Better Than The Chili: The Best Cincinnati Albums of 2007

Every Friday this year, I will be highlighting a band from the Greater Cincinnati area. Whether you prefer Skyline or Gold Star, you will agree that this music is "Better Than The Chili."

For this first post, I'd like to showcase some of the best albums of 2007 from Cincinnati musicians. Mike Breen and the City Beat staff compiled reviews of some of the best local albums of the year. They were able to list about 40 albums that they favored. Here's my personal list of top five local releases for 2007.

1. The Great Depression - The Great Depression | Best Albums of 2007 #8 | website
   

   2 guys and 2 acoustic guitars singing songs about heartache, drugs, and loss. It sounds simple. But only rarely are certain musicians able to make the simple so beautiful and poignant. Every live show this band has performed has blown me away. This album is equally astonishing.



2. 500 Miles To Memphis - Sunshine In A Shot Glass | website | buy it here
   

   This band has some high energy alt country in the vein of the countrier side of Black Rebel Motor Club or a punk version of the Drive-By Truckers. Equal parts rockabilly, country, punk, and rock and roll, this band drinks hard and plays harder. This album is incredibly well produced. It's pristine, but without losing the energy or emotion of the band. The album's opening song, "All My Friends Are Crazy" is one of my favorite tracks of the year.



3. The Seedy Seeds - Change States | website | buy it here
   

   Their brand of indie/folk/dance music has been called "Appalachitronica." Few bands can create such appealing music by mixing a banjo and electronic drum beats. Their meldoies stick in my head like a melted chocolate bar brazes to its wrapper on a hot day.



4. The Spectacular Fantastic - Outer Space In Nothing But A Lie | website | Download this album for FREE here
   

   Both spectacular and fantastic, Mike Detmer and company make retro pop sounding music. If you are a fan of the Elephant 6 bands, you should definitely check out this band. Luckily, after making this album, they made it available with a free download from their website. The band has a new album coming on out January 30th, which I'm looking forward to.



5. Pearlene - For Western Violence And Brief Sensuality | website
   

   Pearlene's latest album is full of the garage blues music. The first track opens with a honky tonk sounding piano, but the album then launches into a psychedelic bar band song, then retro-influenced blues songs.

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Best Albums of 2007

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