The New Pornographers - Joseph, Who Understood

OK I'm a little late for this year's holiday but this is truly one of the loveliest Christmas songs ever! (thanks for the heads-up, Tiny Mix Tapes) It's a duet between Carl Newman and Neko Case (the redheads front L & R in this photo) telling the story of the immaculate conception from Joseph's point of view. Baby, you're asking me to believe in too many things...

The New Pornographers - Joseph, Who Understood (from 2007's The Spirit of Giving EP)

RIP Dan Fogelberg, 1951-2007

I definitely had me a Dan Fogelberg period in the mid-70s. Here's his breakthrough single, Part of the Plan, from his second album, produced by Joe Walsh.

MP3 Dan Fogelberg - Part of the Plan (from 1974's Souvenirs)

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven and Kashmir (live in London, 12-10-2007)

Well you can't find the clips on youtube anymore but I guess Warner Brothers hasn't heard of DailyMotion yet. A 63-year-old Jimmy Page with snow white hair cranking out that most famous guitar solo after all these years, wow.

And here's a song that used to SCARE me when I was a teenager, Kashmir, with bassist John Paul Jones (of one rock's greatest arrangers, never forget he did the strings on Automatic for the People) again on the keyboards.

MP3 Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven (from 1971's Led Zeppelin IV)
MP3 Led Zeppelin - Kashmir (from 1975's Physical Graffiti)

2007 Best Of Lists

I have finished my end-of-year lists! Enjoy. For quick reference, here's the Top 10 albums:

1. The National - Boxer

We played it to death but that's only because it was so damn good. I'm very happy for these guys, I'm not the only one who's got them at #1 this year.

MP3 The National - Slow Show

2. Radiohead - In Rainbows

Listen to Jonny Greenwood tell the New York Times how they created the awesome white noise that just completely covers the last minute of this song. It's a thrill to hear it every time.

MP3 Radiohead - All I Need

3. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

21-year-old Zach Condon channels Jacques Brel.

MP3 Beirut - Guyamas Sonora (Anneliese's favorite!)

4. Burial - Untrue

Like nothing you've ever heard. Nobody knows who this guy is, either.

MP3 Burial - Archangel

5. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

No, it was not and never will be Funeral. Still, I predict these folks will be around for awhile.

MP3 Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running

6. Okkervil River - The Stage Names

MP3 Okkervil River - Plus Ones

Will Sheff is one of the best lyricists ever and here's a great example. Check out the incredibly clever lyrics to this song, which Sheff always writes out in prose style--how many references do you get?

7. Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals

A thoroughy unique sound, the best debut of the year.

MP3 Yeasayer - 2080

8. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

The entire lyric to this song: I could sleep when I lived alone/Is there a ghost in my house?

MP3 Band of Horses - Is there a Ghost

9. New Pornographers - Challengers

MP3 New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour

it's a love song to NYC from these crazy Canadians


10. Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Boy

MP3 Iron and Wine - Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car

album opener introduces new kick-ass band, far cry from just Sam and his guitar

These will print out nicely:

Deb's Top 20 Albums of 2007
Honorable Mention
Favorite Songs
Sorry, Did Not Like
Probably good but I didn't get to listen enough

Iron & Wine - Boy with a Coin

NOT the video you would expect to accompany this gorgeous song, this features flamenco dancers and somehow it works.




MP3 Iron & Wine - Boy with a Coin (from 2007's The Shepherd's Dog)