Cobbled together mostly from memory, hopefully I touched on the important ones. There were a few records that were tough to leave off. Leave comments if you think anything is missing.
1) Brand New - The Devil and God are Raging Inside MeYou're probably tired of my eternal songs of praise for this album, so I'll keep it short. This record finds Jesse Lacey and company further shedding their emo-pop roots. It's powerful, dark and moody. The lyrics are dark and poetic as ever. The soft parts will drop till you're straining to hear them, and the loud parts will rock your brains out. My unquestionable numero uno.
Key Tracks: Jesus Christ, Degausser, Limousine, Not the Sun, Archers
buy
2) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Writing a good sophomore album is tough, especially after your first one sets the bar high. Arcade Fire picks up right where they left off on 2003's Funeral. The band expands even more on the huge chamber sound of the first record. Think the E Street Band doing Bowie, or vice versa. The special edition definitely wins the award for coolest packaging job.
Key Tracks: Intervention, The Well and the Lighthouse, Windowsill, No Cars Go
buy
3) The Electric Soft Parade - No Need to Feel DownheartedThis is my "from out of nowhere" album of 2007. Beach Boys vocal harmonies augment the distorted guitars and keyboards, set to modern drum grooves. Influences range from The Beatles to Television to The Strokes, but never quite settle on one. This album deserved much more attention and praise than it recieved.
Key Tracks: If That's The Case Then I Don't Know, Misunderstanding, Cold World, Come Back Inside
Wilco has never been content to jog in place from record to record, changing their sound with each cd. Frontman Jeff Tweedy says Sky Blue Sky is more straightforward than recent efforts. The loose, folky vibe recalls the Grateful Dead circa Terrapin Station era. At times, the mood seems a little TOO laid back, but guitarist Nels Cline spashes enough color in all the right places to make the picture interesting.
Key Tracks: You Are My Face, Impossible Germany, Please Be Patient With Me, What Light
Matt Pond and company keep churning out solid albums. Last Light sticks to their well-rehearsed formula: ridiculously catchy indie-pop. The difference is in the production. Pond produced the record himself, and opted to bring crunchy guitars more to the forefront of the action. The result is a more aggressive sound than usual, but it works. The prevailing theme of the album is twilight, and the mix of emotions that accompany the night. Thoughtful lyrics and infectious tunes make this one of my favorites of 2007.
Key Tracks: Last Light, Honestly, Taught To Look Away, Basement Parties
6) Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone A cacophony of noise. A symhony of beauty. This new record by the instrumental Texas quartet showcases the power of dynamic contrasts. The songs build from nothing to hellbent intensity and vice versa. As usual, their sound is anchored by lonesome keyboards, moody guitar and pounding drums. The melodies wander about like lost souls, and this record follows their long journey. I didn't care much for it at first, but I've grown to appreciate the musicianship and sheer magnificance of their sound. Perfect for doing homework or late night road trips.
Key Tracks: The Birth and Death of a Day, What Do You Go Home To?, So Long Lonesome
7) Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's DogThe third effort from indie-icon Sam Beam is a departure from his previous works. On Shepherd's Dog Beam trades his usual intimacy for songs augmented by impressively ornate arrangements. Take the tune "White Tooth Man" for example. This mid-tempo raga is complete with sitars, tribal drums and tambourine, sounding like vintage late '60s Beatles. There's variety, from the back-porch sunny r&b of "The Devil Never Sleeps" and the vermillion slow accordian cruise of "Flightless Bird, American Mouth." Sounds like a really fun record to make in the studio, I'm jealous.
Key Tracks: Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car, White Tooth Man, Boy With A Coin, The Devil Never Sleeps
buy
8) Andrew Bird - Armchair ApocryphaOne of the most talented performers and songwriters on the Chicago circuit these days, Andrew Bird has outdone himself yet again. Whether it's the gypsy swagger of "Imitosis", the rolling hip-hop groove of "Simple X" or the primal beauty of the closing instrumental "Yawny At the Apocalypse" Bird always seems to capture the essence he's looking for in each song. The song "Armchairs" is a sprawling seven-minute epic, with lyrics about "ancient sea slugs" and the cruel passing of time. This is probably my favorite Bird record so far.
Key Tracks: Imitosis, Armchairs, Simple X, Spare-Ohs, Yawny at the Apocalypse
buy
9) Bruce Springsteen - Magic
This record has recieved heavy attention from critics already (check out Fricke's review), so there's not much new to write. It's definitely vintage old-Bruce. This record harks back to the days when rock music was simply bigger, the days of Damn The Torpedoes, Hotel California and the Boss' own Born to Run. Springsteen is always at his best when he has a bone to pick, and the songs are chalk full of emotion and edgy when needed. Lyrics aside, these are some of the best melodies Springsteen has come out with in a long time.
Key Tracks: Radio Nowhere, Livin' in the Future, Girls In Their Summer Clothes, Long Walk Home
10) As Cities Burn - Come Now SleepAnother "out of nowhere" album. One of the most beautiful, hard-rocking collection of songs I've heard this year. This is the first album I've heard by them, which is fortunate because they used to have post-hardcore vocals. Seems like they haven't lost too much intensity though. The chorus for "The Hoard" rocks harder than anything Circa Survive has put out. Songs like "Contact" and "Empire" have some of the best guitar-work I've heard this year, not from a technical but musical perspective, the licks are very fluid like water, seeping around the melodies. Check them out in case they get big.
Key Tracks: Contact, Empire, The Hoard, New Sun, Tides
buy
