Top 10 CDs of 2007

To coincide with this weekend's Grammy awards, here's my seventh annual Top 10 albums of the year. Went through my Facebook CD list last night and had 15 CDs that I rated at least four out of five stars from over the hundred or so that I have listened to in the past twelve months. After much deliberation, these five just missed the cut (better luck next time) but are still recommended listens (listed alphabetically and all rated 4 Stars out of 5):

• Icky Thump - The White Stripes
• On a Clear Night - Missy Higgins
• Send Away The Tigers - Manic Street Preachers
• Twilight of the Innocents - Ash
• Zeitgeist - the Smashing Pumpkins

So now without further adieu, run the SportsCentre cue... Here's my Top 10 of 2007:

10. Year Zero - Nine Inch Nails [4 Stars out of 5]: Lived up to the hype... Coolest packaging with the actual CD changing colours when played. Also pick up Beside You in Time to get a glimpse of Trent Reznor live which is my top concert DVD of the year.

9. The Con - Tegan & Sara [4 Stars out of 5]: Good to see these hometown twins get some U.S. exposure

8. Graduation - Kanye West [4 Stars out of 5]: Some solid hits, but a few filler tracks this time, but Kanye still gets his degree. Who else releases an album on 9/11? Oh yeah, 50 Cent did too...

7. As I Am - Alicia Keys [4 Stars out of 5]: Like Jone Stone, she's way better than her age would indicate.

6. Era Vulgaris - Queens of the Stone Age [4.5 Stars out of 5]: Most rocking album

5. In Our Bedroom After the War - Stars [4.5 Stars out of 5]: Yeah there's Feist and Arcade Fire that get all the press, but this is the best Canadian album of the year.

4. The Story - Brandi Carlile [5 Stars out of 5]: Just took 11 days of recording to produce this raw masterpiece

3. West - Lucinda Williams [5 Stars out of 5]: Her intensity still draws me into her sorrow and pain every time.

2. Finding Forever - Common [5 Stars out of 5]: The beats and lyrics are as good as what Kanye does on his own stuff, but without the ego.

And the Winner is [Drum Roll Please]...


1. Chase This Light - Jimmy Eat World [5 Stars out of 5]: With the infamous Butch Vig helping out at arm's length as executive producer, the tracks all hit the mark. The energy of "Big Casino", "Electable (Give It Up)", "Let it Happen", and "Here it Goes" mixes with the angst of the title track, "Carry You", and "Dizzy" to make this my most favourite CD of the year.


More notes about 2007 music scene:

The latest efforts by favourites Dashboard Confessional, Foo Fighters, Josh Ritter and Rilo Kiley were disappointed considering their respective bodies or work. They just can't rest on their laurels and expect to make my list every time. This year's best EP is by the self-described folk-comedy duo Flight of the Conchords' Distant Future. Check out their HBO show too if you can.

Most folks know my love-hate relationship about soundtracks and comps. Juno produced the best movie OST with its indie tracks and Grey's Anatomy's third volume holds the bar compared to its previous editions. UK's Radio 1 joined Cities 97 and Triple J in releasing some awesome live compilations. Best video (not that I saw too many) was probably the aforementioned OK Go's treadmills dance in the catchy Here It Goes Again.



Another great year for concerts with Snow Patrol and Jimmy Eat World playing at the local university venue. I had great seats for the re-united Crowded House show, however it was at a venue of the same name but in another town. Luckily, I was heading up there anyways. Took my gf to see Chantal Kreviaczuk on Valentine's Day. Also caught great shows by QotSA, Stars, and Lucinda Williams, which makes that 4 out of my top 10 if you were keeping track. Also managed to catch The White Stripes, MCR, Taking Back Sunday, Joss Stone, and OK Go (who opened for Snow Patrol) too. Plus the announcement of Calgary hosting its own VFest will give me something to look forward to in 2008.