In my ear late 2007 (catching up on last year)

Even though I did post a best of 2007 entry a couple of weeks (BTW I think I’ve already changed my mind on many picks as I am just now catching up on my late 2007 CDs/MP3s), thought I’d fill you in on what I was buying and listening to the final quarter of the 2007.

In October and November I took my GbV/Robert Pollard obsession to the next level and started filling in the gaps of my collection. Pollard is so prolific if I’ve become a completist my financial health is in jeopardy, maybe it already is! Here goes:

October 2007
Robert Pollard, Not in My Airforce
A minor classic from 1996

Robert Pollard, Silverfish Trivia
First of three solo albums Bob released in 2007, short and sweet. I like this one.

Robert Pollard, Coast to Coast Carpet of Love
One of two albums Bob released on the same day in October, this is solid power-pop Bob.

Robert Pollard, Standard Gargoyle Decisions
Glam-rock Bob

Robert Pollard With Doug Gillard, Speak Kindly of Your Volunteer Fire Department
“Pop Zeus” and “Slick as Snails” are classics

Guided by Voices, Under the Bushes Under the Stars
From 1996: hooks, hooks, and more hooks as usual. “Cut-out Witch”!

Mexican Institute of Sound, Pinata
Trippy Mexican electronica

Mem Shannon, Live: A Night at Tipitina’s
Solid blues from former New Orleans cabbie

Radiohead, In Rainbows
Best $2 I ever spent, super album

Bruce Springsteen, Magic
Doesn’t work it’s magic for me, but it grows on you.

November 2007
Dwight Yoakam, Dwight Sings Buck
Dwight finally does the album of covers everybody’s been waiting for and does his hero proud, makes my heart skip a beat!

Derailers, Under the Influence of Buck
Can’t get too much Buck!

Guided by Voices, Get Out of My Stations
Originally released in 1993, this edition, from 2003, includes live versions of ‘Motor Away’, ‘Hot Freaks’, ‘Weed King’, ‘Postal Blowfish’ all from the early 1990s

Guided by Voices, Isolation Drills
Brilliant! Chasing Heather Crazy’, ‘Glad Girls’, ‘Skills Like This’ (featuring Elliot Smith) and ‘The Brides Have Hit Glass’

Guided by Voices & Airport Five, Selective Service
Side project between Robert Pollard (GBV) and his long time friend Tobin Sprout (ex-GBV) from 2001

Guided by Voices, Vampire on Titus
1997 release: “Melodies materialize out of ominous white noise, shamble about for a few seconds, then dissipate again”

December 2007
Band of Horses, Cease to Begin
“There’s a ghost in my house!” And I’m pretty darn sure it’s My Morning Jacket!

Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dona Got a Ramblin Mind
A group of youngsters resurrect the old timey African American string band tradition.

The Avett Brothers, Emotionalism
“Echoes of influence from the Band, the Burritos, the Everlys, and beyond, but the music of this North Carolina family band refuses to be pigeonholed”

Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha
Unconventional (violin and whistling) Bird’s 10th album, pretty much covers a waterfront of genres–“across the great chasms and schisms and the sudden aneurysms”

The National, Boxer
Iron & Wine, The Shepherd’s Dog
Paste Magazine says it’s the best album of 2007. Don’t know about that, but it’s mighty forelorn and a good ‘un.

The Takeovers, Bad Football
No it’s not an album about Ohio State’s play in the BCS championship game, but it is an album by Buckeye fan Robert Pollard and Chris Slusarenk. So let’s see, Pollard released at least 4 albums this year (I’m sure I’ve probably missed a few). “Calling on likeminded bedfellows like Stephen Malkmus (Pavement), Tad Doyle (Tad), John Moen (The Decemberists) and Dan Peters (Mudhoney) to help follow their tuneful and psychedelic hearts,” The Takeovers don’t disappoint.

Blktop Project, Blktop Project
The musical experiment known as Blktop Project first came about when skateboard magazine Slap organized a tour in the summer of 2002 for Ray Barbee, Tommy Guerrero and Matt Rodriguez–three accomplished skateboarders ever who also happen to love making music.

Bettye LaVette, Scene of the Crime
Northern soul queen goes south to record at Muscle Shoals’ Fame Studio with Drive-By Truckers. Maybe the best album of the year. Deep soul!

Steve Earle, Washington Square Serenade
Home in NYC with his partner Allison Moorer, Earle writes of all things NY, but his personal contentment doesn’t dampen his rage against the system.

Various Artists, Stockings By the Fire
Pleasant xmas tunes from Starbucks.

Led Zeppelin, Mothership – The Very Best Of
Okay, I know…

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, 100 Days, 100 Nights
Retro-soul/funk from Staten Island. Great!

Caribou, Andorra
“Caribou is one Don Snaith, formerly known as Manitoba (he switched names after threat of lawsuit by ex-pro wrestler Richard “Handsome Dick” Manitoba. No joke).…an exhausting slab of avant-pop. ’60s grab-bag comparisons here are inevitable.”

Amy Winehouse, Back to Black
No she’s not going to rehab. Lot’s of great soul music this year and this is one of the best, from the neo-soul queen of the gossip columns.

Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Stupid title, but the Beatlesque power-pop is on the mark.

The Weakerthans Reunion Tour
Manitoba quartet records best tunes ever about curling (and best song ever about Gump Worsley). I’ve been playing this one a bunch.

Shawn Lee, Ping Pong Orchestra, Very Ping Pong Christmas: Funky Treats From Santa’s Bag
Electronic funk for the holidays.

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Raising Sand
Unlikely pair produce beautiful album.