JamBase's Best Of 2007

The end of the year means Best Of lists! As we shut the door on 2007 we gathered up some of our favorite Artists, Industry Friends, and of course, your humble JamBase Staff, to report back on what knocked us out this year. While we surely hope you enjoy a look into our lives, as always, we want to hear from you, so please use our Comments Section to tell the world what your favorite shows and albums from 2007 were. Happy New Year!

ARTISTS

Patterson Hood – Drive-By Truckers

P. Hood

Albums
1. Iron And Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
An incredible album that rewards multiple listens and my pick for the best album of the year.

2. Radiohead – In Rainbows
My close pick for second favorite. After all the hype of how it was released (or not), the album stands on its own as their best work since Kid A, maybe better.

3. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
Their best studio album. Even better when played live. Possibly the best band in America.

4. Vic Chesnutt – North Star Deserter
I’ve been saying this is his finest since West of Rome (1992), but this is his best album ever.

5. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
My vote for most fun album of year. Great live act also.

Shows
1. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band | 10.21.07 | United Center, Chicago IL
Still the best arena rock show in the world.

2. Neko Case w/ Jon Rauhouse and Kelly Hogan 04.13.07 | Hi Tone | Memphis TN
My favorite album last year and favorite club show this year. Can’t wait til next year.

3. Wilco | 09.15.07 | Austin City Limits Taping | Austin, TX
As fine as their new album, they’re much better live.

Schools by Stein

Dave Schools – Widespread Panic, Stockholm Syndrome
Albums
1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
2. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
3. Neil Young – Chrome Dreams II
4. Maserati – Inventions for the New Season
5. Outformation – Traveler’s Rest

Banhart by Dukoff

Devendra Banhart
Albums
1. Matteah Baim – The Death of the Sun
2. M.I.A – Kala
3. Jana Hunter – There’s No Home
4. Rio en Medio – The Bride of Dynamite
5. Michael Hurley – Ancestral Swamp

Shows
1. HECUBA
2. Liars
3. David Crosby & Graham Nash

Schnier by Weiand

Al Schnier – moe., Al & The Transamericans
Albums
1. Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity
2. Neil Young – Chrome Dreams II
3. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
4. Death Cab For Cutie – Plans
5. Umphrey’s McGee – The Bottom Half

Shows
1. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | 10.18.07 | MSG | NYC, NY
2. Neil Young | 12.13.07 | NYC, NY
3. Daft Punk | 08.02.07 | Lollapalooza | Chicago, IL

Zach Velmer

Zach Velmer – STS9
Albums
1. Justice – Cross
2. edIT – Certified Air Raid Material
3. Grizzly Bear – Yellow house
4. Battles – Mirrored
5. Sigur Ros – Hvarf

Ethan Miller – Howlin Rain, Comets On Fire
Albums (in no order)

Ethan Miller

1. Magik Markers – Boss
I knew and very much wanted the Markers to make a record this good but I just had my doubts as to whether they would do it, not whether they could. Well, they have! Vertiginous human drum loops, trance inducing beat, dark, passionate, romantic, at times predatory, poetry and riffs. An awesome rock record.

2. Bruce Springsteen – Magic
I loved this album. I love the chords and hooks. I love the vocals and the lyrics. There’s really nothing else to say about a Boss record. You either like it or you don’t. They don’t really grow on you or reveal themselves. He doesn’t make them for that purpose. They haunt you, make you laugh, cry, dance, whatever, upon impact. Sudden impact music.

3. Stephen Stills – Just Roll Tape
I love Stephen’s music. This album cuts to the soul in its rawest of forms. An absolute must for Stephen fans and even a great place to win over some new ones.

4. Jim Ford – Harlan County
This is from way back but it just came to me this year. An amazing album. When people say a “Great Lost Album” very few of the albums actually back that up. This one goes way beyond and leaves a term like that in the dust.

5. Chris Corsano/Mick Flower Due – Radiant Mirror
Incredible and transcendent music. The very best album made this year, in my opinion. It is timeless and unique at the same time. This album will enrich your very life and soul. You will be hard pressed to find more elevating music than this.

TT Tommy by Milner

Two Tone Tommy – My Morning Jacket
Albums
1. Wax Fang – La La Land
2. Dr. Dog – We All Belong
3. Rogue Wave – Asleep at Heaven’s Gate
4. The Fucking Champs – VI
5. Miles Davis – Live at the 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival

Skerik

Skerik – Critters Buggin, Syncopated Taint
Albums:
1. The Wild Magnolias – They Call Us Wild
2. Weedeater – God Luck and Good Speed

Marc Brownstein

Marc Brownstein – The Disco Biscuits, Tractorbeam
Albums
1. Kanye West – Graduation
2. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
3. Radiohead – In Rainbows
4. Justice – Cross
5. Younger Brother – The Last Days of Gravity

McFadden

Eric McFadden – Eric McFadden Trio, Stockholm Syndrome
Albums
1. Nels Cline Singers – Draw Breath
2. Sleepytime Gorilla Museum – In Glorious Times
3. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
4. Lucinda Williams – West
5. The White Stripes – Icky Thump

Reed Mathis

Reed Mathis – Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Tea Leaf Green
Albums
1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
2. Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity
3. The Shins – Wincing The Night Away
4. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
5. Belle and Sebastian – The Life Pursuit

Josh Clark

Josh Clark – Tea Leaf Green
Albums
1. House Of Fools – Live and Learn
2. Paulson – All at Once

Shows
1. Ween | The Warfield | San Francisco, CA
2. Pat O’Brien & the Priests of Love | The First Cabin | Arcadia, CA
3. Band of Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Graders | San Francisco Day School Performing the TLG song “Incandescent Devil” during their morning assembly

Willy Vlautin

Willy Vlautin – Richmond Fontaine
Albums
1. Grand Champeen – Dial T For This
2. Dolorean – You Can’t Win
3. The Endrick Brothers – Attraction Vs. Love
4. Richard Buckner – Meadow
5. The Sadies – New Seasons

Shows
1. Grand Champeen | Portland, Oregon
2. Grand Champeen – Walla Walla, Washington
3. The Sadies | Holland

Claudio Sanchez

Claudio Sanchez – Coheed and Cambria
1. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
2. Iron And Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
3. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
4. Radiohead – In Rainbows
5. The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible

Steel Train

Evan Winiker – Steel Train
Albums
1. Dr. Dog – We All Belong
2. The 1900’s – Color and Kind
3. The Dears – Gang of Losers
4. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
5. M.I.A. – Kala

Brian Stoltz

Brian Stoltz – Porter-Batiste-Stoltz
Albums
1. Neil Young – Chrome Dreams II
2. Bob Dylan – Dylan
3. Paul McCartney – Memory Almost Full
4. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
5. Annie Lennox – Songs Of Mass Destruction

Shows
1. Bob Dylan | 9.16.07 | Austin, TX
2. Johnny Winter | 10.11.07 | New Orleans, LA
3. Bonerama w/ Porter Batiste Stoltz | 11.24.07 | Denver, CO

Jeremy Black

Jeremy Black – Apollo Sunshine
Albums
1. Drug Rug – Drug Rug
2. Panda Bear – Person Pitch
3. Radiohead – In Rainbows
4. Dr. Dog – We All Belong
5. Self Righteous Brothers – In Loving Memory

Metzger by Gardner

Scott Metzger – American Babies, Chris Harford, Bustle in Your Hedgerow, RANA
Albums
1. Richard Thompson – Sweet Warrior
2. Miles Davis – The Complete On The Corner Sessions
3. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
4. Sharon Jones – 100 Days, 100 Nights 5
5. Ween – La Cucaracha

Andy Cabic

Andy Cabic – Vetiver
Albums
1. The Bees – Octopus
2. Panda Bear – Person Pitch
3. Papercuts – Can’t Go Back
4. Dirty Projectors – Rise Above
5. Various Artists – Pop Ambient 2007

Matthew McDonald
By B. Kuntz

Matthew McDonald – Perpetual Groove
Albums
1. Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero
2. Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew – Spirit If…
3. Saul Williams – The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust
4. Eddie Vedder – Into the Wild Soundtrack
5. Radiohead – In Rainbows

Tom Hamilton

Tom Hamilton – American Babies, Brothers Past
Albums
1. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
2. Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
3. Radiohead – In Rainbows
4. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
5. Justice – Cross

J. Miller by Massie

Jesse Miller – Lotus
Albums
1. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
2. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3. Menomena – Friend and Foe
4. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
5. Radiohead – In Rainbows

Scott Amendola – Nels Cline Singers, Madeleine Peyroux, Scott Amendola Band

Scott Amendola

There’s no number 1 or anything like that, it’s in order of what I thought of. Fuck music as contests or rating systems, etc. I’m happy to turn people on to some great stuff, things I really dig and you will, too. By the way, buy CDs and LPs, and do downloading, but don’t buy the record industry cries of things falling apart. Music will live on in some form or another. Keep the artwork alive! Keep going out to hear music live!

Albums
1. Paul Motian – Time and Time Again
2. Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity
3. Mavis Staples – We’ll Never Turn Back
4. John Zorn put out a series of records: Astronome, Heliogabalys and Asmodeus. They all need to be mentioned.
5. Tony Allen – Lagos No Shaking
OK, this came out in ’06 but I bought it a couple weeks ago. The beats man, the beats!!
6. Black Sabbath – Masters of Reality
Maybe this is 36 years old, but damn, this record is so relevant today.

Thomas Denver Jonsson – A Perfect Friend

Thomas Denver Jonsson

Albums
1. Fennesz/Sakamoto – Cendre
(Austrian/Japanese minmalistic/ambient/laptop/piano)
2. Aroah – El Dia Despues
(Spanish indie/folk/pop)
3. Seabear – The ghost that carried us away
(Icelandic indie/pop)
4. Helios – Ayres
(U.S. experimental folk)
5. The National – Boxer
(U.S. rock – Tindersticks vs. Joy Division)

Since M. Ward didn’t release any album this year, I was able to put another artist at number 1. It was very hard to choose the order of 1-3. In the end I chose the fantastic Cendre as my favorite this year. Perfect for headphones and nightly train rides. 2-3 the lovely, warm albums by Aroah and Seabear. Great voices, lovely melodies. Experimental artist Helios’ 2006 release Eingya is one of my top 15 albums all time. The new mini-album Ayres is also great. And this time he sings! Number 5, The National, my new favorite band, since I saw them live.

Fred Torphy

Fred Torphy – Big Light
Albums
1. Nathan Moore – In His Own Worlds
2. The Boticellis – Old Home Movies
3. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
4. Dr. Dog – We All Belong
5. Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin

Zack Smith

Zack Smith – Rotary Downs / JamBase Photographer
Albums
1. Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity
2. The Happy Talk Band – There There
3. Feist – The Reminder
4. The Lost Bayou Ramblers – Live A La Blue Moon
5. Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars – The La Louisianne Sessions

Continue reading for the JamBase Staff picks for Best of 2007…

JamBase Staff

Kayceman

Aaron Kayce (Kayceman) – Editor-in-Chief
Albums
1. Great Lake Swimmers – Ongiara
2. Iron And Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
3. Radiohead – In Rainbows
4. Band of Horses – Cease To Begin
5. The White Stripes – Icky Thump

SuperDee

SuperDee – Creative Director
Albums
1. Rilo Kiley – Under the Blacklight
2. Feist – The Reminder
3. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
4. Steel Train – Trampoline
5. Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger

David Rosenheim

David Rosenheim – CEO
Albums
1. Refugee Allstars – Living Like a Refugee
2. Bright Eyes – Cassadaga
3. New Pornographers – Challengers
4. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Baby 81
5. M.I.A. – Kala

Andy Gadiel

Andy Gadiel – Founder
Albums
1. Steel Train – Trampoline
2. Corinne West – Second Sight
3. ALO – Roses and Clover
4. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
5. Neil Young – Live at Massey Hall

Andrew Warren

Andrew Warren – Tour Date Guru
Albums (in no particular order)
1. Feist The Reminder
2. Against Me! – New Wave
3. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
4. Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
5. Iron And Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog

Geoff Harrison

Geoff Harrison – Sales Manager
Albums
1. Kings of Leon – Because of the Times
2. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
3. New Pornographers – Challengers
4. Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
5. Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha

Tanner Wyer

Tanner Wyer – Sales
Albums
1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
2. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
3. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
4. Great Lake Swimmers – Ongiara
5. The Avett Brothers – Emotionalism

Patty Kaufman

Patty Kaufman – Information Coordinator
Albums
1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
2. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
3. Battles – Mirrored
4. Ween – La Cucaracha
5. Beastie Boys – The Mix Up

Leah Elton

Leah Elton – Accounting Manager
Albums
1. M.I.A. – Kala
2. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
3. The Submarines – Declare A New State
4. Tegan & Sara – The Con
5. Digitalism – Idealism

Mason Blake

Mason Blake – Lead Engineer
Albums
1. Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
2. Cloud Cult – The Meaning of 8
3. Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger
4. Akron/Family – Love Is Simple
5. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Sarah Randolph

Sarah Randolph – Web Producer & Designer
Albums
1. Chromeo – Fancy Footwork
2. Justice – D.A.N.C.E
3. Klaxons – Myths Of The Near Future
4. Moving Units – Hexes for Exes
5. Feist – The Reminder

Matt Kozak

Matt Kozak – Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Albums
1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
2. LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
3. The GO! Team – Proof Of Youth
4. Justice – †
5. Burial – Untrue

Dennis Cook

Dennis Cook – Associate Editor
Albums
1. Akron/Family – Love Is Simple
2. The Avett Brothers – Emotionalism
3. Bad Religion – New Maps of Hell
4. Society of Rockets – Our Paths Related
5. Backyard Tire Fire – Vagabonds & Hooligans

Randi Sachs

Randi Sachs – Community Marketing Manager
Albums
1. Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger
2. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
3. Neil Young – Live at Massey Hall
4. Phish – Vegas ’96
5. Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – Once (Music from the Motion Picture)

Andy Tennille

Andy Tennille
Albums
1. Iron And Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
2. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights
3. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
4. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
5. Two Gallants – Two Gallants

Continue reading for the Best Of 2007 selections from a few of our favorite Industry Associates including magazine editors, managers, label reps and more…

Industry Associates

Scott Crawford

Scott Crawford – Harp Magazine – Editor-in-Chief
Albums
1. Okkervil River – The Stage Names
2. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3. Jason Isbell – Sirens of the Ditch
4. St. Vincent – Marry Me
5. Georgie James – Places

Shows
1. Comedians of Comedy
2. Arcade Fire
3. Explosions in the Sky

Josh Baron

Josh Baron – Relix Magazine – Editor-in-Chief
Albums
1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
2. Feist – The Reminder
3. Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger
4. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
5. Kings of Leon – Because of the Times

Mike Greenhaus

Mike Greenhaus – Relix Magazine – Associate Editor
Albums
1. The National – Boxer
2. American Babies – American Babies
3. The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
4. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
5. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky

Ted Kartzman

Ted Kartzman – Sr. Manager of Independent Labels at Rhapsody.com
Albums
1. Bishop Allen – The Broken String
2. Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha
3. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
4. Cloud Cult – The Meaning of 8
5. Pela – Anytown Graffiti

Bret Gladstone – Village Voice/Associated Press
Albums
1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
2. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
4. The White Stripes – Icky Thump
5. Amy Winehouse – Back in Black

Ken Weinstein – Big Hassle Media
Albums (in no particular order)
1. Grinderman – Grinderman
2. Blitzen Trapper – Wild Mountain Nation
3. Joan as Policewoman – Real Life
4. Nicole Atkins – Neptune City
5. Julian Cope – You Gotta Problem with Me

J. Bau – Hard Head Management
Albums

1. Jason Isbell – Sirens Of The Ditch
This past weekend at the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, Mike Farris, an undisputed talent in his own right, took Jason aside and told him that he is “A True American Poet.” Truer words cannot be said. This record explores a broad spectrum of emotions and characters with detailed imagery when needed and, at other times, brilliant simplicity. Every listen, I have a new favorite song.

2. The Hold Steady – Boys & Girls In America (late 2006)
This band was my new obsession of 2007. Sure they wear their love of Springsteen and classic rock on their sleeve. So what? I love those things too. Brilliant lyrics that are instantly relatable and absolutely hysterical. If their new song “Ask Her For Some Adderall” is any indication, the next record will be firmly planted on my Favorite Albums of 2008 (I hope) list.

3. Dungen – Tio Bitar
One part Zeppelin hard rock, one part Zornian free-jazz freak out, this Swedish band, which it appears is no longer together, is best when they combine the two worlds and just don’t dance between them. The mixture, along with the Swedish lyrics, create a heady (used in a non-“heady” way) stew that challenges the mind.

4. The Beastie Boys – The Mix-Up
Silky Smooth grooves that just don’t sound as good with clothes on.

Wilco – Blue Sky Blue
A collection of absolutely amazing songs. With this record they solidified their position among the elite.

Shows

Foo Fighters

1. Foo Fighters | 09.20.07 | Irving Plaza | NYC, NY
They played to 1000 people with the same intensity that they do to 10x that many on a regular basis. I had never seen them live before and was glad they lived up to the hype of my close friends who have declared them one of the best live bands they’ve ever seen.

2. The White Stripes | Bonnaroo | Manchester, TN
Meg & Jack just had this presence in front of the biggest crowd I’ve seen in six years at the Which Stage. From the red and white stage to the crew in black suits with red ties, there was this feeling that they were completely in control. The SOUND that came from the two of them was remarkable. I was particularly amazed by the power coming from Meg. She was pure thunder.

3. Ween | 11.30.07 – 12.01.07 | Terminal 5 | NYC, NY
I had become a little bored with seeing the same Ween show every time, so these two nights were exactly what I needed to restore my faith. These shows reminded me what I fell in love with over 10 years ago.

J. Gibson – reapandsow – Director Of Operations
Albums
1. The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse
2. Radiohead – In Rainbows
3. A Place To Bury Strangers – A Place To Bury Strangers
4. LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver
5. Society of Rockets – Our Paths Related

Kerry Black – Superfly Productions
Albums
1. Feist – The Reminder
2. Fiery Furnaces – Widow City
3. Grinderman – Grinderman
4. Devendra Banhart – Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
5. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black

Dan Berkowitz – Consider It Dan
Albums
1. M.I.A. – Kala
2. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
3. LCD Soundsystem – Sounds of Silver
4. The Avett Brothers – Emotionalism
5. The Grimace Federation – Tasted by Chemists

Continue reading for a look at 2007’s JamBase By The Numbers…

JamBase 2007 By the Numbers

1,543 articles published
234,781 performances listed
1,007 contests
286,535 contest entries

Bands with the Most Shows:
56 Hope Road 210
Brett Dennen 185
Jason Boland and The Stragglers 185
The Station 175
Saosin 172
Blue Turtle Seduction 171
Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster 168
Jon McLaughlin 167
Ryan Montbleau Band 167
Public Property 166

Don’t forget to use the Comments Section to list YOUR Top Albums and Shows from 2007…

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