Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

In honor of this momentous occasion of completing the Top 20 list of 2007, I want to give you a mix of all the songs featured over the past few days. That way, you’ll be able to enjoy it all long after 2007 is over!

Download the mix here [it's a legit link, I promise]:

1. Rumors - Josh Ritter
2. Empty Hearts - Josh Ritter
3. Your Arms Around Me - Jens Lekman
4. Dark Matter - Andrew Bird
5. Ada - The National
6. The Devil Never Sleeps - Iron & Wine
7. Brandy Alexander - Feist
8. Here Comes The Phantom - The Clientele
9. Freckle - Chuck Prophet
10. Lady West - Jamie Scott
11. Back on Dumaine - Anders Osborne
12. Got To Let Go - The Bees
13. One More Chance - Candie Payne
14. Moving - Cathy Davey
15. Save Myself - Willy Mason
16. Tragic - JJ Grey & Mofro
17. Ghost - Voxtrot
18. To The Country - Laura Veirs
19. You Made Me Like It - 1990s
20. Dr. Kitt - Kula Shaker
21. Up On Crutches - The Sea And Cake

Drumroll please….

1. Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter

I can’t say it any better than I already have:

It sounds monumental, and maybe even a little pretentious, for Idahoan Josh Ritter to title an album The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter. Who is he to claim such a rich past with his first major record label release? Well, in Ritter’s defense, this is his fourth studio album, and he just may be one of the great songwriters of our time. Mixing one part Dylan, another part Springsteen, and throwing in a big dose of his own country-folk charm, Ritter has created a masterpiece with his latest release.

Some songwriters define themselves by their lyrical content, others by their musical accompaniment, and still others through an impeccably distinctive voice. The individual that can meld all three of these is a rare species, and I would venture to say that Ritter is one of them. He effortlessly moves from slow ballads about heartache to string and horn-infused rock arrangements about his own insecurities. All this he pulls off with an air of confidence and a folksy pomp that makes you think that he’s that guy who’s the baddest dude in town with a heart of gold.

On the opening track, “To the Dogs of Whoever”, Ritter pays homage to an American icon, doing his best Springsteen impersonation. He then ventures into a piano-driven rock ditty “Mind’s Eye” that can best be described as insanely catchy. He slides into “Right Moves” with violins blazing and horns ready to attack. As the album starts to catch, a darker jazzy rock “Rumors” comes on that also makes good use of some wind instrumentation. But on “Next to the Last Romantic”, Ritter shows he can step back and laugh at himself as well. Ritter saves his best for next-to-last, though. On “Empty Hearts”, he seems most comfortable. He opens with a beautiful stringed riff, and soon enters into a chorus of “Don’t let me in to this year with an empty heart” that will have you singing along in no time.

It’s really Ritter’s ability to be but also appeal to the everyman that grants him such success in his songwriting. On The Historical Conquests.., Ritter ends up revering those who have come before him but also paving a way for new songwriters to join a rare collection of folks who have been blessed like him. As he polishes his own skills, he reveals his own influences from the past; in truth, his album title couldn’t be more fitting.

Listen to “Empty Heart” (5/5)

2. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

You may recall me referring to my man-crush on Jens Lekman, and nothing has really changed since then. Lekman’s sage-like wisdom about life and relationships always comes across with the utmost earnestness (and comedy). Lyrically, NFOK is certainly interesting, with the situational “Postcard to Nina” or the comically romantic “Your Arms Around Me”. Discopop tracks (”Sipping on the Sweet Nectar”) combined with funky fresh tunes (”Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig”) make for an album that has only one rival from the entire year. Cheers, Jens. More on Jens Lekman here.

Listen to “Your Arms Around Me” (5/5)

3. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

What an amazing year it has been for His Birdness! While not touring around the country for his incredible Armchair Apocrypha, Bird has been busy taking with his violin. Complete with lush stringed instrumentation, Bird’s lilting vocals, and the addition of Martin Dosh’s stylings, Armchair Apocrypha lends for music that (as some have described) may cure some forms of cancer. Bird also finally tackles the various analogs between himself and the namesake of his last name–he seems to have embraced his birdness in the end. Click here for a really great post on the album.

Listen to “Dark Matter” (5/5) [via Sound of Marching Feet]

4. The National - Boxer

I know everybody and their mother has put this album pretty high on their albums of the year, but the bottom line is that it is justified. Matt Berninger’s vocals conjure up images of an earnest poet who has plenty of worthy things to be said. Berninger throws around such vivid, subtle imagery ( ‘Standing in an empty tuxedo with grapes in my mouth’), that it often takes a keen listener to pick them out over the symphonic, horn-glazed tracks. Boxer is a collection of emotive and dynamic songs that uniquely find a way of coming together as a document of the everyman’s conscience. More on The National here.

Listen to “Ada” (5/5)

5. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog

The Shepherd’s Dog seems to take influences from everywhere, from the dusty trails of ghost towns to the asphalt paths of boisterous cities. It’s an album that celebrates the extroverted and the reserved, one that appeals to the ears but sings to the soul. Each track has a sparseness to it, but yet the multi-layered richness of Beam’s voice and his plethora of instruments add an incredible voluminousness each song. This album simply doesn’t miss. More on Iron & Wine here.

Listen to “The Devil Never Sleeps” (5/5)

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)

Let’s get right to rounding off the latter half of this esteemed list:

11. The Bees - Octopus

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. More on The Bees here.

Listen to “Got to Let Go” (4.9/5)

12. Candie Payne - I Wish I Could Have Loved You More

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 I Wish I Could Have Loved You More, she flirts with a doo-wop sound here and there (see “Hey Goodbye”), but she also dabbles in some more eclectic rhythms (see “One More Chance”).” But each song is delicately layered with intricate instrumentation, lending to a full, voluminous sound. Despite the retro gems on this record, I find myself only looking forward to Payne’s future.

Listen to “One More Chance” (4.9/5)

13. Cathy Davey - Tales of Silversleeve

“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.” More on Cathy Davey here.

Listen to “Moving” (4.95/5)

14. Willy Mason - If The Ocean Gets Rough

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. More on Willy Mason here.

Listen to “Save Myself” (4.7/5)

15. JJ Grey & Mofro - Country Ghetto

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. Country Ghetto features the stylings of JJ Grey’s unique raspy version of Tony Joe White. “On Palastine” is a fantastic slow soul number that blends perfectly into well-strung “Footsteps”. Be sure to check out the Ray LaMontagne-like “Tragic” as well.

Listen to “Tragic” (4.8/5)

Ladies and Gentlemen. I present to you the first of a multiple part series of CSV’s Top 20 of 2007 feature. Be sure to look out for the comprehensive Top 20 mix at the end of the series!

This past year has been chock full of excitingly fresh artists, while also featuring some bands and artists that have further cemented their place in the ‘indie’ rock lexicon. A trend that I noticed in copiously drafting up my list was the number of female artists that appear on this year’s top 20. I think we’re finally seeing an encouraging trend within the indie rock scene that seems to be fostering high quality female acts. That’s enough commentary, let’s get to the albums!

Today we will start with albums #16-20 and 5 honorable mentions:

16. Voxtrot - Voxtrot

This blog-hyped band really seemed primed for some indie stardom, but unfortunately their self-titled debut (after several EPs) didn’t take well with critics. Nevertheless, this underrated album is well-produced, thoughtfully constructed, and heartening. At times urgent, and at others serenadingly sweet, Voxtrot is quite the entrance for the quintet. More about Voxtrot can be found in this post.

Listen to “Ghost” (4.9/5)

17. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers

This richly layered album from perhaps the nerdiest lady in all of indie rock has such deep imagery to match the lush, voluminous instrumentation. Saltbreakers really caught my ears by surprised, especially when I queued up “To The Country”, which (if you remember) broke the 5 point scale for CSV (it got a 5.2). What a wonderful collection of songs, that is sure to warm the soul on the coldest of these wintry days. More on Laura Veirs here.

Listen to “To The Country” (5.2/5)

18. 1990s - Cookies
By far the most downright fun album of the year,the Glasgow trio really has a knack for writing catchy riffs. While they may not be the most attractive of bands, their handsome harmonies and their jangly guitars are sure to get you rocking. “See You At The Lights” is fantastic sing-along while “You Made Me Like It” is pure formulaic goodness. More on 1990s here.

Listen to “See You At The Lights” (4.8/5)

19. Kula Shaker - Strangefolk

Veteran retro-rockers Kula Shaker take another page out of the new-to-sound-old genre (what I call Positive Retrograde), finding themselves somewhere between Bob Dylan (”Hurricane Season”) and The Rolling Stones (”Out on the Highway”). Don’t mistake this album for some hipster-wannabe product–this is just a straightforward, earnest record that consistently delivers powerful folk and rock songs track after track. Indeed, the album is a strange kind of folk–something so psychedelically delicious that even 12 tracks seems too little.

Listen to “Dr. Kitt” (4.9/5)

20. The Sea and Cake - Everybody

Chicago collective The Sea and Cake have produced another unearthly gemstone with their sensationally sensitive Everybody. The band skillfully straddles the glazey-eyed softness to their sound with thoughtful vocals, all that the band’s very name might suggest. Further solidifying themselves in the indie scene as they perfect their signature sound, The Sea and Cake continue to impress. More on The Sea and Cake here.

Listen to “Up On Crutches” (4.8/5)

Honorable Mentions:

James Morrison - Undiscovered
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are you the Destroyer?
Art of Fighting - Runaways
Greyboy Allstars - What Happened to Television
Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature