Media Review

My 10 Favorite Albums of the Year:


1) Thrice - The Alchemy Index, Volumes I & II: Fire & Water
If you know me, this comes as no surprise. If you don’t, this is my favorite band of all time. Though not their greatest work to date, it shows why I love them so much. Brilliant lyrics matched with powerfully embracing music that ranges the entire spectrum.


2) The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning of and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
If Thrice wasn’t a shoe-in for album of the year by reputation alone, this album would’ve taken the cake. At first it was a difficult album to digest due to its shear length but once ingested, its taste is practically an indescribable pallet of variety and yet cohesively comes together as a complete meal.


3) Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice
If your favorite band has seemed to have lost their talent lately, it was probably stolen by Minus the Bear. This Seattle five-piece has shown once again that their gift for progressive yet catchy songwriting is second to none. The yang to Menos El Oso’s ying, this album is a seamless blanket of glistening math rock perfection.


4) Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
I was a casual fan of Sam Beam until 2005’s Women King where he explored a myriad of instrumentation and benefited immensely from it. I have no idea why it took almost half a dozen (incomplete) listens to finally grasp onto this album but it finally caught on in a big way. It’s such a spectacular portrayal of just about every instrument known to man brought together under one subdued umbrella.


5) Idiot Pilot - Wolves*
Idiot Pilot has grown from an experimental noise, beeps, and random screaming project to a mature, full sounding band. I can’t stress enough how good this album is and how much of a step up they’ve made from their debut. Their songwriting is up there with any band on this list.


6) Nurses - Hanging Nothing But Our Hands Down
This is the most obscure pick on my list but I had to include it if not for its uniquely odd yet somehow entrancingly catchy sound, then to at least hope that a new listener picks up on this band. Without a doubt the best new band of the year and all together most distinctive artist around.


7) Circa Survive - On Letting Go
I was initially disappointed with this release due to its lack of variety but I have grown to enjoy it for what it is: a solid album with catchy songs and poignant lyrics. They are still one of my favorite bands around and I know they will continue to grow and refine their sound.


8) Lovedrug - Everything Starts Where it Ends
I was not a fan of the band’s debut album because it didn’t stand out enough to keep my attention but this album all but corrects that problem. For the same reason I loved a lot of my favorite albums this year, this one is diverse in sound, feeling, and mood. Beautiful and dark, upbeat and somber, lighthearted and gloomy... and that’s just the first four songs...


9) Radiohead - In Rainbows
Once you get past the revolutionary distribution idea behind this album and the band’s reputation, you get to a gorgeously intimate and stripped down piece of work. I have to admit I jumped on the Radiohead bandwagon long after its departure but that does not keep me from enjoying this album any less.


10) Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
The lone hip-hop album on this year’s list sticks out for more than its genre definition; it showcases one of the smartest minds in rap today. Hitting on things such as the lack of substance in his peer’s lyrics to political views and everything in between, he shows that there is still hope left in the shambles that is called rap. It doesn’t hurt that his beats and rhymes are catchy as hell also!

* = I know this album isn’t physically being released until 2008 but it was widely released enough for me to put it on 2007’s list. I am usually a stickler for putting releases with their proper years but this one couldn’t wait.

10 More Album I Couldn’t Live Without:
Kaddisfly - Set Sail the Prairie
The Starting Line - Direction
Portugal. The Man - Church Mouth
Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light
House of Fools - Live and Learn
The Bled - Silent Treatment
The Panic Division - Songs From the Glasshouse
Anberlin - Cities
Eisley - Combinations

Could’ve Made the List With More Time:
Battles - Mirrored
Feist - The Reminder
The Gay Blades - Ghosts
Poison The Well - Versions
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

Most Disappointing Albums:
Say Anything - In Defense of the Genre
Cartel - Cartel
Paramore - Riot!

reviewed by Dave Giumara