Suzanne Baran’s Top Ten — August 19

by Suzanne Baran
19 August 2007

Not just indie all the time…

1. Interpol- Our Love to Admire (Capitol)

   I ‘Admire’ this effort. It’s not as smooth as a melded, fused work/band/team; more of a solo effort by each member which doesn’t mesh as well as I would like. But the rhythms are strong, so are the new instruments…lyrically, it’s not as precise as “Antics”—which read like Victorian poetry at times.

2. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge)

   It’s certainly more experimental, clever and quick-witted. I think they’re just ahead of their time.

3. Superbad – (R)

   This was a seriously super funny movie.

4. The Brunettes – Structure & Cosmetics (Sub Pop)

   “Stereo Mono Mono” is a brilliant song. Very ‘50s pop, with soft, silken female vocals, so breathtaking they sound a bit like someone playing the harp.

5. The Bird and the Bee- The Bird and the Bee (Blue Note Records)

   I recently saw them live at the El Ray in Los Angeles, CA. They are natives of L.A., and have a striking indie-pop/’60s sound. The female front-woman was astounding, to put it mildly. Check out “F*cking Boyfriend” and “Again and Again.”

6. Under Byen – AMME STOF SOM STOF (Morningside)

   This band from Denmark is simply genius. Check them out on Myspace.

7. Manchester Orchestra – I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child (self-recorded)

   Sounds a bit better and more highbrow than “Placebo”—the singer of this band sounds almost identical to that one. But this band is more eloquent and sophisticated.

8. Datarock – Datarock (Nettwerk)

   This Norwegian duo is incredible—they have a new age sound infused with pop. Check out “Fa-Fa-Fa,” and “Computer Love.”

9. The Chemical Brothers – We Are the Night (Virgin Records)

   This album is surprisingly innovative, considering the band has been around for quite some time. They get it right with this new release. Clever as heck. “No Path to Follow” bleeds into the next song, “Battle Scars” in such a delicately divine way it’s mind blowing. I have listened to it on repeat for weeks.

10. Simian Mobile Disco – SMD-EP (Interscope)

    Killer beats, grooves and 80s video game background sounds bleed into each track with aplomb.