The Independent's "The Triangle's best 35 songs of 2007"

This past Wednesday, The Independent released their picks for "The Triangle's best 35 songs of 2007." It's an interesting list as diverse as the music coming out of the Triangle. Here's the list in alphabetical order.

Alina Simone "Country of Two"
Birds of Avalon "A Horse Called Dust"
Bowerbirds "Dark Horse"
Bull City "Game"
Carolina Chocolate Drops "Dona Got a Ramblin' Mind"
The Cartridge Family "American West"
Dan Bryk "Discount Store"
DATAHATA "Cartesian Voices"
David Karsten Daniels "The Dream Before the Ring That Woke Me"
Day Action Band "Back of Your Car"
Des Ark "Lord of the Ring"
Double Negative "Retro Abortion"
Feltbattery "A House Finch"
Filthybird "The Gospel of Truth (As Judas Told It To Me)"
The Future Kings of Nowhere "I'm Still Waiting"
Hammer No More The Fingers "O.R.G.Y."
Hazerai "This Night"
Horseback "Blood Fountain"
I Was Totally Destroying It "Summer State"
Jeff Crawford "Never Set in Stone"
Little Brother "Good Clothes"
Megafaun "Lazy Suicide"
Midtown Dickens "A.M. Dial"
The Moaners "When You're Dead and Gone"
Nathan Oliver "State Lines Pt. 2"
The Nein " Attitude and Mirrors"
Patty Hurst Shifter "Mr. Soul"
Red Collar "Used Guitars"
The Rosebuds "Silja Line"
Schooner "Carrboro"
Snatches of Pink "Opposite of Horse"
Spider Bags "Waking Up Drunk"
Sweater Weather "The Pains of Relocation"
Tooth "Dogs of the Fight"
Two Dollar Pistols "Nothing Left of Me"

You can download mp3s of all 35 songs at The Independent's website (click here).

Don't forget to submit your votes for the Triangle Music Readers' Poll. Submissions will be accepted through December 26.

Merge snags Grammy nom

There was some celebrating in Chapel Hill this morning as the Arcade Fire snagged a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album. The group is on the Chapel Hill-based Merge Records.

The group is up against Lily Allen, Bjork, The Shins and The White Stripes in the category.

Another group with local ties also received several nominations, though I sort of cringe to even mention it.

Daughtry received five nominations, including Best Rock Album, Best Pop Performance for "Home," Best Rock Performance for "It's Not Over" and Best Rock Song for "It's Not Over" (which, notably, is a songwriters' award). The group's producer was also nominated as Producer of the Year for his work on the group's debut.

The list of nominees, which is available at Grammy.com, is essentially what you'd expect, with Kanye West and Amy Winehouse leading the pack. Here are a few nominations that got my attention...

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

• Paul McCartney, "Dance Tonight"
• John Mayer, "Belief" (shut up I love that song)

Best Pop Vocal Album

• Paul McCartney, Memory Almost Full

Best Dance Recording

• Mika, "Love Today"

Best Rock Performance, Group

• Green Day, "Working Class Hero" (off the album Instant Karma)

Follow Annuals with a new video diary

Annuals may currently be away on the road, but you can still keep up through the band's new video tour diary at Purevolume.

In the first installment we find our heroes with a bit of cabin fever driving for more than a day straight to Seattle.

Annuals is currently on tour with Kaiser Chiefs and the Walkmen. They'll return home for a show at Cat's Cradle May 5 with Blonde Redhead.


Download Annuals on iTunes

Local radio's salvation

For as much as I complain about the state of local radio, it's only fair to acknowledge what is (at least in my opinion) the best radio station in the Triangle, NCSU's WKNC 88.1.

Show some support for the only local station that plays real music by checking out their Double Barrel Benefit this weekend at King's in downtown Raleigh.

Friday's show will feature The Old Ceremony, The Mountain Goats, Megafaun and The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers.

Come back Saturday to see Annuals, The Nein, Future Islands and Tiger Bear Wolf.

Tickets are just $6 in advance at Etix or $8 at the door.

Brand new music calendar!

Ever wish all the information on the best Triangle concerts could be found in one convenient online calendar? Wish no more!!

See that little link in all caps over to the right that says "Triangle Music Calendar"? Click it, and you'll find a roundup of all the best area shows.

Do you have a band and want your shows published on our calendar? Let us know! E-mail triangle_music@hotmail.com with your calendar submission.

Annuals perform on Conan

So last night was the big night for local band Annuals. Here's a video of their performance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Good job, guys (and gal)!

Annuals, "Carry Around"



Download Be He Me on iTunes

Annuals on Conan — TONIGHT!

I know things are a little crazy in the Triangle today (Ohmygod there's a teensy bit of snow on the ground!!! Quick—get in the car and brake needlessly in I-40!), but really people, there are more serious issues at hand.

Raleigh band Annuals will make its national debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien tonight, so set your Tivos for 12:35 a.m.

In the meantime, here's a freebie: a completely legal download of Annuals' "Brother."

Download "Brother": http://www.acefu.com/MP3s/brother.mp3

Download Be He Me on iTunes.

Three local acts, one really cheap show

Be sure to check out Roman Candle, Bull City and Running Lights at Duke Coffeehouse next Saturday, Jan. 20. Tickets are a mere $4 (or $2 with a Duke student ID). Doors at 8:30, show at 9:30.

This is your last chance to see rising stars Roman Candle before they head across the pond for some shows in London in February.

Annuals live session. Download now!

The good people at daytrotter.com have brought us a brand new live session, this time featuring Raleigh/Chapel Hill buzz band Annuals. The band stopped by Daytrotter Studios at the end of their last tour to record the session. Click the link below to listen and download four live versions of songs from Be He Me and read the story of their sleepless adventure on the day of the session.

Annuals Daytrotter session

Also, don't forget to check out the band on Late Night with Conan O'Brian on January 18 and at the Cat's Cradle on January 22 (the band will be opening for The Dears).