But enough talk, it's time for the good stuff
The Climaxan's Top 10 Albums of the Year
10. Mae- Singularity
Mae's last album,The Everglow, was sort of hit and miss. It had some really solid tracks, but for the most part never really captured the energy from Destination Beautiful (their first album) Singularity brought back what makes Mae such a standout band, and that's beautiful music that dips into rock territory on each track.
9. Tokyo Rose- The Promise in Compromise
This band should be bigger than they are. Period. Tokyo Rose plays high energy pop punk that is as well written as it is catchy. There have been many other pop/punk bands that have received exposure over the years who would cry tears of untold fear if they heard a little Tokyo Rose.
8. Fall Out Boy- Infinity on High
Fall Out Boy receives truckloads of disrespect. Why? Is it because they got too big too fast, is it because Pete Wentz isn't afraid of the camera, is it because they put on a mediocre live show? It could be for all of these reasons, but anyone who says that their albums aren't pure pop/punk gold, isn't listening close enough. You don't have to love Fall Out Boy, but one can't deny that they are good at what they do. There was no better album this year to roll the windows down and unabashedly rock out.
7. Maroon 5- It Wont Be Soon Before Long
This was one of my surprises from this year. I won't lie, just like the Killers last year, Maroon 5 was a band I loved to hate on. Then I actually gave them an honest listen, followed by large quantities of crow. Maroon 5 is catchy, confident, funky as hell, and they know it. IWBSBL is an album that you start from track one and let play out until the end, giving you everything from dance songs to love songs to straight rock songs. I copped Songs About Jane thanks to this, and I am now a full-fledged Maroon 5 fan. Don't hate.
6. Talib Kweli- Ear Drum
Kweli and Hi-Tek's Reflection Eternal is one of my favorite albums of all time. This is a double-edged sword for me, because every Kweli album I hear I hold to that standard. This really isn't fair, because to me, Reflection Eternal is a masterpiece, and masterpieces are hard to put out once every two years. With that said, Ear Drum is the closest Kweli has come to the greatness of Reflection. Ear Drum has 20+ songs, featuring some of the best writing of any Kweli album. Kweli is the most underrated M.C. in Hip Hop, and one day he'll get the respect commercially that he deserves.
5. The Shins- Wincing the Night Away
Tar me, feather me, do what you must, but Wincing the Night Away was the first Shins album that I've ever bought. I'd heard a lot of their older stuff at random times, but never a full album. Wincing the Night Away was the first album that I picked up this year, as it was the only beacon of quality music in the desolate month of January. The album itself played well to that role, because as it progresses it's like dancing through a relaxing, rainy winter afternoon. If that sounds like a downer, it's not. It's a sobering optimism. Now I've used up all of my adjectives.
4. Sara Bareilles- Pretty Voice
I don't know what my problem used to be. For the longest time female vocalists proved difficult for me to get into, and that's not because I'm sexist. I grew up on Fleetwood Mac, and early in my life I was really into No Doubt. I think my biggest hang up is that many popular female vocalists don't write their own music. This excuse is also out the window now, as in the past couple of years great female singer songwriters have started to emerge, and Sara Bareilles is one of them. Her writing is top notch, the story of her career is inspiring to anyone who plays music, and better yet this chick can sing some blues. She sort of reminds me of a female version of John Mayer, and if you love bluesy rock/piano then you can't deny yourself this album. I mean you can, but I wouldn't recommend it.
3. Coheed and Cambria- No World For Tomorrow
Arena rock died, then Coheed resurrected it. Coheed almost died, then No World For Tomorrow resurrected them. After Good Apollo, Coheed lost their drummer and bassist, and for a band whose cornerstone is intricate ballady prog rock, that is kind of a big deal. Luckily their bassist returned (thanks to rehab) and they were able to recruit more than capable drummer Chris Penne in order to finish recording the album. The result is Coheed's best album to date, combining all of the positive elements from their previous albums, then turning the "rock out" component to 11. The fact that Claudio Sanchez can play the guitar arrangements he does while at the same time singing his off the wall lyrics still blows my mind. Only now he's better at it. Scary stuff, and by scary I mean awesome.
2. Motion City Soundtrack- Even If It Kills Me
Motion City Soundtracks lead singer Justin Pierre has a knack for writing lyrics that take depressing situations, (i.e heartbreak, addiction, paranoia, more heartbreak) and turning them into catchy songs that somehow, someway, make you happy. These aren't your standard sappy emo songs, they are honest and self-deprecating, filled with off the wall metaphors and comparisons that give Motion City it's originality. It helps that those lyrics are also backed by high energy moog rock, catchy hooks, and slick guitar. Even if it Kills Me feels like a transition album both in style and in reality. This is the main reason this album is so high on my list. These aren't songs about High School issues, this album touches on situations that many people face when they come to milestone decisions in their life, and how to deal with the consequences. Even if It Kills Me couldn't have come at a better time in my life.
1. Paulson- All at Once
Catchiest album of the year. Freshest album of the year. My most listened to album of the year (according to my itunes), making it naturally my album of they year. Paulson is still very indie, even by indie standards. However, if they stop in your town, you will quickly learn who they are by word of mouth. Their music is a mix of many different styles including but not limited to, pop, rock, dance, funk, and electronic, making it hard place these guys in a single genre. Paulson's vocals blend perfectly with their sound and if you don't find yourself moving to their music then you my friend have no soul. Paulson backs this up with a very entertaining live show that loses no energy from the album. You should have bought this album yesterday, and that's all there is to it.Worst Album(s) of the Year:
(Tie) Saves the Day- Under the Boards
Saves the Day are some of the founding fathers of the emo/pop/punk revolution that kicked off in the early 00's. Their albums have always been all over the place when it comes to sound, but at least up until this point, there was something for everyone due to the quality of the writing and instrumentals. On Under the Boards, Saves the Day offers up one of the most painful musical experiences that I have ever had to sit through from a band that I love. I know your sad Chris Conley, but sadness doesn't mean you've forgotten song structure, or how to carry a note. Two things that are missing from Under the Boards. That's not to say that every song on the album is bad, but most of them are. I just hope they get back on track for the third part of the trilogy they are working on, because simply thinking about Under the Boards gives me a stomach ache.
(Tie) Kanye West- Graduation
This album is on many top ten lists this year, in fact, it is some people's album of the year. This absolutely boggles my mind. I don't see how any Kanye fan (which I am) who has listened to any of Kanye's previous work (which I own), can think that this is a good album (which I don't). At best this is a "Meh" album. There are two to three quality tracks, including "Stronger" and "Champion". If anything I viewed this album as a step back for Kanye. His delivery was broken, the beats seemed lazy, his subject matter played out. I miss College Dropout Kanye, who was honest, original, confident but not too cocky. That Kanye was real. Graduation Kanye feels like another ice rap retread. Remember Kanye it's only cool to rap about gold if you you got it from Ghana and Mali.
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Well that does it for my music list of 2007. There where still a few albums that I never got around to hearing, like the new Jimmy Eat World and Radiohead that I'm sure I'll hear as the front end of 2008 seems to be a little light and I'll be needing some new music. That's not to say that 2008 will be weak, as there are new albums from the likes of Jack Johnson, Death Cab for Cutie, 311, Saves the Day (fingers crossed), Paulson, and Dr. Dre that I know of already, not even counting the surprises that come along. So enjoy and listen to as much music as you possibly can, it'll make your life that much better.
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