Best Albums of 2007

As the world awaits new albums from Coldplay, U2 and Morrissey in 2008... here are the albums that inspired me in 2007.

10. Volovan- Monitor
“Monitor” is my favorite song of the year from an album i’ve been waiting a long time for. Volovan’s sophomore release didn’t disappoint. Their power-pop chords are just what I need in a time when every band is Mexico is trying to sound pop-punk.

9. Manu Chao- Radiolina
Choosing to spend his time touring rather than recording, Manu Chao, finally relased an album five-plus years alter “Esperanza”. It was worth the wait.

8. M.I.A.- Kala
Creatively, M.I.A. intrigues me. "Kala" isn't the commercial hip-hop of a Kanye West, or Jay-Z. Born in Sri Lanka, MIA follows up her politically driven debut "Argular" with... well, a political at times "Kala". In $20 she sings "Do you know the cost of A.K.'s up in Africa? 20 dollars ain't shit to you, but that's how much they are /Of course they gonna use it to kill a little da". Using influences from all over the world, I give her credit for not turning into the next hip-hop diva a la Gwen Stefani, Nelly Furtado (though Timbaland was in line to produce this album).

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7. Bloc Party- A Weekend in the City
I (heart) Bloc Party. They evolve with A Weekend in the City but it fails to capture the magic of their debut “Silent Alarm”. “A Song for Clay”, as a few tracks on AWITC are too wordy for my taste.

6. Peter Bjorn and John- Writers Block
“Young Folks” or “that whistling song” as some refer to it was a great single. Itunes sold the album for $6 so I bought the whole thing… and it quickly became one of my favorites of the year.

5. Feist- The Reminder
Like most of America, I first discovered Feist on the ipod commercial. It wasn’t too long before I couldn’t get that 1,2,3,4 song out of my head. I downloaded it on itunes, and also downloaded another song, then another, and another… next thing I know I had the whole album, and it’s great!

4. Radiohead- In Rainbows
Radiohead takes chances. Most recently, they made “In Rainbows” available online and allowed people to name their price. I paid $3 for it, and it was worth every penny.

3. The National- Boxer
The Interface podcast is the shit. I thank them for introducing me to many great bands this year. The National, among them.

2. Amy Winehouse- Back to Black
In a word, “soulful”.

1. Editors- An End Has a Start
When bands reach success with their first albums most feel they need to change things up (see the Killers “Sam’s Town”, or even Bloc Party “A Weekend in the City”). Editors stuck with the style that defined then on “The Back Room” and successfully take you into a dark, shadowy corner of your apartment, but rest a gentle comforting hand on your shoulder at the same time.