Music in 2007
Here are my thoughts of music in 2007. I do not have the time to make this look as fancy as I did last year, but I will share my insights once again.
My 5 Biggest Disappointments of 2007:
And now to the top 21 albums of 2007. I thought 2007 was a bad album year in general and I think my list includes some mediocre albums because there were not enough good ones to fill a list of 20 (I included 21 here, which I will explain later):
21- Arcade Fire- Neon Bible: I am sorry, but this album was not as good as so many others have tried to explain to me. I think people who love this album were simply trying to like it because of the hype behind it.
20- LCD Soundsystem- Sound of Silver: Was this album any better than the first album? I do not think so. Is it any worse than the first album? I do not think so. This is a continuation of the first album and frankly, as an electronica band, I expect progression from LCD Soundsystem.
19- M.I.A.- Kala: My feeling is most people who love this album are just trying to show that they are cultured.
18- Battles- Mirrored: I really like the things Battles experimented with. I absolutely love Atlas, but I know a lot of people hate it. Maybe it is just me, but I expect great things from the band in the future.
17- Apparat- Walls: I think there was a sample of Donkey Kong Country in track 10, You Don't Know Me, (the music from the underwater levels), which is enough for me to think that this album is great. I do not like all of it, but most of it is worth listening to.
16- Caribou- Andorra: Just the single Irene is enough for this album to make the list. I really think that is my favorite single of the year.
15- The National- The Boxer: I think I have an affinity for bands with lead singers with deep voices. The lyrics are like poetry, which I really like. I think you have to give this album some time before you can get into it, but once you do, you will enjoy it.
14- The Higher- On Fire: Ok, this album is really bad, but it is a very fun album. I listened to it a lot when I was getting ready to go out. Makes me want to go out dancing.
13- Liars- Liars: Nothing really special about this album, but I found myself listening to it a lot.
12- Metric- Grow Up and Blow Away: This is the reason why the list is 21 and not 20. I was not sure if Metric's album counted since this was really their first album that was never released until 2007 (but unmastered copies could be found online for years). I honestly think it is Metric's best album, which may be a bold statement on my part.
11- Stars- In our Bedroom After the War: Simply a smart and haunting album that is worthy of being a part of everyone's collection. I found myself listening to The Night Starts Here on repeat for hours at a time.
10- Daft Punk- Alive 2007: This album would be much higher on my list if it did not sound almost exactly like the Coachella set that was the rage last year, which I thought was simply amazing.
9- Bloc Party- A Weekend In the City: I know this album made a lot of people's most disappointing list, but I think it was a smart album geared towards Kele Okereke's coming out. It took me a while to figure out the cryptic lyrics were just about him being gay, and after I figured that out, I realized that this album was much more cohesive than the first album. Musical, it was not as advanced, but I think given the context of the lyrics, it would not have been appropriate.
8- Feist- The Reminder: When did Feist become the darling of advertising companies? Verizon and Apple? Jeez. I really hate it when bands/acts that I like get really big and I am afraid that she will because of the exposure.
7- Justice- +: Absolutely no cohesiveness, but the good singles were amazing. Plus featuring Uffie on a track makes this album worth checking out.
6- Kanye West- Graduation: I have always thought Kanye was leaps and bounds beyond the majority of the rap acts out there. I am glad that Kayne keeps his best for himself. Absolutely fantastic sampling and some of the smartest lyrics around.
5- Radiohead- In Rainbows: Easily the best Radiohead album since Kid A and the easiest to get into since OK Computer. I really like the concept of giving away their album, which is why I actually paid for it.
4- Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: I was amazed at how great this album was. I have listened to Spoon for a while and this album was leaps and bounds above everything else they have done.
3- Modest Mouse- We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank: The band has improved so much by adding the legendary guitarist Johnny Marr. Same cynical lyrics but much better guitar rifts makes this one of the best albums of the year.
2- Editors- An End Has A Start: I liked this album. It took me a while to get past the singles, but after I did, I listened to non-stop and on repeat for about two weeks.
1- Interpol- Our Love to Admire: I initially had no opinion of this album. This album made me want to listen to Antics, which I did. After I got bored of Antics, I got really into this album. This album was easy to give up on, but I think it is worth taking the time to get into it.
My 5 Biggest Disappointments of 2007:
- Arctic Monkeys- Favourite Worse Nightmare: Maybe I did not give this album enough time, but I simply hate it (I said the same for the first album). The only highlight is it gave me the idea of wearing a tie with a t-shirt (see Brianstorm).
- Art Brut- It's a Bit Complicated: This was a singles album. There were some of the best singles of 2007 on this album (See Nag Nag Nag Nag, Direct Hit), but this album was nowhere close to the first album.
- She Wants Revenge- This is Forever: This album was so bad I forgot the name of it and had to look it up. After what I thought was a fantastic and dark album with their debut album (See 25 for 2006). I thought they had the best album of 2006 but this new album comes nowhere close to the first. I think they did too much experimentation with this album and they should just stick with what they know.
- The Unlovables- Heartsickle: Are you kidding me? After pure genius with their first album, they come back with this shit? It is barely listen-able and has none of the quirkiness that made the first album absolutely fantastic.
- Voxtrot- Voxtrot: The so-called kings of the Austin independent indie rock scene debuts with one of the most disappointing albums of 2007. Their two previous EPs were raw and unmastered and I was really looking forward to an album like the EPs. The LP is pure drivel, with the exception of a couple of tracks. I expect much more from their next effort. Also, they are not as great live as everyone says they are.
And now to the top 21 albums of 2007. I thought 2007 was a bad album year in general and I think my list includes some mediocre albums because there were not enough good ones to fill a list of 20 (I included 21 here, which I will explain later):
21- Arcade Fire- Neon Bible: I am sorry, but this album was not as good as so many others have tried to explain to me. I think people who love this album were simply trying to like it because of the hype behind it.
20- LCD Soundsystem- Sound of Silver: Was this album any better than the first album? I do not think so. Is it any worse than the first album? I do not think so. This is a continuation of the first album and frankly, as an electronica band, I expect progression from LCD Soundsystem.
19- M.I.A.- Kala: My feeling is most people who love this album are just trying to show that they are cultured.
18- Battles- Mirrored: I really like the things Battles experimented with. I absolutely love Atlas, but I know a lot of people hate it. Maybe it is just me, but I expect great things from the band in the future.
17- Apparat- Walls: I think there was a sample of Donkey Kong Country in track 10, You Don't Know Me, (the music from the underwater levels), which is enough for me to think that this album is great. I do not like all of it, but most of it is worth listening to.
16- Caribou- Andorra: Just the single Irene is enough for this album to make the list. I really think that is my favorite single of the year.
15- The National- The Boxer: I think I have an affinity for bands with lead singers with deep voices. The lyrics are like poetry, which I really like. I think you have to give this album some time before you can get into it, but once you do, you will enjoy it.
14- The Higher- On Fire: Ok, this album is really bad, but it is a very fun album. I listened to it a lot when I was getting ready to go out. Makes me want to go out dancing.
13- Liars- Liars: Nothing really special about this album, but I found myself listening to it a lot.
12- Metric- Grow Up and Blow Away: This is the reason why the list is 21 and not 20. I was not sure if Metric's album counted since this was really their first album that was never released until 2007 (but unmastered copies could be found online for years). I honestly think it is Metric's best album, which may be a bold statement on my part.
11- Stars- In our Bedroom After the War: Simply a smart and haunting album that is worthy of being a part of everyone's collection. I found myself listening to The Night Starts Here on repeat for hours at a time.
10- Daft Punk- Alive 2007: This album would be much higher on my list if it did not sound almost exactly like the Coachella set that was the rage last year, which I thought was simply amazing.
9- Bloc Party- A Weekend In the City: I know this album made a lot of people's most disappointing list, but I think it was a smart album geared towards Kele Okereke's coming out. It took me a while to figure out the cryptic lyrics were just about him being gay, and after I figured that out, I realized that this album was much more cohesive than the first album. Musical, it was not as advanced, but I think given the context of the lyrics, it would not have been appropriate.
8- Feist- The Reminder: When did Feist become the darling of advertising companies? Verizon and Apple? Jeez. I really hate it when bands/acts that I like get really big and I am afraid that she will because of the exposure.
7- Justice- +: Absolutely no cohesiveness, but the good singles were amazing. Plus featuring Uffie on a track makes this album worth checking out.
6- Kanye West- Graduation: I have always thought Kanye was leaps and bounds beyond the majority of the rap acts out there. I am glad that Kayne keeps his best for himself. Absolutely fantastic sampling and some of the smartest lyrics around.
5- Radiohead- In Rainbows: Easily the best Radiohead album since Kid A and the easiest to get into since OK Computer. I really like the concept of giving away their album, which is why I actually paid for it.
4- Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: I was amazed at how great this album was. I have listened to Spoon for a while and this album was leaps and bounds above everything else they have done.
3- Modest Mouse- We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank: The band has improved so much by adding the legendary guitarist Johnny Marr. Same cynical lyrics but much better guitar rifts makes this one of the best albums of the year.
2- Editors- An End Has A Start: I liked this album. It took me a while to get past the singles, but after I did, I listened to non-stop and on repeat for about two weeks.
1- Interpol- Our Love to Admire: I initially had no opinion of this album. This album made me want to listen to Antics, which I did. After I got bored of Antics, I got really into this album. This album was easy to give up on, but I think it is worth taking the time to get into it.
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