Review Of The Year 2007: January

This is my review of this years music. Basically, the best albums released in each month. Click on the albums title to download.

January

Having heard Little Man Tate's "About What You Know" months before after it's leak on to the internet around September 2006, and being throughly disappointed with the feeling of over-production of the tracks on there. Everyone of the old tracks, the demo version is better, and I don't usually agree with bands putting b-sides on their album's, but if there was ever just cause for this, it would be with Little Man Tate, classics such as "Just Can't Take It" off their first single "The Agent", or "Teenager" of, probably the best track on the album, "House Party At Boothy's" single, really should have made it to the album. Saying that, the over-production would probably have destroyed them as well.
All-in-all a huge disappointment.

And, with that out of the way, on to the best albums of this month.

1. Panic Prevension - Jamie T

This album is so different from anything else released this year, it really hard to compare it with anything else. It's got such a great mix of songs, slow solo stuff ("Back In The Game") to really fast paced, full band tracks ("Operation"). . From simple tracks about getting pissed ("Calm Down Dearest"), to more serious songs ("Shelia") its great. The emphasis of the album is really drinking and youth culture, and his ability to tell it how it is, yet be almost comical about it, really put a different spin on things.
This album fully deserved it's nomination for the Mercury Music Prize.
Best Tracks: Operation, Shelia, If You Got The Money


2. Myths Of The Near Future - Klaxons

When Klaxons first surfaced in mid-2006, their blend of frantic indie riffs with dance drum beats was hailed almost as a revolution in music. "Xan Valleys EP" released later in 2006 (but not in the UK) very muched lived up to this. Singles "Atlantis To Interzone" and "Gravity's Rainbow" were a mess of keyboards and guitar, as well as a cover of Kicks Like A Mule's dance hit "The Bouncer" and the purely insane "4 Horsemen Of 2012", plus a few remixes, wrapped up the EP, and the album was set to be just as mental, judging by single "Magick" and demo "Totem".
However, it was not to be. Myths Of The Near Future is no where near the crazed, MDMA fulled riot that Xan Valleys EP is. A few tracks are, Atlantis To Interzone and Magick remain as they were, but the rerecordings of Gravity's Rainbow (and extra guitar part added) and 4 Horsemen (stupid vocal effects) have as good as ruined them. None of the other tracks stand out and the frantic indie-dance they were expected to be. Instead, Klaxons have almost chilled out, and by doing so have created perfect indie-pop. Tracks you could dance in a club, or go mental to at a live show. They have clearly properly sat down and put really effort into every aspect of this album. Where Xan Valleys was mess of noise and shouting (and it was great for it), Myths is a well crafted merging of the instruments.
I really was disappointed with this album at first, but now i really like it, if it is a bit repatative.
Best songs: Atlantis To Interzone, Totem On The Timeline, It's Not Over Yet


3. Wincing The Night Away - The Shins

I have literally got into this album this week, so Im not entirely sure what to write about this (see Francis' Blog for more about them). Its essentially what you would expect from The Shins (if you know them), and thats great lyrics. The music on Wincing The Night Away is also amazing, as is the production.
This album is very much an album where if you like this kind of thing, you'll love it, though there is better music of this type. If your not into this kind of music then its probably not your thing. Essentially, it's very good background music, that if you just sit and listen to you will appreciate even more.
Best songs: Sleeping Lessons, Australia, A Comet Appears (at the moment, these are likely to change)

And thats it for January. There were some great albums, elsewhere The View's debut "Hats Off To The Buskers" hit No. 1 in the charts (highlights are "Wasted Little DJ's", "Superstar Tradesman" and "The Don" to name a few, it's well worth giving a listen).