Favorite edition 2007: Quarter third

CD sales this year took a pretty dramatic hit, and it’s reaching a point where the bogeyman of online piracy can’t be entirely blamed. Customers have gotten smarter, and artists? I just get the sense everyone is so freaked out by the changes in the distribution model that artists are just phoning it in.

It was tough to find something to like in 2005. I’m getting that sense in 2007.

With the third quarter now done, I figure it’s time to update the Favorite Edition 2007 list. Still not much change from quarter to quarter, and I’m not fired up about the fall release schedule either.

  1. Explosions in the Sky, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
  2. UA, Golden green
  3. Björk, Volta
  4. unkie, the Price of Fame Hot damn, does this album rock! Take 2/3 pounding indie rock and 1/3 jazz, and the Price of Fame is what you get. unkie really burns on this album, enough to propel this album to near the top of the list.
  5. Soundtrack, Once I probably wouldn’t have picked this soundtrack up without watching the movie, but even as an introduction to the work the Frames, it’s really good. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová sound incredible together.
  6. Smashing Pumpkins, Zeitgeist I didn’t think the world really needed a Smashing Pumpkins reunion till the world actually got a Smashing Pumpkins reunion. I get the impression sometimes Billy Corgan brought back the Pumpkins to show these young upstarts how its done.
  7. Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars
  8. Sasagawa Miwa, Mayoi Naku
  9. Ore wa Konna Mon Ja Nai, 2
  10. Voxtrot, Voxtrot

The year is not finished, and there are a number of October releases on which I’m keeping my eye:

  • Café Tacuba, Sino It’s been four years since the Mexican band released the excellent Cuatros Caminos. I’m trying not to pump up my expectations, but it’s really hard.
  • Onitsuka Chihiro, Las Vegas I actually don’t think this album will reach the level of Sugar High or Insomnia, but like Chara, an extended hiatus made me realize how much I missed her burnished voice.
  • Sacha Sacket, Lovers and Leaders I’m still resisting the urge to get the MP3 version of this album.
  • Ari Gold, Transport Systems I don’t think this album will end up ranking either, but I’m still curious to listen to it.