I was recently asked over on Pownce what music came out this past year that I liked or that touched me in some way, and I have to admit it was a really tough question. When I was finally able to put together a response, I thought why just waste my response over there where no one will read it when I can post it here on my blog and have even more people not read it.
So here it is, my top 10 albums of 2007
1) Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
I’ve written about this before but it must be said again – this is just an amazing record. Containing picture perfect pop songs and a return to their more melodious times, I would say this ranks up there with Being There – and that says a lot.
2) The Cowboy Junkies – At The End Of Paths Taken
I’ve been a fan ever since I first heard The Trinity Sessions and what I call the catatonic version of the VU’s Sweet Jane. I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed with a release of theirs but this one is particularly strong. Mike Timmons calls it a collection of songs that "hint at themes of inevitability, finality, not exactly pre-determination, but a sense of running out of choices, a sense of being at the end of paths taken."
3) Band of Horses – Cease To Begin
I really just discovered these guys a month or so ago. I originally heard a track from their Debut Everything All The Time and it just clicked with me. I queued up both albums on my Yahoo Unlimited and have been hooked ever since. Both are good but Cease To Begin is better. I guess they get compared to The Shins and such but to me they are far superior – after all they appear on this list and The Shins don’t.
4)
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9)
10)
I hear you – you think I forgot to finish or that I messed up. You think "boy that Scott has sure lost it, where are the rest?"
Actually, that’s it. I could only think of the three. How sad is that?
It could have to do with the fact that I still use the terms record and album, perhaps I’m not up with the new stuff. These kids today and their music, I just don’t understand it…..
Anyway, that’s it – my pick of the top 10 albums of the past year.
Now it’s your turn to tell me what I missed? Can you fill in the rest?
SB
You know its funny, but I believe you in that there wasn’t too many albums this year that were outstanding. We were just talking about it over in the Blogcatalog forums about the top Hip Hop albums this year, and I duly noted that I didn’t like any of them this year.
I’ve included a link into the thread.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/best-hip-hop-album-of-2007
Thanks Mitch – yeah it was a disappointing year all around for music. I’m glad it’s not just because I’m getting to be an old fogey.
SB
I don’t know if it’s the fact that I use Rhapsody and never buy CDs anymore, or the fact that I don’t listen to the radio and hardly ever get to watch TV, but I honestly can’t think of anything, either. The new Dashboard Confessional was reasonably good, but it’s still growing on me, and doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of your list.
Honestly, I think lack of exposure to what radio and other media have decided to put in heavy rotation has made a huge difference to me in how aware I am of the music world in general. I am sure tons of albums came out this year, but without radio, MTV or whatever directing me to them, and instead using a more self-directed, aimless flitting around Rhapsody, with their play lists and related artists and such, I’ve found *tons* of things I’ve enjoyed this year, but not a single whole album or even necessarily things that were *released* this year.
I was a Rhapsody user for years but ultimately switched over to Yahoo because of the customized radio functionality.
I do agree that the way that we are presented with music has changed a lot. I hear a lot of new stuff on Sirius though which has helped a lot.
I really am saddened that the album seems to be losing it’s charm for folks, I still tend to think of songs as just part of a larger collected work.
And I give you a couple extra points for using the word flitting – that’s excellent.
SB
What, no Spoon?
Right – as Neo said in The Matrix “There is no spoon”
Actually, I’m not sure what Spoon is – but I’ll check them out.
SB
I haven’t listened to any new music for so long I couldn’t really tell you what’s good in 2007. See, I didn’t even know Wilco had a new album and I like them. I know what’s lousy though, that arrrrrgh-inducing James Blunt album.
Lis, I don’t go out of my way to keep up to date but I do like to discover new stuff. I obviously highly recommend the Wilco if you like them.
As for James Blunt, I don’t get the appeal either, I tend to turn him off before my ears begin to bleed.
SB
Check out Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga album. Tracks, “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb,” “Don’t Make Me a Target” and “Black Like Me.”
I actually listened to most of it yesterday – it got off to a good start but I didn’t make it through the whole thing. I’ll queue it up again though. Thanks for the recommendation.
SB
You know, this morning I saw a commercial for one of those “Kid Hits” albums, you know, where the kids sing popular songs.
Anyway, I didn’t recognize any of them. I guess I’m getting out of touch with what is coming out.
If you like heavier stuff, I would suggest Five Finger Death Punch’s “Enter the Fist”. Ok, that’s pretty darn heavy.
On the Less Heavy front, I also just heard about Red, their album is “End of Silence”.
I also like Shinedown’s “One X”.
I’ll have to take a listen to the Wilco. I have a couple of albums, and I have to say I’m not a big fan. It could be because I listen to them at work, and a bunch of their stuff has weird noises in it.
Thanks Mike – I’ll add them to the queue
This new Wilco album is a lot less “experimental” than the last couple so might be up your alley.
I have to agree with Stan about the brilliance that is YHF though.
SB
Wilco’s YHF album is one of my top five albums of all-time. And I have good taste.
Thanks guys! I don’t know if YHF is one that I have, but I’ll have to check.
I’m listening right now (at least I was when I wrote this, I may or may not be still listening when you read this)
Thank goodness for headphones or my neighbors would be awfully annoyed.
SB
I happen to be listening to “Cease to Begin” as I type this. Man, it’s great.
I had forgotten about the latest Wilco… they lost me a bit lately, but I”m a huge fan of the retro Wilco. Downloading it now.
My favorites:
Arcade Fire “Neon Bible”
Iron & Wine “Shepherd’s Dog”
Spoon “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” (their best since leaving Matador)
The Shins “WIncing the Night Away”
Travis “The Boy with No Name”
Hey Adam,
Thanks for the visit and the comment. I think I have given all of those a listen at one point but they seem to be the ones that fall into most top lists so I’ll give them another listen.
Let me know what you think of the Wilco after you give it a spin.
SB
I had way too many favorites in 2007!
http://natsthename.blogspot.com/2008/01/do-i-really-need-favorite-album-of-2007.html
But two of yours are also in my list!
Hey – that’s a great list. Some of those I had heard but a lot of them I haven’t so I’ll see what’s available on Yahoo and give them a listen.
I didn’t know Suzanne Vega had a new one out, will check that out for sure, she’s always been a favorite.
Thanks for the visit and the comment.
SB