Sean's (slightly late) top albums of 2007

Just because January, 2008 is almost over doesn't mean it's to late to look back at 2007's finest and most inspiring music releases.

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
The way i see it, AC has 3 major, absolutely incredible releases: Sung Tongs, Feels, and now Strawberry Jam. I am so pleased with these because each one has that distinct Animal Collective feel, yet is so unique within itself, Sung Tongs because acoustical, Feels playing Electric Guitars and Grand Pianos, and now Strawberry Jam opening up with Synthesizers and more effects than every before imaginable. You fail to Amaze me, Avey Tare.

BARR - Summary
a much lesser known trophy of the now defunct 5RC Records, BARR is pretty much unlike anything else i've ever heard. He's primarily not rap, but spoken words about friends and love and music. His third full length is much calmer and features an impressive musical backing as opposed to the Fruity-Loop-esque beats of before.

Avey Tare & Kria Brekkan - Pullhair Rubeye
The lead singer of Animal Collective and his wife released their own ep this year, which they "didn't want to be just another noise pop record." It was good, but it needed something more, so they released the whole damn thing backwards.

Battles - Mirrored
a sortof crossover between Postrock and an free spirited Feels generation Animal Collective style, Battles creates an impressive instrumental score in their first full length. wow that sounded lame. but srrsly it's good.

Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew - Spirit If...
It's Kevin Drew's, (lead vocals of BSS) solo album, only he's backed by the rest of the BSS Crew. What more do i have to say? Very calm and largely acoustical, but the Broken Social Scene style is in no way absent.

Born Ruffians - Hummingbird
Really Really Rediculously catchy indie rock. I thought their previous ep was something to write home about, but Hummingbird ('s three songs) really tighten up the band and ultimately place them on a higher level. I also found out that Canadian Alex's cousin is allegedly in this band, which is sweet.

Cloud Cult - Meaning of 8
I am going to call this the MOST UNDERATED album of 2007. I didn't see it on any top album lists, but it's probably my favorite disc this year. 8 is much more deep and emotional than any previous Cloud Cult album. at 19 (okay, really just 18, one is blank) songs this album does not disappoint on length nor content. Each song can nearly bring me to tears. I hear Your 8th Birthday is about Kaiden (i think?), the lead singer's son who would have turned 8 the year the album was released = (

Daft Punk - Vengoose 2007
Alright, so Daft Punk is Amazing, rite?! now lets take parts from their own songs and combine them together into totally epic super songs! I would like to hear a studio version of this one, but for a live record the quality is amazing. My only complaint is that this album makes all their old releases seem incredibly boring.

Deerhunter - Cryptograms
I mention this mostly because I don't think i've ever had a conversation about it, but it's definately worth a listen. It's an album that i like to come back to every now and then. It has some really relaxing ambient moments, but some great pop songs as well. I'd describe Deerhunter as an often more upbeat, brighter Album Leaf. That might be a terrible analogy though. I still say check it out. Same goes for their (also 2007) Fluorescent Grey EP.

Efterklang - Parades
Incredibly epic Post Rock from Denmark. the song Maison De Reflexion is one of the most powerful songs (in a musical sense) i've heard in a long time. I would put this in my top 10 albums of 2007, easily.

Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
another of of my Top 10 of 2007, and my favorite release by the band to date. I'm positive most of you have probably heard this by now though, so that's really all i need to say.

Justice - Cross
French Dance music. aside from Daft Punk, easily the best dance music of 2007. The songs D.A.N.C.E and The Party are my personal faves.

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
I often forget this is a 2007 release as, if you remember, the fully mastered version leaked like halfway through '06. I'd call this a darker successor of Sundlandic Twins.

Of Montreal - Icons, Abstract Thee
Hissing Fauna's sister EP, these songs fit the HS theme but weren't on the album, though all were definitely good enough to be. No Conclusion is an incredible song about self destruction in a metaphorical sense, except later in the song in a literal sense. Really reminds me of The Past is a more grotesque, only probably more poppy but also more dark.

Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position
another album i think was overlooked by many this year. Features an impressive orchestral backing to an impressive, highly creative singer. Top 10 material. edit: ok so i just listened to this album again after writing this. If you haven't heard this, dont talk to me until you have. I just remembered that this is one of my favorite records ever.

Rafael Anton Irisarri - Daydreaming
Nothing ground breaking, just mind blowing ambient music. For Fans of Stars of the Lid.

Random - Megaran
...and the award to best themed rap album on sampled classic video game beats goes to...

Stars Of The Lid - And Their Refinement of the Decline
another top 10er, 3 discs that will probably put you to sleep in half of one. but that's a good thing in this situation. This is probably the closest I'd get to being on drugs. seriously. check it out.

The Angelic Process - Weighing Souls With Sound
best experimental ambient avant-metal drone album of 2007, i'd say hands down.

The Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army
The first actually solid album by the band/orchestra/cult. The Spree continues to be incredibly huge and unflinchingly happy. Top 10 material.

Quentin Tarritino's Grindhouse OST
An incredible soundtrack. Lots of older songs that make you realize that not all classic rock is lamexcore.

XXL - Spicchiology
Xiu Xiu and Larsen's new joint album, and after hearing the 2008 xiu xiu stuff, this is probably where i will mark the end of the band in my book.



HUGE disapointments
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
they still suck. if it wasn't for New Slang and Garden State this band would be no where.

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
the follow up to Funeral by my (formerly) favorite band. FAIL.

Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
i wanted to kill myself after listening to the Coat Check Dream Song. Recorded in the same way as the last two modest mouse albums, in a better quality, turning up the volume of the voice of one of the worst singers in the industry. Stick to recording in your bathroom, Connor Oberst.

Dntel - Dumb Luck
mostly just because Jenny Lewis tried to play over the genius behind the music of the Postal Service.

Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
Rilo Kiley continues to create full length albums based on 1 or 2 good songs.





So there you have it. I decided not to mention how much i didn't like the new Modest Mouse album, mostly because it was a huge improvement from Good News.

Originally i meant for this to be top 5 albums of 2007, but after scrolling through foobar, i had to have a few honorable mentions...