The 10 Best Albums of 2007

As 2007 is winding to a quick close, I figured it was time to round up the best music that I’ve heard this year. Lists like these are fairly hard to make when they get long (I still don’t understand how Rolling Stone can pick the best 200 albums of all time), but I think I can fairly accurately pick my 10 favorite albums of 2007. These are the albums that changed the way I think about music, that tried to do something out of the cookie-cutter mold that is becoming so easy to follow when making music. The albums that made me want to get up and dance, or just sit down, listen, and think. The albums that are so good that I will be listening to them long past the time that ball drops and brings us in to 2008.

10. Wincing the Night Away - The Shins

I technically had this album in 2006 because it leaked on to the internet very early (R.I.P OiNK). Since the street release date was January, it belongs in the tenth spot on this 2007 list. The Shins have consistently released good music, but something about this album made me like it much more than their other efforts. Obviously produced and perfected much more than the others due to them being signed to a major label during the album’s production, the sound they are going for here is significantly more poppy than their other releases. This is definitely not a problem for me, though, and reminds me of the golden age of pop-rock that happened in the late 90’s. Catchy pop melodies, infectious drumming, and fairly silly lyrics put this album in my best of the year. Best tracks: “Australia”, “Sealegs.”

9. American Gangster - Jay-Z

Jay-Z has been around the block a few times. This is his tenth studio album, and minus a few missteps like 2006’s “Kingdom Come,” they’ve all been very good. This time, he decided to do an album based off of the crime epic movie of the same name. This makes for a great marketing scheme, and I’m sure it has resulted in Jay making even more money. Throughout the album’s first 13 tracks Jay details the criminal rise-and-fall that we’ve seen in so many movies. Bangin’ beats and his trademark smooth flow are abundant, and I always really like it when an album tries to tell a unified story. Jay knows what he’s doing, and this album has made me realize that he definitely isn't starting to fade away. Jay is here to stay. Best tracks: “Blue Magic,” “No Hook.”

8. Common - Finding Forever (Produced by Kanye West)

While some people have problems with Kanye West as a rapper, I don’t think many people have a problem with his amazing skill as a producer. This album is a great example of how great of a producer Kanye is, and also an example of how great of an M.C. Common is. A perfect album to chill out to, or to put in the background at a house party. Common’s lyrics are powerful, and the beats are a great mix of chill smoke-up-to-this grooves and more exciting “I want to hit the dance floor” thumps. Kanye West and Common make an amazing team. Best tracks: “I Want You”, “Driving Me Wild.”

7. Gorillaz - D-Sides

I was debating whether this album really counts on this list, as it isn’t technically a Gorillaz “studio album,” but actually a compilation of B-sides and outtakes left over from the production of 2005’s “Demon Days.” I realized then that it was much better than most other albums released this year despite it being a compilation, so I put it on the list. All over the place stylistically, it’s a fun listen and contains some great tracks. While I can’t talk about it like a whole piece since there’s not much of a unified theme, “People” is a great look at how songs can change (it is an early, very different, version of “Dare”), and “We Are Happy Ladfill” is a catchjy dance track with hilarious lyrics. “Hong Kong” doesn’t even sound like traditional Gorillaz, but still makes for a great listen. Fans of “Demon Days” should definitely check out this album. Best tracks: “We Are Happy Landfill,” “Rockit.”

6. M.I.A - Kala

What can I even say about M.I.A? Her music sometimes doesn’t even warrant accurate description without actually being able to listen to it. “Kala” is her sophomore album, and it is every bit as good as her previous effort "Arular". In “Kala,” this Sri Lankan woman embraces world-music sounds such as tribal chanting and hand drums and mixes them with loud electronic bass and hip-hop beats. The combination of those two very different sounds serve to create a sound that I’ve never heard before, and one that makes me want to listen to this disc over and over again. Dance club material for sure, the majority of the tracks are produced by electronic artist Switch, with a pair of them produced by the everywhere-right-now Timbaland. Definitely an album for anyone to pick up and give a listen to. Best tracks: “Paper Planes,” “Bird Flu.”

5. The Flaming Lips - UFO’s at the Zoo

This album is full of memories for me, rocketing it to the #5 spot on this list. “UFO’s at the Zoo” is a live album recorded by the Flaming Lips during their fall tour in Oklahoma City. I saw them later on here in Seattle. As most tours go, the set list is very similar throughout the dates, so listening to this disc reminds me of one of the greatest shows I’ve ever been to, complete with aliens, santa claus, and giant bubbles (you had to have been there). A great overview of the Flaming Lips’ very large catalog, I’d recommend this album in a second to any Lips’ fan, or anybody who wants to try to get into their music and doesn't know where to start giving their intimidating catalog. Best tracks: “Race for the Prize,” “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song.”

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4. Graduation - Kanye West

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an album as hyped everywhere as this one was. Between his media frenzy record-sales battle with 50 Cent and the fact that nobody could stop talking about it, when it finally dropped my excitement was immense. The hype was justified though, as this is definitely the best hip-hop album of the year. Kanye West shows in this album that his production skills have only gotten better with time, utilizing sick synths in almost every song and picking only the best guest stars (Lil’ Wayne, Daft Punk, T-Pain) to accompany him with a verse. A great listen all the way from beginning to end, this album (and the fact that he won said album sales battle) will only give Kanye more reason to be full of himself. Best tracks: “Good Life (Feat. T-Pain), “I Wonder.”

3. Radiohead - In Rainbows

Originally scheduled for a 2008 release, Radiohead pulled a quick one on their fans and randomly posted on their website in October that the album would be released in 10 days. The “catch,” if you will, was that it would be only available online, and you could pay however much money you wanted for it, including $0.00. Already a great album, the fact that with it Radiohead is trying to change the way music is distributed is what makes the album and the whole idea surrounding it awesome, and what puts it so high on this list. Record companies, listen up: this is the future. You can’t stop it. Best tracks: “Weird Fishes / Arpeggi,” “Bodysnatchers.”

2. Daft Punk - Alive 2007

Another live album, the only difference being that this one would still occupy this spot even if I hadn’t gone to the show. Daft Punk, the electronic music gods, have put together what’s essentially a greatest hits album with a twist - all of their back catalog has been mashed up with itself, distorted, scratched, and combined with a good bit of new material into a show (and an album) that won’t be forgotten. Tracks from 2005’s disappointment “Human After All” gain new life in the mix with other tracks of theirs, and even Thomas Bangalter’s solo work gets the spotlight in the 10 minute long encore. Going to the show would be the best way to experience this set, complete with a mind-melting light show, but since that tour is now over, this album is the best way to experience the magic that was the “Alive 2007” tour. Best tracks: The whole thing.

1. Justice - †

If OiNK hadn’t have existed, I never would have found this album. After seeing it in the top 10 most downloaded albums, I checked it out, loved it, and immediately went out and purchased it. I would have never bought it if it wasn’t for me “stealing” it first. This is, hands down, the best electronic music album that I’ve heard since Daft Punk’s “Discovery.” From beginning to end, Justice employ distorted synths, the same drum beat in almost every song (but boy is it a good one), and stadium-rock style production that crams the frequency spectrum into a mid-range band so loud that it feels like it’s slapping you in the face. The bass thumps, the highs hiss, and the whole album changed the way I thought about electronic music. I dare anyone to listen to this album and not want to immediately get up and dance. Amazing. Best tracks: “Genesis,” “DVNO.”

I really had no idea what to expecct. All I knew is that this concert was one that I couldn't miss.

$85 later ($35 concert and $50 bus), I was on my way to Portland early Sunday morning. I listened to the entirety of Gunther's first album, "Pleasureman," on the bus ride, complete with such mega-hits as The Ding Dong Song, and Tutti Fruitti Summer Love. It still hadn't sunk in that later that night I was going to meet this man. What was I going to say? Does this man take himself seriously or is this just some brilliant stage persona that he fools all of us dumbass Americans with all the way to the bank?

The show was at the Hawthorne Theater, a small club venue in east Portland. After waiting in line for more than an hour, we filled the small room along with about 200 other people. Everyone was just as excited as we were about this show, and it was very evident. The DJ spinning hip hop wasn't going to cut it: few were dancing, most were standing around talking about Gunther and when he was going to come out. "GUNTHER. GUNTHER. GUNTHER!" The crowd chanted with no avail. An hour plus later, at 10:45, he finally came out.

The entirety of the show would have been underwhelming if it was any other man besides Gunther. He had no set, a bare club stage with some cords and things running around, and a table at the back where his dj "spun" backing tracks for all of the songs. As he weaved through the hits from his album, his behavior on stage didn't change much. He would go from singing to dancing with his "sunshine girls" pretty sexually, to sticking his hands out on the crowd so people could touch him.

He hardly talked, aside from saying what song was next and such memorable lines as "I LOVE AMERICA!," and "Where are my pleasure men in the crowd?" "What about my party ladies?" which caused some intense audience screaming. His "Sunshine Girls" were obviously lipsynching, and one was a whole lot hotter than the other one.

The ugly one


The hotter one

Regardless of how underwhelming the entire stage performance was, the audience made up for it. Everyone was just as into the rediculousness as I was, and was dancing, jumping, and singing their hearts out for the man on stage. Everyone knew the words to every song (not a hard feat), and Gunther would regularly stick his mic out into the crowd and let us sing over the fake Sunshine Girls vocals. Everyone (including myself) was loving every second. I didn't understand how this was possible.

He seriously must have had us all under some kind of spell. I don't think anyone else could have gotten away with putting on such a show and charging $35. I mean, come on, Daft Punk was $40.

After his set was over, since we had backstage passes, we got to meet him. That basicially entailed about a minute on stage for a photo and a couple words.

A: "Great show man. When's the new album coming out?"
G: "Thank you. The new album should be out next summer. It's a summer album."

$85 well spent? Hell yes.