd - Of Montreal
3rd - The New Pornographers

Cale's Pick:
The Flaming Lips - What can I said that I haven't already ranted about? The Lips are the best live act I've ever seen in my life, and when I saw them a few months back I was spinning for days. Pure 100% awesomeness.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Spoon - "The Underdog"
2nd - Bjork - "The Dull Flame of Desire"
3rd - Okkervil River - "A Girl in Port"

Cale's Pick:
Architecture in Helsinki - "Hold Music" - The brass in this song is strong and biting. Playing at triple forte to enhance an already out of control song has never sounded so good!

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Explosions in the Sky: All of a Sudden I miss Everyone
2nd - Animal Collective: Strawberry Jam
3rd - Radiohead: In Rainbows

Cale's Pick:
Animal Collective: Strawberry Jam- It's such a strangely satisfying album. One that makes absolutely no sense, and yet it makes even less sense to deny the genius of it. It is, quite simply, amazing.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Band of Horses: Cease to Begin
2nd - Dillinger Escape Plan: Ire Works
3rd - Smashing Pumpkins: Zeitgeist

Cale's Pick:
Dillinger Escape Plan: Ire Works- Band of Horses? Seriously? It's a great album, but Dillinger Escape Plan would eat them alive, regurgitate them, and then sacrifice the regurgitation to Vulcanus! That's what this category was really all about.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Kanye West: Graduation
2nd - El-P: I'll Sleep When You're Dead
3rd - K-Os: Atlantis: Hymns for Disco

Cale's Pick:
Absaining - I didn't really hear any hip hop this year that I enjoyed. K-Os was good at times, but not his best, so I can't credit him for that.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Caribou: Andorra
2nd - Justice: †
3rd - LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver

Cale's Pick:
Justice: † - While all of the top three are great albums, I have to say that I enjoyed Justice's log-awaited debut the most. Big ups to Caribou too though, that album is stunning.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Okkervil River: The Stage Names
2nd - Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog
3rd - Loney, Dear: Loney, Noir

Cale's Pick:
Loney, Dear: Loney, Noir - It's folk from Sweden, poppy folk, singer-songwriter folk. Hell, it's just good.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Stars: In Our Bedroom After the War
2nd - Apples in Stereo: New Magnetic Wonder
3rd - Beirut: The Flying Club Cup

Cale's Pick:
Field Music: Tones of Town - It's brilliantly composed and executed, and one of the most relentlessly enjoyable albums of 2007! Not bad for a pop album.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
2nd - Tegan and Sara: The Con
3rd - The New Pornographers: Challengers

Cale's Pick:
Band of Horses: Cease to Begin - I missed out on their debut, but I was fortunate enough to hear this one. It is without a doubt one of the best albums of 2007, and sure to please most everybody.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Radiohead: In Rainbows
2nd - Apples in Stereo: New Magnetic Wonder
3rd - Smashing Pumpkins: Zeitgeist

Cale's Pick:
Radiohead: In Rainbows - Probably the only award that Radiohead actually deserves this year. The hipsters are out in full force, proclaiming In Rainbows to be the second coming of Christ, but it's not. It is an awesome album though, and a long time coming for Radiohead.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
2nd - Bright Eyes: Cassadaga
3rd - Stars: In Our Bedroom, After the War

Cale's Pick:
Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - It may not have been Of Montreal's most artistic cover to date, but everything from how the album is opened, to the insert, to the clear, glossy sleeve it comes packaged in is beautiful.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - St. Vincent
2nd - Feist
3rd - M.I.A.

Cale's Pick:
St. Vincent - This really isn't even a contest. Annie Clark not only put out the best female album of the year, but one of the best...period. She is 2007's Shara Worden.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Iron & Wine
2nd - LCD Soundsystem
3rd - Loney, Dear

Cale's Pick:
Loney, Dear - His debut album here in the states was absolutely breathtaking from start to finish and he's got one of the most unique styles in music today. That's why I love it!

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Readers' Pick:
1st - St. Vincent
2nd - The Twilight Sad
3rd - Dan Deacon

Cale's Pick:
St. Vincent - She put out an album that most established artists only dream about; a perfect album with clever lyrics and beautiful performances on both vocals and intruments. Annie Clark blew away the competition, and ended up winning this category with over 70% of the votes tallied: the most lopsided category of the year! That's how good she is.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Feist - "1,2,3,4"

2nd - Band of Horses - "Is There A Ghost"
3rd - Architecture in Helsinki - "Heart it Races"

Cale's Pick:
Feist - "1,2,3,4" - Feist should be writing a letter right now to whoever directed this video. It should read, "Dear director, thank you for making my career. I love you."

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Radiohead

2nd - The Besnard Lakes
3rd - Of Montreal

Cale's Pick:
Band of Horses - 2007 is the year that first heard and fell in love with Band of Horses. They may not have had the best album of the 2007, but their music will stick with me for years and years to come.

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Readers' Pick:
1st - The New Pornographers - "Challengers"
2nd - Of Montreal - "Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse"
3rd - Feist - "1,2,3,4"

Cale's Pick:
Find out on December 31, 2007 in the Top 31 of 2007 Countdown

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Readers' Pick:
1st - Radiohead: In Rainbows
2nd - Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
3rd - Band of Horses: Cease to Begin

Cale's Pick:
Find out on December 31, 2007 in the Top 31 of 2007 Countdown

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Again, thanks to all of you who voted! And thank you for reading Audio Overflow.

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The Top 31 of 2007 - #8

Cale's Pick

Justice: †
Released: July 11, 2007

Some friends and I went and saw The New Pornographers and Spoon a while back (link). Afterwards, I was tired as all hell and I needed something to keep me awake on the 40 minute drive to the Whataburger at which we would reconvene. I chose Justice set to "really loud." It worked. Anyways, they beat me there by a few seconds, to where they were already walking up to the entrance while I was pulling in. Looking at the bewildered look on their faces, I could tell immediately that my one-man Justice dance party had now spread to the parking lot of my local Whataburger. And they couldn't figure it out. Here I was, coming back from seeing two indie rock powerhouses...and I'm listening to dance music? What? It's true. You see, I have no rational explanation to what I like and what I don't like, especially when it comes to electronic music, but I'll try here to explain why Justice is the dance album everyone should own.

Where most dance music is just idiotically repetitive, Justice is revolutionary in it's evolutionary practices. I'll explain. My sisters are not bright. They listen to bad (BAD) techno music because, "Like, you can, like, dance to it!!!1!one" So they show me a song by Fedde Le Grand called "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit," and like most terrible techno songs, the title is repeated throughout the track ("Put your hands up. Put your hands up. Put your hands up. Put your hand up for Detroit!"....all the while I'm thinking, "But Detroit sucks ass!"). But you can dance to it so it's good right? Wrong! Any idiot can stumble upon danceable track after a few hours in the studio, and it doesn't exactly take a genius to find a random audio sample and loop it over and over again. It's dumb. It's dumb music. Music for dumb people.

But Justice is smart, and as I said, revolutionary in their evolutionary practices. Where your run of the mill techno track will repeat itself until it reaches a decent playtime, a Justice song is constantly evolving, constantly surprising. Where techno tracks all sound the same, Justice is jarring in their use of distinct, harsh samples. It literally sounds like nothing else you've ever heard before, which is extremely revolutionary in the genre of electronic music. And for that, I can't help but be amazed over and over again that I actully listen to dance music. Or that I actually like it. And it's French...go figure!

For giving me more one-man dance parties than any one man should have, Justice climbs to the #8 spot.

The Top 31 Songs of 2007 - #8

"A House is Not a Home" by Field Music, from the album, Tones of Town.

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Jill's Pick

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Raising Sand

Released: October 23, 2007

On one hand: to borrow a popular Internet phrase in regards to Led Zeppelin: do not want. Led Zeppelin and Rush and Radiohead are such inflated, overrated bands that I turn a deaf ear to them if subjected to them. I know that's wrong, at least, that's what I've been told, because well they're supposedly "classics" and "trend setters" and "genius." (insert eye rolling here)

On the other hand: there's Alison Krauss. She's already been on my list. She's awesome. (See my review of her if you need a refresher on my opinion.) I enjoy her to no end.

What happens when you put Robert Plant and Alison Krauss together on the same album? You get the oddest, most bizarre pairing ever. You also get one of the most surprising albums ever made. A lot of people don't like it and I realized that those people are Zeppelin fans, who were expecting something more vintage Zeppelin sounding apparently. Oddly enough, Alison Krauss fans LOVE this album and I can see why: it's a combination of Roots and Bluegrass music crafted by two people who truly love what they are doing.

This album, when I listen to it, makes me feel like I'm listening to something "adult" which isn't a bad thing. For once, I can finally say Robert Plant has done something I actually really enjoy. This album's ethereal qualities are one I am so very glad I did not miss. It's perfect for those late, lonely nights in my life.

My favorite track: "Rich Woman" tied with "Let Your Lesson Be Your Loss"

Songs you should give a listen to:

--"Rich Woman"

--"Gone Gone Gone"

--"Fortune Teller"

--"Stick With Me Baby"

--"Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson"

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What You Need For the Holidays

Here is my holiday music complaint: White Christmas. Does anyone not realize how incredibly depressing that song is? Or is it just me?

Let's face it. Not every holiday is a happy one but why shouldn't there be music to make it even the tiniest bit better?

Here's my own personal, non-depressing holiday play list. For baking. For singing along. For gift wrapping. For driving to whatever holiday destination you find yourself on the way to. For holiday cocktails. ("Would you like a Christmas Martini? It's a Martini only with a lot more Vodka.") For tree trimming. For...whatever way you chose to celebrate your December 24th or 25th.

A little something to hopefully make you feel merry if you aren't. Enjoy. And Merry Christmas.

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The Top 31 of 2007 - #9

Cale's Pick

The Shins: Wincing the Night Away

Released: January 23, 2007

My expectations were unreasonably high for this album. It had been about 4 years since The Shins had last released a full-length album, and it didn't help that Chutes Too Narrow happens to be one of my favorite albums of all time. Where that album exists in it's very own blissful little world, away from mainstream success or attention, Wincing has The Shins playing nice with the general public. Where Chutes was flawless, Wincing shows a few missteps. But that's not to detract from how relentlessly pleasing it really is. The simple truth is that I've been listening to this album for a little over a year, and the songs that I loved then are just as good now. The songs that I didn't really care for are better. It's an unbelievably solid album, even for The Shins. And with it, the band did the unthinkable. They achieved the mainstream success that they deserved without abandoning their long time fans or deserting their signature sound. They should write a book titled "How to Go Mainstream Without Sacrificing the Music." And Jenny Lewis should buy a copy...and bludgeon herself with it.

For giving me more people who I can discuss The Shins with, they make it to #9 on my list.

The Top 31 Songs of 2007 - #9

"North American Scum" by LCD Soundsystem, from the album, Sound of Silver.

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Jill's Pick

Michael Bublé: Call Me Irresponsible

Released: May 1, 2007

You know, Michael Buble is really one of those guys I look at and feel pretty confident in my assessment of: super nice but in a heartbeat would woo away your girlfriend or your mother for a one time fling just because he could. (That assessment, of course, was absolutely cleaned up and made lady-like since I'm not the only one reading this.) He's got that Metro sexual snappy dresser thing going on crossed with a voice that makes him sound like Sinatra has come back from the dead. He makes old standards accessible and does things with songs like Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" that make you scratch your head and wonder which elevator you suddenly stepped into.

It's my slow dance around the kitchen album. If I had the occasion to slow dance around my kitchen, that is.

My favorite track: "World On a String"

Songs you should give a listen to:

--"Best Is Yet To Come"

--"Lost"

--"Call Me Irresponsible"

--"World On a String"

--"That's Life"

--"L-O-V-E"

p.s. there's also his cover of "Me and Mrs Jones" on there that I haven't made my mind up about yet. "Me and Mrs Jones" has got to be one of the sexiest, dirtiest without meaning to be, passionate love songs ever. A remake of it is a nice touch but I just don't know if it works or not.

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