So, there is a hell of a show(s) coming to Brooklyn next week. The legends of doom, Neurosis, will be making a special appearance at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple in good ole’ Fort Greene. I imagine it’s going to be an intense affair, the kind of night that will vibrate in one’s head for many days to follow. Cheers to the fine promoter who thought long and hard about putting this event together.

Neurosis were one of those bands that crossed over to all sorts of dudes. (I say dudes because I never met too many girls who got off on the heavy turbulance garnered from a Neurosis tune.) So you’d have your anaracho MRR punk talking about the aesthetics of Scott Kelly’s violent licks, while some hessian dude in a Voivod T-Shirt and a thin mustache listened to the sounds off “Souls at Zero” with a glazed smile on his face. All were welcome if they could take the pain. And it was the power of that mucky sludge that kept us coming back for more.

I want to check out a track off the 2001 Relapse release, “A Sun That Never Sets”. A lot of people panned this album when it first came out because it wasn’t as heavy as their earlier work. But after many listens the songs start to unravel in your head, and you come to realize that acts of quiet desperation are far scarier than quick jabs to the throat. Here is a band that can inspire us all to pay attention to the notion that less certainly can rock a lot fuckin harder than more.

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Someone said this in the January 2008 issue of Esquire: “If you watch more than three TV shows a week regularly, you need to be doing more with your life.” I will now provide context.

Here is my top ten list for 2007. The songs listed were not necessairly released during this past year. The only criteria is that I came in contact with the bands, artists, songs etc. during 2007.

1) “Is There a Ghost” — Band of Horses — I first heard this on XM with some friends while we drove to a shake joint in Detroit.

2) “Pirate Love” — Heartbreakers — This song feels like a combination of the Stones (circa Exile) meets the White Stripes. The bass line bridge is worth every quarter.

3) “Simple Man“ — Lynard Skynard — What more does one need than a little heartfelt advice from one’s mama backed by multiple layers of anthemic chord changes.

4) “T.V. World”  The Methodones — Everything about this tune is perfect. Listen below and you’ll see why.

5) “In the Ghetto” (Feat. Rick James) Busta Rhymes — My brother-in-law played this for me one night when we were driving back from dinner at the Olive Garden. I asked him to play me something real.

6. “Missed the Boat” — Modest Mouse — At first I thought the newest Modest Mouse release was a mix of artsy carpaccio mixed with a touch of high falutant white pepper. Then I heard this tune on shuffle a few weeks later, and remembered why I will never stop listening to these fine fellas from the state of Washington.

7. “I’ll Believe in Anything” — Wolf Parade — “Nobody knows you and nobody gives a damn either way.”

8. “History’s Stranglers“ — The Bronx — This tune works really well when you’re waiting for an old lady in her Buick to pull out of a spot you desperately need so you can make it to a movie on time. Turn it up loud.

9. “Been There All The Time” — Dinosaur Jr. — I was walking to the store to buy some Advil for a headache that wouldn’t go away. I listened to this song and “bam“ everything felt all right. *Beyond is the first studio album released by Dinosaur Jr. in ten years, and it was well worth the wait.

10. “Don’t Make Me A Target” — Spoon — If you ever get the urge to live in your own P.T. Anderson film – throw on this tune and start walking.

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