DOWNLOAD: Deer Tick - Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston Cover) (MP3)

As each day goes by, I keep falling more and more in love with Deer Tick. Check out the non-album cover of a Sean Kingston song above. Check out Deer Tick with Doveman (who I also love) TONIGHT (Feb 15, 2008) @ Southpaw in Brooklyn (A Zombieville party). You can run back and forth between Southpaw and Union Hall where the Forms are playing (a Gothamist party).

I've got two pairs of tickets to give away to the Southpaw show tonight. To win, e-mail BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Dove Tick). Include your first and last name in the email. Two winners will be contacted soon.

Doveman is also playing Saturday night (Feb 16th) at the Stone (or so says his website anyway).

Deer Tick is also playing Glasslands on February 28th, and my official SXSW showcase in Austin.

Doveman also listed some of his favorite things in 2007, and I accidentaly never posted it. The abridged version is below....

Continue reading "Doveman, tonight, Deer Tick, an MP3, a contest & stuff"

I had a bad, last blog-week, and I think the week before sucked too - primarly due to all the BS that came with making this website better on the tech side of things. It's still not perfect, but it's way better. A lot of the blog roll in the right-side column disappeared for a bit (some people noticed and said something - sorry!), but luckily that's back. And so is my brain.

One of the many things I missed while I was gone: the launch of of the 2007 Music Blog Zeitgeist. Hype Machine decided to do some tech work of their own (and they're really good at it). They masochistically decided to take over what heartonastick started. They threw in a little Largehearted Boy, used the power of Hype Machine, connected some databases, entered a lot of data, and magically, they made a "zeitgeist".

The winners have been announced...

LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver topped the Idolator 2007 Idolator Pop Critics Poll, and now it has won the 35th Annual Pazz & Jop Village Voice one as well. Pitchfork had it at number two. I'm an idiot and never posted my list, but when and if I do, it will also be in my top three.

Amy Winehouse was voted "No. 4 & 19 tracks", "No. 5 Artist", and "No. 5 Album" in Idolator's poll. The Village Voice poll has her at 4th best album, and #1 single. I'm not going to lie. I listened to that album a lot too. It just sucks what has happened to her since it came out - including the crack smoking video that just came out, which is being investigated by the police, and which has apparently (hopefully & luckily) also has her back in rehab.

The above art is from Idolator. The Voice cover is below....

Continue reading "Village Voice Pazz & Jop and Idolator Pop Critics Poll"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Unearthly Trance - Permanent Ice (MP3)

That's it. I'm calling Mayor "Doomberg" (as El-P calls him)! We need to get one of those keys-to-the-city and have the week of the 21st designated as official Neurosis & pals week.

First, you have the two killer Neurosis shows back to back at a Masonic temple (Jan 24th & 25th... and possibly with Mastodon in tow). Then on the 26th Scott Kelly (of Neurosis & now Shrinebuilder fame) and Jarboe (Swans) play a solo show at the Pussycat Lounge! Make sure to stay and check out NYC mainstays Unearthly Trance lay waste (flyer).

Speaking of the guys from Unearthly Trance..... check for them as they embark on a tour with the always great Pelican and Black Cobra (mems Acid King, and recently off tour with The Sword). Dates at the end of this post.

More below......

Continue reading "this week in METAL (01-04-07)"

BEACH HOUSE's Best of 2007
1. Earth: Hibernaculum
2. Cass McCombs: Dropping the Writ
3. Arbouretum: Rites of Uncovering
4. Papercuts: Can't Go Back
5. Om: Pilgrimage
6. Witchcraft: The Alchemist
7. M.I.A: Kala ("Paper Planes" and "Bird Flu"!! Yes!)
8. Jana Hunter: There's No Home
9. Wzt Hearts: Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones
10. Britney Spears: Blackout

Their number two choice (Cass McCombs) is going on a recently-announced tour with Band of Horses. Those dates (that do not include Beach House or NYC) below....

Continue reading "Beach House, Cass McCombs, Band of Horses, Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Tegan & Sara - Back In Your Head (RAC mix) (MP3)

Tegan's 2007 list below....

Continue reading "a new TEGAN & SARA remix + Tegan’s 2007 Picks"

the 11th in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

Kurt Braunohler is one of the greatest, though sadly lesser-known, comedians in this city. His super-human comedic abilities cover everything from improv to stand-up to teaching to hosting to acting to being in videos. His first project was called Kurtbot which featured street comedy sketches and a website that delivered them to the masses. He then got involved in a street theater project called Chenguin. Following that, his work with Neutrino Video Projects got substantial acclaim and ended up traveling to the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, as well as to the Edinburgh Theater Festival in Scotland. These days he is better known as the co-host of the Hot Tub Variety Show with Kristen Schaal and co-star of the series Penelope Princess of Pets, also with Schaal. He also teaches classes at The Pit. And the stand-up I've seen him do lately is some of the funniest stuff I've seen in ages. Simply put, he's one of my favorite comedians around. Here's what he was into in '07 - Klaus

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Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - A highlight of my summer was driving into Montreal for the first time ever blasting this album (I know they're from Georgia, but still.) Every song on this album, I love.

Tegan and Sara, The Con - This year, I spent some time in a city that demands you sit in a car for long periods of time every day (it rhymes with "Smell-A.") I would have murdered many more people if not for this album.

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Continue reading "Best of 2007 by Kurt Braunohler"

1. M.I.A.: Kala (Interscope)
2. Gogol Bordello: Super Taranta! (Side One Dummy)
3. Tabu Ley Rochereau: The Voice of Lightness (Stern's Africa)
4. Arcade Fire: Neon Bible (Merge)
5. Lucinda Williams: West (Lost Highway)
6. Miranda Lambert: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Sony/BMG Nashville)
7. Rilo Kiley: Under the Black Light (Warner Bros.)
8. Lily Allen: Alright, Still (Capitol)
9. Fountains of Wayne: Traffic and Weather (Virgin)
10. Against Me!: New Wave (Sire)

P.S. Rolling Stone also thinks M.I.A. put out the best album of the year. SPIN says it was Against Me!

Pitchfork's list is up. Panda Bear wins #1 - a choice I can't really argue with. Still working on my own list (I'm so slow).

Continue reading "Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2007"

the tenth in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

I first experienced Jon Glaser a really long time ago when he was hosting some show at UCB that had David Cross on the bill. At that point in my life, I'm pretty sure Cross was really the only reason I was there. Glaser came out as Dave Gordon, a man who has tiny hands. It was (and still is) one of the funniest things I had ever seen and I became an immediate fan and follower of Glaser. To me, he is by far the funniest, most unique character actor around, and I rarely see him play the same character twice. Favorites include Johnny Ding-Dong, Silent Fury, one of the Fuggedabuddies (w/ Jon Benjamin), bassist for A Matter of Trust, member of Gloucester-based band The Perfect Storm, and many, many others. A former member of The Second City and writer for Conan O'Brien, he can be heard as voice of DJ Jesus in the Adult Swim cartoon Lucy: The Daughter of the Devil. He also played Dr. Rawstein in Horse Apples on Wonder Showzen. He was in a pilot called Gay Robot that Nick Swardson wrote. Oh, and he's also 50% of Midnight Pajama Jam w/ Jon Benjamin. The list of credits could go on for miles. Here's Jon's take on what was good in 2007 - Klaus

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I have a 21 month old son. As a dad just tryin' to be cool by playing 'non-kid, cool' songs for his child, here are the "Top 10 Songs I Played For My Son In 2007 That I Am Glad He Seemed To Like", aka a pretentious list of my own musical taste that I forced on him. These are all old songs (except one), but were new to my son in 2007.

"Mr. Tough", Yo La Tengo - An early and continuous favorite. He was dancing to it in his bungee swing before he could walk, let alone dance, on his own.

"Blitzkrieg Bop", The Ramones - I didn't want to include this one because the image of kids dancing to The Ramones feels like a lame Huggies commercial (as opposed to a well done Huggies commercial, of which I think there are several). But I kept it in because the way he danced to it one of the first times he heard it was insane. He snapped his neck to the side so hard a couple times I thought he was going to break it.

"You're No Rock N' Roll Fun", Sleater-Kinney - He enjoyed watching himself in the mirror as he danced to this, and at one point yelled "Go!"

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Continue reading "Best of 2007 by Jon Glaser"

DOWNLOAD: Drive By Truckers - Zip City (MP3)

Not only is this our finest album, but it sounds better on vinyl by an even bigger margin than any of the others. It was written, learned, played, mixed and mastered for vinyl. It's how it was meant to be heard and it shines like Rain Dance Car Wax on a 69 Camarro. It may not be as fast around the curve as your modern hybrid but that long road trip will be as fine a ride as you ever experience. As a bonus, an included MP3 will provide the digital impetus to make you iPod quake with it's fine sounds and it is pretty fine in that format also. Best of both worlds, vinyl sound, big beautiful packaging and portable iPod sounds for a hopefully reasonable price. Gatefold sleeve to separate what needs to be separated. Big Beautiful artwork by Wes Freed seen in the size it was intended to be seen in. Technicolor horizons. Indeed. [Drive By Truckers]

DBT front-man Patterson Hood made a list of his top 10 new releases of 2007......

1. IRON AND WINE - THE SHEPHERDS DOG - An incredible album that rewards multiple listens and my pick for the best album of the year.

2. RADIOHEAD - IN RAINBOWS - My close pick for second favorite. After all the hype of how it was released (or not), the album stands on its own as their best work since Kid A, maybe better.

3. WILCO - SKY BLUE SKY - Their best studio album. Even better when played live. Possibly the best band in America.

4. VIC CHESNUTT - NORTH STAR DESERTER - I've been saying this is his finest since West of Rome (1992) but upon further listening, this is his best album ever.

5. SPOON -GA GA GA GA GA - My vote for most fun album of year. Great live act also.

6. WHITE STRIPES - ICKY THUMP - Their finest album yet. inventive and a total blast.

7. RICKIE LEE JONES - THE SERMON ON EXPOSITION AVE. - Her finest album since 1981's masterpiece Pirates. Beautiful and inspiring.

8. PORTER WAGONER - WAGONMASTER - Thank God, he got to make this album before his sad departure this year. Kudos to Anti Records and Marti Stuart for making this happen.

9. BO BEDDINGFIELD AND THE WYDELLES - CLEARGREEN - Hard to find, self released EP from Athens GA. Well worth seeking out for great writing, singing and playing.

10. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - MAGIC - Best Springsteen album since Nebraska, his best Rock album since The River. A little over-produced, but still essential.

Drive By Truckers are touring in 2008. They'll play Terminal 5 in NYC on March 26th during the second half of their tour. Tickets go on sale Friday. The Felice Brothers will be touring with the Truckers, but only on the first-half of their tour - aka they will not be at Terminal 5, but New Yorkers wanting to catch the Brothers can do so on February 1st @ Mercury Lounge. Tickets are on sale now.

Former-Trucker Jason Isbell also has a bunch of shows coming up - some of them as part of a tour with Will Hoge. Together they play Bowery Ballroom in NYC on February 21st. Dawn Landes is also playing that show, and joining them on part of the tour. Tickets are on sale. Jason is also taking part in the New York Guitar Festival on January 12th.

All new interpretations of Dylan classics performed by Laura Cantrell, Stevie Jackson (Belle & Sebastian), Marshall Crenshaw, Oakley Hall, Nicole Atkins & Lenny Kaye, Jason Isbell, Jim Lauderdale, Toshi Reagon, Kelly Joe Phelps, Freeman, Harry Manx & Kevin Breit, The Last Town Chorus/Megan Hickey, Jesse Harris, Richard Julian & Jim Campilongo, Chocolate Genius Inc. and others.

Continue reading "Drive by Truckers, Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell, Felice Brothers, TOUR DATES, new albums, songs & a Best of 2007"

DOWNLOAD: Vice interviews Daft Punk (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Justice live @ Bowery Ballroom (DJ set) (MP3)

Best Music Trend
Maximal. Read below.

Worst Music Trend
Minimal. Read above.

Best Style Trend
Nu Rave.

Worst style trend
Nu Rave.

VICE interviewed Daft Punk. You can download it. Daft Punk's Electroma is playing in NYC this weekend.

DOWNLOAD: Riskay - Smell Yo Dick (Gold Brix Remix) (MP3)

the ninth in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

David Cross is absolutely, 100%, the sole reason I got interested in comedy and, like many people, it all started with Mr. Show. As far as stand-up is concerned, from a young age I thought it was the trade of coked-out hockey-haired douche bags wearing bolo ties. Then I saw his stand-up special The Pride is Back, and I got a fresh new perspective on what stand-up should be. From there I was introduced to comedians like Bill Hicks, Patton Oswalt, Janeane Garofalo, Doug Benson, Paul F. Tompkins, and many others. Just becoming a fan of this one comedian led me to be a more proactive seeker of good comedy. I'm not a comedian, but this man has influenced my taste more than anyone. He acts, does voice work, writes, and is one of the greatest stand-up talents of all time. I couldn't be more thrilled that he took the time out to tell us what he was into in 2007. - Klaus

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Top Ten list for Brooklynvegan that has very little to do with music because, let’s be honest, who cares what I think really?

Battlestar Gallactica - Several months ago Patton Oswalt was nice enough to spend some of his Balls of Fury money and sent me the entire first season of BG with a note telling me to watch it because it was one of the best shows on TV. I didn’t believe him. And because I’m not really much of a sci-fi fan it stayed in the shrink-wrap until I got really sick and laid up for about a week. After exhausting my supply of unwatched dvd’s I looked over at the BG set and in my Nyquil haze opened them and popped the pilot in. After about five minutes I was hooked. Great stories, great casting and acting and surprisingly subversive. When I was done with Season One, I got up, and with a fever and pounding headache, crawled down to the video store to BUY Season 2 and 2.5. I highly recommend it. And it is only tangentially “sci-fi” so don’t worry about it being too nerdy.

The God Delusion / Breaking The Spell / Misquoting Jesus - Three very different but all excellent books dealing with religion and its origins, possible causes, effects, history and perversions. Each author approaches their subject with varying degrees of reverence and understanding, from cutting, cynical opinion (The God Delusion) to purely dry, historical fact (Misquoting Jesus). They are all fascinating and enlightening.

Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place - This is a British show that is another in a long, probably never ending line, of smart, funny, innovative comedies. The pretense is that it is an old sci-fi show from the early 80’s that is only now being released. It’s really funny on a number of different levels. Seek it out and see it now before you can’t.

Scuba Diving - I got certified this year and have been on six dives now. It’s probably the closest one can come to the experience of space travel without actually going into space, which would be infinitely harder and more expensive. It’s so fucking beautiful and otherworldly down there. It’s very easy to dive, as well as get licensed. And it's the only place left where we're still safe (so far) from the terrorists!

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Continue reading "Best of 2007 by David Cross"

DOWNLOAD: Gallows - Orchestra of Wolves (MP3)

Brett's Top 5 Songs of 2007
1. DJ Felli Fell - "Get Buck In Here"
2. LCD Soundsystem - "All My Friends"
3. Arcade Fire - "Antichrist Television Blues"
4. Gallows - "Orchestra Of Wolves"
5. The Weakerthans - "Vitute The Cat Explains Her Departure"

Brett's Top 5 Live Performances of 2007
1. Daft Punk - Los Angeles, CA
2. Arcade Fire - Los Angeles, CA
3. Gallows - Pomona, CA
4. Beach Boys - Los Angeles, CA
5. LCD Soundsystem - Indio, CA

Continue reading "Brett Gurewitz says GALLOWS are good - 2008 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Pig Destroyer - Gravedancer (MP3)

by Black Bubblegum (a BV metal correspondent)

Calculators out..... The Dillinger Escape Plan will be back in NYC on Sunday December 16th, to play hits (and I mean that in a Tony Soprano kinda way) from their critically acclaimed new Faith-No-More-meets-odd-time-signature-Napalm-Death LP, "Ire Works". Tickets are still available.

Getting all morse code-y with DEP is Genghis Tron, who recently posted "Board Up The House" off of their new upcoming record for Relapse. Check it at their MySpace. Also, you can catch Mookie Singerman's (Genghis Tron) awesome monthly column "Route 666" in Decibel Magazine.

Speaking of Decibel, check out their picks for 2007's best heavy records.... I wonder which ones were Mookie's, John Darnielle's (Mountain Goats) & Jeffrey Walker's (ex-Carcass) faves? (they all write for Decibel)

Decibel's Top 40 Records of 2007
1.Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb (John's #4)
2.Watain - Sworn to the Dark
3.The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works
4.Jesu - Conqueror
5.Baroness - The Red Album
6. Neurosis - Given to the Rising (playing some shows)
7. Witchcraft - The Alchemist
8. Portal - Outré
9. High on Fire - Death is this Communion (Dave Hill liked this too)
10. A Life Once Lost - Iron Gag

Continue reading "Dillinger Escape Plan, High on Fire, Genghis Tron, Decibel's Top 40 of 2007, 2008 Tour Dates"

J MASCIS, DINOSAUR JR.
Om: Pilgrimage
Grinderman: Grinderman
EA 80: Reise
Thurston: Trees Outside the Academy
Pierced Arrows: "In My Brain" b/w "Caroline" 7"
Band of Horses: Cease to Begin
MV & EE With the Golden Road: Gettin' Gone
Kevin Drew: Spirit If...
Magik Markers: Boss
Earth: Hibernaculum

A lot of people (J Mascis even!) really liked the new Band of Horses. The Onion has it at number five.

1. Bowerbirds - Songs for a Dark Horse (Burly Time)
2. CocoRosie - The Adventures of Ghosthorse & Stillborn (Touch and Go)
3. Bloody Panda - Pheromone (Level Plane)
4. Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb (Relapse)
5. Bottomless Pit - Hammer Of The Gods (Comedy Minus One)
6. Various Artists - The Kings of Reggae (compilation. Rapster)
7. Babyshambles - Shotters Nation (Astralwerks)
8. Foetopsy - In the Bathroom (Barbarian)
9. Mayhem - Ordo ad Chao (Season of Mist)
10. Om - Pilgrimage (Southern Lord)

the seventh in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

Kristen Schaal is a favorite of mine and a favorite of BV readers. Lotsa people know her as Mel from the show Flight of the Conchords, but she's much more than that. She hosts Hot Tub Variety Show with Kurt Braunohler and has a series of videos on Super Deluxe called Penelope Princess of Pets (also with Braunohler). She's also won several awards including Best Alternative Comedian at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival, an Andy Kaufman Award, and a Best Female Stand-up Award at the 2006 Nightlife Awards in NYC. Recently Kristen parted ways with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone because her ideas were too weird (their loss!). Kristen took some time to tell BV what tunes she was really into in '07. - Klaus

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Top Ten Songs that I discovered this year in no particular order:

• "And I Won't Cause Anything At All" - Loney, Dear
• "Bridge" - Lucy Wainwright Roche
• "We Used To Be Friends" - Dandy Warhols
• "All My Lovin'" - Valley Lodge
• "One time Too Many" - Phoenix
• "Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse" - Of Montreal
• "Better" - Regina Spektor
• "Sister Winter" - Sufjan Stevens
• "Back In Your Head" - Tegan and Sara
• "Easy To Be Around" - Diane Cluck

Continue reading "Best of 2007 by Kristen Schaal"

the sixth in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

Jonah Ray is a surprisingly tall comedian from LA. He's also got a pretty impressive resume. He's appeared in TV shows including The Sarah Silverman Program, Saul of the Molemen, Comedy Central's Live At Gotham, and Human Giant. He's also got tons of videos on Super Deluxe including his man-on-the-street style docs shot at SXSW, and his series "The Freeloaders Guide To Easy Living with Jonah Ray". He recently went on tour with Sean O Connor, Nick Maritato, and Andrew Wright which was billed as the (Still) Born in the USA Tour. Oh, and he has a 7" on AST records. What follows is what he dug in 2007. - Klaus

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Lavender Diamond, Here Comes One - I couldnt stop listening to this song, over and over and over again i'd rock in my car, on my bike, in my house while cooking....everytime i listened to it it made me feel like i was in some kind of Romantic Comedy. Except when the song was over i wasnt with my quirky dream girl... i was still by myself mid-masturbate.

The Weakerthans, Reunion Tour - One of my favorite bands. They've made the same album three times now and i dont mind it. Each song has such a sweetness to it, and it doesnt hurt that the singer sounds a lot like Big Bird. Maybe thats why i like it? because it brings in these thoughts of a large, friendly bird bringing me in for a hug...then singing sweet political poetry into my earhole.

(strong language) continued below....

Continue reading "Best of 2007 By Jonah Ray"

the fifth in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

Because the man does so damned much, Fred Armisen is one of the hardest individuals to sum up in a pre-list blurb. He's 50% of ThunderAnt (the other 50% is Carrie Brownstein of Sleater Kinney). He just released a DVD called Jens Hannemann: Complicated Drumming Technique. He has also been doing some live gigs. And in addition to being a senior member of SNL, Fred's mug can be seen in scads of movies and TV shows (check out his resume on IMDB). Being equal parts artist and entertainer, he's absolutely one of my favorite people in entertainment and I am triple-dog-delighted he took the time out to share with BV the things he enjoyed in 2007 - Klaus

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10 things I bought/got/looked at this year that I love.

Paul McCartney, The McCartney Years DVD - It has live McCartney footage from 1976 that is amazing. He plays these really busy bass lines and sings at the same time effortlessly. I don't know how someone is able to do that so well. And I love that lefty Rickenbacker!

Petra Haden, Don't Stop Believin' - This is on a compilation album called Guilt By Association that came out this year. Her voice is just the greatest ever and the guitar solo part kills me. She's working on an acappella version of movie soundtracks right now that is unbelievable.

The Apple iPhone - It makes me feel like I am finally in the future. When I was a kid, this is what I imagined I'd be using in the 2000's. If you tap a business name into the map application, it finds it for you AND gives you the phone number AND gives you directions INCLUDING how to avoid traffic at that precise moment. I mean, are you kidding me? Thank you inventors who work at Apple!

God Of War 2 for Playstation - It's more complex than the first one but also more difficult. I liked it a lot, but couldn't finish it past the flying horse fights.

Steve Martin, Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life - Mr. Martin writes about the part of his life when he was a stand up comedian. His focus on working on every detail of his act is fascinating. At age fifteen he was already giving himself notes in a notebook. "Relax. Don't shake."

dlisted.com - This celebrity gossip site seriously makes me laugh out loud. The guy who writes this is SO funny! I look at this probably ten times a day. I was going to quote some of his stuff but I say just go to it and read it.

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Continue reading "Best of 2007 by Fred Armisen"

the fourth in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

Paul Scheer is an American actor. He currently can be seen on MTV's newest comedy show, "Human Giant" which he created and stars in along with Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, and Jason Woliner. He is a regular on VH1’s Best Week Ever and his films include School for Scoundrels with Billy Bob Thornton, the upcoming Sean William Scott comedy Trainwreck, Watching the Detectives with Cillian Murphy, The Onion Movie, and the 2004 SXSW Audience Award Winner Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story. He recently appeared with Jeff Goldblum in the Frank Darabont-directed NBC drama Raines. -Wikipedia

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1.) National, "Boxer"
This album really snuck up on me. At first I was like, "Ah..whatever", then I was like, "Holy Shit, these guys are geniuses!"


2.) Kanye West "Graduation"
I probably listened to Kanye more thn the National but I just wanted to put him as my number 2 to piss him off, he's funny when he's angry.

3.) Radiohead, "In Rainbows"
Undisputed Awesomness!

4.) The Arcade Fire, "Neon Bible"
It's downright unamerican not to mention this Canadian band as one of your favorite albums of the year. I love their beards.

5.) Black Lips, "Good Bad Not Evil"
Great album. I saw them live this year, I was disappointed when they didn't literally burn Bowery Ballroom to the ground. I thought they were showmen.

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Continue reading "Best of 2007 by Paul Scheer"

01 LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
...
15 Les Savy Fav: Let's Stay Friends
16 The Good, the Bad & the Queen: self-titled
17 Britney Spears: Blackout
18 Bruce Springsteen: Magic
19 Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
20 El-P: I'll Sleep When You're Dead

the third in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

Max Silvestri is a young and stupidly talented Brooklyn-based comedian whom I adore. He hosts a show at Rififi the second Sunday of every month called I Like Attention. Each installment features a different co-host and a truly stupendous line-up of comedians (for example). You may also know Max as the co-star of Gabe & Max's Internet Thing, and as one of the hosts of Best Night Ever over at VH1's BestWeekEver.tv. Here's Max's list of the best music to come out of 2007. - klaus

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I was sort of lazy about listening to new albums this year, but here is a bunch of stuff I got all obsessed with. Know that if it seems weird that I left something off this list, it's not because I just didn't get a chance to listen to the record but because I think the band and all its fans are stupid and gay. (jk lol)

Dan Deacon, Spiderman of the Rings - Maybe the most fun live show I've ever been to? I was up against his table at Judson Church and danced my stupid head off. There were photos online from the show and I look like someone had just dumped a huge bucket ofsweat and dumb facial expressions all over me. I DANCE WEIRD but that is how good Dan Deacon is. Total spaz.

LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver - They stole the show at Randall's Island. I kinda look like James Murphy from far away so it was like dancing to myself. Also, my roommate was in the video for "Someone Great" and looked very pretty so give it up for her and that. But mostly the album is amazing.

Gogol Bordello, Super Taranta! - It's very rarely that I hear an album that *actually* makes me wish I'd gone into the rock star business, but this is one of them. It helps that I really like vodka and marinated herring.

Arcade Fire, Neon Bible - As a comedian, I am constantly wrapped in a blanket of irony and trying to avoid sincerity at all costs. Not really, but it is surprising to me how much My Body Is A Cage gives me chills every time I hear it. Their show at United Palace (the one where everybody got on the stage, Stooges-style) was really, really tremendous.

DOWNLOAD: Arcade Fire - My Body is a Cage (live @ Judson Church) (MP3) (via/more)

Dr. Dog, We All Belong - Speaking of sincerity, these guys just enjoy making music so much and with so little irony that it is impossible not to be infected by it when you see them live. They are like if The Band had liked playing soccer and grilling instead of doing drugs and being difficult.

Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer - Their songs have that weird thing where it seems like you've heard them before, but you haven't. And I have no problem with them endorsing Outback Steakhouse. I love Outback Steakhouse. I guess what I'm saying is I will take money from any restaurant. Thanks in advance.

Justice, Stupid Symbol - This is the kind of album that makes me wish like there was a lot more music exactly like it, but there isn't. And they almost managed to make Terminal 5 not the most irritating place ever.

The National, Boxer - This record is mostly perfect.

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Continue reading "Best of 2007 by Max Silvestri"

the second in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

Rob Huebel is one of the fellows from the hit TV series Human Giant (whose second season is currently in production). He was also a member of the UCBNY sketch troupe Respecto Montalban - a troupe that Rob Riggle, Paul Scheer, and Jackie Clarke were also members of. A very busy writer, comedian, producer, and actor, Rob took some time out to give BV readers his list of the best music of 2007-ish. -Klaus

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Not everything on mine is from 2007 technically, but it's what was on my brain in 2007. In no particular order:

• LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
• Girl Talk: Night Ripper
• Radiohead: In Rainbows
• Mastodon: Blood Mountain
• Clipse: Hell Hath No Fury
• Kanye West: Graduation
• Lil Wayne: Da Drought 3
• Band of Horses: Cease to Begin
• The National: Boxer
• Cold War Kids: Robbers and Cowards

DOWNLOAD: White Rabbits - The Plot (MP3)

New music dominated my 2007, I listened to more new releases than any other year in my life. With new CDs arriving daily, I struggled at times to keep up with the deluge, but was rewarded in the end with a wealth of quality music.

Looking back, I was surprised how many artists on this list have appeared on my previous year-end lists, but this is my sixth favorite albums list at Largehearted Boy.