Since I have yet to see an overview of the music of 2007 on SG, I thought I’d share my top ten albums of the year.



10. Beirut – The Flying Club Cup

22-year-old bandleader Zach Condon found Paris as his muse for this album. The album takes off after a wail of horns into “Nantes,” in which Condon sings mournfully, “Well it's been a long time/long time now/since I've seen you smile/and I'll gamble away my fright... and in a year, a year or so/this will slip into the sea...” Condon’s instrumentation is joined wonderfully with an orchestra of violins, arranged by Final Fantasy’s Owen Pallett.

Favorite Tracks: “Nantes” and “Un Dernier Verre (Pour la Route)”



9. KT Tunstall – Drastic Fantastic

Tunstall’s music is what I like to call the thinking-person’s kind of pop. Her lyrics are full of meaning and her melodies are complex. Similar to her debut album, Eye to the Telescope, her second release is structured the same way. The beginning of the album is more rock-inspired, but it slows down toward the end into a few lovely ballads. Tunstall doesn’t keep the same bluesy quality she had with her first album, but turns to a more edgy-rock sound.

Favorite Tracks: “White Bird” and “Someday Soon”



8. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black

This woman was all over the tabloids in 2007 and many seem to get a good laugh out of her antics, but the girl sure can sing. This album is filled with the sounds of 1960s soul music. It’s evident that the woman has some great stories to tell, with the album beginning with the song “Rehab” and ending with “Addicted.” She knows how to grab people's attention, that's for sure.

Favorite Tracks: “You Know I’m No Good”



7. Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

It doesn’t matter that this album has one of the goofiest titles ever—Spoon has every reason to be confident enough to give the album whatever ridiculous name they wish. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is one of the trio’s finest records and just good ‘ole fashioned rock ‘n roll.

Favorite Tracks: “Don’t Make Me a Target”



6. Iron & Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog

Sam Beam is trying new things—and he’s doing it wonderfully. He has managed to find different worlds of music with this album and incorporated a much fuller sound than his previous albums. Fortunately, his warm melodies and harmonies are not lost.

Favorite Tracks: “House by the Sea” and “Carousel”



5. The Shins – Wincing the Night Away

The Shins third release is clearly their transition from pop music that you’d listen to at home to rock music that you’d want to hear live. Although they have not lost their pop hooks that make their songs so catchy, there seems to be more confidence coming from Mercer, along with a harder sound. I wouldn’t call this their best album, but it’s definitely leading up to something great.

Favorite Tracks: “Sea Legs” and “Phantom Limb”



4. PJ Harvey – White Chalk
My previous news article gave a short review of PJ Harvey’s newest album. “White Chalk” places you in another world. The voice she uses on this album, which she calls her “church voice,” is a voice she has never used on any of her previous albums, and I enjoyed every second of it.

Favorite Tracks: “When Under Ether” and “To Talk to You”



3. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
Every time I hear Arcade Fire, it blows my mind. Neon Bible is the kind of album that can give the gift of self-discovery to anyone who listens to it, so I’m not going to even bother to describe the feelings it gave me while I listened to it.

Favorite Tracks: “Keep the Car Running” and “Neon Bible”



2. Radiohead – In Rainbows
Radiohead continues to prove themselves with this masterpiece of abstract and stimulating songs. I found something new that I loved about this album every time I listened to it. This is the prettiest Radiohead I’ve ever heard.

Favorite Tracks: “Faust Arp” and “Videotape”



1. Feist – The Reminder

This woman was in more commercials than the Noid. If her name doesn’t sound familiar, this song probably will.



Her ever-present appearances in commercials are entirely understandable because her music is phenomenal. In fact, her newest release, “The Reminder,” is the album I listened to the most in 2007. Although this album is more subtle and ballad-heavy than her others, I loved the unexpected melodies of the songs. And I just plain love the woman—she’s a goddess.


Favorite Tracks: “I Feel it All” and “1234”



There you have it--Elsie’s favorite albums of 2007. What were yours?