yes, i know the first month of 2008 is almost over, dear reader, but i really struggled with my top ten list for 2007. my four favourite albums of the year were pretty obvious to me, but there was so much awesome new music this year that the number five position fluctuated constantly in proportion to my levels of depression/euphoria at any given time. and then there were a couple albums i absolutely ADORE that had their releases in the usa in 2007 but actually came out in australia in 2006 - namely two shoes by the cat empire and the fanfuckingtastic moo you bloody choir by augie march (which topped my list in 2006, if you’ll recall) - and i didn’t know whether to include them or not. and my ocd list-making genes were atwitchin’, let me tell you.
so in the interest of not starting 2008 with an ulcer, i decided to make it easy on myself and do it like this:
9-10. the fragile army by the polyphonic spree
the scotland yard gospel choir by the scotland yard gospel choir
yeah, it might be a form of nepotism but still…special props to my dear friends in these bands for coming out with really, really good releases in 2007. it makes me proud.
5-8. armchair apocrypha by andrew bird
the stage names by okkervil river
all hour cymbals by yeasayer
in rainbows by radiohead
all phenomenal and quickly becoming reliable soundtracks for any situation, these albums are worth as much dramatic hyperbole as i can spout. so consider it spouted and let’s move on.
4. neon bible by arcade fire
yeah, it’s less personal and more existential/political than funeral, but the sonic head-rush of diverse instruments (accordian! harmonium! pipe organ!) and the greater sense of urgency to the tracks sold me right away. and, kinda like these amazing songs, it has only built and layered from there.
3. emotionalism by the avett brothers
some folks are calling the latest trend of incorporating banjos into rustic, folk-punk americana music “newgrass.” and while that is awesome, i don’t care what you call it as long as you give it a chance…and nobody is doing it better than these north carolina brothers.
2. boxer by the national
my review of this album says it all…voyeuristic little snippets of someone else’s runaway train of consciousness. literate graffiti on the dark walls of certain kinds of brains. or maybe like interpol for intelligent people (i will be awaiting your hate mail at joie@superstarcastic.com).
1. cotton teeth by the snake the cross the crown
my continuing level of obsession with this phenomenal album terrifies even me. it’s one of the very best things i have ever heard in my life, and that’s saying something for a music junkie like myself, you know? it’s like a mixture of wilco, radiohead and the highest grade heroin. in the best way. just listen to it and you’ll see what i mean (i will be awaiting your thank-you notes at joie@superstarcastic.com).
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I blew the dust off my vinyl neon bible a few weeks ago after failing to get into it when it was first released and realized why I put it on the shelf in the first place. No thanks. The sense of urgency sounds contrived to me and the sonic headrush is overkill. Agree to disagree.
Also, you forgot Black Francis, White Stripes and Spoon. It’s been a while since I’ve visited SSC, so maybe you all don’t discuss rock music here anymore? Is HotShotRobot still here? Hello?
sounds like you need to post your own list, blackbryson. but i really like the black francis and white stripes albums as well. the spoon one is only meh though. agree to disagree.
please admit that you love tstctc. ADMIT IT!
avett bros - unexpected (and personally timely) standout of the year. Agree to agree.
avett brothers basically is my number one of everything all the time ever… yeah
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Comment by Megaroo — January 18, 2008 @ 3:07 pm
I can’t believe that The SnakeThe CrossThe Crown didn’t get more attention this year. That album really is awesome!