2007 was primarily notable for two things in the music world. First, it was the year Bruce Springsteen became cool again. Not only did the Boss, himself, release Magic, his best album in over 20 years, but also several newer acts heavily influenced by Springsteen released standout albums, name-checked Bruce in interviews and even played live with him. Win Butler from Arcade Fire did a joint interview with the Boss for Spin Magazine and then joined him on stage for a performance in Arcade Fire’s native Canada. The Hold Steady, long the most visible Springsteen-influenced act in the indie world, were joined on stage by Bruce at a charity gig and Jesse Malin even got the Boss to duet with him on the song “Broken Radio” from his excellent Glitter in the Gutter album.
Even more significant, though, for the long-term viability of the music industry was the self-released In Rainbows by Radiohead. Long one of the most stubborn and independent groups in the music industry, Radiohead allowed their major label deal to expire and then set about recording and releasing their newest work all on their own over the Internet. Even more amazing, the band let fans name their own price for the download of the album. Exact numbers have not been made available, but Radiohead’s representatives assert that the band is coming out ahead financially using this unorthodox distribution model. A traditional CD release of In Rainbows is planned for early 2008. Certainly, Radiohead is an anomaly with a fiercely loyal fan base and a substantial body of work to their credit and this type of distribution scheme won’t work for every band. However, it certainly highlights the diminishing role of record companies and traditional distribution channels in today’s music business. When Starbucks and WalMart have become two of the largest music retailers in the world, you know that a reassessment is in order.
So, without further ado, the Top Ten:
1. In Rainbows – Radiohead
In Rainbows was far and away the most important release of 2007, or perhaps even the new millennium. On a strictly artistic level the album is an unqualified triumph, with Radiohead successfully merging the ambient and experimental textures of Kid A and Amnesiac with the more straightforward art rock of The Bends and OK Computer. The album contains many surprising musical moments and after just a few listens it reveals itself as a surprisingly catchy and pop savvy record. However, what really makes In Rainbows such an important release is the guerilla style marketing and distribution strategy the band used. Allowing fans to pay as much or as little as they wanted to for a record of such high quality from a band the stature of Radiohead was a bold and visionary step that points the way to a future where the power and influence of the major labels is eviscerated, allowing artists to communicate more directly with their audience in ways that work for them. In the year 2007, Radiohead clearly holds the crown of “The Only Band That Matters.”
2. Cassadaga – Bright Eyes
This is the album where all the Conor Oberst hype becomes glorious reality. The songwriting and musicianship on Cassadaga is so far beyond previous Bright Eyes releases that it is almost like our little Midwestern indie troubadour literally grew up overnight. Taking his cues from Desire era Dylan and the Jackson Browne of Late for the Sky, Oberst has crafted a brilliantly subtle and highly accomplished album full of great tunes with an apocalyptic, yet personal vision. Songs like “Four Winds” and “If the Brakeman Turns My Way” feature rich instrumentation and have an epic quality not present in Oberst’s earlier work. Bright Eyes records have always been interesting and Oberst has always had a way with words but Cassadaga ups the ante with a brilliant line-up of songs and a crack band that makes Conor Oberst a contender for big-time rock stardom.
MP3: Bright Eyes - “Four Winds”
3. Neon Bible – Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire is at the forefront of younger bands who look to highly-respected artists of the past for their influences and then turn those influences sideways to create a compelling and original sound all their own. Even though it is fun to play “spot the influence” on this record (everything from the Ian McCulloch vocals to the Clarence Cleamons sax), at the end of the day it ends up sounding like nothing except Arcade Fire. Neon Bible has a much bigger and straightforward sound than previous Arcade Fire releases, yet never ends up sounding like a sell out or blatant commercial pandering. This is a band at the top of its game that seems to enjoy making music together and refuses to be trapped in the indie rock ghetto. Bigger isn’t always better, but in the case of Neon Bible it works wonderfully.
MP3: Arcade Fire - “Intervention”
4. Under The Blacklight – Rilo Kiley
The romantic break up between El Lay lovers and bandmates Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett, coupled with the more commercial sounding approach of Under the Blacklight have caused more than a few people to call Rilo Kiley the new Fleetwood Mac. While it may be true that just like the Mac back in the late 70’s made great music out of heartbreak, the key difference is that Fleetwood Mac had no less than three great songwriters and the diverse sound of an album like Rumours was born from the varying styles and points of view of Buckingham, Nicks and McVie. What is astonishing about Under The Blacklight, is that the same kind of stylistic variety is a result of Jenny Lewis effectively seizing control of the band and making over Rilo Kiley in her own image. Lewis has solo writing credit on 8 of the 11 tracks and co-wrote two others. Perhaps the success of last year’s Rabbit Fur Coat album has given Lewis the confidence to step out front and really assert herself in Rilo Kiley. On Under The Blacklight Lewis explores the seedy sexual underbelly of her hometown with the keen eye for detail of someone who has been on the periphery of show business fame for most of her life. When Lewis’ razor sharp observations are combined with her angelic voice, sexy persona and tunes that play almost like a greatest hits album, the overall effect is intoxicating.
MP3: Rilo Kiley - “Close Call”
5. Magic – Bruce Springsteen
Perhaps the greatest rock album every recorded by a 58-year old and far better than we had any reason to expect, Magic is a musically backward looking album that revisits many of the styles and production touches from Springsteen’s fabled body of work. Lyrically, however, it is something else entirely. Addressing the current state of world affairs and the melancholy feeling of growing old in a young man’s world, Springsteen digs deep to craft some of the best lyrics of his career. “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” ranks as, perhaps, the best song Springsteen has written in over 20 years and is another glittering addition to a song canon that is rivaled by only The Beatles and Bob Dylan in the rock era. The E Street Band is in fine form and, if the record doesn’t break any new ground musically, at least it upholds the incredibly high standard Springsteen has set for himself throughout his career.
MP3: Bruce Springsteen - “Radio Nowhere”
6. Challengers – New Pornographers
Carl Newman has such an incredible gift for melody that he could take the phone book and make a great song out of it. The fourth New Pornographers album has just as many great hooks and melodies as their previous records but slows the pace down a bit and reveals a newfound depth of emotional resonance in the bittersweet lyrics about loves found and lost. This time out, Dan Bejar contributes three great Beatlesque songs and, as always, Neko Case sings up a storm in service of these great pop tunes.
MP3: The New Pornographers - “My Rights Versus Yours”
7. Glitter in the Gutter – Jesse Malin
On his third great solo album, the former D Generation front man came up with a killer batch of songs that explore the beautiful losers and down-and-out fuck-ups that have always populated his world. This time, however, the playing and production really measure up to the quality of the songs and he even convinced some guy named Springsteen to duet with him on the lovely and poignant “Broken Radio.”
MP3: Jesse Malin - “Broken Radio”
8. Boys & Girls in America – The Hold Steady
Craig Finn is the ultimate music nerd. He looks like a rock critic with his dark rimmed glasses, receding hairline and pudgy midsection. But once he straps on a guitar and gets behind a mic, Finn channels the spirit of the great rockers from the past. Obviously, much has been written about the stylistic debt The Hold Steady owes to Springsteen, but there are also nods to the Replacements, Husker Du, Thin Lizzy and other guitar rock greats scattered throughout this album. This album is front loaded with the fantastic opening barrage of “Stuck Between Stations,” “Chips Ahoy!,” and “Hot Soft Light,” probably the three best tracks on the record. But even if the song quality tails off a bit toward the end of the album, The Hold Steady have still made their case for being at the forefront of American guitar rock.
MP3: The Hold Steady - “Chips Ahoy!”
9. Favourite Worst Nightmare – Arctic Monkeys
Alex Turner has such an incredible eye for lyrical detail and such a canny way with rock riffs that it is sometimes hard to believe he is only 21 years old. Yet, in spite of his relative youth, Turner is responsible for two of the greatest albums to emerge from the British rock scene in the past decade. Favourite Worst Nightmare picks right up where Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not left off and actually speeds up the tempos and hardens the riffs. This definitely doesn’t sound like a band trying to play it safe on their second album. If the media crush in England surrounding the Arctic Monkeys doesn’t drive Turner off the deep end he has a chance to become a very important artist.
MP3: Acrtic Monkeys - “This House is a Circus”
10. The Con – Tegan & Sara
These cute and charming sisters from north of the border certainly have a way with a pop song. This time out they ditch the lo-fi production of their early work and craft a synth poppy, harmonizing tour de force about looking for lesbian love in all the wrong places.
MP3: Tegan & Sara - “Back In Your Head”
The nex ten, after the cut.
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