Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Best of 2007 Music Lists

You could troll the Internet, searching for Best of 2007 music lists. But why? Right here on the Paste website you can find all the variety you need, including the official "Paste Top 100 Albums" list, plus individual Top 10 lists from various staff members and writers. And if you act now, you can vote on your own choices for Best Albums of 2007.

What is glaringly obvious from these lists is that the music world is more fragmented than ever, and that there is no clear-cut consensus on "Best of" anything. Out of approximately thirty lists, I don't think the same album appears twice in the top spot.

Here's my list, by the way, which shouldn't contain too many surprises for anyone who's been paying attention to this blog.

1. Ezra Furman and the Harpoons -- Banging Down the Doors
2. Southeast Engine -- A Wheel Within a Wheel
3. Devon Sproule -- Keep Your Silver Shined
4. Joe Henry -- Civilians
5. Bruce Springsteen -- Magic
6. Frog Eyes -- Tears of the Valedictorian
7. Peter Case -- Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John
8. Arcade Fire -- Neon Bible
9. Anders Osborne -- Coming Down
10. Future Clouds and Radar -- Future Clouds and Radar

7 comments:

woodsmeister said...

I've not heard the remainder of this list, but there's a very good chance that 3,4,5 and 7 will also find places on my top ten list. Also very likely to end up on my list are Nathan - Key Principles, The Strangelings - Season of the Witch, Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior, Junction Pool (self-titled) Eddi Reader - Peacetime, Mavis Staples - We'll Never Turn Back.

Brian Estabrook said...

From the albums I've listened to extensively:

1. Radiohead: In Rainbows
2. Over the Rhine: The Trumpet Child
3. Iron & Wine: Shepherd's Dog
4. Ryan Adams: Easy Tiger
5. The Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
6. Ezra Furman & The Harpoons: Banging Down The Doors
7. Josh Ritter: Historical Conquests
8. Sigur Ros: Hvarf/Heim
9. Derek Webb: The Ringing Bell
10. Wilco: Sky Blue Sky

mg said...

i'm always impressed with how early in the year you compile your list Andy. i tried to do mine early last year but ended up editing it twice. i have a good idea of what this years' list will look like, but it is entirely likely that some albums will still grab ahold before years' end.

i'm a little surprised "in rainbows" or "sky blue sky" aren't on here...

Andy Whitman said...

Michael, I do the list early because I need to get it in time to contribute to Paste's end of the year issue, which lists the year's Top 100 albums. If I didn't have that impetus, I'd probably wait until later (like maybe the end of the year :-)).

I didn't list Radiohead because, gasp, I haven't actually heard the entire album. I've heard some songs, and I like what I've heard a lot, but I figure it's dishonest to list an album when I haven't actually heard the entire album. I'll get around to it. I just haven't gotten there yet. I think the new Wilco album is pretty good, but not Top 10 material.

Much to my dismay, I only have so much time in life to listen to music. Little things like fulltime jobs and families keep interfering with my plans. :-) I've probably received 800 albums this year, of which I've probably listened to about 300. That makes it tough to respond to the breathless inquiries from various music publicists? What do I think about Album X? Umm, I'll get back to you on that one. I'm learning to say "I have no opinion" a lot.

Anonymous said...

Hi Andy,

I was kind of shocked to not see the Peter Case record in the Paste 100. I wonder where it was? I kind of felt that this album was brilliant. I guess he will just continue to fly completely below the radar.

I just ordered the Southeast Engine record. Also ordered the Kane, Kaplin, Welch record.

Also, wondering how you are feeling?

Gar

scott said...

Did you get BRUUUUCE!!!! tickets today for his show here in March?

Hang in there - you are in our thoughts and pryaers.

Catfish Vegas said...

Thanks for the tip on that Ezra Furman album. I picked it up on the label's Web site and I've recommended it to about a dozen other people since.