2007 Music (another damn list)

Man, so it's been a while since we talked about what an awesome year 2007 is (like, a week). I mean, I got an awesome tax return and paid off my car; fashion loves me; Barack is going to be our next president; but best of all? Rawk. And. Roll. What what y'all, that's right. Let's recap:

• Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal (January 23)
• Wincing the Night Away - The Shins (January 23)
• Neon Bible - Arcade Fire (March 6)
• We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse (March 20)
  
• Living with the Living - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists (March 20)
• Night of the Furies - The Rosebuds (April 10)

All of which I am still enjoying, with the exception of Night of the Furies, but only on a technicality because it hasn't arrived in the mail yet. Ted Leo gets better every listen. Modest Mouse I can only do in small doses, and my head is still spinning from the addition of Johnny Marr (wtf?), so of those six listed, I'd have to call that album the weakest. Still to come:

• American Doll Posse - Tori Amos (May 1)
• Volta - Bjork (May 8)
• Release the Stars - Rufus Wainwright (May 15)
• Sky Blue Sky - Wilco (May 15)
• Easy Tiger - Ryan Adams (June 5)
• Icky Thump - White Stripes (June 12)
• Challengers - The New Pornographers (August 21)

Must admit I'm not sure about getting the new Tori, though on a positive note, the tracks I've heard haven't mentioned anything about driving around Ireland in her Saab. Ah, progress. Also, I am admittedly a casual Bjork fan and probably won't get the new record unless I see it for cheaps in the used record store. As for Rufus, you can watch the video for "Going to a Town" on YouTube -- the song's sentiment is hardly a new one and understandable in this socially frustrating day and age. Ryan Adams will probably release another half dozen or so records this year after Easy Tiger. The New Pornographers promise that if you buy a poster at their upcoming shows, they'll give you a code to input on their website and then they'll send you the new album when it's released.

What else? There are rumors of Belle & Sebastian finally giving us an official release of the Peel Sessions. Not to mention the Crowded House record which remains untitled and without a release date. Those are just the established acts with new records this year. Let's not forget the bands I have yet to discover and the newcomers, beginning with everyone's favorite Kiwi in London:

(Silly Kiwis have no class.)

Still waiting for a definitive release date for Liam Finn's debut solo album, I'll Be Lightning. Have I mentioned that you can listen to his stuff over on his myspace page? Because you can listen to his stuff over on his myspace page. Also, keep an eye out for Crowded House's tour dates - I have a theory Liam will be tagging along playing dive bars while dear ol' dad entertains in the theaters and music halls. We shall see...

Who did I forget? I'm sure there's several... Now you see why I keep repeating this damn list? I'm trying not to forget for my end of the year list in December.