Meeting the year 2007 with much anticipation

This year has started off with a huge racket – and this isn`t just the merit of The Necktie Party. While we all wait for the expected release of the forthcoming Necktie-album, a couple of pointers of what we have in store this year have already manifested themselves. Some of the most influential bands on our music have released new album this year.

Beginning with the exceptional "You, you are a history in rust" by the finest boys of ..:namespace prefix Toronto; Do Make Say Think, we can continue with the genre-true "All of a sudden I miss everyone", by Explotions in the Sky. These two instrumental-driven bands have both put out great work, but are heading in what seems to be different directions in their effort. While EITS are continuing their stride down the beautiful noise-ridden path of melancholic post-rock in minor key, DMST seems to have learn a couple of tricks from Broken Social Scene (yes, I know, they share two members!) and have added vocals and sing-along to one of their tunes. Apart from this they have explored much more of the analogue sounds of acoustic guitars. The result is nothing short of astounding! The crown-princes of post-rock don't disappoint and keep pouring out mind-blowing themes from what seems to be an inexhaustible well! EITS on their part can be criticized for being too bound up by their own formula, I find it excusable when you can hear how exceptional well they perform their craftsmanship. A couple of the songs on this album can without a doubt match their finest moments on their classic "Those who tell the truth shall die, those who tell the truth shall live forever" (by the way; this must be one of the finest titles of an album in the history of recorded music? Perhaps only surpassed by Godspeed You Black Emperor's "Lift your skinny fists like antennas to heaven"?).

Further into the year we have witnessed the release of "Friend and Foe" by Menomena. This album seems to be an improbable follow-up of the classic "You are the fun blame monster". During the first listening I was impressed by the professional production and quality of sound of the recording. I thought that their record label had really put up the money for this record. This perplexed me, because where "…monster" had been approachable in a naïve, yet almost commercial way, the songs on the new album seems much more complex and demanding of the listener – and perhaps (?) with less commercial potential. If this is a sign of musical idealism I salute the record company! On further listening the record opens up to the listener and reveals a shocking good record! I sure hope Menomena and their label get their money's worth (maybe with some profit as well? One can not survive on idealism alone… unfortunately – isn't that true old Karl M.?) and continue pouring out more of this excellent music!

The last album I for now wish to comment shortly is "Neon Bible" by Arcade Fire. I haven't listened properly to it yet, but since their first album "Funeral" made me listen to indie again (after long postulating the genre's death and feeling good about it) I welcome the release with much anticipation. I look forward to plunging into the material, especially since Morgenbladet (the only newspaper worth reading in Norway after Klassekampen and Le Monde Diplomatique) gave it such a heartfelt and strong recommendation in the latest issue.