Well, this has seriously been a whack load of fun. You kids are ape ****. It's awesome. Hope you enjoy how it ends. Here's a hat off to 2007, and welcome 2008.
Top 40 Albums of 2007
2. Arctic Monkeys - Favorite Worst Nightmare
Highlights
1. Teddy Picker
2. Do Me A Favor
3. Brianstorm
4. D Is For Dangerous
5. Old Yellow Bricks
"On [the] debut, it was possible hear all the ways they were similar to their predecessors, but here it's possible to hear all the ways Arctic Monkeys is a unique, vibrant band and that's why Favourite Worst Nightmare is its own way more exciting than the debut." - All Music Guide
"Forget about the dreaded decline. Arctic Monkeys have moved from their alarmingly evolved infancy into rock toddlerhood with glibness, swagger, and whip-smart songs intact." - Boston Globe
"On the evidence of Favourite Worst Nightmare, the Arctic Monkeys are playing at the very top of their and everyone else's game." - Observer Music Monthly
So after setting the UK music scene on fire with their earth-shattering debut, "Whatever People Say That I Am, Is What I'm Not", the lads from Sheffield had the daunting task of recording a follow-up worthy of living up the monstrous heights of its predecessor. Personally, although I loved their debut, I did think it was flawed in a few places and was resemblant of a novice band servicing safe, yet above average rock dance numbers to the masses. And pleasing them at that. But here, Alex Turner injects a severe dose of emotion and wit into every single track, lifting "Favorite Worst Nightmare" into a league of it's own, something its predecessor never came close to touching. Fittingly, the album rips into "Brianstorm", the most unexpectedly rocking track of the year.
Cos we can't take our eyes off the t-shirt and ties combination, well see ya later, innovator!, really now? Who the hell comes with up with this stuff. The Monkeys are innovating, creating new meaning to what being authentic, exhillarating, and exhausting entails. A secondary essential to this album is how it takes a slight pause from the raucous in tracks like "505", and "Only One Who Knows", which seem out of place, but show how the guys are not full of themselves and are willing to take a turn for the somber. It also allows you to take a moment and catch your breath. The first time I heard this disc, I was bouncing off the walls, knee-slapping, and bobbing my head - months later, I'm still doing the same thing. "Teddy Picker" will do that to you. Another highlight, "Do Me A Favor", which leads into a chill-inducing,
Curiosity becomes a heavy load, too heavy to hold, too heavy to hold, followed by a monstrous guitar riff that throws me in a frenzy, culminating in
How to tear apart the ties that bind, perhaps f*ck off might be too kind?. ****ing perfect. This album is ****ing perfect.
Top 100 Tunes of 2007
3. Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
| Favorite Worst Nightmare |
I doubt its your style not to get what you set out to acquire, the eyes are on fire, you are the unforecasted storm - this one lyric, amongy many, is the only evidence that you need that "Brianstorm" was the most raucous, ferocious, and invasive rock track of the year. No question. I knew their comeback would be good, but for ****s sake, this is better than "I Bet You Look Good" for crying out loud. I remember I was at the pub earlier this year, just enjoying my Heineken per usual, and this track came on, and people went surprisingly ape sh*t. Only surprising because I didn't think that many people had heard it. The fact that they were able to deliver a song of this magnitude despite all the pressure of not becoming like The Strokes and fizzling on their second album, is monumental. The track is sonicating, dizzying, and a compelling return from Alex Turner and the guys from Sheffield who prove they are hear to stay, as if I ever doubted them.
2. Tokyo Police Club - Nature Of The Experiment
| A Lesson In Crime EP |
The song is only 2:18 minutes long, and as it was spawned upon the world, new fresh faces of indie rock were born yet again. Hailing from Newmarket, Ontario - a mere 8 minutes from my hometown - these guys have probably never even been to Tokyo, let alone establish this potentially kick ass club - which makes their ridiculous band name all the more outstanding. But on to the track, this was the little track that could. With every new play on Edge 102 in Toronto, they gained a new fan, a new admiration, and eventually it led to two sold out shows at the Mod Club in Toronto. They sound incredibly UK-indie, but the charming and endearing "Nature" never quite hits the grit of say Alex Turner and the Arctic Monkeys. Nonetheless, they say it well,
It's my impeccable disorder, where I keep on falling for her. I mean, we've all been there right? The girl's a looney tune, but we keep on going back. It's the "nature" of things - and this nostalgic inversion of thrash rock is bold, inventive, and signs of great things to come from this fantastic band.
#1 Tune and Album of 2007
Tune: The Killers - Read My Mind
| Sam's Town |
I know this is a fairly tame and non-dramatic way to end this list, but really, I can't deny them of the #1 they truly deserve. Sure this was off an album from 2006, and sure I loved it then just as much as I do now, but the fact of the matter is that this has always been the perennial favorite of mine off "Sams Town", and it got a proper release this year. And for that - it deserves to be #1. There's not much to say about this. It's anthemic, the vocals are beefed up, and they've accelerated the turbo button on producing tunes made for the stadium sing-alongs.
Well I don't mind, if you dont mind, cos I don't shine, if you dont shine. Before you go, can you read my mind?. It's all simple, set along the ooh's and ahh's of a power chord, the synthesizers we all know and love, and Flower's trademark raspy vocals. Although this is a reflection on "Sams Town", an album I praised and declared the #1 album of 2006, I think NME's words explain this track appropriately;
For all their smart new ways, The Killers are still as flashy, unintentionally funny, and flagrantly affected as ever – and this time we wouldn’t even pretend to have it any other way. Make it three years in a row that the Vegas natives have the #1 track of the year ("Mr. Brightside" in 2005, "When You Were Young" in 2006)
Album: Kanye West - Graduation
Highlights
1. Flashing Lights
2. The Good Life
3. The Glory
4. Homecoming
5. Champion
"On Graduation, West tries hard to address the problems on his first two albums, and succeeds: The new disc is tighter than "Late Registration" (fifty-one minutes long), with no skits (thank heavens) and less ornate production." - Rolling Stone
"While it might not be as substantial a record as we're used to hearing from him, it is his greatest leap forward, and further proof that few are as skilled at tracing out the complicated contours of pride, success and ambition as he is." - Pitchfork
"West crosses genres with wilful and speedy abandon, taking the listener on an epic quest where the journey is just as enjoyable and unpredictable as the destination." - Hot Press
I think it's pretty obvious that I am by no means a huge hip hop, or rap fan. I hardly know the difference between the two - and I'm the first to poing out my ignorance in that regard. However, I know good music when I hear it. I've always had nothing but respect for Mr. West - but found his first two albums to be a bit much; as the Rolling Stone review highlighted, the skits and long running times felt like something that resembled a cocky son of a bitch who knew how good he was, and tried to make sure you knew it too. But now, "Graduation" changes that. Although many people would argue this is not his best album to date, I think for an occasional hip hop music listener such as myself, its his most groundbreaking effort. Kanye West has made a serviceable album to those not as familiar with modern conventions of hip hop, and in all honesty, I love every track off this album; even if I do skip "Barry Bonds" and "Drunk & Hot Girls" from time to time. Maybe the reason I've invested so much listening into this album is because I love the progression it shows from "College Dropout", as the stories told show how even if your a kid who hated school, or maybe someone who had a late start ("Late Registration"), or even if you were a keener and got school done before you were 25 ("Graduation") - Kanye is the voice of this diverse generation, he is the perspective, and he shatters boundaries. This album is respected and recognized everywhere, there is no "unsafe" place for it. Everyone and anyone should buy it, listen to it, respect it. This BETTER win album of the year at the Grammys.
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Well that's all she wrote. Enjoy it.
Great list! I probably should frequent the other threads more often....
for 3
