I was thinking about this the last few days and some of the names that came to mind were surprising even to me, on both lists really.

Let’s begin with some of the disappointing records because this should be fun.

Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist: How can something rank as disappointing when my expectations for it were already so low? By sucking more than I ever thought Billy Corgan was capable of sucking. This record never had any business being released, and I stood by Billy when you put out that solo record and I was stoked when I heard the band was getting back together. But the band didn’t get back together, instead you release a new solo record under the guise of a Pumpkins record because you are a timid, and pathetic man. Shame on you! Now I don’t even want to listen to my old Pumpkins records that I actually do like.

Architecture in Helsinki - Places Like This: Whaaaaaa happened? How did a band that I put up on such a pedestal after the impeccable In Case We Die end up releasing this over-the-top bubblegum syrupy sweet pop bullshit? Ok that is harsh, the album isn’t even that bad really. Still if I hired Picasso and he painted me a relatively decent landscape I could buy at any mall in the country I’d be pissed off. Know what I mean?

Marilyn Manson - Eat Me Drink Me: The only reason this record was so bloody disappointing is because of a press release somewhere seemingly deciding to compare Eat Me Drink Me to some of Bowie’s finest work. Apparently press releases work because I must have read a half dozen reviews championing this as Manson’s best work, and comparing it to Bowie. I took the bait and having always been very interested in Manson’s music admittedly got a tad excited for what I would find. Too bad the comparison was a bogus one and maybe applicable to one, or two songs at best on the entire record. The rest of the time Manson spent trying to recapture days that are long long past.

Kanye West - Graduation: It’s not very cool for an indie music website to crown Kanye like this site and this writer has been known to do, this much I realize. However, I have no regrets for having done it and stand by those statements. 2007 is where my love affair with Mr. West ends. Save the awesome decision to work with Daft Punk, the rest of this record mires in mediocrity and dare I say laziness. It was probably inevitable that Kanye would decide to just keep following the formula and get paid rather than put his heart and soul into the music. I’m still disappointed about it. Wake up Mr. West!

Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew Sings Spirit If: This doesn’t have anything to do really with what I think about Spirit If as a record and everything to do with how it was presented. The fact is Broken Social Presents: Mike Tyson sings Spirit If would sell records and Arts & Crafts and BSS know this. When all around the province people were opening up their Alt-Weeklies to see an ad for a show with Broken Social Scene in about 86 font and Kevin Drew squeezed in fineprint next to it that’s questionable ethics. And where it gets even uglier is when they chose not to just admit it. This isn’t just a problem with this record but the label really in general lately, I understand you need to put food on the table guys n gals just say so already! Don’t start piling up lies, it’s unbecoming.

Surprise Records of 2007

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: I felt weird typing that just now yet I truly believe it was a surprise that this record was actually really damn good. Many lesser bands would have wilted under the immense pressure of following up an album with as much momentum as Funeral. Not Arcade Fire, they did it and some could argue they even topped it. I’d actually go as far as to argue that this album is underrated because it has become so cool to dismiss it as being inferior that people are forgetting about it when it comes to year end lists, etc.

Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace: Yes I just went here! The first big concert I ever saw was a Foo Fighters show and I’ve had a weak spot for them ever since. That weak spot has not however prevented me from giving up on them almost entirely for the last five or so years. And then comes Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace almost out of nowhere and I’m reminded why I was so into this band in my teenage years. I don’t listen to many of The Edge (Toronto Radio station) type bands anymore but I truly believe of those bands the Foo Fighters are the cream of the crop.

Bonde Do Role - With Lasers: I love Arular by M.I.A. and so I just sort of made the assumption I’d love Kala. I was wrong, thankfully Bonde Do Role filled that gap in my musical taste wonderfully. I remember talking to Aldona on msn as I was listening to this the first time completely wowed by how catchy, unique, and random With Lasers was. I didn’t see it coming but am happy it came.

Geoff Berner - Wedding Dance of the Widow Bride: Big thanks go out to Glyn for this one whose review of the record caused me to go back and revisit for myself. That a klezmer record would even come close to making our top 50 is remarkable and a sign that Geoff Berner is really onto something. He can’t sing, and there really isn’t much going on here and Wedding Dance is all the better for it. Now if I could only convince Terri to use one of these songs for our wedding…

Raine Maida - The Hunter’s Lullaby: You can read my review in the archive to see what I had to say about this one, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that mildly enjoying this release might be the wildest surprise I’ve had all year.

Cheers,

Dan

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