Albums I absolutely could not wait for and ended up playing on repeat 14 times in a row:
Wincing the Night Away by The Shins Like "Kissing the Lipless" of yesteryear, the song "Australia" has become my sure-fire method of introducing this band and guaranteeing a positive response. Standouts include this track, as well as "Sea Legs", "Sleeping Lessons", "Phantom Limb", and "Turn On Me".
Neon Bible by The Arcade Fire Disregarding the hype/promos/general hooplah, this record was absolutely gorgeous. Most of the songs are very dark, with beautifully assembled instrumentation. It isn't Funeral, but it's a strong showing after "the perfect album".
Costello Music by The Fratellis Technically this is a 2006 release, but it didn't come out until March 2007 in the US so I'm counting it. The record is brimming with extremely catchy tunes, and you can't help but shimmy a bit while listening to it :)
Armchair Apocrypha by Andrew Bird I almost forgot about this album and I have no idea why! Bird's beautiful violin melodies and jaw-dropping whistling skills are enough to get you bopping your head and swaying to the beat.
Cassadaga by Bright Eyes Yes, it was indeed a departure from Oberst's usual, but if you don't compare and look just at the album itself, you'll find pure alt-country joy and maybe some spiritual enlightenment. From the hidden phrases on the cover to "Four Winds", a song that can stay in your head for days if you let it, this record was on heavy rotation on my iPod for several months.
Saltbreakers by Laura Veirs I first heard about Veirs from Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, who heralded her 2005 release as one of the best records ever. You've really gotta give it to this singer-songwriter from Portland. She creates a dreamy air amidst tales of love and loss.
Favourite Worst Nightmare by The Arctic Monkeys This album went 2x Platinum in the UK, so that must be some indication of a good record. (Then again, the public shouldn't always be trusted. Haha.) This fast-paced rock record has frantic guitar riffs, heart-pounding rhythms, and Turner's lovely voice crooning in an oh-so-adorable British accent.
Icky Thump by The White Stripes Another rockin' record from our favorite not-brother-and-sister duo. I remember waking up at 7:30 (relatively early for me during summer break) and heading to Wal-Mart (the only place to get music in the barren cultural wasteland of a town I live in) to purchase one of merely two copies of this album. I also remember having to hunt for it a bit because it was hidden behind Bon Jovi and lots of random country artists. Anyway, it's a tad politically charged but never overwhelming. And I never thought I'd headbang to bagpipes, but if anyone could make me do it, it would be the Stripes.
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon I adore Spoon and have been waiting for this record after playing the hell out of Gimme Fiction. It's got an interesting title, an interesting cover, and an even more interesting collection of tunes. The songs are very raw and gritty, but this only adds to the record's appeal. I'm pretty sure I've been caught more than once dancing at work to "Don't You Evah".
The Con by Tegan and Sara "Back in Your Head", the first single off this album, is the perfect way to describe it. It's a very short record, but every song packs a punch. "The Con" was playing at Old Navy the other day and I found it rather hilarious to see more than a few shoppers nodding their heads to the tune.
Emerald City by John Vanderslice Vanderslice is definitely one of my heroes for inserting his political criticisms into gorgeously crafted melodies. You can tell he does his research and doesn't just blatantly blast the government unlike some other bands I could mention. Emerald City is filled with soaring vocals and insightful views of the world today.
Under the Blacklight by Rilo Kiley Another one of those records that delve from the band's norm, Under the Blacklight is a mixture of Fleetwood Mac-esque vocals, funky bass lines, and some of the most adventurous tunes the band has ever produced (get it, most adventurous? haha). The album is very sleek and sexy and has a dark underbelly, much like the seedy inspirations the band drew from.
In Our Bedroom After the War by Stars A great storybook-like album from one of my all-time favorite bands. Gorgeous boy-girl harmonies, catchy guitar riffs, and even a bit of falsetto on "The Ghost of Genova Heights" make this an outstanding addition to the band's catalogue.
Albums that got overshadowed by said albums above and took me several listens to fully appreciate and now they've earned spots in my best of 2007 list:
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse I don't know why I didn't really listen to the whole album until maybe mid-July because I thought "Dashboard" was fantastic, and I love Modest Mouse in general. And the fact that Marr is now a humble rodent just adds to the greatness of this already amazing record.
The Reminder by Feist Splashed all over the media, I know, but it is overall a great record. It's very laid back and personal, and I really hate that everytime I listen to "1234" or "My Moon My Man" I think of electronics.
Sky Blue Sky by Wilco This was a quieter release for this band, and I didn't pay much attention to it until I heard the VW ad on TV. I dug the album back up from the nether regions of my iTunes library and fell in love.
Easy Tiger by Ryan Adams This got overshadowed by Icky Thump so I didn't get a chance to check it out until August-ish. I adore Ryan Adams and this album is pure gold (Yes, another title crack. Can't help it).
Marry Me by St. Vincent She's a new artist and it took me a little while to get into the record, but once I caught on, I clung on tight.
Challengers by The New Pornographers I wasn't too impressed with "My Rights Versus Yours", which is probably the reason why it took me a while to finally sit down and listen to this album. The second, third, and fourth tracks, "All the Old Showstoppers", "Challengers", and "Myriad Harbour" respectively, quickly turned my opinion around. The latter track, from first listen, has become one of my favorite songs of this year.
Albums which got buried in my must-listen to pile and didn't get a chance to pull out until about a week ago:
The Bird and the Bee by The Bird and the Bee I had heard a track here and there from this duo, but I didn't pick up the record until I got a free download from iTunes of their rendition of "Carol of the Bells". I have been listening nonstop ever since.
Kala by M.I.A. Very deep and globally-inspired record which I should have picked up months ago.
In Rainbows by Radiohead I was in the middle of three papers, several dozen tests, and quite a few projects when this came out. I did manage to download it but I didn't listen to the whole thing until last week to tell you the truth. This record shows up at the top of many best of 2007 lists, and now I know why.
My Trusted MOGs
id have to agree with ya there on most pam, one that got overshadowed for me and one that i love but am rarely in the mood for: iron and wine, the shepherd's dog.
i love the song boy with a coin, but like i said, i have to be in the mood for that kind of music.
My Trusted MOGs
wow. it's like you read my mind as i was writing this last night. i thought about adding that album on the list because it is great, but as you said, you've gotta be in the mood. i intentionally left it off because it didn't fit into any of my categories and i very rarely listen to more than three songs off it.
My Trusted MOGs
wellllllll, we are like bff for certain reasons.
mind reading apparently being one of them.