Rifftrax Year in Music 2007

[Baron Samedi]

Well, it's that time of year again.  Everyone is putting out their lists of Album of the Year, and I thought I'd get Rifftrax' feedback on them.  First off, here are some links:

THE ONION A.V. CLUB
Album of the Year master list
Each editor's personal list

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
All Songs Considered listeners picks
Best of the year according to Bob Boilen, Tom Moon, Will Hermes, Robin Hilton, Meredith Ochs
All Songs Considered Year in Review
(Rather than a master list, each gave an entry for "biggest surprise," "biggest letdown," "most innovative," and "song of the year.")
Various other lists from NPR contributors, shows and affiliates.

AMAZON
Customer favorites
Editors picks

ALLMUSIC
Best of Year list

I've gone through a lot of new CDs this year.  Although there were many that I liked, I haven't been as overwhelmed by the greatness as I was in 2006.  I'll come back later and throw in my two cents for best and worst albums I've heard this year.

Meantime, any thoughts?  Any of these lists look right on?  Any of these people smoking crack?  And what are your favorites?

[mrbasehart]

Wow.  Looking at that list makes me realize how far out of touch with contemporary music I am.  However, there were a few albums that came out this year which I enjoyed:

Grinderman - Grinderman.
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times. 
Feist - The Reminder.
Once - Original Soundtrack.

[bettertomorrowamy]

Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
Feist - The Reminder
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

This is really all I need on my iPod right now.

[pyro]

after looking through the one list, first things I can think of...

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Grinderman - S/T

and I can't really think of anything else except the Gov't Mule dub reggae EP that I never even opened so I have no idea

[zaxxon25]

My personal Top 10 ...

10. The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism (Ramseur)
http://www.amazon.com/Emotionalism-Avett-Brothers/dp/B000OZ2CLQ
While the Two Gallants stuck to their "one great song per disc" policy, The Avett Brothers broke out with this stem-to-stern engrossing hybrid of old-time country style with new-time vocal and instrumental galloping

9. Feist - The Reminder (Interscope)
http://www.amazon.com/Reminder-Feist/dp/B000NPE7YC/
Never woulda guess this disc would ascend to top 10 upon its release.  My initial disappointment has ceded to admiration.  While the unfocused tag still fits the album still takes shape over repeat listens and warms the stomach like a good cup of cocoa.

8. The Clientele - God Save The Clientele (Merge)
http://www.amazon.com/God-Save-Clientele/dp/B000OMD4GG/
Probably their prettiest release, as much of the raw melancholy has been smoothed over with rough sandpaper.  Not to worry as the rainy day and mondays vibe still percolates below the foggy-Saturday-morning-walk-in-the-park vibe.

7. The Go! Team - Proof Of Youth (Sub Pop/Memphis Industries)
http://www.amazon.com/Proof-Youth-Go-Team/dp/B000UE64QA/http://www.amazon.com/Boxer-National/dp/B000O5AYCA/
By all rights there should be a place in every AMC lover's heart for this potent brew of lazy disaffection.  Gorgeous growl of an inebriated voice behind some delicate Brit-inspired instrumentation that can whip up a storm when prompted.

5. Justice - Cross (Ed Banger)
http://www.amazon.com/Cross-Justice/dp/B000QCUB8I/
Winners of the Daft Punk wannabe sweepstakes this year, Justice capitalizes on the promise of their 12"s with this full length.  They get the gritty dirty sound of their beats pitch perfect and keep it from getting too attention-deficit repetitive.

4.  The Pearlfishers - Up With The Larks (Marina)
http://www.amazon.com/Up-Larks-Pearlfishers/dp/B000UX5OVW/
I don't toss the Prefab Sprout standard around lightly but this slots somewhere between Langley Park and Jordan for it's ability to meld a jubilant soul-inspired tone with early 90's British pop.  Shack wishes he could release a record that sounds this good.

3. !!! - Myth Takes (Warp)
http://www.amazon.com/Myth-Takes/dp/B000MR9DWC/
This one cuts a wide chasm between their disappointing sophomore release, as the irresistible chaotic almost-out-of-control funk rock pace is back, but this time mated to lyrics worthy of being inconsequential at worst.

2. Future Conditional - We Don't Just Disappear (LTM)
http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Just-Disappear-Future-Conditional/dp/B000MTEZWS/
Piano Magic one-up The Postal Service formula with their own 80's electropop with guest vocals side project.  At moments you'll swear this is a long-lost New Order b-side (kudos Robert Wratten) or Depeche Mode with a female vocalist.

1. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers (Nonesuch)
http://www.amazon.com/Saltbreakers-Laura-Veirs/dp/B000N4S8SO/
Her previous album hinted at the brilliance to come, but this one pulls together the organic elements and pastebook lyrics along with Laura's alluring voice (read: limited range, nasal, expressive) into a consistent yet wide-ranging and fully formed disc.

[Wheaty Petestraw]

I hate lists like these because there's no way all artists who released albums received a fair shake. It's like saying America is the best country in the world when you've never even visited another country, let alone seen one on your television.

[Teaflax]

Nothing knocked my socks off in 2007 the way Pure Reason Revolution's The Dark Third (UK Version) did in 2006, but then again, few debuts come out that strong. Almost nothing last year grabbed me immediately (excepting maybe The Dear Hunter - which is still flawed, though), but there were quite a few growers.

Here's my ten, in alphabetical order.Bubbling just below (could be in the top 10 tomorrow):

Air - Pocket Symphony
Busdriver - RoadKillOvercoat
Wiliam D. Drake - Briny Hooves
Dungen - Tio bitar
David Holmes - Ocean's 13 OST
Oceansize - Frames
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Amon Tobin - Foley Room
Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!
Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars

Compilation of the year:

Fading Yellow vol 8 - Hymns for Today

Songs of the year (some of them):Disappointments of the year:

Biffy Clyro lose the plot completely
Shirley Bassey tries too hard
Anekdoten release songs with just guide vocals
Only one new song from Pure Reason Revolution
Chris Cornell's second solo album sounds nothing like his stunning first
Enter Shikari have only one mode
Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra adds vocals
Pain of Salvation forget to write songs

You?

[Minnesota]

My Ten
1. Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist ... "Masterpiece!"
2. Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild ... Pearl Jam > *
3. Chamillionaire - Ultimate Victory ... brilliant record, best rap album of the year
4. Seether - Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces ... not for everybody, but I'm a big Seether fan
5.Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead ... LOVE this album
6. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace ... the Foo
7. Jay-Z - American Gangster ... good effort, one of his best
8.  Chris Cornell - Carry On ... better than his first solo
9. 50 Cent - Curtis ... some disappointing songs but even lazy 50 is good in my opinion.
10. Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris ... great band

honorable mention...  White Stripes - Icky Thump

[mrbasehart]

Not to undermine this thread, but didn't we already do this in another one?

[Teaflax]

Not to undermine this thread, but didn't we already do this in another one?

In that case I missed it  - but I did look for it, although not that hard, I guess..

[Wheaty Petestraw]

My Ten
1. Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist ... "Masterpiece!"
2. Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild ... Pearl Jam > *
3. Chamillionaire - Ultimate Victory ... brilliant record, best rap album of the year
4. Seether - Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces ... not for everybody, but I'm a big Seether fan
5.Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead ... LOVE this album
6. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace ... the Foo
7. Jay-Z - American Gangster ... good effort, one of his best
8.  Chris Cornell - Carry On ... better than his first solo
9. 50 Cent - Curtis ... some disappointing songs but even lazy 50 is good in my opinion.
10. Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris ... great band

honorable mention...  White Stripes - Icky Thump

RiotAct, is that you?

[Minnesota]

RiotAct, is that you?

I've never gone by that screen name, but ironically (or perhaps I'm just that predictable) I do have a tour poster of PJ's Riot Act on my wall.

[SmilinJackRoss]

I haven't made a top ten or anything, but here's a few albums from last year that I loved:

Iron & Wine - Shepherds Dog
Once - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The New Pornographers - Challengers
The Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience, & Grace
Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
Rogue Wave - Asleep at Heaven's Gate
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Tori Amos - American Doll Posse

[Courtney]

I haven't made a top ten or anything, but here's a few albums from last year that I loved:

Iron & Wine - Shepherds Dog
Once - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The New Pornographers - Challengers
The Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience, & Grace
Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
Rogue Wave - Asleep at Heaven's Gate
Radiohead - In Rainbows

That's 7 of my top albums right there.  I'd also add in Travis "The Boy With No Name" (my number one), The Shins "Wincing the Night Away", Andrew Bird "Armchair Apocrypha", Patty Griffin "Children Running Through" and Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala."

[BathTub]

Ask and you shall receive.