Inaugural Post: Top 40 Albums of 2007

So this will be my new blog. For 2008 y'all. And what better way to get things started than by posting my top 40 albums of 2007.

More tomorrow...

40) The Go! Team
Proof of Youth
If you liked the first album from this ultra-fun group it's a pretty safe bet that you will enjoy the follow up. It stands to reason that the formula may wear thin at some point, but that hasn't happened yet. Also, Chuck D appears on one track.

39) Aesop Rock
None Shall Pass
This is another solid album by the Def Jux rapper. The most pleasant surprise (though not much of a surprise at this point) is the guest spot from Mountain Goats' John Darnielle on the final track.

38) Interpol
Our Love to Admire
2007 may have been the year when Interpol broke out. Or maybe I just didn't pay enough attention before. Either way, I was shocked to see them headline Lollapalooza; almost as shocked as I was to find I enjoyed them in this setting. Our Love to Admire may not be the band's most notable work but the move to a major label certainly contributed to an album full of lushly layered songs complete with the soaring choruses the band has become famous for. Also, I learned firsthand this year that Interpol is not nearly as dull a live act as they are made out to be.

37) T.I.
T.I. vs. T.I.P.
2007 could be called the "Year of the Hip Hop Concept Album." Of course, it won't be because most of these aren't really concept albums. T.I. vs. T.I.P. was an interesting idea. T.I. separates his dual personalities in a three-part album; the final sequence is a collaboration between...ummm...the two of him. I tend to think T.I.'s split personalities were more interesting when they were subtle. But that doesn't take away from the album, which has a few really catchy, radio-friendly hits.

36) Bjork
Volta
Bjork continues to make artistic leaps on this album. The singles "Earth Intruders" and "Declare Independence" are highlights, as is her duet with Antony on "The Dull Flame of Desire."

35) Liars
Liars
This one is more accessible than their last album as Liars, known for redefining themselves with each release, add a rock edge to their typical experimental style.

34) Spoon
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
There is something to be said for a band that effortlessly writes such catchy and well-constructed pop songs. Consistency seems to be the name of the game with Spoon as this album is pretty interchangeable with the previous three. But to keep releasing such great songs is fairly impressive. And the albums highlights, "Cherry Bomb" and "Underdog", and, in my opinion, among the best the band has ever written.

33) The Shins
Wincing the Night Away
Mercer has claimed that the two biggest influences on his band are Pink Floyd and marijuana. But ultimately, as much as they may strive to be this generation's Pink Floyd, the Shins best songs are more reminiscent of the jangly pop of the Byrds. Delightfully catchy tunes such as "Australia" and "Turn on Me" (which has an opening that calls to mind the Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man") are proof of this. But that's just fine. There is plenty of room in the world for songs like these.

32) Besnard Lakes
The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse
This is yet another great Canadian band. The opening vocals on album opener "Disaster" call to mind Brian Wilson and, at many times throughout, Dark Horse does sound a bit like how the Beach Boys would sound if they were backed by a kick ass band

31) Animal Collective
Strawberry Jam
I still haven't quite bought into all the hype surrounding this band but after several listens Strawberry Jam grew on me, particularly album opener "Peace Bone."

30) Bright Eyes
Cassadaga
Conor Oberst seems a lot less mopey these days. This could be due to the fuller sound that has come from his immersion in alt-country. The lyrics may still be sad, but the added instrumentation assures that you don't have to focus on the words quite as hard. Here he assembles a plethora of musicians including M. Ward, Rachael Yamagata, Mike Mogis, and a slew of Saddle Creek artists to deliver an album that remains solid from start to finish and is far more listenable than older material. Coincidentally, it charted higher than any of Oberst's previous work.

29) Pharoahe Monch
Desire
The rapper returned after an 8-year absence to release his long-awaited second solo album. With production by The Alchemist, J Dilla protege Black Milk, and others, it was worth the wait.

28) Feist
The Reminder
For some reason I never really got into Let It Die and I was hesitant to buy another Feist album. But when I finally broke down and bought it and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. These are excellently written songs sung in a voice that, in the words of Pitchfork, "could make Dick Cheney cry." And of course there is "1 2 3 4." iPod commercials have come along way from the days of Jet. (Incidentally....what the hell ever happened to Jet?)

27) Battles
Mirrored
Ummm....it's probably my favorite instrumental album of the year. That's all I have to say about that.

26) Ghostface Killah
Big Doe Rehab
Ghost adds to what is by far the most relevant Wu-Tang solo career. This one isn't his best work but it's still better than anything any of the others have done this decade (RZA's production aside.) The scary part is that he doesn't even sound like he has to try to be this good. If only he could become a little less reliant on all the lesser guest M.C.'s. Also, props on one of the best album covers of the year.

25) Of Montreal
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
I had a hard time deciding whether this album is really good or really corny. As it turns out…I'm pretty sure it is both. But it's a really smart kind of corny. And much of the album, despite the deep themes, is good syrupy fun. And of course there is "The Past is a Grotesque Animal", a 12-minute epic of nearly silly proportions.

24) Jens Lekman
Night Falls Over Kortedala
The other day I was listening to "A Postcard to Nina" and I had an epiphany: if I am ever faced with a situation where I am coaxed into flying to Berlin to pose as fiance for a closet lesbian's conservative father, well, it would probably be about EXACTLY the way the song describes it.

23) Wu-Tang Clan
8 Diagrams
The worst part of the Wu-Tang infighting is that this is their best album since Wu-Tang Forever. RZA's production has pushed the group into new creative territory and everyone seems to be up to form, particularly Method Man. Even Raekwon and Ghostface, the catalysts of anti-RZA talk, sound great.

22) The New Pornographers
Challengers
Challengers may lack the upbeat bliss of previous albums and it is probably my least favorite. But the New Pornographers on a bad day are still better than most bands on a good one. They just have a gift for a melody and songs like "Myriad Harbour" and "Unguided" continue that tradition.

21) Menomena
Friend and Foe
This was one of the first albums I got into in 2007. Menomena makes experimental music with a rock edge. Check out "Muscle'n Flo" and "The Pelican."

20) Brother Ali
The Undisputed Truth
This was probably the most introspective rap album of the year. Ali, an albino rapper from Minnesota, reflects on his life story, which is really quite dramatic. At his best he can be very moving, such as on "Faheem", a tribute to his son, and "Ear to Ear", where he claims to be happy for the first time in his life.

19) Lupe Fiasco
The Cool
When Lupe releases his third and final album, L.U.P.End, I hope he has the good sense to not release it in late December. How does he expect me to make a quality judgment on an album in a matter of days? Especially on an album this lyrically dense. Lupe continues to be every bit the wordsmith he was on his debut album, only the content has taken a very dark turn. My fingers are crossed for a happy ending.

18) The National
Boxer
Boxer picks up where Alligator left off. The National is a band that continues to grow on me with each and every listen. Highlights on this album include "Mistaken for Strangers" and "Slow Show." With guest spots from Sufjan Stevens, a spectacular drummer, and very positive press, the National could be poised for a major breakthrough.

17) UGK
Underground Kingz
Can the death of an artist make his or her album better? Objectively speaking, of course not. But music is not objective...at least not pop music. Technical skill is not nearly as important as emotion and cultural relevance (this is why Weezer is a better band than Rush.) And with Pimp C's passing, UGK's fantastic double LP gains points on both counts. Last month Underground Kingz would have been considered another in a long line of good albums from the Houston rap duo. Now it will go down in history as Pimp C's final masterpiece. His window after being released from jail was just long enough for him to let us know that "Trill Niggaz Don't Die."

16) Iron and Wine
The Shepherd's Dog
Iron and Wine's sound has been expanding little by little over the years. Early on they were not much more than Sam Beam and a guitar. The new album builds on the extra instrumentation of the Woman King EP. Through it all, Beam continues to be an excellent singer-songwriter, with insightful lyrics and a soothing voice.

15) El-P
I'll Sleep When You're Dead
I'll admit that it took me a while to get into this album. And when I say it took me a while I mean, like, till today. I was listening to it with headphones as I walked in downtown Chicago and all of a sudden I started to realize how good the production really is. In my mind, El-P's rapping still leaves a bit to be desired - he's talented but I get bored with his style quickly - but the beats are downright stellar. The production makes it sound like a cold album, which may explain why it took a walk on a cold day for me to really get it.

14) Dan Deacon
Spiderman of the Rings
Tip: Dan Deacon is opening for Girl Talk at the Metro in three weeks…go to this show. Spiderman of the Rings, aside from runaway choice for best album name of the year, is a chaotic party of samples and noises molded into a brilliant whole. I just bought it in the last month…otherwise it probably could have been ranked a lot higher.

13) !!!
Myth Takes
I buried this album for a long time. It had the misfortune of being released the same day as Neon Bible. I also skipped !!! at Lollapalooza since they had the misfortune of playing at the same time as Modest Mouse. So I guess this could be classified as the year when I didn't give the dance punk group all the credit they deserve. And they do deserve quite a bit. This album rocks all the way through, particularly on "Must Be The Moon" and "Heart of Hearts". At their best !!! is as good as anyone in the genre.

12) The White Stripes
Icky Thump
Jack and Meg keep plugging away. After a bit of a detour on the much folksier Get Behind Me Satan, the duo turns up the volume on this collection of thumpers. In addition to Jack's usual shredding, they show their playful side on "Rag and Bone", experiment with bagpipes, and employ local mariachi musicians on a rollicking remake of the Patti Page hit "Conquest." And of course...Jack White shreds on guitar.

11) Justice
Cross
Okay...I'm going to quit trying to find that symbol on my keyboard now. I find all the vague religious references associated with this album to be nothing short of brilliant. Song titles such as "Waters of Nazareth" and "Genesis" are sure to market themselves well to Christian teenagers who just want to dance, all the while riling up all the right villains. What makes it all the better is that those songs, and the rest of them, are really, really awesome. Daft Punk owned the nighttime at Lollapalooza '07. It's only a matter of time before this electronic duo is doing likewise at festivals and arenas around the world.

10) Okkervil River
The Stage Names
So I'm willing to admit I probably overrated Black Sheep Boy when I ranked it my number one album of 2005. Now I feel like I may be overcompensating by placing The Stage Names this low in 2007. The fact remains that Will Sheff is an excellent songwriter whose tortured delivery can be extremely moving, or discomforting depending on the moment.

9) Radiohead
In Rainbows
This probably will never be remembered on the same level as musical masterpieces like Okay Computer or Kid A, but it will remembered nonetheless, if only for the groundbreaking release method. Radiohead has moved from simply revolutionizing music to revolutionizing the whole way in which we consume it. And the music itself is still very good. Highlights include "Videotape" and "All I Need."


8) Modest Mouse
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Modest Mouse fans tend to have differing opinions on their favorite albums. I personally felt that Good News, despite a few very good songs, was the first hiccup of the band's brilliant career (of course...it was a hiccup that put them on MTV so...more power to them.) I didn't have terribly high expectations for this album, but I think they rebounded in fine form. "Dashboard" is a readymade radio hit and is as catchy as anything they have ever written. Shins frontman James Mercer stops by to lend vocals on "Florida" and "Missed the Boat." But the album's highlight may be "Spitting Venom", proof that they still have the knack for the 8+ minute epics that set them apart from the rest of the indie world.

7) Patrick Wolf
The Magic Position
I just got into this album a few weeks ago. And as is usually the case in this situation, it is possible that I have misjudged it. But I really like it and for whatever reason I didn't think I would. Maybe it was just the lame album cover that scared me away. Anyway...the upbeat songs are really happy and fun to sing along to. The slow ones are beautiful. All in all it is an album that makes me happy to be alive and that is about all I ask out of music.

6) Stars
In Our Bedroom After the War
In my opinion this band improves with every album. Lead singer Torquil Campbell claims that one of the goals of the group is to release albums that are meant to be listened to as a whole, not just a collection of songs. They certainly succeeded in doing that with this one. An instrumental intro kicks into the slowly building "The Night Starts Here" and Stars never look back.

5) Jay-Z
American Gangster
It took a blockbuster film to inspire Jay to put out the masterpiece he failed to create with Kingdom Come. This is one of the greatest rapper's of all-time at the height of his talent. He sounds angry and driven on "Blue Magic", joyful on "Roc Boys", and heartfelt on "Pray." And I could be wrong but "Ignorant Shit" seems to have the most intelligent hook of the year (and that's to say nothing of "No Hook.")

4) LCD Soundsystem
Sound of Silver
Their self-titled debut was a nice collection of great songs. With his second release James Murphy proves his ability to craft a complete album. Sound of Silver kicks off with a bang with the gloriously danceable "Get Innocuous" and progresses to the dramatic climax of "New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down." But what puts Sound of Silver over the top is the album's centerpiece of "Someone Great" and "All My Friends", proof that Murphy has a talent for introspective song writing, in addition to his ability to lay down a fun song.

3) Kanye West
Graduation
Kanye continues to prove that you don't need to be the best MC in the world to put out some of the best hip-hop records of the decade. Like earlier releases, Graduation's strengths are found in its lyrical themes and innovative production. Kanye's beats sample everyone from Elton John to Michael Jackson....and of course Daft Punk. West also continues to bridge the many sub-genres of hip-hop. While guests are not as frequent as on his earlier albums, the two notable are Mos Def and Lil Wayne, two rappers not often mentioned in the same sentence. And Kanye's lyrical content is as intriguing as ever as he focuses on relevant issues, both personal and societal, in a much more open manner than most mainstream rappers would dare.

2) The Arcade Fire
Neon Bible
I fully expect the Arcade Fire to go down in history as one of the pioneers of this new internet-defined era. They have risen to the top without the benefit of excessive radio or MTV exposure. Their second album is another collection of emotionally charged songs that rivals their brilliant debut. While Funeral was more of an introspective work crafted in the wake of personal tragedy, Neon Bible's focus is on the state of our modern society and our reactions to perpetual war. Songs such as "Keep the Car Running" and "Intervention" are dripping with emotion and the reworked "No Cars Go" is an anthem of epic proportion.

1) M.I.A.
Kala
M.I.A. is the embodiment of partying down the system. If life hands you lemons, make lemonade….then spike the lemonade with vodka and throw an all out dance party. Her life story - whether the details are true or not - provides the mystique that takes her art to another level. Maya specializes in political music that is not dependent on lyrics alone. Much of M.I.A.'s success must be attributed to her producers, Switch and Diplo, who push the creative envelope further and further. Their masterful placement of gunshots, cash registers, and other sound effects adds to the revolutionary nature of the record. M.I.A.'s beats and lyrics pay homage to many of her diverse influences, including Modern Lovers, the Pixies, and the Clash. With two of the best albums of the decade under her belt it is almost scary to think of where she can go from here.