We know - four months of music, but no Street to make sense of it all. Can we make it up to you? This week, we recap Summer 2007 with the Top 5 things you need to know, but might have missed.
1. Daft Punk Returns, Kicks Ass
The robotic duo of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, better known as Daft Punk, brought their timeless dance music to the States for the first time since 1997, in what was arguably the best show of the summer season. The "Alive" tour saw the French group, dressed in their mystifying robot helmets and jet-black leather suits, command the crowd from a monolithic light pyramid - it pulsated hypnotic waves of warm red, electric blue and psychedelic rainbows of ROYGBIV in rhythmic synchronicity to the pounding beats. Classics like "Around the World" were mashed with newer favorites like "Television Rules the Nation" to create a unique, near-perfect hour and a half set. A query for "Daft Punk Alive" on YouTube now brings up close to 700 fan-recorded clips from the most talked about tour of the summer.
With a proper DVD release of the tour coming in the near future and a live CD in the works, those who unfortunately missed out will soon be able to witness the seizure-inducing spectacle in all its triangular glory.
-- Johann Diedrick
2. The Smashing Pumpkins Reunion
In a summer rife with reunion tours - the Police, Rage Against the Machine, etc. - no band was as hotly anticipated as the Smashing Pumpkins. Although only two of the original members, lead singer Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain, played in the reformed group, the hype was unbelievable, beginning with Corgan's full-page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune announcing the reunion - two years ago. The Pumpkins played their CD-release show for Zeitgeist in my hometown of Washington, D.C., and did so in style. The performance was a spectacle, complete with a motorcade, "Secret Service" escorts, political banners and a mock protest, all before doors even opened to reveal the club decked out in red, white and blue bunting and Pumpkins' flags. All futher proof of why the Smashing Pumpkins is one of the defining bands of the Nineties.
- Grace Ambrose
3. Record Industry, R.I.P.?
This summer, major labels continued clutching at straws in order to stay afloat. The New York Times predicted this Christmas might be the CD's last. EMI, running last among the four major labels, began offering its catalog without copy protection (DRM) on the iTunes store for a higher price.
Some artists, meanwhile, started thinking for themselves. Across the pond, Prince gave away his new album free with copies of the Daily Mail - putting his music in the hands of three million people in one day. While the Backstreet Boys kept their comeback single from leaking (they probably didn't need to try so hard.), the Canadian band Stars figured: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. They offered their new album as a digital download months ahead of the release date.
If you believe the rumors, Radiohead, sans label deal, may release their recently-completed seventh album on their own. Will this be the death knell for the old regime?
- Alex Jacobs
4. Summer of Akon
Not exactly below the radar, Akon's antics made for the summer's ultimate YouTube moments. It can only be seen as some weird kind of irony that a guy with an infamous rap sheet ended up being busted for a) getting freaky on a 14-year-old pastor's daughter, and b) luring some skinny kid on stage only to body slam him into the crowd. Hardly the tough guy persona his press team was going for. And getting dropped by Verizon barely reformed him - on his latest trip to Australia, he labeled the country the "home of the convicts." Maybe he's been doing some homework in his time off?
- Alex Jacobs
5. Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords is the musical sitcom love child of comedians Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. The New Zealand duo's penchant for wry, hipster humor more than explains their almost instant cult following. As the first official release of a measly six tracks, The Distant Future EP was recorded to accompany the first half of the Flight of the Conchords's first season. It's hard to name any other television series that has managed to flawlessly transition from story to music video as well as the Flight of the Conchords has. HBO describes the show's music as "sub-pop," but the duo manages to cover so many genres that they really should be in a class of their own. Despite the show's whimsical nature, Flight of the Conchords is making huge leaps in the hybridization of television and music.
