Already, 2007 is shaping up to have much stronger releases than 2006. This month, there were quite a few great albums released. Because of this, I have decided to expand the Top Five Albums Of The Month List to a Top Ten Albums Of The Month.
- Son Volt - The Search
This is the best album Jay Farrar has released since his days in Uncle Tupelo. There are the standard references you’d expect from Farrar: Guthrie, Young, etc. But there is the addition of electric piano, organ, strings, loops, and horns to make The Search Farrar’s most diverse album to date.
- Arcade Fire - Neon Bible | buy it at insound!
Arcade Fire dominated the month. Everywhere you turned you heard more about this band. But this album, their second full length, is brilliant. Every thing this band has released has been incredible.
- Gruff Rhys - Candylion | buy it at insound!
This is a very eclectic acoustic guitar-based album. Gruff Rhys, the lead singer of Super Furry Animals, adds strings, keyboards, xylophones, trumpets and flutes to the music. Candylion is pure ear candy.
- Amy Winehouse - Back To Black | buy it at insound!
This album is very good modern soul. It is very pop, but with an angst side, with an edge. She’s got a great voice and the music is very well produced. It sounds like the album Macy Gray wished she released this month. Everyone’s probably heard (or at least heard about) the first track, “Rehab.” There are other tracks that are just as honest and blunt and almost as good as the standout first track – like the refrain of “What kind of fuckery is this?” during “Me And Mr. Jones” and “He left no time to regret/ Kept his dick wet” of the title track “Back To Black.”
- The Fratellis - Costello Music | buy it at insound!
This band makes great pop music. It’s light-hearted and very well produced. The guitar tones and arrangements change up throughout each song. It’s not deep, thought provoking music, but it keeps you body into the music.
- Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – Living With The Living | buy it at insound!
Not his strongest album, but that doesn’t diminish how good it is. It’s a great post punk album. There are solid guitars and vocals from Ted, strong support from The Pharmacists, and well-written songs. I’ve come to expect a certain amount from this guy and he’s come through again.
- Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank | buy it at insound!
This album continues where Good News For People Who Love Bad News left off. However, this album is more consistent than Good News…. The older album had some great tracks – some songs that were some of Modest Mouse’s best – and some songs that were weak by comparison.
- The View – Hat Off To The Buskers | buy it at insound!
It’s a real good pop album. Reminds me most of some pop bands of the 90’s. I could hear this band being on an Aware Records sampler from years ago.
- Albert Hammond Jr. - Yours To Keep | buy it at insound!
Starts out with Beach Boys-esque vocals and shifts to classic rock and indie pop styles. It’s full of lush production. Overall, Yours To Keep a very convincing first solo album from the guitarist from The Strokes.
- Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion
This album starts off great. “Grace Kelly” is a remarkable track. “Lollipop” is a catchy song. The rest of the album good, but doesn’t stand up to the way the album begins.
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Nice top ten list! I absolutely love Albert Hammond Jr's solo album. Def one of the year's best. Have you seen the London Live footage of him over at MOJOHD.com?
Posted by: Indie_dinosaur | 20 December 2007 at 01:01 PM