After all, it’s an outstanding example of one of my favorite kinds of music — updated big-band versions of timeless classical masterpieces. And if that‘s not enough, Setzer’s strong background in pop music (with the Stray Cats) provided even more oomph, resulting in an exciting sound that was impossible for me to resist.
But never mind me. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this album to anyone who loves good music and is open to a new listening experience. That’s you, right?
Pico: David Torn - Prezens
When it came time to decide which CDs to include in my 2007 All-Stars starters and alternates lists, there was a lot of agonizing over many of the selections. But my top choice came early and easily. In fact, it was all but determined by the end of May, after I listened to David Torn's Prezens a few times.
Prezens is meant to jolt the listener out of comfort zones and long-held notions of how music is supposed to be played. There are plenty of nods to styles ranging from blues to ambient to heavy metal to Middle Eastern, but the music dwells in none of the places it references. The compositions are all very asymmetrical, a product of being conceived on the spot by a crack, whack jazz quartet “live,” and later worked over imaginatively by Torn’s studio processing.
Everyone has different opinions on what makes a great record. The ones I chose as my favorites for this year I thought were good for widely different reasons. But a record that challenges my preconceptions, is played with a high level of creativity, and reveals more of itself each time I listen to it is the kind of record I put in a special category. For 2007, David Torn's Prezens fits those criteria the best.
Chris Beaumont: Tomahawk - Anonymous
This past year saw a lot of good music released from artists like Cephalic Carnage, Iced Earth, Devin Townsend, and Lonely China Day. However, there is one that stood above all of them. No matter how many different albums I listened to, I kept coming back to it over and over again.
Tomahawk's Anonymous is an album that is haunting in concept and unforgettable in execution. Guitarist Duane Denison was researching Native American music, the music he discovered along with drummer John Stanier and vocalist Mike Patton, and then wrote interpretations of said music around their rock and metal sensibilities. The resulting compositions sound completely original while remaining entirely faithful to the source.
Article comments
1 - Donald Gibson
Thank you, Connie, for including my selection in this article. You did a great job putting everything together.
- Donald
2 - Pico
I concur with Donald, Connie, you did a great job with this article and overall with the BC Music Section. I'm proud to be associated with such a well-run subsite.
3 - Connie Phillips
Thank you Donald, Pico, and every other writer who contributed to this article and the section throughout the year.
I enjoyed reading the varied choices all of you brought to this article, as much as I enjoy reading about and discovering new music through your writing through out the year.
I look forward to the new year of releases and reading what all of you have to say about them.
4 - Chris Beaumont
Excellent stuff here! (especially Tomahawk!)
5 - Mark Saleski
hmm, i'll have to revisit Tomahawk. i bought it, listened, and then managed to misplace it!
6 - Tom Johnson
Thanks for putting this together, Connie. From the looks of things, our choices mean we're not going to sit well with the Pitchforkmedia set. I'm seeing some stuff they would probably categorize with a prefix of "dad-" thrown on for the ease of insult. Regardless, as I've said in other pieces about favorites, these are likely to be the albums we continue to listen to in many years rather than ones that are chosen out of a need to maintain some aspect of "cred," whatever that really means anymore.
Yep, that Tomahawk is one of those odd albums that I love yet won't be listening to all that often. Definitely suits a particular need. A bright moment of the year, for sure, but not something I can put on my list simply because I can't listen to it that regularly.
7 - Glen Boyd
No arguments with two picks for Bruce, plus Wilco, Norah, and the rest. Of those I haven't heard Tomahawk, Torn, and Uncle Earl all sound pretty interesting. Good list all around from our crack group of music scribes for sure.
-Glen
8 - Sterfish
Great article. The beauty of these types of posts is that it makes you want to seek out stuff. I have never listened to any of the albums in this article. In addition, I haven't even heard of a couple of artists on this list.
My pick for best of 2007 would be The White Stripes' Icky Thump.
9 - Michael J. West
Thanks so much for including me in this, Connie! And great job to everybody else who contributed, too!