Free mix of Scene & Heard's favorite songs of 2007. (zip file of 19 mp3s)
It's tough to say where music is at right now. There isn't really one landmark scene that has velcroed itself to this decade's generation. Instead, the musical landscape has settled into this big boiling crock pot of everything that was once big and exciting, with some minor hits here and there, but nothing sweeping the world up into an all-engulfing frenzy storm of noise and excitement. Think about it. When was the last time you got truly excited about a song you just heard?
The closest mainstream has gotten is the slick electronic pop/hip hop storm fanned by stars like Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Kanye--but all they're really doing is creating aural collages of rock, funk, punk, soul, r&b and hip hop; or pop with more ingredients and spice. Nowhere is there a song from some young unknown with a rallying cry to round up a generation of young souls looking for that voice that speaks directly to them. Most people making music today are just trying to 'be cool' or look cool. What we need are some new loud songs that make some real noise. Ones that crunch, bang, smash, and clobber everything your parents value. Songs that don't attempt to "be" cool, but just ARE cool.
Compiled here is a mix of some of Scene & Heard's favorite songs released in 2007. This is what Scene & Heard sounded like all year long. They aren't exactly the sort of songs I've been talking about here, but they're all steps in the right direction. They're all songs that share this same hunger and fire, from across all genres. From pop to hip hop to rock to gentler acoustic ditties. These are songs that want to shatter the world of music into billions of tiny little pieces, even if they didn't do it this year.
I've uploaded all 19 songs as a whole zip file for your convenience. Enjoy. Share your thoughts in the comments. (all songs are used here for promotional purposes. If you like what you hear, please support the artist, and buy their stuff. If you represent the band or label these songs come from and wish to see them removed, please email me and they will be removed from the mix immediately.)
1.
LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
Hands down, anthem of the year, if not the decade. It's like the "Stairway To Heaven" of 21st century dance funk.
2.
Against Me! - New Wave
What sort of fiery underground punk band signs to a major label and flips off anyone crying "sellout" with lyrics like "We can be the bands we want to hear"? Green Day and The Clash come to mind. This song is 2007's rallying cry for something new.
3.
Modest Mouse - Dashboard
Somehow, Isaac Brock enlisted ex Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr for the new Mouse album. What resulted was a fiery and bombastic album with excellent songs like this one about everything going down the flusher, but things will be okay because we still got our music.
4.
Spoon - Underdog
There is no one writing catchier pop music in the indie music scene than Spoon. And this brassed up swinger is proof why.
5.
Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
This anthemic song will ignite you. This could have fit on U2's Joshua Tree and may have even stolen the show. This group could become one of the most important bands of the rest of the decade.
6.
The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
This is one of those songs that gets everyone shouting along in unison, waving big glass mugs of beer around when sitting at the bar with their mates. But even if you're sober, it makes you feel drunk.
7.
Mark Ronson with Amy Winehouse - Valerie
Vintage soul made a little comeback this here ala tabloid trainwreck Amy Winehouse. But her best cut came from Mark Ronson's record of covers by reworking The Zutons' rocking anthem into a brassy funkfest of awesome.
8.
Brand New - (Fork And Knife)
This was released in the form of digital single this year and is one of my favorite tracks to come from their "Devil and God..." sessions last year, but you can see why it was left off the album; Too beautiful a song to be on such a dark album.
9.
Minus The Bear - White Mystery
With their latest album, "Planet Of Ice" The Bear did more than write songs about being cold and lonely. They actually make you FEEL cold, and a little lonely. Some of the most beautifully haunting songwriting of the year, right here.
10.
Cassino - Old Year
This album was completely self-released, and is truly one of the year's hidden gems. And songs like this upbeat one are proof why.
11.
Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home
Who knew the wolf-like howler of Thrice had some Johnny Cash in him? There may be no other song in existance that lyrically illustrates the ultimate definition of love.
12.
The Redwalls - Game of Love
This song gave me the same feeling "Hey Jude" gave me when I first heard it. I shouldn't have to say anything else about it.
13.
SloMo - How Do We Win The War?
One of the year's most memorable songs came from one of Philly's most dynamic groups, led by slide-guitarist wizard, Slo-Mo and rapper Mic Wrecka. Wrecka usually handles vocals, but Slo-Mo took over on this one for this yearning gem of a song.
14.
Kanye West - Everything I Am
While there are lots of great fun songs to pick from Kanye's catalog, this slower laid back jam is as honest and definitive as they come. It's a tribute song, to everything he isn't, because that's what made him what he is. When a performer can say that, and make a beautiful song out of it, that's when he's gone from performer, to artist.
15.
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
But don't worry, I didn't forget about hip hop. Shows hip hop can still be wholesome, awesome, and frightening. As opposed to lame, substanceless, and a complete mockery of all hip hop was when it first blew up.
16.
Radiohead - Reckoner
It was good to hear Radiohead throw in some of the most propulsive rock songs they've written in years on the headline-making "In Rainbows." But it was this gorgeous little diamond that stole the show. Who else could write a song that makes you ache, and stand in sheer amazement at it's lush perplexity and beauty.
17.
Meredith Bragg - New York
I heard an earlier version of this song on a compilation 2 years ago, and I began an immediate Bragg fan. It finally found a home on his solo record this year, and it's just as perfect now as it was then.
18.
Bright Eyes - I Must Belong Somewhere
I began this year wanting to be anywhere but here. So then, I went to Europe for a month. Then I came home and made plans to move to Florida. And before moving, I drove my brother out to Colorado and spent the 2 following weeks on the road, living in hotel rooms and my car. Then things fell through with Florida and I ended up back here, at home. It was an amazing journey of a summer, but it taught me that everybody and everything belong somewhere. I think I fit pretty nicely around here. So here is where I'm staying. For now, anyway. And this song helped me along the way.
19.
Wilco - What Light
Bummed? This song will change that.
Labels: Aesop Rock, Against Me, Amy Winehouse, Arcade Fire, Best Songs of 2007, Brand New, Bright Eyes, Fratellis, Kanye West, LCD Soundsystem, Mix, modest mouse, Radiohead, Redwalls, Slo Mo, Wilco
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