2007 IN MUSIC PT. 2

See Part 1.

Favorite reissues of 2007

• V/A: Twinight's Lunar Rotation. Numero Group has already established itself amongst the best reissue labels in the world and their dedication to revisiting specific labels reaches a zenith with their 2-CD anthology of Chicago's Twinight label. Though best known for being the starting place for Syl Johnson, the imprint goes so much deeper. This isn't a case of a handful of great songs surrounded by lesser releases - the consistency on Twinight was remarkable.
  Peep: The Kaldirons' "To Love Somebody"
  
  
• East of Underground: S/T. Wax Poetics took one of the holiest of holy grails - a 1971 soul album, recorded as a part of a "battle of the bands" contest in Germany by U.S. servicemen and finally has made it available for wide release. The backstory behind this album alone is fascinating but the music is extraordinary, especially given that East of Underground was basically a glorified cover band (but oh, what a cover band). The album has it all - sweet soul harmonies and fiery funk tunes. Used to be, you had to drop $1000 for this...now it's within more reasonable means.
  Peep: "Poppin' Popcorn"
  
  
• Betty Davis: S/T + They Say I'm Different. I'm obviously biased considering I wrote the liner notes to these two albums but they do fill a very valuable gap in musical history by finally, legitimately, reissuing the first two albums by Betty Davis. To me, she's one of the most fascinating figures in pop music over the last 30 years and these reissues do justice to that legacy which, until now, has gone mostly under the radar.
  Peep: "Anti-Love Song" + "Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him"
  
  
• DJ Rumor: Fania Live 01: From the Meat Market. In the wake of the purchase of the Fania catalog by Emusica, they've been rolling out all sorts of projects that shine attention on the extensive Latin soul/boogaloo titles that Fania holds. Of this batch, I found DJ Rumor's to be a great introduction into not just that catalog, but Latin soul in general. Though the liner notes are not the most extensive, musically speaking, this serves as a solid primer for the uninitiated.
  Peep: Ray Barretto's "The Teacher of Love"

New + reissued songs that rocked my world

This isn't a list of singles of the year insofar as several of these songs were never singles to begin with but they constitute the tracks that, at some point or another, I had on serious heavy rotation.

• Ben Westbeech: So Good Today
  From Welcome to the Best Years of Your Life
  
  It's like the lemonade that you get at Hot Dog on a Stick. You feel a little sheepish, indulging in it at first but then you just give into the sugary goodness.
  
  
• Charles Bradley: The World (Is Going Up In Flames) + Menahan Street Band: Make the Road by Walking
  Both from Dunham Records 7"
  
  Goes without saying that the folks at Daptone have had a banner year - not just backing Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse, Anthony Hamilton, and others but I'm glad they're also making time to put together their own projects, especially the new material coming out on the Dunham subsidiary. The Charles Bradley is one of the best songs I've heard out of this camp - period - while "Make the Road By Walking" would be a great instrumental on its own; the fact that it became the basis for "Roc Boys" is just icing on the cake.
  
  
• Common: Start the Show
  From Finding Forever
  
  I didn't find this album as compelling as I hoped I would but I do think it starts out great with this Kanye-produced track that lights things up like the old Vegas neon days.
  
  
• Craig G: Catch a Lyrical Beatdown
  From Top Shelf 8/8/88
  
  The album this comes off of might be total fugazi but the songs are real enough in terms of their quality. This Craig G song, especially, is both funny in how it really tries to sell the '88 angle (word to Mike Dukakis!) but it's also a very, very good Craig G song, showcasing one of the undersung masters at his fast-rap best.
  
  
• Devin the Dude feat. Lil Wayne and Bun B: Lil Gone Gone (Mr. JPatt Remix)
  From DJ Benzi's None Higher (We Got the Remix)
  
  Not a great song on the album but the remix, in my mind, puts it in a whole new light, or er, sound with JPatt's melancholy loops. I never really listen past Wayne's verses but the affect is enough that the song continues to linger.
  
  
• Flight of the Conchords: Bret, You Got It Goin' On + Most Beautiful Girl In the Room
  From their HBO Show
  
  "Why can't a heterosexual guy tell a heterosexual guy that he thinks his booty is fly?" b/w "you're so beautiful, you could be an air hostess in the '60s".You might think this is all kind of juvenile but the songs will stick in your craw for days. I just hope these two haven't spent their creative energies on the first season.
  
  
• Jay-Z: Success
  From American Gangster
  
  I didn't think the album was so extraordinary, but "Success" is one of the hardest hitting Jay-Z songs I've heard since "P.S.A." Those Larry Ellis organ vamps that No ID flips are what one could score wrecking balls demolishment with.
  
  
• The Kaldirons: To Love Someone (That Don't Love You)
  From Twinight's Lunar Rotation
  
  Possibly the rarest of the 45s reissued on this anthology and wouldn't you know? Also the best. What a sublime synergy between the strings, bass, piano and vocals. I cannot get enough of this song.
  
  
• LCD Soundsytem: All My Friends
  From Sound of Silver
  
  As my friend Hua put it, this song is infused with "melancholy greatness." Those hammering piano keys creates a hypnotic feel all its own and James Murphy's lyrics strike to the heart of life regrets that only someone over the age of 30 can appreciate.
  
  
• Lil Wayne/Juelz Santana: Black Republicans + Lil Wayne: Upgrade U
  From Da Drought 3
  
  Lil Wayne might as well get artist of the year platitudes even though he has nary an actual album to this name (just several dozen mix-CDs, or so it feels). That said, I actually think Juelz Santana is the one who comes off the best on "Black Republicans," all the more prescient with the rise of the "young Barack[a] Obama" (we're all for it). Weezy, however, owns the "Upgrade U" remix all on his lonesome. So many ridiculous one-liners here, my favorite involving his deaf and blind admirers.
  
  
• Marco Polo feat. Large Professor: The Radar remix
  From The Radar EP
  
  Hard. As. Hell.
  
  
• Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse: Valerie
  From Version
  
  To me, the single best Amy Winehouse song this year wasn't even on her album; it was her cover of the Zuton's "Valerie" on Mark Ronson's album. People pop a lot of sh-- about how terrible her voice is but I can't hear it, especially not in how she tackles this song. It's like she was born to sing it. (Peep the acoustic version).
  
  
• M.I.A.: Paper Planes
  From Kala
  
  The Clash + cash register sounds + gun shots = unfadeable. Bo! Bo! Bo!
  
  
• Timothy McNealy: I'm So Glad You're Mine
  From Truth and Soul 7"
  
  Covering Al Green is tough, especially on a slower ballad like this one but Indianapolis' McNealy does a fantastic job here, especially with a more stripped down version of a song that was sparse to begin with. Hopefully they'll get these back in stock - this is what reissued 45s were meant to do.
  
  
• UGK feat. OutKast: Int'l Players Anthem
  From Underground Kingz
  
  I saved the best for last: hands-down, the song of the year. Is it how the song opens with Andre 3000's verses? How the drums don't kick in until Pimp C jumps on? The Willie Hutch sample? The lush video? Yes. All of it. And then some.

--O.W.