Bella Union label boss Simon Raymonde has become a bit of a guardian angel for The Line of Best Fit, championing our cause and generally defending his artists against our reviews. So, when he mentioned he was keen to write a piece on his favourite albums of 2007, we had to take him up on it…
Bowerbirds - Hymns for a Dark Horse
I am hoping to sign this to Bella Union, so you will see why I am so keen on it. Surprisingly beautiful sound from a band from North Carolina but this is not just pretty delicate acoustica - they have brilliant songs. Imagine an appalachian Fionn Regan crossed with best bits of Vetiver.
mp3:> Bowerbirds: In Our Talons
Grizzly Bear - Friend EP
Certainly the musicality and adventure on Yellow House took my breath away at times and whilst this EP has enough tracks on it for it to be considered an album, the guest appearances make it an intriguing record.
mp3:> Grizzly Bear: He Hit Me
Broken Social Scene Presents…Kevin Drew - Spirit If
I was about to dismiss this as a self-indulgence till I listened to it. Arguably my favourite album of the year, it has a wonderful soulfulness to it that is so lacking in much of what is hyped by the printed media.
mp3:> Broken Social Scene Presents…Kevin Drew: Back Out On The ….
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
This would be in most people’s lists I would guess, but for good reason. Its not often you find genuine originality at work and while Panda Bear’s ‘Person Pitch’ is a record I listen to consistently more, I believe Strawberry Jam will truly stand the test of time…
mp3:> Animal Collective: For Reverand Green
Yndi Halda - Enjoy Eternal Bliss
Probably not on most people’s list, this album has some achingly gorgeous moments and though it is flawed, it signals the arrival of a major talent for the future. A beautiful set of tunes for all seasons.
mp3:> Yndi Halda: We Flood Empty Lakes
Von Südenfed - Tromatic Refflexions
Quite simply THE surprise package. I used to be a Mark E Smith fan and even when I have had periods when I have stopped following all the Fall new releases, there is always a soft spot in my heart for this marvellous maverick. Teaming up with the equally brilliant Mouse On Mars has to be the collaboration of the year.
mp3:> Von Südenfed - Fledermaus Can’t Get It
St Vincent - Marry Me
Should have signed her when I had the chance….nuff said.
mp3:> St Vincent: Now, Now
Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals
I heard the song ‘2080′ after someone had told me it sounded like Midlake’s “Roscoe” (it doesn’t) but I soon fell in love with its wily charms. There are disparate influences at work, helping to create something that manages to be ultra modern and yet plausibly retro.
mp3:> Yeasayer: Sunrise
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer
Tried desperately hard to sign this album to Bella Union and didnt give up till it became a complete dead end. It does that rare thing of making you smile and making your heart swell at the same time. Live they are a trip. One of my favourite bands of the last 10 years.
mp3:> Of Montreal: Suffer For Fashion
Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
I got so fed up with saying “I love this, who is this again?” every time it was on in the office, I finally gave in to its beauty and bought it myself. It has classic melodies and proves that Sub Pop is still a pretty good label…
mp3:> Band of Horses: Is There A Ghost
*MP3s posted at this site are for evaluation purposes only. If you like them, please support the artist and buy their releases. Contact us if you are the copyright holder and want the files removed.
Read more Class of 2007 lists and download our 2007 Playlist here.
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February 12th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Oh no, not Of Montreal.
Once they hit it big with “Satanic Panic in the Attic,” (a very GOOD album) their egos went through the roof. “Sunlandic Twins” was awful and so is “Hissing Fauna…” When you begin hearing a band’s music being used in commercials for popular restaurants, you have to suspect something’s wrong. They turned up the disco dial too much, almost straying into Scissor Sisters territory. The cleverness of their pop sound is gone, it sounds way, way, way too much like a blatant attempt to be more mainstream. Blah, this band is no longer viable.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:33 am
There is nothing wrong with an indie band trying to make a buck, imo. Kevin Barnes is still a genius, and to say that Hissing Fauna is awful… bah. It’s a stellar album.
There is an undeniable trend of indie bands being used in commercials for major corporations - Bishop Allen, The Shins, Band Of Horses… But whatever. While certain aspects of my indie sensibilities want to reject these bands for “selling out”, I have to remember that their corporate paychecks just may be reposonsible for their continued existence, and in turn, my happiness.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:46 am
yeah the whole argument towards bands “selling out” is ridiculous. if they want to make money, then why the hell not. sure, if i saw jeff tweedy singing “im lovin’ it” on a mcdonalds advert then i think there would be something wrong about that (even though he does like a good chesseburger). bands need to make money like all of us - and as piracy rises etc, they’ve got to do these kinds of things to bring in the $$$$$.