Music Blog

Best of 2007: The Singles

We jump into our look back at the musical year 2007 in earnest tonight with a listen to some of our favorite singles of the year. In an era when the mp3 has ensured that singles far outsell full albums, the past year or so only furthered that state (for better or for worse) with artists like Feist, Wilco, and Band of Horses lending songs from current releases to TV commercials. On the bright side, popular music of the indie persuasion (if there's such a thing) cast its swath wider than ever, making room for M.I.A., Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and Iron & Wine alike. We also heard our fair share of overplayed but still relentlessly catchy and relistenable tunes, courtesy of Peter Bjorn & John, Spoon, and the aforementioned Feist. All in all, there was a lot to like, a fact we were only reminded of even more when scouring the release lists for the past twelve months. We didn't hear everything, but we found a lot to like in what we did hear-- hopefully you will, too.

Also tonight, we'll revisit a few moments of live musical transendence (or somewhere thereabouts) that took place in our studios in 2007, courtesy of the Avett Brothers, Pseudosix and The Veils, among others.

AND, we'd love to hear from you. Got a song you loved in 2007 you think deserves play tonight? Let us know below and we'll do our best to get it on the air. Yeah, it' a singles party (the musical kind), and you're invited. (Oh, and by the way, you still have until midnight tonight to enter your list of your favorite ten releases of 2007-- you can do that here, too). Enjoy!

2007 MP3s for the taking (not all made it on to air tonight):

►Vampire Weekend: "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

►Caribou: "Melody Day"

►Cave Singers: "Seeds of Night"

►Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: "100 Days, 100 Nights"

►St. Vincent: "Now Now"

►Spoon: "The Underdog"

►Peter Bjorn & John: "Young Folks"

►Amy Winehouse w/Ghostface Killah: "You Know I'm No Good"

►Richard Swift: "Kisses For the Misses"

►Seabear: "I Sing I Swim"

►Georgie James: "Need Your Needs"

►Band of Horses: "Is There a Ghost"

►A.A. Bondy: "There's a Reason"

►Flight of the Conchords: "Business Time"

►Oakley Hall: "No Dreams"

►The Clientele: "Bookshop Casanova"

►Shapes & Sizes: "Head Movin"

►David Vandervelde: "Nothin' No"

Comments

December 29, 2007 at 1:14pm by Carolyn

How about something from the amazing album Time on Earth by Crowded House? Pour Le Monde is a standout single, or Silent House, or People are Like Suns. One of the peak experiences for me in music this year. Thanks :)

December 29, 2007 at 1:55pm by Jeremy Petersen

Hey Carolyn--

Glad to! Coming up after 10....

December 29, 2007 at 2:24pm by rick lepage

Really enjoying tonight's show, Jeremy. Lots of great memories from this year, and some new surprises as well - somehow I missed the Veils concert, and that version of State Trooper made me really wish I hadn't.

Keep up the great work.

Rick

December 29, 2007 at 2:56pm by Matty J.

haha...Business Time!

I never thought I'd hear Jermaine on OPB. Great show tonight.

December 29, 2007 at 3:02pm by Carolyn

Appreciate your playing CH, Jeremy--thanks. Really nice choice of segue/set with it, too We're enjoying the show tonight, and look forward to listening in the new year.

December 29, 2007 at 3:21pm by Jeremy Petersen

Thanks all for the comments.

Rick, I missed that show, too, but I did get to catch their in-studio show :). Of course, you can listen to the whole thing here.

Matty, we all know Jermaine's a trailblazer (in the non-Portland sense of the term) and ground-breaker. OPB's just another under his belt.

No problem, Carolyn. Great to hear the band back again.

December 29, 2007 at 3:39pm by zed

I suppose we should hear some Radiohead, but I'd rather hear "MmaJ" by The Octopus Project. Good show as always. Oh, and this web site is GREAT! Nice work.
--Ross

December 29, 2007 at 3:43pm by Jeremy Petersen

Well zed/Ross, not to give anything away, but I'm thinking we're going to be hearing some Radiohead tomorrow night. Speaking of which, you still have 17 minutes to submit your top ten for 2007! Submit! Submit!

December 29, 2007 at 4:00pm by zed

Panda Bear
Person Pitch

Of Montreal
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

Animal Collective
Strawberry Jam

Okkervil River
The Stage Names

Spoon
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Jens Lekman
Night Falls Over Kortedala

Caribou
Andorra

Arcade Fire
Neon Bible

Iron and Wine
The Shepherd's Dog

Deerhoof
Friend Opportunity

Beat Konducta
Madlib

....in no particular order

December 29, 2007 at 4:02pm by zed

oh. And with 11 since I know you won't play hip-hop except MIA.

December 29, 2007 at 4:05pm by Jeremy Petersen

Ouch. M.I.A.'s not hip-hop, really. We've played Aesop Rock.

I'm partial to Public Enemy, Run-DMC and Boogie Down Productions myself.

December 29, 2007 at 4:06pm by zed

and I think I missed the deadline by 1 minute. crap.

December 29, 2007 at 4:08pm by Jeremy Petersen

nah, says midnight even. you're in! panda bear's making a late push!

December 29, 2007 at 4:13pm by zed

I really hope so, even though my wife hated it. I think she'd vote for Spoon, if that helps complicate things any.

December 30, 2007 at 8:16am by zed

I knew I forgot something. I wanna switch "Hey Venus!" by Super Furry Animals for Deerhoof, please.

December 30, 2007 at 8:29am by Jeremy Petersen

Hey sure thing, zed, if only because I totally agree.


Comments are now closed.

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Anyways, great show tonight!!!
Thanks, Jeremy!

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