Thirteen Albums…

The Best of 2007.
By: Paul Atkinson & Ryan Napier

Now that the year 2008 is under way there’s been time enough to reflect on the mountains of music that 2007 brought to the ears of many. After weeding out the utterly horrible the best albums of last year have been narrowed down into a handful, thirteen albums:

-Against Me! – New Wave (Punk Rock)
Although diehard fans claimed that Against Me! sold out by signing to Sire, these Gainesville punks did the most anti-establishment thing possible: made a great album that redefined their sound without giving a shit what anyone thought about them.
Key Tracks: “Thrash Unreal,” “White People for Peace”

-Anberlin – Cities (Emotional Indie Rock)
Thoughtful and powerful songs of love, loss, and hope. A cohesive album that combines choruses you can’t get out of your head with explosive rock riffs, piano laden heartfelt love songs, an album that never makes you want to skip ahead.
Key Tracks: “Godspeed” “Dismantle. Repair.”

-The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible (Indie/Art Rock)
While their first album, Funeral, dealt with death and private grief, the Arcade Fire’s newest album takes on the terrifying world of 2007, channeling Springsteen and the Pixies to create a beautiful, frightening picture of Bush’s America.
Key Tracks: “Keep the Car Running,” “Intervention”

-Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare (Indie/Retro Rock)
Already the darlings of NME and the rest of the British music media, Arctic Monkeys proved that they were more than just hype, making a second album that branched out into the band’s new-rave roots and showed that they were more than one-hit wonders.
Key Tracks: “Fluorescent Adolescent,” “505”

-Circa Survive – On Letting Go (Melodic Emo Rock)
Anthony Green belts out higher notes than man should be able to. Impressive musicianship, catchy choruses, and introspective, emotional lyrics will make you want to put this album on repeat.
Key Tracks: “The Difference Between Medicine And Poison Is In The Dose” “In The Morning And Amazing”

-Every Time I Die – The Big Dirty (Hardcore Rock N’ Roll)
A balls to the wall, face-punching hardcore album with an in your face southern rock tinge. A non-stop, fast paced album, full of surprisingly witty lyrics, and enough breakdowns to bring satisfaction to any angst-ridden day.
Key Tracks: “We’rewolf” “Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Battery”

-The Fall of Troy – Manipulator (Progressive Emo Core)
This trio creates some of the most technical, unique, and epic music of our time. With face melting guitars, catchy choruses, and demonic scream ridden breakdowns, you’re in for a memorable ride of chaos and beauty.
Key Tracks: “Seattlantis” “Semi-Fiction”

-Four Year Strong – Rise Or Die Trying (Happy Hardcore)
If you read my review of this on earlier in the year and still haven’t picked this album up yet, then you’re really missing out. Fun and fast paced, pop punk meets metal, blink-182 meets Comeback Kid.
Key Tracks: “Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die” “Maniac (R.O.D.)”

-Portugal. The Man – Church Mouth (Experimental Indie Rock)
An impressively unique sound; high pitched crooning falsettos akin to Zeppelin, organ parts like the doors, funky drums, and sing-a-long songs with Dylan-esque, nearly nonsense lyrics make it feel like the 70’s all over again.
Key Tracks: “Church Mouth” “Bellies Are Full”

-Radiohead – In Rainbows (Experimental Rock)
Most of the buzz that surrounded In Rainbows was because of its revolutionary internet release, but that overshadows the fact that this is the most stunning, accessible, gorgeous music that Radiohead has made in ten years.
Key Tracks: “Bodysnatchers,” “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi”

-Say Anything – In Defense Of The Genre (Emotional Indie Rock)
You get your money’s worth with this one, a 27 song, double disc, concept album with no filler, not one bad song. This has everything from danceable radio hits, to angsty emo rock sagas, mellow acoustic tunes, piano ballads, and plenty of catchy pop punk anthems.
Key Tracks: “The Church Channel” “Baby Girl, I’m A Blur”

-Thrice – The Alchemy Index: Vol. I-II – Fire & Water (Experimental Post-Hardcore)
Another album I had the chance to review: powerful songs crossing genres; one disc is Fire themed, full of fiery metal riffs and screams; the other disc is water themed, piano and electronic drums meet soaring vocal melodies.
Key Tracks: “Burn The Fleet” “Digital Sea”

-The White Stripes – Icky Thump (Blues/Garage Rock)
Icky Thump may not be the Stripes’s best effort (that honor goes to 2003’s Elephant), but it’s certainly a solid album, letting Jack White fully embrace his inner Jimmy Page. And, as everyone knows, a good White Stripes album is better than a great album from any other band.
Key Tracks: “Icky Thump,” “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)”