1997, the Year in Review

Top Ten Albums of 1997

(in no particular order)
• Laika - Sounds of the Satellites
  Dub/electronic bottom that doesn't shy away from including standard rock instruments. Songwriting better than average for the genre.

  
  

• Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac
  Sure, it's derivative -- but, truthfully, what isn't? Wilco/Replacements alumni. Guest appearance by Alejandro Escovedo garners bonus points.

  
  

• Wayne Hancock - That's What Daddy Wants
  Excellent follow-up to Hancock's previous gem. Country/rockabilly with a swinging horn section thrown in for good measure.

  
  

• Eric Wood - Letters from Earth
  The reincarnation of Tim Buckley? Streetwise wordplay with folk underpinnings that are part make-out music and part late-night exorcizing of the demons.

  
  

• Fl. OZ - Big Notebook for Easy Piano
  Beats Ben Folds Five at their own game. Clever pop/clever hooks.

  
  

• Everclear - So Much for the Afterglow
  Not just angst for angst sake. Poignant lyrically, powerful musically.

  
  

• Greg Brown - Slant 6 Mind
  Strong folk/blues from a neglected American treasure. One of the better songwriters on the scene today.

  
  

• Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir - Hamba Ekhaya
  An uplifting platter of African traditional gospel. Special guests Phuzekhemisi and his band round out the live album with gorgeous accompaniment.

  
  

• Dale Ann Bradley - East Kentucky Morning
  A voice so pure you'd swear it was heaven sent. Stellar bluegrass. Wonderful countrified version of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

  
  

• The Circus in Flames - Self-Titled
  Independent Vancouver release. Jimmie Rodgers sits in with Dylan and the Band during the recording of the Basement Tapes. The obvious love of music for the sake of music, not commercial viability, is a breath of fresh air in an industry built on ego and hype.

  
  

Coulda/Shoulda Been Better

(albums that were disappointing)



• R.E.M. - New Adventures in Hi-Fi
  Considering the band's potential, this was comfortable and safe product. While still better than many of 1997's offerings, one expects more from Stipe and Co.

  
  

• Dwight Yoakam - Under the Covers
  A soft and often times downright horrible collection of cover songs. Yoakam's deconstruction of the Kinks' "Tired of Waiting for You" is dumpster material.

  
  

• The Seahorses - Do It Yourself
  Former Stone Roses guitarist, John Squire forms a band, rips off Led Zeppelin and noodles aimlessly. Back to the chalkboard.

  
  

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