I am not a writer. Even though I do it quite often, writing about music makes me pretty uncomfortable, despite music itself being the one thing I love most in this life (boyfriend, kitty cat, and coffee aside.) I feel incredibly unqualified to label anything with the coveted title of “best” so, as a music fan (not journalist), I can only let you know which discs this year were my “favorites”. I enjoyed these very much, and I hope you do, too.
Top Ten Favorite Albums Of 2007 (In No Particular Order)
The New Pornographers - Challengers
Seriously, how is it even possible for a band to be this good? I can’t think of one other artist in recent memory who has put out four excellent, not just “okay”, albums in a row. I honestly have been listening to this record on repeat since I bought it. Dig.
The New Pornographers - All The Things That Go To Make Heaven And Earth”
Bowerbirds - Hymns For A Dark Horse
One of the lesser known new releases this year, “Hymns For A Dark Horse” is a beautiful, interesting folk rock album. Well written, well performed, well produced: the whole nine yards. I’m really hoping these guys will gain a bigger following; they deserve it.
Bowerbirds - In Our Talons
Lavender Diamond - Imagine Our Love
I love Lavender Diamond. I love seeing them live, I love listening to them, I love telling people about them. Alternately heart warming and breaking, triumphant, gorgeous folk-pop.
Lavender Diamond - Here Comes One
Tullycraft - Every Scene Has A Center
Best twee pop sing-a-long album of the last few years! Frequently hilarious, always catchy. My favorite Tullycraft release since “Beat Surf Fun”.
Tullycraft - Georgette Plays A Goth
Jens Lekmen - Night Falls Over Kortedala
O delicious, talented Swedish boy, take me away from here! In catchy, clever, tounge-in-cheek Jens fashion, this album does not disappoint.
Jens Lekmen - The Opposite Of Hallelujah
Bishop Allen - The Broken String
I know this technically shouldn’t count since it’s really a compilation of their EP-a-month series, but it’s my list and I can do’s as I likes. Creative, quality indie pop. I’m a big, big fan.
Bishop Allen - The News From Your Bed
Battles - Mirrored
Gear obsessed, experimental math rock nerds, this is the band for you. Also, stoners. Anyway, besides getting a spot on my favorite albums list, Battles also wins my “Without exaggeration, best live band I have ever seen” award. If they come to your town, go go go see them. The album is amazing enough, but seeing them perform it live, working together like one big, organic rock machine, was unbelievable.
Battles - Race In
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Poor little rich girl, what is to become of you? Get arrested, cancel tours, make crazy faces to the paparatzzi, just don’t OD before you put out another album, k?
Amy Winehouse - Addicted
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
I love me some A.B., but this album actually took a few listens to grow on me. Tracks like “Imitosis”, “Dark Matter”, and “Scythian Empire” really sold me on it, though some of the slower, more instrumental tracks are a bit boring. Overall, it’s beautiful and well executed enough to make me really enjoy it.
Andrew Bird - Imitosis
Caribou - Andorra
Refreshing mix of 60’s pop, experimental, and psychedelia. See them live if you can. While this was one of my favorites this year, I prefer their/his 2005 album “The Milk Of Human Kindness”, so hunt that down if you want to get into Caribou.
Caribou - Sundialing
Runners Up
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (if I had found this album earlier, it probably would have made it into the favorites.)
The Shins - Wincing The Night Away (Didn’t quite make it into the favorites since I really only looooove the first half.)
Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
Iron and Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog
Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound
Entries (RSS)
Finally, my beloved Wino ended up in someone’s top ten!
Same with Sharon Jones: I didn’t know that disc was out until I saw the video for 100 Days, 100 Nights. It’s so, so beautiful.
Lavender Diamond! Yes! I love that record so much it hurts.
Also, I’m glad to see Band of Horses get a mention. I can’t wait to see them next month.
I’m with you on the New Pornos. I also like some of the other indier-than-thou stuff like Tullycraft, Band of Horses and Beirut. I absolutely LOVE the first Shins album. I very much like the second Shins album but #3 just didn’t do it for me. As for Lavender Diamond, I saw them open for the New Pornos and alternated between wanting to laugh and wanting to fall asleep. I just don’t know what to make of them. Most of the rest I could take or leave, including Amy Winehouse. I haven’t heard that Bowerbirds record, though, so I will have to look for it since it sounds like I might dig it. Nice job, though!
We’ve definitely set the record for Most Favourite Albums Lists.
Which is good, because I’m hearing good new things.
The Jens Lekmen and Tullycraft albums will top my list for 2007. I’m glad to see they found some love here.
I guess I’m too much of a classicist, because every Battles song to me sounds like “Oh yeah, great rhythm, cool bass line, guitar building up some nice tension, this is going to ROCK” and then it just keeps going with only minor variations.. and never gets around to, y’know, rocking, or just gets fucking weird and never goes anywhere (like the track you linked above), or worse, starts in with some vocals that I can’t listen to without bursting out laughing, in a bad way. I don’t get it.
But then again, I was never good at math.
I think it’s great that we have so many writers here whose favorites lists barely resemble each other, and your list is very well written and thought out.
Good list. The New Pornographers record gets better with every listen. It’s not my favorite by them, but it’s definitely their biggest “grower.” I’m going to have to give the Lavender Diamond another listen.
Thanks for the list, Jewlie!