Just a moment ago, I watched as Amy Winehouse was awarded Record of the Year Grammy for "Rehab." Now, despite her personal problems, there's no denying that Amy made one hell of an album last year, and "Rehab" was one hell of a song. Watching her performance just now, and also her acceptance speech, I was pretty sure Amy was high as a kite, but as my dear beau said, "If getting her high is what it takes to keep her making such great music, then dammit, hand her the pipe!" (Or something along those lines.)
So who else saw this performance and/or acceptance speech, and what's your take??
OK, I am really busy today, but this was too good to pass up.
NME is reporting that UK pop-wreck Amy Winehouse is planning on recording, yes, a Christmas and Hanukkah album! She'll supposedly be working with her current producer, the ever-popular Mark Ronson. I'm just amused by this whole idea considering the mess Amy seems to be in these days, but hey, more power to her (but you do have to love the juxtaposition of this story with the picture NME decided to use.)
And oh yeah, if you've missed it so far, here's Amy with her new blonde 'do. Dana, you better pick yourself up some hair bleach, eh?
I have so many favorites for 2007 that narrowing the lists was tricky. Plus I’m preggo as a house and have NO memory at this point, so I’m sure I’ve inadvertently omitted some really great releases and songs. Forgive me and my wacked out hormones.
But that said, here are some Top of 2007 lists from me, to you. Feel free to leave comments both nasty and supportive. I likely deserve both for some of my erratic tastes.
The official results of the TIG Best NW Releases of 2007 Readers’ Poll are coming VERY soon… stay tuned! In the meantime, some of my personal picks for a wonderful year in music past:
Favorite Releases of 2007:
Amy Winehouse Back to Black
Okkervil River The Stage Names
Tullycraft Every Scene Needs a Center
Beirut The Flying Cup Club
The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
ShakeSomeActionShakeSomeAction
Math & Physics Club Baby I’m Yours
John Vanderslice Emerald City
The Cave Singers InvitationSongs
The Fratellis Costello Music
Favorite Northwest Releases of 2007:
Grand Archives Grand Archives
Tullycraft Every Scene Needs a Center
ShakeSomeActionShakeSomeAction
Cave Singers Invitation Songs
Math & Physics Club Baby I’m Yours
Siberian With Me
Throw the Me Statue Moonbeams
Arthur & Yu In Camera
Night Canopy Of Honey and Country
BOAT Let’s Drag Our Feet
Favorite Songs of 2007:
Amy Winehouse “Love Is A Losing Game” and “Back to Black”
Nicole Atkins “The Way It Is”
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir “I Never Thought I’d Feel This Way for a Boy”
Tullycraft “The Punks Are Writing Love Songs”
Interpol “Heinrich Maneuver”
Grand Archives “Southern Glass Home”
Cloud Cult “Chemicals Collide”
The Broken West “Down in the Valley”
LCD Soundsystem “Someone Great”
Sleeping in the Aviary “Another Girl”
Lily Allen “LDN”
Los Campesinos “You! Me! Dancing!”
Throw Me the Statue “Lolita”
Shake Some Action “Damaged”
The Saturday Knights “45”
Cave Singers “Seeds of Night”
Siberian “Paper Birds”
The Shaky Hands “Why and How Come”
The Blakes “Don’t Bother Me”
Night Canopy “Boom It’s Spring”
The Pipettes “We Are the Pipettes”
The Fratellis “Chelsea Dagger”
John Vanderslice “The Parade”
The Twilight Sad “That Summer, At Home I Had Become the Invisible Boy”
It's been a busy week for celebrity trainwrecks, what with all of Britney's court appearances (or lack thereof), her sister's teen pregnancy and all. And not to be left behind, a pair of the the most trashy of the UK starlets made headlines too!
Amy Winehouse got arrestedfor "perverting justice" after she was questioned by police in the case involving her husband and his attempt to pervert more justice.
Meanwhile, Lily Allen is pregnant! Not only that, she's pregnant with the child of her current boyfriend, Ed Simons of the Chemical Brothers. Now that'll be an interesting child, let me tell you!
I made a ‘Best of ’07’ compilation for coworkers and thought I’d share my picks with you, in no particular order. Hope you’ve got a little time to spare!
All downloads have been posted with permission from the bands themselves. Thanks bands!
This CD got ripped to my iTunes and then met its fate in the large pile of CDs on my desk, but the songs on the iTunes caught my ear, especially this one, with a vibe a little Violent Femmes-like, sans Gano.
I’m all sappy in love with these guys and their lovely harmony-driven sound. Guitarist Andy Santospago just released his own solo debut so check that out too.
7. Amy Winehouse: “Some Unholy War”
Trainwreck what? Not a video for the song, just a funny YouTube clip I found called “Amy Winehouse taking a line.” Because really, who doesn’t love a trainwreck.
I really really really really love this whole album. P.S. Elk City singer Renee Lobue sends big holiday cheer to the imaginary world. We *heart* you back, Renee!
Steven and Tim, who call themselves Antiques, are a couple of the finest people I know, and they make songs that warm your heart. Lots and lots of em! “These Things” is off their latest, Floodlight.
This Boston duo & co. had a great 2007, releasing their debut on Black & Greene records (label of Apollo Sunshine drummer Jeremy Greene) and supporting the Fiery Furnaces on a brief tour. Their hometown shows are consistently packed.
Here they are playing this song at PA’s Lounge in May.
I caught these guys at CMJ and fell for their quirky charm. This songs completely delights me. Know how I feel about whistling? I’m equally taken by handclaps.
I’ve been telling you about these guys for as long as I’ve been writing for TIG. They won the WBCN Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble (a battle of the bands whose claim to fame is crowning ‘Til Tuesday in the early ’80s) and they’re really incredible. Pure straight up rock ‘n’ roll here.
(And, odd little snippet: The photo on the cover of Performer, below, was taken in my Grandmother’s bathroom. True story.)
A Boston-area collective with a revolving roster of members, led by Dylan Metrano. This song features crooning vocals by Sam Rosen on the lead-in. Yum.
18. Black Kids: “I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again)”
A recent discovery for me, this Florida band is riding a wave of indie buzz. This song is pop gold.
Someone wrote about this band here on TIG earlier this year, so I checked them out and am particularly crazy about this song for its lush vocal harmonies.
Fresh off opening for Arcade Fire in the US and Europe, and with only an EP release so far (but a full length coming soon), these guys are briefly back home in Boston preparing their world domination. Seriously, don’t resist, just fall in love with them now.
Good peeps, good hooks, and an especially awesome bridge. Brilliant video too. Will be submitting a review of their new record The Truth Will Catch You, Just Wait…, which features this song, very soon!
Grammy nominees have been announced with igDana fave Amy Winehouse picking up nominations for best album, best song, best new artist and best record (essentially best single of the year.)
Also of interest is Feist gaining a nod for best new artist, as this is the "first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist". I guess being in Broken Social Scene and the other three solo records don't do near as much for your public persona as a catchy iPod commercial.
Well, it's another week (weak) of re-issues, remixes, and scraps.
Gorillaz is putting out a album of D-Sides. I'm not even sure what a D-Side is!
The NIN remix CD actually looks interesting with remixes of songs from Year Zero by Ladytron, Kronos, and many more.
Amy Winehouse has finally released her debut CD Frank in the US. All the die hard fans already have it oni mport and know that it just isn't as good as Back To Black.
It seems the gem of the week might be Local Violin Genius Eyvind Kang's The Yelm Sessions. I was first introduced to his work when we recorded and played with Laura Veirs during her Triumphs and Travails of Orphan Mae era, which although I love each and every LV release, this record holds up as my very favorite. He also worked with her on Troubled By The Fire. You may also know him from his work with Two Loons For Tea and Bill Frisell, just to name a few. He also has several solo releases and continues to work with a bevy (that's right) of talented musicians that he enlists to bring his lush works to life. Always perfect for grown up dinner parties and background music while reading.
AMY WINEHOUSE – Frank AYO – Joyful DAFT PUNK – Alive 2007 DJ VADIM – Soundcatchers Extra EX-BOYFRIENDS – I'm With GORILLAZ – D-Sides EVYIND KANG – The Yelm Sessions LIL SISCO – Welcome To The City NEGATIVELAND – Our Favorite Things NINE INCH NAILS – Y34RZ3ROR3MIX36 NOFX – They've Actually Gotten Worse Live PHISH – Vegas 96 (and several other live shows) RESIDENTS- The Voice of Midnight U2 – The Joshua Tree (Deluxe Edition) VADER – And Blood Was Shed in Warsaw
DVD's NIRVANA – Unplugged WOLFMOTHER – Please Experience Wolfmother Live
It would be funny if… OK, I think it's just funny, but I suppose to balance the global budget of loony female singers, Amy Winehouse is perilously close to becoming "Britney UK" these days. In fact, the BBC reports that Amy was booed off stage during the opening night of her UK tour and proceeded to threaten the audience when they booed her husband, who, by the way, is currently in jail accused of witness tampering.
Back stateside, the much less controversial Pipettes seem to be much hotter than Amy lately — hot enough to set a monitor on fire onstage! No one was injured during the Boston show, but it had to get cut short. {Hat tip to NME for that}.
And if the Pipettes couldn't get cuter, here they are in cartoon form!
NME has posted their "Cool" findings for 2007 on their website and has opened the voting for the Readers' Top 10 on their website.
The NME editorial staff ranked cool-kids like so:
1. Frank Carter, Gallows (new) 2. Jamie Reynolds, Klaxon (last year 13) 3. Lovefoxxx, CSS (last year 10) 4. Ryan Jarman, The Cribs (re-entry) 5. Lethal Bizzle (new) 6. Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys (last year 32) 7. Kate Nash (new entry) 8. Amy Winehouse (last year 50) 9. Beth Ditto, Gossip (last year 1) 10. Keith Richards (last year 26)
I need Erik G to truly critique (and decipher) it for me, but I have to point out the oddness of making Beth Ditto #9 AFTER Amy… and after that Klaxon? And Keith Richards? Is that the token classic dude? I'm guessing that means last year David Bowie was on the list?
Good to know at least the Readers' Top Ten shouts out to Jack White and Jarvis Cocker (who should be #1, always).
