John Davidson’s Top Ten — June 3

by John Davidson
3 June 2007

I LIVE.

1. THE BROKEN WEST – I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On (Merge)

   My favorite indie pop record of the year thus far.

2. THE COMAS – Spells (Merge)

   OK, so it’s no Conductor, there’s no dramatic/celebrity storyline invovled, but it’s got some ace tunes.

3. ART BRUT – It’s a Bit Complicated (Downtown)

   It’s probably not as flat-out great as the last one, but it’s a nice followup.

4. WILCO – Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)

   Really, it takes an album like this to remember what a good band Wilco can be.

5. JEFF BUCKLEY – So Real: The Songs of Jeff Buckley (Merge)

   I can’t resist it, it’s not Grace, but it doesn’t seem to matter.

6. THE FRATELLIS – Costello Music (Cherry Tree)

   Such a better band than Franz Ferdinand.

7. ELLIOTT SMITH – New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)

   His demos and outtakes have been all over the Internet for years, and this two-disc set is a tribute to a highly skilled songwriter. RIP.

8. BUFFALO TOM – Three Easy Pieces (New West)

   Many years have passed since this fine act graced our presence, and the wait has been mostly worth it.

9. BLONDE REDHEAD 23 (4AD)

   These guys were an average Sonic Youth fascimile until this album.

10. BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB – Baby 81 (Red Ink)

    They’ve moved comfortably into their own thing, or at least a place where they don’t give a shit if people make fun of the J&MC similarities.