12.15.2007

Year in Music 2007: Honorable Mentions


Every year I've done this, there's always a couple of things that don't quite fit into a specific category, but I think still deserve recognition. So here's a few entires that don't quite fit into either songs or albums o' the year:


Best old stuff, rediscovered: Elliott Smith, New Moon


Best live CD: Daft Punk, Alive 2007



Best EP release: (tie) Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Is is and Flight of the Conchords, The Distant Future


Late entries for Best of 07: Unfortunately, these CDs either came too late or just not to me at all this year. Nothing against them, but that's why you might think it odd that their excluded from this year's lists:

1. Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
2. Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab
3. Band of Horses - Cease to Exist
4. The National - Boxer

5. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
6. Pinback - Autumn of the Seraphs
7. Bat For Lashes - Fur & Gold
8. Rilo Kiley - In The Backlight
9. The Hives - The Black & White Album
10. Blonde Redhead - 23

I usually do an "overrated" list too, but I'm holding back this year. Let's just say if you see it on other critic's list and you don't see it on mine, I probably think it's overrated. A bit of a blanket statement, I know.


If I could turn back time: Regrets. I've had a few. In 2006, for example, I gave out some random high rankings (Lupe Fiasco at #8?!) and left out some of great discs that I just discovered in 07. In retrospect, these albums might've beaten the pants off my 2006 Top 20 (I stand by Thom Yorke and Art Brut, but maybe Tapes n' Tapes at #1 is a little much...Lily or PB&J might've taken over the one-spot...).

Here are 10 great to good albums that somehow missed my 2006 list:

1. Lily Allen - Alright Still
2. Peter Björn and John - Writer's Block
3. Nas - Hip Hop is Dead
4. The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
5. Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
6. Jarvis Cocker - Jarvis
7. Hot Chip - The Warning
8. J Dilla - Donuts
9. Masta Killa - Made In Brooklyn
10. Murs - Murray's Revenge

So, there you go: just more proof that lists are pretty goofy and can change on a whim from year to year. I'll be on vacation starting Wednesday, which is when you can expect me to make my final choices for the final chapter: Best Albums of 2007. Thanks (again) for reading!

2 comments:

Jessica K said...

Oh, Jarvis. I finally got that album with a birthday Itunes card this fall and I loved it. Probably because it sounds exactly like Pulp and I am predictable in my tastes.

I also purchased the new Jens Lekman with that same card and I think I hate it. I'm hoping the old-timey thing will grow on me like it did with The Life Pursuit by Belle and Sebastian, but so far it hasn't.

You know what else rules? The new albums by Tori and They Might Be Giants. Both had issued some so-so stuff in recent years, and both have returned to form.

Ronson said...

Yeah, Jens is definitely an acquired taste, he strikes me at times charming, other times, grating, so I suppose that just comes with the territory.

You should at least check out Patrick Wolf's The Magic Position -being a Jarvis fan I think you might like it a lot.

I've heard a few good things about the new TMBG (they've kinda fallen off my radar in recent years). Maybe I should check that one out...