07 Best, best.

Since it appears I do this every (2004, 2005, 2006) year, I shouldn't leave 2007 out. This mostly serves to remind me what the year was like.I typically try to come up with my 10 best records. I've got 5 this year. I get caught up in old stuff somtimes, but did buy a few new releases.

1. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Mostly set in a Gothenburg, Sweden neighborhood called Kortedala, this guy is brilliant. There's some violin in there and how can you not love lyrics like: She said that we were just make believe, but I thought she said maple leaves.

2. Richmond Fontaine - 13 Cities
I'd love to see these guys live. I was so looking forward to this one that I bought it from Amazon UK because I couldn't wait for the US release.

3. Sun Volt - The Search
Just always have and will love Jay Farrar's voice. Adore Highways and Cigarettes particularly.

4. Lucinda Williams - West
Painful in the best way. She is too good.

5. Kristin Hersh - Learn to Sing Like a Star
Saw her live at the start of this year. Such a powerful voice and so rough on that guitar. I may be biased because of the Boston thing, but I don't care. She's excellent.

I want to include the Swell Season record from the film Once although it came out in 2006, but I only knew about it in 2007. I saw the movie and thought it was brilliant. Now, however, the songs are getting to me more. Took a bit to sink in. I can't listen to them too much because I almost can't stand it. This means it's good. I'd like to watch the film over and over.

I've also been taken with a song (or two) by the Tossers. Their Wikipedia entry calls them "celtic punk". It bothered me a bit because the guy is from America and sings with an Irish accent, so I didn't want to listen to them at first. Well, then I heard Siobhan and couldn't stop humming it. And then Goodmornin' Da. They write catchy tunes.

I have no best books because most of what I've read has been for school. I am adoring the Carter Family book I received at Christmas (Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone). I had never known the Coy Bays/Sara Carter/A.P. Carter story. Man, intense.

Ok I lied about books--been reading a collection of Raymond Carver poems which I am enjoying. Just read that he's buried near the sea where he used to fish for salmon in Washington state, fitting as he once wrote:
But these coastal rivers! I love them the way some men love horses or glamorous women. I have a thing for this cold swift water.