Archive for the Music Category

My Top Ten Albums Of 2007

If these albums were records they’d be worn down till they were smooth as a baby’s bottom.

ten new messages 10. The Rakes - Ten New Messages This is a great album that I can listen to straight through w/o skipping a beat. It’s high energy and really gets my blood pumping. Plus, it’s got the best song title of 2007 - “The World Was A Mess But His Hair Was Perfect The Rakes - Ten New Messages

9_2007.jpg 9. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible Great musicians and a great spice of instruments make this album one of my top picks this year. I’ve read that they recorded it in an old church. It definitely has an airy feel. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

8_2007.jpg 8. Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon This Devendra album is my “weirdo/bizarro” pick of 2007. I gave a listen after he was featured in an interview in Rolling Stone where he came off as a real weirdo. Surprisingly, weird as he is as a person his music is really mellow and easy to listen to. Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

7_2007.jpg 7. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare I was a huge fan of Arctic Monkeys when they first stormed the interweb and enjoyed listening to them before their record deal. Their sophomore effort is just as good as their freshman release. The lyrics are tight, the music is tighter. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

6_2007.jpg 6. Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin A late comer that really snuck up on me. I didn’t hate the album at first, but I didn’t fully appreciate it either until maybe the 3th or 4th time through. It’s become my go-to album when I have a splitting headache. With a track titled “Detlef Schrempf” (of Indiana Pacers fame) on the album how can you go wrong? I’m going to see them in late January here in Boston, I suggest you join me. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

5_2007.jpg 5. Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times “Because Of The Times” is a really mature album for Kings Of Leon and it’s a welcome change from the usual thick mid-western-southern-twang I had to translate in my head on their previous albums. These guys can make great music. Checkout “Knocked Up” to fully appreciate them. Kings of Leon - Because of the Times

4_2007.jpg 4. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away Clever lyrics, relaxing music. The Shins keep me level. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

3_2007.jpg 3. The Bees - Octopus The Bees have a really unique sound. To be honest, I have no idea how to categorize this band. Give them a listen and let me know how you’d categorize them. A Band of Bees - Octopus

2_2007.jpg 2. The Go! Team - Proof Of Youth The Go! Team has such a unique sound as well. They’re hard to miss and they absolutely rock. I caught them in concert at the Paradise and the show was high energy and totally blew me away. [pictures] The Go! Team - Proof of Youth

1_2007.jpg 1. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga I got hooked on Spoon back on their previous release “Gimmie Fiction” and “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” certainly didn’t disappoint me. I went to see them at an intimate show at the Museum of Fine Arts here in Boston and it was hands down the best concert I’ve ever been to. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Bonus Track Version)

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The Best Albums of 2007 (Mega List)

iTunes 7 Below are my most listened albums of 2007 (in no particular order). The only requirement for these selections were that they must be solid albums as a whole (no skipping tracks here!). These albums are must-haves for anyone serious about music. I’ll be announcing my top 10 before the end of the year is out so stay tuned.

* under the radar - a true gem

  • Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
  • The Bees - Octopus
  • Interpol - Our Love To Admire
  • Ulrich Schnauss - Goodbye
  • The Thrills - Teenager
  • Tegan & Sara - The Con
  • Taken By Trees - Open Field
  • Stereophonics - Pull The Pin
  • Sigur Ros - Hvarf-Heim
  • The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
  • Rogue Wave - Asleep At Heaven’s Gate
  • The Rakes - Ten New Messages
  • Radiohead - In Rainbows
  • Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
  • New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
  • LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
  • Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times
  • Kanye West - Graduation
  • Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob
  • The Good, The Bad, & The Queen (Self Titled)
  • Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace
  • Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
  • Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
  • Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
  • Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin
  • Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
  • The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
  • The Go! Team - Proof Of Youth

 

Albums from 2006 that had heavy rotation in 2007

  • Camera Obscura - Let’s Get Out Of This Country
  • The Rifles - No Love Lost
  • Koop - Koop Island
  • We Are Scientists - With Love And Squalor

Want to see my listening habits? Check out my Last.fm profile.

Of course if you want to give a quick listen to any band mentioned above I recommend Hype Machine.

Did I forget anything? Feel free to comment to add anything I may have missed! (Although I may disagree.)

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