Media Review

Alex Drumm's Top 15 of 2007


1.) The Manchester Orchestra – I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child: The band might have originally put out this disc in late 2006, but this did not see an official release until mid 2007. To be honest with you, this disc shook me to the core. Taking the best parts of Brand New, mewithoutYou and Modest Mouse, this is probably the most a CD has ever spoken to me. (And that includes you, “Deja Entendu”) Lead vocalist Andy Hull lets the listener sort out his part whispered, part sang, part yelped vocals and his group of fellow musicians create an intricate and very enjoyable musical tapestry. Of course the beauty of the album is variety and every week, I had a new favorite song. Whether it is the jagged and poetic “Wolves at Night,” the highly emotional “Where Have You Been?” or the somber and repetitive “Sleeper 1972,” this is the best whole album I have heard in years. Suggested listening: All of it. Seriously.


2.) The Starting Line – Direction: I was extremely skeptical of these guys at the beginning of 2007. “Based on a True Story” was the most mature album I had heard by a band is this genre and I was worried about how these Philly guys would top it. But my doubts were assuaged 30 seconds into the opening track. I had never thought an album could go from moody to ecstatic so quickly, and I loved it. The best part was that the album was full of great songs with no filler like “Given the Chance” and “The World” to gum it up. Suggested Listening: “Direction,” “Something Left to Give,” “21.”


3.) Fall Out Boy – Infinity on High: Ah. Nothing is more polarizing than a little Fall Out Boy talk. These guys have transcended the indie scene and now are full-fledged rock Gods in the eyes of the world. Aside from ditching song titles that I have to take a breath in the middle of, Patrick Wentz (I know that isn’t either of their names) teamed up and put out another classic album. Moving even farther from the Take This To Your Grave path, the band challenged themselves and wrote songs I didn’t know they were capable of writing. (See: “Golden,” “You’re crashing, but you’re still no wave”) The end result is an album that even Chris Gutierrez would be proud of. Suggested Listening: “You’re Crashing But You’re Still No Wave,” “Hum Hallelujah”


4.) Boys Night Out – Boys Night Out: It is almost impossible to top an album like Trainwreck, and from how it sounds, the guys don’t even want to try. But this is not a bad thing. Instead they took what they learned and went back and revisited their former days and recorded an updated version of Make Yourself Sick. Instead of focusing on murdering ex’s, the guys explore their past as a band, noisy neighbors and, of course, alcohol. For those fans expecting another Trainwreck, you might as well forget about it. It was great but it sounds like these guys are back doing what they do best. Suggested Listening: “Let Me Be Your Swear Word,” “Fall For the Drinker”


5.) Bayside – The Walking Wounded: What a hauntingly dark, yet perfect album title for these New Yorkers. The Walking Wounded takes the next logical step after their self-titled release and, with no disrespect to Beatz, makes an even better album. Anthony seems much more comfortable in the role of song writer and their was certainly no shortage of inspiration. Simply put, Bayside has recorded some of best songs of their career and with every new release, isn’t that the goal? Suggested Listening: “I and I” “They’re Horses, NOT Unicorns.”


6.) Maylene and the Sons of Disaster – II: No one sounds like this band. A three prong guitar attack that is accented by one of the most compelling frontmen in hardcore today. II takes what the Sons did on their debut and intensifies it by 70. I am not usually much of a hardcore guy, but these guys continue to impress me with music that is hard yet catchy at the same time. Plus who has ever heard such a great hardcore album with so little of the great drum staple: double bass? None, I say. Suggested Listening: “Memories of the Grove” “Death is an Alcoholic.”


7.) Say Anything – In Defense of the Genre: I can’t really say much about this album. I am still struggling to digest this huge release and I am going on how I feel about the album about a month after it’s release and it’s potential. To say this is an epic CD is an epic understatement. It looks and sounds like Max has finally got his dementia under control and the listeners either reap the benefits or feel he has lost his creative spark. I think it is the former so far but who knows. All I know is I enjoy listening to the album immensely. Suggested Listening: “Church Channel” “Fucking Ecstasy.”



8.) The Honorary Title – Scream and Light Up the Sky: It has become less the Jarrod Grobel show when it comes to the Honorary Title and it’s something you can easily hear on THT’s most recent release. With the vast array of instruments and denser arrangements, this band has become a full on rock band. While some fans (myself included) still yearn a little for the simpler and more transparent days, that doesn’t mean this album is not great. Suggested listening: “Stay Away” “The City’s Summer”.


9.) Motion City Soundtrack – Even If It Kills Me: I am not sure how to feel about this album. It really lacked the spark that I found when I first heard Commit This to Memory. However, it might end up being more like I am the Movie in the sense that over time I to grow to love it more and more. Justin Pierre’s signature wit is still there and this is still a fun band to listen to. I am just hoping that AP Magazine’s prediction doesn’t come to fruition and Pierre’s alcoholism doesn’t get in the way. Suggested Listening: “This is for Real” “It had to be you”



10.) Cassino – Sounds of Salvation: When Northstar broke up a few years ago, I found myself feeling conflicted about it. The fans were promised a new musical venture by vocalist Nick Torres and guitarist Tyler Odem and I really didn’t know what to expect. After a few years, a few small tours and a few demos, Cassino final put out a full length and casual Northstar fans everywhere were turned off. However, a die hard fan like myself found the new musical venture refreshing and enjoyable. Torres lyrics were still very much the focus and they weren’t being gummed up by distorted guitars and booming drums. A label should found out what these guys want and sign them. Now. Suggested Listening: “Tin Man’s Throne” “New Jerusalem”


11.) The Spill Canvas – No, Really, I’m Fine: Despite the title, it is obvious that front man for the Spill Canvas, Nick Thomas, is not fine. This album though a little flat in some places, particularly when compared to 2005’s One Fell Swoop, is still very listenable and even great. We have reached a point where I think if I just heard the music, no, just the guitar parts to Spill Canvas songs, I would know who it is immediately. Basically what I am saying is, though the guys didn’t deviate much from what they already know, they still put out a fine album. Suggested Listening: “Hush Hush” “Bleed, Everyone’s Doing It”


12.) Paramore – Riot!: These kids (and I do mean kids) from just outside Nashville are blazing up the charts and had, arguably, one of the biggest songs of the summer with the ridiculously catchy “Misery Business” and have put out yet another solid album. Combining vocalist Hayley Williams adorable good looks and her breathtaking talent doesn’t hurt either. It will be interesting to see where this band ends up when the emo bubble bursts. Suggested Listening: “Crushcrushcrush” “Born for This”


13.) Though She Wrote – The Invitation EP: Ever wonder what the Devil Wears Prada were like in high school? Me neither. But this is the closest we are going to get. These kids (again, I mean kids) have put out an album that would be just “good” if they were old enough to legally vote. Sick break-downs and amazing guitars show these guys are talented way beyond their age. This is one of the few hardcore albums where the songs get stuck in my head. Very rare in my world. Just on these guys before Solid State does. Suggested Listening: “Belly Bops for Bob Barker” “The Invitation”


14.) Gogol Bordello – Super Taranta!: In a scene of nothing but parity, it is so refreshing to hear a band that sounds so different. Eugene Hutz produces another amazing album of gypsy punk. Don’t know what that is? Pick up the CD. Better yet, check out the live show. Suggested Listening: “American Wedding” “Alcohol”


15.) The Fold – Secrets Keep You Sick: I guess the reason I liked this album so much was the fact that is was head and shoulders above the last one. As I said in my review, “Medicine” is one of the best songs I have heard kick off an album and “Hey Rebekah” just perfectly exemplified what it is like to be on the road. Just a feel good album that makes my toe tap. Suggested Listening: “Medicine” “Hey Rebekah”

Top 10 Songs of 2007:
1.) Sherwood – “Middle of the Night”
2.) Ludo – “Drunken Lament”
3.) The Manchester Orchestra – “Where Have You Been?”
4.) Brand New – “Fork and Knife”
5.) The White Stripes – “Icky Thump”
6.) The Starting Line – “Direction”
7.) Bayside – “I and I”
8.) Fall Out Boy – “Golden”
9.) The Academy Is… - “We’ve Got a Big Mess on our Hands”
10.) The Fold – “Medicine”

Biggest Disappointments:
Mae – Singularity
The Academy Is… - Santi
Circa Survive – On Letting Go
Jimmy Eat World – Chase the Light

reviewed by Dave Giumara