MusicEdge: Best of 2007

Nick Meador

IV. The (Good) Leftovers of 2007

Michigan’s Best

Hey, Michigan isn't a dying place after all!

1.  Matthew Dear – Asa Breed : Monotone vocals and cheeky beats  are the key to Dear's electronica. A great album for grooving with your headphones on, while everyone around you sits with solemn faces, trudging through their lives with no fun at all.

2. Chris Bathgate – A Cork Tale Wake : A voice that resembles Nick Drake, and plenty of acoustic guitar and piano, make this a fitting album for Michigan's sad

3. Great Lakes Myth Society – Compass Rose Bouquet : The folk band exhibits a more professional recording style this time around, with complex arrangements and a fuller sound.

Not Really an Album, But Still Dynamite

These were exempt from the top albums list for one or more reasons, but deserve attention nevertheless.

1. Broken Social Scene – Live At Radio Aligre FM In Paris EP : Available exclusively on the Arts & Crafts label web site, this actually contains 3 BSS songs and one each by Apostle of Hustle, Amy Millan and Jason Collett. Since all the creative Canadians are busy with their own little projects, BSS fans will surely eat this up.

2. Aloha – Light Works : Described by Polyvinyl as an EP that turned out longer than expected, this 7-track mini-album arrived in early December and is a great holiday listen.

3. Radiohead – In Rainbows, disc 2 : Instead of releasing two separate albums from the In Rainbows sessions (as they did with Kid A and Amnesiac), Radiohead is releasing this one as an accompanying EP to the real deal.

Best Album Covers

1.  Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? : As usual, Kevin Barnes' brother David did the artwork. According to the press release, he tried to recreate the various moods he experienced while listening, while creating six different complex, circular drawings.

2.  Radiohead – In Rainbows : There's a lot going on here, including a volcano and the title in various colors. It's as spectacular as the album, that's for sure.

3. Aloha – Light Works : This looks like a light bulb that was somehow constructed by blowing glass into the shape of a tree. It's lovely.

4. Menomena – Friend or Foe : To really appreciate this album cover, you have to see the vinyl casing up close. There's a sort of spin-wheel, so some of the spaces fill in with red when it turns. I'll bet the artist hates it when people buy the album in digital format.

5.  Architecture In Helsinki – Places Like This : No great significance to this one. It's just a really whacky, intricate cityscape.

Best Music Book

1. Dead Children Playing by Stanley Donwood and Dr. Tchock (aka Thom Yorke) : This pair has been responsible for the majority of Radiohead's album artwork, and this book displays tons of it. The most remarkable image is near the front -- a warehouse with the huge murals of original paintings. An added bonus is pages that describe the research process behind certain phases, like when they used real maps to create the artwork for "Hail To The Thief." Great eye candy through and through.

Best Music Movie

1. Before the Music Dies : Two regular guys set out to discover why the music industry is so rotten, and whether or not integrity and class will be elements of any music in the future. A MUST SEE FOR ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT MUSIC BEYOND FM RADIO AND MTV!!!

Questions or Comments? Contact Nick Meador at meadorni@msu.edu