Special Acknowledgment of 2007
Pat McCurdy /
15 FavoritesThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
I'll Get Over You; Weak In The Knee; My New ReligionAs a guy who's now a regular at Pat McCurdy's residency at the Beat Kitchen every Monday night, this release has been a long time in the coming. I've been faithfully attending (and singing along at) these shows for four and a half years now, and I have to say that it's quite wonderful to witness most every song on
15 Favorites be molded and perfected by the tireless McCurdy. And after four long years of telling everyone that they need to hear this tune or that, it's nice to finally have
another set of magnificent songs to push on all my friends and family.
Alas, while it would be easy to just list the incredibly entertaining
15 Favorites as the Best Album of the Year and call it a day, that wouldn't be honest. The reason behind this is because I've sat through countless renderings, complete overhauls and surprise revisions of these songs in person – I've also been called on stage numerous times to join in the chorus or pick up a verse – and the final studio versions simply can't compete with the spirit of the live performances. I know it's unfair to hold a studio album to such a standard, but when I listen to this record, I find myself longing for the simplicity of Pat on stage with just his guitar, silly faces, hearty laugh, sharp quips and lame dances. Do I still recommend
15 Favorites to any and everyone I meet? Absolutely! But I will also let you know that it's in your best interest to come on down to the Beat Kitchen one Monday night, pull up a seat and get ready for one of the silliest and most rewarding live sets you'll ever share with a group of strangers.
www.patmccurdy.comTop 20 Albums of 2007
1.
Biffy Clyro /
PuzzleFive Tracks You Need To Hear:
Saturday Superhouse; Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies; Folding Stars; Love Has A Diameter; MachinesI first stumbled across Scottish band
Biffy Clyro thanks to iTunes. The moment I listened to a preview of their music, I knew I was in for stellar alt-rock experience. When I finished the record, I immediately played it again. And again. And again.
Puzzle is a magnificent album in the fact that it works on several different levels. It can be enjoyed as nothing more than a solid piece of rock music, but it deserves so many more spins in order to fully appreciate the things you may have missed the first time around: the clever callbacks in the lyrics, the jaw-dropping time changes on the drums, that extra guitar lick sneaking through at breakdown of
Saturday Superhouse. I became so engrossed in this record at one point that it kept me company for 4000 consecutive miles! If that doesn't convince you to give this one a fair shake, consider us finished.
www.biffyclyro.com 2.
Powderfinger /
Dream Days At The Hotel ExistenceThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Ballad Of A Dead Man; Lost And Running; Long Way To GoThe boys from Brisbane – who also happen to be my favorite rock band (that you're
still likely not listening to!) – decided to go in a new direction on their sixth studio release and the results paid off handsomely. After a three-year hiatus, the band decided to pack their bags for Los Angeles for a chance to work with producer
Rob Schnapf. Although it's my opinion that the album does fall short of their previous releases due to the absence of long-time producer
Nick DiDia – who after years of collaboration knows how to get the absolute best out of this band –
Schnapf must be given credit for not getting distracted with topping everything that came before and simply challenging the band to try something new.
Powderfinger more than met that challenge and, thus, have given most of you in North America even more reason to be ashamed for not making them a household name.
www.powderfinger.com3.
Josh Ritter /
The Historical Conquests Of Josh RitterThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Right Moves; The Last Temptation Of Adam; For The Dogs Or WhoeverHow do you top the finest album of the decade? Just do what you do best and don't think about it! Recorded in the dead of winter at a Maine farmhouse with his impressive backing band,
Josh Ritter unleashed a refreshingly diverse collection of tunes about love and loss that just make your heart want to burst. This may not match the brilliance of
The Animal Years, but it's an absolutely splendid follow-up that will easily make you laugh and cry.
www.joshritter.com4.
William Topley /
All In The DownsThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Isolation; Lotus Eater; Holding On (Gypsy Songs & Thunderclouds)William Topley always has a way of striking a chord with me at just the right time. This album is no exception. While still keeping focus on matters of the heart,
All In The Downs is less about introspection and more about how influenced and affected we are by those we choose to love and trust. Although there are still a few punishing numbers that make your soul want to howl out in empathy, the mood is a little lighter that his previous records. It's this buoyant feel that makes for good road music, so I suggest you bring this along next time you hit the highway.
Laurie would've loved this record; it makes me miss her all the more.
www.williamtopley.com5.
Jimmy Eat World /
Chase This LightThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Carry You; Let It Happen; Big CasinoJust like
William Topley,
Jimmy Eat World has a way of releasing a record just in time to drive the knife home. In between coming to terms with my last two relationships and dealing with getting back into the dating scene,
Chase This Light went a long way to helping me gain perspective and putting several ghosts to rest. Better yet, this disc was a life-saver on that whirlwind trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back to Chicago earlier this year. Thanks, boys.
www.jimmyeatworld.com6.
Coheed & Cambria /
Dear Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Part 2: No World For TomorrowThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Feathers; The Hound (Of Blood And Rank); Gravemakers & GunslingersAlthough nowhere near as satisfying as the first half of
Dear Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, No World For Tomorrow went above and beyond all expectations as the grand finale for
Coheed & Cambria's magnum opus
The Amory Wars (a storyline that makes up the band's entire discography to date). The strength of
NWFT lies in its instant accessibility. Instead of the long-form, prog-metal-focused tracks found on
Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, most of the songs here are more radio-friendly with catchier hooks and rousing choruses. However, to be honest, what hurt this album the most is the glaring absence of the sensational percussion of original drummer
Josh Eppard (who left the band for personal reasons in 2006).
Taylor Hawkins (of
Foo Fighters fame) made for a competent stand-in on this record, but I was still left wanting for the fury and flair of the man who helped make
Dear Apollo, Pt. 1 such a masterpiece.
www.coheedandcambria.com7.
Fuel /
Angels & DevilsThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Scars In The Making; Hanging Around; GoneLadies and gentlemen, I give you the greatest surprise of 2007. Armed with a new lead singer,
Fuel unleashed one powerhouse of a record with
Angels & Devils. Not only is this a fantastic break-up album chock full of venom and rage, it is by far the band's best release to date.
www.fuelweb.com8.
Suzanne Vega /
Beauty & CrimeThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Bound; Pornographer's Dream; New York Is A WomanSuzanne Vega returns in fine form on her first studio release in six years. Per usual, she weaves magnificent tapestries with her lyrics, but this time there's more of an effort to give the listener a chance to actually see her imagery at play rather than allow them to get lost in the feeling and/or ambiguity of it. Moreover,
Jimmy Hogarth's confident, energetic production plays to her strengths, thus making this short and sweet record even more of a gem.
www.suzannevega.com 9.
Collective Soul /
AfterwordsThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Bearing Witness; All That I Know; What I Can Give YouI love how even after all these years
Collective Soul are able to consistently breathe so much life and energy into a sound that has become so familiar (and, by proxy, safe). Better yet, they do it so effortlessly.
10.
Kate Voegele /
Don't Look AwayThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
I Won't Disagree; One Way Or Another; I Get ItI've been practically foaming at the mouth over the wonder that is
Kate Voegele ever since I first sat down for an in-studio interview with her in May 2006. A talented singer-songwriter who found her calling when she first picked up a guitar at age 16,
Voegele is finally getting the attention and airplay she deserves thanks to her debut LP on Myspace Records. Although chances are slim that we'll ever get her back in the studio for another interview anytime soon – it's difficult to secure interviews when you're an online podcast competing with terrestrial radio – I am proud to be an early champion of this artist and look forward to following her career.
www.katevoegele.com11.
Porcupine Tree /
Fear Of A Blank PlanetThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Sentimental; Fear Of A Blank Planet; AnesthetizePorcupine Tree returns to their Prog roots by releasing a magnificent concept record about how the youth of today are being suffocated by too much technology. How
does one make a choice when the entire world is at your fingertips? Rest assured, the kids
aren't all right.
www.porcupinetree.com12.
Kings Of Leon /
Because Of The TimesThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Ragoo; On Call; McFearlessI thought things couldn't get much better than
Aha Shake Heartbreak. Goddamn, am I proud to be proven wrong.
Kings Of Leon are a force to be reckoned with, and they pulled out all the stops on this freight train of a record.
www.kingsofleon.com13.
Joshua James /
The Sun Is Always BrighterThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Lord, Devil & Him; Today; Soul And The SeaI don't know where this kid came from, but he's got enough emotional baggage (inspired by his family) to make you feel bruised and battered once this album is through. If you love
John Darnielle (aka
The Mountain Goats), you'll definitely feel at home here.
www.joshuajames.tv14.
John Davis /
Arigato! Three Tracks You Need To Hear:
Tell Me I’m Not Free; History; I Need SomeoneFinally,
John Davis gets back to his power pop/arena rock roots and delivers one fiery record that sounds like the next best thing to
Superdrag. Keeping the faith never sounded this awesome nor this fucking fun!
www.superdrag.com15.
Joe Bonamassa /
Sloe GinThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Dirt In My Pocket; Sloe Gin; Ball Peen HammerJoey B. celebrates his 30th birthday with a grand slam of a release that is a perfect marriage of his sleek guitar playing and superb lyrics. Now
this is the reason why he's #1 on the Blues charts these days!
www.jbonamassa.com16.
The Spares /
Beautiful & Treacherous ThingThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Cigarette Song; Chapel of the Winding Road; Not Break Just OverflowThe last great album I discovered in the racks at WUIC before making BFN a fully independent operation turned out to be quite a fortunate thing. Not only did I discover this alt-country/Americana duo that put on some of the most incredible live performances I've ever seen, but I've also become good friends with them as well. As far as promoting their music goes, I haven't had to do much at all to convince people to get on board. In fact, every person I've played their music for has been instantly won over.
Trust me, you will be, too.
www.thespares.net 17.
Barenaked Ladies /
Barenaked Ladies Are MenThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Why Say Anything Nice?; Fun & Games; SerendipityThe companion album to 2006's
Barenaked Ladies Are Me flew right under the radar at the beginning of 2007 and was promptly ignored, which is a goddamn shame because, frankly,
Barenaked Ladies Are Men is the superior record.
BNL injected a lot more humor and energy into this disc than they did its predecessor, and the results are an impressive collection of tunes that range from wistful strolls down memory lane to tongue-in-cheek political humor. Either way, it's a bulls-eye and if you don't own this album already, you should really make an effort to acquire a copy for yourself.
www.bnlmusic.com 18.
The Great Crusades /
Keep Them EntertainedThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Paradise (At The Petite Four); Sex Sells (So I'll See You In Hell); The Bucket Of BloodWhile still maintaining the raw feel brought forth as a group effort on their previous release, frontman
Brian Krumm played to his strengths on
Keep Them Entertained by once again focusing more on the lyrics before returning to the studio with the band. The result is a worthy companion disc to
Four Thirty that also neatly ties
both albums back in with the rest of the stellar
GC discography. It's been 10 years since these guys first started, and they show no signs of stopping. I look forward to seeing what's next.
www.thegreatcrusades.com19.
Pinback /
Autumn Of The SeraphsThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Good To Sea; Off By 50; Devil You KnowA grand return from the middling fare of
Summer In Abaddon.
www.pinback.com20.
Rogue Wave /
Asleep At Heaven's GateThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Lake Michigan, Fantasies, Chicago X 12Just when I thought rainy day music couldn't get any better,
Rogue Wave takes the throne with this extraordinary record.
www.roguewavemusic.comThe Hot 'n' Nasty Three-Way for #21
Todd Martin /
Mont ClareThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Know How It Feels; Safe From The Water; After The SunsetAfter seeing
Todd Martin bring down the house several times with his live, stripped-down acoustic performances of the remarkable songs found on the long-anticipated
Mont Clare, I must confess that it's kind of off-putting to hear the final studio product with a backing band. I'm not knocking this album in any sense – it's quite good and contains some of my favorite lyrics of the year – but I only wish there was lighter touch on the production. (Trust me, there's nothing that compares to the surreal imagery painted so vividly when you hear
Spinning on acoustic guitar or the urgency conveyed with a solo version of
Safe From The Water.) At this point I know it's simply a matter of preference . . . but it's also why
Mont Clare didn't earn a higher spot on my list.
www.toddmartinmusic.comMaxïmo Park /
Our Earthly PleasuresThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
Books From Boxes; Karaoke Plays; Girls Who Play GuitarsThe best import from the UK that you're still not listening to delivers another solid record chock full of radio-friendly tunes. Shame on all of you for not tuning in!
www.maximopark.comScouting For Girls /
Scouting For GirlsThree Tracks You Need To Hear:
It's Not About You; Elvis Ain't Dead; James BondThe surprise pop album of the year made by three guys who literally came out of nowhere. Armed with some of the absolutely finest break-up songs you will ever
experience,
Scouting For Girls are bound for greatness. But first they're gonna need global distribution!
www.scoutingforgirls.comBest EP of 2007
Shock Stars /
Shock Stars EPAmazing punk-pop/dance project from
Stubhy of
Lucky Boys Confusion. I don't know how he does it, but this guy knows how to get the maximum effect out of any and every genre he applies himself to. Just try not to let this one quicken your pulse.
www.shockstars.comBest Reissue of 2007
The Traveling Wilburys /
The Traveling Wilburys [2CD/1DVD Deluxe Edition]The ultimate supergroup – that's
George Harrison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and
Roy Orbinson for those of you not in the know – get the deluxe treatment with a remastered two-disc set consisting of their two original releases (
Vols. 1 & 3) and a handful of B-sides as well as a DVD chock full special features and a 40-page booklet on the history of the band. Seriously, you just can't go wrong with this one.
www.travelingwilburys.comHonorable Mentions of 2007
Against Me! /
New WaveChris Bathgate /
A Cork Tale WakeBlackfield /
Blackfield IIBullets And Octane /
Song For The UnderdogDown The Line /
For All You BreakElectric Six /
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The MasterFlatfoot 56 /
Jungle Of The Midwest SeaJohn Fogerty /
RevivalJohn Garrison /
Across The CosmosGob Iron /
Death Songs For The LivingHanson /
The WalkBen Harper & The Innocent Criminals /
LifelineIron & Wine /
The Shepherd's DogKill The Alarm /
Fire AwayThe Kin /
Rise & FallMark Knopfler /
Kill To Get CrimsonBettye LaVette /
Scene Of The CrimeBen Lee /
RipeThe Lift /
It Is What It IsTim Mahoney /
Stay/LeaveMatchbox Twenty /
Exile On MainstreamMegadeth /
United AbominationsPermanent ME /
As The Room ClearsEd Pettersen /
The New Punk Blues Of Ed PettersenPink Martini /
Hey EugeneRobert Plant & Alison Krauss /
Raising SandPuscifer /
V Is For VaginaThe Ike Reilly Assassination /
We Belong To The Staggering EveningMark Ronson /
VersionShock Stars /
Feel For A Heartbeat EPSon Volt /
The SearchBruce Springtsteen /
MagicGarrison Starr /
The Girl That Killed SeptemberJoss Stone /
. . . IntroducingTurbonegro /
RetoxKT Tunstall /
Drastic FantasicThe White Stripes /
Icky ThumpAlexa Wilkinson /
Lullaby AppetiteJenny Owens Young /
Batten The HatchesYoung@Heart Chorus /
Mostly LiveVarious Artists /
Across The Universe Soundtrack
