When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. We’re nearing the end of March, so enough quality albums have been released to warrant a Top 20 of 2007…so far. To be eligible for this list, the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2006 and November 30, 2007:
1. Menomena Friend and Foe (Barsuk)
2. Macromantics Moments in Movement (Kill Rock Stars)
3. Youth Group Casino Twilight Dogs (Anti-)
4. The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee (Metro Blue/Blue Note)
5. Tim Fite Over the Counter Culture (Anti-)
6. The Beauty Shop Crisis Helpline (Believe Music)
7. The Shins Wincing the Night Away (Sub Pop)
8. Andrew Bird Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum)
9. Elvis Perkins Ash Wednesday (XL)
10. Arcade Fire Neon Bible (Merge)
11. Maria Taylor Lynn Teeter Flower (Saddle Creek)
12. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Living With the Living (Touch and Go)
13. Ligion External Affairs (Maple Jam/Bellum)
14. Peter Bjorn and John Writer’s Block (Almost Gold)
15. VietNam VietNam (Kemado)
16. Rob Crow Living Well (Temporary Residence Ltd.)
17. Team Shadetek Pale Fire (SOUND iNK)
18. Sarah Shannon City Morning Song (Minty Fresh)
19. Nas Hip Hop Is Dead (Def Jam)
20. Smoke or Fire This Sinking Ship (Fat Wreck Chords)
Where are you at on the new 8ball and UKG?
Ah. Blogging is hard. I mean MJG, of course.
I want your take on Black Milk and the new Devin the Dude, too.
I guess you had UGK on the brain. Their new one’s coming out in May. I’m liking what I’ve heard from that so far.
Devin the Dude is always great for a few sedated sex rhymes. I just get a little sleepy with a whole album of his mellow stuff. But I definitely like “She Want That Money,” “Hope I Don’t Get Sick A This” and “What A Job” off the new one, Waiting to Inhale.
8Ball & MJG - I’m not so crazy about the new stuff. It’s mediocre for them. Thanks to Three 6 Mafia’s “Stay Fly,” they’re profile is bigger than ever. But I don’t think they stepped up.
Black Milk - I’m liking it. Review coming soon.