# 50 Best Albums of 2007 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246 "2007-11-20T22:23:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/21 "2007-12-05T00:00:37Z")
This has been an exceedingly weak year for new music, and has been a year where, more than any other previous year, I’ve devoted the vast majority of my listening to older records. If I had to make a top-10 at knifepoint, it would look something like: 1. Club 8 - “the boy who couldn’t stop dreaming” 2. Jens Lekman - “night falls on kortedala” 3. Robert Wyatt - “Comicopera” 4. Ghostface Killah - “The Big Doe Rehab” 5. Britney Spears - “Blackout” (truly the insane surprise of the year) 6. Kurt Wagner - “Kurt” 7. White Rainbow - “prism of eternal now” 8. Adrian Orange and her band - self-titled 9. Mount Eerie - “Mount Eerie Pts. 6 and 7” 10. Radiohead - “in rainbows” (comeback record of the decade) bonus points to the Thanksgiving “Welcome Nowhere” double vinyl re-release with the new songs. That album is literally reborn and brand new as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/22 "2007-12-05T03:47:10Z")
I’ve only listened to a handful of 2007 albums, as well. My list so far would be: 1. **Nellie McKay** - Obligatory Villagers 2. **Arcade Fire** - Neon Bible 3. **Radiohead** - In Rainbows 4. **New Pornographers** - Challengers 5. **Nicole Atkins** - Neptune City I actually like all of them, but _Obligatory Villagers_ easily outclasses the rest. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/23 "2007-12-05T04:18:47Z")
**Armchair Apocrypha** by Andrew Bird. Since I am not using my other 49 slots, can I assign this album to a few more positions? It is that good… ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/24 "2007-12-05T04:26:26Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] This has been an exceedingly weak year for new music, and has been a year where, more than any other previous year, I’ve devoted the vast majority of my listening to older records. If I had to make a top-10 at knifepoint, it would look something like: \*\* 1. Club 8 - “the boy who couldn’t stop dreaming”\*\* 2. Jens Lekman - “night falls on kortedala” 3. Robert Wyatt - “Comicopera” 4. Ghostface Killah - “The Big Doe Rehab” 5. Britney Spears - “Blackout” (truly the insane surprise of the year) 6. Kurt Wagner - “Kurt” 7. White Rainbow - “prism of eternal now” 8. Adrian Orange and her band - self-titled 9. Mount Eerie - “Mount Eerie Pts. 6 and 7” 10. Radiohead - “in rainbows” (comeback record of the decade) bonus points to the Thanksgiving “Welcome Nowhere” double vinyl re-release with the new songs. That album is literally reborn and brand new as a result. [/QUOTE] I was bored beyond bored listening to this! What made you like it so? ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/25 "2007-12-05T04:37:02Z")
[QUOTE=ZebraShaSha] I was bored beyond bored listening to this! What made you like it so? [/QUOTE] Seriously? I couldn’t have had a more opposite experience - I literally broke down in tears in the middle of the first song. As for why I like it so, I think the songwriting (_the_ most important thing in music, period, unless you’re listening to Stockhausen) is absolutely through-the-roof great, I love the woman’s voice, and I love the album’s production, with sounds both contemporary (the little electronic touches) and retro (spring reverb, etc.). But yeah, the songwriting. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/26 "2007-12-06T20:03:51Z")
White Stripes - “Icky Thump” ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/27 "2007-12-06T20:57:43Z")
Add **Raising Sand** by Alison Kraus and Robert Plant ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/28 "2007-12-06T22:20:43Z")
[QUOTE=Eutychus] Add **Raising Sand** by Alison Kraus and Robert Plant [/QUOTE] Seconded - came in to mention this very album. I’ll also second “We Are the Pipettes,” despite its having been released last year as **Dr J** noted. And I’ll add “There, I Said It!” by Tommy Womack to the list. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/29 "2007-12-06T22:27:25Z")
I’d more than second the Pipettes. _Wolf Whistles_ ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/30 "2007-12-06T22:43:55Z")
[QUOTE=An Gadaí] I’d more than second the Pipettes. _Wolf Whistles_ [/QUOTE] [It’s about damned time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=375496&highlight=vco3+pipettes). ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/31 "2007-12-06T23:08:41Z")
Patty Griffin’s [“Children Running Through”](http://www.amazon.com/Children-Running-Through-Patty-Griffin/dp/B000LV63PO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196981589&sr=1-1) Not my favorite by her, but it is still miles ahead of a lot things out there. ---
**Author:** ![Monkey\_Chews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Monkey\_Chews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkey_Chews)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/32 "2007-12-06T23:55:35Z")
My favourite 25 albums of the year… 1. Wincing The Night Away - **The Shins** 2. Made Of Bricks - **Kate Nash** 3. Granddance - **Dappled Cities** \* 4. The Broken String - **Bishop Allen** 5. Back To Black - **Amy Winehouse** 6. Neon Bible - **The Arcade Fire** 7. White Chalk - **PJ Harvey** 8. In Rainbows - **Radiohead** 9. Volta - **Bjork** 10. What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have - **Sarah Blasko** \* 11. The Reminder - **Feist** 12. Grinderman - **Grinderman** 13. Favourite Worst Nightmare - **Arctic Monkeys** 14. The Moon Looked On - **Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set** 15. Fur and Gold - **Bat For Lashes** 16. Teenager - **The Thrills** 17. Myths of the Near Future - **Klaxons** 18. Release the Stars - **Rufus Wainwright** 19. Young Modern - **Silverchair** 20. Gospel Ambition - **Soft Tigers** 21. Icky Thump - **The White Stripes** 22. I’ll Be Lightning - **Liam Finn** 23. We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank - **Modest Mouse** 24. Sound of Silver - **LCD Soundsystem** 25. The Good, The Bad and the Queen - **The Good, The Bad and the Queen** - Both of these albums were released in Australia late last year, but I’m gonna count them because (a) I was travelling overseas for the last couple of months and didn’t get to hear them til this year, and (b) they were released internationally during 2007. And © I just really, really want to because they’re so damned good! ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/33 "2007-12-07T01:38:27Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] [It’s about damned time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=375496&highlight=vco3+pipettes). [/QUOTE] Props to you, **VCO3** , for starting that thread, because that’s how I found out about the Pipettes in the first place! When they came to Atlanta last month, my wife was out of town and I didn’t have anything to do, so I immersed myself in the full Pipette experience. Not only did I see them in a club with 300 other folks, I saw them in a record store earlier that evening (youtube link [here](http://youtube.com/watch?v=cZWhS2yfPhc) ) with 25 or 30 other people. What a gas! When I got home that evening, I almost sat down at the computer to start a thread titled “I’m a 56 year old man and went to see the Pipettes tonight!” I got to spend a fair amount of time after the show chatting with the ladies. They were charming as could be, and seemed rather fascinated that a dinosaur like me, who was alive when the Shangri-La’s and Ronettes were current hitmakers, was a fan! Thanks again for turning me on to them! ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/34 "2007-12-07T02:45:47Z")
I cant pick 50 best albums, I just looked through my itunes and Ive only three albums from 2007, they are good though so I’ll list them anyway: The End of History by Fionn Regan Neon Bible by The Arcade Fire This Delicate Thing We’ve Made by Darren Hayes I need to start buying/downloading music again! ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/35 "2007-12-07T03:50:58Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] Props to you, **VCO3** , for starting that thread, because that’s how I found out about the Pipettes in the first place! When they came to Atlanta last month, my wife was out of town and I didn’t have anything to do, so I immersed myself in the full Pipette experience. Not only did I see them in a club with 300 other folks, I saw them in a record store earlier that evening (youtube link [here](http://youtube.com/watch?v=cZWhS2yfPhc) ) with 25 or 30 other people. What a gas! When I got home that evening, I almost sat down at the computer to start a thread titled “I’m a 56 year old man and went to see the Pipettes tonight!” I got to spend a fair amount of time after the show chatting with the ladies. They were charming as could be, and seemed rather fascinated that a dinosaur like me, who was alive when the Shangri-La’s and Ronettes were current hitmakers, was a fan! Thanks again for turning me on to them! [/QUOTE] Damnit, you made me miss Atlanta for the 8th time this.. day. Have you ever seen Deerhunter, Coathangers, Juju B Solomon, Black Lips, or Of Montreal? They are all local talent that a) now is getting national attention and b) all released albums I’d put on my top 50 albums, except for maybe Juju B. I think his was released last year, but whenever it was released it would be top 5. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/36 "2007-12-07T21:59:02Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] [It’s about damned time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=375496&highlight=vco3+pipettes). [/QUOTE] To leer at them? I’ve been leering at them for more than a year now. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/37 "2007-12-08T02:24:02Z")
Unlike **VCO3** , I’ve thought this year was uncommonly great for new music. My top 5 from this year, in no particular order as I haven’t ranked them yet: The Shins - _Wincing The Night Away_ Art Brut - _It’s A Bit Complicated_ Arctic Monkeys - _Favourite Worst Nightmare_ The Arcade Fire - _Neon Bible_ Klaxons - _Myths Of The Near Future_ The White Stripes - _Icky Thump_ Spoon - _Gimme Fiction_ M.I.A. - _Kala_ OK, so that’s a top 8. See what I mean? I’ve also greatly enjoyed releases by Amy Winehouse, The Broken West, The Good The Bad & The Queen, Maximo Park and Kaiser Chiefs, though the last two took a while to grow on me. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/38 "2007-12-08T03:03:49Z")
Why is Miami by **The Go Find** on this list? It came out in 2004. The OP and I have very different tastes, it seems. Though I’m familiar with half the artists I don’t own any of these cds, and the only ones I’d be interested in owning would be by Okkervil River and Novelle Vague, _maybe_ Low and Stars. Different strokes, I guess. Since I discovered a handful of new bands right before Christmas last year (Bullet For My Valentine, Red, A Kiss Could Be Deadly etc), I think I’ll wait until right before new years to ask people who they discovered and loved this year 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/39 "2007-12-08T03:48:43Z")
What I acquired this year: Already mentioned The Shins The Arcade Fire Silverchair Sarah Blasko also the compilations _She Will Have Her Way_ - the Finns music and _Standing On The Outside_ Cold Chisel’s music both of which feature a great Blasko vocal. Andrew Bird if it was this year and not last?? Patty Griffin Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Others: _From Here We Go Sublime_ by The Field _A Place To Bury Strangers_ by A Place To Bury Strangers _The Flying Club Cup_ by Beirut better than the first album _Washington Square Serenade_ by Steve Earle _The Swing Sessions_ by David Campbell _Memories and Dust_ by Josh Pyke _Grand National_ by The John Butler Trio _Stolen Apples_ by Paul Kelly and I think that’s all I could be bothered buying. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2007, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246/40 "2007-12-08T21:37:42Z")
1. Kayne West - Graduation 2. Jay-Z - American Gangster 3. Radiohead - In Rainbows 4. Sigur Ros - Hvarf/Heim 5. Beastie Boys - The Mix Up 6. Galactic - From The Corner To The Block 7. Alicia Keys - As I Am 8. 50 Cent - Curtis 9. The New Pornographers – Challengers These are the only groups I’ve heard of, and I only have heard albums 1 and 31, which are pretty good. I assume the rest is that emo or indie stuff the kids listen to. I might throw in Linkin Parks Minutes to Midnight I’ll also second Hippy Hollow with Modest Mouses album. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/50-best-albums-of-2007/427246.md?page=3)