Sandburg’s Top 20 of 2007: #6-10
This is where we really start to get down to business, so let’s see who rounds out the Top 10.
6. Feist - The Reminder
With a little help from Steve Jobs and a lot of help from a friggin’ fantastic album, Feist really made it! So irresistibly charismatic and sexy, the Canadian chanteuse has certainly made a name for herself. She easily makes her talents seem effortless, taking the labor out of the music and making it purely something to be thoroughly enjoyed. Feist further showcases her uncanny ability to tackle multiple genres with the cool-and-calm nature of which even The Fonz would be jealous. There’s a nicer, longer review of The Reminder here.
Listen to “Brandy Alexander” (5/5)
7. The Clientele - God Save The Clientele
On GStC, The Clientele effortlessly move from track to track, as they touch on lullaby ballads to toned down versions of 60’s and 70’s folkpop. It seems as though the album was written from the hip, a stream of consciousness, but with each note carefully plucked. This delightful collection of songs is truly a seratonin riser. God Save the Clientele is one of those records that is so warm and sweet, that I often have a difficult time putting it into words. This is an album to enjoy not just this year but for the many to come as well. More on The Clientele here.
Listen to “Here Comes the Phantom” (4.9/5)
8. Chuck Prophet - Soap and Water
Chuck Prophet’s Soap and Water was perhaps one of the most delightful surprises of the year. Sneaking in towards the very end of 2007, the seasoned veteran singer-songwriter peppers his album with blues-heavy basslines and sharp pop sensibilities. Witty and fun, you can tell Prophet was just having a great time making the record in the first place. I guarantee that the bluesy-folk rhythms and the deep baritone of Prophet will enthrall you as well. More on Chuck Prophet here.
Listen to “Freckle” (5/5)
9. Jamie Scott - Park Bench Theories
Scott is a masterful troubadour, flirting with James Blunt comparisons but yet drawing comparisons to the dynamicism of an Elton John or-for a more recent reference-a Paolo Nutini. As the album title might suggest, Scott’s music listens more like a diary, the listener being let in on a collection of one singer-songwriter’s view on daily life. The lush arrangements certainly take the ordinary and turn them into interesting works of art, appealing to a wide range of generations and genres. More on Jamie Scott here.
Listen to “Lady West” (4.9/5)
10. Anders Osborne - Coming Down
Osborne relates much of the pain and destruction felt by New Orleaners following Hurricane Katrina, as his southern croon bellows delicately over a collection of funk-jazz-blues fusion tracks. Osborne has the unique ability to make a ballad so thoroughly captivating, as his voice ebbs and flows with real emotive power. Coming Down is an album that celebrates revival in the aftermath of tragedy. More on Anders Osborne here.
Listen to “Back on Dumaine” (5/5)
posted in Anders Osborne, Chuck Prophet, Feist, Jamie Scott, The Clientele, Top 20 | 0 Comments
In some ways, I was surprised myself to see this album up at #11. This UK collective, though, delivers potently sweet retro tunes that are sure to conjure images and sounds of AM radio gold. With delightful harmonies, rolling funky guitars, and some neat little horn sections, The Bees’ Octopus is a groovy rock opus. “Got to Let Go” has got a dusty-trailed rockness to it, while “This is for The Better Days” is a more downtempo track with Graham Nash-like vocals behind it. 
To quote my previous post about her: “Straight out of Liverpool comes Candie Payne, who delivers surprisingly solid and incredibly catchy lo-fi indie pop. On her debut album 
“Tales of Silversleeve showcases Davey’s infectious vocals; playful but serious, cute but piercing at the same time, Davey uses her voice as an effective instrument throughout the album. She also has a real knack for the upbeat, driving rock song, infusing each track with unique rhythms and fantastic basslines…’Reuben’ is a piano-driven delight with Davey’s sweet voice lifting the track to another level with the accompaniment of a child’s chorus. ‘Moving’ is another one of those purposed pseudo-basslines backed by Davey’s captivating vocals.” 
He may be young, but his voice and his lyrical content rival that of wise elders. Folk wonderboy Willy Mason really stepped it up for his second release, showing real maturation in both his sound and his message. Mason blends sincere, witty, and introspective lyrics with a laid-back-guitar-and-drums approach to accomplish a rather unique sound. His voice, as I said before, is a near carbon copy of Mark Knopfler, and it is perfectly suited for the music he’s making. It’s so refreshing to find artists that pay attention to detail, who seem intent on delivering a product that not only sounds good but also has something important to say. 
A self-professed “front porch soul” music collective, Jacksonville-product JJ Grey & Mofro is sure to strike a chord in that funky space in your heart. They write sincere, socially conscious tunes that are of the folk-blues-funk fusion type that seems to be real popular these days. 
