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Top 10 Albums of 2007
Well here it is. I usually save these lists for the beginning of the following year, but since I just submitted a list for another site, I thought I’d share it with all of you. Next week, you can expect the runners-up and in the new year, I will share my favorite live shows of the year as well as my favorite reissues. Also, this list doesn’t necessarily represent what I listened to the most in 2007 since I also listened to a lot of music from years past. Truth be told, I probably spent the most amount of time listening to JAY REATARD’s incredible Blood Visions album, which was released in September of 2006, for example, so if I could pick that one for #1, I would. Nevertheless, these are 10 full-length studio albums I enjoyed that came out in 2007. With that said, this is no particular order except for my #1 choice.
I loved their debut Funeral, but this one absolutely blew me away. The production is better, creating a more lush, dynamic and overall bigger sound, but not too slick. WIN BUTLER’s vocals are impassioned and his lyrics (especially on the incredible “The Well and the Lighthouse” and “Windowsill”) are some of the most though-provoking of the year as well. And yes, he channels both BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and IAN MCCULLOCH, but so what? It feels like listening to U2 circa The Joshua Tree or RADIOHEAD circa OK Computer. It feels like The Arcade Fire are at their absolute peak, though who knows? Their next album could be even better. In any case, this will obviously end up and has already ended up top of lots of people’s lists, but don’t hold that against it. In this case, it’s clearly deserved. This is my record of the year.
I liked JAMES MURPHY’s debut as LCD Soundsystem, but no songs really stood out on that record except for the sensational opener “Daft Punk is Playing at My House”. Thus, it was unclear whether he would ever top that or the great 12” single “Losing My Edge”. All those fears were assuaged by the leak of this album in late 2006 and its eventual official release earlier this year. Unlike the debut, every track is stellar and it feels like Murphy has solidified his electro-disco with an indie-rock attitude formula to a tee. Every song on here is a contender for the best track on the album, though my vote would have to go with either the single “North American Scum” or perhaps “All My Friends”. Also, don’t miss the final track “New York, I Love You”. It encapsulates many of the feelings I have for the city I used to live in.
I really loved (and still enjoy) Oh You’re So Silent Jens, the 2005 compilation of EP tracks that made onto my Top 10 list for 2005. However, his second studio album Night Falls Over Kortedala is its equal, if not even better than that amazing collection. Starting with the SCOTT WALKER-esque opening track “And I Remember Every Kiss”, every track is a winner. Other favorites of mine include “The Opposite of Hallelujah” (which was released as a single a few years ago) as well as “A Postcard to Nina”, which I first heard Jens perform live in July 2006. If this album has any faults at all, it’s that it peaks early with the first 5 songs being the best. Nevertheless, they’re so strong that this album easily makes it onto this list.
Many people dislike this album or had muted reactions because this is clearly not the CARL NEWMAN of old. It’s a mellower, quieter affair that’s more “mature”. Or is it? Songs like “My Rights Versus Yours,” “All of The Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth” and especially the incredible “Mutiny, I Promise You”, not to mention DAN BEJAR’s “Myriad Harbour” are just as hard-rocking, upbeat and fun as anything on their previous albums. So what of the rest of it? Well the NEKO CASE-sung title track is another standout, though like on their previous album Twin Cinema, she gets an introspective ballad this time around. “All the Old Showstoppers” is a glam stomper and “Entering White Cecilia” is another fine Dan Bejar written and sung track. Sounds like a great album, right? Well that’s because it is. My guess is that in decades to come, people will be listening to their records much like people still listen to bands who influenced them like THE MOVE, SPARKS, ELO and THE SHOCKING BLUE.
When I saw this great Australian band open for TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS back in March, I was absolutely blown away. Their reference points (mainly UK post-punk as well as New York no-wave and US post-punk like PYLON) were right up my alley and their energy and execution were excellent as well. Simply put, they ruled and so I got both their self-titled EP as well as this album. The EP contains 2 of the best songs here (“Pace or the Patience” and “The Pyramid”) as well as an older song (“No Way Out”) and and a live cover of Pylon’s “Cool”. To be honest, I listened to the EP more and it was my favorite EP of the year and as much as I love this band, the album didn’t grab me as much as a whole. However, after seeing them again last month at Johnny Brenda’s after I knew their sings this time around, other album cuts like “At 100%” and “Trouble” which they performed live have really grown on me. Nevertheless, this album isn’t perfect, but I spent a lot of time with it and its best tracks are transcendent. I hope for great things from them in the future and if you ever get a chance to see them play live, go see them!
Albums like this are often forced and not very good. After taking a detour into mellower territory with 2005’s weaker but still very good Warnings/Promises, Idlewild returned earlier this year with an absolutely terrific album that recalled the glory days of 2000’s incredible 100 Broken Windows (one of my favorite albums of the decade so far) and 2002’s lesser but still great follow-up The Remote Part. After Warnings/Promises and singer RODDY WOOMBLE’s folk-influenced My Secret is My Silence, this was an unexpected treat. In other words, this thing rocks! My favorite track is the incredible “Ghost in the Arcade”, though the opener “In Competition for the Worst Time” and “Everything As It Moves” are really great, too. This just feels like Idlewild stripped away all their pretensions, plugged the instruments in and just let it loose and came up with a great record. Since a greatest hits record has come out and since they no longer have a US label, not to mention Roddy’s solo album, there are questions about their future. There’s a finality to this record in that even if they continue (wish I hope they do), I don’t think they’ll make more albums like this as they continue to pursue other directions. Either way, I’m curious what they do next.
I would vote for this album every year if I could. Released in the UK last year but with the US release held up until this year, I didn’t vote for it last year so now I’m making up for it. Sure, it includes some of their previous singles in slightly less stripped-down form, but for great, female-fronted post-punk that combines the sleaziness of ROXY MUSIC, the smarts of PULP and the energy of early ‘90s Riot Grrl, you can’t beat this.
His first new studio album in 6 years is an absolute stunner. No one writes better lyrics and I can’t think of a musician who’s had a better second act (to me that encompasses all of his records from 1994’s The Impossible Bird up through this one) as well. He’s the modern-day equivalent of either a soul singer or someone like his hero CHARLIE RICH, who skillfully combines r’n’b with country music to great effect.
In any case, in our youth-obsessed culture, it’s refreshing that he acknowledges his age and makes music for adults. If being 58 can produce music this good, then I’m looking forward to retirement!
On the other end of the spectrum, what happens when you get 4 angry men who grew up listening to experimental, sludgy punk bands like BLACK FLAG, FLIPPER and THE JESUS LIZARD, give them day jobs and have them rail against the world? This awesome band! If song titles like “People Person,” “I’ve Still Got You (Ice Cream)” and “My Bed” as well as the above-mentioned bands don’t give you an idea of what you’re in for, then you probably won’t like this record. However, if sludge, heaviness and releasing the frustrations of the work-a-day world sound like fun to you, then don’t miss this!
