Hello!

Another year, another frantic attempt to remember all the things I loved in the preceding 12 months.  2007 is notable for me because in mid-August, I moved from San Francisco to London. Albums I acquired just before leaving sat unlistened to for a long time as I worked on getting settled in, and I missed out on one third of the year of American culture.  All of these are just excuses, because I know I haven't done a thorough listening to all my 2007 records, and I'm sure I've omitted some gems...

By the way, if anyone is curious about the London music scene, this is what I've been seeing around town:

http://fingeronthepulse.org/london.html

I'll be the first to admit I might have played a bit fast and loose with release dates--not intentionally, mind you, but sometimes release dates are a bit ambiguous and things aren't widely available until well after the first published date. Anyway, here is my take on the best of what I experienced in 2007, with full acknowledgment that there are many records and films I didn't hear or see before the year ended.


Top 10 Albums (Alphabetical)

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
http://www.arcadefire.com/

Frightened Rabbit - Sing the Greys
http://www.frightenedrabbit.com/

Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future
http://www.klaxons.net/

M.I.A. - Kala
http://www.miauk.com/

Jared Micah and Hats - TCHTOB
http://jaredmicahandhats.com/

The National - Boxer
http://www.americanmary.com/

A Sunny Day In Glasgow - Scribble Mural Comic Journal
http://www.asunnydayinglasgow.com/

Taken By Trees - Open Field
http://www.takenbytrees.com/

The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns, Fifteen Winters
http://www.myspace.com/thetwilightsad

Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
http://www.patrickwolf.com/



The Next 7 -- If I Made This List Tomorrow, Some Of
These Would Be In The Top 10 For Sure (Alphabetical)

Caribou - Andorra
http://www.caribou.fm/

Deerhoof -  Friend Opportunity
http://deerhoof.killrockstars.com/

Einsturzende Neubauten - Alles Wieder Offen
http://www.neubauten.org/

Electrelane - No Shouts, No Calls
http://www.electrelane.com/

Chris Garneau - Music For Tourists
http://www.chrisgarneau.com/

Love Of Diagrams - Mosaic
http://www.loveofdiagrams.com/

Mairee Sioux - Faces In The Rocks
http://www.myspace.com/marieesioux



Best Compilation Of Previous Material

My Little Airport - Zoo Is Sad, People Are Cruel
http://www.mylittleairport.com/
http://www.elefant.com/bands/my-little-airport



Best Live Recording

Frightened Rabbit - eMusic Sessions: Live At Urban Outfitters - SXSW 2007
http://www.frightenedrabbit.com/
http://www.emusic.com/album/11029/11029769.html



Best Record Of 2006 That I Didn't Hear Until 2007

Tap Tap - Lanzafame
http://www.myspace.com/taptapmusic



Best Live Performances (Chronological)

Under Byen @ Great American Music Hall, March 19
http://www.myspace.com/underbyen

Sunset Rubdown @ Bottom of the Hill, April 23
http://www.sunsetrubdown.net/

Anathallo @ Cafe Du Nord, May 6
http://www.anathallo.com/

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova @ Roxie Theatre, May 17
http://www.myspace.com/theswellseason

Patrick Wolf @ Cafe Du Nord, May 22
http://www.patrickwolf.com/

Shearwater @ Bottom of the Hill, June 20
http://www.shearwatermusic.com/

Klaxons @ Great American Music Hall, July 11
http://www.klaxons.net/

Frightened Rabbit @ Brixton Windmill, November 23
http://www.frightenedrabbit.com/



Best Way To Discover New Music

Bagel Radio
http://bagelradio.com/
(Winner in this category for the second year in a row!)



Best Way To Acquire Music Online In mp3 Form

eMusic
http://www.emusic.com/
(Another repeat winner from last year)



Best Music-Themed Television Show

Never Mind The Buzzcocks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Mind_the_Buzzcocks
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/ (episodes archived for 7 days, UK only)



Best Films (Alphabetical)

Control
http://www.controlthemovie.com/

Czech Dream (Cesky Sen)
http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/specialy/ceskysen/en/

Hot Fuzz
http://www.hotfuzz.com/

Linda Linda Linda
http://www.linda-movie.com/

The Lives Of Others (Das Leben der Anderen)
http://www.sonyclassics.com/thelivesofothers/

Once
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/once/

Reprise
http://www.nfi.no/film/reprise

Stealth (Comme Des Voleurs)
http://www.commedesvoleurs.com/

Water Lilies (Naissance Des Pieuvres)
http://www.myspace.com/pieuvres



Best Way To Stay On Top Of The Film Scene

San Francisco Film Society
http://www.sffs.org/

The SFFS is one thing I really miss about SF.  I saw so many
great films as free previews with the directors present, and such
events enhanced my enjoyment of the film experience greatly.  If
anyone knows an equivalent organization in London, drop me a line.
I've joined BFI, but I don't think that is quite what I'm looking for.



Best Live Theatre (Chronological)

Vanishing Point presents Subway @ Studio Theatre (Lyric Hammersmith), September 12
http://www.vanishing-point.org/subway.html
http://www.lyric.co.uk/

Theatre Science presents Something Somatic @ The Wellcome Collection, December 1
http://www.theatrescience.org.uk/
http://www.wellcomecollection.org/



Best Technology

Skype
http://skype.com/

Skype is pretty old news, but I never quite appreciated the
ability to do free video calls and make cheap calls to real
phones as I did after moving from SF to London.  Is it perfect?
No.  But it was the technology I valued the most this year.



That's all I got.  I miss you guys.  Happy new year!

Love,
Sarah

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Sarah Gordon, sarahatfingeronthepulsedotorg, www.fingeronthepulse.org