They’ve Got A Great Beat (And You Can Dance To Most of Them)



We’re halfway through 2007: What new songs have you been listening to? Here is The Shamus’ Top 11 of 2007 (So Far), which leans heavily toward rock and pop of the old-guy-trying-to-stay-current variety. Praise it, rip it, I can take it. And tell us what’s on your playlist.

1. “Rehab,” Amy Winehouse. I’m not enamored of her whole “I’m a drunk, I’m so cool” persona, but it’s hard to deny that goth girl meets girl-group sound.
2. “Dashboard,” Modest Mouse. I have no idea what this song is about, something about a dashboard I guess, but it’s got the most propulsive, irresistible beat I’ve heard all year.
3. “Chick Habit,” April March. Not a new song, but it will be new to most people listening to the Quentin Tarantino “Death Proof” soundtrack. A Serge Gainsbourg number turned into a snappy bubblegum-garage anthem.
4. “Either Way,” Wilco. A tender love song that finally brings Wilco back from the experimental abyss.
5. “300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues,” The White Stripes. Jack White mixes blues, Arthur Lee and speed-era Dylan: What’s not to like?
6. “Theme from ‘The Good, The Bad and the Ugly,’” Quincy Jones featuring Herbie Hancock. From the “We All Love Ennio Morricone” tribute disc, a really good jazz reworking of the spaghetti western classic.
7. “The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How To Be In Love,” Flaming Lips. The only redeeming quality of “Spidey 3.” This weird song has Muhammad Ali hanging out with Spidey to a Brian Wilson beat. But with the Lips, who the hell knows? Insanely catchy, though.
8. “Ride On,” America. The old soft-rock duo teamed up with Fountains of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger. Voila: new soft-rock classic.
9. “Again and Again,” The Bird and the Bee. Lowell George’s daughter sings this irresistibly chirpy song that mixes Brazilian beat acoustics and snatches of electronica.
10. “Sewn,” The Feeling. A sweet ’70s pop flashback from a British group that revels in the Raspberries, Queen and Elton John.
11. “Flathead,” The Fratellis. A pub-rock, bash-those-drums classic that became well-known through an iPod commercial.

Now, it’s your turn. Show us your lists!

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July 7th, 2007
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Viewing 14 Comments

    • ^
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    I'll take a crack....

    Ironically, as the MP3 business has turned the music industry back into a singles churning operation, I find myself listening to individual songs less and less. Part of it, I guess, is that I listen mostly to jazz and then I just let albums rip. Part of it is that I don't own an iPod, almost never use my MP3 player, and don't listen to music as background (I'm a talk/news/sports radio guy). When I listen to music I'm usually sitting down in front of my speakers doing nothing other than listening (and then its Sarah Vaughn, Sonny Rollins, or Ornette Coleman).

    Truth is, the music I've listened to most in 2007 is NYC era Sun Ra (1962-1969). I've probably listened to "Friendly Galaxy" from Secrets of the Sun more than any other individual recording so far this year (still unavailable on CD). That or the limited edition CD reissue of Lee Perry & the Upsetter's dub classic Super Ape (summer means dub for me).

    Although its only two weeks old, I've played the Brad Paisley album more than any other album of new music this year. The Hank Jones/Joe Lovano duets album comes in second, but no one track more than any other. And for rock, the Fratelli's record, but again, not any one track more than another.

    I do however listen to music ocassionally when I'm driving--that's where I pick up pop hits on the radio or put CD tracks on repeat. Of the latest of those I also dig "Rehab," a lot (my kinda sentiments), but not enough of the other Winehouse I've heard to buy the album (tho' as an old fashioned, two-sided single "Rehab/You Know I'm No Good" is a mother).

    The other stuff I've found myself digging?


    This is Why I'm Hot - Mimms (How can you resist the immortal couplet: I'm hot cuz I'm fly, you ain't cuz you not/this is why I'm, this is why I'm, this is why I'm hot)

    Goodnight Rose - Ryan Adams (When he's good he's really, really good...not sure yet about the rest of the album...review to come...but this elegiac rock waltz is immaculate)

    I'm Still A Guy - Brad Paisley (More immortal couplets: I don't highlight my hair/I've still got a pair)

    Are You Experienced?- Patti Smith (the opening track and only knockout punch on her disappointing, but by no means bad, covers album)

    and of course Avril Lavigne's irresistable "Girlfriend" in the remix version w/ the rhymes by Lil' Mama! Yeah baby. This is the kind of shit I used to love to hear Harry Harrison spin on WABC AM when I was a kid! Pure pop for now people. If you don't like it you're an old crab.

    Like everyone else I can't get the chorus of Rhianna's "Umbrella" out of my head, but I don't see that as a good thing. Pink's "U + UR Hand" is good too. And I went through a little bender intoxicated on Macca's "Ever Present Past."
    • ^
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    A few of the albums I've been listening to alot: Battles, "Mirrored" ("Atlas" in particular), The National's "Boxer" ("Mistaken For Strangers" and "Fake Empire" esp,) Miranda Lambert's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" two albums by the Japanese guitarist Michio Kurihara, ("Sunset Notes," and "Rainbow") and two "blues" albums, the Moaners "Blackwing Yalobusha" and the new (frustrating) White Stripes.
    The Battles album is a bit too whimsical at times but at least it sounds like it was made in , and for the 21st century. The National is way moodier, with songs about losing your illusions and feeling miserable at 2 am, but the drummer kicks the songs home pretty well. The two Kurihara's couldn't be more different: the former sounding like soundtracks to imaginary Leone movies, the latter, a collaboration with his psych friends Boris. The two White Stripes cuts I've played the most are the title track and the fairly ridiculous "Conquest."
    • ^
    • v
    I had to check Media Player to find out if I have any 2007 music since when something was made is one of the last things that interest me in the arts.
    Turns out I have a some. Here are my favorites from the list:

    Elvis Perkins-While You Were Sleeping, Emile's Vietnam In The Sky
    Noisettes-Sister Rosetta
    Dexateens-Broken Ground
    The Fall-Systematic Abuse
    Nick Lowe-Join The Club
    Paul McCartney-Dance Tonight, Mr. Bellamy
    Robert Pollard-Cats Love A Parade
    The White Stripes-Icky Thump, Rag and Bone

    A tiny subset of what I listen to.

    Jason,'Twelve' is by my means a bad covers album. I almost don't like her anymore after hearing her version of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". Only Bryan Ferry's Dylanesque is a more embarrassing offering this year.
    • ^
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    OoC-

    I don't think it's bad, but it is mediocre and an enormous disappointment considering how great the PSG is playing covers live. I've heard the group play fantastic versions of "Paint It Black," "Father Figure," "When Doves Cry" just to name the few that are most memorable from recent years...but like I said, only "Are You Experienced" brings the noise on "Twelve."

    I wondered about that Bryan Ferry album. I'd love for someone to review it here. Ferry sings Dylan is just too weird...I could see it either being fascinating or horrible.
    • ^
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    As I read these lists, I'm again struck by the sheer volume of music released on a weekly basis, and how it's basically impossible for anybody to be current with any level of thoroughness, as I used to feel like I was as a teen-twentysomething in the late '70s-'80s. Of course, that might be an age thing, who knows? I feel bad for so many artists who can get a record deal nowadays, but then never get any traction.

    As for the White Stripes, I don't find it frustrating at all. I really like the album, more than their others. And Jason, I've found myself getting back to my jazz roots as well lately, mainly through the volumes of discs that I can borrow and rip from my local public library. Of course, they always have a little more Al DiMeola than you want, but those are the breaks.
    • ^
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    I'm not sure I can generate an entire list--you've named many of my current faves (Wilco, Amy Winehouse). But here are a couple: Pela's "Lost to the Lonesome" is a great song. I'm not sure how old it is, but the entire Arcade Fire CD Neon Bible is great (especially "Intervention"). And I continue to like the Silversun Pickups (again, their CD has been around for a few months). I'll try to think of some others....
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    Sorry, I was in a rush on my comment. The name of the Dexateens song is "Naked Ground", not "Broken Ground".

    I'm with Shamus on the White Stripes album. I just got it Thursday (my wife had to order it from Kung Fu Nation because she wanted a vinyl copy and some buttons and it took forever). I've listened to it five or six times and I think it's pretty strong across the board.
    As for the 'keeping up' thing, I think some of it is age. As time spreads out behind and perspective deepens, the new other thing becomes just another thing. Also, access to niche music has exploded on the internet. I don't have to go to Tower Records in NYor 3rd St Jazz in Philly, as I did as a college kid to find traditional Turkish or the latest No Wave. Between Napster-To-Go and eMusic, blogs and podcasts, I can slide anywhere down the Long Tail.

    Jason, I'll agree to mediocre on Twelve. I've only heard half of the Ferry album, but, to quote Woody Allen, he's run the material through the de-flavorizing machine (can anyone tell me in what Allen movie he says that about his mother cooking chicken?). I loved Roxy Music's 2003 live dvd and Ferry's "Bride Stripped Bare" solo album way back, but this sounds exceptionally pointless.
    • ^
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    My old-fartitude and out-of-it-iveness has been officialy confirmed. I haven't heard a single song anyone's mentioned. My latest music-buying spree consisted of finally going digital with some Stooges and Iggy stuff that I still had only on preciously-guarded vinyl. So my big faves are those "Deluxe" CD releases of the first two Stooges albums -- love those out-takes from Funhouse, and the unfaded-out versions of No Fun and Ann from the first album. Part of me always be 19, and discovering that first Stooges LP, and going, Yeah, oh yeah.
    • ^
    • v
    We've been listening to Amy Winehouse too. (Judging from this sampling of new critics, she's number one with a bullet). Also have Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings on the CD player. But on the MP3 player, right now, is Dinah Washington, "Dinah Swings", a live recording with Clifford Brown, and it blows everything else away.
    Jason, thanks for the tip on the jazz/Dead hybrids. That Sun Ra sounds good too. I am going to search for it.
    • ^
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    Ooc, I believe its Annie Hall.
    • ^
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    Apparently, it bothers me more when Manny's comments carry my picture in the right hand corner than vice versa.That woman looks nothing like him.
    We usually listen to the same music, because we're in the same small apartment. And we like the same things; we've liked each other since we were six!
    Manny has great taste so when we're here, I prefer he chooses. since my decisions sometimes carry annoying, quasi-existential issues. Such as,if I'm listen to Joss Stone again, am I being authentic or just lazy?
    If I must decide and simply can't--so much music in here!--I throw on Seven Steps to Heaven. No matter how much I listen to that, it does something great and something new to me.
    Manny, on the other hand, can put together a gorgeous, mixed list night after night. If I'm out and arrive home unexpectedly, however, he's laid out on the floor, totally indulging himself in Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa. So illicit!
    We'll just throw on some Roy Hargrove and pretend my intrusion on his guilty pleasure never happened.
    • ^
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    That last comment was from Kathleen, not Manny Maher, in case anyone was confused. But the photos are still a scramble. Help, Mr. Wizard!
    • ^
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    Here's a couple:

    - On Call, Kings of Leon
    - Johnny's Far Away, Richard Thompson
    - Dance Tonight, McCartney
    - 99 1/2, Mavis Staples
    • ^
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    "City Beach" by Jill Cunniff, formerly of Luscious Jackson. ("Love Is a Luxury" should've been a big summer hit, if such a thing still existed.)

    Given the number of times it's been mentioned here, there ought to be a way for Shirley Ellis to get a piece of the action for "Rehab." I guess you can't copyright a sound, but Amy Winehouse has managed to make the best Shirley Ellis single since "The Nitty Gritty."
 

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