Tim Bugbee: July 15, 2007

First top 10 list

1. The Go! Team – “Junior Kickstart”

   Probably the best song which popped up on my iPod during the three-hour drive home from Jiminy Peak. Amazing mix of Sonic Youth guitar samples and Stax/Volt-style horns.

2. Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 – Olé Tarantula (Yep Roc)

   Robyn rounds up some old friends and writes the best record he’s done in 20 years (since Eye, for me). “New York Doll” was one of the best songs of last year, great eulogy for Arthur Kane.

3. Amsterdam, Netherlands

   It’s kind of lame to include an entire city, but I just got back from that tremendous place last week, and I still miss it. Lovely canals, great food, a huge mass of bikes, and a weird mix of libertarian philosophies make it like no place I’ve ever been.

4. Margaret Atwood – Oryx and Crake (McClelland & Stewart, 2003)

   Great read about technology, eugenics, class segregation, and a post-apocalyptic vision which is chillingly believable.

5. The All-Star Break (Major League Baseball)

   Hopefully this will give the Red Sox time to regroup, re-charge, and come out charging. Plus, the home run derby is kind of entertaining.

6. Earth – Hibernaculum (Southern Lord)

   Dylan Carlson is likely best known for allegedly supplying Kurt Cobain with a shotgun, but this new release of drastically/acoustically modified older drone songs is outstanding and well worth seeking out.

7. Boris – Rainbow 2 LP + DVD Box Set (Inoxia)

   This gains top 10 status if only for being the most ridiculously priced piece of new music I’ve ever purchased. I’ll let you know when I break the seal.

8. Jason Isbell – Sirens of the Ditch (New West Records)

   Jason’s first LP since leaving the Drive-by Truckers finds him on fine form, great passionate songs and the burning slide guitar he’s known for. Southern Rock without the cliches.

9. Blades of Glory (2007)

   Anything with Will Farrell is certainly good for at least a few laughs, and this movie doesn’t skimp.

10. Meg Baird – Dear Companion (Drag City)

    Main singer for Espers trots out her heartbreaking voice for this solo LP, and it’s as beautiful as you’d hope for.