The Best of 2007: The Final 10

Here it is, the final 10. If you missed the first two parts go here and then here. I've spent a decent amount of time agonizing over this list, but I'm somewhat happy with how it has turned out. Sometimes I feel as if giving something like music a ranking is really stupid, mainly because it's going to vary from person to person. So here's my top 10.

10.Yeasayer All Hour Cymbals

I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that this is their full length debut. I had no idea what I was getting into when I first heard this album and it still continues to surprise me. And just when I couldn't respect this band more, they go and open for Arcade Fire. Sheeesh.

Yeasayer - Sunrise

9.Menomena Friend and Foe

I don't trust this band 'cause supposedly they use computers to help them write. If there's a robot invasion out of Portland, you'll know to point fingers in this band's direction. At least the invasion will sound good.

Menomena - Muscle 'n Flo

8.Sunset Rubdown Random Spirit Lover

I enjoy the guitars on this album more than any other that appear on this list. I think Krug's got the Midas Touch 'cause everything he works with turns out great.

Sunset Rubdown - The Courtesan Has Sung

7.Explosions in the Sky All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

This was their first album that I ever listened to. Halfway through the first song I thought, "Fuck the vocals, this is good enough." Turns out there's no vocals. I imagine listening to this must have been similar to building the Tower of Babel. Starts off with this one little guitar part doing its own thing. Things start getting big when two more guitars join the work crew. Next thing you know there's this huge sound and drums are only making things better. God's off somewhere scratching his head thinking, "Uh, it's kinda 3AM in China? Jackie Chan is trying to sleep." Then poof! You're just left with that one guitar again wondering what the hell you just heard.

Explosions in the Sky - Welcome, Ghosts

6.LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver

Murphy makes music that is hard to sit still to. Enough that I should probably listen to it while working out.

LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends

5.The National Boxer

I really don't want to describe this as intense like everyone does, but the adjective fits perfectly. The album shows that you don't really need to make eardrums bleed to be intense. Softer is better sometimes. Plus Matt Beringer's voice is deep like Confucius. Yeah, I said it.

The National - Start a War

4.Animal Collective Strawberry Jam

Honestly, what band sounds like Animal Collective? Animal Collective doesn't even sound like Animal Collective since their albums vary so much. Despite how different this band sounds, they've been stuck in my head for months. And I still haven't decided if the album art makes me hungry or sick.

Animal Collective - For Reverend Green

3.Battles Mirrored

Wikipedia says, "Math rock is a style of experimental rock music that emerged in the late 1980s. It is characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures, stop/start dynamics and angular, dissonant riffs." It really makes Battles' genre sound terrible, but it is quite the opposite.

Battles - Atlas

2.Frog Eyes Tears of the Valedictorian

You won't hear many vocal comparisons to Springsteen with this one. In fact you're not going to hear Mercer's vocals really compared to anyone. You might however hear people calling this one of the best albums of the year. I had a lot of trouble putting this album behind the number one. I simply couldn't decide which was scarier, a six foot five Win Butler, or that six foot five voice of Mercer's (which just might have its teeth filed to points).

Frog Eyes - Bushels

1.Arcade Fire Neon Bible

Here it is. The numero uno. I'm finding it hard to write about why this is at the top of my list. Maybe because there's so much I could talk about. Lyrically, I find this band is almost peerless. I have yet to see a band who can compete with their live show. The way they combine so many instruments seamlessly still boggles me. Yet I didn't really put this at the top for any of those reasons. This album defined my year for me. When 2006 was drawing to a close, it was this album I was anticipating. This was the album I listened to most. And five or ten years from now when I pick it up, I'm going to think of 2007. I feel as if the lyrics in many places are pointing a finger and saying, "This. Right here. This is what's wrong with us right now." This album is at the top because I feel as this is the album most firmly cemented in this year.

Arcade Fire - Antichrist Television Blues


So that's it. 2007 in a nutshell. I would really suggest you take some time to listen to some of the bands I've mentioned, visit their sites, buy their albums, see them live, purchase their merchandise, wave to them at church, and so forth. Bring on 2008.