Fernanda Alcantara: Singer-Songwriters of 2007

Posted by Fernanda Alcantara in Opinions on 12 20th, 2007 | no responses |

Bob Pollard10 – Robert Pollard – Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love
Bob Pollard was the leader and creative force behind Guided by Voices. Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love. It was released October 9, 2007 via Standard Gargoyle Decisions. Fifteen-hundred limited edition 180 gram vinyls were also released as a limited time bonus. The album leaked September 24, 2007.

09 – Chuck Ragan – Feast Or Famine

Chuck Ragan was one of the leaders of the punk rock band Hot Water Music. In 2006 Ragan launched a solo career playing folk music similar in tone to a former acoustic Hot Water Music side project called Rumbleseat. This year, he launched Los Feliz – Acoustic live record in a duo with Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio, but the 9th place goes to Feast Or Famine which was recorded at Mad Dog Studios in Burbank, California. It was produced by Ted Hutt, engineered by Ryan Mall and mixed by both Hutt and Mall. It was released in August 7, 2007.

08 – City And Colour – Live

Live is a live CD/DVD set from City and Colour, side project of Dallas Green, one of the vocalists and guitarists of the band Alexisonfire Until a couple of years ago, Dallas Green was better known as the dulcet voice of Alexisonfire. This year, 2007, Green performed live on the JUNOS, (Canada’s Grammys), taking home the award for Alternative Album of The Year.

Released in March 2007, City and Colour’s Live brought fans front row and center to experience the memorable moments of his performances. The combo CD/DVD package featured 13 heart-wrenching live tracks including a unique performance on piano of Alexisonfire’s fan-favourite Happiness by the Kilowatt.

07 – Jonah Matranga – And

Jonah Matranga is an old name known by all of us. He is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who has released a variety of solo material under both his own name and Onelinedrawing. He has previously been part of the bands Far and New End Original. His most recent band-related project was Gratitude. With help of fellow musicians Sam Siegler (Nightmare of You) and Ian Love (Cardia) to accompany him, Jonah brought us a great album, showing that he is a big musician, performer, player, and composer.

06 – Rocky Votolato – The Brag & Cuss

With songs like Whiskey Straight and Postcards from Kentucky, the album speaks of loneliness and heartache familiar to a man on the road. “Jack Daniels in one hand / Basic Light in the other / my two best friends for so long that I can’t even remember.” Like many great albums, this one needs time. You need several repetitions to feel how sensitive it is. Featuring James McAllister (Sufjan Stevens) on drums, Bill Herzog (Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter) on bass, Casey Foubert (Pedro the Lion) on electric guitar, banjo, mandolin and percussion, and Rick Steff (Cat Power, Hank Williams, Jr., etc – who joined the band remotely from Memphis) on Hammond b3, piano, and accordion. There’s a cohesion and grace and with this team, who dares?

05 – Rob Crow – Living Well

The cover shows him in front of his house with a cup of coffee, some Halloween pumpkins and wearing a shirt with a Pentagram. If that isn’t living well, then I’m a monkey’s aunt. Talking seriously, I loved this record. Actually, in my opinion, better than anything I’ve heard from Pinback this year. Living Well is an exceptional solo album that you should know about.

04 – Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger

If you ever find yourself standing in a record shop, wondering which of his efforts to try, you really won’t go wrong with this one.

03 – Bright Eyes – Cassadaga

Conor Oberst knows that he has to go somewhere, and he’s hoping that if he just keeps moving, where exactly that is will make itself clear. “Cassadaga might be just a premonition of a place you’re going to visit,” a psychic says to him in the opener, Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed). Is Cassadaga as good as Lifted? Nah. But it’s still pretty damn good. Whatever, listening Cleanse Song at a bus, going work earlier this year and paying attention os these words: “Don’t forget what you’ve learned/ All you give is returned/ And if life seems absurd/What you need is some laughter/ And a season to sleep/And a place to get clean/ Maybe Los Angeles,/Somewhere no one’s expecting” I thought about Tim Kasher.

It wouldn’t the first time that Conor talks about his friend on his songs: “Yeah, Tim, I heard your album /And it’s better than good /When we get off tour I think we should/Hang and black out together” (Bright Eyes – Nothing Gets Crossed Out). Being for Tim Kasher or not, Cleanse Song showing a shift in tone that lasts through the rest of the album, and it is my personal favorite.

02 – Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala

Kortedala refers to a neighborhood in Jens hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden – “a depressing suburban hell.” It also refers to a vague musical pop sound with hints of tropicalia that has been coming out of Gothenburg’s clubs the last few years. The album opens with And I Remember Every Kiss which is as powerful as an opener can be. The next song is Sipping On The Sweet Nectar, which samples an orchestral cover of Jimmy Webb’s By The Time I Get To Phoenix. My favorite song is Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig, which in Swedish means Maybe I’m In Love With You ( a Swedish friend told me about that).

Well, I fell in love with Jens Lekman songs this year. You must listen this record and surrender yourself to Swedish music. Please, watch this video.

10 – Kristofer Åström – Rainaway Town

Influenced by Elliott Smith and Neil Young, the Swedish Kristofer Åström stole my first place this year from Jens lekman in 2nd half of the game. Rainaway Town is more rock and more pop than his latest albuns. The album was recorded at Music-A-Matic in Gothenburg, Sweden. Produced by Kristofer and mixed by Johan Lindström. Guest appearances include Matthias Hellberg (Just A Little Insane) and the American singer/songwriter Maria Taylor (All In). Kent Norberg (It’s The Way) Johanna Färjhage (Blacked Out) and more artists. Beautiful and perfect.

Random Posts

No Comments »

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment