YOUR Top 10 Totally Rad Albums of 2007 [Archive]

-mk-

12-14-2007, 02:53 PM

I'm a music nut and was just wondering what the highlights of the year were for Totally Rad viewers. I think it'd be a cool way to get exposed to stuff I missed, and I like hearing what others really "felt" this year, regardless of how it was received by others/critics/etc. If 10 is too hard, just list 5.

Here are mine (not in top to bottom order, just listing):

1. Alter Bridge - Blackbird - just an awesome, straight-ahead rock album. Several radio-friendly tunes, but all great songs. Scott Stapp leaving was the best thing to happen to Creed.

2. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black - this album blew me away. It's Motown, but it's modern. Mark Ronson is a genius.

3. Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Too Long - is anyone as catchy as this band? Funky too, for a bunch of white guys.

4. Atreyu - Lead Sails Paper Anchors - the emo kids are crying "sellout," and I'm crying "thank god - Atreyu is more approachable now!" This album best represents (for 2007) what my "id" sounds like if you could hear it. If you're mad at your work/boss/spouse/whatever, just listen to "Blow."

5. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience, & Grace - I LOVE the Foo Fighters, and this was an amazing look inside Dave's soul.

6. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand - two of my favorite voices combined on a sonic wonder of an album. You can FEEL their voices on this thing - unreal.

7. Carrie Underwood - Carnival Ride - she's my guilty pleasure, and one of the few country artists I'm really digging these days.

8. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - these guys are INSANELY good. Creativity is through the roof and production is refreshing.

9. Kanye West - Graduation - one of the best in the rap game, one of the best in the production game. Who else could bring Daft Punk samples such exposure?

10. Fair to Midland - Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times is True - my first exposure to these guys. My prog-rock geeky pick of the year, and an incredible anti-mainstream album with tons going on in the music.

Other honorable mentions:

Silverchair - Young Modern
Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab
Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Velvet Revolver - Libertad
Musiq Souldchild - Luvandmusiq

neverendingwhitelights

12-14-2007, 04:12 PM

I'm probably one of the only people who is almost completely detached from the mainstream when it comes to music. I don't listen to critics, I don't listen to friends, the radio, blogs, nothing. I just kind of... explore.

This year, has been a rather disappointing year for me, a lot of albums I looked forward to were complete and utter failures. Though Maroon 5 did do much better on this second album, I must say. Better than I was expecting, anyway.

All that said, it's hard for me to really note strong albums, I tend to notice strong songs more, and when I say something is a good album, I'm usually saying that there are more great songs than bad or "meh" on it.

In any event, here's not, my top 10, but the first 10 I thought of...

1.) Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Living With the Living - Track after track on here, wow, this albums fills me with such energy.

2.) Bloc Party - A Weekend In the City - Not as strong of an album as Silent Alarm, but not a disappointing one.

3.) Rhett Miller - The Believer - Rhett is a great guy and this is honestly the best thing he's done since the breakup of the Old 97's if you asked me. Must listen if you enjoy singer/songwriters in the least.

4.) Manic Street Preachers - Send Away the Tigers - Didn't like Lifeblood, glad they're back into the swing of things bigtime with this one. Some of their catchiest material in ages. One of my favorites of the year by far. Must listen!

5.) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - I was probably the only person that thought Funeral was meh, I hear in Neon Bible what people are saying they heard in Funeral, oddly enough.

6.) The Pipettes - We Are the Pipettes - Very talented girls! Great throwback pop, came out of leftfield and put a big grin on my face. Yes it was released in the US in '07, so it still counts! :p

7.) Dan Wilson - Free Life - About time this one came out! I wasn't happy with some of the song choices he made with this album though. I had heard demos and some songs were supposed to be arranged differently but they turned into something less than what they used to be. The first half is very strong whereas the second just drags, comparatively, the sequencing bothers me, but Dan is still a great guy.

8.) Hard-Fi - Once Upon A Time In the West - Lots and lots of catchy tunes here. A must listen for any music fan this year, I think.

9.) Matt Pond PA - Last Light - Another singer-songwriter that I'm a fan of.

10.) Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch - Some very nice tracks here as well.

I also must admit, I enjoyed the Music & Lyrics soundtrack as well, my guilty pleasure of the year.

Now that list is mostly the more well known ones, so in case I need to up my indie cred a smidge. Here's my Top 5 more "indie" picks, in no order.

1.) Emerson Hart - Cigarettes and Gasoline
2.) Soular - Love Crash Heal
3.) Trembling Blue Stars - The Last Holy Writer
4.) Ultratone - A Long Year
5.) Future of Forestry - Twilight

Let's not get into best songs of the year, because then I'll just have to post the tracklisting to each mix of new music I made this year for friends, which would result in an ever longer post than this. Much, much longer.

samureye

12-14-2007, 04:33 PM

Oh Boy...

1. Kanye West - Graduation
Straight fire from start to finish.

2. 50 Cent - Curtis
Hate him or love him, he made a damn good album.

3.Wu-Tang Clan - The 8 Diagrams

4. Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Lupe is on a whole other level, man. Go pick this up.

5. Timbaland Presents: Shock Value - Various Artists
Great album, entire album is worth listening to.

FIVE MORE TO COME.

yibn

12-14-2007, 04:45 PM

9. Kanye West - Graduation - one of the best in the rap game, one of the best in the production game. Who else could bring Daft Punk samples such exposure?

Busta Rhymes - Touch It

Nice Guybrush icon.

gi_josh

12-14-2007, 04:54 PM

Lets see here...I'll probably kick myself later because I've left something really good out, but here are my first thoughts, in no particular order:

1. Motion city Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me - Whether you're "scene" or not doesn't matter, MCS knows how to write a damn good pop song.

2. Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now - The title says it all. TBS dropped some of their emo-ish-ness and pumped up the volume and became more rock-oriented, while still holding onto their hardcore roots. A great album to rock out to in the car.

3. Saosin - Self Titled - Saosin finally put out a full lenth, and its full of high energy rockin' tunes. I love it. They write catchy songs.

4. Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High - Say what you want, these guys write catchy tunes as well. I went to a concert of theirs this summer (to see +44) and it was filled with way too much of a teenage girl quotient, but my friends and I started a mosh pit anyway.

5. Cobra Starship - Viva La Cobra! - wow, my whole list is guilty pleasures, haha. These guys are fun to watch live and fun to dance to, pure and simple.

-mk-

12-14-2007, 05:36 PM

Busta Rhymes - Touch It

Nice Guybrush icon.

Forgot about that one - props to Swizz Beats for also spreading the Daft.

And thanks! The Monkey Island's (along with other LucasArts games) were always my favs. :D

siraim

12-14-2007, 07:47 PM

3.) Rhett Miller - The Believer - Rhett is a great guy and this is honestly the best thing he's done since the breakup of the Old 97's if you asked me. Must listen if you enjoy singer/songwriters in the least.

I love me some Rhett.. All of the Old 97's albums are permanently pinned on my iPhone and iPod as is all of Rhett's solo stuff. He's great to see in concert too.. of course, I worry that his right arm is going to snap clean off when he's playing guitar.

I couldn't possibly give a top 10 of 2007... I have no idea what was released this year.. or what of that I really enjoyed.. just wanted to second the comment about Rhett.

I take that back.. I bought this album in 2007 on the recommendation of a friend and I know it came out in 2007... Good stuff if you like folky americana type music: Great Lake Swimmers : Ongiara (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=215886657&s=143441)

blooper

12-14-2007, 08:21 PM

3. Saosin - Self Titled - Saosin finally put out a full lenth, and its full of high energy rockin' tunes. I love it. They write catchy songs.

Shhhhhh... 2006 :o

az0madman

12-14-2007, 09:54 PM

I've been recently looking over a bunch of the best of 2007 lists (mostly from stereogum) so I can check up on the music I've missed over the year. Of course, this thread is totally rad to me.

Here's my #9 (because I couldn't find 10) list in no particular order. I'm bad at "reviewing" music. I just like what I like.

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Song by the same name is one of my favorites to listen to. The entire album is solid too, but I don't listen to it nearly as much as I want to.

Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Imitosis is so addictive to listen to as is the rest of the album. Andrew Bird's quickly became one of my favorites. He jumped up to my top 10 list at last.fm surprisingly fast.

Radiohead - In Rainbows
15 Steps was such a fresh song for me. I love listening to it. Rest of the album is good too, but once I find a song I really like in an album, I usually listen to nothing but that song.

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
It's not as good as Gimme Fiction, but Spoon is one of my favorites. This album is no exception to that.

Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
Listened to Is There a Ghost and was hooked on this album. I never got into their first album that much, but this one seemed to do it for me.

Feist - The Reminder
Okay, so I'm a sucker for songs promoted by Apple and iPods... First it was Jet, then it was Fratellis, and now it's Feist (I already liked Gorillaz before they were promoted). And once again, the entire album is just as good as the single.

Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Now this guy's a poet. I don't listen to rap on radio because they're mostly those dance party ones (the ones I don't like)... and because Aesop Rock isn't on there.

Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
I really loved the first album, The Gulag Orkestar and this one is almost just as good. It's not as memorable as the first one is for me, but maybe I just haven't listened to it as much.

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
First album was great and so is this one. They're like Jet and Fratellis and just has that upbeat rock that I like.

iccanui

12-14-2007, 10:20 PM

Just picked up this game on PSN and its pretty rad. I didnt see any topics in search so ...

First off this game is very much like our beloved stardust HD. Cept instead of being on a revolving planet its on a flat surface and its all got this kinda cell shaded feel thats real slick. The music for it is very fun and as you kill things you make music to go along with everything. Very fun idea. But the real fun keeping me coming back is that it has a progression system. You earn points as you go and points unlock maps in single map mode, more starting lives, etc. The things is , you dont have to be great, you dont have to be dedicated, you can just log in for a few min here and there at your pleasure and you progress and expand as time goes on. Thats a game i can really digg these days, a game that doesnt penalize you for having a life or simply wanting to do something other then sit in front of you tv for hours at a time and still rewards you for long term commitment. for a little indie game made by a guy in his basement im pleased.

10 bucks and i am very happy and i see myself playing this for some time, even if only in small bunches. But thats really what matters if you ask me, not that im excited for 2 weeks then never play it again, but that its sitting there welcoming me with advancement and fun anytime i want to for a long time. Check it out PS3 owners.

Peace.

uvayankee1

12-14-2007, 10:58 PM

I don't have a lot of new albums to add to the list that others haven't already said, but I see no one has mentioned Bruce Springsteen's Magic. It's a great album with a lot to say. Check it out.

zedizdead

12-14-2007, 11:10 PM

I only bought 2 cds this year. The new Velvet Revolver and Rob Zombie LIVE. Both are very good

mormonrage

12-15-2007, 01:39 AM

Okkervil River
Spoon
The New Pornographers
The Shins
Arcade Fire

wolfnotes

12-15-2007, 02:31 AM

In no particular order:

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Battles - Mirrored
The National - Boxer
Panda Bear - Person Pitch
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings
Fiery Furnaces - Widow City
M.I.A. - Kala

magunwarrior

12-15-2007, 03:01 AM

4. Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High - Say what you want, these guys write catchy tunes as well. I went to a concert of theirs this summer (to see +44) and it was filled with way too much of a teenage girl quotient, but my friends and I started a mosh pit anyway.
.

I'm sorry Josh, we can't be friends anymore.

samureye

12-15-2007, 03:06 AM

I'm sorry Josh, we can't be friends anymore.
Who wants to be your friend? I like that album, and Linkin Park's as well.

patch

12-15-2007, 03:11 AM

Year Of The Crow - State Radio (www.stateradio.com)
Barn Sessions - State Radio (www.stateradio.com)
Wicker Plane - State Radio (www.stateradio.com)

I missed one more album by State Radio (www.stateradio.com) and an album by Braddigan (www.braddigan.com). :(

(There's a connection between the band and artist mentioned. Whoever can find it without looking it up gets a gold star!)

0garrett0

12-15-2007, 04:03 AM

Nine Inch Nails- Year Zero

Saul Williams- The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!

Puscifer- "V" is for Vagina

sugarsickness

12-15-2007, 04:38 AM

This is why I'm against any sort of music discussion on TRS.

In absolutely no order at all:

Elliott Smith's New Moon

Porcupine Tree's Fear of a Blank Planet

Grinderman's 'debut' album

Tori Amos' American Doll Posse

Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero

Marilyn Manson's Eat Me, Drink Me

Tomahawk's Anonymous

Blackfield's Blackfield II

The Cruxshadows' DreamCypher

The Smashing Pumpkins' Zeitgeist

I'll give Bjork an honorable mention just because there were a few really good songs on Volta, even if most of it was a let down.

2008 will be better though. New Alice Cooper, new Cure (Both double albums, apparently), and a new Gary Numan album.

esophagus

12-15-2007, 06:55 AM

I'll give Bjork an honorable mention just because there were a few really good songs on Volta, even if most of it was a let down.
Earth Intruder was enough for me to love Volta, not to mention how cute Bjork is. Who would guess she's over 40?

tnvwboy

12-15-2007, 02:00 PM

I don't buy RIAA labels so I only got a couple CDs this year:

KMFDM - Tohuvabohu
Assemblage 23 - Meta

guagloves

12-15-2007, 03:02 PM

Cds I Bought this year:

Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead

Sigur Ros Hvaf/Heim

Led Zeppelin - Mothership

Dethklok - The Dethalbum

Black Sabbath - The Dio Years

kevincollateral

12-15-2007, 03:45 PM

Lets see here...I'll probably kick myself later because I've left something really good out, but here are my first thoughts, in no particular order:

1. Motion city Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me
2. Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now
3. Saosin - Self Titled
4. Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High
5. Cobra Starship - Viva La Cobra!

i like 4 out of the 5. fob being left off.. but louder now and saosin came out in 2006.

heres mine!

in no real order....and im gonna do 15...too many good cds!

1. Chasing Victory - Fiends
2. A Day To Remember - For Those Who Have Heart
3. Four Year Strong - Rise or Die Trying
4. Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster - II
5. The Devil Wears Prada - Plagues
6. I Am The Pilot - Crashing Into Consciousness
7. Scenes From A Movie - The Pulse
8. Oh, Sleeper - When I Am God
9. Underminded - Eleven Eleven
10. The Starting Line - Direction
11. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - Danza II: The Electric Boogalo
12. All Time Low - So Wrong, It's Right
13. The Bled - Silent Treatment
14. Drop Dead, Gorgeous - Worse Than A Fairy Tale
15. Every Time I Die - The Big Dirty

astrolux44

12-15-2007, 07:40 PM

A Wilhelm Scream - Career Suicide

Fast punk, and very melodic. What more could you ask for?

esophagus

12-15-2007, 08:17 PM

My top 20, in no certain order.

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Liars - Liars
Jamie T - Panic Prevention
Panda Bear - Person Pitch
MIA - Kala
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Blonde Redhead - 23
Daft Punk - Alive
!!! - Myth Takes
Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation
Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
John Vanderslice - Emerald City
Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond
Architecture in Helsinki - Places Like This
Art Brut - It's a Bit Complicated
Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

geeksunny

12-15-2007, 09:14 PM

I didn't really pay a whole lot of attention to new music this year. Most of it bored me. Some were great and some were real disappointments...

My greats -

1) Dethklok - The Dethalbum
2) Black Light Burns - Cruel Melody
3) The Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist
4) Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
5) Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
6) Hurt - Vol. II

I couldn't even come up with 10.

d3isme

12-16-2007, 05:37 AM

Some of my recommendations, FYI:
I think this is all 2007, I don't pay much attention to release dates.
Since the point of the list is to give people new stuff to track down, I thought I'd direct you to material those of you south of the border, or overseas, might not know.

Finger 11 : Them vs You vs Me
Armchair Cynics: Killing the Romance
Tegan and Sara: The Con
IllScarlett: All Day With it
Matthew Good: Hospital Music
Neverending White Lights: Act II
Rush: Snakes and Arrows
Three Days Grace: One-X
State of Shock: Life, Love & Lies
Winston: Limited EP (and I was finally able to get hold of Passengers as well)

It was a good year here in Canada! And this is a very partial list but the thread said 10.

fashiondr

12-16-2007, 09:12 AM

I really didn't listen to too much music this year but here goes, in no particular order...

Radiohead - In Rainbows; A real return to form and their best thing since OK Computer

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible; I never thought they could match the brilliance of 'Funeral', but then they exceeded it with this piece of pure pop bliss

Coheed & Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume 2: No World For Tomorrow; The climax of the amory wars saga came complete with mock opera, 80's tinged guitars and enough "oh oh oh's" to put the Ramones out of business. Prog rock has never been this catchy.

The Beatles - Love; I think this may have been released late 2006, but I didn't hear it until this year. The Beatles hits lovingly remixed into one continuous track, the perfect summer soundtrack.

Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero; While far from the pureness of 'Pretty Hate Machine' still a mighty good showing.

Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City; Not a patch on 'Silent Alarm' but far more solid than most of the tripe you hear on the radio.

Thats all I can really think of right now.

Rock on my rad brothers!

darthender

12-16-2007, 11:52 AM

I think it's adorable that you think 10 albums worth listening to come out in a year.

xibur

12-16-2007, 07:09 PM

1. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
2. Nine Inch Nails - Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D
3. Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust
4. Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist
5. Radiohead - In Rainbows

logant

12-16-2007, 07:44 PM

Kanye West-Graduation

Air-Pocket Symphony

Various Artists-Jazz Love Spirit - A Compilation for the Mind, Body & Soul By Guy Monk (Electronica meets Jazz)

Junkie XL-Music from SSX Blur

Maroon 5-It Won't be Soon before Long

Justice-Cross

im-so-fresh

12-16-2007, 08:23 PM

dr. dog - we all belong
the go! team - proof of youth
vhs or beta - bring on the comets
the bees - octopus
nick lowe - at my age
sharon jones and the dap-kings - 100 days, 100 nights
vampire weekend - vampire weekend (but borders said 2008?)
midnight juggernauts - dystopia

its not ten but i found myself just trying to remember what came out in 2007 and just listing them so i stopped..

krash

12-16-2007, 08:34 PM

Slow album year for me this year. Only noteworthy album I bought was Megadeth - United Abominations.

gi_josh

12-17-2007, 01:47 PM

Shhhhhh... 2006 :o

Really? damn it!! haha. Apparently I didn't pick it up until the first of this year.

gi_josh

12-17-2007, 01:48 PM

Who wants to be your friend? I like that album, and Linkin Park's as well.

Why thank you Samureye :)

gi_josh

12-17-2007, 01:49 PM

I'm sorry Josh, we can't be friends anymore.

Guilty pleasure! Guilty pleasure!

gi_josh

12-17-2007, 01:51 PM

but louder now and saosin came out in 2006.

Jeez....I give up. Apparently there was no good music this year, haha.

neverendingwhitelights

12-18-2007, 08:09 AM

Neverending White Lights: Act II

I approve, but if I said it that would just be tacky. ;)

dfs-vegas

12-18-2007, 05:38 PM

I don't think I've listened to an album this year that was made after 2005...

x-marks-the-spot

12-18-2007, 07:10 PM

My ten:

1. Angels & Airwaves - I-Empire
2. Motion City Soundtrack - Even if it Kills Me
3. Eisley - Combinations
4. Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light
5. The Matches - Decomposer
6. Hot Hot Heat - Happiness Ltd.
7. MxPx - Secret Weapon
8. Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees
9. Paramore - Riot!
10 Vanessa Carlton - Heroes & Thieves

veee

12-20-2007, 04:39 PM

I can't name 10 but my favorite album definetly

The Sounds - Dying To Say This To You

tectec

12-21-2007, 06:54 PM

ten albums i enjoyed quite a bit in 2007

Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Hanson - The Walk

The Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army

Tegan and Sara - The Con

Manu Chao - La Radiolina

Saves The Day - Under The Boards

The Bravery - The Sun and the Moon

Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Elliott Smith - New Moon

Justice - Cross

wizmaster

12-21-2007, 10:37 PM

Well, I really haven't listened to a lot of new music (or much music at all) this year so my list is pretty short.

Chris Cornell - Carry On
Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!

That's it. Gorillaz will probably make the list but I haven't heard the new album yet. I'm going to grow my library more once I get a replacement media player (I'm thinking iAudio 7).

Got some albums names I might check out from this thread though.

berrex

12-22-2007, 01:40 AM

I don't buy a lot of albums, but there was I got this year that I think is outstanding, and it is Paradise Lost by Symphony X. I'm turning into a bit of a progressive metal nut, so this album was a great release for me. They've gotten a bit heavier with Paradise Lost, but I still have to say that the quality of their music is 100x better than most of the crap you get on the radio today.

sugarsickness

12-22-2007, 02:23 AM

I don't buy RIAA labels so I only got a couple CDs this year:

KMFDM - Tohuvabohu
Assemblage 23 - Meta

sucks for you.

gi_josh

12-22-2007, 03:41 AM

Hanson - The Walk

Wait, what?!?

Who knew they were even still around, haha.

gi_josh

12-22-2007, 03:42 AM

sillyemoboi

12-22-2007, 05:27 AM

In no particular order:
The Shins - Wincing in the Night
Rocket Summer - Do You Feel
Piebald - Accidental Gentlemen
Sigur Ros - Hvarf - Heim
Dntel - Dumb Luck
Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start - Worst Band Name Ever
The Comb-Overs - Emergency Response
Depreciation Guild - In Her Gentle Jaws

tectec

12-22-2007, 01:21 PM

Wait, what?!?

Who knew they were even still around, haha.

They've been off mainstream radio for ages but they're still out there making music. It sucks that so many people won't even consider listening to their new stuff because theres still some stigma attached to their first big hit which was like 10 years ago. They go out there and make their own music and they do a good job of it. I hate to sound like I'm preaching or anything but the point is this: its just so cool when you find some special gem and you want to share it with as many people as you can. But yeah...check em out yo!

wakuseibaka

12-22-2007, 08:31 PM

No particular order...

1. Angels & Airwaves - I-Empire
2. Iron & Wine - The Shepard's Dog
3. Dethklok - The Dethalbum
4. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
5. Paramore - Riot!
6. Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight
7. Say Anything - In Defense of the Genre

stubadub

12-23-2007, 01:39 AM

No particular order, and as always this list could change depending on when you asked me.

1) Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Much much better than any greatest hits album could ever hope to be. I see myself listening to this one for years.

2) Radiohead - In Rainbows
Forget about how innovative it was for them to release this album online and allow you to pay as little or as much as you wanted. I cannot stop listening to this album, and this is the first one since OK Computer that my wife seeks out on her own. Time will tell, but this one could be one of the best they ever put out.

3) Justice - Cross
This album has such a great energy. This seems to be one that people who don't normally like electronic music seem to gravitate towards. This is one of those albums that people ask me to make copies of when they hear it.

4) Tomahawk - Anonymous
Mike Patton can do things with his voice like no other. At worst his work is interesting. At best it's mindblowing. Here he takes a bunch of traditional Native American music and recreates it.

5) Battles - Mirrored
The first time I heard this I thought for a moment I was hearing a long lost Primus track. After listening to the entire album many more times I realize that instead I was listening to one of the most creative forces currently recording music. I can't wait to hear more from these guys.

6) Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals
These guys inject their music with a healthy world music influence. I feel much about this one as I did last years great Return To Cookie Mountain by TV on The Radio.

7) El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
One of my favorite producers in Hip Hop. I was worried about this one after hearing many of his productions for others. They weren't bad, but they seemed to indicate he wasn't innovating the way he had done earlier in the decade. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my concerns were misplaced. Every bit as strong lyrically and musically as his debut.

8) Explosions In The Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
Beautiful instrumental music. For a long time I listened to this album every night before bed.

9) Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
I definitely liked With Teeth, but it was the weakest NIN album. It's nice to see Trent return with confidence and focus. Still not my favorite NIN album, this one is back on track and makes me excited to hear what else Trent has in store for us. The year zero remix album is also much better than remix albums tend to be.

10) Ween - La Cucaracha
If you've heard Ween and don't like them, I doubt this will be the album to change your mind. For me, this is a godsend. After so many albums I keep expecting them to put something out that will dissapoint me and other Ween fans, but time after time they score another great album. I saw them live in Austin right before this album came out, but the set was light on any of these songs. I can't wait to have an opportunity to see them perform some of this live.

nshady

12-23-2007, 02:39 AM

Good to see a bit of Radiohead love in here - not enough though, IMO :P

That's the one album that truly stood out for me this year. I got the discbox, and the bonus disc with 8 other songs is a great contrast to the main album. So brilliant. The fact that it's still taking all the places on last.fm's top ten tracks of the week should tell you something.

The only other album that really struck a chord with me (sorry...pun) was Aqualung's 'Memory Man' - think a mix of Coldplay and Radiohead. It's actually just one person - multi-instrumentalist Matt Hales writes the songs and plays every instrument you hear on the album.

lnknpk04

12-23-2007, 05:37 AM

Not in any particular order, except for Sick Puppies. My Fav album of 2007.

Sick Puppies - Dressed Up As Life (AWESOME BAND!!!)
Paramore - Riot!
Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
(I know this came out end of 06 but I didn't listen to it until 07!!!!!)
Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Too Long

jason-h

12-23-2007, 10:52 AM

I am with Darth on this one. Not that many great albums every year and i try not to buy "label" brand records. But i could only think of 3 that i adored this year.

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger i love this album

John Mayer - Continuum A nice departure and way more mature than his previous albums. i like the others as well :D i think this might be 2006 but i am not sure.

Victoria Vox - Victoria Vox and Her Jumping Flea. Very cool!

siraim

12-23-2007, 09:27 PM

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger i love this album

Good Call.. I'll second this selection..

phairus

12-23-2007, 09:36 PM

well i am not sure if i can come up with a top 10 album, but i did listen to the "once" soundtrack and the new streetlight manifesto albums a lot this year

avenwhell

12-24-2007, 03:30 AM

here are 5:
Radiohead - In Rainbows (such a wonderful album. Radiohead can do no wrong)
Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills (a swedish band that sounds very much like the Cure. the track Tonight I Have To Leave It is one of my favorites of the year)
Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (classic foo fighters sound)
Travis - The Boy With No Name (good to see them get back to their softer sound this year)
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Wonderful World (classic "Iz" reworked with strings)

these 3 albums came out in 2006 but I could'nt live without them in 2007
My Chemical Romance - Black Parade (every single song is fantastic)
The Killers - Sam's Town (my two favorite tracks are Interlude and Exitlude)
Foo Fighters - Skin & Bones (semi-acoustical live performance of their hits)