2007 is over... Let's look on to 2008!

2007 was a great year for music and 2008 will have a lot of work to do to match or surpass it. Though I'm hoping that a release from the big three (The Ark, Melody Club or Scissor Sisters) will find its way onto shelves sometime this year, I doubt whether that will end up happening. But, you never know. Still, even without those guys, there's a lot to look forward to in 2008, musically speaking.

Oh, and by the way, regular music posts will resume on Wednesday!

Confirmed Music Releases:

Delays - Though word has become scarce on these guys (which I find very strange and slightly disconcerting), last I heard their new full length is due to be released in late winter/early spring of this year. If it's as good as the recently released EP then I want it now!

The Feeling - Released in February, I’ve got a “feeling” that this could end up being ten times as good as their already stellar debut. The lead single sure is a step in the right direction to pop perfection. (Feb. 18th)

Janet Jackson - Her last few releases have been pretty disappointing, so I’m surprised that I’m still excited for a new Janet release. I’ve got a good feeling about this new one, though. We’ve already got a fantastic lead single (Feedback, the first Janet single I’ve liked for awhile), a great album title (Discipline sure as hell beats 20 Y.O.) and a cool, less slutty image. Here’s hoping the record will live up to it all. (Feb. 26th)

Moto Boy - Pikko and Lamont’s frequent collaborator finally comes out with his full length debut in January, and from what I’ve heard so far it should be really great. (Jan. 16th)

MGMT - I posted a track by these guys a few weeks ago and I’ve had a chance to listen to their full debut, Oracular Spectacular, now. At first I didn’t really like it, but now that I’ve given it more attention I’m thinking that it’s growing on me, even though it is still quite strange and a bit more downtempo than I'd prefer. (Jan. 22nd)

Music Releases I Can’t Wait To Confirm:

Monicko - He was around the top of my most anticipated releases of 2007 but the album by former The Mo front man Nicko Stenemo never surfaced. Instead, we were treated to a stellar trio of tracks that he’s been working on (all over at his myspace) including a slightly different version of (maybe first single?) Perfect Day. Also, now he’s got some slightly more experimental stuff on a new page under the band name Kite, though I'm guessing this is more of a side-project. I am holding out hope that we get a poppy full length from this guy, one of my top three artists out there right now.

Hotel Motel - I have been following this UK trio with huge interest throughout the year and it looks like they’ll be releasing their first EP (Road Songs) very soon. Go over to their myspace and listen to all four tracks, especially Long Distance, one of the most gorgeous songs written in the past decade. It's a blast from the 80's, and downright perfect music.

Pacific! - They’ve got their new single streaming on myspace (the brilliantly simple and fun Number One) and I’m hoping that now that they’re finished with their trio of singles, they’ll release a full length as well.

Surferosa - No word on a release date from these guys yet, but you can hear their new single, The Future, on their myspace.

Don Juan Dracula - According to their website there will be a new album coming out in 2008, but there’s no word on when that will be. I’m guessing Spring/Summer, but who knows.

The Alpine - They’ve been promising new songs on their myspace forever, yet nothing has materialized quite yet. I do understand that a 2008 album is pretty much a certainty, though.

Juvelen - No freaking word on this guy for like half a year! When are we going to get the album???

Frankmusik - There’s like a gazillion new songs up on his myspace, yet no for sure release date of his debut album. I’m guessing from all of the new material that it’ll be out sometime in 2008, though.

Dolly Daggers - Another band I’ve been waiting on to release an album for what seems like forever, they’ve finally released the full version of their new (?) song Circle Line on their myspace so maybe that’s a step forward to an actual release date. Who knows?

Gender - Their label’s website says that their album was released on December 25th, though obviously it wasn’t. However, their myspace seems to believe that The Origin Of Gender will be out in 2008. As long as it’s soon…

Other Music Related Stuff:

Melodifestivalen 2008 - I can always count on Sweden’s Eurovision tryouts to brighten up the late winter. So far it seems like it’s going to be a great line-up this year. I'm particularly excited to see what BWO, Ola and E-Type/The Poodles (an odd mix for sure) come up with. I've also heard a rumor that Laakso could be entering a song, which would be absolutely amazing.

American Idol - Yeah, it churns out crappy music year after year, but could this finally be the year we get an 80's synth lover or a glam rocker on the show? Or even somebody remotely alternative?? Probably not, but I’ll be watching anyway.

So that's it, folks...

The countdowns are over, and to wrap everything up I've got them in one handy post for ya. Even cooler, one of my readers, Grifit, made a video countdown of my top 50 songs of the year over on youtube, so if you want a visual as well as aural experience, head on over there and enjoy the playlist. I know I will.

Top 20 Albums of 2007:

1. Laakso - Mother, Am I Good Looking?
2. Superfamily - Warszawa
3. The Ark - Prayer For The Weekend
4. Lil' Chris - Lil' Chris
5. Private - My Secret Lover
6. To My Boy - Messages
7. Pikko - Electric Body Design
8. Silverchair - Young Modern
9. Alphabeat - Alphabeat
10. King Midas - Sorry
11. Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion
12. Darren Hayes - This Delicate Thing We've Made
13. Bodies Without Organs - Fabricator
14. Dragonette - Galore
15. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
16. Chromeo - Fancy Footwork
17. The Attic - Remember Tomorrow
18. Sahara Hotnights - What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing
19. Girls Aloud - Tangled Up
20. Montt Mardie - Clocks/Pretender

Top 50 Singles of 2007:

1. The Ark - Absolutely No Decorum
2. Superfamily - The Radio Has Expressed Concerns About What You Did Last Night
3. Lil’ Chris - Gettin Enough
4. Laakso - Italy Vs. Helsinki
5. Pleasure - Out Of Love
6. Pikko - Kill With A Dance
7. Delays - Love Made Visible
8. Melody Club - Fever Fever
9. Juvelen - Hanna
10. Pacific - Hot Lips
11. Robyn - With Every Heartbeat
12. Superfamily - Warszawa
13. Tiny Dancers - I Will Wait For You
14. Gender - If I Was A Girl
15. Laakso - Dropout
16. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
17. The View - Same Jeans
18. Magnus Carlsson - Live Forever
19. Ola Svensson - SOS
20. Unklejam - What Am I Fighting For
21. Frankmusik - 3 Little Words
22. Ghosts - Stay The Night
23. Chromeo - Bonafied Lovin’
24. The Enemy - You’re Not Alone
25. Private - My Secret Lover
26. The Ark - The Worrying Kind
27. Sahara Hotnights - Cheek To Cheek
28. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
29. To My Boy - Model
30. Hellogoodbye - Here (In Your Arms)
31. Moto Boy - Blue Motorbike
32. The Ark - Little Dysfunk You
33. Rihanna - Umbrella
34. Sebastian - Words And Violence
35. Rufus Wainwright - Going To A Town
36. My Chemical Romance - Teenagers
37. Laleh - November
38. Moneybrother - Guess Who’s Gonna Get Some Tonight
39. Gwen Stefani - Early Winter
40. Darren Hayes - On The Verge Of Something Wonderful
41. The Enemy - Had Enough
42. The Killers - For Reasons Unknown
43. Vincent Black Shadow - Metro
44. Ola Svensson - Natalie
45. Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Is Not Enough
46. Frida Hyvonen - See How I Came Into Town
47. Girls Aloud - Call The Shots
48. CSS - Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
49. Loveninjas - I Wanna Be Like Johnny C
50. Operator Please - Just A Song About Ping Pong

2. Superfamily - Warszawa



This was one of those albums, like the Delays' album last year, that was just instant with me. I was blown away by the scope of the music and power of the melodies. This and the number one album are really neck and neck and they both define the word perfect. Warszawa literally sounds like it was recorded on another planet. The time traveling theme definitely supports this, but it’s the monstrous, majestic music that really puts you in a different zone altogether. I’m a fan of the epic, and this album delivered that like hardly any other I’ve ever heard before. It’s hard to believe, going in to the first track, that they can keep the momentum up through the entire album, and yet somehow they do.

Superfamily - Bitches On The Scene

1. Laakso - Mother, Am I Good Looking?



It’s difficult to explain how much this album means to me. For some reason, I find it incredibly personal, though I’ve never gone through most of the things that Marcus writes about. It’s something about his delivery and the strength of the music. I wasn’t immediately aware of how great this record was upon first listen, but then I gave it another try and soon I was listening to it daily when I was in the UK this past Spring. It followed me everywhere, to new cities, new people, new adventures. This of course wouldn’t mean much if the record wasn’t as brilliant as it is. The songs are incredibly diverse in their sound, yet the lyrics bring them all together and form a definite album, not just a collection of great tracks. Remove one song and it just isn’t the same. The funniest thing is, before 2007 Laakso were maybe at best a second tier group in my eyes. This year they joined the masters.

Laakso - Hang Me In The Christmas Tree

5. Pleasure - Out Of Love



This is one of those rare songs where everything comes together completely perfectly and there’s nothing you can do but listen with awe. My god, the chorus is spectacular.

4. Laakso - Italy vs. Helsinki



A total left turn for Laakso, and the song that made me fall in love with them. There aren’t enough songs this day and age that are as overblown as this one. And the funny thing is, even in its unabashed cheesiness, it’s deeply beautiful.

3. Lil’ Chris - Gettin’ Enough?!?



I know, I know… technically this was late 2006, but I’ve got to include it anyway. It’s everything a teen rock song should be, and I never would have predicted that it would have made it this high on my countdown, but it’s just that good.

2. Superfamily - The Radio Expressed Concerns About What You Did Last Night



The longest title on here, and the most epic of dance rock tracks as well. If a song had the power to literally blow you into the air, this one would do it.

1. The Ark - Absolutely No Decorum



The Ark bottled everything amazing about all of their past songs and crammed it into their first single of 2007. It is stadium rock the way stadium rock was meant to sound. Absolutely, utterly flawless.

4. Lil’ Chris - Lil’ Chris



I didn’t expect to like this album so much, then I kept listening to it… and listening to it, and now a year later I’m still listening to it. I’ve become convinced that it’s simply one of the best power pop albums of all time, no kidding. It may not be the most original work ever, but it takes everything that’s great about rock and pop, bottles it into too young to care about making any “serious artistic statement” and kicks everything up to eleven. I have yet to find a person who hasn’t enjoyed this record, despite it’s sounding like it was recorded by a twelve year old. I only hope the public gives Chris a chance to show what comes next.

Lil’ Chris - Is She Ready?

3. The Ark - Prayer For The Weekend



It’s got to be one hell of a year for The Ark to wind up all the way down at number three on any countdown of mine. The fact of the matter is, though the album still rates a definite A+, it is not as consistent as their last work and functions oftentimes better as a collection of singles than a proper album. That being said, The Ark is still the best band in the world and that can be heard all over this record. It includes some of their biggest and best tracks yet and I’ve probably listened to it at least fifty times this year.

The Ark - New Pollution

10. Pacific! - Hot Lips



This song didn’t win me over instantly, but like some of the best singles it stuck with me until one day I realized just how perfect it was.

9. Juvelen - Hanna



You’ve given us one of the best songs of 2007, now where is the freaking album?!?

8. Melody Club - Fever Fever



How can you resist a song that takes the best parts of disco, mixes it with power pop, and serves it up in such a refreshing way? One of the best choruses this year.

7. Delays - Love Made Visible



The guys returned late this year with a sound even more epic than they had created before. Deceptively simple, yet fresh even after the hundredth listen.

6. Pikko - Kill With A Dance



This song is so good that the first time I listened to it I swore it was a cover of some huge 80’s track. Turns out it isn’t, which is just jaw-dropping.

6. To My Boy - Messages



This was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. I went to pick up To My Boy’s album kind of on a whim after hearing them compared to Sparks, one of my favorite groups ever. I was ecstatic to find a record brimming with quirky energy and punchy, fun songs. To My Boy are unlike anybody else out there and their strangeness will probably guarantee that they never find any real mainstream success, but that’s okay. They’re not a mainstream band. The album, though, is flawless. Every song is a winner, especially if you’re a fan of the eighties like me.

To My Boy - Talk

5. Private - My Secret Lover



Top five. We’ve entered the big leagues now, and Private is completely deserving. I’ve been a fan of Thomas Troelsen’s work (Junior Senior, Superheroes) for awhile now, but I never dreamed he’d be able to craft something this amazing. It’s like he took everything amazing about the 80’s, modernized it, and grafted it onto perfectly written songs. It’s a blast from start to finish, just like good pop music should be. It’s the comeback cd that Michael Jackson should have released as few years ago, and that’s saying a lot.

Private - Let’s Make Love (Underneath The Apple Tree)

15. Laakso - Västerbron



A gut-wrenchingly haunting story song that wears its heart on its sleeve. The searing vocals alone are worth handfuls of awards.

14. Gender - If I Was A Girl



Clever, catchy and refreshingly weird, this was the breakout pop single that never really broke out. If these guys have more like this yet to come, we’re in for a real treat.

13. Tiny Dancers - I Will Wait For You



Never underestimate the power of a good melody, and this track had got that in spades. One of my favorite songs to sing along to this year.

12. Superfamily - Warszawa



A majestic, stately pop song that would have been at home in the eighties, yet found itself released twenty years lately. The word “soaring” was created just to describe this track.

11. Robyn - With Every Heartbeat



If someone would have told me that this song would have broken Robyn around the world I wouldn’t have believed it. I simply thought it was too good for radio.

8. Silverchair - Young Modern



I passed on this album when it was first released and shame on me for doing so because I could have been enjoying it a lot sooner. When I finally got around to listening to it, I was addicted to what I was hearing. I love the progressive glam influences in some of the songs here. It sounds like nothing Silverchair has done before, and that’s a great thing because they’re a much more interesting band now than they were before. I hope they’re able to release some more singles in the States after their modest success with Straight Lines.

Silverchair - Insomnia

7. Pikko - Electric Body Design



The most “indie” release on my countdown in the sense that it wasn’t even available in shops, I first fell in love with Pikko at the Hultsfred music festival in Sweden. I wish I could have bottled her performance and shown it on my blog, because it was that good. Luckily, her fabulously oddball debut captures that performance energy into an album. I hope that this will eventually be available to more people worldwide, but Pikko’s been pretty generous in posting a bunch of the songs for free download on her myspace page. Still, there’s nothing like listening to the album straight through from beginning to end.

Pikko - Murder In My Heart

20. Unklejam - What Am I Fighting For?



A quality slice of space-age funk, this was one of my favorite songs of the spring. It’s a shame they weren’t able to match its success with follow-ups, but this was a deserved hit.

19. Ola Svensson - SOS



It surprises the hell out of me that this guy scored two places on my countdown, but with a song as huge as SOS, you can’t really argue. So dumb, yet so gloriously delicious.

18. Magnus Carlson - Live Forever



And to follow up Ola I’ve got another insanely corny yet undeniably catchy track. It was the Take On Me of 2007, and we didn’t even know how much we needed that.

17. The View - Same Jeans



This could end up being the biggest hit The View will ever have because it’s hard to imagine them topping it. This got stuck in my head more than 95% of the music this year.

16. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position



This is one of those timeless pop songs that could have been recorded almost any time in the last twenty years. The word “jaunty” comes to mind whenever I think of it.