Your 2007 playlist

[#HBC | marshy]

List the albums that you bought during the course of the year 2007, just don't list too many. And to prevent this from becoming another listing thread, comment on other peoples lists.

Memory Almost Full By Paul McCartney

This wasn't nearly as good as his last album, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, but it had a few gems such as Dance Tonight, Mr Bellamy, and That Was Me. Otherwise, nowhere near as good as most of his others. Still, it's one of the better albums to come out this year.

Era Vulgaris By Queens of the Stone Age
3's and 7's is really the only song I'm really into, but hell, I liked it the first time around so I'll keep it up here.

In Rainbows by Radiohead
It's amazing, just like most of everything that Radiohead does. So good, in fact, I picked up the bonus songs that were featured on the bonus disc, which may be even more amazing than the first disc. Whatever you do, make sure to pick up the songs on the 2nd disc, because too many people have forgotten that a 2nd disc had come out. Download all 16 songs, it's great to listen to it all together.

We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sankby Modest Mouse
Someone in the Light House had a post mentioning "Dashboard" from the album and I gave it a listen. Isaac Brock has a lot of emotion in his voice, and the whole album just comes together smoothly. So many good individual songs on this, March Into the Sea, Dashboard, Fire It Up, Steam Engenius, Spitting Venom and others I haven't mentioned.

Wincing the Night Away by The Shins.
Credits to hemightbegiant for telling me about this. Just a fun album. "Sleeping Lessons", "Sea Legs", "Black Wave", "Split Needles", and "Girl Sailor" are just easy to listen to and let your mind wander. The other songs are like that too, but these are my favorites.

I'll add in more later as I give your suggestions a listen.

 

[Thrillhouse-vh.]

Oh snap! Marshigio is on teh boards same time as me?

I bought Era Vulgaris too. It's an above average album compared to most things, but for a QoTSA album, it's below average.

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/hemightbegiant/albums_i_own_from_2007

Well, it was a sad year for music D:

 

[demoncaterpie]

That's a nice list (and almost identical to my 2007 list).

I actually really liked Memory Almost Full, and thought it was a much stronger effort that Chaos and Creation. Ever Present Past was my favorite song on the album, along with Dance Tonight, Mr. Bellamy, Only Moma Knows, and some more that I can't remember at the moment. The End of the End really hit a chord with me.

I bought Era Vulgaris on a whim. I liked the song 3's and 7's in Guitar Hero 3 (along with No One Knows from Guitar Hero), so I thought I'd give them a try. While a lot of the stuff they were doing was pretty cool, most of it just didn't appeal to me. Overall, an average album.

Still need to get into Radiohead. Downloaded a bunch of their stuff recently!

I downloaded a bunch of stuff this year, so I can't really remember everything. I don't buy that many modern albums, and Marshigio already mentioned two of them. I'll add one more that I can remember.

Favorite Worse Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys

Now, I was a huge fan of the first album. It's one of my favorite albums, and it made me a fan of theres for life. Their sophomore effort wasn't quite as good. They went for a much rougher style, which ultimately didn't pay off. The production reminds me of old Ramones albums. Some cool songs like Bryanstorm and Teddy Picker, but for the most part I'd skip it and wait for their next album, which I'm sure will be incredible!

 

[Kaddy]

Since In Rainbows has already been mentioned...

The Flying Cup Club by Beirut.

Awesome album. Not as Balkan as the first, but who cares.

RANDOM SPIRIT LOVER by Sunset Rubdown.

Surprisingly better than the other albums. It doesn't feel too slow like the other albums did.

Dandelion Gum by Black Moth Super Rainbow.

Best album of the year. It's like an acid trip but without the acid.

 

[#HBC | marshy]

Oh snap! Marshigio is on teh boards same time as me?

I bought Era Vulgaris too. It's an above average album compared to most things, but for a QoTSA album, it's below average.

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/hemightbegiant/albums_i_own_from_2007

Well, it was a sad year for music D:

I like your ear for the most part, but I really disagree with the score you gave Deathklock's Metalocalypse album. Maybe In Rainbows would change that, it seems to be the one album everyone has mentioned. To each his own though.

Also, your score for Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur is a little high. It's hilarious that Avril Lavigne was chosen to sing "Imagine". John Lennon was a brilliant performer, but these guys just really ****ed it up.

Oh yeah, I'm going to have to check out the Shins' Wincing the Night Away, I've heard good things about it, just forgot about it.

That's a nice list (and almost identical to my 2007 list).

I actually really liked Memory Almost Full, and thought it was a much stronger effort that Chaos and Creation. Ever Present Past was my favorite song on the album, along with Dance Tonight, Mr. Bellamy, Only Moma Knows, and some more that I can't remember at the moment. The End of the End really hit a chord with me.

You know, I overdid it when I said it wasn't nearly as good. It actually is an awesome album, it's just that I didn't like the first disc very much. I like every song on the second disc(even though it's only 3) a lot, especially Why So Blue, it's just full of great lyrics.

I bought Era Vulgaris on a whim. I liked the song 3's and 7's in Guitar Hero 3 (along with No One Knows from Guitar Hero), so I thought I'd give them a try. While a lot of the stuff they were doing was pretty cool, most of it just didn't appeal to me. Overall, an average album.

Still need to get into Radiohead. Downloaded a bunch of their stuff recently!

I downloaded a bunch of stuff this year, so I can't really remember everything. I don't buy that many modern albums, and Marshigio already mentioned two of them. I'll add one more that I can remember.

I thought that QOTSA's effort was better than most of the albums that came out during 2007(though it isn't saying much). But yeah, by comparison to most of the music I listen to, it's average. Oh, I remember hearing about Era Vulgaris when I listened to 3's and 7's on Madden '08.

As for Radiohead's In Rainbows, you should really give it a listen.

I think I'll listen to some of the albums you guys posted, it's worth a shot.

 

[Colenstien]

I feel like such a d!ck saying this:

Please don't hurt me.

 

[Thrillhouse-vh.]

I like your ear for the most part, but I really disagree with the score you gave Deathklock's Metalocalypse album. Maybe In Rainbows would change that, it seems to be the one album everyone has mentioned. To each his own though.

I disagree, the show is hilarious, but it really is the visual, comedy driven I'm attracted to more than the music. It's normally three-star material, but I took away a star for not having the Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle. And I still haven't picked up a copy of "In Rainbows", but it's currently ranked number one for 2007. I'd buy it, more likely than not, one of my friend's is giving it to me for Christmas.

Also, your score for Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur is a little high. It's hilarious that Avril Lavigne was chosen to sing "Imagine". John Lennon was a brilliant performer, but these guys just really ****ed it up.

The lowest rating is a 0.5, so I can't give anything a zero. Still, even despite the full album is, I can't give anything involving R.E.M., U2, and Aerosmith a zero anyway.

Oh yeah, I'm going to have to check out the Shins' Wincing the Night Away, I've heard good things about it, just forgot about it.

It's good, but not their best. Good singles "Australia" and "Phantom Limb" are the best songs.

 

[#HBC | marshy]

Added 2 albums to the first post.

 

[Thrillhouse-vh.]

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/hemightbegiant/stuff_i_own_from_2007/

Yeah, I updated mine too.

 

[the melon!!!!!]

Define The Great Line by Underoath

Bone Palace Ballet by Chiodos

Tales Don't Tell Themselves by Funeral For A Friend

Deliver Us by Darkest Hour

Southern Weather by The Almost

Smile For Them by Armor For Sleep

Holding A Wolf By The Ears by From Autumn To Ashes

Crisis by Alexisonfire

Arrivals And Departures by Silverstein

Still Searching by Senses Fail


My top 10 of the year definetely.

 

[Aaryk]

This is Forever-She Wants Revenge

A Natural -Horse the Band

Zeitgeist-Smashing Pumpkins

Big Timber-Himsa

Riot-Paramore

Black Holes and Revelations-Muse

Easily my most listened to, and soundtrack of 2007

 

[Venom Dream]

We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sankby Modest Mouse
Someone in the Light House had a post mentioning "Dashboard" from the album and I gave it a listen. Isaac Brock has a lot of emotion in his voice, and the whole album just comes together smoothly. So many good individual songs on this, March Into the Sea, Dashboard, Fire It Up, Steam Engenius, Spitting Venom and others I haven't mentioned.

I do like We Were Dead, and maybe I'm just being an elitist 'old fan' here... but it's one of their worst albums. Good News is more eclectic (on-and-off) but catchier, Moon & Antarctica is just epic, and their first two full albums (Long Drive and Lonesome Crowded West) are rougher but much more emotionally charged, with some of their best lyrics.
Actually I'd suggest listening to Good News for People Who Love Bad News next, then Moon and Antarctica, then Building Nothing out of Something. If you like all of those, you may as well listen to their entire discography. Nothing's bad.

Now, I was a huge fan of the first album. It's one of my favorite albums, and it made me a fan of theres for life. Their sophomore effort wasn't quite as good. They went for a much rougher style, which ultimately didn't pay off. The production reminds me of old Ramones albums. Some cool songs like Bryanstorm and Teddy Picker, but for the most part I'd skip it and wait for their next album, which I'm sure will be incredible!

What are you talking about? The production on Favourite Worst Nightmare is way slicker than their previous releases. It's all bouncy, round corners. And one of the best tracks, 505, is a crystal-clear ballad. They abandoned their Libertines similarities and moved onto something more their own.


Anyways, these are my favourites this year:

The National - Boxer

I'm not a musician, so I can't back this up from experience, but the music The National makes sounds incredibly difficult to play. Whether it is or not is mostly irrelivant; The National sound practiced, like their music has been refined and their instruments recorded over and over again until it came together just right. And even before that, like it was mulled over for a long time before even being considered a potential song. Each point has a carefully considered counter-point; songs with five elements where each element is equally the highlight.

of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

So Hissing Fauna is a self-admited mope-fest. It's been mentioned in every review and every interview involving Kevin Barnes - it was obvious even without that, since he refers to himself by name on the album. But instead of alienating me, this drew me in. It reminded me of those times when I was an over-the-top, self absorbed sop going through some heartbreak or another. This album is a nastalgia trip for the extreme, and rediculous, emotions.
Not to mention the music itself is of Montreals most experimental outing yet. A funk-infused twee pop epic with lots of electronic fiddling

Menomena - Friend and Foe

Menomena records improvisations and molds them into pop songs using a specially-designed computer program. The results are clever, spontaneous gems that are at once immediately accessible. You'll know the lyrics in a couple listens but still be picking out little quirks a month later.

Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover

Spencer Krugs stylistic approach and vocals are so distinctive, and he's produced so much in his short career, that all his music at first glace seems to blend into one gigantic, waltzing, Victorian circus music blob. But even keeping this in mind: every song stands up to the last. By the end of his career, barring some sort of creative breakdown, this man's going to have one gigantic, consistently excellent discography.

Miracle Fortress - Five Roses

A Shoegaze-inspired meeting of Sunset Rubdown and Stars. Five Roses is all fluff... and it's great. Totally trumps Most Serene Republic's new album at basically the same thing, too.

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

Lots of people have said that this is Animal Collectives most accessible album, but that's only relative. Strawberry Jam has a soft, floating, reflective side, but it's also got harsh edges mixed in. Lets say this jam has shards of glass in it. The (very effective) use of repetition, a nice coat of distortion and fuzz over half the album, what sounds like very lo-fi recording techniques - mixed in with a bit of polish - and convoluted but occasionally brilliant word-association lyrics all keep true to their roots.


Emma Pollock - Watch the Fireworks

This one's a little outclassed by the rest here, it just rounded out the list. But Emma Pollock has pop soundcraft and slick guitarwork pretty much down. I discovered her opening for The New Pornographers, which is a connection that makes sense.
On a sidenote, this album sounds very similar to another one from this year: Carol Bui - Everyone Wore White. Watch the Fireworks has stronger melodies and lyrics, though.

!!! - Myth Takes

Funk baselines and catchy guitar hooks are made for each other. Chk-chk-chk does it about a million times better than the Red Hot Chili Peppers ever did. The embarassing moments that come out of this even work for the band, instead of against it, coming off as tongue-in-cheek, self depreciative eccentricities instead of cheese.

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Spoons defining characteristic is a sort of reserved strut, but on this album they shake their reservation a bit and everything's bigger and bolder. A few songs actually go where it sounds like they might instead of trailing off at the ends.
For best use, walk down the street mid-summer with this album blasting.

Honorable mentions:
Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
Radiohead - In Rainbows
The Comas- Spells
Wintersleep - Welcome to the Night Sky
Mother Mother - Touch Up
Deerhoof - Friend Opprotunity

 

[#HBC | marshy]

I do like We Were Dead, and maybe I'm just being an elitist 'old fan' here... but it's one of their worst albums. Good News is more eclectic (on-and-off) but catchier, Moon & Antarctica is just epic, and their first two full albums (Long Drive and Lonesome Crowded West) are rougher but much more emotionally charged, with some of their best lyrics.
Actually I'd suggest listening to Good News for People Who Love Bad News next, then Moon and Antarctica, then Building Nothing out of Something. If you like all of those, you may as well listen to their entire discography. Nothing's bad.

Remember, I'm talking about 2007. I could go on about how none of the albums in my first post are any of the respective artists' best showings(except, maybe "Wincing the Night Away", but I haven't listened to them long enough to judge that well on it). I could name dozens of McCartney's albums(whether it be solo, composing, or part of Wings or The Beatles) that are better than what I posted, but I won't, because all of these albums are worth a listen(except Era Vulgaris, only a few songs that I like much anymore) when it comes to exploring music in 2007.

Also, I updated the first post with more of what I think about the music that's already up there, but I haven't actually listened to most of what you guys have posted yet, too many bands/albums on my list that I'm constantly going through.

 

[Venom Dream]

Oh, no, it's just that your post infered that you hadn't heard MM's other stuff. I was just trying to help out with where to go next, since I used to be a pretty obsessive fan.

We Were Dead is a good album, but in my opinion not even in the top 20 for this year.

 

[#HBC | marshy]

Nevermind, I misunderstood your earlier post.

Yeah, what you posted is appreciated, and I'll look back at it when I hunt for more of their stuff.