Reykjavík Grapevine - 11.01.2008, Síða 15

Feature | Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 01 2008 | 15
Top 10 Albums of 2007
Top 5 Album Covers of 2007
Selecting the album of the year 2007 proved to be a difficult task for the Grapevine selection committee. Opinions varied and heated arguments ensued. No two mem-
bers of our committee selected the same album as the year’s best, but certain titles turned up more than others. After much debate and strenuous mathematical exer-
cises, using the finest IT equipment and methods of higher order calculus, we came up with the following list. Note, a tiebreaker was required to settle the top seat.
The original Grapevine review of
Skátar’s The Ghost of the Bollocks to
Come stated: “it is not the most ac-
cessible CD the first time around, but
the quirkiness grows on you.” And it
does indeed. Skátar’s sound does not
lend itself to easy categorisation, with
a barrage of guitars, bass doodles and
keyboards that seem to be heading in
different directions. Once the initial
strangeness wears off, what remains is
one of the most interesting albums in
years.
A former múm vocalist, Ólöf Arnalds’
debut solo album, Við og við, has made
her a whole new set of fans as a singer/
songwriter in the old-timer troubadour
fashion. Ólöf’s folk seeks inspiration
from the ’70s sound of Joan Baez in par-
ticular, crossed with the indie flair for
unconventional instrumental arrange-
ments. While her unique voice lies a
pitch or two above high, she croons as
much as she sings to create the most
endearing album of the year.
Eggert Pétursson’s intricate landscape
paintings are a good match with Hjal-
talín’s detailed musical creations.
Designed by Sigurður Oddsson, paint-
ing by Eggert Pétursson
Björk stays on top of the fashion game
with her collaboration with the playful
Bernhard Wilhelm.
Designed by M/M (Paris), costume by
Bernhard Wilhelm
Mr. Silla’s simple and soothing design
invites you to lie down on the sofa
while you lisen.
Designed by Mr. Silla
Nut-grabbing photo and an interesting
wordplay on both the political climate
and a looming social epidemic.
Designed by Gunnar Þór Vilhjálmsson,
photo by Börkur Sigþórsson
The clever format of Benni Hemm
Hemm’s cover design gives you a thing
to play with while the album plays.
Designed by Auður Jörundsdóttir
Hardcore die-hards I Adapt finally re-
leased a long awaited third LP. Chain-
like Burden is the band’s heaviest al-
bum, full of dramatic outpour and huge,
devastating riffs that stay well clear of
the common hardcore emo-delution
and capture the band’s tremendous
live energy. The album has been com-
pared with Iowans Modern Life is War,
although The Hope Conspiracy might
be a more fitting comparison. The most
energetic record of the year by far.
Theory of Machines is the third release
from adopted-from-Australia-Icelander
Ben Frost, put out on the Bedroom Com-
munity Label. Frost is more of an audio
artist than an out and out musician, fo-
cusing on audio explorations, texture
and ambience; filtering drone-like gui-
tar churning and minimal electronica.
Theory of Machines has met with criti-
cal acclaim from the international mu-
sic press, although Icelanders have paid
little attention to his exploits. This is the
year’s most experimental album.
While Mugison still trudges with one
foot along the alternative folk-blues
path he carved on 2005’s crowd pleas-
er Mugimama, Is This Monkey Music?,
this album sounds heavier, darker and
in general, more sweaty. With a wide
variety of influences, from industrial
metal to Tom Waits, Mugison might
have proven himself to have the biggest
balls in the business.
Pop-quintet Sprengjuhöllin has put sen-
timentality in the now with their debut
release, Tímarnir Okkar, that adds a
dash of social commentary to a youth-
ful portrait of modern-day life in Ice-
land. As one of our Grapevine report-
ers put it in her previously-published
review, “The distinct unabashed-ness
at the heart of this album is, like our
wasted generation, as fresh and fasci-
nating as it is consequential.” We’re get-
ting nostalgic already.
The debut release from the Selfoss
quartet Benny Crespo’s Gang has been
on the verge of release for years. It
proved to be worth the wait. Benny
Crespo’s chaotic indie-rock delivers on
all fronts. With Bassi’s powerful drum
sound, the split vocal duties by Lovísa
and Helgi Rúnar, Magnús’s synth over-
drive, and screeching guitars, in short,
this album is a slayer of men.
GusGus have managed to outlive
their acid & house contemporaries
by far, and time has only aged them
to perfection. The beats are more bit-
ing and minimal than ever, the hooks
more shamelessly poptastic and infec-
tiously catchy and the Ecstasy just as
dominant in the bloodstream as it was
twelve years ago. It’s always satisfying
when a band reaches the age where
it becomes capable of filtering all the
bullshit out of their music and sticking
to what matters most.
The first full-length album from Reyk-
javík’s seven piece Seabear generated
a low key buzz that resonated all the
way to Germany where the respected
label Morr Music decided to pick up
the International distribution. Seabear
delivers a folksy-pop sound with ar-
rangements which rely heavily on xy-
lophone, strings, banjo and piano to
deliver a warm and beautiful sound.
This is the year’s most peaceful and
pleasant album.
Folk legend Megas added to his re-
spectable catalogue by publishing two
albums this year: Frágangur, and an
album of outtakes from the productive
Frágangur recording session with mem-
bers of the reggae band Hjálmar. As
usual, Megas’ genius lies in the lyrical
aspect, although his elegantly simple
folk-pop melodies and raspy voice are
an often overlooked side of his genius.
This is an album that is likely to inspire
a whole new generation of fans.
1. Skátar
Ghost of the Bollocks to
Come
6. Ólöf Arnalds
Við og við
1. Hjaltalín
Sleepdrunk Seasons
2. I Adapt
Chainlike Burden
7. Ben Frost
Theory of Machines
2. Björk
Volta
3. Mugison
Mugiboogie
8. Sprengjuhöllin
Tímarnir okkar
5. Mr. Silla &
Mongoose
Foxbite
4. Benny Crespo’s
Gang
Benny Crespo’s Gang
9. GusGus
Forever
3. Mínus
The Great Northern
Whalekill
5. Seabear
The Ghost That Carried
Us Away
10. Megas
Hold er mold
4. Benni Hemm Hemm
Ein í leyni