| |
TC's top 40 albums of 2007
Banned
Member Since: 10/21/2001
Posts: 25,547
|
I like the new BR song 'New Dark Ages' or do they have a new single?
Rilo Kiley <3333
Daniele of Big Brother 8 would be happy with your inclusion of them. They're one of her favorite bands.
|
|
|
|
ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 5/2/2000
Posts: 2,844
|
TC's top 40 albums of 2007 (#20-16)
Goodness, this is a lot of work. Must carry on! Finally into the second half, here's #20 to #16...
Why I chose Kismet
What the hell kind of name is that, Jesca Hoop? I love it. This one really came out of nowhere. I found out about Jesca Hoop thanks to a random post of her album that I randomly discovered, and people were commenting and saying how different and great it was. So I checked it out for myself. Her songs are extremely abstract and hypnotic. How else to explain it? Tom Waits says, "Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night." Alright! The quirky, fun, and absurd track "Intelligentactile 101" is my favorite. Overall, this is one you really have to hear for yourself, so go and listen.
Highlights from Kismet
"Intelligentactile 101" I'm gonna study 'em with my tongue, I want some intelligentactile 101
"Money" Time has turned and all the books have burned, but the lyrics remain
"Seed of Wonder" Once that wish did land like a star in my hand, it burned and it burned and it burrowed in
Why I chose Drastic Fantastic
Back with another great album this year is the always lovable KT Tunstall. Last year, Eye To The Telescope took the #13 spot on my top 20 albums of 2006, largely due to the fact I saw her in concert earlier that year and it was amazing. Now, KT is back for more. I especially enjoy the more up-tempo tracks on this record, and I think she's at her best when she explores the more active and rock-ish side of things. Luckily, there's plenty of that to be had here. The deceptively critical "Funnyman" is my favorite track off of the whole thing. Great stuff all around!
Highlights from Drastic Fantastic
"Funnyman" Funnyman's got a plan to be something wonderful
"Saving My Face" But everythings here all out of place, losing my memory and saving my face
"Hold On" Hold on 'cause the world will turn if you're ready or not
Why I chose As I Am
I loved Miss Alicia Keys back in the Songs In A Minor days, then lost track for whatever reason, but now I'm back on the Keys train. You can't deny she has a killer voice, solid talent, and endearing originality. It just keeps getting better and better. Now, on As I Am, she explores a surprising amount of up-tempo music as well, and I think it works excellently. That said, some of the lower-tempo tracks are also stunning, like the charming "Superwoman," as well as her collaboration with John Mayer. Nevertheless, my favorite off the whole album is the final track, "Sure Looks Good To Me," which is so uplifting and near perfect. Gosh, such a great album.
Highlights from As I Am
"Sure Looks Good To Me" Its a complex situation, so live, love, lie, give love, 'cause who are we anyway?
"Superwoman" Even when I'm a mess, I still put on a vest with an S on my chest, oh yes
"No One" People keep talking, they can say what they like, but all I know is everything's gonna be alright
"Go Ahead" If you think Ima fall for this anymore, everybody say no, no, no, no, no
Why I chose Version
One day, the Ronson family will take over the world. It's the truth. Mark Ronson came out of left field this year with the excellent Version, a compilation of covers, adapted songs, and instrumentals with that Ronson touch that you can recognize right away. From his amazing blend of The Smiths and The Supremes with Daniel Merriweather on vocals, to the cover of classic Radiohead with Phantom Planet's lead singer, to Amy Winehouse's take on "Valerie," to the instrumental horn section version of Coldplay's "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face," to everything else and in between, this album is really one of a kind.
Highlights from Version
"Stop Me" You don't really love me, no, no, no, you just keep me hangin' on
"Just" You've changed the locks three times, he still comes reeling through the door
"Valerie" Stop making a fool out of me, why don't you come on over, Valerie?
Why I chose Proof of Youth
If you want to have fun, be happy, and dance and rock out the house at the same time, The Go! Team is the band for you. Much like M.I.A.'s Kala, the album cover for Proof of Youth is strangely enough a pretty accurate representation of how insane this album is. Songs like "Grip Like A Vice" bring an unprecedented amount of energy and the sheer number of instruments all going at once is nothing short of nuts. Meanwhile, "Flashlight Fight" packs in the same crazy energy with some political commentary by the always-willing Chuck D, and tracks like "My World" let us take a chill pill and focus on a softer instrumental recording. Put it all together and you've got quite the experience. I'd love to see this band live.
Highlights from Proof of Youth
"Flashlight Fight" One of the best parts of this song is actually the unintelligible chorus
"Grip Like A Vice" Sophisticated queen M.C., yes of course that's me, mistress of ceremony
"My World" Hey guess what, this song is completely instrumental, so, no words!
Do you see the light at the end of the tunnel yet? Next, #15 to #11! We'll get there some day...
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 7/24/2004
Posts: 12,563
|
Mark Ronson, Alicia Keys, and KT Tunstall are the ones I heard of. They are all really good albums, especially Alicia Keys.
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/9/2002
Posts: 6,789
|
KT, Ronson, and Go! Team are awesome. I haven't heard a full album by Jesca, but I did enjoy the song you played of her's on the episode you hosted of Benjammin'. should check it out.
the next set should be poppin'. will look forward to it.
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 12/29/2003
Posts: 6,311
|
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/6/2003
Posts: 50,977
|
KT!!!! 
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 9/7/2004
Posts: 3,871
|
Alicia and Mark Ronson 
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 7/25/2006
Posts: 12,685
|
3/5
Mark Ronson 
|
|
|
|
ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 5/2/2000
Posts: 2,844
|
Thanks! New update tomorrow (?), keep it coming...
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 8/9/2004
Posts: 21,889
|
Mark Ronson's is another album that is on my wishlist. Keep da fiyah burnin'.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 5/28/2006
Posts: 8,159
|
Keys (Prelude to a kiss/Mark Ronson (Stop Me)/The Go! Team (Doing it Right)
3/5
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 2/21/2005
Posts: 21,684
|
As I Am
|
|
|
|
ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 12/21/2002
Posts: 20,569
|
Keys + IwillcheckoutMarkRonsononceBenreactivateshisGetFil e:-)
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 5/9/2003
Posts: 3,779
|
KT's album cover is the ****. Should listen to that.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 9/3/2006
Posts: 27,884
|
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 10/19/2004
Posts: 13,032
|
As I Am gets you a
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 4/23/2007
Posts: 16,416
|
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 10/1/2002
Posts: 14,726
|
I love that you recognized Mark Ronson, and especially "Valerie". Brilliant.
Nice for KT and Alicia as well.
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 11/6/2002
Posts: 10,641
|
|
|
|
|
ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 5/2/2000
Posts: 2,844
|
TC's top 40 albums of 2007 (#15-11)
We're almost to the top 10! This installment brings us from #15 to #11...
Why I chose Fantastic Playroom
This album is basically a dance party from beginning to end. It is indeed a fantastic playroom. New Young Pony Club specialize in the electronic but sort of rock-ish danceable music. Some of the songs have a more subdued style, like the excellent and hypnotic "Talking, Talking," while others build up to straight up dance on the roof and off the top of your building and fly away dancing like a superstar, like the incredible "The Bomb," the best track on the album. Go listen to this!
Highlights from Fantastic Playroom
"The Bomb" You're no faker, love and peacemaker, come take a moment with your enemy
"Ice Cream" I can be the sauce you crave, I can spell what you can't say
"Talking, Talking" I don't wanna, I don't wanna wanna wanna, I don't wanna talk about it
"Tight Fit" To take the half of me would wreck the symmetry
Why I chose What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing?
Alright where the hell did this come from? I don't even remember. Completely unknown to the U.S., What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing? is the latest release from the Swedish power pop group, Sahara Hotnights. I've loved these girls since 2002's "Alright, Alright," so I was glad to hear a new album from them. What surprised me was a matured, refined, and softer sound throughout the whole album. This is definitely a huge step forward and I hope they keep making music like this. The unstoppably great "Neon Lights" is my favorite all-around track, while the saxophone on "Getting Away With Murder" absolutely kills it. Pun intended, sadly.
Highlights from What If Leaving Is A Loving Thing?
"Neon Lights" Never take me back to the neon lights, I was on the wrong track, help me get on right
"Getting Away With Murder" And if I'll ever be found, I'll say I'm not who you're looking for
"Salty Lips" Give us some more of those sweet lies, will you? Tell us what's not for our ears
"Cheek To Cheek" Trying your best to hide, and you count down ten to one, because when on zero you can smile
Why I chose Fears In The Water
Another release that sort of came out of nowhere and not many people know about (other than you FUSE viewers and maybe a few Warped Tour-goers), Fears In The Water is a surprisingly great album by little-known band The Vincent Black Shadow. Lurking in the shadows on the Bodog record label (seriously, a casino record label... they have a picture of the band in front of a slot machine), not too many know about them. So what does it sound like? OK, imagine a mix of '90s No Doubt and Garbage, but transported back a '40s cabaret setting, with a mysterious feel and all kinds of strange instruments on board. It's really quite the experience, and it's one of the most original musical concepts I've heard. Check them out!
Highlights from Fears In The Water
"Dream" They say I'm late by half a century, he died in 1943
"The House Of Tasteful Men" I like when you burn me for the bad things that I do to you
"Metro" You said Im crazy, I know, all I can say is that the drugs dont work no more
"This Road Is Going Nowhere" Another round, another round, some other town that's going nowhere
"Bullet On The Tracks" Don't call me bad, you're the worst I've ever had
Why I chose Graduation
Could it be Kanye's best work to date? Possibly. Either way, it should be no surprise that the album everybody recognized this year also made its way onto my list. He's basically an unstoppable superstar at this point, and Graduation solidifies that status. There are some really great tracks on this album. My favorites include the Chris Martin collaboration "Homecoming," the personal "Everything I Am," and the massive hit of the year, the incredibly addictive Daft Punk-backed "Stronger." But the best track on here is "Can't Tell Me Nothing," which just gets better with time.
Highlights from Graduation
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" Excuse me, is you saying something? Nuh-uh, you can't tell me nothing
"Stronger" Th-that-that don't kill me can only make me stronger, I need you to hurry up now 'cause I can't wait much longer
"Homecoming" Do you think about me now and then, 'cause I'm coming home again, coming home again
"Everything I Am" People talk ****, but when **** hits the fan, everything I'm not made me everything I am
Why I chose Sound of Silver
James Murphy, otherwise known as LCD Soundsystem, went at it again this year, pretty much proving he's a straight-up genius. Sound of Silver is the best work from LCD Soundsystem to date. It's a really tight album all the way through; I don't think there's a bad track on the whole thing. My favorite is the hilarious "North American Scum," a tongue-in-cheek comparison of us North American types to those across the pond. There's a lot of other greatness to be had here as well, including "Someone Great," which borrows some music from Murphy's "45:33" workout track that he assembled for the Nike iPod thing. Even though it leaked last December, it stayed strong all year long, enough to earn its way to #11 on my list.
Highlights from Sound of Silver
"North American Scum" When our young kids get to read it in your magazines... we don't have those
"Someone Great" I wish that we could talk about it, but there, that's the problem
"Sound of Silver" Until you remember the feelings of a real live emotional teenager, then you think again
"Us v. Them" It's just us v. them, over and over and over and over again
Next, the top ten albums! Awesome!
|
|
|
|
|
|
