Underrated's Top Twenty Albums Of 2007

It was an interesting year. I always am keen to the discovery of new music, which is why most of my top albums are debuts from unsigned or relatively new bands. There's nothing like that first try, and when succeeded, it will always be how they will be remembered. So without further adieu, my top 20 albums of the year, with a brief one-sentence recap, and a zip file of a selected track from each album below. See you in '08!

01. Port O’Brien – The Wind And The Swell
Never have I had such a visceral reaction to an album, where its lo-fi screams and yelps from start to finish prove this young band has so much more to give.

02. Radiohead – In Rainbows
A combination of its execution and actual sound, Radiohead's latest album marks revolution in the music and its most melodic effort to date.

03. White Rabbits – Fort Nightly
A late-night booze brawl, complete with a piano and dueling guitars, is what best defines White Rabbit’s debut Fort Nightly—the strong debut from this clean-cut six piece teeters between innocence and mystery with the slight tweak of a minor chord.

04. Ra Ra Riot – Ra Ra Riot EP
Ra Ra Riot's long awaited EP breathes new life into a sound that is attempted upon by so many bands, but never sounds as polished as each song this rowdy six-piece creates.

05. Tim Williams – When Work Is Done
Confidence shouldn't be a worry for this young troubadour, as his second effort is as thoughtful and honest as his previous one, but for the first time the songs are full of hopeful resolution.

06. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
An orchestra masterpiece from beginning to end, Arcade Fire prove once again why they have become one of the more important acts of our generation.

07. Kate Nash – Made Of Bricks
The quick witted Nash brings a dark side to pop music, seamlessly combining cocky lyrics with playful tunes.

08. Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
Thanks to Pat, this album demanded repeat listens, as Lekman delves deeper into story-telling arrangements with his classic vocals.

09. Tegan And Sara – The Con
Pure pop perfection from start to finish, the Canadian twins do it again with their more complex and rash fifth album

10. A Brief Smile – Now We All Have Horns
This band never ceases to amaze me, as they seem to have found their stride—and epic sound—on their self-produced and self-released LP

Best Of The Rest:
11. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
12. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga
13. Georgie James – Places
14. Kanye West – Graduation
15. Wakey!Wakey – Silent As A Movie
16. Ryan Adams – Easy, Tiger
17. Los Campesinos! – Sticking Fingers Into Sockets
18. Coconut Records – Nighttiming
19. Interpol – Our Love To Admire
20. The Shins – Wincing The Night Away

DOWNLOAD: Underrated Top Twenty Albums Of 2007 [zip]

oh did the fortune teller say...

Like Laura Burhenn of Georgie James says, "it's been a long week."

I'm always happy to see a Friday, and probably because my little Jukeboxers (my new name for Jukebox The Ghost) have been occupying Pianos for the past three weeks. It's been a fun run, but sadly all good things must come to an end, so come celebrate tonight with me. I'm so proud of these boys, they really have perfected their live show and every one feels it in that cramped room. It's a joy to watch them each week, and I'll be sad to see them leave New York. Sigh. They'll be back for CMJ though.

I tried to come up with something creative for this blog, but of course I'm left sitting here scrambling my brain. Perhaps I've wiped out all creativity, or perhaps so many other bloggers are doing bigger and better things and it's almost not worth the try. Or maybe writing all day has taken its toll. Or perhaps there's just not any music that is making me ga-ga these days. All the artists I'm usually listening to, I've been listening to for a long time. It's been a while since a band has really taken me over. I await patiently. Please?

But like always, I'll find some fun indie pop to keep me occupied until some cute band of boys comes my way. I've been really digging Georgie James and Kate Nash lately, so much so that I've made it a new priority of mine to learn each word to each of their songs so late at night I can pretend I'm them. Or maybe for karaoke. Take your choice. I'm really excited to see Kate Nash next week at Joe's Pub. Her album isn't perfection, but I like her spunk. It's a bit too cheesy for my liking (imagine that), but I think she's got more in her. The Lily Allen comparison may be lazy, sure, I think she's more a British Regina Spektor, on her way. Plus, I like the dresses she wears.

The first Georgie James song I heard was "Long Week," the inspiration of this post. I was convinced it was a cover, because I immediately knew the words but can't seem to find anything online proving that fact. So then I found the rest of the album and was in completely heaven - a flawless album that’s both insightful and inviting, and jeez, I can't gush enough.

Happy Friday everyone. Tomorrow I'm off to avoid being squashed at Les Savy Fav while my boyfriend is sure to go crazy. And oddly, I'm pretty excited.

Oh yeah, I'm also obsessed with Kanye West. More on that another time though.

Georgie James - Long Week

Kate Nash - Foundations