TOP 3 RECORDS OF 2007

1. Burial – Untrue – (Hyperdub)
A stunning mix of distant R&B vocals, driving drum beats and soundscapes that would make Brian Eno envious, Untrue is one of the best electronic releases in years.
http://www.myspace.com/burialuk

2. Frog Eyes – Tears of the Valedictorian – (Absolutely Kosher)
Arguably the band’s best effort to date. Tears grabs you at its first notes and
Sandro Perri - Tiny Mirrorsrefuses to let go until the very end. “Bushels” is easily one of the best tracks of the year (along with Robyn’s “Handle Me” of course)
http://www.myspace.com/frogeyes

3. Sandro Perri – Tiny Mirrors – (Constellation)
With its fragile aesthetic (always seeming to be on the verge of collapse), Tiny Mirrors is an absolutely beautiful and enjoyable listen. It’s a wonderful combination of Perri’s previous more exploratory endeavors (Polmo Polpo, Glissandro 70 etc…), and his newfound appreciation of traditional roots forms.
http://www.sandroperri.com/

MOST UNDER-RECORD OF 2007

Himalayan Bear – … Attacks the Brilliant Air – (Self Righteous Records)
How this record has remained under the radar this year is beyond me. …Attacks the Brilliant Air is a quiet and subtle record that is still able to carry enough punch with it to fit seamlessly with Frog Eye’s Tears of the Valedictorian. It’s full of space and time, but never once feels unfocused and meandering. Unlike … (See below)
http://www.selfrighteous.ca/himalayanbear.html

MOST OVER-RATED RECORD OF 2007

Battles – Mirrored – (Warp)
Bleh! No focus, no cohesion and downright boring. I know I’m a minority when I say this, but when listening to Mirrored,I was left with the feeling that Battles have attempted to compensate for a lack of good musical ideas with showing off their technical know-how. The end result was, while I really wanted to like the album, I just couldn’t get behind it.
http://bttls.com/

BEST LOCAL RELEASE OF 2007

Boats! – Intercontinental Champion – (Independent)
With their first release, Winnipeg’s Boats! Have created a fun and exciting song cycle that harkens back to all things Neutral Milk Hotel and Vince McMahon. This is an album for those who love catchy harmonies, big and farty synth noises, and charming lyrics. Fortunately this appears to be just the beginning for the band.
http://www.myspace.com/boatthemusicband

MOST ANTICIPATED RECORD FOR 2008

Hello, Blue Roses – Hello Blue Roses – (Loscust)
Destroyer meets Kate Bush. What’s not to like?