that year-end creep... what 2007 releases should I catch up on?

[Slosh]

Well, I kinda changed my mind about The Shepherd's Dog; it's even better than I originally thought. Take Our Endless Numbered Days as your base, then add some Woven Hand to flesh out the sound, next toss in a pinch of Califone ambiance to make things just that much more interesting, and finally fold in a dash of Calexico flourishes. This is the recipe for awesome! I couldn't imagine anything toppling Armchair Apocrypha from my #1 album of 2007 ranking but this one just may do it, or at least be a very, very close #2. If you're not put off by Sam Beam's vocal style go out and get this now. You can thank me three or four spins later

NP:

[Davey]

Well, I kinda changed my mind about The Shepherd's Dog; it's even better than I originally thought. Take Our Endless Numbered Days as your base, then add some Woven Hand to flesh out the sound, next toss in a pinch of Califone ambiance to make things just that much more interesting, and finally fold in a dash of Calexico flourishes. This is the recipe for awesome!

Nice description. I've heard a couple songs and really like it, but haven't been motivated yet to pull the trigger. Almost headed up to Oakland last night to see the Califone / Iron and Wine show, but tough week at work, and tickets were $30+, and a pretty long drive, and kind of inconvenient location (although beautiful theater), and would've preferred the billing reversed to get an extended Califone set since I like them all lot more, and just getting old .... but still wished I'd gone. Only so many chances you get to see a great show like that probably was.

I picked up the new Burial CD recently and have been liking that a lot. Kind of that dark, hard trip hop like Tricky used to do. But I'd imagine you'd have to be predisposed to liking it, to like it much. Still love all my usual suspects, not too much this year I hadn't heard before. If you don't have it yet, get that vinyl issue of the last Califone record with the hand silkscreened cover. Last year, I know, but still sounds great. And if you don't have any Caribou, I'd pick up the 2-cd reissue of Up In Flames. But the new one is very choice. Really makes me feel good. Love the Magnolia Electric Co box set. Maybe not all 4 discs equally, but when Molina is riding that dark horse, it's pretty special.

[Slosh]

I'll have to settle for Lame v0 versions of Andorra and Up In Flames for the time being. Won't get a chance to hit a record store until next weekend . . . . maybe

I'll have to sate that vinyl jonse soon though and I could see some Califone recs in my future. In the meantime I guess I'll just have to live with some of my old Calexico LPs to scratch that 16-track itch (not that Calexico and Califone sound much alike)

[Slosh]

Oh, I guess that Caribou rec wasn't meant for me. I didn't get into Up In Flames when it was by the artist formerly known as Manitoba either. Good thing there are places in cyberspace where you can try before you buy

Funny though that I do like (most of) Neon Golden and Kid A, so it's not the genre per se that rubs me wrong.

NP: