Coming Soon [Reviews]...And Looking Back At 2007

In the next few weeks look for the Best of 2008 Music entry as well as better late than never reviews of the Andrew Bird and Decemberists shows this fall.

To get into that end-of-the-year, listing state of mind, here is a look at my Best of 2007 List, ranked in four tiers:

*TOP 10 of 2007*

1. WILCO - Sky Blue Sky
2. The NATIONAL - Boxer
3. BON IVER - For Emma, Forever Ago
4. OKKERVIL RIVER - The Stage Names
5. KINGS Of LEON - Because Of The Times
6. PANDA BEAR - Person Pitch
7. SPOON - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
8. ARCADE FIRE - Neon Bible
9. BAND Of HORSES - Cease To Begin
10. ANDREW BIRD - Armchair Apocrypha

...followed closely by (and some of these albums, with another year of perspective, could be exchanged with some of the top ten):

*EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
*RADIOHEAD - In Rainbows
*THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE QUEEN - S/T
*RYAN ADAMS- Easy Tiger
*PETER, BJORN AND JOHN - Writer’s Block
*MATTHEW GOOD - Hospital Music
*THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - Challengers
*JASON ISBELL - Sirens Of The Ditch
*MODEST MOUSE - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
*THE TWILIGHT SAD - Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters
*GLEN HANSARD & MARKETA IRGLOVA - Once [Soundtrack]
*EDDIE VEDDER - Into The Wild [Soundtrack]
*BLOC PARTY - A Weekend In The City
*DR. DOG - We All Belong
*BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE - Presents: Kevin Drew [Spirit If...]
*NICOLE ATKINS - Neptune City

...with honorable mention to:

*WHITE RABBITS - Fort Nightly
*THE SHINS - Wincing The Night Away
*LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - Sound of Silver
*GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS - Ongiara
*SHOUT OUT LOUDS - Our Ill Wills
*BEIRUT - The Flying Club Cup
*INTERPOL - Our Love To Admire
*STARS OF THE LID - And Their Refinement Of The Decline
*FEIST - The Reminder
*DEAN & BRITTA - Back Numbers
*THE WEAKERTHANS - Reunion Tour
*LOW - Drums And Guns
*AlBERT HAMMOND, JR. - Yours To Keep
*IRON & WINE - The Shepherd’s Dog

...and also of note:

*JOSE GONZALEZ - In Our Nature
*JOSH RITTER - The Historical Conquests Of...
*JOHN VANDERSCLICE - Emerald City
*ART BRUT - It’s A Bit Complicated
*BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB - Baby 81
*JENS LEKMAN - Night Falls Over Kortedala
*M83 - Digital Shades [Vol. I]
*KANYE WEST - Graduation
*LILY ALLEN - Alright, Still
*BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Magic
*ROGUE WAVE - Asleep At Heaven’s Gate
*COCONUT RECORDS - Nighttiming
*CHRIS BATHGATE - A Cork Tale Wake
*M.I.A. - Kala
*STARS - In Our Bedroom After The War
*ST. VINCENT - Marry Me
*THE AUTUMN DEFENSE - S/T
*THE GO! TEAM - Proof Of Youth
*CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH - Some Loud Thunder

Comments

- said…
That's a really extensive list. Have you read Matt Good's biography?
E said…
...i have not read it, and was not even aware of it, but am interested in checking it out...thanks for mentioning it...

*CONCERT LOG*

  • DATE/HEADLINER/OPENING ACT(S)/VENUE/LOCATION
  • 5.24.19: Chromatics/Desire/In Mirrors/Higher Ground/Burlington, VT
  • 4.13.18: Julien Baker/Tancred/Hangar Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.13.18: Jason Isbell/James McMurtry/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 7.16.17/Willie Nelson, MMJ, Sheryl Crow +/Lakeview Amphitheater/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.6.16/Jason Isbell/Josh Ritter/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 8.24.16/Offerman+Mullally/Crouse Hinds Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 8.14.16/The Tragically Hip/Air Canada Center/Toronto, ON
  • 7.14.16/Milk Carton Kids/Colin Hay/Smith Opera House/Geneva, NY
  • 11.20.15/Guster/Darryl Rahn+Lost Souls/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.1.15/Carly Rae Jepsen/(St. Lucia)/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.23.15/WILCO/William Tyler/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.20.15/Brit Floyd/Crouse Hinds Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 5.1.15/Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.24.14/Tweedy/(Hospitality)/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.22.14/Band Of Horses/(Sera Cahoone)/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.29.13/Neko Case/Karen Elson/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.27.13/Okkervil River/Torres/The Haunt/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.13.13/Yo La Tengo/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.6.13/Explosions In The Sky/(Black Throat Wind)/Westcott Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 7.21.13/Americanarama Festival (Dylan/Wilco/MMJ)/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 6.14.13/Patterson Hood/(T. Hardy Morris)/The Haunt/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.16.13/The National/People Get Ready/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.18.13/Aimee Mann/Ted Leo/Club Helsinki/Hudson, NY
  • 10.6.12/Great Lake Swimmers/Snowblink/The Haunt/Ithaca, NY
  • 7.28.12/WILCO/Lee Ranaldo Band/Ommegang Brewery/Cooperstown, NY
  • 6.8.12/Lindsey Buckingham/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 3.22.12/Brit Floyd/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 11.16.11/Drive-By Truckers/The Felice Brothers/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.9.11/Okkervil River/New Villager/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.3.11/Great Lake Swimmers/Kin Ship/Delilah's On Cayuga/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.21.11/Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit/Maria Taylor/The Haunt/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.6.11/The Walkmen/Wavves/Ithaca College/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.6.10/Roger Waters [The Wall/Live]/Madison Square Garden/New York, NY
  • 10.24.10/Louis CK/Todd Glass/Bailey Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.17.10/Phoenix/Jenny & Johnny/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.24.10/The National/Owen Pallett/Wellmont Theater/Montclair, NJ
  • 8.28.10/My Morning Jacket/The New Pornographers/CMAC/Canandaigua, NY
  • 8.25.10/Titus Andronicus/Free Energy/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.20.10/My Morning Jacket/Grace Potter & The Nocturnals/Champlain Valley Expo/Essex Junction, VT
  • 8.13.10->8.15.10/WILCO Solid Sound Festival/North Adams, MA
  • 8.5.10/The Gaslight Anthem/Frank Turner/William Elliott Whitmore/The Stone Pony (Summer Stage)/Asbury Park, NJ
  • 8.2.10/The Gaslight Anthem/Tim Barry/Chamberlain/House Of Blues/Boston, MA
  • 7.30.10->8.1.10/Newport Folk Festival/Newport, RI
  • 6.26.10/Great Lake Swimmers/Ian Coristine/Clayton Opera House/Clayton, NY
  • 6.5.10/The Midnight Ramble [Levon Helm Band/Drive-By Truckers]/Levon Helm Studios/Woodstock, NY
  • 5.18.10/Midlake/Jason Lytle/John Grant/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.9.10/Deer Tick/Caution Children/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.18.10/The Flaming Lips/Stardeath/White Dwarfs/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.3.10/WILCO/Wellmont Theater/Montclair, NJ
  • 2.17.10/John Prine/Sara Watkins/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.21.09/The Midnight Ramble [Levon Helm Band/Nitty Gritty Dirt Band/Eric Church]/Levon Helm Studios/Woodstock, NY
  • 11.11.09/Lyle Lovett & His Large Band/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.23.09/Sufjan Stevens/Cryptacize/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.6.09/The Positive Jam [The Hold Steady/The Felice Brothers/Deer Tick/The Rural Alberta Advantage]/Stewart Park/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.25.09/Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 7.27.09/Coldplay/Elbow & Kitty, Daisy and Lewis/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 7.26.09/The Tragically Hip/The Green/Shelburne, VT
  • 7.25.09/Frightened Rabbit/The Antlers/Iron Horse/Northampton, MA
  • 7.11.09/WILCO/Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band/LeLacheur Park/Lowell, MA
  • 7.10.09/WILCO/Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band/Frawley Stadium/Wilmington, DE
  • 6.14.09/The Hold Steady/Right On Dynamite/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 5.9.09/The Gaslight Anthem/Pela & Good Old War/The Stone Pony/Asbury Park, NJ
  • 5.8.09/The Tragically Hip/Nokia Theater/NYC
  • 4.25.09/The Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Caution Children/Risley Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.20.09/Neko Case/Crooked Fingers/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 4.18.09/Flight Of The Conchords/Kristen Schaal/Tower Theater/Philadelphia, PA
  • 4.11.09/Rhett Miller/Jennifer O'Connor/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 3.28.09/Jeff Tweedy/Pete Seeger & Classroom 12/Beacon High Auditorium/Beacon, NY
  • 3.10.09/AC Newman/Dent May/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.5.09/Cowboy Junkies/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 12.6.08/WILCO/Jennifer O'Connor/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 11.9.08/Decemberists/Walkmen/Loch Lomond/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.4.08/Andrew Bird/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.28.08/Bill Maher/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.26.08/Ryan Adams & The Cardinals/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 9.12.08/A.A. Bondy/Castaways/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.21.08/My Morning Jacket/The Black Keys/Red Rocks/Denver, CO
  • 8.16.08/My Morning Jacket/Lousiville Leopard Percussionists/Waterfront Park/Louisville, KY
  • 8.12.08/WILCO/Andrew Bird/Tanglewood/Lenox, MA
  • 8.7.08/The New Pornographers/Grizzly Bear/Calvin Theater/Northampton, MA
  • 8.6.08/Radiohead/Grizzly Bear/Parc Jean Drapeau/Montreal, QC
  • 7.15.08/Stone Temple Pilots/Secret Machines/ CMAC/Canandaigua, NY
  • 7.5.08/Rush/None/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 5.3.08/The National/None/Messiah College/Grantham, PA
  • 4.13.08/The New Pornographers/Okkervil River/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.24.08/Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt/None/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.16.08/The National/Doveman/Hamilton/Clinton, NY
  • 1.26.08/Neko Case/Eric Bachmann/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.11.07/Broken Social Scene/Yo La Tengo/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.2.07/The Tragically Hip/Joel Plaskett/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 11.1.07/The Tragically Hip/Joel Plaskett/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.26.07/Stephen Colbert/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.20.07/The Mammals/None/Edwards Opera House/Edwards, NY
  • 10.7.07/The National/Doveman/Le National/Montreal, QC
  • 9.20.07/ZZ Top/None/Turning Stone/Verona, NY
  • 8.25.07/The National/White Rabbits/Arts Quad (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 7.12.07/Roger Waters/None/Six Flags PAC/Darien Lake, NY
  • 6.29.07/WILCO/Low/The Green/Shelburne, VT
  • 6.24.07/WILCO/Low/Pines Theater/Northampton, MA
  • 5.11.07/The Tragically Hip/Wintersleep/House Of Blues/Chicago, Il
  • 5.4.07/Leo Kottke/None/Ithaca HS/Ithaca, NY
  • 3.21.07/The Hold Steady/Ra Ra Riot/Syracuse U/Syracuse, NY
  • 11.6.06/Secret Machines/Magic Hour/Syracuse U/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.14.06/Drive-By Truckers/The Drams/House Of Blues/Cleveland, OH
  • 10.6.06/Secret Machines/None/Higher Ground/Burlington, VT
  • 9.17.06/The Strokes/Calm To Chaos/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.1.06/Flaming Lips/Sonic Youth & Ween & Magic Numbers/NYS Fair/Syracuse, NY
  • 8.9.06/Guster/Ray Lamontagne & Rogue Wave/High Falls/Rochester, NY
  • 7.30.06/Black Crowes/Drive-By Truckers & Robert Randolph/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 7.16.06/WILCO/Autumn Defense/Pines Theater/Northampton, MA
  • 7.10.06/Pete Yorn/None/Water Street Music Hall/Rochester, NY
  • 5.12.06/Pearl Jam/My Morning Jacket/Pepsi Arena/Albany, NY
  • 4.9.06/Death Cab For Cutie/Franz Ferdinand/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.12.05/Jeff Tweedy/Glenn Kotche/Messiah College/Grantham, PA
  • 11.8.05/Guster/Matt Pond PA/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 9.1.05/Coldplay/Rilo Kiley/Six Flags PAC/Darien Lake, NY
  • 8.13.05/Def Leppard/The Tea Party/Corel Center/Ottawa, ON
  • 8.3.05/Kings Of Leon/Shout Out Louds & Helio Sequence/Kool Haus/Toronto, ON
  • 7.22.05/Ray Lamontagne/Rachel Yamagata/La Zona Rosa/Austin, TX
  • 7.13.05/Bruce Springsteen/None/Corel Center/Ottawa, ON
  • 6.28.05/WILCO/My Morning Jacket/Metropolis/Montreal, QC
  • 3.25.05/Lewis Black/Stephen Lynch & John Bowman/Clarkson/Potsdam, NY
  • 3.4.05/Jon Stewart/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 2.21.05/WILCO/Detholtz/Ovens Auditorium/Charlotte, NC
  • 2.19.05/WILCO/Head Of Femur/House Of Blues/Myrtle Beach, SC
  • 2.11.05/The Walkmen/Chin Up Chin Up/Appel Commons (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.20.04/The Mammals/The Hillbettys/A. Taylor Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 11.13.04/Arcade Fire/Hidden Cameras/Noyes (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.29.04/Bruce Cockburn/None/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.19.04/The Tragically Hip/Sam Roberts/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 10.8.04/WILCO/Unknown/Skidmore/Saratoga, NY
  • 9.4.04/Secret Machines/We Are The Arm/Noyes (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 8.6.04/WILCO/Cerberus Shoal/State Theater/Portland, ME
  • 7.23.04/The Tragically Hip/Idle Sons/Six Flags PAC/Darien Lake, NY
  • 4.17.04/The Mammals/Unknown/Wells/Aurora, NY
  • 3.14.04/Guster/Rufus Wainwright/Barton Hall (Cornell)/Ithaca, NY
  • 10.16.03/Steven Wright/None/State Theater/Ithaca, NY
  • 7.12.03/Pearl Jam/Sleater Kinney/Hershey Park/Hershey, PA
  • 7.4.03/Neil Young/Lucinda Williams/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 6.21.03/Guster/Unknown/Water Street Music Hall/Rochester, NY
  • 5.2.03/Pearl Jam/Sparta/HSBC Arena/Buffalo, NY
  • 11.9.02/Bob Dylan/None/Coach USA Center/Elmira, NY
  • 10.24.02/TOOL/Meshuggah/Broome County Arena/Binghamton, NY
  • 9.1.02/The Tragically Hip/Unkown/Six Flags PAC/Darien Lake, NY
  • 7.28.02/The Tragically Hip/Unknown/Somerville Theater/Boston, MA
  • 7.27.02/The Tragically Hip/Unknown/Somerville Theater/Boston, MA
  • 7.26.02/The Tragically Hip/Unknown/Somerville Theater/Boston, MA
  • 5.4.02/Guster/Rustic Overtones/SUNY Cortland/Cortland, NY
  • 8.27.01/Pearl Jam/Sonic Youth/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 6.2.01/U2/PJ Harvey/Pepsi Arena/Albany, NY
  • 4.23.01/Guster/Joe, Marc's Brother/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 10.3.00/The Tragically Hip/None/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.2.00/The Tragically Hip/None/Auditorium Theater/Rochester, NY
  • 8.14.00/Counting Crows/Live/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 8.5.00/The Tragically Hip/Guster/Alpine Stage/Bolton Valley, VT
  • 4.29.00/Smashing Pumpkins/None/Tsongas Arena/Lowell, MA
  • 8.24.99/R.E.M./WILCO/Molson Amphitheater/Toronto, ON
  • 12.5.98/The Tragically Hip/Cracker/Orpheum Theater/Boston, MA
  • 10.10.98/The Tragically Hip/The Watchmen/Landmark Theater/Syracuse, NY
  • 10.8.98/The Tragically Hip/The Watchmen/Dome Arena/Rochester, NY
  • 8.29.98/The Tragically Hip/Hayden/Sugarbush Mtn./Warren, VT
  • 7.26.98/Dave Matthews Band/Agents Of Good Root/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 5.29.98/Kenny Wayne Shepherd/House Band/House Of Blues/Myrtle Beach, SC
  • 4.5.98/Sarah McLachlan/Lisa Loeb/War Memorial/Rochester, NY
  • 10.26.97/U2/Third Eye Blind/SkyDome/Toronto, ON
  • 10.20.97/Adam Sandler/Unknown/SUNY Potsdam/Potsdam, NY
  • 6.6.97/Dave Matthews Band/Bela Fleck/SPAC/Saratoga, NY
  • 10.15.96/Dave Matthews Band/Boxing Ghandis/War Memorial/Syracuse, NY
  • 5.22.96/The Tragically Hip/Unknown/Newbar/Raleigh, NC
  • 10.30.95/George Carlin/Unknown/SUNY Potsdam/Potsdam, NY
  • 5.6.95/Van Halen/Collective Soul/The Forum/Montreal, QC
  • 3.15.95/Live/Sponge/SUNY Potsdam/Potsdam, NY
  • 7.5.94/Pink Floyd/None/CNE Stadium/Toronto, ON
  • 7.4.93/Lynyrd Skynyrd/Unknown/Fort Drum/Watertown, NY