I thought it might be fun to try our hands at writing CD reviews for some of our favorite bands. They don't have to be new releases, any CDs will do. I'll start things off with a favoirte of mine:

Besterberg-The Best of Paul Westerberg

Every generation has their own John Lennon. For the people like me who grew up on college radio in the beginning of modern rock, that person is Paul Westerberg. He is our misfit poet, the quintessential beautiful loser who casually observes and puts into words what we feel. Even in the early days of The Replacements, Westerberg showed an amazing knack for writing songs that could make people laugh or cry or just say “to hell with it.” As The “Mats" wound down, burned out and generally made a mess of what they started, Westerberg’s writing remained the same. His solo career is no exception. Though this disc isn’t a full representation of the amazing talents he possesses, it’s as close to perfect as we’re going to get. That’s mainly because Paul would never allow for a perfect representation of his ability. It’s also because he declined any input as to what went on the disc, opting instead, to write the liner notes. His sense of humor is ever present with “Dyslexic Heart” and “World Class Fad” being shining examples of the subtle way in which he tells people off without actually saying what he wants to say. Call it Westerbergian diplomacy. It’s rumored that Kurt Cobain thought “World Class Fad” was written for him. Paul’s response was “I don’t respect him enough to write about him.” Typical Paul, but nothing about the songwriting and energy he puts into his art is typical.

With Besterberg, we are presented with a view of the different facets of one artist. The humor is there, so is the lonely nature of a self imposed recluse. The songs that can stir emotions in almost every listener are there too. “Runaway Wind” and “Love Untold” are stellar examples of the writing that made many of us feel as if he had looked into our souls. Die-hard Replacements fans may hold a grudge or two because they feel that Westerberg destroyed “their” band. I say let them. The truth is; The Replacements were their own undoing. His songwriting talent is still as sharp as it was when The “Mats made their first record in the early 80’s.

My only complaint about the CD is the exclusion of “Born for me.” The song was written as a sequel to “Love Untold”, so it stands to reason that it should be there. Read the lyrics if you can find them. What you’ll get are mostly lyrics transcribed by fans. Paul never included lyric sheets. If the lyrics don’t move you, read them again until they do.

I either forget or can't find enough time to review albums I like. But, I threw togather a list of my top 30 albums of 2007, so far.

1. Keren Ann Keren Ann
2. White Stripes Icky Thump
3. Lucky Soul Great Unwanted
4. Locksley Don't Make Me Wait
5. Future Conditional We Don't Just Disappear
6. Ryan Adams Easy Tiger
7. The Red Button She's About To Cross My Mind
8. Wilco Sky Blue Sky
9. Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles Diamonds in the Dark
10. Herman Dune Giant
11. Blanche Little Amber Bottles
12. Candie Payne I Wish I Could Have Loved You More
13. Findlay Brown Separated by the Sea
14. Monit Mardie Clocks
15. The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee
16. The Time Flys Rebels of Babylon
17. Sarah Shannon City Morning Song
18. Mary Weiss Dangerous Game
19. Chico Mann Manifest Tone Vol. 1
20. Husky Rescue Ghost Is Not Real
21. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Living with the Living
22. The Brigadier View From the Bath
23. Antibalas Security
24. The Ike Reilly Assassination We Belong to the Staggering Evening
25. The Peaces Is Are Was Were
26. Julie Dorion Woke Myself Up
27. PG Six Slightly Sorry
28. Redlands Palomino Company Take Me Home
29. Pinki Martini Hey Eugene
30. Len Price 3 Rentacrowd

Actually, it's probably more difficult rating albums you love than reviewing them. But for my top spot pick:

The Keren Ann cd is going to be hard to beat. It was one I was anticipating for a long time. I loved her French language albums, though it was through her "Chelsea Burns" song that I first heard her. Keren's French albums set me on a craze of hunting for records by other French chanteuses. I liked that she mixed electronica & indie pop/rock togather. The new self-titled album is all English language and I couldn't get into it for awhile. The music was less upbeat and my yearning for those delicate French vocals had been denied. But then on more listens, it was her voice, and her phrasing of words that intrigued me. I began to appreciate the tracks on a different level, and hearing them as I might hear some lost femme folk LP from 1971 (with modern production). When my ears picked up on the subtle groove of her more folk-oriented beat, I was hooked! Soon, the album became very addictive and rarely left the cd player. I'm lucky an attitude change toward a recording has brought me such joy.

I just recently got Against Me!'s new album "New Wave" which came out a few months ago. It is probably one of the best albums I've purchased this year. Some of the highlights include "Americans Abroad" "Stop" "White People for Peace" "Up The Cuts" and my personal favorite: "Thrash Unreal". Alot of Against Me! fans don't really like this album because they've calmed down a great deal, I agree that they have changed but I embrace the change. All in all "New Wave" is a terrific album and I recommend it to anybody, not just Against Me! fans.

I havn't got this album, but several of my friends have. It is "the Else" by TMBG. It is a bit weird, but out of all of the albums I've heard so far, it is the best.

One of my favourite songs from it is Bird of the Bee of the Moth, and some lyrics from "upside Down Frown" are "When I'm with you, the landscape goes all weird
Black is white, and the rainbow has a beard"

I had to add that because the first time I heard it I sat up very straight and just said. "Hang on...WHAT???"
Especially the rainbow with the beard thingy.

The people in the car with me just laughed.