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Every weekday of December (except for December 25, that is), Phillyist will be counting down to 2008 with our highlights from the past year and our predictions for the next. If you have a list you'd like to submit, let us know!
I'm a music guy. I listen to a ton of music, and because of Phillyist, I've been able to hear a lot of great stuff I never would have heard otherwise. But, no matter how much of a music fan you are, there are always some great albums that slip through the cracks and you don't manage to hear, even though you really should. So here are ten albums from 2007 I really should have heard by now, but for some reason haven't. Some are on this list because of critical buzz, while others are based on my own thoughts about the artists. And I pose the question to you, dear readers: Which two or three of these albums should I use my lovely Amazon gift card to buy?
10. Robert Plant | Alison Krauss (MySpace): Raising Sand:
I'm interested in this album for my sheer morbid curiosity about the pairing of the two artists. How do a legendary hard rock voice and a smooth bluegrass/country tone pair up? I confess I've listened to a couple clips from the album, and based on my limited listening, I'd have to say, it sounds like they pair pretty well.
9. Modest Mouse (MySpace): We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank:
Quite simply, I don't know how Modest Mouse's latest release slipped through the cracks for me. I was a big fan of Good News for People Who Love Bad News, so I really should have picked it up shortly after it came out. And even if I didn't do that, it's been out for over nine months now. No excuse.
8. Serj Tankian (MySpace): Elect the Dead:
Tankian produced one of my favorite albums of the year, Fair to Midland's (MySpace) Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True. Plus, I was pretty enamored with "Empty Walls" when it came out a couple months ago. And while System of a Down isn't quite my thing, I think Tankian's solo effort might be more up my alley.
7. Kanye West (MySpace): Graduation:
Critics everywhere, including our own Bill Hayes, have put Graduation on their "Best of 2007" lists. Kanye West is one of the few hip-hop/R&B artists who I actually turn up when his songs come on my car radio. So I should probably give this one a listen.
6. Kings of Leon (MySpace): Because of the Times:
I've seen Because of the Times on a ton of critics' "Best Rock Albums of '07" lists, and I love some good Southern-influenced rock. I'm ashamed to admit I'd never heard of Kings of Leon before I started checking around for Best of '07 lists, so this album is on this list because I'm wondering what I'm missing.
5. The White Stripes (MySpace): Icky Thump:
The fact that this was Bill's favorite album of the year is reason enough to have it on this list. Plus the fact that, oh, you know, it's the White Stripes.
4. Fooling April (MySpace): In the Now:
Fooling April is one of bands that really impressed me when I saw them live this year. Their place on this list is based completely on my experiences seeing them perform... and because there had to be at least one local artist included here.
3. Of Montreal (MySpace): Hissing Fauna, Are You Destroyer?:
I run hot and cold with Of Montreal, but when I'm in the mood for them, very little else will satisfy me. This is another album that's all over the critics' lists. And even though Joe thought they got upstaged by their opener, Grand Buffet, I've heard too much about Hissing Fauna to not wish I'd heard it.
2. Spoon (MySpace): Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga:
Editor Jill turned me on to Spoon a few months ago. It took a while for Gimme Fiction to grow on me, but it has. Hell, I'm surprised Jill hasn't gotten this one yet, which is really why it's on the list I suppose.
1. The National (MySpace): Boxer:
Seriously, name a Best Albums of 2007 list that Boxer isn't on. No matter where I look, I can't escape someone telling me this album isn't great. The only people I've come across who aren't enamored with them are Bill and Pencopal, and Editor Jim pretty strongly disagrees with them. So I need to know what all the fuss is about.
Image of Of Montreal via Flickr user michael morel.
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Boxer is pretty undisputably fucking good. I won't call it genius, but it's quality (although, I do agree with Bill that it kind of fizzles out nearer the end of the end of the album).
I think that Pencopal must have made her judgment of the album after getting home from the Girl Talk show. That's really the only explanation for saying it blows goats.
I'm on Jim's side.
Yeah, I still think Boxer is pretty fantastic. I was a little disappointed by this year's Spoon album - good, but not their best work, and that title is just really annoying - but I love Icky Thump and We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.
Damn, thanks for thowing me under the bus. :) I stand by my comments on the album, but I will admit that their live show (or at least the one I saw) totally kills.