Every year everyone creates these lists of their favorite (or least favorite) albums released during that year. This is yet another one of those lists, completely arbitrary and decided by Greg and I. This is by no means definitive, but based solely on what we listened to during the year (i.e. indie, punk, rock, etc.). Without further justification, I present you with the ten albums dubbed When In Doubt's ten most loved of '07 and ten albums that definitely could have been better.
From the top:
1. LCD Soundsystem –
Sound of SilverJames Murphy and crew put out a brilliant follow-up to their 2005 self-titled release. The disco-punk outfit’s second album, Sound of Silver, shot the band somewhat into the mainstream, as did their fall tour with Arcade Fire. The use of tinfoil on the album cover and in the video for "North American Scum" didn't hurt either. Standout tracks include “North American Scum,” “Someone Great,” “All My Friends” and “Get Innocuous.”
2. Arcade Fire-
Neon Bible
The Canadian group’s sophomore album was released to varied reviews, but over the course of 2007, it has proved to have staying power that many albums released this year lacked. Their tour with LCD Soundsystem that finally brought them to Utah didn’t hurt either. Good tracks on the album include "Black Mirror," "Intervention," "Keep the Car Running" and "No Cars Go" which was actually a new version of a song they had previously released.
3. The National -
Boxer After the success of Alligator, The National was up against some serious scrutiny from fans and critics, but with songs like "Fake Empire," they pulled off one of the best and most unique albums of the year.
4. Radiohead-
In Rainbows This album was the surprise of the year. Not until right before Yorke and the band self-released In Rainbows was it even much on the radar. But when it finally hit the Internet (at whatever price you decided) and the airwaves, Radiohead catapulted themselves further into music history.
5. Kings of Leon –
Because of the Times
The southern rockers put out their third full length to polarizing results. Because of the Times took a chance on not just being another southern rock album and pushed the envelope on what people knew about the Kings of Leon. This album deserves recognition if, for nothing else, being the album to take a chance and catch on with a majority of people who were open to listening.
6. Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare
Though not necessarily a sequel to Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not, Favourite Worst Nightmare proved that the Arctic Monkeys had the power to stick around and not fade out after an amazing initial release, like so many bands in their position have in years passed.
7. Stars- In Our Bedroom After the War
Canada’s Stars took stand when battling the super early leak of their album In Our Bedroom After the War hit the Net months before it was set to be released officially. To combat the leak, the band took a different turn than most bands have done before them, they advanced a copy to online music outlets like iTunes and eMusic so folks who wanted a legal, real copy of the album wouldn’t have to be tortured for months with the music being readily available.
8. Eliott Smith- New Moon
Even from beyond the grave Elliott Smith makes the list with his amazing b-side album featuring unreleased material from this incredible singer/songwriter.
9. Feist- The Reminder
Leslie Feist reminds the world why she is such a good artist with The Reminder. How could tunes like “My Moon, My Man” or “1 2 3 4” be overlooked when considering the music that made 2007 great?
10. The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
Wincing the night away is not something a listener of this album would be doing. Following up their success with Chutes Too Narrow, sparked by Garden State, The Shins keep the stone rolling with a real solid effort here.
Great albums that didn’t quite make the list: Justice - †, White Rabbits – Fort Nightly, Fiery Furnaces – Widow City, !!! – Myth Takes, New Pornographers - Challengers.
Hold it down:
1. Blaqk Audio –
CexCells
Imagine AFI going trying to make it as an electro-new wave band and you have Blaqk Audio. Davey Havok and Jade Puget should stick to what they’re good at - being members of AFI.
There’s a fine line between art and crap. It rhymes with art and begins with the letter “f.” That’s about the best comparison for this album. It stinks and should never be present in social situations.
3. Say Anything –
In Defense of the Genre
Their next album will be entitled In Defense of Our Last Album – and defending it needs, badly.
4. Portugal. the Man –
It's Complicated Being a Wizard
Trying to figure out what drugs these guys were on when they put out this EP is more complicated than being a wizard. This album which begins with the whole album as one track then splits them up and repeats them, was floppy and likely sounded better on drugs than it does to a sober ear. Luckily, they also released Church Mouth this year which reminded everyone that Portugal. the Man are really a decent band.
5. Cartel –
Cartel
They made the album in a giant bubble. What more needs to be said, it’s a gimmick within a gimmick.
6. Saves the Day – Under the Boards
Since being dropped from their major label deal, a more angry, stripped Saves The Day have tried to make a comeback and prove that the drop was a mistake. With this new album, the second in a series of three albums that are supposed to comprise some sort of story, Saves The Day are showing the world just why they were lost in the major label shuffle.
7. Fall Out Boy – Infinity on High
The name of the album describes the exact opposite of the final product. Sometimes it’s better not to try so hard to reinvent yourself.
8. B-sides albums collectively
A lot of bands tried to release albums chronicling all of the songs they never put on their other albums. The result: albums with songs most fans of the band had years ago.
9. Motion City Soundtrack – Even If it Kills Me
Faced with trying to top their last album, Commit This to Memory, Motion City Soundtrack stepped up to the plate, but Even If It Kills Me was a swing and a miss.
10. Apples in Stereo – New Magnetic Wonders
This album wasn’t THAT bad, but it wasn’t that good either. That’s why it only barely makes an appearance here. At least everyone can stop wondering what an apple would sound like in stereo.
2007 was a year of great music and terrible gimmicks. 2008 seems to be shaping up to be about the same.
I guess this thing has kind of died since I no longer am really in the loop with shows and whatnot. I kind of miss it, though, since it was an outlet for my writing. I guess I get plenty of that working as a journalist and trying to keep up with my family blog.
Despite the lack of posts to the blog as of recent, I have still been building up a number of reviews and articles. But I have compiled my catalogue of music writing from my experience at UVSC into a magazine as my capstone project.
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After taking the holidays off, getting back into school, becoming a parent and so on, I've kind of fell off the horse with When In Doubt, Clap! But now I'm back and ready to start this thing up again, since so many people read this these days...
