Top Albums of 2007
Well, as a self proclaimed music snob, I feel as though it is my duty to report my reflection of the 2007 music scene. Hopefully you have heard of many of these bands, if not check them out. Some thoughts about 2007: Tupac is still making records every month, Seal has a new album (good for him), and the Goo Goo Dolls released a Best Of album. The top ten hits in the world consist of such great artists as Rihanna, Fergie, Nelly Furtado, Timbaland, Akon, Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne, and Justin Timberlake...which makes me wonder who purchases music these days besides 16-21 year olds. Alas, the list:
1) Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
You know an album is great when you can listen to it from beginning to end without skipping a track. Cease to Begin falls under this category. The sophomore effort from this band is outstanding with a mixture of slow and fast songs and songs which combine both dynamics. As Josh Wilhelm said after seeing them in concert, "They play loud...and were awesome." Vocals of the lead singer resemble those of "My Morning Jacket" lead singer and are extremely haunting and pure. Oh ya, the album has a track entitled "Detlef Schrempf" which makes the album number one of all time automatically.
Top Tracks: Islands on the Coast, Ode to the LRC, Is There A Ghost, The General Specific
2) Sugar Ros - Hvarf-Heim
I've been in love with this band for a few years now for their originality, beautiful instrumentals, and the fact that they are Icelandic and I can't understand a word they say. A very relaxing band that has toured the US a few times and is apparently great in concert.
Top Tracks: Hljomalind, Staralfur, Salka, I Gaer
3) Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
The blend between Alternative and modern country. No, I'm not talking about Shania Twain. Ryan Adams' depressing love songs are well written and his up tempo rock songs are a great change of pace as well.
Top Tracks: Two, Halloweenhead, Goodnight Rose, I Taught Myself How to Grow Old, Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.
4) Angels and Airwaves - I-Empire
Before you say anything about this selection, just know that AIA is not a punk band--in fact they do not resemble anything close to the lead singer's former genre with Blink 182. They have the most original sound of any current rock band minus a few (Muse comes to mind among others). This album falls short of their debut album, but still remains strong due haunting guitar rifts and use of various types of instruments which resemble U2 (actually the bands top influence).
Top Tracks: Call To Arms, Everything's Magic, Sirens, Secret Crowds
5) Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Classic acoustic singer resembling Jeff Buckley and Elliot Smith. Has some great tracks on this album and worth a listen for any acoustic fan.
Top Tracks: Scythian Empires, Imitosis, Plasticities
6) VHS or Beta - Bring on the Comets
Wish I could have gone to this concert, but nonetheless the album is great. Very powerful band with a strange sound to them.
Top Tracks: Can't Believe a Single Word, Bring on the Comets, Burn it All Down
7) Newton Faulkner - Hand Built By Robots
Not the typical acoustic singer, Newton is British and has long blond dreadlocks. Yet, he amassed one of the greatest albums of the year with an album that can be listened to from beginning to end.
Top Tracks: Dream Catch Me, People Should Smile More, Teardrop, All I Got
8) Coconut Records - Nighttiming
As if Jason Schwartzman wasn't cool enough as an actor, he headlines this EP with his new band Coconut Records. A step up from Phantom Planet with a more real sound listeners can enjoy.
Top Tracks: Nighttiming, West Coast
9) Rooney - Calling the World
No, I'm not a 16 year old girl who watches the OC, but I really enjoy this California pop band. Loved the first album, this one follows suit. Every song is catchy and makes you want to go surfing...
Top Tracks: Paralyzed, When Did Your Heart Go Missing?, Love Me or Leave Me
10) Interpol - Our Love to Admire
Pure rock band with great guitar and drum combos.
Top Tracks: The Heinrich Maneuver, No I in Threesome, Rest My Chemistry
Honorable Mention:
- Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice
- Okkervil River -The Stage Names
- The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
- Silverchair - Young Modern
- The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
- Feist - The Reminder
- Future of Forestry - Twilight
- Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long
- Colbie Caillat - CoCo
See you next year.
posted by MillerTime @ 10:40 PM
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The Kaiser
5 Comments:
"A riff is a short, repeated, memorable musical phrase, often pitched low on the guitar, which focuses much of the energy and excitement of a rock song."
Rift
1. an opening made by splitting, cleaving, etc.; fissure; cleft; chink.
2. an open space, as in a forest or cloud mass, or a clear interval.
3. a break in friendly relations: a rift between two people; a rift between two nations.
4. a difference in opinion, belief, or interest that causes such a break in friendly relations.
5. Geology.
a. a fault.
b. a graben of regional extent.
6. the plane or direction along which a log or mass of granite can most easily be split.
7. wood or a piece of wood that has been split radially from a log.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
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Love the B
p.s. It was nice to see that Geddy Lee is making a nice comeback with band of horses.
I thought you said "The Kooks" had the album of the year (circa Nordic Fest).
No, I said song of the year.."Ooh La"
No one called you on "Sugar Ros" yet?
Where the fuck is Chuck Parr, you elitist bastard?
It's Sigur Ros an dnot Sugar ros o_o
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