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November 30, 2007
Best of the Best
This is my favorite time of the music calendar. And not just because of the ever-present holiday music. It’s “Best of” List Time!
Everybody has their own definition of “best”, and as a result, two lists will hardly ever look alike. Unless, of course, you’re comparing vertically, from one year to the next. Then patterns begin to emerge, sometimes drastically so. Comparing Spin’s 2006 list with Rolling Stone’s from the same year probably will only reveal some obvious similarities. However, when comparing Spin’s 2002 list with Spin’s 2003 list, you find that they are systematically similar. For instance, both have albums by the White Stripes at #1. (Kanye went back-to-back in ’04-’05.) I guess people’s individual tastes don’t change too drastically form year to year, so neither do magazines’.
That is why the Rolling Stones will always chart well in Rolling Stone. It’s why Pitchfork will always continue to hype bands they “broke”. And it’s why New Music Express finds the Best! Band! Ever! every single year. Year-to-year change isn’t that big of a deal. But that doesn’t make the listing season any less fun, so in the spirit of this – what the heck – holiday, let me present to you the First Annual Merry Swankster “Best of” List Time! Preview. Remember kids, this is for entertainment purposes only. MerrySwankster.com is not responsible for any losses incurred by gambling based on these predictions.
So how’d I do it? Well, I chose ten different magazines and websites, based primarily on the frequency that I read them. Each media outlet is graded, so to speak, using the following rubric:
Will Be: This is what I predict the particular website or magazine will name the best album of 2007.
Should Be: Contrary to what they will pick, this is the album that each source should pick, if all were fair and right in the world.
Sleeper: This pick might not seem logical, but don’t count it out. This space isn’t necessarily for something that will be #1, but the named album will chart higher than you probably expect.
Where’s?: At first, this would seem like a no-brainer inclusion, but it probably got over-thought, over-analyzed and, ultimately, left out.
O-VER-RAY-TED: This site or mag loves it, but most others don’t, and likely neither do I. In any event, this album will place higher than it really deserves.
Remember, these are not my selections, per say, rather what I think each of the following sources should and will name based on the tendencies, readerships and mission statements. Let’s start with a familiar one:
Pitchforkmedia
Will Be: Deerhunter, Cryptograms – There was a rumor goin’ ‘round the internets back in 2004 that the actual writer’s poll over at P4K voted Animal Collective’s Sung Tongs as the year’s best, but site creator/owner Ryan Schreiber wanted a more traditional indie rock album to take the top spot and used executive privilege to put Arcade Fire’s Funeral at number one. I have no idea if there is even an ounce of truth to that, but operating under the assumption that it’s legit, I can see a similar switch-a-roo taking place this year. Conspiracy theories aside, the selection of Deerhunter would follow suit for Pitchfork, which has three other times this decade picked a rock band’s debut album as number one (the Rapture, Arcade Fire and Interpol).
Should Be: M.I.A., Kala – The above selection would drop what is, in my mind, a quintessential Pitchfork album, into the number two slot. The same sort of thing happened last year, I think, when TV on the Radio, which was probably the more indicative pick, ended up at number two behind the Knife.
Sleeper: Jay-Z, American Gangster – The folks over at Pitchfork loves them some H.O.V.A., as evidenced by his albums occupying two spots in their top 35 of this decade (so far). After absolutely panning Kingdom Come, the two sides bounce back with a much better album and a greater, rightly placed appreciation.
Where’s?: Pig Destroyer, Phantom Limb – In their review of this album, Pitchfork suggested that this might be the metal album of the year. Even though it’s technically classified as grindcore, I wonder if the website will hold serve on this one, and at least give it a 41-50 spot as a nod to the genre.
O-VER-RAY-TED: James Blackshaw, The Cloud of Unknowing – Pitchfork frequently has some very nice things to say about experimental instrumentalists, I don’t really have much opinions on the matter, but this album was far too much of an outlier to warrant serious consideration.
Entertainment Weekly
Will Be: MIA, Kala – EW often chooses it’s albums of the year seemingly at random. (I was pleasantly surprised when New Pirate Material took the prize a few years ago.) I’m not suggesting that Kala would be at all undeserving, I just can’t imagine anyone at the magazine having actually listened to it.
Should Be: LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver – Since James Murphy essentially makes kick-ass commercial soundtracks, and EW is one big advertisement, this pick would make perfect sense to me.
Sleeper: Panda Bear, Person Pitch – It’s off-the-wall enough to fit the criteria outlined above, but a lack of sing-a-long-ability will hurt its ranking.
Where’s?: Kanye West, Graduation – EW loves stars that are bigger than their music, but the magazine really hated on West’s third album in their first crack at it.
O-VER-RAY-TED: Me’Shell NdegeOchello, The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams – This album got top grading from EW, and it hardly got mentioned anywhere else.
The Onion A.V. Club
Will Be: The National, Boxer – The OVAC knows their roots of modern American rock’n’roll, and they loved Boxer from hello.
Should Be: Caribou, Andorra – Digging even deeper into the American r’n’r canon, Caribou’s highly praised Beach Boys update has more of an artistic quality the AV Club cherishes to it than does the album that will win.
Sleeper: Band of Horses, Cease to Begin – This sort of powerful, guitar-heavy countyish rocker will chart well.
Where’s?: Iron & Wine, The Shepherd’s Dog – In their review, the AV Club called Sam Beam’s latest, “gimmicky.” That sort of slap doesn’t generally lead to year end recognition. It’s a shame because like the three albums listed above, Dog is one that ages well on the listener.
O-VER-RAY-TED: Oakley Hall, I’ll Follow You – The latest from the prolific Brooklyn-based alt-country band has its moments, but it loses flavor after only a few listens.
New Music Express
Will Be: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible – In their review of Bible, NME namedrops R.E.M., the Flaming Lips, Bright Eyes, Mercury Rev, Marvin Gaye and the Clash. Either they hold it in pretty high regard, or they didn’t actually listen to the album.
Should Be: Amy Winehouse, Back to Black – Is it wrong of me to lump Winehouse onto the same dungheap with Lilly Allen and that other English girl who “raps”?
Sleeper: Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare – For as long as A. Monkeys wishes to release albums, NME will keep a warm seat reserved near the top.
Where’s?: Burial, Untrue – Everywhere I turn, this evolved dubstepper is praised; don’t know if that translates into chart interest in the UK, though.
O-VER-RAY-TED: Killers, Sawdust – The British music press seems less disinclined to praise b-side compilations than is the prudish American press.
Rolling Stone
Will Be: Bruce Springsteen, Magic – For two reasons: 1. It’s a Bruce Springsteen album. 2. It’s Rolling Stone.
Should Be: The National, Boxer – RS loves newer bands that sound like combinations of older bands they already love. R.E.M., meet U2. This is assuming, of course, that Rolling Stone has any interest whatsoever in even appearing to give a shit anymore.
Sleeper: MIA, Kala – This album is such a juggernaut, I don’t believe even a moss-covered magazine like this one can deny it.
Where’s?: Frog Eyes, Tears of the Valedictorian – Sensing a theme yet? Tears contains some of the best crazy-ass Guitar Hero soloing I’ve ever heard come out of the indie world. Serious, Zeppelin-esque, classic rock stuff. If Carey Mercer didn’t sing like a blue-footed boobie, you’d be hearing “Bushels” for the rest of your life during the weekday drive at five.
O-VER-RAY-TED: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand – This is an excellent album title. It’s no Ride a Rock Horse, but still, awesome.
Spin
Will Be: MIA, Kala – Spin has a recent history of choosing the album after an artist’s breakout album as their yearly favorite. (See: Late Registration, White Blood Cells) On top of that, M.I.A. is an absolute world-killer, equal parts talent and image – which is an angle this magazine simply adores.
Should Be: Radiohead, In Rainbows – At the close of 2000, Spin chose “your computer” as the #1 album of the year, the rationale being something along the lines of, “you can make a playlist of your favorite songs on WinAmp (or whatever), and to you, that would be better than any other album.” I suppose “your computer” qualifies as an album the way Spin’s rationalization qualifies as logic. Left to sort it out in the lower numbers were Kid A, Ágætis byrjun and The Moon and Antarctica. By choosing In Rainbows, Spin can simultaneously compensate for that cop-out and stay true to quasi-rebellious form by picking an album of the year based solely on its tricky marketing ploy.
Sleeper: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible. See above explanation for M.I.A. Of course, Win Butler just graced the mag’s December cover, so I wouldn’t bet on the back-to-back.
Where’s?: A Place to Bury Strangers, s/t – Spin loves the shoegazing, and frequently will name-drop artists like My Bloody Valentine and the Jesus and Mary Chain, so I would think they’d hold these torch carriers in higher regard.
O-VER-RAY-TED: Against Me!, New Wave – Spin has been pimping this album since its release, even giving it a cover shout-out as “the best rock album of the year.” It’s better than most people would probably like to admit, a good punk album in a down year for the genre, but it doesn’t deserve the top-five spot it’ll likely receive.
eMusic
Will Be: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible – The world’s best pay music site has been riding the AF coattails since about two months before Bible even came out. Further, it has been one of eMusic’s better sellers for the entire year – the site isn’t going to just ignore that little caveat.
Should Be: The National, Boxer – Not only was this a bit hit for eMusic, but it even dragged Alligator (the National’s previous album) onto the most downloaded list. And besides, AF is a little too well known to truly embody eMusic’s m.o.
Sleeper: Paul McCartney, Memory Almost Full – It was kind of a surprise when the Walrus decided to release his album without a major. eMusic won’t leave this huge name off of their list.
Where’s?: the White Stripes, Icky Thump – The first Stripes album released on a major label, and thus not available on eMusic, got barely a mention from the website.
O-VER-RAY-TED: Taylor Swift, s/t – Contemporary country radio hitmaker that just so happened to not come from a traditional Nashville label. eMusic won’t ignore the chart and radio success.
Stereogum
Will Be: Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga – Of the sources on this list, this is the one I know the least about. But in the times I have visited over the past year, Spoon seems to always be around, especially in the “Heavy Rotation” section.
Should Be: Spoon – Since there are less people contributing to this list than any of the others here, I’m betting they get it right.
Sleeper: Wilco, Sky Blue Sky – I don’t know if anyone likes SBS quite as much as the Gummers.
Where’s?: Okkervil River, The Stage Names – While OR certainly seems like the sort of band that the folks at Stereogum would love, and in fact the site does serve as a sort of unofficial Will Sheff soapbox at times, there isn’t much direct praise for this album. Not sure why.
O-VER-RAY-TED: Kings of Leon, Because of the Times – I really, really want to like Kings of Leon. They’ve got at least two tracks that are verifiable country-rock stompers in “the Bucket” and “Red Morning Light”. It just seems that they can’t put it together for an entire album. Stereogum doesn’t seem to find that problem, however.
Popmatters
Will Be: Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga – It seems that most people I’ve talked to, as well as most of the outlets I’ve read, intimate that 5Ga represents Spoon's best work. I don’t agree with this claim – I find it a little uneven – but anytime a well respected band gets praise for newer work, you can count on them showing up high on year end lists. That, and for as long as I have read it, Popmatters has always been pretty open-faced when it comes to their appreciation of this band.
Should Be: Okkervil River, the Stage Names – No matter the specific subject matter (music, film, television, comics, video games, etc.) the reviews on Popmatters often tend to focus on the writing that is involved in the project. So what more logical choice for album of the year than a record that focuses so heavily on song writing? The metacognition that abounds in the Stage Names reflects this websites frequent emphasis.
Sleeper: New Pornographers, Challengers – Can’t really ever count out the Pornographers when it comes to this website.
Where’s?: The Federation, It’s Whateva – Just very recently, PM offered up some gushing praise for this unheralded Bay area hip-hop album. Sometimes with sites like these that have so many contributing writers you need a field guide just to keep abreast, you get rogue superlatives. I’m not sure if this album is one of those cases or not.
O-VER-RAY-TED: Miranda Lambert, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend or Patty Griffin, Children Running Through – Liking to keep it’s list good and eclectic, I wouldn’t put it past Popmatters to overrate one of these albums in re-evaluation. It’s been a rather weak year in country music (ba-dump-bump!), but these two albums were fairly well received.
Merry Swankster
Will Be: MIA, Kala – In an alternate universe with alternate commercial radio, this album would be the Whitney of today, doling out charting hit after charting hit.
Should Be: Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna are You the Destroyer? – 2007 has been the year of Of, as far as the blogosphere seems to be concerned, and MS fell in line right at the onset. You don’t see wire-to-wire #1’s very often, but this one probably deserves it.
Sleeper: Anything done by Bradford Cox – Are you kidding me? Dude has been ALL OVER this site over the past 365.
Where’s?: Daft Punk, Alive 2007 – There has been much prime Friday afternoon webspace dedicated to this very band doing this very thing. But on second thought, I don’t even know if live albums are eligible, and I work here.
O-VER-RAY-TED: the National, Boxer – Carried by my votes, no doubt.
Posted by Randall Monty at November 30, 2007 09:03 PM
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Comments
Very funny.
Posted by: Eduardo at December 2, 2007 04:10 PM
fantastic reading, this post. seriously. love it.
Posted by: EF Matt at December 5, 2007 06:53 PM
Update #1: Onion AV Club
I said it will be: The National, Boxer
They said: #2
Result: L
I said it should be: Caribou, Andorra
They said: Not on the list!
Result: L
I said sleeper: Band of Horses, Cease to Begin
They said: #5
Result: W
I said where’s?: Iron & Wine, The Shepherd’s Dog
They said: #25
Result: L
I said overrated: Oakley Hall, I'll Follow You
They said: Not on the List!
Result: L
Record so far: 1-4
Posted by: Randall Monty at December 16, 2007 11:43 PM
Update #2: Spin
I said it would be: MIA, Kala
They said: 5
Result: A close L.
I said it should be: Radiohead, In Rainbows
They said: 6
Result: Another close L.
I said sleeper: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible.
They said: 2
Result: W
I said where’s?: A Place to Bury Strangers, s/t
They said: Not on the list...
Result: W
I said O-VER-RAY-TED: Against Me!, New Wave
They said: #1!
Result: A resounding W!
Record so far: 5-5 (Upon league review, calling BoH a sleeper for the Onion AV is a W.)
Posted by: Randall Monty at December 17, 2007 02:09 PM
Update #3 Rolling Stone, Stereogum & PopMatters
Rolling Stone
I said it will be: Bruce Springsteen, Magic
They said: #2
Result: Last second loss!
I said it should be: The National, Boxer
They said: Worse than Britney! (Although don't count it out for next year's list. RS does that.)
I said sleeper: MIA, Kala
They said: #1
I said where’s?: Frog Eyes, Tears of the Valedictorian
They said: Not on the list... that's a W, folks.
I said O-VER-RAY-TED: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand
They said: #24!
Stereogum
I said will be and should be: Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
They said: #4 Two losses for the price of one!
I said sleeper: Wilco, Sky Blue Sky
They said: A respectable 18.
I said where’s?: Okkervil River, The Stage Names
They said: 10; I guess I underestimated the Gummies.
I said O-VER-RAY-TED: Kings of Leon, Because of the Times
They said: #29, and no other publication was even close.
Popmatters
I said will be: Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
They said: 19... big, fat L.
I said should be: Okkervil River, the Stage Names
They said: 39. Judges say this is a win because Pop severely underrated OR.
I said sleeper: New Pornographers, Challengers
They said: A Syracuse-inspired 44. Chalk up another L.
I said where’s?: The Federation, It’s Whateva
They said: Nope! Where's the conviction, guys?
I said O-VER-RAY-TED: Miranda Lambert, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend or Patty Griffin, Children Running Through
They said: #2, #23
Record after 5: 15-11
Posted by: Randall Monty at December 17, 2007 02:35 PM
With Devendorf's season-ending injury, 15-11 might be a respectable record for SU come mid-Feb. Ok, back to your regularly scheduled programming...
Posted by: Sebastian at December 17, 2007 06:51 PM
Update #4: emusic and Pitchfork
eMusic
I said will be: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
They said: #3 - L.
I said should be: The National, Boxer
They said: #5 - W.
I said sleeper: Paul McCartney, Memory Almost Full
They said: Nope. L.
I said where’s?: the White Stripes, Icky Thump
They said: Nope. W.
I said O-VER-RAY-TED: Taylor Swift, s/t
They said: Not on the list.
Pitchforkmedia
I said will be: Deerhunter, Cryptograms
They said: #14. Loss.
I said should be: M.I.A., Kala
They said: #3. I'm calling this one a tie.
I said sleeper: Jay-Z, American Gangster
They said: 13 (Another tie.)
I said where’s?: Pig Destroyer, Phantom Limb
They said: Nowhere near the list.
I said O-VER-RAY-TED: James Blackshaw, The Cloud of Unknowing
They said: #34. W.
This time: 4-4-2
Overall record after 7: 19-15-2
Posted by: Randall Monty at December 23, 2007 12:50 PM
Entertainment Weekly
I said will Be: MIA, Kala
They said: #6, L.
I said should Be: LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
They said: #7, W.
I said sleeper: Panda Bear, Person Pitch
They said: Nope, L.
I said Where’s?: Kanye West, Graduation
They said: Nope, W!
I said O-VER-RAY-TED: Me’Shell NdegeOchello, The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams
They said: Not overrated enough. Loss.
New Music Express
I said Will Be: Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
They said: Fourth. Close, but no cigar.
I said Should Be: Amy Winehouse, Back to Black
They said: #16 of LAST year. What a screw-up! This loss counts double
I said Sleeper: Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare
They said: #2. Close enough for me!
I said Where’s?: Burial, Untrue
They said: Not even in the top 50. Let's call this one a draw.
I said O-VER-RAY-TED: Killers, Sawdust
They said: Nowhere. Should have known, Kings of Leon!
And the Grandaddy of them all...
Merry Swankster
I said Will Be: MIA, Kala
We said: #2... so close. If I had waited until after the top songs list, then I would have guessed LCD.
I said Should Be: Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna are You the Destroyer?
We said: #3 How'd we screw this one up? Probably my fault.
I said Sleeper: Anything done by Bradford Cox
We said: #4, W.
I said Where’s?: Daft Punk, Alive 2007
We said: Apparently, there are "rules" prohibiting this from making the list. Ridiculous. We all heard "Nude", like, a decade ago, but it made our singles list.
I said O-VER-RAY-TED: the National, Boxer
We Said: #8... and for reasons I predicted, too!
This time: 7-7-1
Overall final record: 28-22-3. Not bad!
Posted by: Randall Monty at January 7, 2008 11:44 AM
2 out of 6 of us Of Montreal as the #1 so that should count for something
Posted by: Sebastian at January 8, 2008 02:15 PM
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