MOG

. ANDREW BIRD - Armchair Apocrypha

With his trademark whistle and velvet voice Andrew Bird realizes pop perfection with his latest release... from the prairies to the heavens... this is one campfire you want to be part of... Here's "Darkmatter"...

. FIELDS - Everything Last Winter

British band Fields wows on their debut album with a lush sound and vocals (male and female) that will make you swoon (if you're susceptible to swooning... maybe even if you're not...) Acoustic + electric + wall of sound = excellent. Here's "Song For The Fields"

. GREAT NORTHERN - Trading Twilight for Daylight

My pick for best album of the year... This Los Angeles four-piece has crafted the ultimate slice of heaven with their debut... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I've Mog'd on them before, and now I get to play my favorite cut on the album... Here's "Our Bleeding Hearts"

. CARIBOU - Andorra

This Canadian band (formerly "Manitoba") continues the Great White North's hot streak (thanks global warming!) with quality music (see: New Pornographers, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Tegan & Sara, Malajube, The Stills, etc.)... I was smitten with Caribou's last one "The Milk of Human Kindness" and this one equals it... Dan Snaith has moved the band out the electronica bin, but still keeps all options open with the last two releases... "Andorra" revolves around song structure like no other Caribou albums and it's a revelation (check out the goosebump-creator "Eli")... Here's "After Hours"

. (Broken Social Scene Presents) KEVIN DREW - "Spirit If..."

I'm not sure he's known as "Mr. Feist," but her success hasn't cast a cloud over Kevin Drew or Broken Social Scene... he's carved out a pretty damn good solo offering that shows there's plenty of talent to go around... He gets plenty of help with the BSS clan (including the aformentioned Ms. Feist) When you can take Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" riff and use it to positive effect in "Lucky Ones" you know you've got something... Here's "Farewell To The Pressure Kids"

. EARLIMART - Mentor Tormentor

Earlimart comes back from one of my favorite albums of the last few years ("Treble and Tremble") with another album that I'll be spinning as long as I'm breathing... From the great opener "Fakey Fake" (which I've previously MOG'd on) to the rousing finish of "Cold Cold Heaven", it's splendid listening and, to paraphrase the endcut, will send you to heaven ...underground. Here's "Answers And Questions"

. LONEY DEAR - Loney, Noir

Emil Svanängen (aka: Loney Dear) is Sweden's answer (somewhat) to Sufjan Stevens... and to me, that's a very good thing... muted orchestral power pop with endearing, high-pitched vocals... one listen and it made my list... From his excellent SubPop debut, here's "I Am John"

. THE NATIONAL - Boxer

I listened to this album a while ago. I liked it. But I didn't listen to it again for a while... then I made a music mix that contained two songs from this album and I found myself hitting the "repeat" button more than a few times... I just listened to it again and it's dawning on me how good this album is... I better put it on this list just to be on the safe side.... Here's one of the two song permanently lodged in my brain (the other, ironically, "Brainy") "Squalor Victoria"...

. EMMA POLLOCK - Watch The Fireworks

The former Delgados (check 'em out! Buy their music! Be a better human!) singer / songwriter comes back at full genius with her first solo album... filled with memorable tunes, outstanding singing and wry lyrics, Pollock is a treasure... Here's "Acid Test"...

We officially have the same taste in music.

...and that's a very good thing. ...ha...

I also just realized my college education is paying great dividends... what the hell kind of alphabetical order puts Fields and Great Northern before Caribou? (Doh!)

or

I'm a rebel. I meant to do that.

Didn't even notice, MOG threw some tricks at me when I was doing my countdown that caused me to go back and delete and repost, so why don't you just blame MOG! Stupid MOG!!

Oh... and here's what just missed my list...

Arcade Fire, The Clientele, Spoon, Interpol, Rogue Wave, The Shins, Fiery Furnaces, Imperial Teen, Idlewild, MiniPop, Tegan & Sara, Arctic Monkeys, Malcom Middleton, The New Pornographers, John Ralston, Okkervil River, Or The Whale, Matt Pond PA and about four bands Dachmo has on his list (I only heard one song each... but they'll make the "Dammit! I should have listed them!" list... out sometime in late 2008.

yeah... YEAH!... STUPID MOG!

(thanks dach... I needed that.)

I like the way you think.

Hey Mr DJ - how about a Baker's Dozen?

:D

it all sounds good on this end. and yes, you are a rebel... we didnt see that promise.

John, you got me with Kevin Drew. I will have to seek out more.

Apparently you didn't take List Ordering 101.

Thats okay, you didn't miss much. I'll send ya my notes.

I have resisted making a list, due to the fact I don't have the time or money to discover most albums when they come out. I'm kind of a "when it comes around, I'll take a listen, and then put my two cents in" guy. That's not to say I haven't been exposed to many great artists this year on Mog - I just can't keep current. I may make a list of stuff I've heard this year that is good any year, but I might just be burnt out on lists at this point.

My whole reason for posting, though, was that some of those albums would make my best album cover list of 2007, I especially love that Earlimart one - fantastic. I would also say Blinde Redhead, and The National....

thanks for all the comments!

Contra, I completely agree with your comments on lists in general... frankly, they're just simply "fun"... I mean... I haven't listened to EVERYTHING... If I had heard every release from the whole year, then I would have some sort of legit basis to put one together... but it's just a fun challenge to pare down what you have to your 10 (or 11 in this case) favorites... no real criteria, either... other than, "that's what I want"...

my own list is missing a sure bet, radiohead. I dig those guys, but I didn't want to put it on there until I've heard it all... 99% it would make the list... but I don't own it, yet.

...I'm also a big fan (no shock) of cover art... the Earlimart cover is great... Blonde Redhead, The National, too... That's a list I'll definitely check out.... (and if I get my act together, make one of my own...)

The single best reason for lists is to turn people on to great music... but that's what MOG's all about anyway...

I kinda think I have enough albums & enough fair listens to said albums to give a top ELEVEN (all with you on that one John - I know you must be shocked that we're in agreement) ;) But I do hear my beloved red devil's comments as well (contra aka red devil aka Tyler)...

PLUS: It's hard to feel I am giving a "complete & fair" list now that MOG is in my life... & do NOT consider this a complaint... it's just that I've picked up suggestions from folks this year & I've fallen hard for some & I've put some on the back burner as there is JUST SO MUCH to listen to these days... I am SWAMPED in TUNEAGE - a great way to be no doubt... still it can be & right now _IS_ very daunting :)

Great list all the same friend & I am EVER glad you rocked it to ELEVEN !!!

_(so says yer queen)_

HAPPY NEW YEAR JOHN :)

O, great sampling. I must say I've missed a few items on your list (namely Kevin Drew, Earlimart) - I agree with you, the Delgados deserve better.

Now if I may, as a visual artist and illustrator what album artwork from 2007 did you like best? It'd be really interesting to have an artist's eye and opinion on the lost art of making an album cover.

Thanks Lizzie! A Big Happy New Year right back atcha...

That's a great idea, Bartleby... I mentioned in comments (somewhere) that I might do something like that... I've got a few in mind... now to make time to do it...

You had me at Fields, Great Northern, Earlimart, Loney Dear, The National, etc.

Glad I came back to this thread - and at this time, because a lot of this music is perfect for Sunday morning listening. Plus, I'm always on the look out for female artists, who are thin on the ground, so Emma Pollock is one of the new albums (along with Caribou's and Fields') I'm going to investigate further. Thanks!

Thanks Mike!

Flux... That's kind of funny, 'cause I was just thinking about how Sunday Mornings seem to be more suited to music than other mornings... (must be the Velvet Underground influence!)... Happy investigating!

Smashing list! It made my day all warm and fuzzy, that's for sure.

I especially love the Band of Horses, Blonde Redhead and The National selections. Earlimart is new to me, and I really like what I hear. Gah! So much stuff I still have to pick up.

And I fell in love with that Andrew Bird album over the holidays.

Thanks Kristiana! You're right... there's so much to listen to... one day at a time, though....

Wonderful list John! I'm not surprised to see a lot of crossover between ours (Fields and Earlimart narrowly missed getting on mine because of ... I don't know, just the day perhaps?). I think you and I are two - out of possibly three ;) - moggers who've been trying to spread the word on Earlimart, they did a really nice job on this album. I've had the Andrew Bird and Caribou for a while but sadly have only spun them once a piece, but on your recommendation I'll have to go back and hear them again. Thanks for finally giving me the chance to check out Great Northern, Kevin Drew and Emma Pollack, I really like what I'm hearing. Kudos on your great taste ... now I'm off to check out your covers post ... I'm a sucker for the eyecandy too. :)

Thanks so much, Erin! Agreed. We have the same taste... I'm kinda glad we've listened to different things, so I can pick up some new stuff off your list... Cheers!