I continue my classic threads section with a look back at the top albums of 2007. Much more after the break!
.
#1
Justice – Cross
This has been the year of Justice – from the annymous remix band famous mostly for the shambolically commercialised “We are your friends” came a truly seminal album, launching them crucifix-first into the forefront of pop-dance culture. The scope of the album may be limited in terms of their range, but the areas they decide to concentrate on do not dissapoint. You can tell this album has been a true labour of love – the amount of work taken in getting all those sounds to form cohesively into a tune, altering frequencies, playing with effects – it comes together in the end a perfect, beautiful mess.
Stand out tunes include Phantom pt. II, Waters of Nazareth and D.A.N.C.E. (to which the video is supplied below:)
#2
The Good, The Bad and the Queen – Eponymous
Damon Albarn back to his melancholic best – this album had been on repeated play for me earlier in the year,and has not dissapointed on re-listen. This album showcases the talents of Albarn – both in his nous for word-smithery and his ear for a beautiful, soulful tune. The albarn sweats the malaise of man becoming disenchanted with the town he once reveled in – the contrast between this and “Parklife” is a telling sign of a man mellowing with age. Whilst Albarn is undoubtedly the star of the show, that’s not to distract from the excellent supporting cast. Simon Tong (The Verve) returns again to Albarn’s side, with ex-clash member Paul Simon on bass and Tony Allen providing afrobeat drums. The cast is diverse, but brings together the facets of Albarn’s musical heritage with the kind of charm one would expect of the man.
As far as tunes go, the eponymous track stands out but overall this album is an absolute joy – well, maybe that’s the wrong word, but you get the idea.
#3
Rapture, The – Pieces of People We Love
Technically released in the states in Sep 2006 – but I just can’t get enough of it. This album is a real, real grower. When I first heard it, I thought that LCD Soundsystem’s Silver was the better offering of the two – but listen to this album for any length of time, and be prepared to hum these tunes for the the forseeable future. The bands funk-laden inide sensibilty is something you either love or hate, and this album has more of that than previous efforts; be prepared for another marmite situation. But percevere with it and you’ll soon be nodding your head and tapping your feet to an excellently put together album.
The stand out tune, which encapsulates this album for me, is “Get Myself Into It” – check this out for pointers:
#4
Babyshambles – Shotter’s Nation
A lowly fourth for the ‘Sambles? Surely not! Well, it’s true. This ablbum WAS a let down. Sure, it wasn’t a phenomal bomb, but there’s something about Stephen Street’s production that just doesn’t sit well with me. I much prefer the rock-cliché, don’t-give-a-fucness of the previous album, but maybe that’s just me. Anyway, the one thing that binds the two albums is the quality of Doherty’s songwriting, which here, as ever, is top notch. The man has an eye for a lyric that sets him well and truly “A’Rebours”. Overall the album is perhaps superior to “Down in Albion” but the high-notes are more muddied amongst general decency than the previous effort (where tracks such as “Albion”, “A’Rebours” and “Killamangiro” shone against lesser-quality tracks) and this balance is something rather new to a Doherty piece. Overall an album worth owning, especially if you prefer “The Libertines” to “DOwn in Albion”.
The stand out tracks are hard to pick – it’s all 7 or 8/10 fare – but my personal favourite is “French Dog Blues”.
#5
LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
As mentioned in the Rapture synopsis, I really, really liked this album for a while earlier in the year. It combines the tasty funk and elctro influences of earlier efforts, but in a much more effective way than ever before. It’s certainly got it’s heart in the right place (unlike a lot of recent electro-indie nonesense) and just like the Rapture, it’s a real grower.
Stand out tracks include “Time to Get Away” and “North American Scum”.
