When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the cohesiveness of the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list, the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2006 and November 30, 2007. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album or albums break into my Top 20.
Update: This week Aesop Rock cracks the Top 10 with another excellent album, None Shall Pass, and M.I.A. slips into the top 20 with Kala, a bold and solid follow-up to her stunning debut Arular. As a result, Andrew Bird’s Armchair Apocrypha and Voxtrot’s self-titled album get bumped off the list.
1. Menomena Friend and Foe (Barsuk)
>>Watch Video Review
2. Bright Eyes Cassadaga (Saddle Creek)
>>Watch Video Review
3. Portugal. The Man Church Mouth (Fearless)
4. Patrick Park Everyone’s In Everyone (Curb Appeal)
5. Okkervil River The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)
6. Aesop Rock None Shall Pass (Definitive Jux)
7. Parts & Labor Mapmaker (Jagjaguwar)
8. Macromantics Moments in Movement (Kill Rock Stars) >>Watch Video Review
9. Youth Group Casino Twilight Dogs (Anti-)
>>Watch Video Review
10. The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee (Metro Blue/Blue Note)
11. Tim Fite Over the Counter Culture (Anti-)
12. Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare (Domino)
>>Watch Video Review
13. The National Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
14. Pharoahe Monch Desire (SRC/Universal Motown)
15. The Beauty Shop Crisis Helpline (Believe Music)
16. The Veils Nux Vomica (Rough Trade)
17. El-P I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (Definitive Jux)
>>Watch Video Review
18. Wilco Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)
19. M.I.A. Kala (XL)
20. The Shins Wincing the Night Away (Sub Pop)
Additional Video Reviews (from former Top 20 Albums):
Nine Inch Nails Year Zero (Nothing/Interscope)
>>Watch Video Review
Feist The Reminder (Cherry Tree/Interscope)
>>Watch Video Review
Kings of Leon Because of the Times (RCA)
>>Watch Video Review
Dave
Good afternoon,
I emailed Wanda at 3wk earlier with a similar email, found you through a link on that site.
My name is Dylan I work with 50records, an independent record label out of Minneapolis, Minn. Our most recent release is a band by the name of “White Light Riot”. Their album just came out on the 21st, available digitally and physically at major and indie retailers. They are a solid Indie band, great group of guys. They have done well with college and non-commercial radio. They are compared to and have played with a lot of bands on 3wk.
I digg the album reviews you have up.
Give White Light Riot a listen and let me know what you think! Honestly!
Below are a few links to give you a little background information.
White Light Riot / digital one-sheet:
http://www.50records.com/digitalpress/digitalpress_LP.html
(imeem focus tracks: 3 Out of Sight, 8 Midway Souvenirs)
Websites:
http://www.myspace.com/whitelightriotmusic
http://www.whitelightriot.com
http://www.50records.com
I will mail you a physical copy of the album at your request. If you would like any other information, just ask!
Feel free to contact me at your convenience. (phone/email)
Thank you for your time.
Cheers,
-Dylan
–
Dylan Ohm
GM/ Dir. of New Media
50 Entertainment Inc.,
300 First Ave. N Ste 110
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612.465.8300 | Office
612.465.8307 | Fax
Hi there,
I’m a singer/songwriter who has written a song that I wish to record and have the instrumentals added by other musicians here in Minneapolis while I’m here visiting the city for a short while.
I have gone for 5 months trying to coordinate musicians together to accomplish the finished composition of some songs here in Minneapolis, but literally due to the economy, time conflicts, etc. I have not been able to get a single effort to bring all the people together so we can finish composing an entire single song, which has hampered my ultimate goal:
To finalize the written lyrics, sheet music, etc. so my attorneys and I can copyright the music, with all musicians who worked on it being given proper credit, royalties, etc. as I have contacts with management of very famous artists (like Ari Gold) who were at one time interested in receiving a catalogue of my original copyrighted music for their artists’ consideration, but so far the process has been impossible without the logistical abilities of a Record Company like yours.
What I want to know, after this long explanation, is if you would be interested in working with me to get my song(s) recorded, finished as I’ve mentioned, and copyrighted and then you can do whatever you want with it, as I am a singer/songwriter, and I can always write another song later on after getting more established in the music industry, as it’s a system in this business. I would rather not sacrifice my ability to write good songs and get published, heard etc. for the sake of maintaining my sole proprietorship/ownership of all the music, which would make my being published/heard impossible to begin with, so if you’re interested in my song(s) I’d like to talk with you and meet with you about the original material.
I see this as a fun thing for me and I’m a good singer/songwriter, so I’m willing to work mutually with your Record Company to finalize my music and get it heard. If you can make millions on it, I’ll be elated and we can always do more music over time. Thanks for your time and I appreciate your serious interest.