Some final thoughts before closing the 2007 chapter, and special awards for special songs.

In an excess of pretentia I listed all my 2007 albums in order of awesomeness. A big part of that list consists of music I looked up in the last two months of the year, trying to get all the cool albums I missed throughout the year. What you can’t see is all the shitty music I’ve deleted – most of them were metal and post-metal albums. Which leads me to feel I’ve wasted too much time listening to mediocre music, especially post-metal – and the sad part is I’m still curious about such albums I haven’t heard yet :D (Minsk for example)

I consider post-metal every band following in the footsteps of Neurosis, Isis, Pelican and the like. It’s a genre that shows quite a bit of potential, but for every interesting new band there’s 5 bands that fail. In many ways it follows the fate of post-rock, a genre that’s plateaued in a state where a handful of bands are writing exciting new music, and beneath them is a huge pile of Explosions in the Sky copycats. But still, I find myself enjoying an average post-rock band more than a post-metal one, maybe because the music often seems more honest – especially when the post-metallers are leaning towards an angsty hardcore style.

In this last couple of months I also discovered a bunch of talented singer-songwriter types. Jon Redfern, Anna Jarvinen, Martin Grech, to name just a few. I’m just now listening to the new album from Agitated Radio Pilot, which is shaping up to be a strong contender for a high spot on my pretentious 2007 list. For many of these discoveries I’ve to thank my friends from erksylvania, and especially garou, a Swedish dude with great taste in music. By the way, have you noticed just how much fucking brilliant music comes out of Sweden, constantly? And Norway ain’t bad either. If you haven’t, you should. Just look at my top 5 picks this year: Japan, Sweden, Finland, Sweden, Norway.

Now, some special awards for outstanding songs this year:

Chorus of the Year

The most infectious chorus of the year by far is Ween’s “Your Party”. This song is pure class. If this chorus doesn’t stick in your mind for all eternity, you’re a soulless philistine.

Gay Song of the Year

This one goes to Beirut’s “Cliquot”, a song meant to bring one’s stray lover back into one’s faggoty arms.

Runner-up: Will-o-the-Wisp’s “Fairer than a Fairy”. An instrumental, but really, with such a title there isn’t need for lyrics.

Awesome Epic Song of the Year

Obviously Porcupine Tree’s “Anesthetize”, which single-handedly lifts their new album from “good” to “great”. It’s no use uploading it, and you should have it already anyway… OK, shut up and watch this shitty vid.

Catchy Japanese Song of the Year

What else than “Me-Devil” by everyone’s favourite insane fake-orchestral metal band, Sigh?

Alright, I’m stretching it already so I’ll stop here :D

It’s been a good year, but 2008 will more than likely kick its ass, with new releases from none other than Opeth, Guapo, The Mars Volta, Enslaved, Katatonia, dredg, and many many others of course.