David Emery Online2007 Top 20
19 December 2007
I think, all told we’ve had one of the best years for music this year for a very long time. We’ve had a lot of exceptional albums from established artists, and some amazing debuts which all add up to a stunning body of work.
Choosing a top 20 has been particularly hard this year, and I’ve had to leave off quite a few really good pieces of work from the likes of Arcade Fire, Justice, Shy Child and more. I’ve tried to put this list in some kind of order, but to be honest 20 – 10 are all really close together; they all span such a wide range of genres that comparing some of them could be a little silly but I guess that comes with the “top 20 list” territory.
20. Prinzhorn Dance School – Prinzhorn Dance School
I would hazard a guess that many people haven’t heard of these guys, but their self titled debut album is well worth checking out. It’s utterly stripped down indie rock – so stripped down that often you get surprised when the guitar kicks in. Probably quite polarising – I love it but I bet others wouldn’t – but perfectly crafted.
19. Unkle – War Stories
Unkle are a band with history, but a history I’m not really to familiar with; this is the first album of theirs I’ve heard and really quite good it is too. However, it’s probably one of the most inconsistent albums on this list – their are definitely some duds on here, but when it’s good it’s very very good indeed.
18. Kings of Leon – Because of the Times
I always feel a little bad for liking Kings of Leon, although I’m not entirely sure why – I guess it’s just the inner indie-hipster in me trying to make itself known. Oddly, Kings of Leon seem to be getting better and better – the second album was better then the first and now the third is better then the second.
Because of the Times is packed full of some great songs, but the real standout for me is last single ‘Charmer’ – they seem to be channelling Nirvana on this one and that’s really no bad thing.
17. Grinderman – Grinderman
I’m going to have to admit here and now that I’m not a Nick Cave fan. It’s not so much that I dislike him in any way, just that I’ve never gone back and investigated his rather humongous back catalogue.
The Grinderman album has certainly picked my curiosity.
It’s a really quite amazing piece of work; dirty, raw and powerful but still has the space to fit in something beautiful like ‘Man In The Moon’. I’m definitely looking forward to the next Bad Seeds album now…
16. Celebration – The Modern Tribe
The first self titled Celebration album was the very definition of a ‘grower’; I hated it at first, but really grew into a firm favourite. Their second effort ‘The Modern Tribe’ is even better then the first; most definitely weird but in a wonderful way. Utterly unique.
15. Beirut – The Flying Club Cup
Beirut’s last effort, ‘Gulag Orkestar’ came in at number 5 in last years list and while Flying Club Cup doesn’t quite hit the stunning heights that album reached it’s still a very, very good record. Beirut really does have an unique sound, and his voice has really moved on since last year becoming more soulful and full of depth.
14. The Maccabees – Colour It In
Their is one word that can sum up this album: fun!
Yes it’s not massively original, sticking to the traditional indie template but, quite frankly, who cares when the music is this good? Evocative of so many childhood things, it’s naive and saccharine sweet but all the better for it.
13. Holy Fuck – Holy Fuck
Holy Fuck this album is good. (Had to be done, sorry.)
Utterly trouncing other more well know electronic albums out this year (I’m looking at you Justice and SMD), this really is a stunning piece of work. Reminds me very much of when I first heard The Chemical Brothers – these guys could be very big if the right things happen.
12. Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero
Like another album further up this list the Year Zero has almost been overshadowed by the innovative online marketing campaign that has surrounded it, which featured an elaborate Alternate Reality Game which crossed over both online and physical marketing (USB sticks in toilets!).
But, when all is said and done they’ve turned in another stunning piece of work; more experimental and difficult then ‘With Teeth’ but still something exceptional.
11. Reuben – In Nothing We Trust
This album is Emo. No doubt about it. Reuben’s fans, in general, are teenagers that probably wear black nail polish.
This album is amazing, despite all the associate baggage that comes with it. Plain and simple, Reuben know not only how to rock out, but how to rock out in an interesting way. But then they can contrast that with something that has such heart and soul like ‘Good Luck’.
In all honesty this album deserves to be much higher up this list, but I can’t quite get over the aforementioned baggage. Sad but true.
10. The National – Boxer
Another long grower. Keep listening to this until you get hooked in, because when you do it reveals itself to be something amazing. I’ve heard a lot of people say that it’s not as good as their previous effort ‘Alligator’ but I don’t think that’s true; it’s just different.
9. M.I.A. – Kala
I really, really wanted to hate this album. M.I.A. herself really does not come across well in interviews and on her MySpace blog, and the artwork wasn’t exactly what I’d call “bearable to look at”.
The album though. The music…
It’s far too irritatingly good. M.I.A. is one of those incredibly rare musicians that is really truly unique, individual and original. In Kala she’s put together an album full of songs that could only be M.I.A. songs, and that’s something that has to be celebrated.
8. St. Vincent – Marry Me
The St. Vincent album – not musically, I must add – is almost like a combination of the last two albums on this list; both a grower, and also something utterly unique.
On first listen you would assume that she is your bog standard female singer/songwriter, but dig beneath the surface and you’ll find so much more. The closet comparison I guess is with P J Harvey, but really St. Vincent is something quite different.
7. Queens of the Stone Age – Era Vulgaris
Era Vulgaris, when all is said and done, is probably the worst album Queens of the Stone Age have produced in their 5 album career. Really though, this speaks more of their back catalogue so far then of Era Vulgaris.
Heavy, driving rock is what you’d expect from QOTSA and is what you get in spades here, but what really makes this album come alive is when they veer of course and do something slightly different. ‘Run Pig Run’ and ‘I’m Designer’ are both prime examples of this, featuring both lyrics and riffs that catch you off guard.
6. Future of the Left – Curses
It says a lot that Future of the Left have managed to out-rock Queens of the Stone Age, but by god they have. This is one of the best debut albums I’ve heard in a very long time (only bettered by one other this year) and is a towering monument of perfection.
You could I think pretty much release every song of this album as a single, with the possible exception of the hauntingly beautiful album closer ‘The Contrarian’ (which surprisingly sounds like Radiator era Super Furry Animals), ‘Small Bones Small Bodies’, ‘Fingers Become Thumbs’, ‘The Lord Hates A Coward’, ‘adeadenemyalwayssmellsgood’ are all utterly stunning.
5. Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
Every now and again you just get an album you ‘click’ with, and for me the latest Modest Mouse album did exactly that. I’ve not been the hugest Modest Mouse fan previously – their last effort was good but not stunning – but this one is really something special.
The addition of Johnny Marr on guitar really brings something extra to the whole equation, and the song writing craft in evidence is really exemplary.
4. The White Stripes – Icky Thump
Boy, was this album a relief.
The White Stripes are in my all time top 3 bands, but I really did not get on with ‘Get Behind Me Satan’ – too much piano, not enough guitar and far too much self indulgence for my liking. Luckily, Icky Thump is a return to form like no other return to form I’ve ever seen.
In fact, I’ll admit something I probably shouldn’t: on first listen to title track and lead single ‘Icky Thump’ I actually cried (and I was in a crowded room at the time – luckily no-one noticed). It’s really an example of everything that the White Stripes do right – stunning guitar and perfect song structure, coupled with wild invention. It’s not the best song on the album, though – that accolade has to go to ‘Little Cream Soda’ which is absolutely perfect.
3. Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future
It’s hard to believe that this album came out this year, but it did and in doing so became not only the best debut album to come out this year but also the best debut album of a very long time.
Obviously the hype machine has done them no favours, but it’s worth remembering that the Klaxons really did spearhead a new genre and scene; whatever you want to say about the crassness that is the label “new rave”, there’s no denying that there is a whole bunch of bands performing today in a similar style and also no denying that Klaxons have played a huge part in that.
Of course, none of that would mean very much if the album wasn’t up to scratch but it really, really is. Packed full of actual god-honest songs it really surpasses what I thought they were capable of.
2. LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
This album is so far out ahead of anything else – bar one notable exception – this year ever since I heard it for the first time I knew it would be troubling the very top of this end of year chart. Musically, it’s an album that is for all extents and purposes perfect, without being derivative or predictable.
It has two of my favourite songs of the year on it; ‘New York I Love You…’ is a song of such heart and completely unexpected traditionalism after the album that has preceded it that it really becomes something exceptionally powerful. ‘All My Friends’ somehow manages to be even better, and could well be the best song to come out of the US in the last 10 years. Oh, how it builds…
1. Radiohead – In Rainbows
Their could only be one album really at the top of this list.
Radiohead – more then any other band, possibly for at least 5 years – have managed to make music genuinely exiting again. Ever since MP3s really became popular the reception of music has been dulled, with no big bang moment where everybody would get it at once. By the time you can actually buy most music it will have already been dissected to death, and you’ve probably heard most of it already if you have any remote curiosity.
Of course, ‘what Radiohead did’ has been discussed far and wide already but the most important aspect of it all was that they had the album to back it up; the anticipation would have been completely overshadowed by disappointment if what you’d received wasn’t amazing. Luckily for all concerned somehow they’ve managed to make the best album they’re released since Kid A, which is not to be taken lightly.
‘Videotape’ is a masterpiece in subtly, building (but not too much) and containing some arrestingly honest lyrics; ‘All I Need’ is one of my all time favourite Radiohead songs; ‘Nude’ is stunningly different. It’s also worth mentioning the bonus disk in the diskbox edition – it’s probably the best bonus disk ever made; both ‘4 Minute Warning’ and ‘Last Flowers’ are right up there in the Radiohead cannon.
In Rainbows is a beautiful album, in the most traditional and powerful meaning of the word.