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2007’s been an awesome year for music. In light of this, tell us about your favourite 2007 releases/discoveries! What’ve you enjoyed almost to the point of arousal? Likewise, have you found any of your favourite bands’ 2007 releases a bit limp? I’ll list my 2007 favourites sort of a top 10 countdown style, because that’s dramatic and exciting to me.

10. Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City.
I think Bloc Party probably overreached themselves on this album, and Jacknife Lee’s production does them no favours, but it shows a definite desire to expand their sound and move into the sorts of territories that would make them more than just one of the decade’s ‘it’ bands. When they get it right on AWITC, it’s everything a good rock album should be – albeit marred by Kele Okereke’s holier-than-thou social commentaries. Still, ‘I Still Remember’ is one of the best pop singles the decade has offered so far, and the fact that the album sessions produced a 12 B-sides that, if compiled into a nice tracklist, prove stronger than the album proper, is a bonus.

9. Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover.
Spencer Krug’s a productive son of a bitch, but Random Spirit Lover should not be dismissed as a throwaway solo effort, by any means. Full of idiosyncratic melodies, Random Spirit Lover plays out as a quirky indie rock suite containing some of the catchiest tunes going. Krug has a bizarre ability to throw a really odd melody out there – some are almost carnivalesque – and evolve it into the emotional center of the song.

8. Frog Eyes - Tears Of The Valedictorian.
With a name referencing the male equivalent of a cameltoe – I’ll let you think about that one for a second – it’s pretty clear that Frog Eyes are going to be a strange band. With a vocal style evocative of a wild, bearded man who might approach you on the street and yell at you about Jesus, Carey Mercer has worked closely with Spencer Krug (mentioned above) and shares a similar ability to create chaotic songs underpinned by emotive melodies that reach out from under the rubble. The album contains ‘Bushels,’ a multi-part epic that, imho, is one of the best songs released this year.

7. Kings of Leon – Because Of The Times.
I’m a huge KoL fan, and was really anticipating this album, and it didn’t disappoint. Stadium-sized riffs, with fingers dipped in a huge variety of genre-pies, the fact that they’ve escaped their 2-3 minute verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure shows a newfound maturity and quality of songwriting – I miss the carefree naivety of Aha Shake Heartbreak, but the album’s a huge success in my books.

6. The National – Boxer.
One of my favourite discoveries this year, The National’s strength lies largely in singer Matt Berninger’s distinctive baritone and lyrical ability. Boxer’s songs are about normal people, sad people, darkly humorous blue-collar triumphs. My favourite description of the album went a little like this: ‘The National sound like if Bono caught a glimpse of himself in a puddle and said ‘You know what, Bono? You’re a shit.’

5. Kanye West – Graduation.
My first foray into hip-hop! It’s never been a genre I’ve had too much time for, but I picked up this album because I’d drunkenly danced to ‘Stronger’ countless times in clubs. Musically, it’s just amazing. West’s not the strongest rapper, but that’s more than made up for by the incredible use of samples and the range thereof – a Can sample, for god’s sake! I don’t know enough about hip-hop to write real intelligently about this album, so suffice to say it makes my booty shake.

4. Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam.
When I first heard ‘Fireworks’ off this album – which, by the way, is my single favourite song of 2007 – I was amazed that the same Animal Collective who put out Sung Tongs, Here Comes The Indian and to a lesser extent Feels could go that pop. The album’s full of stunning vocal melodies and sudden moments of surprising euphoria and sweetness –really needs to be heard to be believed.

3. Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala.
This one took me a while to get my head around in as much as I wasn’t sure whether Jens was taking the piss or not – points of reference include Morrisey, Mo-town and The Avalanches. Oh, and the lyric ‘My heart is beating, beating like Ringo, as I pull in to the drive-in bingo.’ Night Falls Over Kortedala is based primarily around cinematic string samples and Jens crooning about pretending to be dating a girl so her father won’t find out she’s a lesbian, working in a bingo hall, cutting off his finger whilst slicing an avocado and his great grandfather’s lumberjack-esque jacket. It’s full of sugary-sweet pop melodies and is just one of the most enjoyable ways to spend 50 minutes going. This so nearly took the #2 spot.

2. Panda Bear – Person Pitch.
Narrowly missing out on the top spot, Person Pitch is a pop triumph. I genuinely believe that Noah Lennox is the finest pop songwriter of the decade, and this is his magnum opus – a huge, psychedelic, genre-hopping album consisting of hundreds of samples and Lennox’s reverb-soaked voice. Touching on dub, ambient music, minimalism and dozens more, Person Pitch is a shimmering pop masterpiece. The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds is a frequent point of reference, and not just because of the similarities in vocal style – it’s the diverse instrumentation and inspired melodies that make this a Pet Sounds for the 21st century.

1. Radiohead – In Rainbows.
No alarms and no surprises here, then. Yeah, In Rainbows is number one for me. I made a thread about it, so I won’t repeat myself here, but I really think it’s their most accomplished and confident effort. It’s awe-inspiring.

Wow, that took a while – if you read all that, sorry for eating up so much of your time! I won’t go into this year’s disappointments in such great detail because I need to pee. There are only two that stick out, really – The Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible (which I found overwrought, lyrically clumsy and generally more of a caricature of the band they were on Funeral than anything) and Sigur Rós’ Hvarf/Heim EPs. There are a few keepers on the Hvarf EP, which consists of old unreleased tracks finally recorded (one example of which was Hafsol, released as a B-side almost two years ago, which does nothing to contradict the notion that these EPs are a contractual obligation), but the Heim EP is a waste of time. Sigur Rós are not a band built around traditional instrumentation. They keep the string quartet, harmonium, marimba, bass, drums, Jonsi’s distinctive falsetto – all that’s missing from these songs is the bowed guitar. Nowhere near enough of a departure from the studio counterparts of these songs to warrant a release like this. Seriously, I couldn’t tell the difference between the electric and acoustic renditions of Von that appear here.

Your turn!

This post has been edited by Mimic on 2nd November 2007 17:24

Oh, but the year is not over, dear Elliot. One of my favorite bands ever is releasing an album in 4 days. I think it's safe to assume it'll find it's way onto this list. But in light of the fact that I'm making this post as of right now and not in 4 days, here are the numbers that impressed me.

In no particular order.


Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice

The self-appointed highly refined pirates make another well crafted album full of crooning melodies, arduous vocals, and superior production. Planet is a somewhat step backwards from their previous, more astronomical releases Menos El Oso and more importantly Highly Refined Pirates. But just because it doesn't stack up to those excellent albums doesn't mean it's bad. Not even close. The only difference between them really is the number of immediately memorable tracks. Once you spin the disc more than once or twice, you'll find the songs grab onto your brain and never let go. If you're familiar with this band, it's more of the same excellence. If you're new to them, while I suggest finding Oso or Pirates, there's bound to be something worthwhile on here. This band is rapidly climbing up the totem pole, and this album is part of the reason.

I approve of: "Ice Monster"


White Stripes - Icky Thump

Thank you, Jack White, for picking up your electric guitar again. The music world thanks you. While their last, much more eclectic effort Get Behind Me, Satan was great, I prefer my riproaring White Stripes to bash out garage rock with heavy distorted guitar. The thing about this album is it's a great mix of past Stripes' aggressiveness and the new trend of eclecticness at ruthless efficiency. Their are points where the album lulls on. "300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues" is very Bob Dylan, but nearly puts me to sleep. And the nomads rummaging through a marketplace theme going throughout "Rag and Bone" is annoying. If they took the talking pieces out, it would've been a great song. But those points deducted, it's still a great album. It has it's strong points, particularly on the first half studs "Icky Thump" and the magnificent cover of "Conquest". The Stripes strike back, and it sounds great.

I approve of: "Little Cream Soda"


The Fall of Troy - Manipulator

Experimental. Neo-progressive. Scream-prog. They've been trying to typecast this band under a genre since their inception. Frankly, there is no genre to give these guys. This album just pushes them to the bizarre level of genre oblivion. And it's awesome. I have to admit that I was slightly turned off by their last effort, Doppelganger. It was frankly an unstructured mess that featured one BRILLIANT song ("F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X."), a couple decent ones, and the rest I could not get into for the life of me. But this album does great to reveal the great sound and quality this band protrudes. It's more structured, but still wild and smashing down the laws of musical theory. And they've finally entered a level where they sing as much as they scream, and a good combination of the two is always a winner in my book. There are songs that just plain awe you how they could have ever conceived the idea for the riff or lick in their head. Sometimes it just seems like they're just fucking around and playing whatever their fingers hit. But it's just too precise for it to be all a random clusterfork. That just means Thom Erak is the next great guitarist to hit the air.

I approve of: "The Dark Trail"


Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81

For a band that nearly quit music, the world would've missed out on this beautiful album. I've been a fan of this band ever since they were just starting out. And I'll come right out and say it, this album is only their 4th best (and they only have 4 albums). But that makes it sound like it's bad. Definitely not the case (just that the other 3 are better). To know the ramifications, you have to understand the history of the band. Their first two (brilliant) albums were extremely raucous and delivering a solid blast of distorted shoegazing alt-rock. Then their drummer, Nick Jago, split due to drug addictions. The other two members all but gave up. But instead, decided to press on and made Howl which completely and absolutely absolved their alt-rock crooning days in trade for neo-folk blended rock. And for some reason, it worked. Very well. Amid recorded the album, Nick Jago returned to the band. That said, with his return, it's no surprise the band returned to their alt-rock roots. The first 4 tracks are brilliant on every level. Just the opening seconds of the album on "Took Out a Loan" will make you thank god for the gift of hearing. It's such a snarly riff and sounds like it was recorded directly from a garage. It's excellent. The instrumentation on the following tracks "Berlin", "Weapon of Choice", and "Windows" all are brilliant. The middle of the album is kind of weak with some mediocre tracks. But it ends greatly, starting with the 8 minute razzly rocker "American X", before the outro being calm guitars and ambient keys with "Am I Only". It's worth the time every time. 4th best, but still a more than welcome addition to the BRMC name.

I approve of: "American X"


Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris

Josh Homme responded to some media and fan bitterness saying that their last release Lullabies to Paralyze was trying to feed the Big Machine, or as some call it ,"selling out". He responded with Era Vulgaris, the most radio unfriendly album imaginable. Their first single, "Sick Sick Sick", is even barely radioable. And it's funny I say that because the songs is one of the catchiest things I've ever heard out of QotSA. Tell me the lick after the first chorus doesn't get rammed right into your cerebellum like a freight train. But what I love about this album is that it sounds like QotSA returned to their self-titled debut grassroots days of 1998. Era really reminds me of the self-titled effort in many ways. "I'm Designer" is purely the genius of Josh Homme, sounding like a direct combination of self-title's "Walking on the Sidewalks" and Rated R's "Leg of Lamb". And the album opener, "Turning on the Screw", is absolutely brilliant, if not completely all there. The song is solid, yet very erratic. Very enjoyable though. The second half of the album is a bit off, save for "7's and 3's". But overall, this album still gets my approval.

I approve of: "Sick, Sick, Sick"


Good stuff. Not the best year for new music, but certainly not the worst.

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"When I turn the page
The corner bends into the perfect dog ear
As if the words knew I'd need them again
But at the time, I didn't see it."

~"This Ain't a Surfin' Movie" - Minus the Bear

Quote (Sabin @ 2nd November 2007 16:20)

Oh, but the year is not over, dear Elliot.

Right on. Lupe Fiasco's The Cool drops December 18th. From what I've heard, it might be even better than Food and Liquor, which was easily the best thing about hip-hop in 2006. Also, the first Wu-Tang album since 2001, The 8 Diagrams, drops December 4th. I'll have to see about that one, since Wu-Tang albums are decidedly hit-or-miss, but they've certainly had enough time to cook up something good.

Honorable mention goes to Food and Liquor and The Roots' Game Theory, two brilliant albums that came out at the end of 2006. Game Theory might be my favorite Roots album, which is saying something, although The Roots are one of those groups that my favorite album status changes with my mood.

Okay, 2007:

Finding Forever- Common

If Common had released this album before Be, I would probably be a lot more impressed with it. As it stands, though FF feels a little like Be's less talented little brother. There are some good songs, some really good songs, and the whole album is consistent, but it doesn't really draw me in like Be did. I know I'm holding it to a higher standard because of that, it's easily better than Electric Circus and One Day It'll All Make Sense, but it's just hurt a little bit by the timing.

P.S.- I don't think we did this thread in 2005, but Be surplanted Black Star as my #1 album. If you're thinking of giving hip-hop a chance, Be is the album I would reccomend you start with. It's 45 minutes of musical genius.

Eardrum-Talib Kweli

I liked Beautiful Struggle a lot more than most people I know, so Eardrum was a little bit of a letdown to me. It feels like Kweli has been coasting the last few years. I really don't listen to this album as much, so I have little to say about it.

Graduation- Kanye West

Kanye's best album. I'm in the minority here, especially since Drunk N Hot Girls is on this album, but Kanye has always had at least one song you have to skip. The rest of the album is solid. Can't Tell Me Nothing is my favorite Kanye single of all time, and the last 5 tracks, from Flashing Lights through Big Brother are the best stretch of music Kanye has made. Everything I Am and The Good Life are almost constantly in my head as I run nowadays. Like I said, I skip Drunk N Hot Girls, and sometimes Barry Bonds, but the rest of the album is excellent. Plus there aren't any more skits you have to skip anymore.

Getback- Little Brother

I love LB, Phonte is the funniest emcee in the biz, but they miss 9th Wonder. 9th is a great producer, and the great beats of Minstrel Show and The Listening are absent here, which is a shame.


I have more to say, but I'm out of time. I might edit a few more albums in later.

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Hip-Hop QOTW:

"Yeah, where I'ma start it at, look I'ma part of that
Downtown Philly where it's realer than a heart attack
It wasn't really that ill until the start of crack
Now it's a body caught every night on the Almanac"

"Game Theory"
The Roots

Quote (Gears @ 2nd November 2007 17:42)

Right on. Lupe Fiasco's The Cool drops December 18th. From what I've heard, it might be even better than Food and Liquor, which was easily the best thing about hip-hop in 2006.

I'm not in the mood to put any significant input for now, but I just had to jump onto this post. Lupe Fiasco is clearly one of the freshest, newest, and most impressive acts in the hiphop scene and I am anticipating The Cool incredibly.

Also, if you haven't heard DJ Deckstream ft. Lupe Fiasco, VERBAL, & Sarah Green, then you better go check it out right now because your music library is sorely incomplete. The unique lyrics and flow of Lupe mixed with Sarah's vocals and VERBAL's borderline tongue-in-cheek lyrics yet upbeat style all over an amazing backtrack makes it hands down one of my favorite songs this year.

I've been self-music-starved as of late, but once I get things going I'll try to write up something.

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I find your lack of faith disturbing...

I love Rush's newest 2007 tunes, Far Cry and another of which I forgot the name of. In addition to that, who doesn't love Rise Today from Alter Bridge?

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"Thought I was dead, eh? Not until I fulfill my dream!"
Seifer Almasy


"The most important part of the story is the ending."
Secret Window


"Peace is but a shadow of death."
Kuja

This year has truly been an amazing year for all the genres of music that I'm into, which is everything with the exception of Country. Still, I've always been a big rock/metal head at heart and with this year's awesome hardcore or electronica releases all being off the charts, it almost goes without saying that most of my purchases have swung that way, though I've deviated as much as possible. Here are the albums I've picked up this year that have really impressed me, so far:


The Bled - iBled.
When the Bled hit the hardcore scene in 2004 with their Pass the Flask debut, the genre was punched in the face with a sounds that couldn't be ignored. The previous release, Found in the Flood, was a fry cry from it's predecessor's glory, trading in violent riffs and brutal breakdowns in favor of melodic hooks and catchy lyrics. iBled is easily twice as violent as the first album and four times as catchy as the second. A great listen when you need to get your mosh on.

The Fall of Troy - Manipulator.
I have a different stand from Bobbo on this album. While I love it to death and agree that the newfound structure and sense of composure are a nice touch to the band's sound, the album isn't a wild and fun to listen to as Doppelganger was, still, every track is unforgettable. A collection of insane jams, awesome riffs and pure rock.

Every Time I Die - The Big Dirty.
Every Time I Die is easily one of my favorite bands ever, without a doubt, simply because they stand out in every aspect. Not only that, but they constantly reinvent themselves without compromising where they come from. The Big Dirty is a long ways off, stylistically from their first major release, Hot Damn!, but it's a great album, complete with sweet southern rock madness with the brutality of their hardcore, "we don't need a time signature" attitude. Especially on tracks like "No Son of Mine", or my personal favorite, "We'rewolves".

Suicide Silence - The Cleansing
You really can't get much more metal than this album, it's so brutal that even my children's children are going to be feeling the impact of that rapid-fire double-bass kick action. Don't even get me started on the shredding.

Job For A Cowboy - Genesis
See the above statement, only imagine if more breakdowns are added to the madness, all the drums are double-triggered and each song as a 5 minute gang-rape to your mental faculties. This album is unreasonably heavy and I can't help but love it.

Feist - The Reminder
You know, at first I really didn't like this album. Really, there were maybe two tracks that really stood out for me, both of them went on to become huge successes as her singles, "1234" and "My Moon, My Man". I really hadn't been expecting much, her last two albums "Open Season" and "Let it Die" were fun but nothing all together too impressive. Still, with a bit of time, I've grown really attached to this cd. The songs are soulful and well thought out and great fun to hear when you're in the mood for it.

Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
This is the closest Trent Reznor has gotten to really touching on his former glory since the Downward Spiral album. This entire album is a electronica/industrial/rock voyage into the realms of "what the hell was he smoking?" and I mean that in the best possible way. Vocally, he gives his beset performances on tracks like "The Great Destroyer" or "The Good Soldier", probably out of his entire career. Musically, it's a strong, solid work that is incredibly infectious. These songs stay in your head forever, which is a sure fire sign that the album is worth it. Coupled with an interesting concept being the album, unreasonably brilliant publicity stunts back the album to create internation scandal at release and standard Reznor satire, sticking his nose up at the state of the world.

Justice - Cross
This album is electronic goodness, I don't think anyone hasn't heard D.A.N.C.E. in the last few months blaring at any club in any city in North America. These Parisians have really done it. Every track is feel good, pulsing vibe, "I just want to get up and dance" kind of music and honestly? It's great exactly for that: Just dancing to. It's relatively simple music, no lyrics other than random samples and no message other than "have a good time." It's refreshing, positive and drives me wild every time I'm out.

Dragonette - Galore
This album is all the fun parts of Justice with a twist of rock and a lady singer who just doesn't care about anything other than partying. The songs are all about sex, parties and the naughty sorts of fun you have when you think no one is watching. Pulsing bass, rockin' synth and fun but sparse guitar work make you want to dance all over the place. Especially tracks like "I Get Around" or my favorite, "Take it Like A Man". I really think everyone should listen to this album.

Neon Blonde - Chandeliers in the Savannah
This album originally came out in 2005 as a work for the band member's other project, renowned hardcore act "The Blood Brothers". It was re-released this year under new sideproject, Neon Blonde's title, each song entirely reworked, remixed and transformed into something new and incredible. Mixing hardcore heavy hitting lines with dance music style rhythms and pop sensibility, this is one hell of an album. Especially the track "Cherries in Slow Motion." First time listening to that track made me need to sit down.

Bjork - Volta
One of my favorite releases this year, Bjork really showcased just how much she's grown as a musician and songwriter. Vocally, her performance is stellar and musically, every track is a symphony of awesome. I constantly have this album playing at home just because it fits any mood and always manages to impress me in some new way. Surprisingly, it's got creative input from Producer of the year, Timbaland, but it only works to her advantage. I absolutely love what he's done to her already out of this world sound. Tracks like "Innocence" and "Wanderlust" are some of the best songs Bjork has ever recorded. Honorable mention to Vertebrae by Vertebrae.

Minus The Bear - Planet of Ice
I'm with Bobbo, this album is nowhere near the awesome that was Highly Refined Pirates but I'll be damned if this album still isn't a great work anyways. It's just a mellow collection of guitar riffs, a grooving bass and a relaxing kind of vibe that makes for great late night music listening. These guys are incredibly talented songwriters and this album as a whole shows that off nicely. It takes some getting used to, as each song is intended as a part of the song before and after it, so there are some awkward and skip-able tracks, but you grow to love it.

Kanye West - Graduation.
Not much I can say about this album that hasn't already been said, but damn is it ever a catchy set of tunes.

Radiohead - In Rainbows
Whatever Elliot's said about them more or less applies here too, without the rabid fanboyishness. I think I covered my feelings on this band in the thread related to this particular album, though it can't hurt to say it's easily my favorite Radiohead work to date and worth all the praise it's been receiving.

This is getting a bit long, so I'll end this with my album of the year. At this point, it doesn't even matter what gets released from here on in, my favorite album of 2007 and easily making into my roster for "Favorite albums of all time" is the new Between the Buried and Me album, "Colors". Colors is a work of art, that's really all I can say about it. Each track is written with the mastery that only the boys in BTBAM can achieve. It isn't just metal, it's the metal equivalent of Queen, a hint of Pink Floyd, a dash of old Metallica and imagine someone dropping an accidental pinch of 80's hair metal into the mix, then putting into a blender with the 00's hardcore scene. Don't believe me when I say how incredible this band is? Look up the 7 minute monster track, "Ants of the Sky", listen to it in it's entirety and then tell me they aren't musically brilliant. Need more proof? Listen to "White Walls" or the jazz inspired, bass drive "Veridian". Every song on this album draws from different generations of music and yet it never spreads itself too thin, never relents and constantly comes back to kick you in the neck. Beginning to end, not a single bad moment on this album. I've been listening to it literally every day since it was released. These guys are beasts and this album is a godsend.

(also, props out for good tries by Bloc Party, The Arcade Fire, Beneath the Massacre, The Faceless, Shiny Toy Guns, Ladytron, Malajube, Bell Orchestre and Venetian Snares)

This post has been edited by Dragon_Fire on 3rd November 2007 06:22

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Okay, but there was a goat!

The only song I truly enjoyed this year was Icky Thump, by White Stripes, especially because of the da-da-da-da-da-da riff. Not into pop at all, but I kind of liked some of the songs from Maroon 5.

Other than that, can't really say I enjoyed other songs too much.. Everybody's listening to that one absurd song from Rhianna over and OVER again... I get so depressed whenever I listen to that P.O.C.

Headbanger's Ball is not as good as it used to be either..

I've been dying to reply to this thread but couldn't sum everything up enough in my head, and I still can't, but here it is anyway!

Willy Mason - If the Ocean Gets Rough
I can't get enough of this guy. I first heard him on a mixed doubles CD my friend made which had Oxygen and So Long on it. I bought Where the Humans Eat afterwards and it's one of the few albums I still play every week. Loads to live up to then. ITOGR knocked me over. The World That I Wanted is the most powerful track I've heard this year. It might sound cheesy, but I was really moved by it. Save Myself is basically a more up-beat Oxygen - and just as good. I'm told he's compared to Bob Dylan regularly, and there's nothing wrong with that comparison. I Can't Sleep sounds almost identical to Lay, Lady, Lay.

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
I was disappointed, but that doesn't mean it's a bad album. No Cars Go is great to listen to. Intervention isn't too bad a song either. Still, tracks akin to Rebellion and In the Back Seat and unfortunately missing. Funeral has taken precedent over this for the time being.

Joni Mitchell - Shine
My flatmate came back from work the day I bought this. He asked: "Why are you listening to Joni Mitchell", and it's a good question; why am I listening to Joni Mitchell? I bought it not really knowing what to expect really. My mum used to play her old albums years ago, but that's not much to go on. Anyhow, I listened to Shine three times in a row before I was satisfied. It's a really nice song. Others I've discovered are This Place and a sort of "French" version of Big Yellow Taxi that sounds like Raynard: IIRC that was his name, my friend Donas used to play it endlessly so I should know. It's not exactly an album I'd listen to much (because I'm a big philistine), but it'll be worth digging it up every now and then for Shine.

Biffy Clyro - Puzzle
Now this was a leaving present from the coolest guy I've ever known, so I knew it had to be worth something! I've not really been into metal since I was eleven or thereabouts. The opening track is called Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies. Now I thought this was going to be bollocks, but it turned out okay. The album is a mix of strangely likeable D 'n' guitar and some great lyrics. Normally I would avoid anything that might be angry music, so this has opened my eyes a bit. Machines is my track of the month. It's such a simple song but very engrossing. A lot like Set Fire to the Third Bar, or Riders of the Storm. Really impressed with this.

Bran Van 3000 - Rosé
Save the best 'till last. Again, I came across Bran Van through a friend, and I've only heard their first album once! I've had Drinking in LA around for a long time though and I still really love it. Rosé just about gave me a trip - especially that first track with the girl and the ocean. I like a lot of their music, some songs are a bit... odd, but I really like that. It's like early nineties quasi-pop with reggie, rap, "dance", Spanish guitar and even, I swear, a sample from Streets of Rage (So Fine) encompassed by the Bran Van triple entente into a great list. It's hugely ambitious, and as a result they've created a jungle that will take many plays to explore. Most of what's on the radio and in the shops is either The Originals or Breakbeat BreakURback Killa so it's nice to escape for a bit. House Lights is brilliant, I'm very pleased with how it's put together, best thing on the disc.

To be honest, a lot of what's come out this year in the mainstream has been grim. The indie-pop scene is getting worse for me. I know people think the Arctic Monkeys are overrated, but A Certain Violence stood out as a great track on a mundane album. Even The Kooks' had Time Awaits (I think it was called). This year doesn't seem to have these exceptional songs on the albums I've briefly heard - meaning The Klaxons, The Pigeon Detectives and Just Jack.

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

One of the few songs this year that i actually liked was "Apologize" by OneRepublic. I don't even know if it was released with an album, because whenever i look up OneRepublic, all i get is that one song. I believe it's writen by Timbaland, who has done a lot of stuff for pop artists recently.

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

The newest CoNcast is up! Have a listen!

Quote (Death Penalty @ 6th December 2007 23:04)

One of the few songs this year that i actually liked was "Apologize" by OneRepublic. I don't even know if it was released with an album, because whenever i look up OneRepublic, all i get is that one song. I believe it's writen by Timbaland, who has done a lot of stuff for pop artists recently.

No, Apologize is a single off One Republic's recent release, Timbaland had nothing to do with writing the song, he just took their track and remixed it. The band liked it and put the reorganized song as a bonus track on any cd printed since it's release.

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Okay, but there was a goat!

When I started typing this in EditPlus, I was worried that I couldn't find enough albums to praise from 2007. At first it seemed like it was going to be a bit of a dry year. However, see below for proof that I was wrong! No particular order, loves, just stream of consciousness aided by re-reading previous posts in the thread.

Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist: Yes, it might just be the weakest mass-distributed album they've put out (and "mass-distributed" is what saves you, Machina II). I probably wouldn't be the first to argue that point, were I to argue it. But I won't. Because I have to say, even though it has a few pretty weak songs, and overall it's the least clever writing Corgan has put together for the Pumpkins, and it's still only half the original bloody band, this album quite simply rocks. There's so much energy in these fifteen songs (assuming you have tracks from all the different versions of the album) that it's hard not to enjoy it even if you're a diehard "old Pumpkins" addict like I am. And I have to admit it, hearing the new band tear through "Bring the Light" live was one of my highlights of 2007, musically or otherwise.

Check out: "Bring the Light," "Death from Above"

The Go! Team - Proof of Youth: I spent the first half of this year terrified of the sophomore slump that Go! might have with their new album. Then the first single dropped, and I was more worried. Then the album dropped and on first listen, I thought I had gotten what I expected. Then I listened to it a second time. And a third. And at the end of the day, it's every bit as good as Thunder, Lightning, Strike. "Fake ID," "Titanic Vandalism," and "Keys to the City" highlight what turned out to be a very, very strong album, one that I find showing up on my iPod almost constantly. Sure, it doesn't have the raw potency of "Huddle Formation" anywhere in the tracklist, but Huddle was itself a lightning strike, not likely to show up again in the same place any time soon. And under the pressure of living up to that, Go! did a fantastic job. Now they just need to make "The Ice Storm" an A-side on their next album, and they're good to go.

Check out: "Fake ID," "Titanic Vandalism"

Radiohead - In Rainbows: What can I say that hasn't been said already? I think this is probably Radiohead's most approachable album, honestly, and while it won't ever knock off OK Computer as their best in my mind, this album was a tour de force. It's just enough like Radiohead to please the fans, but unique enough to bring new ones to the fold. And, say what you want about their distribution system (as the media, generally terrified by changes to their way of thinking, have already), but releasing it online is certainly another hallmark of a forward-thinking band. Heck, even the bonus disc is as good as anything put out this year.

Check out: "15 Step," "Jigsaw Falling Into Place"

Kanye West - Graduation: I'm in the boat with Mimic on this one. I'm not a huge hip-hop kind of guy. But this album really is musically extremely impressive. West is a clever lyricist, too, if not the guy out there with the best flow. Plus, he features Chris Martin on a track. How can you not love how freaking cheeky that is?

Check out: "Homecoming," "Stronger"

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black: Did this album come out pre-2007 in the UK? I was thinking maybe it did. But not here, so there. And yes, I really quite dislike Winehouse as a person. She's extremely irritating, to say the least. But I really love the combination of her unique voice and a really retro, Motown-soul backing throughout. The combination hasn't really been around in force for forty years, especially not on Top 40 radio. This album was just what mainstream radio needed in 2007, at least one shining light that they could play in the midst of all of the sound-the-same bands that are in rotation on MTV and VH1 these days.

Check out: "Rehab," "Me & Mr. Jones"

Lily Allen - Alright, Still: Another that might have been out in the UK before 2007, but America > UK anyway. And speaking of a unique sound, how about a girl with an adorable voice who sings over a reggae/first wave ska beat? Not only that, but Allen has a real snark, one might even say a bottled anger, to her songwriting that at times even comes off like a cuter version of Alanis Morrisette, before Alanis got all weird and introspective. I'm really sad her visa got revoked, I barely missed seeing her in NYC beforehand and now I don't know when she'll be back.

Check out: "LDN," "Everything's Just Wonderful"

Feist - The Reminder: You know you've seen the video for "1234" on iPod Nano commercials. And you know you love it. It's just so catchy, but have you tried listening to the lyrics? It's the most upbeat melancholy song of the year! I'll be honest, Let it Die never really did it for me. And I don't know why this album is so much better, exactly - but it is. It seems so much more approachable, and it seems as if it has more variety, even if that might not be the case.

Check out: "1234," "Sealion"

The White Stripes - Icky Thump: Another stellar album from a guy who, inexplicably, now plays Elvis in the movies. Oh, and Meg too. Is it just me, or did she maybe actually take some lessons since Elephant? The title track is one of the best singles of the year, for my money, not just for the amount of random sounding music that Jack managed to get airplay, but also for the witty political commentary contained within. Certainly more successful at it than SP's "United States," for instance. But, true to form, the songs from this album that completely blow up are not the best things on the album. Jack's got a talent for putting a lot of quality on album after album, and leaving the filler to the other guys.

Check out: "You Don't Know What Love Is," "Effect and Cause"

Bjork - Volta: Ohhhhhhh, man. The weirdness of Bjork with the support of Timbaland. How did someone not think of this earlier? Seriously, though, this is one of the most interesting albums of the year for me; I know I've used the word "approachable" a bit too often here already, but I think it applies here as well. Bjork will never, ever be for everyone, which of course is part of her allure, but Timbaland surely is making her a club darling here. Wild instrumentation, samples, and beats mix in with another truly unique voice to create something quite simply stunning.

Check out: "Innocence," "Earth Intruders"

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN?

Well since my musical tastes largely center around metal music, I can only comment on 2007's extreme metal albums...

The really great ones

Rotting Christ-Theogonia (no offense, but that is the band's name)

Dark Tranquillity-Fiction

Astarte-Demonized

Nightwish-Dark Passion Play

Compos Mentis-Gehennesis

some other albums that are less stellar but no exactly lost causes

Epica-The Divine Conspiracy

Sirenia-Nine Destinies and a Downfall

This post has been edited by Frozen_Aura on 18th December 2007 07:43

nice lists everyone, here are my best, though i wont really add much analysis (maybe just a bit lol). in no particular order:

Graduation - Kanye West

Eardrum - Talib Kweli

Ultimate Victory - Chamillionaire

these are the best albums of the year IMO. theres already enough said about Kanye and Gears said a bit about Eardrum. I agree that beautiful struggle was a lot better, but this one wasn't bad at all. as for chamillionaire, i think this album is proof that hiphop is very much alive. the way he has transitioned his rap style is amazing. any follower of cham knows what im talking about =)

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"The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved."
- Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

The Cool came out today. It's everything I thought it would be and more. Go buy it right now. Buy 2 copies in case the first one gets scratched. Seriously.

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Hip-Hop QOTW:

"Yeah, where I'ma start it at, look I'ma part of that
Downtown Philly where it's realer than a heart attack
It wasn't really that ill until the start of crack
Now it's a body caught every night on the Almanac"

"Game Theory"
The Roots

The best albums of 2007:

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Better than their first one, That says it all.
Best tracks: Every track is worth your time

Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob
More guitar, less shouting. I like it.
Best tracks: The Angry Mob, The Heat Dies Down, Love's Not A Competition(But I'm Winning)

Maxïmo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures
Mighty tunes with good combination of the instruments. I love the drums.
Best tracks: Our Velocity, Russian Literature, Nosebleed

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Not as good as Funeral, but this excentric group still delievers great music.
Best tracks: Intervention, The Well And The Lighthouse, No Cars Go

1990s - Cookies
They sing alot about smoking weed, and you could take a guess what they smoked while recording this album. Anyway, sweet guitars and catchy vocals.
Best tracks: See You At The Lights, You're Supposed To Be My Friend, Weed

Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future
Extremely nice vocal work, and the instruments aren't bad either.
Best tracks: Golden Skans, Gravity's Rainbow, It's Not Over Yet

This post has been edited by The Modern Aged on 11th January 2008 01:24

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The end has no end.

Well personally I wasn't too impressed with 07 in music. Probably because I don't like Radiohead or The White Stripes.


Libertad- Velvet Revolver
-A good album, less grit from the last album which I found disappointing. Some goods songs, but none really stood out. Weiland's vocal versatility knows no bounds, I was disappointed that his singing didn't reflect that on this album, he stayed rather mainstream throughout.

Avenged Sevenfold (self Titled)
-Same as the previous album, good songs throughout, but no standouts. The good news here is M. Shadows' singing improved greatly from the last album. however the instrumentation was mellow. much like Velvet revolver A7x is a talented band.
Both of which I believe should back track in terms of instrumentation and be grittier; A7X with their fast-paced dark Jazz Fusion, and VR back towards blues-rock with a dash of alternative.



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"Have you ever seen a baby do that before?"

Somwhere in the between- Streetlight Manifesto
Great album if youre a ska lover; great lyrics, fast paced lyrics, some of the best saxaphone playing in the world

And, WideSpread Panic's is sure to be great. Any time you have that much talent and connection, its hard to beat.

Quote (Clock Doc @ 25th January 2008 21:16)

Somwhere in the between- Streetlight Manifesto
Great album if youre a ska lover; great lyrics, fast paced lyrics, some of the best saxaphone playing in the world

Actually, I just got that album about a week ago, so I couldn't have included it on my list. And yeah, it's good, and Streetlight is still probably the best active ska band I've heard, but on first listen, it just didn't grab me as much as Everything Goes Numb. I'll have to try it out again soon.

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN?

Quote (Mimic @ 2nd November 2007 13:23)

5. Kanye West – Graduation.
My first foray into hip-hop! It’s never been a genre I’ve had too much time for, but I picked up this album because I’d drunkenly danced to ‘Stronger’ countless times in clubs. Musically, it’s just amazing. West’s not the strongest rapper, but that’s more than made up for by the incredible use of samples and the range thereof – a Can sample, for god’s sake! I don’t know enough about hip-hop to write real intelligently about this album, so suffice to say it makes my booty shake.

cant disagree with you there. Kanye West is a consistently good artist. his personality, though, is...lacking.

as for me in 2007, i am cry.

anyone who's spent any amount of time with me in chat knows i'm a huge fan of rap/hip-hop music. the steady downfall of the genre is a sad thing to behold and this year was no better. artist like Soulja Boy and Hurricane Chris in particular stand out to me in their ability to round of millions of fan with their lasso of retardedness.

honestly, how can you call it a song when all you do the entire time is just go "AY-BAY-BAY" 80,000 effing times? in ZH's words "SOULJA BOY OFF IN IT (OH!)...STFU!"

even some of my current favorites let me down.

T.I. spent the entire year ripping off Eminem's split personality gimmic with his "T.I. vs. T.I.P" album. and i liked TI. i honestly did. Trap Muzik and Urban Legend were two great albums for their time(back when "artists" like Lil Jon and Ying Yang Twinz hogged the airwaves).

Lloyd Banks, the only member of G-Unit with any talent whatsoever tanked with his Rotten Apple album. but i dont attribute that to lack of lyrical content but rather lack of promotion. so in this case it isn't so much disappointment. even though it wasn't half as good as Hunger For More.

and artists like Young Jeezy are still going strong, despite his anti-lyrics. they aren't lyrics so much as blacks holes that suck intelligence directly from your brain in the form of words.


unless rap goes back to the way it was before getting crunk in a club and flashing your jewelry was more important than the ability to actually rap, i dont see myself being a fan much longer.


now if you'll excuse me i'll take my Wu-Tang Clan and go sit over there.



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moé in the streets, senpai in the sheets