2007 Year End Survey | Matthew Loiacono

We generally keep this year end survey focused on Vermonters. However, we'll always make an exception for the False 45th house band, The Kamikaze Hearts and its leader, Matthew Loiacono. Hailing from Albany, The Kamikaze Hearts hit Burlington twice this year as they continued to tour in support of their great 2006 album of Americana porch rock, Oneida Road. They also re-released their Foxhole Prayers EP this year which is available via emusic and iTunes.

1) What was your favorite song of 2007?

What a great year 2007 has been for music! Narrowing down is impossible -- here are some favorite songs - "And You Lied to Me" - Besnard Lakes, "Aeroplane", "Savior", "Be Miner" and "Lonely Anywhere" - the everybodyfields, "Murderer" - LOW, "Darklooming" - The Depreciation Guild , "The Con" - Tegan and Sara, "From Nothing to Nowhere" - Pinback, "Danny", "Side" and "Christine" - Madi Diaz

Besnard Lakes | And You Lied to Me | Buy

The Everybodyfields | Lonely Anywhere | Buy

Tegan and Sara | The Con | Buy


2) What was your favorite album of 2007?

The National - "Boxer", Besnard Lakes - "... Are the Dark Horse", LOW - "Drums and Guns", the Daytrotter sessions from Horse Feathers and Dirty Projectors, Winterpills - "The Light Divides" (criminally un-mouthed about - the world should be ashamed of itself), the everybodyfields - "nothing is okay", the recently released (free) download of The Depreciation Guild's " In Her Gentle Jaws", Pinback - "Autumn of the Seraphs", -- I could go on....

3) What was your favorite concert of 2007?

Hands down - Horse Feathers and Katie Haverly at 83 3rd St. (R.I.P.) in Troy, NY on June 18, 2007. After an absolutely killer set from Katie (tears in the house everywhere...), HF destroyed this short-lived awesome venue. If only the tape recorder was running....

4) What was your favorite thing about 2007?

Finally heading out on vacation to Oregon and catching all of Pickathon! Perhaps one of the best festivals I've ever attended. Fans are treated to _at least_ two performances from each artist / band over the course of the weekend in drastically different situations. Some favorites included an amazing songwriter round-robin workshop with Alela Diane, Gregory + the Hawk and Ian Thomas, along with revelatory late night sets by Dale Watson, Erin McKeown, and the Avett Brothers.

5) What is your best wish for 2008?

Wishing & hoping for the best from everyone.

The Kamikaze Hearts | Tennessee | Buy