Ohmpark’s Top 50 Best Albums Of 2007

2007 was an incredible year of music and there were so many albums I really liked that didn’t make this list. I noticed that most of the lists I pay attention to were very similar to one another this year as opposed to last year. Also, I’ve found myself in more of a disagreeance with those lists than last year. If there is any theme to be taken out of this list, I think it’s that I feel like too many great albums were underrated by the blogosphere elites, and that they were way in love with some albums I think are overrated. This list represents my personal assertions more so than the rest of the Ohmpark crew, but I worked hard to get every one’s opinions and influences in this thing. Feel free to comment on how much you hate or love it. I feel like every album on this is an essential one from last year, so go listen to some new music:

Click here to read the entire post…

Ohmpark Mixtape #3: My Favourite Songs Of 2007

The best ofs continue. Here are the songs I really dug this year, arranged in what i think is a great flowing hour and a half experience. I did cheat a little bit and included a few tracks from my best 2006 Albums of 2007 list, but these songs will always make me think of this year, so it’ll work. Enjoy:

The Shins : Wincing The Night Away : Sleeping Lessons

Midlake : The Trials Of Van Occupanther : Roscoe

The Cinematic Orchestra : Ma Fleur : To Build A Home

Blonde Redhead : 23 : Spring And by Summer Fall

Earlimart : Mentor Tormentor : Happy Alone

Wilco : Sky Blue Sky : Impossible Germany

Beach House : Beach House : Master of None

Low : Drums And Guns : Breaker

Parade : Answer Me : Booths

Of Montreal : Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? : The Past Is A Grotesque Animal

Deerhunter : Fluorescent Grey : Wash Off

Akron/Family : Love Is Simple : Don’t Be Afraid, You’re Already Dead

Snowden : Anti Anti : Anti Anti


Moorish idols : Moorish Idols : Why Are We Whispering

Phosphorescent : Pride : Wolves

Smashing Pumpkins : Zeigeist : Neverlost

Radiohead : In Rainbows : Reckoner

Marnie Stern : In Advance Of The Broken Arm : Patterns Of A Diamond Ceiling

Friday Free-Style

Listen up, I got a bunch of time sensitive info for you. If it currently before 10am as you read this, it is your last chance to buy Bjork tickets. The Klaxons are even opening.

Queens Of The Stone Age are going to be at The Tabernacle September 22nd. Tickets go presale today at 10am and officially go on sale tommorrow at 10am.

More tickets that go on sale today at 10am:

  • The New Pornographers at the Variety Playhouse October 30th
  • Rilo Kiley at the Variety Playhouse September 29th
  • Stars at the Variety Playhouse October 27th

If you got tickets to the Smashing Pumpkins shows at the Fox, You are twice as lucky because Explosions In The Sky are opening.

If you didn’t get tickets for that, there’s Of Montreal doing a halloween show in their hometown of Athens, Ga at the 40 Watt. I can’t find tickets online yet, but you’ll want to jump on them quick because this will definetly sellout.

The Coathangers are releasing their debut album September 4th.

Behold, the album cover to the new The Mars Volta record due out this year!

The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath

Les Savy Fav have an new album hitting stores September 18th.

Aesop Rock will be at the Masquerade on November 20th.

Deerhoof will be opening for Bloc Party in Nasheville, TN September 25th. Aw yeah, a Deerhoof video:

Weird new Blonde Redhead video:

Spoon on the Late Show:

Rilo Kiley video:

Iron And Wine covers Radiohead at Pitchfork Fest:

The White Stripes played a “one-note gig” in Canada. Yeah, check it out.

Interviews:

I leave you today with a The Besnard Lakes video:

Live Review: Blonde Redhead, Annuals (5-4-2007) Variety Playhouse

Last Friday night I celebrated being done with finals by catching this. We got there at ticket time and it was already fairly packed. Annuals came on first, and I would describe them as a poor man’s Arcade Fire with almost a jamband tinge to the sound. The front man, Adam Baker, looked like he was on mushrooms or something. The six-piece featured 2 full drum sets, a pair of drums for the lead guitarist, and even Adam Baker himself had a drum to beat on from time to time. Overall, the total sound seemed to be a little too schizophrenic for me; it seemed like people’s parts didn’t really blend together well. They were great for an opener, but I doubt that I would exert a ton of effort to go see them again. Here’s some pics from my phone:

Between the two bands, the Variety Playhouse actually dropped the curtains in front of the stage, which almost never happens. When the curtains opened, Blonde Redhead brought it full blast. The lighting they employed was really cool because it was so subtle and created a an interesting light “aura” for the band. Musically, it was hard for me to make out the vocals often times in the front where i was, but other than that, I was very impressed. The set was heavy on songs from 23, but I’ve actually been digging on that album the more I listen to it. I know it’s not quite as adventurous as their best work, but if you can overlook that, there’s some amazing material on it. The three-piece was spaced out far away from each other and they seemed to have a confident yet awkward stage presence, with guitarists Kazu Makino and Amedeo Pace pseudo-flirting with each other as they jammed out and watching drummer Simone Pace’s facial expressions were hilarious as he would get really into some entrancing rhythms. Kazu even had an enormous stuffed horse to sit on when playing keys. Overall, my first Blonde Redhead show was everything i hoped it would be.

Monday Mash-Up

It’s a big week for shows in Atlanta. First, tonight Sunset Rubdown will be at the Drunken Unicorn. You can listen to some recent live tracks from them here. Arcade Fire and The National will be at the Atlanta Civic Center tommorrow night. Thursday night From Exile will be at the Masquerade. Friday night Blonde Redhead and Annuals will be at the Variety Playhouse. Modest Mouse and Man Man will be at the Masquerade Music Park Saturday night. Here’s some tracks to get you in the mood:

The National : Brainy

From Exile : Cataclysm

Blonde Redhead : Spring And By Summer Fall

Annuals : Carry Around

Modest Mouse : Spitting Venom

Modest Mouse : Parting Of The Sensory

Man Man : Banana Ghost

Last weekend was the first time I’ve ever been to Inman Park Festival and it was pretty awesome. Here’s some photos:

There’s a couple new releases I’m excited about this week both from artists I’ve loved since I was a kid. I hope they don’t suck:



Here’s some interviews to read:

Here’s The Mars Volta on the Henry Rollins Show:

Day Of The Baphomets (part 1):

Day Of The Baphomets (part2):

Interview:



Tetragrammaton (part 1):

Tetragrammaton (part 2):

Video Of The Day: Blonde Redhead

Listen to Blonde Redhead’s new album “23″ now on myspace

Blonde Redhead’s new album “23″ arrives in stores next Tuesday. For now you can stream the entire thing on myspace.

Just go to:

Blonde Redhead myspace

Blonde Redhead is about to kick off their summer world tour and will be in Atlanta on Friday, May 4th at Variety Playhouse. Get tickets here:

Variety Playhouse Ticket Club

(You must sign up but trust me it’s better than supporting ticketbastard)

Blonde Redhead going brunette

April 10th, Blonde Redhead will release their seventh album, 23. The tracklisting will look like this:

1. 23
2. Dr. Strangeluv
3. The Dress
4. SW
5. Spring and by Summer Fall
6. Silently
7. Publisher
8. Heroine
9. Top Ranking
10. My Impure Hair

Blonde Redhead will also be in Altanta at the Variety Playhouse on May 4th. Buy tickets here.