Fair Warning (again): This is going to be a looonnnggg post! To see last year's Chris vs. Rolling Stone Battle click here.
Another year, another attempt by Rolling Stone to remain relevant in a world becoming increasingly jaded and embittered (although that may just be me). Click here to see that actual Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 50 Albums of 2007. I initially only had about 13 of the 50 albums listed, so one quick call to Indie Maven Sean later and here I am with a whopping 27 albums to listen through and digest enough to form what will surely be a completely uninformed opinion. One quick difference from last year: I won't be listing any alternatives to the selections listed. Instead, the 2007 Wrap-Up is going to be composed of two parts: Chris vs. Rolling Stone a recap with my own picks for Best of 2007.
'Nuff said, let's get going. Reviews are in order of rank, from Rolling Stone:
1. M.I.A. - Kala: The first time I listened through this I thought, "Neat - sounds like something trying to be different. I'll delete it as soon as it's over." Problem is, listening to it again I frightened to say I'm enjoying it more. M.I.A. uses the music of her Indian upbringing not as an accent to the hip-hop/world music, but as an integral part of her musical identity. It's a surprising #1 choice from Rolling Stone, and while there are plenty of albums I like better in their Top 50, I wouldn't remove this from the list at all. Very refreshing, even if it makes me feel really old.
2. Bruce Springsteen - The Magic: Last year Bob Dylan puts out one of his freshest albums in years and claims the top spot. Poor Springsteen has to settle for #2. I've never been a fan of Springsteen - "Born to Run" is grating, and everything from Born in the USA with the exception of "I'm on Fire" drives me crazy (yes, even "Glory Days"). So it is with heavy heart that I willingly accept my soul's siral into Suburbia by declaring that Magic is a damn good album. Lead track "Radio Nowhere" is a mid-tempo rocker with a great chorus, "Girls in Summer Clothes" has an earnest melody and a modern sound that fits Springsteen's weathered voice. There are a few clunkers ("Livin' in the Future" comes to mind) but all is forgiven by the time the excellent "Devil's Arcade" segues to hidden track "Terry's Song," a moving song dealing with the death of a friend. Friends, I'm as surprised as you are by my enthusiasm for this record. Great.
3. Jay-Z - American Gangster: I'm not a fan of the "bling" style of rap and hip-hop: my tastes run more in a Roots/Mos Def/Jurassic 5 vein, with Public Enemy and Wu-Tang Clan providing me my "hardcore" cred. I never really got into Jay-Z before, but his last album Kingdom Come was pretty good, and this new one, loosely wrapped around the latest Denzel Washington film of the same name is also pretty good. Nothing I'd play nonstop, but it doesn't make me reach for the dial immediately, either.
4. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: At first the trapped in a cement basement sound works, and Arcade Fire show a lot of promise. But around track 5 when the girl starts singing I lose interest, and even though the album's not bad per se, it doesn't leave enough for me to consider, especially at #4.
6. Radiohead - In Rainbows: You have to get past the awesomeness of the huge middle finger Radiohead gave the industry and ultimately focus on the music. And In Rainbows is the best album since Kid A. It's more cohesive and fun than Hail to the Thief, and easily more accessible than Amnesiac. In fact, as far as keeping a unifying sound I think this might be their most successful album, full of beautifully delicate vocals and melodies, and superbly produced (no surprise there). My only complaint (and it's small) is the lack of real rock-out songs: we're left with "Bodysnatchers" and that's about it. Still, repeated listenings provide multiple rewards, and this is fast becoming for me a favorite of 2007.
7. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver: Not a lot to say here. I'm sure this is a great record for people who are into this sort of thing. I like a few or the shorter tracks, but everything seems to go on with no real sense of what it wants to do. I get the same feeling from this I do from Moby: nice background music, but I wouldn't go out of my way unless this was your thing. For the record what I heard of the previous album I liked much better.
8. Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight: Sean loves this band with a passion that borders on perverse. Me? I really don't see the big deal at all. That being said I like Under the Blacklight - the title track is great and single "Moneymaker" while being very pop and mainstream is fun and sinks into your brain where it shakes its rump for an hour after hearing it. I'm sure older fans take this as merely an adequate record, but I like it anyway.
9. Against Me! - New Wave: Hooray! This sounds like they got some old hair metal vocalist from the late 80's and molded him into a modern indie rock band. With an emphasis on the "ROCK." I've heard that they changed a lot in this, their major label debut from their older EPs and indie label stuff, but if this is the result, a rock record filled with great lyrics and swagger then I'm happy. Two HUGE pluses for the record: they have a song called "Thrash Unreal" which, although not thrash still rocks, and they have a duet with super-awesome Tegan Quin from the stupendous and slighted (why aren't they on here?) Tegan and Sara. This is one I'm definitely going to listening to more than once.
10. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: Gimmie Fiction was one of the records Sean used to get me started on this whole new world of music, and the smirking Beatles funneled through the 80's English punk/pop scene sound was one of the first things to grab me. New album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga doesn't have quite the same immediate grab, but that might be because it's wonderfulness was expected rather than a surprise. More of the same from Spoon, and not a bad track on the album.
12. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga: I've heard the same thing about Bright Eyes that I did about Against Me! - namely that the new stuff, while good, doesn't compare to the old stuff. And while I can't refute or agree with that sentiment regarding Against Me! (not having heard anything else before), I have heard a few other Bright Eyes records, and this is my favorite by far. There are echoes of Pink Floyd buried in the alt-country and piano driven arrangements, mainly in the vocal inflections of main man Conor Oberst. Personal storytelling that feels sincere and open to a wide reange of interpretation. Yes, sir...good stuff.
16. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends: Couple things out of the way: 1. I have zero idea what the hell that name means. Or really how to pronounce it. 2. I was almost turned off to the whole thing by the first song, "Pots and Pans." It sounds like everything else out there in the "indie" world. But on closer examination I think that was the point (although I could be completely wrong there): there's a stanza in the first song that asks if "your skin's grown thick / from bands that make you sick? / Has your skin grown thick / from a thousand singing pricks? ...this is where it stops." The album kicks into a weird hybrid of screaming indie punk rock and in your face sauciness that I quite like. Genius? Or merely calculated? Who knows. and upon further listening even "Pots and Pans" is getting better.
17. The White Stripes - Icky Thump: Hot. Damn. I was pretty vocal that I wasn't all too keen on last album Get Behind Me Satan. This, however, is everything that made me fall in love (XOXOX Jack and Meg - call me!) with the White Stripes to begin with. There's not a mis-placed step on Icky Thump. The title track is so great that even playing it on my headphones people walking near by will suddenly throw their papers down and get their freak on. Completely in-your-face and tongue-in-cheek and probably 7 other 3-hyphenated-words that I can't think of at the moment.
19. Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon: Devendra Banhart continues to be one of the most eclectic folk artists around, and while not as cohesive or fragile as Cripple Crow, there are some fine laid back moments in Smokey. If you like your music so relaxed it makes you feel slightly drunk, this may be right up your alley. After 3 attempts though I was unable to get through the whole album without losing my attention.
21. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero: Back in April I mentioned how much I enjoyed Year Zero, and that joy hasn't abated 7 months later. Trent Reznor not only stuck it to the MAN with his brilliant marketing strategies, but also delivered a record that was angry and vibrant and epic in ways that The Fragile and With Teeth weren't. When your lead single ("Survivalism") is the worst track on the album you know you have a winner on your hands. Expect to see this crop up on another list (ah hem...) later.
22. Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full: Everything in my brain is telling me NOT to like this album. When I see the album on the shelf in my local Starbucks, the synapses in my brain all fire at once, launching a fireworks display that screams "YOU HATE THIS!" But then I hear ubiquitous single "Dance Tonight" and I find myself humming along and shamefully admitting that, almost 40 years since The Beatles broke up, McCartney can STILL pen a catchy tune. Damn you, McCartney...you have once again parted a fool and his money.
23. 1990's - Cookies: Perhaps it's a case of too much too fast, but digesting 10 records in the course of a few days (that's the number of records Sean sent me to add to what I already owned), but this doesn't sound particularly fresh, new, or even offer a new take on an old game. It's bright, poppy, and if you like that sort of thing, maybe you'll like this. Me? I'll probably try one more time and then toss it.
35. Feist - The Reminder: Leslie Feist has a more mature and subtle voice than the music on The Reminder would have you believe at times. I haven't given this as close as listen as I should have, but what I've heard has been pretty impressive, and definitely worth a second glance, especially if you like you female folk-driven music without a glossy Top 40 sheen. Favorite track so far is "The Water." Very haunting and tentative.
37. Down - Over the Under: Metal, baby!!!! Okay, so we had to wait 37 spots to get to the METAL. While I think Down's new record is really good, I have to wonder why this was picked to represent metal in the RS Top 50. Lots of Southern groove and mud accompany songs about Hurricane Katrina (the band is based out of Louisiana), drugs, and the tragic murder of lead singer Phil Aselmo's former Pantera band mate, Dimebag Darrell. A strong release, but not what I would have picked.
40. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black: I wonder if she regrets that "Rehab" song now that she's heading there in January? A good singer backed by some incredible production and songs about loss and sex and love is completely overshadowed by her insane exploits in the tabloids. Too bad. It's real good when it sticks to the more serious tracks (like the startling title track and "Some Unholy War"), falters with the poppy stuff (like the aforementioned "Rehab") but ultimately triumphs as a great Motown/Soul influenced much more so than other releases by "second coming" singers like Joss Stone and, well, Joss Stone.
41. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?: Now that is a crazy album title. And it only goes deeper off the deep end. I was listening to this in the car this morning on my way to the bakery, trying to think of what this dry, electro pop reminded me off. There was some crazy late-Beatles stuff in there, some definite early 80's synth pop, but nothing was really putting it all together for me. Then it hit me. Holy crap! I had a vision: "Hey guys! We need some inspiration for the new album!" "Yeah!" "Hey! What's that crazy album you're listening to?" "You won't believe it! Remember that guy Todd Rundgren?" "You mean the guy who made the pop classic Something/Anything?" "Yeah!!" "But this isn't Something/Anything?!" "I know!!! This is his bizarre twisted freak-out A Wizard, A True Star!" "Damn, that shit is weird!!! Let's do it!!!" Come on, listen to the quirky brilliance of Of Montreal's "Gronlandic Edit" and tell me that doesn't sound exactly like A Wizard, A True Star to you! Dig it, it's freaky cool.
42. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky: I don't hold Wilco in the esteem that I know a lot of other people do. I didn't see the what all the fuss was about concerning 2002's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and I still have never heard main man Jeff Tweedy's former band Uncle Tupelo. In fact, the whole "alt-country" thing leaves me feeling bored. I did enjoy previous album A Ghost is Born, and this feels like more of the same. Pleasant, good soundtrack for certain moods, but by no means something I'd jump at the chance to hear. I should also mention that I almost always the first track from any Wilco album to be the best. No deviation here.
43. Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist: No. This is NOT Siamese Dream, part II. I admit to being taken in with the whole "Billy's putting the band back together thing," even when it turned out that meant just the drummer. This is the essence of commercial rock, and although there are a few choice moments peppered throughout the disc, Do yourself a favor and just stick to the Lull EP and Siamese Dream instead (you are also allowed to select up to 10 tracks from the bloated Mellon Collie record. -5 though if one of your tracks isn't "Zero.").
46. Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High: This was checked out more as a courtesy to Sean, who for some inexplicable reason LOVES Fall Out Boy. I am thankful about this album for one reason and one reason only - it finally made me get a better understanding of Sean's tastes. Instead of being consistently dumbfounded at his musical proclivities (Miley Cyrus, this), I now begin to see the glimmer of reason behind his madness. Despite all the indie leanings and posturing, Sean is an unabashed lover of the pop hook, and for that you have to give him credit for picking out only the juiciest morsels. Me? I wish I lived in a world where bands like Fall Out Boy weren't the new version of Boy Bands.
47. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin: Starts off really good, then sort of peters after about 4 songs, although this may again be due to my weak attention span for music that doesn't advocate the throwing of the "devil horns." But this is better than the last three selections, and definitely miles ahead of their first album, which left me wondering "huh?" after a huge write-up in the New York Times, of all places.
Phew! Another year (finally) done! As tiring as reading this post may have been, please consider how tiring it was writing it! Was it worth it? Doubtful. Will I do it again next year? Most likely.
(incidentally, in case you were curious, Indie Maven Sean provided me with the following records to review. In other words, these are the ones I didn't own: M.I.A., Bruce Springsteen, Against Me!, Les Savy Fav, Devendra Banhart, 1990's, Feist, Of Montreal, Fall Out Boy, and Band Of Horses)
