Listening Room Forum: 2007

trans am, sex change, thrill jockey 2007

reference/hintovi/ključne riječi:
80s synth sounds; 70s hard rock riffs; krautrock: Kraftwerk, Cluster, Neu!/La Düsseldorf; Tubeway Army/Gary Numan; D.A.F.; you can't tell if it's man or machine; the studio = the fourth member/instrument

The guys have absolutely crushed it in the studio again—their eighth time out. Sex Change represents the absolute peak of trans-am creativity and serves as a massive career crossroads. This album feels like a total release. It’s perfect for a lazy cruise in a low-performance car—think about that specific moment when you pull up to the highest point in a sprawling US metro area, looking out over a sea of brutalist high-rises, late afternoon hitting just right as the sunset unfolds before you; you let the car coast slowly toward the Mississippi, heading for the skyscrapers of New Jersey City, and for a split second, the birthplace, Chicago, or even all of Eastern Europe, just melts into one single image. Those red lights are blinking. Sex Change is perversely sexy, much like TA, and it clears a path through everything in its way just as effectively as Futureworld. This is Trans Am in their most human form. Trans!

I tried to condense Jason's thoughts, and it felt like following the thread started by the final fantasist because I wanted a single place to track what's new while keeping things coherent. There's more material piling up: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Battles, etc. Please suggest whatever you want, however you want.

Rules of engagement:

1. One post per album. Jason wisely intended this in his thread, but an anarchic mess of a forum is a nightmare to read.

2. Discussions are welcome, but please take the small talk to the local threads: like personal top lists and such.

3. Leave the childish stuff at home—like "who's gonna drop the new album before Christmas?"

Moderators, please be ruthless when cleaning up the spam.

Whether it's a summary or not, I won't be crying about it. :rutvica:

Thanks for reading.

🙂

At your service!

Sex Change is just rules—it gets under your skin, and honestly, the more I listen, the more I dig it. I also appreciate they didn't overstuff it like they sometimes do. It's 11 tracks, all killer no filler 👍
Liberation still edges it out for me, but they’re definitely in the zone here. This one feels a bit more flamboyant—more for dancing, I guess. Still, I might complain that there aren't enough guitars. 🙂
Cowbell is there, though. 😁

favorites: North East Rising Sun - driving vibes 🙂
Conspiracy of The Gods - guitar !!! 🙂
Climbing up The Ladder - pure camp, my favorite track—that vocoder 😍
Walmart vs Target - a classic, just two absolute monsters holding down the drums 🙏 (sorry, gotta give credit where it's due)

One of the better bands on the planet right now, probably.

air - pocket symphony

vibes/hints/keywords:
France, computers, eroticism, postmodernism, St. Tropez, Serge Gainsbourg, outer space, champagne

It’s obvious now: Air will likely never reach the heights of *Moon Safari*—truly one of the finest pop records of the 90s. Still, they managed to leave behind the largely disastrous *10000Hz Legend* and are picking up right where they left off with *Talkie Walkie*. The atmosphere here is calmer and more sensual, much like last year's release from Charlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of the legendary libertine Serge, which was produced by the refined gentlemen Godin and Dunckel.
*Pocket Symphony* also serves as a welcome palate cleanser after the sheer mediocrity of Dunckel's solo project, *Darkel*.
Oh, and they even snagged vocals from the esteemed Mr. Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon.

gentlepuma20 said:Sex Change is just pure law; it gets under your skin, and honestly, the more I listen, the more I love it. I really appreciate that they didn't overstuff it like they sometimes do. It’s 11 tracks—all killer, no filler. 👍 Liberation still holds the top spot for me, but they are definitely in the zone here. This one feels a bit more flamboyant, geared toward the dance floor. That said, I might complain a little about the lack of guitars. 🙂 They didn't skimp on the 😁 Cowbell, though.

It didn't quite hit the spot when I first put it on today. I thought I’d be blown away, but I spent the whole day spinning it and just wasn't feeling that spark. It seems I still prefer this more homoerotic, electronic phase they started drifting into with Futureworld. I’m glad they stuck to that tight runtime format; Red Lin was way too long, man. I guess I’m one of those rare people who actually enjoys trans-am creativity.

Top Trans Am:

Futureworld
Liberation
Sex Change

Douglas Taylor4 said:I guess I’m one of those rare people who actually enjoys trans-am creativity!

There are still plenty of us left! 🙂

ensemble: The Chinese Stars
Audio carrier: Listen to Your Left Brain

What happens when those gritty no-wave musicians suddenly decide to take a detour into disco? You end up with a total, wicked mutant.
The second long play from those wicked, perverse guys in denim features nine tracks in total, and I think we actually had the chance to hear the last two of them previously when they were released as a single! I’ve been thinking about that concept lately—you know, the one where the TV actually grows limbs? It sounds like something straight out of a surrealist horror flick, but there's something oddly poetic about it. It’s almost like the screen isn't just a window anymore, but a living, breathing entity reaching out to grab you. Then you add the idea of "the drowning" into the mix, and things get even more intense. I guess you could look at it as being completely overwhelmed by media, like you're sinking under the weight of everything being broadcasted at you. Maybe it's a metaphor for how we lose ourselves in the digital noise until we can't swim back to the surface. It's a heavy thought, but honestly, it's pretty fascinating to chew on!I suspect the old-school fans who only want that gritty, underground vibe might finally give up on this band. The synth work is getting louder by the day, and it’s practically forcing everyone onto the dance floor like never before! Personally, though, I’m actually looking forward to seeing if they can capture that magic from their 2007 era again. It’s been a pretty solid year so far, even if nothing else has dropped lately. 👋

I honestly think I’ve found it—the absolute best song in the entire universe: "tv grows arms."
I guess I should probably mention the TV... 🙂

The album drops tomorrow! 😳

My thread was really just meant to be about all the albums dropping in 2007—people didn't seem to be commenting much on the music itself, more just talking about what they were looking forward to.

I honestly feel like Rule #2 is going to be super hard to follow, especially since everyone was obsessed with the Gender Bender album and now they're all bowing down to Miniature Symphony...
I have no idea why I haven't sat down and listened to the new Trans Am yet. 😲 I'll get to it soon, I promise!

The new Air record is absolutely killer—I'm loving it. I wouldn't even try to compare it to anything else, and definitely nothing like Talkie Walkie (though maybe The Virgin Suicides if I absolutely had to pick something). If people mean it "picks up where it left off" in terms of that last track, then yeah, it totally works. 😬

This album is just fantastic; it’s so atmospheric, centered on love, intimate, and kind of dreamy... truly beautiful stuff. 👍 Between Sleep and Wakefulness perfectly captures the whole vibe of the record, and man, what a great title too. 😁 The intro and the outro are both stellar, but One Wild Party and Left Bank might actually be the highlights for me. I'm not sure what the deal is with Japan, but after the last one, Alone in Kyoto 👍, now we have Mer du Japon—there's even some Japanese instrumentation tucked in there. 🙂 The instrumentals? Gorgeous. The vocals? Stunning. 👍
Hands down, this is the best thing I've heard to come out this year.

Brett Anderson - Brett Anderson

Britpop, Suede, strings

It feels like everything is falling apart, yet here we are—Brett is dropping his solo album! Honestly, the reason I fell for this in the first place is because it just sounds so much like Suede. 😬 It definitely leans heavily into those Sci-Fi Lullabies vibes. If you’re a fan of Suede, there's a massive chance you're going to love this too.
The opening track and lead single, Love is Dead, sounds absolutely gorgeous—after listening to it a few times, you'll find yourself totally head over heels. The whole album has this incredibly melodramatic feel to it—I don't know, maybe it's just me? I'm not entirely sure if it'll be everyone's cup of tea. I really hope the single manages to make some noise, at least over in the United Kingdom.
My absolute favorites have to be To The Winter, Scorpio Rising, Love is Dead, and Dust and Rain.

This doesn't even drop until next week.

Earth No. 9 - Oscillator Fields

keywords: psychedelia, sinisterly precise production for American standards, sizzling synths, controlled chaos

After xxx years of digging through a decent band like Phonograph and early, undefined phases of Earth, Serge and the crew have finally nailed that perfect balance of substance and style. They’ve got a huge leg up thanks to their buddy Nick—the producer and unofficial fifth member—who takes these brilliant ideas and open structures and molds them into this thick, sticky mass of a humid, electronic dream that occasionally veers into a total nightmare. Maybe it was that mention of Trans Am earlier in this thread that prompted me to write this—it's good to see America finally has its own dark horse in the race.

Hey everyone, welcome to the thread 👋



Bill Callahan - Woke on a Whaleheart

This is the first record where the guy actually puts his full name on the cover—and honestly, he’s earned it. There’s a massive jump in style compared to that super stripped-back minimalist stuff he used to do. It’s a great mix of catchy pop ballads, some R&B crossovers, and even a little Elton John-style piano rock (okay, maybe it doesn't sound *exactly* like him, but it works perfectly here). Plus, you've got Joanna Newsom jumping in on vocals—thank God she left the harp at home for this one—and it's just a solid album that actually brings some joy to my battered heart.

arcade fire - neon bible

Canada, baroque, funeral marches, folklore, nihilism, pure rage

Funeral received far too much praise. While tracks like "Neighborhood" were strange and genuinely seductive, most of the rest was just... odd.
You can praise Neon Bible all you want, but it doesn't matter; everything said in its favor is the absolute truth.

black rebel motorcycle club - baby 81

When the guys in Howl decided to pull back from the electric edge on their last record to lean into those country, gospel, and Southern Gothic-folk vibes, the result was nothing short of impressive. For this new one, it seems they went with the strategy of "let's just mix everything we've done before." Sure, some tracks keep that Howl atmosphere alive—especially the shimmer of am i only and killing the light, or that pastoral opening in all you do is talk—but the rest feels like a return to old haunts like the Reid brothers, the Stooges, and West Coast psychedelia. It's a solid effort, but compared to Howl, it feels like a slight step backward.

antelope - reflector



Antelope is basically Justin's evolution from his days in El Guapo and Supersystem. They put out an EP and a 7" a few years back, but this is clearly his primary focus now rather than just a side project.

The album is up on Dischord, and it carries that distinct Dischord sonic signature—specifically that rich, driving bass. The tracks themselves are lean and straightforward, built around repetitive phrases that:

a) thanks to some really solid drumming, occasionally evoke that classic post-rock era from before everything eventually distilled down into bands like Gybe or Mogwai,
b) feel much more closely linked to the El Guapo sound—specifically the later stuff that was transitioning toward Supersystem—because they lean so heavily on the basslines.

I suspect that dynamic comes from the fact that the bassist and drummer swap roles.🤔

Everything is wrapped in Justin's signature vocal style and melodic sensibility. On the first listen, my reaction was sort of, "Okay, you've done this before, just perhaps a bit more polished..." but by the second listen, the songs become genuinely infectious.😳
I'm not sure how long this run will last, but for now, I'm pretty happy with it.

Here is a track from the title song. It might take over your Winamp and mess up your playlists, but here it is:😳
edit: apparently opens in QuickTime where available

It might be better to just head over to Dischord and give it a proper listen there.

marissa nadler: songs III: bridge on the water



For those who aren't familiar, marissa describes her work as "traditional" folk ballads
She usually shows up in these romantic dresses, sporting this gorgeous long hair
And she possesses this strange, haunting ability to sing songs that feel permeated by a profound, creeping sadness 🙂

This is absolutely stellar her third album

“silvia, i met you in a belly of a whale”
“oh my lonely diamond heart misses you so well”

What I find genuinely fascinating about her songwriting is how she transplants her characters into this sort of "ancient" era, giving them a visceral, timeless quality. Throughout her discography, we keep encountering Mayflower May—marissa's alter ego—who seems to transcend marissa's own grief through themes of mortality and beyond. But I won't give too many spoilers away just yet... 😳

To be perfectly honest, I worry about marissa if she keeps churning out such melancholic albums; I truly hope she’s found some sense of equilibrium while navigating life in such a valley of tears 😢

I know there’s already a dedicated thread for this, but it belongs here too. Since nobody else seems to be stepping up, I’ll (re)post this just so people don't claim things aren't as good as they used to be...


Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, Living with The Living, Touch and Go, 2007

Think Paul Weller/The Jam (that elegant British vibe), Phil Lynott/Thin Lizzy (sensual Irish soul), Elvis Costello/The Attractions (this isn't just a one-man show; the band is essential), mixed with a visceral American punk rock kick and a fascination with that golden era of rock from roughly 1976-82, and so on...

Much like the aforementioned Trans Am, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists make no attempt to hide their influences. It all sounds polished. But more importantly, they possess a genuine heart, distinct style, and an overflowing creative energy that easily shuts up any critics. "Living with The Living" was met with some hesitation at first, with rumors swirling about certain "controversial" elements. People started questioning the runtime of what felt like a double album—asking if they could actually stay interesting if they stretched their usual format by ten minutes. Of course they can. It clocks in at about sixty minutes and never feels bloated. They throw out comparisons to the immortal "London Calling," even if "Living with The Living" doesn't quite hit that same level of raw power. The Clash were at their absolute peak back then; Ted Leo and The Pharmacists might have passed that zenith, but they maintain an incredibly impressive form overall. Then comes the controversial track Unwanted Things. Reggae!? So what. If you don't like reggae, that's your problem. "Unwanted Things" isn't some flawless masterpiece of punk-reggae fusion, but it fits the band's sensibility perfectly and works within the album's concept. Moving on. The real stumbling block for some, I hear, is bomb.repeat.bomb. Honestly, I disagree. The guy just channeled some negative, nervous energy into a slightly different sonic palette. It works. There are plenty of beautiful TL moments scattered throughout—"the toro and the toreador," "the lost brigade," "a Bottle of Buckie"—and I won't list them all, but I have to highlight the universal anthem: Costa Brava. This gorgeous track captures a pure longing for a carefree, laid-back life. Don't blame me if I misheard the lyrics: ... everyone needs a Sunday some days, everyone needs to take some time away ... down by the beach there's a small cafe ... day and night at Costa Brava ...

Bravo. Seriously, what an incredible album. 🙂

Catch them this spring:

06/02/07 - Coachella, Barcelona, Spain
06/06/07 - Magnolia, Milan, Italy
06/07/07 - Artevive, Soliera, Italy
06/08/07 - The Cage, Livorno, Italy
06/10/07 - Chelsea, Vienna, Austria

To me, Costa Brava feels just like how Bridges, Squares felt on Hearts of Oak. He’s talking about Spain, specifically that area near Boston. With those two settings, there’s no way you wouldn't fall for someone... 😳

Sean Lee7 said:To me, the Costa Brava feels exactly like what Bridges or Squares felt like on Hearts of Oak. It’s all about that vibe—talking about Spain, specifically around Boston. Honestly, if you were hanging out in either of those two places, you could easily find yourself falling head over heels for someone. 😳

You're making some good points. "Bridges" and "Squares" are my absolute favorites—honestly, maybe the best Ted Leo and The Pharmacists tracks ever written. Listening to them, I almost convinced myself for a second that Ted was actually from Boston instead of New Jersey. And man, that Costa Brava vibe is just incredible. I really shouldn't say what else I'm thinking... that whole feeling of the Costa Brava, being in Barcelona, the transition from spring through summer into fall, the ocean... it’s all such great stuff, but honestly, it's probably better if I don't go falling in love.

A Bucket for Buckie 😂

I'm absolutely burnt out.

A Bottle of Buckie

adult. - why bother?, thrill jockey 2007



An excellent fourth (or third "real" one, if we aren't counting that first single compilation) album from the Detroit hardcore-electro-punk-nowave-industrial duo Adam Lee Miller and Nicole Coperus (I had to include this penultimate one because they still occasionally remind me of Teenage Jesus 😁 though I decided to hold back on mentioning them again since I've had my fill of industrial music for a lifetime 😈 I think they've finally earned that descriptor). Everything is still present—those brilliant, manic lyrics, Nicolino’s frantic shouting, all that palpable angst—but this time there's less guitar work and more electronic noise & excursions into engaging industrial instrumentation.
Generally speaking, they are moving into increasingly complex territory; what used to be just a bit of high-energy electro has evolved into something far more intricate than any dark (electro)punk we're used to. The only thing they've carried over from the early days is their devotion to rhythm—and that is wonderful. 😍
In principle, I'm not sure who to compare them to, other than their former colleagues from their own ersatz audio label. I could mention Teenage Jesus, I could mention Malaria!, I could list plenty of others, but nothing is quite that.

I've only listened to 'why bother?' twice, but it strikes me as their best album yet.
(Hmm, actually, it's been ages since I heard 'anxiety always,' so perhaps I should refrain from jumping to conclusions)

Appropriate tag: bad music. 😈

Taylor Patel2 said:I don't really know who to compare them to—aside from their old bandmates from that ersatz indie label. Maybe Teenage Jesus or Malaria!, or a bunch of other stuff, but nothing hits quite exactly like this.

David put "I Feel Worse When I'm With You" on a compilation for Canada—it kind of reminded me of that bassline from Stinking Drunk (or maybe Big Money?), which was enough to win me over. 😍 😬

Listening to it now. Most of the others are pretty slow, though. It's good, just felt a bit mellowed out since they aren't all high-energy like the hit 😢

This lady is really coming for Lydia.

The latest release from the wonderful Canadian songstress Leslie Feist once again delivers a collection of beautiful, lovely, sometimes tender, and occasionally playful tracks. These 13 pop gems are perfect for dancing lightly, staring out a window, lounging on the lawn, laughing, crying, or—ideally—just lying there, wrapped up in someone special on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

A new Fiona Apple album? 😍 You forgot to actually mention the title! 😁

Let me drop a few thoughts here (and no, I didn't 😬 ) regarding an album most of you probably already heard back before 2007. (Someone even tucked it into a list of the best of 2006 😬 ) but hey, might as well bring it up here too.

The Shins, Wincing The Night Away, Sub Pop

Indie/jangle pop/rock, lo-fi, pure bliss 😬

Honestly, The Shins' third record feels a bit weaker than their first two. It doesn't quite capture that brilliant atmosphere of the debut or the sheer energy of the second one—but hey, it's definitely not a bad listen! It isn't exactly a "love at first listen" kind of thing, except maybe for "Australia" and "Black Wave." The opening track, "Sleeping Lessons," does a great job of setting the stage for what's coming. It’s just this smooth, easygoing music paired with really smart lyrics—perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. They definitely played around with the sound a bit, so the album feels pretty diverse...
And yeah, it's a bit longer than the previous two.

Check out their live performance of "Jab" 🙂

Edit: Talk about bad luck! Just as I hit send, my browser completely crashed on me. 😍 And ugh, I ended up uploading a smaller image than I intended.