A number of great albums came out over the past year and to be honest… I kind of lost track after a while. Going into 2007 I felt we were in for a tremendous year for music. In retrospect that is certainly debatable. Maybe I haven’t had enough time to reflect on all of the albums I had the chance to listen to… I don’t know really. But I do not that I was more than satisfied with what I did hear. I have attempted to put together a concise list of the music that I feel was the best overall. There are some good albums that I had to leave off of the list… i.e. Sigur Ros - Heim/Hvarf, Sherwood - A Different Light, Paramore - RIOT!, & Matt Pond PA - Last Light. I hope you give each artist/band a chance and whatever you do listen to… keep listening. 2008 will be here soon!
Best Album
Tegan and Sara - The Con | Hands down album of the year. It is so good. Their most ambitious and most rewarding album to date. Favorite track “Back In Your Head/Soil, Soil/Burn Your Life Down”
The Shins – Wincing the Night Away | Near perfection. Every song is good. Bottom line. Favorite track: “Black Wave”
Eisley – Combinations | A mature step in the right direction. I feel like it could have been better, but still a great CD. Favorite track: “Invasion”
Band of Horses – Cease to Begin | incredible. Great vocals and instrumentation. Favorite track: “Is There A Ghost”
Melee – Devils and Angels | Pop-rock album of the year. This is a fun one. Favorite track “Drive Away”
Anberlin – Cities | They just keep getting better. Favorite track: “Alexithymia”
Lovedrug – Everything Starts Where it Ends | Lovedrug takes a big step forward. Favorite track: “Thieving”
A Fine Frenzy – One Cell in the Sea | Possibly the most beautiful album of the year. Favorite track: “Rangers”
Neverending White Lights – Act II: Blood and the Life Eternal | Another epic disc from Daniel Victor. Favorite track: “Always”
Bright Eyes – Cassadaga | Surprise of the year. I’ve never been able to stomach and entire Bright Eyes album, but this one is different. Favorite track: “Four Winds”
Honorable Mention
Jimmy Eat World – Chase This Light | Not their best, but still Jimmy Eat World. Favorite track: “Let It Happen”
Arcade Fire – Neon Bible | Solid album overall. Favorite track: “Keep The Car Running”
Best EP
Matt Pond PA – If You Want Blood
Tegan and Sara – I’ll Take The Blame
Best Single
The Reason feat. Sara Quin – We’re So Beyond This
Tegan and Sara – Back in Your Head
Band of Horses – Is There a Ghost
A Fine Frenzy – Rangers
Eisley – Invasion
Best B-Side
Brand New – Fork and Knife
Best Video
Tegan and Sara – Back in Your Head
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Man I love Sarah!
January 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
despite slightly changing their sound and using less string arrangements , If You Want Blood was probably teh most overlooked EP of 2007. Matt Pond PA is usually overlooked as it is, but i feel this was a strong release, especially right before their album Last Light got released.
My fav. track on it is “Everything Until the East Coast”
January 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I have to agree with both of you on the Matt Pond PA EP If You Want Blood, but a bit sad that Last Light was left off the list. Both are great to listen to, and we need to make more people aware of what mpPA is up to.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I thought that the EP If You Want Blood was really good as well. I liked Magic Boyfirend, personally. I like your list, although I might have moved up Paramore’s album as well as Matt Pond’s Last Light onto the actual list ( I really liked Taught to Look Away and Foreign Bedrooms), but maybe that’s just becasue I really like their music. Everyone has their own preferences though, right? Excellent list, though.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Last Light is a good album, no doubt. It just didn’t move me like Emblems and Several Arrows Later… I really like “Basement Parties”
January 10th, 2008 at 8:12 am
matt…i hear where you’re coming from. emblems and several arrows later are great albums, and basement parties is a good track. i’m glad that there are people who enjoy mpPA’s music and talk about it. hopefully it’ll get some people who don’t know what we’re talking about to check them out…u know?