This took a few weeks to compile and much thought went into it as well. I am sure you are going to discover that perhaps some of your favorite albums of the year are not in this list. If so, shoot me a note. Maybe I overlooked it, or maybe I just didn’t make my list. I hope you rediscover some albums listed here and perhaps discover something new as well. Happy holidays!
TOP 30 ALBUMS of 2007
30. Albert Hammond Jr. - Yours To Keep
29. Sigur Ros – Hvarf-Heim
28. Eddie Vedder – Into The Wild (Soundtrack)
27. Common - Finding Forever
26. Bruce Hornsby/Christian McBride/Jack DeJohnette – Camp Meeting
25. John Scofield – This Meets That
24. The White Stripes – Iky Thump
23. The Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
22. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
21. Jimmy LaFave – Cimarron Manifesto
20. Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
19. Jay-Z – American Gangster
18. Tegan & Sara – The Con
17. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
16. LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
15. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
14. Daft Punk – Alive 2007
13. Bright Eyes – Cassadaga
12. Brandi Carlile – The Story
11. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand
10. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
The Austin-based band, Spoon, returned in 2007 with their sixth studio release and achieved chart success (#10 Billboard 200) while continuing to make few concessions to the classic song structure. This album does have more of a”mainstream” sound but still continues to showcase their unique large sound with purposeful minimal arrangement. Their focus has always been on the song, and this album is full of them that grow on you with each listen. The album is a testament to Spoon’s continued growth and exploration and is a must for anyone who enjoys any form of rock.
9. Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger
Easy Tiger is Ryan Adams ninth solo album, is full of the alternative country overtones he is known for and still continues to establish Adams as one of the premier singer-songwriters of his generation. The album is Adams’ most-polished to date and is his most complete work in years. The album was Adams’ highest charting album to date (#7 on Billboard 200) and is the perfect mix of concise pop-country singles and dreary troubadour songs that were so beloved on his early work such as Heartbreaker and Gold. His best studio release in years.
8. Radiohead – In Rainbows
Aside from massive the stir and sheer shakeup Radiohead caused throughout the music industry by releasing In Rainbows via optional-pay download, most people over-looked the fact that it was actually a GREAT album. The move was brilliant and so are many parts of this album. On In Rainbows, Radiohead continued in the vein of Amnesiac and Hail To The Thief, however they brought back subtle acoustic guitars, up-tempo electric guitar songs and even more intricate headphone sound effects. The album is a good medium for those who miss The Bends and for those who want more Kid A.
7. Feist – The Reminder
Simply put, Feist is blessed with a gorgeous and unique voice and her third solo release finally showcases what the Indie-world has known for years, that Feist is well on her way to becoming a premier female artist on a global level. The Reminder was recorded in a 200-year-old manor house outside of Paris in only two weeks and the intimacy shines throughout. Known for her subtle pop tendencies, The Reminder reveals a grown-up artist merging her pop sensibilities with jazz, acoustic folk, African rhythms, and intricate melodies.
6. The Avett Brothers – Emotionalism
The Avett Brothers are a non-traditional bluegrass band from North Carolina but they have something that is vital to the bluegrass tradition, songs. And boy do they know how to write them. Brothers Scott and Seth Avett each handle an equal duty of the songwriting and lead vocals, but it is in their accompaniment of each others’ songs where the true magic of this group and album lies. The simple instrumentation of acoustic guitar, upright bass, banjo, kick drum and high-hat allow for the songs and honest lyrics to shine and every song is a backwoods journey from first to last.
5. Kanye West – Graduation
Everyone knows that Kanye West is an egotistical, stuck-up asshole, but you know what? He knows how to make brilliant hip-hop albums. Gone are all the skits from Late Registration. The Graduation is pure hip-hop from start to finish. Praised by many to be his best album to date, his lyrics effectively express the ambition, desires and wishes of someone influenced by pop-culture who has nothing or has not “made it yet.” But leave it to West to let the listener know repeatedly that he has. West has found himself as an artist by means of being someone who is not afraid to experiment with his art form and in return he has created the most innovative hip-hop album of the year.
4. Fionn Regan – The End of History
I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about a new musician, most particularly a singer-songwriter. Regan hails from Ireland and is only 26-years-old but he understands something that David Grey, Damian Rice and James Blunt have not yet fully gotten, that an album should be a complete flow of songs telling a greater story than any one song. Fionn’s first album is a breath of fresh air in the singer-songwriter genre. It flows seemingly from song to song and never has a dull moment. Regan has the intricate capability to play guitar like Elliot Smith or Nick Drake, but lacks the melancholy nature and lyrics of both. He is his own artist and The End of History is a brilliant introduction to him.
3. Kings of Leon – Because of the Times
As I read in a review of this album earlier this year, it does ‘take balls to start your make-or-break third album with a 7-minute song about knocking up your girlfriend.’ Kings of Leon simply wanted to announce to the world that they were grown up. Gone are the 4-minute power pop tunes that had defined this band on their first two albums. Rarely does an album take a band from clubs to arenas, but Because of the Times made all that seem possible. Kings of Leon’s sound got bigger, their songs got better and the result is the best rock release of the entire year. Even more, songs 8-13 make up the most brilliant album side released all year.
2. Stephen Marley – Mind Control
Whoever said reggae is dead has clearly not heard Mind Control. This album should have been bigger than it was. It should have been one of the biggest albums of the entire year, but where does reggae find regular radio play these days? Stephen Marley has spent years behind the scenes in the Marley family as a member of his brother Ziggy Marley’s group the Melody Makers and as producer for his brother Damian Marley’s three solo efforts and brother Julian Marley’s solo album as well. Mind Control was the world’s introduction to Stephen Marley as an artist and clearly the most-talented of the Marley crew has emerged as the new shining light of reggae. What Stephen was able to do with Mind Control was perfectly combine the traditions of roots reggae with the beats of hip-hop and dance hall. Mind Control should give hope to all lovers of reggae as it shows that genius sometimes does run in the family.
1. Iron & Wine - The Shepard’s Dog
Every so often and artist takes a risk. Radiohead did it with Kid A and it worked. Dave Matthews Band did it with Everyday and it didn’t. Sam Beam (Iron & Wine is his stage name) took a BIG risk with only his third album, The Shepard’s Dog, and it worked brilliantly. Known for his acoustic albums, with minimal instrumentation and hushed vocals, Sam Beam created a kaleidoscope of sound on The Shepard’s Dog and it has clearly expanded the genre of the singer-songwriter. For the album, Beam enlisted the help of Joey Burns and Paul Niehaus of Calexico, as well as jazz musicians Matt Lux and Rob Burger and Beam is not bashful in sharing the musical space with them. Beam could have easily recorded the songs on this album in the same vein as his previous albums and it would have been a success, but he broke from the mold, took a chance, and created the most refreshing and original release of the entire year.
TOP 10 REISSUES of 2007
10. Elliot Smith – New Moon
9. Counting Crows – August & Everything After (Deluxe Edition)
8. Miles Davis – Steamin’ With the Miles Davis Quintet
7. Al Green – The Definitive Greatest Hits
6. Sly & The Family Stone – Stand! / There’s a Riot Goin’ On
5. Neil Young – Live at Massey Hall
4. John Lee Hooker – I’m John Lee Hooker
3. Leonard Cohen – Songs of Leonard Cohen
2. U2 – The Joshua Tree (Deluxe Edition)
1. The Doors – The Entire Catalog
