So if you haven't caught wind of it yet, St. Vincent will be coming through town tonight to blow the doors off of Neumo's with their sweet layercake of daydreamy, lushy melodies. It's actually the first US show of their national tour, which heads down the left coast for stops in PDX and a few nights in California before a cross-country visit to our friends out east (hi, 9:30 Club!).

As if the alt.indie.orchestra.ish appeal of St. Vincent wasn't enough to get you out the door tonight, the show's also going to get lit up with some love from one of our favorite locals, Fences. Rumor has it that they'll be warming up the stage around 9, so don't wait around too long to hit the show!

(It's hip to be early sometimes, Seattle. And to stand up front for a killer show. And even to take your hands out of your pockets and dance a little. I promise.)

Here's a taste of tonight's lineup:

We'll see you at the show!

I have come to really dislike putting together "Best Of" lists or year-ending spreadsheets of music that everyone has already heard. This time I'm gonna do it differently...Shrie -style! These are just a few albums/songs/artists that tickled my fancy and got some good stereo-play at our house. Some are indie critic darlings (and disliked by many), some are sure-fire ins and some won't be at the top ofanyone's lists this year. It's a mish-mash of sonic goodness, extrapolated on by your friendly local music writer (and sometimes critic).

In alphabetical, not ranking, order. The "Top Ten" theme is too restrictive for my wily mind to grasp.

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at The Gorge

I'm from Texas and all, but sitting on a rock in 85 degree heat with no shade, clouds or wind isn't my idea of completely awesome. Especially when after all that I walk back to the sticky hot tent to drink and then pass out in my sleeping bag, only to await the next day of the same. So that's my excuse for missing Calexico (but my amigo Sam caught them and wrote about it ). On with St. Vincent!

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The heat and the glaring sun has been getting to me, so I ended up missing Calexico to stay longer at camp under the sweet shade.

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If you were thinking about going to see St. Vincent tonight at Neumo's, but weren't sure still undecided, here something that may sway your opinion one way or the other.

This bulletin was posted on both Amanda Palmer's own MySpace page and her band, the Dresden Dolls', page as well:

jason webley and i will be on stage singing with st. vincent tonight at neumo's in seattle. the show is definitely not sold out so bring friends, we want to get people out to see st. vincent because she is AMAZING.

For what it's worth, Palmer, Webley and St. Vincent have all had live shows that have been reviewed favorably here (or actually here, here, and here).

Doors at 8, $12, 21+.

This was ridiculously hard to do! Without further ado, I present my top ten picks for 2007 releases (in no particular order)...

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at Bumbershoot 2007

Like my rock and roll heroine Regina Spektor, who Clark bears more than a striking physical resemblance to, her fragile image quickly disappears when you notice just how jarring her songs are.

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