Reasons to be proud to say you love American Music in 2007

Thank you for being brave enough to write, sing and produce these songs. THIS IS WHY I LOVE MUSIC!
LCD Soundsystem-North American Scum.mp3
The Blue Scholars-Back Home.mp3
Eddie Vedder-Society.mp3
Bruce Springsteen-Radio Nowhere.mp3
The National-Fake Empire.mp3

Songs I annoyed my co-workers with this year

Today is not only the day of posting my end of the year lists, it is also my last day at a company where i learned so many important life lessons- one of which is how to blast KEXP as loud as possible and how to break people down enough to the point where they love what you do. Hey- it is New York, tough love is how we roll here. Plus, change is good!

1.LCD Soundsystem-Someone Great.mp3

the rest i cannot possibly rank...so here it goes:

White Stripes-Little Cream Soda.mp3
Yeasayer-Final Path.mp3
Band of Horses-No Ones Gonna Love You.mp3
Justice-D.A.N.C.E..mp3
Digitalism-Pogo.mp3
Tegan and Sara-Nineteen.mp3
!!!-Heart Of Hearts.mp3
The Thermals-A Pillar Of Salt.mp3
Burial-Archangel.mp3
Blitzen Trapper-Wild Mountain Nation.mp3
Bon Iver-Skinny Love.mp3
Arctic Monkeys-505.mp3
Arcade Fire-Neon Bible.mp3
The National-Slow Show.mp3
F&M-Collarbone.mp3
Feist-I Feel It All.mp3
Flight of the Conchords-Hiphopopotamus Vs. The Rhymenoceros.mp3
Great Lake Swimmers-I am Part of a Large Family.mp3
M.I.A.-Paper Planes.mp3
MGMT-Electric Feel.mp3
Mexican Institute of Sound-El Microfono.mp3

so many others I could/should list...but i am running out the door so i am leaving you with my theme song...
CSS-Music Is My Hot Hot Sex.mp3

I made it through this year...

Even though at some points it was a wee bit hairy there. 2007 saw so much good music that i have literally been carrying around a list with me for the last two weeks and finally just decided to shove off and post it- even if i am still a bit weary of the order of things. There were SO many good albums and some of the ones left off are ones Jaime adores, so I made a list of picks he loved as well. I hope you all have been enjoying this festive holiday season with the ones you love and have been sharing~giving~ and writing lots of music with/for your friends and family. THANK YOU ALL for reading, taking songs, making comments, everything and anything for this blog. It was one of my New Years resolutions for the last year and it has brought me so much happiness. All of the bands i have written about hold a special place with me which is why i try to give them as much attention as i possibly can and you should too. I hope you all have a lovely safe, happy, healthy and MUSICAL NEW YEAR! So much love!
Sheryl's Top ~27~ ALbums of The YEar *2007*Style

1. LCD Soundsystem-Sound of Silver (Capitol)

2. The National-Boxer (Beggars Banquet)

3. The White Stipes-Icky Thump (Warner Bros)

4. Band of Horses-Cease to Begin (Sub Pop)

5. Yeasayer-All Hour Cymbals (We Are Free)

6. Arcade Fire-Neon Bible (Merge)

7. The Twilight Sad-Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters (Fatcat)

8. Radiohead-In Rainbows (self-released)

9. Arctic Monkeys-Favourite Worst Nightmare (Domino Records)

10. M.I.A.-Kala (Interscope)

11. Bjork-Volta

12. MGMT-Oracular Spectacular (Cantora Records)

13. Elvis Perkins-Ash Wednesday (XL)

14. Aesop Rock-None Shall Pass (Definitive Jux)

15. !!!-Myth Takes (Warp)

16. Babyshambles-Shotter's Nation (Parlophone)

17. Digitalism-Idealism (Kitsuné / Virgin)

18. Bruce Springsteen-Magic (Columbia)

19. Simian Mobile Disco-Attack Decay Sustain Release (Wichita Recordings/Interscope)

21. Amy Winehouse-Back to Black (Columbia)

21. Daft Punk-Alive 2007 (Virgin)

22. Blue Scholars-Bayani (Rawkus)

23. The Cave Singers-Invitation Songs (Matador)

24. Feist-The Reminder (Cherry Tree/Interscope)

25. White Rabbits-Fort Nightly-(Say Hey Records)

26. Kate Nash-Made of Bricks (Fiction)

27. Kings of Leon-Because of the Times (RCA)


*********Jaime would have most likely had on the top of his list albums by Animal Collective, Justice, Panda Bear, Wilco and possibly Kevin Drew.**************

Pieces of the People we LOVE

*Click here to check out Jack White on NPR.
*Read my review of MGMT at the Williamsburg Music Hall for KEXP and do not forget to grab tickets to their upcoming run of dates with my loves, Yeasayer.
*David Byrne and Thom Yorke value music.
*Love Juno as much as i did?! and not simply because it is turning people BACK onto The Moldy Peaches?! Grab the soundtrack here.
Radiohead-Down Is The New Up.mp3
MGMT-Electric Feel.mp3

Crocodile Cafe closes its doors

Apparently New York is not the only city that seems to be losing some of the best venues. Today the club that touts itself as the #1 Music venue in Seattle, Crocodile Cafe is no longer. Details have yet to be released as to the circumstances leading to the loss of one of the oldest rooms in the city that played host for many of the great sounds coming out of the Northwest during the 90s through until today. Keep checking the KEXP blog for updates. We are sad for you dear Seattle!

The Cure-Closedown.mp3

Catch a fever

The first band i ever met in person was the talented twosome, The Kills who will be releasing their third album, U R A Fever this Spring but for right now you can hear a sample of their new material with their new video directed by one of my favorites, Sophie Muller. We will let you know when show dates appear. Have to love the split screen effect and I think we can easily say that these two have a bit of a crush on The White Stripes (spotted them at their Irving Plaza performance) How could you not?
The Kills Tags

A cause for celebration in 2008-Yeasayer tour dates

I have not been good about updating lately, but when i saw new tour dates for Yeasayer i knew i had to at least try and put something up in an orderly fashion. They are one of the BEST live shows i saw during 2007-(yes, an annoying list is coming with all of the normal items for a blog: best albums, songs and shows...). I have been looking forward to their show this Saturday night at the Mercury Lounge for weeks now. I was lucky enough to catch MGMT this past weekend and i could not have enjoyed them more. Their album is incredibly infectious and fun, two things I love in abundance. If you are not already committed to a Valentine's Day plan (which if you are is seriously scary) then you should be out in Williamsburg that night. Hey, it is cheaper than dinner and what classy lady does not enjoy drinks and dancing over a stuffy dinner?! Count me in!
Tour Dates For Yeasayer:
12/15-New York, NY-Mercury Lounge SOLDOUT ~ 1/16-Washington, DC-Black Cat Backstage* ~ 1/17-Chapel Hill, NC-Local 506* ~ 1/18-Atlanta, GA-The Earl*
1/19-Baton Rouge, LA-Spanish Moon* ~ 1/20-Houston, TX-Walter's on Washington*
1/21-Dallas, TX-Granada Theater*
1/22-Austin, TX-Emo's Jr.* ~ 1/24-Phoenix, AZ-Rhythm Room*
1/25-San Diego, CA-The Casbah* ~ 1/26-Los Angeles, CA-The Echo* ~ 1/28-San Francisco, CA-Bottom of the Hill* ~ 1/30-Portland, OR-Holocene* ~ 1/31-Seattle, WA-Neumos* ~ 2/02-Boise, ID-Neurolux* ~ 2/03-Salt Lake City, UT-Kilby Court* ~ 2/04-Denver, CO-Hi-Dive* ~ 2/06-Omaha, NE-The Slowdown*
2/07-Minneapolis, MN-7th Street Entry* ~ 2/08-Chicago, IL-Schubas* ~ 2/09-Toronto, Ontario-El Mocambo*
2/10-Montreal, Quebec-La Sala Rossa* ~ 2/12-Allston, MA-Great Scott* ~ 2/14-Brooklyn, NY-Music Hall of Williamsburg* ~ 2/15-Philadelphia, PA-Johnny Brenda's*
EUROPE AND UK TOUR DATES:
2/19-Nijmegen, Netherlands-Doornroosie ~ 2/20-Brussels, Belgium-AB
2/21-Paris, France-Nouveau Casino ~ 2/22-St. Malo, France-Omnibus
2/23-Barcelona, Spain-Razzmatazz ~ 2/25-Cologne, Germany-Gebaude 9
2/26-Berlin, Germany-Lido ~ 2/27-Gothenburg, Sweden-Pusterviksbaren
2/28-Olso, Norway-John Dee ~ 2/29-Stockholm, Sweden-Klubb Spark at Debaser Medis
3/01-Malmo, Sweden-Debaser ~ 3/05-Birmingham, England-Bar Academy ~ 3/06-London, England-ICA ~ 3/08-Glasgow, Scotland-King Tuts ~ 3/09-Manchester, England-Night & Day ~ 3/10-London, England-TBA ~ 3/11-Amsterdam, Netherlands-Melkweg
* with MGMT
Yeasayer-Forgiveness.mp3
Yeasayer-No Need To Worry.mp3
Yeasayer Tags

Albert Hammond, Jr -second album details...

Cred
As much as I love Albert Hammond, Jr and his debut solo album that came out earlier this year, I was very sad to read the latest interview with him via Pitchfork. Sounds like it is going to be ages before we see a new Strokes album. I refuse to venture down the path of them breaking up despite the rumors and well... this interview does not really help us Strokes lovers to feel any small fragment of comfort. Details for Alberts' second solo release include a thirty second pop song and a lengthy eight minute experimental dip into the purely instrumental course of things. It clearly sounds like Albert is enjoying his adventure into writing and working things out his way. If this release is anything like Yours to Keep we are all in for another solid release. Song titles include:"Victory at Monterey", "GfC", "In My Room","Lisa","You Won't Be Fooled By This","Modern Jazz","Spooky Couch", "Bathroom Time", and "And So We Go". If you are curious for when it will be released: "So what's your next move? Getting the album out? When are you shooting for that, and what are your plans after that?"
Albert Hammond Jr: "Yeah. Pretty much, it takes three months. We'll be done January 8th. So, hopefully it comes out the end of March, April. Which would be spring. And then do the whole touring thing, which would be very exciting. Because between our four covers, the first album and second, we'd have 30 songs to play. Which means we can extend the set. I'm dying to go out and play these songs live, just because I'd love to mix them with the first album. To see how different they are would be really fun."
Albert Hammond, Jr-Everyone Gets a Star.mp3
Albert Hammond, Jr-Bright Young Thing.mp3
The Strokes Tags
Albert Hammond Jr. Tags

Who's got the crack?

Lucky for us music and movie lovers this time of year gives us an abundance to look forward to. From soundtracks that include the talents of Eddie Vedder, Jim James, Antony and Cat Power. A little film out of the Fox Searchlight Studios by the name of Juno adds another heavy soundtrack to the list. Not only does it showcase the talents of my beloved and completely underrated Moldy Peaches and Kimya Dawson the cast includes two of my favorite people working today, Michael Cera and Ellen Page. Michael and Ellen both were members of two of my favorite television shows (Arrested Development and Freaks and Geeks) which sadly did not draw enough viewers at the time but have been revered and loved ever since. As the reviews trickle in for this little film the response has been nothing but affectionate and positive for these two young actors. We didn't expect any less. Written by Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking) the film opens nation-wide this Friday and has already been released in NYC and LA. The soundtrack hits shelves tomorrow and features all those listed below:
Barry Louis Polisar-All I Want Is You
The Kinks-A Well Respected Man
Buddy Holly-Dearest
Mateo Messina-Up The Spout
Kimya Dawson-Tire Swing
Belle And Sebastian-Piazza, New York Catcher
Kimya Dawson-Loose Lips
Sonic Youth-Superstar
Kimya Dawson-Sleep
Belle And Sebastian-Expectations
Mott The Hoople-All The Young Dudes
Kimya Dawson-So Nice So Smart
Cat Power-Sea Of Love
Kimya Dawson And Antsy Pants-Tree Hugger
Velvet Underground-I'm Sticking With You
Moldy Peaches-Anyone Else But You
Antsy Pants-Vampire
Ellen Page And Michael Cera-Anyone Else But You

Meanwhile the other half of Moldy Peaches, Adam Green has released word of his upcoming album, Sixes & Sevens. His fifth solo album to date will be released via Rough Trade Records throughout Europe on March 7th, March 8th in the UK and March 18th here in the states. According to his website and myspace page Adam is hoping to hit up the festivals and is planning a UK tour, European Tour and US Tour all before June. Talk about a busy 2008.
The Moldy Peaches-Anyone Else But You.mp3
Kimya Dawson-I Like Giants.mp3
Adam Green-Friends Of Mine.mp3