My Favorite Albums of 2007

After the birth of our son and the most serious computer crash I've ever experienced, I finally compiled my favorite albums of 2007. Hopefully, some of you still have some remaining iTunes gift certificates to experiment with or an emusic subscription that is begging for suggestions.

When I first started looking back at the music I acquired in 2007, I thought that picking a favorite album would be easy because a) there really wasn't that much good music last year, and b) I hadn't really picked up that much music in 2007. I quickly realized that neither of those points were valid.

Blah Blah Blah Disclaimer ... I'm not the experts, and I don't get all the free records that they get. To see the expert's favorites, check the links below. To see my favorites, hit the jump.

BEST 2007 ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS
metacritic
Rolling Stone Top 50 of 2007
Paste Top 100 of 2007
Zulu Records Staff Picks of 2007 (my favorite record shop in Vancouver)
The Right Reverend Steve McCoy

MY FAVORITE 30 ALBUMS OF 2007

[no intention to repeat the list of 30, but it just happened]

30.

Aqualung, Memory Man

I listened to this album way too much this year for it to miss this list. Though maybe not as mellow as Strange and Beautiful, I love it from the first notes of Cinderella through the end. Matt Hales makes great pop records as far as I'm concerned. Forget the comparisons to Coldplay or Jeff Buckley and just let him do what he does.

29.

Animal Collective, Strawberry Jam

I think that Feels might still get more play, but this album's late release may make it one that grows on me this year.

28.

Stars, Do You Trust Your Friends?

Maybe I'm a mindless fan of Arts & Crafts artists, but I don't see where the criticism of this album comes from. Clearly, it follows the trend of indie-outtakes/remix albums, but I think with a fun twist. Of course it's not in the category of Set Yourself on Fire, but I think that musically it is more than just a novelty piece. I listen to this album quite a bit (and love Jason Collett's version of Reunion). Check the list of contributors here. If you're not into Broken Social Scene and all the artists that make up that collective, I suggest making 2008 the year that you remedy this problem.

27.

Apostle of Hustle, National Anthem of Nowhere

See #28 above. And check out Folkloric Feel (which I also picked up in 2007).

26.

Jose Gonzalez, In Our Nature

I read one reviewer that said something to the effect of "Gonzalez has outlived his 10mb of fame." I appreciate the wit, but I don't resonate with the sentiment. There is nothing substantively different from Veneer here, but that doesn't mean the album is no good. As I have said elsewhere, my favorites are often influenced by the fact that I read a lot. This album is perfect for that.

25.

A Fine Frenzy, One Cell In the Sea

A great pop record in my opinion.

24.

Pinback, Autumn of the Seraphs

It pains me to put this record this close to the bottom of the list, but it just wasn't their best effort to date. Good, not great. Rob Crow does redeem himself and make appearances again at #s 11 & 7.

23.

Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew Spirit If...

See #28 & #27 above. I debated what to do with this album because of the language...

22.

Patti Griffin, Children Running Through

Not her best effort to date, IMO.

21.

Elliot Smith, New Moon

I still remember the day he died.

20.

Ryan Adams, Easy Tiger

Generally not my style, but a friend in KC gave me this album and I have listened to it quite a bit. It wound up in my bag and has therefore been my rental car theme music along with Wilco's Sky Blue Sky.

19.

Beirut, The Flying Club Cup

18.

Caribou, Andorra

Oh, to be a nerd as cool as Daniel Victor Snaith.

17.

Blktop Project

If you like Tommy Guerrero, just imagine him jamming with all his friends...

16.

Great Lakes Swimmers, Ongiara

I was reluctant to buy this album simply because everyone kept telling me to. I'm so glad that my curiosity won.

15.

Battles, Mirrored

Makes me miss the old Don Cab, but I like it...

14.
Tegan & Sara, The Con

How many Canadians will make my list this year? Seriously?

13.

Iron & Wine, The Shepherd's Dog

12.

Feist, The Reminder

Did I say something about Canadians yet or mention Arts & Crafts? And do I criticize her for the iPod commercial or congratulate her?

11.

Rob Crow, Living Well

My life dream is to be as weird as Rob Crow.

10.

Wilco, Sky Blue Sky

I have a great memory of listening to this album for the first time with a friend and giving him a tour of Kansas City. Such a good memory, in fact, that I went home and bought the album.

9.

Explosions in the Sky, All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

Did this seriously not make anyone's list?

8.

Jens Leckman, Night Falls Over Kortedala

Delightfully odd.

7.

Other Men, Wake Up Swimming

We all wanted Heavy Vegetable to make a return...and I wasn't disappointed.

6.

Panda Bear, Person Pitch

PHENOMENAL. No question whether or not this gets more play than Feels. I read the review. I bought the album.

5.

New Pornographers, Challengers

Fond, fond memories of Vancouver.

4.

The National, Boxer

Duininck gave me Alligator and I thank him.

3.

Spoon, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

2.

Andrew Bird, Armchair Apocrypha

I could debate whether or not it's as good as Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs, or I could just say that it's an amazing record. See the photographs I took when Katie and I saw him in Bellingham this spring. If I were skinny and cool, I would dress just like him.

1.

Arcade Fire, Neon Bible

This made lots of lists, but it takes the top spot on mine. I bought this the day it was released and have yet to tire of it. Watch them work their mojo in an elevator and then buy the album if you don't already own it.

HONORABLE MENTION

I didn't ignore these two, just haven't had time to listen to them. I picked them up with Christmas gift certificates...

Thoughts? Questions? Criticism?

PAST WINNERS

2004: Pinback, Blue Screen Life (actually a 2001 album, but I bought it after a friend gave me Summer in Abaddon in 2004)

2005: Sufjan Stevens, Illinois

2006: My 30 Favorite Albums (Jose Gonzalez, Veneer came out on top)

Comments

[Kevin Cawley]

Inevitably, I look back and think, "Oh, what about..."

Winterpills, Band of Horses, maybe Okkervil River...

maybe others...

[brad andrews]

enjoyed your list! we had the same #1 and #2...

great minds...

relevintage's top 20 of 2007

[Wes Crawford]

Which Patty Griffin record would you say is better than this one? 1,000 Kisses? Living with Ghosts? Melissa and I love those records, but this one is really strong.

We stopped in Austin on the way back to Mexico and picked up her new live DVD at Waterloo Records. Who else combines such amazingly strong writing with amazing performances like hers?

Oh, and who introduced you to the Wilco record? Remember that I told you to get it back in September?

[Kevin Cawley]

Wes-

I honestly didn't mean my Patty Griffin comment to sound negative because I really like this album. She is just someone that I would always expect to be in the top ten (save Flaming Red, which I wasn't huge on).

I said the same thing about the Pinback record.

You did tell me to check out the Wilco record...and that's the same thing I said when my friend Jonathan played it for me in our rental car.

[Kevin Cawley]

ohhhh...how I love Waterloo

[Matthew]

This list only makes me feel sad about all of the music I am missing out on...I feel so overwhelmed.

[david]

kevin,
thanks for keeping me tuned in to new and interesting music. i had your 2006 list starred in my reader all year long for consultation. 2007'll join 'er.

[Steve]

Thanks for doing this Kevin.

[ben]

radiohead is diabolical... lucky for you, it was officially released in 2008... so it won't have to miss a top ten spot 12 mos from now.

sort of surprised with your #1. not in a bad way. just surprised.

[AJ]

Great list, Kevin, and maybe I'll have to pick up the Great Lake Swimmers now that I've heard about it repeatedly... A little surprised that Wincing the Night Away only got hon. mention, but I do like their last CD better.

[Lucas]

My apple just crashed...only $1500 to recover all my music and photos!!! I'm broke now.

Thanks for the album recommendations. I'll have to pick up Neon Bible. I found your blog from your friend Matthew.

Cheers,
Lucas