What To Shop For : 2007

<p><img src="/images/stories/xmas07whattoshopfor01.jpg" alt="" /></p><p>It's that time of the year again, and QRO's ready with a big fat wish list of music and more from 2007.  So whether it's for...

Albums:

!!! : Myth Takes
Whatever you call the massively-hyped dance/funk/punk movement of the early 21st, !!! has just pushed it forward another huge step. Read more…

 
Apostle of Hustle : The National Anthem of Nowhere
Apostle of Hustle's eccentric acousticism truly holds a special place in indiedom. Read more…
 
Apparat : Walls  
Out of Berlin, Apparat is smack in the middle of the IDM/techno movement, and nudges it forward with his new album, Walls. Read more…
 
The Apples In Stereo : New Magnetic Wonder
It’s been five years since the last Apples in Stereo studio album, 2002’s Velocity of Sound. Read more…
 
The Arcade Fire : Neon Bible
In late 2004/early 2005, The Arcade Fire’s Funeral made the biggest splash in the indie arena since The Strokes’ debut album. Read more…
 
Architecture in Helsinki : Places Like This
On Places Like This, Melbourne’s Architecture In Helsinki get a lot louder, and throw even more funk on barbie, while still varying things up. Read more…
 
Athlete : Beyond the Neighborhood
U.K. chart-toppers Athlete go indie-rock on their latest, Beyond the Neighborhood, and do it well. Read more…
 
Andrew Bird : Armchair Apocrypha  
Singer/ songwriters no longer live in the shadow of Cat Stevens and the acoustic founders of what's become a strange sort of genre. Read more…
 
Bishop Allen : The Broken String
After releasing one EP each month for all of 2006, Brooklyn’s Bishop Allen pull together (most of) the best, improve upon (most of) the rest, and add a few (mostly) great new numbers for The Broken String. Read more…
 
Black Francis : Bluefinger
Frank Black may have returned to his old, Pixies-era moniker for his latest release, Bluefinger, but otherwise he’s stayed on the same alt-country path he’s been traveling these past several years. Read more…
 
Blonde Redhead : 23
Since the mid-90's, Blonde Redhead has been perfecting modern art-rock with prolific electronics, fresh rhythms, and avant-garde melodies. Read more…
 
British Sea Power : Krankenhaus? EP
In the run-up to the 2008 release of their third full-length, Do You Like Rock Music?, British Sea Power drop the pressing Krankenhaus? EP. Read more…
 
Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew : Spirit If…
If you're looking for a hint of what this album sounds like, look no further than "Broken Social Scene Presents:". Read more…
 
Caribou : Andorra
In a new twist on 60's psychedelia, Caribou's Andorra is an enchanting look back in time through a kaleidoscopic, psych-pop lens. Read more…
 
Caspian : The Four Trees
The strength of the instrumental post-rock genre lies in its dynamic of power vs. melody. Read more…
 
Cloud Cult : The Meaning of 8
Epic indie pop tends to have a few recurring, powerful themes built into it. Read more…
 
Dinosaur Jr. : Beyond
Eighties/nineties punk rock icons Dinosaur Jr. have returned with Beyond, an incredible reunion that ranks among the best material that the band has ever released. Read more…
 
Feist : The Reminder
Both enchanting and open-armed, Leslie Feist's The Reminder is full of winking jazz-rock and theatrical country tunes. Read more…
 
Hard-Fi : Once Upon a Time in the West
Following up their chart-topping debut, Hard-Fi may have just released the biggest British rock album of the year. Read more…
 
iLIKETRAiNS : Elegies to Lessons Learnt
U.K. post-rockers iLIKETRAiNS take another step forward, by going back into the past, with their impressive full-length, Elegies to Lessons Learnt. Read more…
 
iLIKETRAiNS : Progress Reform
iLIKETRAiNS is a peculiarly British form of post-rock: instead of looking to the near-future like their North American brethren, with epic, extended, orchestral, fuzzy operas that seemingly go ‘beyond words’, the boys from Leeds look squarely into the past, mourning men’s former failures and times gone by, like any denizen of what was once the world’s greatest empire. Read more…
 
Illinois : What the Hell Do I Know? EP
Pennsylvania’s Illinois (yes, you read that right) deliver on a lot of different stylings with just seven songs on their What the Hell Do I Know? EP. Read more…
 
Immaculate Machine : Fables
Yet another jumping and varied band out of British Columbia, Immaculate Machine have carved a catchy, often-poppy trail through the Pacific Northwest on their latest release, Fables. Read more…
 
Kings of Leon : Because of the Times
Gen-X's success in carrying on the previous generation's genre-defining brand of "southern rock" doesn't come from trying to copy that style, but loosening it up and mixing in more elaborate melodies. Read more…
 
Land of Talk : Applause Cheer Boo Hiss
Land of Talk’s debut EP, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss, gets a European release with three new bonus tracks. Read more…
 
LCD Soundsystem : Sound of Silver
The cynical pioneers of the indie dance-rock movement, LCD Soundsystem push a wild, yet essential, mix of guitar-driven alternative and club-ready discotronic tunes. Read more…
 
Jens Lekman : Night Falls Over Kortedala
On his second proper album, Jens Lekman takes his operatic chamber pop to a higher level, and fills it with all of the charm of the old school and a unmistakeable sneer. Read more…QRO review
 
Sondre Lerche : Phantom Punch
Sondre Lerche is aging well.  His stylish pop songs are turning into sophisticated rock songs, and his recent jazz kick is part of the reason why. Read more…
 
Pop Levi : The Return to Form Black Magick Party
"Electric" is a term essential to describing Pop Levi's music.  Not necessarily electrical in that he's always plugged in and blowing out amps, but more simply: dynamic. Read more…
QRO review
 
Loney, Dear : Loney, Noir
Somehow, some way, remember the name Emil Svanängen.  He's the X-factor behind Sub Pop's latest find, as in, he plays X amount of instruments and roles in Loney, Dear. Read more…
 
The Main Drag : Yours As Fast As Mine
Packed with elaborate electronic jams, The Main Drag's second album is an instinctively rich collection of art-pop. Read more…
 
Menomena : Friend and Foe
Menomena, perhaps the most lovable alt-jazz blaster masters, are back with a more "normal" full length. Read more…
 
Thurston Moore : Trees Outside the Academy
Sonic Youth’s singer/guitarist Thurston Moore delivers a stripped-down version of himself on his solo record, Trees Outside the Academy. Read more…
 
Bob Mould : Circle of Friends DVD
While loyal fans wait for the delayed District Line, Bob Mould gives them the full live experience of his band rebirth with the Circle of Friends DVD. Read more…
 
The National : Boxer
The National deliver their most impressive album yet with Boxer, adding an interesting complexity to their sad indie-rock. Read more…
 
The Nerd Parade : A Delicate Bashing
Randy Garcia is the founder of South Florida’s electronic label Nophi Recordings, and has been creating his own electronica for over a decade. Read more…
 
The New Pornographers : Challengers
The New Pornographers' fourth album deeply develops their sound into an outstretched range of beautifully artistic alt-pop. Read more…
 
New Young Pony Club : Fantastic Playroom
You might have already heard them on the radio or tv, but the British punk-wave five-piece finally drops their debut, and it's studded with gems. Read more…
 
Nirvana : Unplugged in New York DVD
Fourteen years later, Nirvana’s seminal MTV Unplugged performance is as powerful as you remember in its first DVD release. Read more…
 
of Montreal : Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Of Montreal, the five-piece LSD tab from Athens, GA is back with the eighth installation of their increasingly digitally strange psych-pop. Read more…
 
Okkervil River : The Stage Names
Midwestern folky alt-poppers drop their fifth, most refined album to date, and it's an energetic and charming view of American culture. Read more…
 
Parts & Labor : Mapmaker
Parts & Labor, the latest noise-punk band to come out of Brooklyn, have taken a huge step forward with their powerful sophomore LP, Mapmaker. Read more…
 
Grant-Lee Phillips : Strangelet
Since the demise of Grant Lee Buffalo back in 1999 (following a dispute with label Warner Bros. over lack of promotion), Buffalo’s singer/guitarist/songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips has delivered five solo records, each better than the last. Read more…
 
Portugal. The Man : Church Mouth
On their second album, the Alaskan trio concocts a wonderfully imaginative, energetic mix of alt-punk and psych-rock. Read more…
 
The Postmarks : The Postmarks
The Postmarks’ self-titled first full-length release is a stellar display of talent and technique for this up-and-coming trio. Read more…
 
Prefuse 73 : Preparations
With more than a strong dose of glitches, Prefuse 73's new album is deeply eccentric and wildly imaginative instrumental hip-tronica. Read more…
 
Ra Ra Riot : Ra Ra Riot
The seven-person Ra Ra Riot jumps and jives on their self-titled debut EP, with energy, but also meaning. Read more…
 
Radiohead : In Rainbows
With regards to In Rainbows, alt-icons Radiohead will probably be better remembered for revolutionizing how music is sold rather than how it sounds. Read more…
 
RJD2 : The Third Hand
In this age of DJs, mash-up artists, and pseudomusicians with FruityLoops, it's now more of a pain in the ass to find the good shit in all the weeds. Read more…
 
Robbers On High Street : Grand Animals
New York throwback rockers fill their second album with wonderfully varied, yet cohesive, stories told with stylish sophistication and youthful charm. Read more…
 
The Sea and Cake : Everybody
Chicago’s The Sea and Cake have been on hiatus since 2004, but they’ve got a new release in Everybody, and on it, their indie-rock take on '70s easy-listening is at its best. Read more…
 
The Shins : Wincing the Night Away
After becoming pop culture darlings, The Shins have waited three years to drop another album, and it's paying off with a more highly-evolved collection of celestial pop/rock. Read more…
 
Shout Out Louds : Our Ill Wills
Stockholm’s Shout Out Louds hit the ground running with their sophomore release, Our Ill Wills, a powerful and enjoyable collection of winning tunes. Read more…
 
Sigur Rós : Hvarf-Heim
Treating its fans to several unheard and live tracks, Sigur Rós' double album, Hvarf-Heim, is an exquisite look back on vacancies in their catalog while also full of acoustic takes on some of their most endearing tracks. Read more…
 
Elliott Smith : New Moon
With New Moon, the late, lamented Elliott Smith gets a fitting and evocative send-off in this collection of early, unreleased session material from the (unfortunately named) Kill Rock Stars label. Read more…
 
Sonic Youth : Daydream Nation (Deluxe Edition)
Sonic Youth’s expanded double-disc re-release, Daydream Nation (Deluxe Edition), is an amazing record with unfortunately less-than-amazing extras. Read more…
 
St. Vincent : Marry Me
From The Polyphonic Spree to Sufjan Stevens, Annie Clark has been busy, and on her solo debut as St. Vincent, the multi-instrumentalist well marries 40's-era Paris piano bar crooning to today’s high indietronica. Read more…
 
The Twang : Love It When I Feel Like This
On their debut full-length, Love It When I Feel Like This, The Twang draw from a wide stretch of Britain’s ‘dirty’ alternative, from baggy-dance to indie pub-rock to grime-rap. Read more…
 
U2 : The Joshua Tree: Remastered
U2’s ultra-seminal The Joshua Tree has been remastered and re-released, with a second disc of mostly b-sides that are, well, mostly b-sides. Read more…
 
Unkle : War Stories
On their third album, Unkle blast post-apocalypse trip-rock around a darkly affluent guest list. Read more…
 
David Vandervelde : The Moonstation House Band
It may only be eight songs, but David Vandervelde's debut The Moonstation House Band feels as full as any album. Read more…
 
Patrick Watson : Close To Paradise
This year’s winner of Canada’s prestigious Polaris Music Prize, Patrick Watson’s Close To Paradise is an orchestral thing of beauty. Read more…
 
White Rabbits : Fort Nightly
The Missouri by-way-of New York White Rabbits hit the ground running in their debut record, Fort Nightly, with a driving beat, but catchy stylings, that give them room to roam. Read more…
 
The White Stripes : Icky Thump
The White Stripes' sixth album takes a few new directions while blasting their trademark grungy blues. Read more…
 
Patrick Wolf : The Magic Position
Patrick Wolf has a somewhat prodigious quality to his music.  Not only is he young (23), he can play about a dozen instruments. Read more…
 

Accessories:

Ghostface Killah Doll
Your very own mini Ghostface can keep you company and protect you during the night. Fully customizable and decked out with all the charm you'd expect. Link…

 

Led Zeppelin Pool Cue
Play pool like Jimmy Page plays guitar.  Use two of them to get the double-necked guitar effect. Link…

 

The Shins Poketo Wallet
Put a little art in your back pocket. Link…

 

White Stripes Dress Kilt
Put a little Tartan spirit in your holiday or everyday life courtesy of Jack & Meg. It's their official design. Only 10 made. Link…

 

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