• print
• email

 more photos

The 10 best local albums of 2007

By Ben Salmon / The Bulletin

For a growing-but-still-small region, Central Oregon has a bustling music scene; a couple dozen local releases ended up on our desk this year. They ran the gamut, from folk to punk to hip-hop, and here are some of our favorites. Download music from these artists and more at Near/Far.

Person People

'Seven Ways'

Blink and you’ll miss it: The evolution of seven talented dudes can happen in a flash. So it is with Person People, Bend’s home-grown troupe of hip-hop fanatics who have cultivated a sizable following in this town. “Seven Ways” will tell you why. This is a collection of rap music as strong as any released anywhere by anyone in 2007, thanks not only to DJ A-Bomb’s production skills (which are vast and cleverly soulful, by the way), but also the group’s apparently collective-wide intuition for feel and flow. The idea that four or five or six (or whatever) different guys are writing and rapping on this record is astounding — that’s how seamlessly they blend. Of course, too much blending can lead to blandness, but don’t worry — with the lyrical ability exhibited by KP, Mike Fish, Mez, Sorski and The Rook, each of the full songs on “Seven Ways” is like a mystery novel, with new twists and turns of phrase around every beat. This project has been gaining steam for years, from garage to The Grove to this release, and now with three new members, Person People has evolved into a live hip-hop band capable of doing great things. The only question is whether they’re happy with their following in Bend, or if they want to start spreading their gospel to other places. Part of me wants them to take their act on the road, because they’re that good. But part of me wants them to stick to Bend, so they can be our little secret. Because they’re that good. Read Band Profile

Jaren Colinger

'Light From a Dying Star'

Jared Colinger was but a blip on the Central Oregon music scene in 2007. He moved to the region from Tennessee to work with Redmond-based indie label Allalom Music, played only a couple shows (in living rooms, no less), and moved (along with Allalom) to Arizona in the last several weeks. To top it off, he officially released no music while he was here. But pre-release copies of this outstanding EP are available for purchase from his Web site, and this stuff is so great, we’re counting it. Colinger is basically a purveyor of bedroom pop that rocks ever so gently, worming its way into your head with warm, rich, and instantly familiar melodies. Honestly, the five songs on this CD are as good as any pop-rock made in 2007. The question is whether Colinger is motivated enough to capitalize on his talent. A recent blog post on his MySpace suggests the answer may be “no,” but here’s hoping he finds his muse again. Music like this deserves to be heard. Read Band Profile

David Clemmer

'Vermont Songs'

Eighteen months distilled into 37 minutes and created over about 30 days. Welcome to “Vermont Songs,” the concept record that follows local singer-songwriter David Clemmer’s interactions with an ex-girlfriend between early 2005 and late 2006. It was February 2007, though, when Clemmer did all of the arranging, recording and mixing of these songs on his computer as part of the RPM Challenge, an online record-an-album-in-a-month project. The point here is this: Wow. Despite the time crunch, Clemmer’s songs snap and crackle with life, even as his vocals drip with emotion and his lyrics run the gamut from hope to longing to regret. By the time “Chapter 10” rolls around and Clemmer asks the girl, “Was your choice a fall from a faltering horse?”, you’ll be fully invested and hoping the answer is “no.” Read Band Profile

The Roe

‘Midnight On Murder Street’

Central Oregon’s hardcore/metal scene buzzed this year, with the start-up of busy local promoter Bleeding Thoughts Productions, frequent brutal shows at Shanghai Joe’s, Players and the Domino Room, and the constant proliferation of heavy bands. But it was The Roe, with their gaudy hairstyles and gaudier live show, that made the best local punk record of the year. Of course, some principled punks may scoff at that label; these five guys from Redmond — all with roots in hardcore — place more importance on a soaring synth hook (and dressing well) than any sort of gutter-dwelling D.I.Y. ethos. As a result, “Midnight” has its share of growls and screams, but they don’t stretch into tuneless eternity. Instead, these songs rock and they’re catchy, two qualities that so often are mutually exclusive in punk and hardcore. Read Band Profile

The Erins

'The Year of Hello and Goodbye'

Kismet brought them together; guitarist and songwriter Erin Cole-Baker, a New Zealander new to Central Oregon, happened upon violinist Erin Zurflu, a native Bendite, at a jam session, and they formed a band when they realized they shared more in common than a name. Namely, a musical chemistry that, once you find it, you ought to ride for as long as possible. In this case, 2,700 miles east to Washington, D.C., in a vintage camper van. That’s where The Erins live now, but before they left, they released this simple gem of an album, featuring Cole-Baker’s plain-spoken tunes, Zurflu’s plaintive fiddle, and harmonies that are as pretty as they are Spandex-tight. “Hello and Goodbye” is a study in less is more. Read Band Profile

Also worth checking out

The Bond Brothers, "Naturally"

The Cool Table, "You Can't Sit Here"

Coyo, "The West"

Poor Bastard's Romance, "Live @ The Grove"

Threes, "Everywhere"

• print
• email