LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
Weak links: albums generally have them.,”Entertainment media struck gold during 2007. From movies and books to video games, leisure time always seemed to have purpose. Music dominated in 2007 thanks to artists delivering exceptional albums across every genre.
1. LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver: Weak links: albums generally have them. Those tracks that are predictably skipped during the road trip from downtown to home. There's nothing to glance over on LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver. From "North American Scum" to "Watch the Tapes," James Murphy has created a legitimate dance album that eclipses so many before it. Morphing rock and dance music into something both comfy and full of meaning deserves praise.
2. Of Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?: Simply hearing Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? makes people smile and dance. Of Montreal took its indie pop sound and doubled its intensity. However, actively listening to this concept album reveals more than just synthesized hums and restless drumming tucked under the covers. Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? allowed front man Kevin Barnes therapeutic relief through an emotionally challenging voyage. More importantly, he never busts out the typical "please pity me" card.
3. Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: The album
represents another musical experiment and success for Spoon. At times Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga feels like Kill the Moonlight with tracks like "The Ghost of You Lingers" and "Black Like Me," but then change hits with a brass ensemble. Where Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping" failed before, "The Underdog" and "Don't You Evah" thrive by calling forth hindered individuals with encouragement. In the end, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is a fantastic example of quality over quantity.
4. Radiohead In Rainbows: It seems people either paid nothing for In Rainbows or took out a second mortgage to snag the limited disc box. Along with Hail to the Thief, In Rainbows again drags Radiohead back from concept album land. Breezily flowing song to song, In Rainbows demonstrates Radiohead's wholehearted ability to keep both hardened fans (check out the revived versions of "Nude" and "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi") and casual listeners pleased.
5. Battles Mirrored: It's easy to praise Battles' Mirrored. The band's four-man coalition obviously prepared to create Mirrored. Actual instruments and computer driven melodies woven together are brought to new heights thanks to drummer John Stanier's mystical expertise. Headphone-assisted walking and parties are simply better with Mirrored. Battles has discovered what people will listen to in 64 years.
6. Panda Bear Person Pitch: Sit back, turn off the lights and revel in Panda Bear's atmospheric Person Pitch. It's a melodic masterpiece nonchalantly full of attention-grabbing sounds that will put anyone into Zen-like rumination.
7. The National Boxer: Although Sufjan Stevens helps a few of the album's tracks, Boxer is proof that the National is only getting better in time. Check out Stevens' support, but stick around for Bryan Devendorf's drumming and Matt Berninger's vocal work.
8. Beirut The Flying Club Cup: Beirut's Gulag Orkestar (2006) still feels like a fresh album. With The Flying Club Cup and Lon Gisland released in 2007, nothing can slow down Beirut. The Flying Club Cup continues Beirut's unusual and foreign sound without always needing that elegant horn backing up everything.
9. Arcade Fire Neon Bible: Arcade Fire let no one down with their second album. Potent (most of the time) lyrics work wonderfully with the band's continually expanding musical triumphs.
10. Deerhoof Friend Opportunity: This not a perfect album—a few tracks slip up. However, the band's erratic, edgy and irregular melodies with Satomi Matsuzaki's eerie vocals make an entertaining album that's hard to forget.
Honorable Mentions: The Field From Here We Go Sublime Feist The Reminder
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