inspired by one bryce doty, i tried to come up with a list of the best music of 2007. it wasn’t really working out, as i found myself scouring a huge list of music that came out in 2007, but not finding 10, or a suitable amount to make a list of records released in the past year. so, i went to itunes and sorted by play count, figuring up the records i listened to most in the past year. some are from 07, some arent, but all were played ad nauseum.
1. beck - the information
i dont know why this didnt get covered much. he announced a secret show at the gypsy in march, and hearing the tunes live blew them up. the record is as good front to back as odelay, and marks the only thing on my list with any semblance of a “beat”.
2. gillian welch - soul journey
this just sounds like heaven.
3. kings of leon - because of the times
the little rocker boys who could grew their sound up to arena size. when i first heard “on call”, the first single, i was not impressed. then it grew on me, and grew on me. the melodies are sublime and jared followill’s bass sounds like a buzzsaw cutting through an orphanage.
4. ryan adams - easy tiger
no surprises here. but in my own defense, its the tightest, most focused record he has EVER done, and his voice sounds better than ever thanks to no smoke and booze.
5. wilco - sky blue sky
“grown up”, “mature” and “mellow” describe this record, but i think it sounds sort of dream-like. volkswagen wisely used it to distract from the fact that their cars are lemons.
6. the weepies - say i am you
i dont really know two voices that sound like this, or mix like this, but the sounds are succinct nuggets that just roll around in your head to no end. this was actually the most listened to record in the shower for me this year. i have no idea why.
7. josh ritter - historical conquests of josh ritter
after the animal years, which may be top 10 all time, he came in like a lion with a torrent of things to say. the metaphors just keep stacking and he does it all with that smile that you can hear through the microphone. such musical exuberance hasnt been heard since (gasp) dylan, who oddly enough..
8. bob dylan - modern times
its scary that he is still making music this good after this long. granted, he phoned some records in in the late 70s/early 80s, and lies through his teeth about everything, but he seems to have melded his signature style to his influences to make a rollicking juke-joint batch of songs.
9. sam baker - pretty world
this is on here just due to the sheer amount of times i have listened to it in the past month. jessi colter sounds like an angel, and sam baker sounds like a wizened old todd snider. note how many songs revolve around people singing songs to themselves.