Midyear 2007: The Best 20 Albums (Parts 10-1) Jun 21 '07    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line The best twenty albums so far through 2007. 10-1. Before I dive back into my midyear best of list, I’d like to point out some of the better albums that didn’t quite make my top twenty. As with any best of list, several pretty good albums narrowly missed the cut and they have been listed below. These albums are all very respectable in their own rights, and the fact that I kept them from my list of favorites doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them. Also below, I’ve included some of the newer releases that I’ve only recently obtained, and consequently haven’t had enough time to make a qualified judgment. I’m anticipating that they will undoubtedly make my year end list though. What Got Cut: -- Wilco: Sky Blue Sky -- Deerhoof: Friend Opportunity -- Patrick Wolf: The Magic Position -- Lily Allen: Alright Still -- Deerhunter: Cryptograms -- The Ponys: Turn The Lights Out -- The Field: From Here We Go Sublime Likely Additions to the Year End List: -- Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga -- Dinosaur Jr: Beyond -- The White Stripes: Icky Thump -- The Long Blondes: Someone to Drive You Home -- Blitzen Trapper: Wild Mountain Nation Alright, with that out of the way I think the only logical next step is to present to you the best ten albums halfway through 2007. Enjoy. 10. Battles – Mirrored If the very notion of something labeled math-rock alienates you, well, I can’t blame you in the slightest. Unless it’s De La Soul rapping about three being a magic number, I don’t think complicated mathematics should infiltrate my music. Although I’m all for innovation and dynamic song structures, I’d rather not need a calculator to figure out the time signatures of song. At least, so I thought. On their debut full length LP, Mirrored, Battles craft a futuristic, digital sonic landscape that is so playful and catchy it’s hard not to overlook the mayhem taking place all around the jovial melodies. It’s kind of like entering a circus sometime in the distant future featuring a certain collective of animals as the main attraction. On a technical level, Battles is light-years ahead of most of their peers in the indie-rock community. Although it’s occasionally hard to tell which noises are the manifestation of a laptop and which are legitimate, human creations, the end result is simply too memorable to argue, or even really care for that matter. For the most part, Mirrored is devoid of any standard vocals one might expect on a “rock” record, but vocals do appear in the form of whistles, chirping, and assorted yelps. As that would seem to suggest, little about this record is predictable or conventional, and in this case it pays off greatly. Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- Race: In -- Atlas -- Leyendecker -- Rainbow 9. The Apples in Stereo – New Magnetic Wonder There’s a pretty good chance that New Magnetic Wonder is the most accessible album on this list, and maybe the most accessible album released this year. I mean, if Rob Schneider’s pop brilliance doesn’t consistently, or even occasionally please you, you’re lying, dead, or an android. And nobody likes an android, robot-breath. Yeah, I went there. Naturally, accessibility doesn’t always spell worthwhile material – even if you turn it into an anagram – but the Apples in Stereo are able to craft sunny, user-friendly material from enough angles and frames of reference that you won’t be left unsatisfied. Schneider draws from such crowd pleasers as the Beatles, Oasis, and Neutral Milk Hotel at different intervals, so there’s bound to be something for everyone here. For all the single-ready tunes though, there are a few questionable decisions. Primarily, I wonder if borrowing the Mr. Roboto-era electronic, operatic vocals from the Styx was really necessary. I’m trying to think up a plausible explanation but there doesn’t seem to be one. I guess some things are just better left unsolved. Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- Energy -- 7 Stars -- Open Eyes -- Beautiful Machine Parts 3-4 8. The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse The longer I listen to music, the more I’m starting to become convinced Canada will soon take over the world. It seems the independent music scene is absolutely dominated by Canadian bands that seem to come out of nowhere. Perhaps I’m wrong, but they often present a keen knack for fresh and invigorating sound that the majority of the world – I’m looking at you Britain – could learn from. Now again, this is merely an opinion, but does it not seem likely that the Canadian government has developed some of sort of superiority formula that can turn the genes of even the most average hoser north of the border into something much, much more? Sure, first it’s music, but what next? I’ll tell you. Basketball. The Canadians are coming NBA. And there’s nothing you can do about it. Anyways, without a doubt, the Besnard Lakes are another one of these Canadian wonders with a debut, The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, that promises a long, prosperous future. Although the album nearly cripples itself with overindulgence, the band’s calm/explosive dynamics are captivating enough that your attention can’t quite drift past the point of no return. At its most delicate moments the vocals can sound uncannily like they were done by the Beach Boys. What makes the album great is the fact the Besnard Lakes are able to expand and modernize this influence with loud, erupting guitar. Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- Disaster -- For Agent 13 -- Devastation -- Cedric’s War 7. Dan Deacon – Spiderman of the Rings I’d like to use this moment to pause and venture into a brief exercise in thought. Imagine for a moment if you will, what might have been had the council responsible for the fate of Middle-Earth considered asking Spider-man to carry the one ring, instead of that feeble, creepy little short person. I mean seriously, how exactly did they overlook this option? And before you go ranting and raving about how stupid I am, and that Spider-man wasn’t around during these dire times, I’d like to point out that nothing in Lord of the Rings suggests a specific time period. All we know is that the battles caught on tape take place in New Zealand. Considering that I’ve seen many of the warriors fighting these battles develop subsequent acting careers, I am lead to believe that all of this took place not too long ago. So for the record, Spider-man would have, in fact, existed. And the council didn’t think their situation through enough to send an eagle or something to New York to ask him to come carry the ring to Mount Doom? We’re talking countless lives, human, elf, and orc, saved if Spider-man takes on this mission. Climbing to the top of an enormous volcano? No problem. Web-slinging gets him there in a matter of minutes. An orc with a poorly welded sword sneaks up from behind him? BAM! Spidey-sense b^tch. No more orc. That vile Gollum tries to bite off his finger to get the Ring? KABLIZAM! Web to the face and the creeper bites himself. Urghhh! Again we are forced to witness how the poor choices of those in charge can completely ignore the will of the common people and result in far too many lives lost. It’s sad really. Anyways, I waste your time with that meditation because it’s almost impossible to sum up the unbridled creativity and joy Dan Deacon’s Spiderman of the Rings boasts with mere words. This is truly one of those albums that you have to hear for yourself to understand how it could be considered essential. So, until you obtain a copy of the electronic, highly synthesized joyride that is Spiderman of the Rings, there’s not much more to do than ponder what might have been, and what might be. Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- Woody Woodpecker -- The Crystal Cat -- Wham City -- Snake Mistakes 6. Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocypha Whether we realize it or not, I think everyone has at least a few musical prejudices that keep them from exploring certain bands or artists. For example, when I initially heard Sleater-Kinney described as a threesome of girls, my mind did everything except imagine a heavy-hitting, punk trio that can rawk with the best of ‘em. So, when I originally heard Andrew Bird described as an excellent violist, I couldn’t help but assume the music would be a little too pristine and soft for my tastes. Of course, then I heard he had an incredible ability to whistle melodies. Right. Well, eventually I was able to overcome my unfounded assumptions – you know what they say about assumptions – and looked into Andrew Bird. Turns out, Bird fuses the aforementioned talents with infectious melodies, intelligent lyrics, and well-crafted songs that can’t be labeled anything other than rock and roll. On Armchair Apocypha all of these gifts are in full force, and Bird shakes out some of his most moving, memorable tracks yet. And for the record, his whistling is unparalleled in modern pop music. It’s honestly as potent a weapon as his guitar or violin. Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- Imitosis -- Heretics -- Dark Matter -- Plasticities 5. LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver I’m slightly torn over how I feel regarding Sound of Silver. You see, at its best, in the moments when James Murphy seamlessly merges contagious, brilliant pop hooks with electronic, danceable beats, it’s hard to view this record as anything less than album of the year material. For me, though, some of the more straight-up electronic tracks are too repetitious and devoid of thrills to qualify for any true replay value. That’s not to say they aren’t worth your time. For what they aim to be I actually think they’re very well done. It’s just that Murphy proves on the album’s best songs that he knows how to create something unique and innovative without compromising the album’s standing as a dance record. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that I think this album could have been one for the ages. Instead, it’s simply very good, although that’s not much to complain about, now is it? Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- North American Scum -- Someone Great -- All My Friends -- New York I Love You 4. Pop Levi – The Return to Form Black Magick Party On the album cover of Pop Levi’s solo debut, it’s hard not to note a striking resemblance to Captain Jack Sparrow. It’s fitting then, that the songs on The Return to Form Black Magick Party are about as fun and engaging as the zany pirate captain. Fortunately, they’re also about as unpredictable as well. Levi, who couldn’t have a more appropriate first name – his legal middle name I believe – is able to roam between mind-infiltrating power-pop worthy of the New Pornographers and bluesy folk numbers that always leave you wanting more. There’s no denying that the album is a little top-heavy and some more consistency from Pop hopefully will arise on subsequent releases. For the most part, though, Pop does a great job of consistently surprising the listener with new twists and turns that didn’t seem quite possible. For example, just when you think the crunchy chords of the exultant Pick Me Up Uppercut have run their course, Pop saves the day with a searing lick. If that’s not worthy of the excitement Captain Jack brings, I’m not sure what is. Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- Sugar Assault Me -- (A Style Called) Cryin’ Chic -- Pick Me Up Uppercut -- From the Day That You Were Born 3. Modest Mouse -- March Into the Sea Considering this is Modest Mouse’s first release with their name all over the mainstream radar, I think the group did a remarkable job. Isaac Brock and company utilize the polished production that got them to this stage, and mesh it with their own, distinct, hell-on-wheels hybrid rock better than most could have predicted. Brock’s connections reel in some big names too, including former Smith’s guitarist Johnny Marr – who actually joined the band for the album – and Shins lead singer James Mercer. Mercer provides backing vocals on some of the album’s strongest tracks and his inimitable pitch complements Brock’s snarl nicely. That said, Modest Mouse has written better albums so don’t be deceived into thinking this is the pinnacle of the group’s work. Still, it’s an excellent record and suggests that the band isn’t anywhere near the end of the line which is nice. I expect some more great music from the Mouse, hopefully soon. Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- March Into the Sea -- Florida -- Steam Engenius -- Spitting Venom 2. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? I always find it fairly interesting, and frankly, fairly disturbing, to learn that an upbeat, euphoric pop gem can contain downtrodden, depressed lyrics. I always think of Pet Sounds when musing on such albums. For every brilliant, saccharine melody The Beach Boys employ, there’s at least one set of legitimately sad lyrics. Well, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? is certainly another one of those albums. Creator and lead singer Kevin Barnes concocts some of the most unforgettable harmonies of recent memory while all the while focusing in on his failed relationship with his wife. Make no mistake about it, even at its brightest this album is unquestionably dark not only in its lyrical content, but in the general atmosphere as well. Barnes does a great job of ensnaring the listener with glimmering vocals layered over a hyperactive, digital rhythm section, only to remind them that life can really suck sometimes. Of course, Barnes phrases this in hyper-literate, poetic language that only adds to the initial value of the song. As far as replay value goes, Of Montreal has an album here that may very well stay in your rotation for years. Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- Suffer for Fashion -- A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger -- The Past is a Grotesque Animal -- She's a Rejector 1. Menomena – Friend And Foe After all the wonderful albums I’ve already praised and hailed, it’s probably something of a slap in the face for me to say that Friend and Foe is easily the best album of the year. In all honesty, though, every record on this list has shifted positions at least a few times. Except for one. There’s been no doubt in my mind since the first time I heard the album all the way through that this was the disc of the year. It’s going to take some impressive maneuvering from other bands to supplant Menomena, and I say this knowing full well that Radiohead and the Smashing Pumpkins have albums on the way. Unfortunately, Friend and Foe has been criminally overlooked by the majority of the music listening public. The songwriting on this album is absolutely mind-boggling, and the fact that the trio of guys responsible for I Am the Fun Blame Monster were able to maintain some sense of the same experimentation while still developing well-crafted melodies is amazing. The results here are truly breathtaking, with guitars, piano, horns, and drums all webbing into one well-oiled machine. I realize now that I’m not really saying anything intelligent, and am simply gushing with joy, but that’s honestly how I feel. Do yourself a favor everyone, and don’t let this one pass you by. Not ready for this kind of investment? Check out these tracks -- Muscle’n Flo -- The Pelican -- Air Aid -- Boyscout’n For everyone who read, thanks for your time and I hope you found something of interest. Let me know if you did. Continued Reading Parts 20-11

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