Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Top Ten Albums of 2007
I have finally finished this year's list, just a couple of weeks late. Not being able to blog at work is tough, especially since so much of my post-work time is spent playing Rock Band.
This year, I broke two "rules" by including two albums... let's see if you can guess which rules they were! Without further ado...
10. Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters – The Twilight Sad
This album seemingly came out of nowhere. I'm so glad Victor brought it home, or ordered it, or stole it from some poor Scottish orphan... at any rate, this is the sleeper hit of the year!
Favorite Songs: "Cold Days from the Birdhouse" "I'm Taking the Train Home"
9. Boxer – The National
Boxer was more accessible to me than their previous album, and I found myself coming back to this again and again. I never disliked the National, but this year I found that I really like them.
Favorite Songs: "Apartment Story" "Squalor Victoria"
8. Candylion - Gruff Rhys
Gee, this is a surprise. Gruff Rhys's latest album on my top ten? Next I'll be telling you that Texas is warm all year long. Anyway, what a fun, playful, and gosh darn it, adorable album this is. And sad. And wonderful.
Favorite songs: "Lonesome Words" "Con Carino"
7. Wincing the Night Away – The Shins
Ah, the Shins. Your music will always be so enjoyable, even if I feel like a cliche while listening to you.
Favorite Songs: "Australia" "Turn On Me" "Split Needles"
6. Neon Bible – The Arcade Fire
When exactly did Bruce Springsteen join the Arcade Fire? If Funeral was a glorious mess of beauty, then Neon Bible has channeled that mess into downright fervor. It took me a long time to get into this album, and I have fond memories of falling in love with it while painting my house.
Favorite Songs: "Keep the Car Running" "Intervention" "(Antichrist Television Blues)"
5. Cease to Begin – Band of Horses
It's hard to follow up on an album that topped my year-end list last year, and this album is so understated compared to Everything All the Time. But it's a fun, beautiful little album all the same.
Favorite Songs: "Is There a Ghost" "Islands on the Coast" "The General Specific"
4. Challengers – The New Pornographers
Nothing but hits, son, nothing but hits.
Favorite Songs: "Myriad Harbour" "All the Old Showstoppers" "Unguided" "Mutiny, I Promise You"
3. Once - Music from the Motion Picture – Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
So, this is the first time a soundtrack album has appeared on my top ten list. And you know what? I don't care. I loved this movie. I love these songs. I listened to this album until I literally never wanted to hear the songs again... and yet, I still wanted to hear them. Over and over and over.
Favorite Songs: "When Your Mind's Made Up" "Lies" "Trying to Pull Myself Away" "Falling Slowly"
2. Yours to Keep - Albert Hammond, Jr.
I kind of laughed when I heard that Albert Hammond, Jr. was putting out a solo album. Well, who's laughing know? I mean, seriously... this album didn't leave my car CD player for weeks on end. I nominate AHJ to write the next Strokes album. Who's with me?
Favorite Songs: "In Transit" "Bright Young Thing" "101" "Call an Ambulance"
1. Writer's Block - Peter Bjorn and John
It's not cheating if I didn't buy this album as an import, right? This totally came out domestically in 2007. Anyway, this is one hell of a beautiful album.
Favorite Songs: "Up Against the Wall" "Young Folks" "Writer's Block" "Chills" "Paris 2004"
On the cusp...
We All Belong - Dr. Dog
23 - Blonde Redhead
Graduation - Kanye West
Biggest disappointment...
Under the Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
I have finally finished this year's list, just a couple of weeks late. Not being able to blog at work is tough, especially since so much of my post-work time is spent playing Rock Band.
This year, I broke two "rules" by including two albums... let's see if you can guess which rules they were! Without further ado...
10. Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters – The Twilight Sad
This album seemingly came out of nowhere. I'm so glad Victor brought it home, or ordered it, or stole it from some poor Scottish orphan... at any rate, this is the sleeper hit of the year!
Favorite Songs: "Cold Days from the Birdhouse" "I'm Taking the Train Home"
9. Boxer – The National
Boxer was more accessible to me than their previous album, and I found myself coming back to this again and again. I never disliked the National, but this year I found that I really like them.
Favorite Songs: "Apartment Story" "Squalor Victoria"
8. Candylion - Gruff Rhys
Gee, this is a surprise. Gruff Rhys's latest album on my top ten? Next I'll be telling you that Texas is warm all year long. Anyway, what a fun, playful, and gosh darn it, adorable album this is. And sad. And wonderful.
Favorite songs: "Lonesome Words" "Con Carino"
7. Wincing the Night Away – The Shins
Ah, the Shins. Your music will always be so enjoyable, even if I feel like a cliche while listening to you.
Favorite Songs: "Australia" "Turn On Me" "Split Needles"
6. Neon Bible – The Arcade Fire
When exactly did Bruce Springsteen join the Arcade Fire? If Funeral was a glorious mess of beauty, then Neon Bible has channeled that mess into downright fervor. It took me a long time to get into this album, and I have fond memories of falling in love with it while painting my house.
Favorite Songs: "Keep the Car Running" "Intervention" "(Antichrist Television Blues)"
5. Cease to Begin – Band of Horses
It's hard to follow up on an album that topped my year-end list last year, and this album is so understated compared to Everything All the Time. But it's a fun, beautiful little album all the same.
Favorite Songs: "Is There a Ghost" "Islands on the Coast" "The General Specific"
4. Challengers – The New Pornographers
Nothing but hits, son, nothing but hits.
Favorite Songs: "Myriad Harbour" "All the Old Showstoppers" "Unguided" "Mutiny, I Promise You"
3. Once - Music from the Motion Picture – Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
So, this is the first time a soundtrack album has appeared on my top ten list. And you know what? I don't care. I loved this movie. I love these songs. I listened to this album until I literally never wanted to hear the songs again... and yet, I still wanted to hear them. Over and over and over.
Favorite Songs: "When Your Mind's Made Up" "Lies" "Trying to Pull Myself Away" "Falling Slowly"
2. Yours to Keep - Albert Hammond, Jr.
I kind of laughed when I heard that Albert Hammond, Jr. was putting out a solo album. Well, who's laughing know? I mean, seriously... this album didn't leave my car CD player for weeks on end. I nominate AHJ to write the next Strokes album. Who's with me?
Favorite Songs: "In Transit" "Bright Young Thing" "101" "Call an Ambulance"
1. Writer's Block - Peter Bjorn and John
It's not cheating if I didn't buy this album as an import, right? This totally came out domestically in 2007. Anyway, this is one hell of a beautiful album.
Favorite Songs: "Up Against the Wall" "Young Folks" "Writer's Block" "Chills" "Paris 2004"
On the cusp...
We All Belong - Dr. Dog
23 - Blonde Redhead
Graduation - Kanye West
Biggest disappointment...
Under the Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
Labels: top tens
