Many people are doing Top Albums of 2007 lists, I know (e.g. Pitchfork, I Guess I’m Floating, Trendwhore). But I think it’s a good way to share music. It’s a way to filter out the best of the best according to people you trust and then not having to waste your time sifting through the crap. And it allows people to see if they missed anything great throughout the year.

Best Albums of 2007:

#11 – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (Modest Mouse)
I almost forgot about this album being released in 2007. I think they’ve still got it in them.

#10 – Sky Blue Sky (Wilco)
I thought this album would be horrible. And, at first, I thought it wasn’t very good at all, except maybe for a couple of songs. Then, except maybe quite a few of the songs. Then, except maybe the entire album… It just seemed kind of hoakey at first. But, I think, after some good listens, it grows on you and you realize how appropriate an album it is for so many situations. It’s probably the most soothing and relaxing album of 2007. (Chris, if you read this, you were right about this album. I admit it!)

#9 – The Reminder (Feist)
I usually don’t listen to this style of music, but simplicity, a great voice, some indie twists, and artistic crafting made this album.

#8 – Sound of Silver (LCD Soundsystem)
It may be a bit overrated, but it’s a solid dance rock album.

#7 – Wincing the Night Away (The Shins)
This album retains the classic catchy melodies of the Shins, but I especially like how they got a little bit more electronic.

#6 – Friend Opportunity (Deerhoof)
Like The Runners Four, this album is punchy yet with a classic rock twist. It’s also a bit more polished and to-the-point, whereas the previous album, in my opinion, ran on a bit with too many songs.

#5 – Friend and Foe (Menomena)
Menomena initially seem like a somewhat ordinary indie band, but they incorporate so much into their sound that it distinguishes them nicely.

#4 – Cross (Justice)
Bring the dance music! These guys are like Daft Punk, but fatter, heavier, and bassier.

#3 – Strawberry Jam (Animal Collective)
What an envelope-pusher! I can’t even describe well the sound of this album. The fact that Animal Collective can make me dig one of their albums so much is quite a feat. This is a group of some serious artists.

#2 – In Rainbows (Radiohead)
I thought this album would be a flop, yet it turned out to be great. This is their 7th album… Jesus! Will they ever stop making good music!?

#1 – Random Spirit Lover (Sunset Rubdown)
Spencer Krug is god. I had high expectations for this album, and the fact that they were exceeded is amazing.

Biggest Disappointments:

Note: The Biggest Disappointment albums are ones that I had—what I take to be—legitimately high expectations for but was let down on. But, that doesn’t mean that some of them weren’t decent albums. Some of them were.

#7 – Neon Bible (Arcade Fire)
[Note: I had this album on the Top 10 previously at #10, but decided to transfer it here. Looking back I realized that this is more of a disappointment than I thought. And Wilco deserved to be up there. I do like Neon Bible, but that doesn't mean that it also wasn't a bit of a disappointment.] Not as unique and impressive as Funeral, but still good. I had high expectations, though. They could have done better. One of the greatest things about Funeral was its unique style. Neon Bible sounds too much like their influences, whom were cleverly and appropriately concealed in Funeral.

#6 – Our Love to Admire (Interpol)
Although Antics wasn’t as good as Turn On the Bright Lights, I expected Interpol to do something more with this album. Our Love is still a decent album overall. It’s still the classic Interpol sound. But they need to do something different at this point.

#5 – Icky Thump (The White Stripes)
I know the White Stripes can do better. But, I wasn’t expecting it to be great anyway; they have made a ton of great albums already (many other lesser bands would have started going downhill by now). There were some solid songs (“Icky Thump” was actually amazing), but the album as a whole wasn’t too solid.

#4 – Cease to Begin (Band of Horses)
I wasn’t expecting much, but it was a disappointment.

#3 – “http://www.amazon.com/And/dp/B000VL1EVC/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1199521429&sr=8-9″>And (Jonah Matranga)
I think Jonah may have lost it. The home recorded king of indie sound and song crafting is just missing here. It was going downhill with The Volunteers, but I think it’s officially gone with And.

#2 – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Spoon)
Girls Can Tell is the only really good Spoon album. Why do people love Ga Ga Ga so much?

#1 – Some Loud Thunder (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah)
I was so excited for this album to come out. They had so much potential. Their previous album blew my mind, but this one doesn’t come close.

Let’s hope for some more greats in 2008!

Trackback URL