The Noise! Ethnomusicology

Top Tens

When The Noise does a poll, the results show the average of everyone’s opinion. That tends to make people complain about their little corner of the scene not getting the attention it deserves. This year I chose to skip the poll and go with individual top tens. This way you get to really see what each individual loves.

NOISERS’ TOP TEN
FRANCIS DiMENNO Eclectica: Top Ten CDs of 2007
1. Erich Groat's Found Missing Volumes 1 and 2
2. Rotary Club, Vis a Vis
3. Willie Alexander & The Fisheye Brothers, Fisheye Brothers
4. Incredible Casuals, World Championship Songs 1980-2007
5. The 2X4s, Compilation
6. The Vinyl Skyway, From Telegraph Hill
7. Peter C. Johnson, Yaka Yaka
8. My Own Worst Enemy, Total Action
9. The Self-Righteous Brothers, In Loving Memory Of…
10. Girls, Guns and Glory, Pretty Little Wrecking Ball

KIER BYRNES Top Ten People who make the Local Music Scene
10. Carmelita (WAAF) and all the lovely Boston Rock ’n’ Roll Social gals
9. Matt Lambo & Cisco Brewery; 2008 is the year of Triple 8!
8. Sooz, John Black, and the Boston Now crew.
7. Shred - Sad to see him go, glad to see him back!
6. David Duncan (WFNX); Fellow NH boy done real good.
5. Winifred Chane, PR wizard, media-vixen, CMJ guru and all around hottie
4. Jay Miller of The Patriot Ledger, bringing the word on the streets to all the South Shore
3. Adam Arrigo and Ashley Willard; putting together some really cool things with Northeast Performer
2. Mike Marotta and Kerry Purcell - Boston Herald’s dynamic duo of rock!
1. T Max; thanks for being such a steadfast supporter of the local music and art community.

NANCY NEON Toppermost of 2007
1. Best live show: Lyres at the Cavestomp, November 4, NYC
2. Best live show by new band: Red Invasion at the Ace of Clubs, NYC
3. Best rock ’n’ roll designer: Angela Z. (Mode Merr)
4. Best new booker at a new club: Nick Blakey (Church)
5. Best booker/bartender/host who’s the most: Martin Doyle
6. Best scenester birthday bashes: Bob Colby and Lisa both at the Cantab
7. Best deja vu moment: Dancing with Robert to My Own Worst Enemy’s “Redondo Beach”
8. Best performances at Brett Milano’s book party: Willie Alexander and Andrea Gillis
9. Best DJ: Joey Boy at the Alchemist, Baseball Tavern, Cantab, etc.
10. Personal best: getting promoted to Noise associate editor and having the My Own Worst Enemy interview make cover story

JOEL SIMCHES Top Ten Bands/ Things That Made My Soul Happy in 2007
10. The Doom Buggies
9. Dagmar
8. Birdwatchers of America
7. Ad Frank
6. Axemunkee
5. Count Zero
4. Bang Camaro
3. End War Now-Dreamers Wanted
2. On the Town With Mikey Dee
1. Donating to the Jeannie Connolly Fund (T.T.’s Bartender)

KEVIN FINN Top Ten of 2007
1. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones reunion
2. Tiger Saw’s insanely catchy “Kick and Snare”
3. The Downbeat 5’s live CD sounding as good as I remember the show at Q Division being, which is no small task
4. The Dents’ last show at The Abbey
5. Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly playing a set of Throwing Muses songs at The Brattle
6. The Raging Teens X-Mas Party
7. My favorite local record of the year: Death & Taxes’ Tattooed Hearts & Broken Promises
8. Showcase Showdown putting their Christmas tunes up on MySpace.
9. All the cool people I’ve met doing this.
10. Not every musician I like has moved to L.A. yet.

SLIMEDOG Top Ten Burning Giraffes
1. Cutest Guitarist: (tie) Kimi Hendrix (Killer Abs), Amy (Darkbuster)
2. Cutest Drummer: Cindy Lou Spoiler (The Spoilers)
3. Cutest Scenester: Kara Jeanne
4: Grumpiest Drummer: (tie) Chris Dimwit (The Dimwits), (Mike Mahoney (Thunderhog/ Tenafly Vipers)
5: Nicest Punk: (tie) Joe Zippo (& the Raiders), Fred (x-Over the Edge)
6. Favorite Day of the Year: Slimefest
7. Club to make me forget the Rat: Abbey Lounge
8. Best Music Writer: Joe Coughlin
9. Most Congenial Bandleader: Jeff Connolly (Lyres)
10. Most beloved messageboard owner: T Max

NICOLE TAMMARO Top Ten
1. Best summer party that I got tossed out of: Mark Lind’s
2. Best place to kill a sat afternoon, blowing dough and hangin’ w/Boston punks: Horror Business
3. Most badass rock chick: Jen (The Downbeat 5)
4. Best show in 007: Unnatural Axe at Zuzu @ John Nikolai’s photo show
5. Best rocker/softball player: Jay (Ducky Boys)
6. Craziest punker: Mark Doherty
7. Angriest punker: Steve Confront
8. Best band w/little to no press: Jason Bennett & the Resistance
9. Hottest rocker: Geno (Splint)
10. Best photographer: me

FRANK STROM Top Ten “Gosh-Wow” Stuff 2007:
10. Royalty treatment from Mickey Bliss
9. Huddling for warmth in the arctic cold outside the Kirkland with Chris Horne
8. Coffin Jay—Atomic ruler of all bass players!
7. Nancy Neon Nights
6. Lyres shows and lots of ’em (see #7)
5. Myra Ghoul’s speaking voice
4. Kevin and Kevin delivering the goods behind the Abbey’s soundboard
3. Space-holder for a Michelle Paulhus reference (can’t think of anything, but how can there be a “Best of” list without one?)
2. The Downbeat 5!
1. For two years running… Andrea Gillis’ striped halter. Why doesn’t she wear it EVERY day?

FRANK D Top Ten Songs from his radio show Rock Around Boston
10. Mission of Burma – “This Is Not A Photograph”
9. Moving Targets – “Babble”
8. Jake & the Jakes – “The Rockah”
7. Unnatural Axe – “They Saved Hitler's Brain”
6. The World’s Greatest Sinners – “I Don't Want No Mama's Boy”
5. La Peste – “Lease On Life”
4. Unnatural Axe – “Tonight We Fight”
3. Nervous Eaters – “Loretta”
2. Classic Ruins – “1+1<2”
1. The New Frustrations – “Changed My Mind” (Harp Remix)

GLENWOOD Top Ten Dude Singers, in no order, but with a note: any singer list that includes punk singers is a best voice list (read: tone) and not a singer’s list.
10. John Powhida (The Rudds/…International Airport)
9. Chris Pappas (Everyday Visuals)
8. Rodrigo Van Stoli (Bang Camaro/ Noble Rot)
7. Aaron Perrino (Dear Leader)
6. Brad Parker (Aberdeen City)
5. Tim Gearan - this guy is amazing...
4. Will Dailey (Will Dailey)
3. Jason Dunn (The Luxury)
2. Mike Nastri (Harris)
1. Thom Moran (Bon Savants)

DJ MATTHEW GRIFFIN Top Ten
10. Dreamchild - best live gothic act from Boston.
9. Bedlam (Providence, RI) - best fetish/industrial/gothic clothing store in New England.
8. ‘Terri’ Niedzwiecki - best bartender in Boston.
7. Joey Boy (Red Invasion) - best hair and cheekbones.
6. Anderson Mar - person most to deserve a vacation, due to hard work.
5. Miss Non-Stop Nancy Neon - guru-celebrity-scene queen extrodinairre (in patent leather stiletto boots).
4. Chris and Cathy Cah (Musclecah) - best Rock ’n’ Roll couple.
3. Jenny (Midnight Creeps) and Jami (the Sleazies) - best rock ‘n’ roll couple (second runner up).
2. WDOA.COM - biggest letdown of the year, WDOA ends their transmissions.
1. The Time Beings Journey To Tyme (Dino Rec.) - best CD

DOUG DESPRES Top Ten Photographer Tips
10. PBR Tall - Best Photo Warmup Tool
9. Britt Lightning - Most Organized Musician
8. At Sea (Emily Grogan) - Best Album Cover
7. TT’s - Most Bend-able Floor
6. Earplugs - Most Important and Continuously Ignored Safeguards
5. Nikon FM & Hassy 500C - Best Cameras To Shoot Live Music
4. Ilford Delta 3200 - Her Majesty
3. “Way To Stage, Please Keep Clear” - Most Missed Sign (LL)
2. Paradise Rock Club - Most Picture Perfect Lighting
1. Lizard Lounge - Best Venue to Shoot

T MAX Top Ten Enjoyments of 2007
1. Emily Grogan’s CD At Sea
2. John Powhida’s voice/personality
3. Peter Moore’s songwriting
4. Brett Milano’s book release party
5. Three Day Threshold’s CD release party
6. Dennis Brennan’s performance
7. Andrea Gillis’s voice
8. Angeline’s mix of beauty and talent
9. The Cello Chix – classical classics
10. Dana Colley’s sax and Roger Miller’s strangely tuned guitar, together with all who took part in “End War Now”

LOLITA FLANGE Top Ten Sexiest People in Boston
1. Monique Ortiz (A.K.A.C.O.D.)
David Minehan (The Neighborhoods)
2. Erin Harpe (Lovewhip)
Chick Graining (Scarce)
3. Anderson Mar (Dark Sky Productions)
Bo Berringer (Meandjoancollins)
4. Cheryl Etu (Angeline)
Jose De Lara (Protokoll)
5. Susan Fielder (Cambridge Music)
Nat Rogers (Scamper)
6. Sarah Rabdau (Sarah Rabdau)
Dana Jee (I Have Ears)
7. Kelly Davidson (Liz Borden Band)
Billy Conway (Twinemen)
8. Hilken Mancini (Shepardess)
John Powhida (The Rudds)
9. Sarah Korval (Okay Thursday)
Dana Colley (A.K.A.C.O.D.)
10. DJ Swan (BeastWith2Backs)
The Franx (the Middle East)
Honorable mention: Kelly Knapp (the Darlings), Michelle Paulhus (Andrea Gillis Band), Mickey Bliss (Cantab), Anngelle Wood (WMFO), Pete Cassani (The Peasants), Jen D’Angora (Downbeat 5), Boby Bear (Classic Ruins), Britt Lightning (Jaded), Marlene Silva (Marlene Silva Photography), Ruby Bird (Bird Mancini)

RITA FLANGE Top Ten Role Models in Boston
1. Liz Borden (Liz Borden Band)
Nabil & Joseph Sater (Middle East)
2. Cheryl Wanner (Dreamchild)
Kier Byrnes (Three Day Threshold)
3. Laura Wilson (WMBR)
Pat McGrath (Wheelers & Dealers)
4. Sue Minichiello (My Own Worst Enemy)
Ayal Noir (27)
5. Robin Umbley (The Noise)
Carl Biancucci (Classic Ruins)
6. Linda Viens (Angeline)
Billy Conway (Twinemen)
7. Kelly Knapp (The Darlings)
Dennis Brennan (Dennis Brennan)
8. Valerie Thompson (Fluttr Effect)
Mr. Curt (…Ensemble)
9. Jordan Valentine (World’s Greatest Sinners)
Chandler Travis (…Philharmonic)
10. Lexi Kahn (Low Budget Super Hero),
Alvan Long (New Alliance)
Honorable mention: Pete Sutton (Temper), Shilo McDonald (Intelligent Records), Karen DeBiasse (Girl on Top), Evan Shore (Muck & the Mires), Billy Beard (Sessions Americana), Ken Cmar (Wonderdrug), Carol Namkoong (Take You higher), Brett Milano (Phoenix), Nancy Delaney (Temper), Bill T. Miller (OBE)