Finals are over! Good times...
I was so entertained and inspired (and then jealous) by everyone's insightful comments that I had to do some of my own. My first list was hastily thrown together due to time constraints created by finals, but this one is much more comprehensive. Note: No changes have been made to sections that are ranked, but there are some additions to the "also very good, but not my top ten" section.
So, here is my list, Version 2.0:
The very first music that I heard these guys play was at a free show at The Avalon in Santa Clara. The concert was recommended to me by The Bravery's MySpace blog which read, "If you like a good dose of real-man rock n' roll, you must see this show." I said "Fuck It" and rolled over the hill to check it out. They rocked, like take-your-pants-off rocked, but didn't have any music for sale. So, I asked the guitarist where I could pick up an album. He said, "Write down your address and I'll send you one." The very next week I received the recently cut album in the mail, shrink wrapped and free of charge. This album still rocks me every time... Easily my #1 of the year. Sadly, they are no longer a band. Yep, one and done. I guess they gave away too many free albums. Check 'em out at thecolour.tv
This is just an enjoyable, energetic, enthusiastic album by a band with a cool name. MAXIMO! There are probably 5 to 7 songs that legitimately competed for the "Songs of the Year" slots, led by "Books From Boxes," which, as Serena explained to me, is ironically about removing books from boxes. Go figure. Anyway, there are no guessing games with these guys, you get exactly what the song title suggests and so much MAXIMO!
J. Cato played this album for me some time early in the year, and I distinctly remember how it made me feel deep down in my pants. When I finally "acquired" it from my brother through blatant copyright infringement, "The Stage Names" quickly became the album that I listened to on a near daily basis on my walk to school. If only all the dreary, sad-eyed business people knew how much fun I was having in my iPodcentric world.
What's not to like? I have been told that Funeral is "so much better" and that "Neon Bible is a total sell-out album." Man, I really hate other people's opinions. They are both good albums. Cheers.
I was really into this album around November/December of '06 (which kind of screws with its validity to be on this list) then didn't listen to it for a long while. But when I went to their show in September it revitalized my love for this group and this album... except "Charmer." What were they thinking?
There are times when this album, the 1st solo release from the former lead guitarist of The Drive-By Truckers, gets a little slow, but the more I listen to it, the more I enjoy every song. You don't have to fully appreciate the country twang to dig this album, but a taste for southern rock is fairly essential. Side note: Isbell is constantly on tour and puts on one hell of a show.
The truth is that I'm not that into Modest Mouse, and never have been (there I said it), so the fact that this album made the top ten says a whole lot for the consistent quality of the tracks throughout this effort. I guess you could call it education.
The Shins are so damn good. Before I narrowed this list down from 18 to 10, I put all 18 albums in one playlist and walked around for maybe a week just listening to those 18 albums. Every time a Shins song came on I was overjoyed.
I just started listening to this maybe two weeks before this list was made, so this album has the potential to rise, but that won't factor in here. I simply cannot deny how great the song-writing is, and how songs like "Methamphetamine" instantaneously alter my mood... hmmm.
This album was consistently knocked, but with the exception of the repetitive drone of "The Lighthouse," I like every song on this album. Interpol just does it for me, even though I can never figure out what the hell Paul Banks is singing about... another example of how good music doesn't have to have a lick of comprehensible meaning.
I like. But I like 10 others a little bit more.
Had to grow on me, so perhaps it just needed more time to crack the top 10.
Very good, but the fact that I anticipated this album so much after seeing them at Bumbershoot last year took away from its eventual firepower.
Rad! Not top 10, but rad.
Very nice, Bruce. Is The Boss back, or did he never really go away?
Some good stuff, some OK stuff, some forgettable stuff. So, just like the title of the album, it's a bit complicated.
Just started to listen to it during finals. Me like.
This one might be my favorite study album of the 07 finals season.
I admit that many of the songs below are somewhat "obvious" because the list essentially mirrors my top albums list, but I looked at the iTunes play count and assessed that way... with consideration to newer songs that had not had the chance to be played as often. So, this is the "fair and balanced" look at my favorite songs of '07
You'd have to be crazy or deaf not to like this song.
See above. If you can't relate to the theme of the song, it obvious that you still live in your parent's house.
I'd put the whole album up here, but that wouldn't be interesting.
I think that this is the best song of the year. Just not enjoyed as long the top three.
You'd have to be crazy, deaf, or an addict not to like this song.
You'd have to be crazy or deaf not to like this song.
You'd have to be crazy or deaf not to like this song.
You'd have to be crazy or deaf not to like this song.
You'd have to be crazy or deaf not to like this song.
You'd have to be crazy or deaf not to like this song.
Neko rocks!
Dance party?
In my opinion, the best of many good songs.
This song is about stopping in the middle of a make-out session to turn up a pop song... if you can't relate to this song, I don't think we can be friends.
"The more I listen to Radiohead, the less I understand why people like them."