Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Nightsounds Best of 2007
Granted, this is a bit late but here it is anyway...
These end of year lists are always difficult, if not awkward and a bit arbitrary. But in no particular order, here are nine releases that spent the most time in my car CD player or on the MP3 player. As you may note, many of this years choices are rock records. Bands like the Fountains of Wayne and Arctic Monkeys provided may hours of enjoyment. There were lots of other great records, which I noted at the end of the capsule reviews. Here’s to a safe and musically satisfying 2008
Dave Leonatti
Artist CD Title Label
Fountains of Wayne “Traffic & Weather” Warners
Power pop potentates FOW mesh 70’s riff-rock rock and chunky blocks of power chords, then overlay gleaming pop harmonies for one of the most fun releases of ‘07. Terrific and simple, hook-filled numbers like “New Routine”, wryly note that men in a diner “look a lot like Carl Reiner”. Sanguine and sweet ballads like the charming “Michael and Heather” counterbalance the punchy spoof of network newscasters in the title track, or the cartoonish thuggery in “Strapped for Cash” Smart alecky, propulsive, and often sweet and lovelorn. Drop the top and crank it up.
Spoon “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” Merge
A breakout record from these Austin odd-rock deconstructivists. Eleven years and six records into an indie-major career, Britt Daniels scratchy, urgent vocals anchored a vast arsenal of sounds, combined in spare, reserved ways; piano and chafing guitar; splashy horns in the hit “The Underdog”; and thumping drums with cool organ on “Rhythm & Soul”, each song a glimpse into some obscure, mordant world – never a full emotion exposed; maybe a miscreant character tossed in here and there. But the album is tuneful, and in a few spots, truly aching.
John Hoskinson “Pancho Fantastico” Tallboy Recs
In the chamber pop sweepstakes, Hoskinson comes on with decade-defying orchestral arrangements fit for mid-era Beatles or the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. What satisfies is the confectionary sheen masking heavy subjects such as alcoholism (“Think It Over”) and true love-sickness poured forth throughout. He gets too cute by half on occasion and can be precious with rhymes, but this is meticulously produced, melody-driven pop.
Rosie Thomas “These Friends of Mine” Sing-a-Long
Child-voiced Seattle folky transcends her girly-girl cuteness with subtly nuanced album of stellar writing and stripped down guitar/voice production. Muted and close knit harmonies with the ubiquitous Sufjan Stevens and the ever under-rated singer-songwriter Dennison Wittmer buoy these stark, and resonant compositions. A bit like a living room concert; an intimate, unrehearsed conversation among friends. Warm and rewarding. In the past, Thomas has inhabited alter-egos, but here we get a pure, unvarnished view of her inner self and he interdependence on her musical friends.
Patty Griffin “Children Running Through” XXXX
This woman has nibbled around the edges of country-roots-folk success, occupying the same milieu as Emmylou Harris. Her crystalline voice is sweet and these song, introspective and moody, are less country-rock than her last record, but still brimming with reflective heartbreak. The hair on your neck will rise with the haunting “You’ll Remember Me.” Less strident than much of the alt-country today, and mature composing and controlled singing make this one of Griffin’s best. She deserves a wider audience
Arctic Monkeys “Favourite Worst Nightmare” Domino
From the first thunderbolt blast of “Brainstorm” on this muscular, simple rocking record, the Monkeys prove their debut success was no fluke. Bashing drums, single note guitar wails, and Alex Turner’s cockney speak/singing is plangent, bombastic and wholly rocking. Since these Brits are barely out of their teens, much of the writing revolves around relationships, soured, disorienting, salvaged. Highlights include “Do Me Favour”, the Oz-inspired “Old Yellow Bricks” and the slowly building “505”, its crescendo a cascade of scalding guitars, perplexing whether the ultimate destination of the title is earthly or a stitch in time. One exception to the youthful exuberance is the ‘Fluorescent Adolescent” wherein the boys consider their subject’s dignity before unadulterated pleasure. Along with Fountains of Wayne, perhaps the best driving record this year.
Patty Witten “Tell it to the Wind” Potent Folk
One of the most injured of soul-folk voices to emerge, Witten has toiled in anonymity for years. Her mournful compositions are filled with bleak resignation, and this is another in a collection of personal reflections of her tumultuous life. But the lean and echoey guitar-based arrangements fully engage the listener. There is a tad more empathy and self-reflection in this record than some of the self-loathing from previous outings.
Leslie Feist “The Reminder” Interscope
The cleverest amalgam of pop, folk and jazzy beats this year. “The Reminder” by Leslie Feist fulfills the promise she exhibited with sneaker hit “Mushaboom” two years ago. The new album catapulted when Feist’s gangly, loopy dance video for “1234” was tapped by Apple for an iTunes television spot. Her breathy, clipped voice is distinct, fey, plangent. Sugar-coated pop sidles up with dance numbers jumping to breezy Latin acoustic guitar rhythms, eclectic with poppy horn charts, clawed banjo, and hand-claps; they all seem perfectly placed in each composition. And the ballads hold up too, along with stomping piano/bass of “My Moon My Man” and the rasty take on Nina Simone’s “Sea Lion Woman.” “Honey Honey” is woeful and she layers her voices like a choir of trumpet mutes in the background, and “Brandy Alexander” has that late night jazzy piano ballad ennui. This is top-notch music making.
Kim Richey “Chinese Boxes” Vanguard
Unleashing her pop side on this country-folk gem, Richey is startling, charming and direct with a melody and chorus. This is cute, chirping, elegant adult pop. The ghost of Dusty Springfield is heard one moment and an oblique phrase or lyrical twist comes out of nowhere. The sing-song lilt of “Jack and Jill” brings that fairy book couple forward in a modern, deconstructivist way, and the light acoustic guitar embroidery of “Absence of Your Company” is languid and rich. “Turn Me’ should be jumping from every iPod and satellite radio nationwide, with it’s liquid vocals and dreamy electric piano bed. This is a mature artist at the top of her craft. Credit due producer Giles Martin (son of famed George Martin of Beatles fame) for the burnished and warm feel throughout. You will hum each and every track.
Other Notable and Enjoyable Releases
Suzanne Vega “Beauty & Crime Blue Note Records
Chuck Prophet “Soap & Water” Yep Roc
Robert Plant & Allison Krause “Raising Sand” Rounder Records
Terra Naomi “Under the Influence” Universal
Shane Nicholson “Faith & Science” Virt Music
Jeremy Fisher “Goodbye Blue Monday” Wind Up Records
Rilo Kiley “Under the Black Light” Warner Bros.
The Red Button “She’s About to Cross My Mind”Independent
Joe Henry “Civilians” Anti
Josh Ritter “Historical Conquests of”
Devon Sproule “Keep Your Silver Shined” Waterbug
Nick Lowe “At My Age’ Yep Rock
Kate Walsh “Tim’s House” Blueberry Pie
Ari Hest “The Break In” CBS
These end of year lists are always difficult, if not awkward and a bit arbitrary. But in no particular order, here are nine releases that spent the most time in my car CD player or on the MP3 player. As you may note, many of this years choices are rock records. Bands like the Fountains of Wayne and Arctic Monkeys provided may hours of enjoyment. There were lots of other great records, which I noted at the end of the capsule reviews. Here’s to a safe and musically satisfying 2008
Dave Leonatti
Artist CD Title Label
Fountains of Wayne “Traffic & Weather” Warners
Power pop potentates FOW mesh 70’s riff-rock rock and chunky blocks of power chords, then overlay gleaming pop harmonies for one of the most fun releases of ‘07. Terrific and simple, hook-filled numbers like “New Routine”, wryly note that men in a diner “look a lot like Carl Reiner”. Sanguine and sweet ballads like the charming “Michael and Heather” counterbalance the punchy spoof of network newscasters in the title track, or the cartoonish thuggery in “Strapped for Cash” Smart alecky, propulsive, and often sweet and lovelorn. Drop the top and crank it up.
Spoon “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” Merge
A breakout record from these Austin odd-rock deconstructivists. Eleven years and six records into an indie-major career, Britt Daniels scratchy, urgent vocals anchored a vast arsenal of sounds, combined in spare, reserved ways; piano and chafing guitar; splashy horns in the hit “The Underdog”; and thumping drums with cool organ on “Rhythm & Soul”, each song a glimpse into some obscure, mordant world – never a full emotion exposed; maybe a miscreant character tossed in here and there. But the album is tuneful, and in a few spots, truly aching.
John Hoskinson “Pancho Fantastico” Tallboy Recs
In the chamber pop sweepstakes, Hoskinson comes on with decade-defying orchestral arrangements fit for mid-era Beatles or the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. What satisfies is the confectionary sheen masking heavy subjects such as alcoholism (“Think It Over”) and true love-sickness poured forth throughout. He gets too cute by half on occasion and can be precious with rhymes, but this is meticulously produced, melody-driven pop.
Rosie Thomas “These Friends of Mine” Sing-a-Long
Child-voiced Seattle folky transcends her girly-girl cuteness with subtly nuanced album of stellar writing and stripped down guitar/voice production. Muted and close knit harmonies with the ubiquitous Sufjan Stevens and the ever under-rated singer-songwriter Dennison Wittmer buoy these stark, and resonant compositions. A bit like a living room concert; an intimate, unrehearsed conversation among friends. Warm and rewarding. In the past, Thomas has inhabited alter-egos, but here we get a pure, unvarnished view of her inner self and he interdependence on her musical friends.
Patty Griffin “Children Running Through” XXXX
This woman has nibbled around the edges of country-roots-folk success, occupying the same milieu as Emmylou Harris. Her crystalline voice is sweet and these song, introspective and moody, are less country-rock than her last record, but still brimming with reflective heartbreak. The hair on your neck will rise with the haunting “You’ll Remember Me.” Less strident than much of the alt-country today, and mature composing and controlled singing make this one of Griffin’s best. She deserves a wider audience
Arctic Monkeys “Favourite Worst Nightmare” Domino
From the first thunderbolt blast of “Brainstorm” on this muscular, simple rocking record, the Monkeys prove their debut success was no fluke. Bashing drums, single note guitar wails, and Alex Turner’s cockney speak/singing is plangent, bombastic and wholly rocking. Since these Brits are barely out of their teens, much of the writing revolves around relationships, soured, disorienting, salvaged. Highlights include “Do Me Favour”, the Oz-inspired “Old Yellow Bricks” and the slowly building “505”, its crescendo a cascade of scalding guitars, perplexing whether the ultimate destination of the title is earthly or a stitch in time. One exception to the youthful exuberance is the ‘Fluorescent Adolescent” wherein the boys consider their subject’s dignity before unadulterated pleasure. Along with Fountains of Wayne, perhaps the best driving record this year.
Patty Witten “Tell it to the Wind” Potent Folk
One of the most injured of soul-folk voices to emerge, Witten has toiled in anonymity for years. Her mournful compositions are filled with bleak resignation, and this is another in a collection of personal reflections of her tumultuous life. But the lean and echoey guitar-based arrangements fully engage the listener. There is a tad more empathy and self-reflection in this record than some of the self-loathing from previous outings.
Leslie Feist “The Reminder” Interscope
The cleverest amalgam of pop, folk and jazzy beats this year. “The Reminder” by Leslie Feist fulfills the promise she exhibited with sneaker hit “Mushaboom” two years ago. The new album catapulted when Feist’s gangly, loopy dance video for “1234” was tapped by Apple for an iTunes television spot. Her breathy, clipped voice is distinct, fey, plangent. Sugar-coated pop sidles up with dance numbers jumping to breezy Latin acoustic guitar rhythms, eclectic with poppy horn charts, clawed banjo, and hand-claps; they all seem perfectly placed in each composition. And the ballads hold up too, along with stomping piano/bass of “My Moon My Man” and the rasty take on Nina Simone’s “Sea Lion Woman.” “Honey Honey” is woeful and she layers her voices like a choir of trumpet mutes in the background, and “Brandy Alexander” has that late night jazzy piano ballad ennui. This is top-notch music making.
Kim Richey “Chinese Boxes” Vanguard
Unleashing her pop side on this country-folk gem, Richey is startling, charming and direct with a melody and chorus. This is cute, chirping, elegant adult pop. The ghost of Dusty Springfield is heard one moment and an oblique phrase or lyrical twist comes out of nowhere. The sing-song lilt of “Jack and Jill” brings that fairy book couple forward in a modern, deconstructivist way, and the light acoustic guitar embroidery of “Absence of Your Company” is languid and rich. “Turn Me’ should be jumping from every iPod and satellite radio nationwide, with it’s liquid vocals and dreamy electric piano bed. This is a mature artist at the top of her craft. Credit due producer Giles Martin (son of famed George Martin of Beatles fame) for the burnished and warm feel throughout. You will hum each and every track.
Other Notable and Enjoyable Releases
Suzanne Vega “Beauty & Crime Blue Note Records
Chuck Prophet “Soap & Water” Yep Roc
Robert Plant & Allison Krause “Raising Sand” Rounder Records
Terra Naomi “Under the Influence” Universal
Shane Nicholson “Faith & Science” Virt Music
Jeremy Fisher “Goodbye Blue Monday” Wind Up Records
Rilo Kiley “Under the Black Light” Warner Bros.
The Red Button “She’s About to Cross My Mind”Independent
Joe Henry “Civilians” Anti
Josh Ritter “Historical Conquests of”
Devon Sproule “Keep Your Silver Shined” Waterbug
Nick Lowe “At My Age’ Yep Rock
Kate Walsh “Tim’s House” Blueberry Pie
Ari Hest “The Break In” CBS
Labels: music, Nightsounds, Staff, Sunday night
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Pops Concerts Question
The other day a listener called wondering when WUIS was going to air the 2007 Holiday Pops concert by the Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
Unfortunately, we’re not. In case other listeners have wondered the same thing, I’d like to share the basic reasons…
1) It takes 2 weeks to produce the broadcast-quality recordings of the symphony concerts and the 2007 Pops concert on December 15th wouldn’t have been ready for broadcast until after the holiday season, and…
2) WUIS only has permission to broadcast music that the symphony owns and records. Much of the music in the Pops concerts requires additional licensing negotiations for recording and broadcast.
Sinta Seiber-Lane
WUIS Program Director
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