The Rock Blogger

Numbers 30-21.

#30. Magik Markers. Boss. 3.5 stars.

I first heard of this Brooklyn band while I was shuffling through Rotate This in Toronto and this came on over the store speakers. Elisa Ambrogio’s chilling vocals sucked me right in and I tracked their newest release down. While the majority of Boss is menacing and arty, sounding strikingly similar to early Sonic Youth, it also features some delicate acoustic numbers like “Bad Dream” and the sexy cowpunk rocker “Taste”.

#29. Liars. Liars 

Another bizarre album form these guys, Liars meshes punk riffs and atmosphere with experimental noise and drawn out dissonance.  An engrossing and challenging affair for fans of no-wave avant-garde.

#28 Foo Fighters. Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace. 3.5 stars.

Dave Grohl is in top form, revitalizing the band I thought had just had their day in the 90s. The lyrics, riffs and pacing of this release all carry the same propulsive energy of “Everlong”, you know, quite possibly the greatest Foo’s song ever? Anyways, check this out.

#27 The White Stripes. Icky Thump. 3.5 stars.

While I’m sure many of you out there are sick of hearing “Icky Thump” on the radio ad nausea that still doesn’t detract from the fantastic album it comes from. Jack White’s confidence and creativity as a guitar player really shines through on this, especially on the opening tracks (“Icky Thump again and “You don’t know what love is”), conjuring up memories of Hendrix and Zeppelin.

#26. Explosions in the Sky. All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone. 3.5 stars.

Though I was a little disappointed in how this album differed little from its predecessors, I soon accepted the maxim of “if it’s not broke, why fix it?” I was a big fan of their previous LPs so it was comforting to let Explosions go off in my ear again (like my pun, it was very intended), letting the sprawling soundscapes take shape only to be torn apart by the band’s famously violent crescendos.

#25. Neil Young. Live at Massey Hall 1972. 4 stars.

Yeah, yeah, so it was actually recorded in 1972, but this is technically a list of 2007 releases, and it’s so damn awesome, this has to go on. An incredible and intimate acoustic performance, Neil’s voice has never sounded better as he goes through his most renowned hits from the 60s and early 70s (offering that particular Toronto audience its first preview of Harvest). I can only hope that Matthew Good releases something like this, sometime down the road.

#24. Dinosaur Jr. Beyond. 4 stars.

Holy Shit. This is their first album, in what, 10 years? These guys are still in top form, especially J. Masics’ mind-blowing guitar work. The solos are what make this record. Best track IMHO: “It’s Me”.

#23. Blonde Redhead. 23. 4 stars.

Conveniently, the number 23 spot on this list goes to 23, the ethereal and just fucking gorgeous album from Blonde Redhead, featuring the serine vocals of Kazu Makino on the majority of the tracks. These songs are hypnotic to say the least, with their refined production and melodic brilliance.

#22. Modest Mouse. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. 4 stars.

While I couldn’t say that this lived up to my astronomical expectations (The Moon and Antarctica is one of the best albums of the decade so far), I can’t argue against this album’s cohesiveness, and the enduring weirdness of Isaac Brock’s vocals and lyrics. Every track carries its own weight, bringing together stellar instrumentation (thanks Johnny Marr) and Brock’s raw energy and charisma.

#21. Les Savy Fav. Let’s Stay Friends. 4 stars.

After 6 years without any new material, Les Savy Fav still have their trademark audacity, putting together this fantastic indie-rock album. While more punk inspired than bands like The Shins or Menomena, they still blend their rapid fire delivery and wailing nicely with finely crafted pop elements as well. Fans won’t be disappointed.

Stay Tuned for Numbers 20-11…

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 4th, 2007 at 10:58 am and is filed under Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.