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Albums of the Year

2007 in Review / The Eloquents

Guides | January 8, 2008 | Comments (55)

The top five albums of 2007, as selected by you good folks in last week’s comment diversion.

5. Sky Blue Sky, Wilco.
4. Neon Bible, Arcade Fire.
3. Back to Black, Amy Winehouse.
2. The Reminder, Feist.
1. In Rainbows, Radiohead.

Just missed the cut: Icky Thump, by the White Stripes, and We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, by Modest Mouse.

Nicely done, folks. Nicely done.


← Pajiba Love 01/07/08 | Nightmare on Pajiba Street →



Comments

Huh. Have #1, but will have to look into #s 2 through 5. Although (damn the media) I'm already a bit sick of Feist from the ad overexposure, and am annoyed by Amy Winehouse from the tabloid overexposure.

Posted by: MO at January 8, 2008 12:49 PM

Oh man, I hate to do this, but Amy Winehouse's album is "Back TO Black" not "Back IN Black"...unless she released an AC/DC tribute ablum that I wasn't aware of...which would actually be kind of awesome.

Posted by: Kate at January 8, 2008 12:50 PM

and yeah, there's a typo in that comment.

Posted by: Kate at January 8, 2008 12:56 PM

Re: The White Stripes. Nope. Can't do it. I've tried. I DL'd every album, and I just can't get into them. I could maybe make one good album out of all their songs.

Neon Bible kicks major ass, though. And Winehouse, despite being a despicable trainwreck of a human being, made a helluvan album.

Posted by: TK at January 8, 2008 1:05 PM

What, no Rush?

Anybody?

rush?


sorry.

Posted by: duane at January 8, 2008 1:15 PM

Amy Winehouse?

Reeeeeeeaaaally?!?!?!

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at January 8, 2008 1:17 PM

Y'know, I've been a fan of Radiohead forever, but there was a definite experimentative lull for a while there. In Rainbows is definitely a tight album, but for what it's worth, I still stand by "OK Computer" and "Pablo Honey" as their best albums.

As a side note, check out Radiodread, a song-for-song Reggae interpretation album. "Let Down" is brilliant!

As another side note, I just drew a doodle of a guy with a radio where his head should be. Slow day at work...

Posted by: Skittimus Maximus at January 8, 2008 1:26 PM

Ooh, thanks for the tip, Skittimus! Let Down is one of my favourites; I'm intrigued to hear it reggae-style.

For me, The Bends and Amnesiac are my favourite Radiohead albums, but there's not one I'd kick out of bed...

Posted by: MO at January 8, 2008 1:33 PM

Alright now, I guess that I will have to ask my nephew to down load some more songs into the Pod. I cannot promise that I will be able to identify them without looking at the screen, however. 2008 Resolution: Expand my musical vocabulary to include Pajib[i]an approved selections. Well, y'all have never lead me astray at the cinema so I'll trust you with my ears as well.

Posted by: rudy at January 8, 2008 1:35 PM

There's also a Reggae version of "Dark Side of the Moon", called "Dub Side of the Moon". Haven't brought myself to listen to it though... Pink Floyd makes my guts ache.

I'll fo'sho be picking up the Winehouse album though... Just wanted to hear a few more good things about it (thanks, Pajiba-Masses!). I gotta date with a junkie tonight!

Posted by: Skittimus Maximus at January 8, 2008 1:45 PM

Winehouse is insane, but that album rocks from top to bottom. Personal favorites on that album are "Tears Dry On Their Own" and "He Can Only Hold Her". It is a great album from top to bottom.

Posted by: Melody at January 8, 2008 1:51 PM

You're all old farts.

John Digweed anyone?

Posted by: Agent Scully at January 8, 2008 1:54 PM

what is it with people and feist? commenters: please explain why you have done this.

Posted by: shyestviolet at January 8, 2008 1:59 PM

Have to agree w/ the Feist album. Although I got sick of "1,2,3,4" because of that damn commercial, there were others on the album that blew my mind. Not as perfect as her first, but a great follow up.

Posted by: Brie at January 8, 2008 2:01 PM

RE: Dub Side of the Moon

Worth checking out for the pure novelty factor. That's it. Although I may not be the best judge, as I can only listen to a handful of Pink Floyd songs and will only tolerate a reggae track every once in awhile if it should on shuffle on my iTunes/iPod.

Posted by: Ernesto at January 8, 2008 2:04 PM

Apparently BSlim & I are the only people in the world who hate Amy Winehouse. I'm more than OK with that. Slim?

Posted by: Kolby at January 8, 2008 2:04 PM

TK, I also do not like the White Stripes. I have tried, but I still hate them. Ugh.

Posted by: Melody at January 8, 2008 2:10 PM

Oh, you betcha Kolby, don't see what the big deal is. The skinny white-girl with the deep voice shtick has been done before. With more elegance and considerably less crazy.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at January 8, 2008 2:11 PM

Agent Scully: would you be talking about Transitions, Vol. 3?



If so, love you and agree wholeheartedly.

Posted by: Seany D at January 8, 2008 2:11 PM

huh, not bad.

i, for one, am on the love the album, hate the tramp side of the Winehouse issue. There's no bones about it; that shit is soulful.

TK, you're too hardcore punk to get into the Stripes. Damn pesky punk rockers. *shakes old man fist*

Posted by: boo at January 8, 2008 2:17 PM

Used to like Amy Winehouse. Hate her to death now.

And sorry to say, "Back to Black" was released in the U.K. in 2006. It should definitely be disqualified. We had that shit playing at our Christmas party two years ago.

Posted by: David at January 8, 2008 2:20 PM

It's so nice to see love for Easy Star All stars! A friend told me about "Dub side of the Moon" and "Letdown" a couple years ago. I treat myself to a song every now and then when I'm tired of the same ole.

As for Amy Winehouse. I have been so conflicted in liking her for quite sometime. Back to Black(the song) is so haunting. and literally describes my situation of recent times. I feel so connected when I listen to her music. Then I watch her on the EMA's and have to shake my head in disbelief.

If anyone has yet to see it, go on youtube. I would post a link, but i'm at work and youtube is restricted on our server. Both her performance of Back to Black, and her acceptance of the Artists choice award were atrocious. We all know who was smokin' rock that night!

Posted by: Jax at January 8, 2008 2:23 PM

I only have one of the albums on the list, but I have some of the others on my wish list. Some how I have avoided ever hearing an Amy Winehouse song. Maybe I will check it out.

Posted by: Erin at January 8, 2008 2:27 PM

No Shins? For real? *tear* No one appreciates them like I do.

Posted by: Cady at January 8, 2008 2:36 PM

While I can't say I share the gushing adoration for The Arcade Fire, I did have the pleasure of seeing them live a couple years back at the Austin City Limits Music Festival... It was hotter than Christ out, but they put on a stellar show. Chris Martin from Coldplay (who was headlining that particular night - another awesome live performance) kept going on and on about them to the point where I wanted to chuck something at his head...

Anyone remember the movie "Eddie & the Cruisers"? Remember the main tune from that flick? Good. Now go listen to "Keep the Car Running" and tell me there's no similarity... SCANDAL!! For shame... (sob!)

Posted by: Skittimus Maximus at January 8, 2008 2:40 PM

Can't stand Amy Winehouse and I was so disappointed with The Shins and the new Arcade Fire - I just couldn't get into it. Love any and all Radiohead, even though a lot of Kid A was an acquired taste.

For anyone who loves Pink Floyd, check out Blue Floyd. They do blues covers of Floyd songs. Amazing!!

Posted by: Marianne at January 8, 2008 3:05 PM

That's funny, Skittimus, because I want to chuck things at Chris Martin's head also!

Posted by: Siddhartha at January 8, 2008 3:06 PM

Is that it, Boo? I've been wondering. I feared I wasn't "with it", or "hip" as the kids say these days.

Posted by: TK at January 8, 2008 3:09 PM

Haha, Cady, I'm a HUUUUGE Shins fan, too, but I cant blame the Pajibans for not picking "Wincing the Night Away." If this was a few years ago and they had left off "Oh, Inverted World" or "Chutes Too Narrow," I'd be getting out my crossbow...of...words? I'd be mad then, is what I'm trying to say, but not on behalf of this album.

Posted by: Geetch at January 8, 2008 3:10 PM

The Shins keyboardist just got arrested for badly beating his girlfriend of 7 years.

There music might be good, but everytime I hear their name, I think about that now.

Keep them off any list.

Posted by: David at January 8, 2008 3:13 PM

Ew. Sorry. Their.

I'll go hit myself now.

Posted by: David at January 8, 2008 3:15 PM

The first time I saw Arcade Fire was their appearance on SNL, and I swear they looked like the therapeutic band from a mental health facility (or as Karl would say, "the nervous hospital"). But you know I kind of dig "Neon Bible". It's an acquired taste.

While I enjoy her music (less so her talent-squandering personal life), Amy Winehouse's album starts to sound like the same song over and over again.

So sad no one else here loves Mark Ronson or LCD Soundsystem as much as I do.

Posted by: Alabamapink at January 8, 2008 3:23 PM

pink! I'm a HUGE LCD fan. I've been toting it relentlessly, but alas, no one ever responds. Yay for North American Scum and I Love You New York But You're Bringing Me Down...

Posted by: boo at January 8, 2008 3:28 PM

I'm sooo happy about Radiohead, I can't even say. Huge fan here.

Posted by: Gaby at January 8, 2008 3:32 PM

Bama and Boo you are both right on. Sound of Silver was the best album of the year. Plus they are crazy good live.

Posted by: lovie at January 8, 2008 3:39 PM

Seany D I think you are my internet soulmate. Cheers!

Posted by: Agent Scully at January 8, 2008 4:05 PM

People, I do not have money to be going out and buying CDs, but now I have this urge to go shopping, because I trust your judgment and I experienced a dearth of music buying this year.

Got the Amy Winehouse for Christmas and am loving it.

Alabamapink, boo, and lovie thanks for the reminder that I wanted to get the new LCD Soundsystem.

Posted by: tamatha at January 8, 2008 4:21 PM

People just can't be serious about The White Stripes. Ever heard of drumming? What about singing? God, how that crap even got a contract is beyond me.

I don't hate Amy Winehouse, but that album stroke me downright as über-modern production techniques trying to emulate really old blues joint stuff (Billie Holiday or Dionne Warwick), and sounding miserably fake at that. Not all bad, but fake to the point of being almost admittedly so -- I actually laughed at some parts.

Posted by: gargumma at January 8, 2008 4:39 PM

In my haste to comment I JUST SPILLED ROOT BEER ALL OVER MY CIGARETTES! Ugh!

Ummm, I can't tell you how many times I've heard my male friends say that they just can't get into The White Stripes. Something about a lack of syncopation, etc. It's been discussed at length, and I still cannot understand why. BECAUSE JACK WHITE WRITES WHAT IS IN MY SOUL!

Ok, maybe just maybe that's a bit too melodramatic, and I know that not all men dislike them, but it's just something I cannot come to terms with. Even today, I rocked out on the way home from work, where I spent a hideous day inside staring out at the abnormal 60 degree Buffalo weather in January. Only the White Stripes can inspire that amount of joy and havoc inside of me.

Good list, nonetheless.

Posted by: Rachael at January 8, 2008 4:41 PM

I CLEARLY GAVE 5 VOTES TO SOULJA BOY!!! How could he lose to the likes of "Radiohead." The man is the Ray Charles of this generation. You should be fucking ashamed of yourselves.

Posted by: That Guy at January 8, 2008 4:50 PM

I CLEARLY GAVE 5 VOTES TO SOULJA BOY!!! How could he lose to the likes of "Radiohead." The man is the Ray Charles of this generation. You should be fucking ashamed of yourselves.
Posted by: That Guy at January 8, 2008 4:50 PM

________________________________________________


You so funny, That Guy. That shit made me laugh. Thanks.

Posted by: jen310 at January 8, 2008 5:24 PM

you're welcome, from the peanut gallery

Posted by: thatgirlshines at January 8, 2008 6:15 PM

Huh. Paranoid Android just came on the ipod. I have to admit it's the only Radiohead song I know (aside form the ubiquitous Creep.) Perhaps I should be checking out the rest of their music.

Posted by: pinkcheese at January 8, 2008 6:24 PM

Ruiner by A Wilhelm Scream.

Posted by: Tim at January 8, 2008 6:46 PM

5. Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!
4. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead...
3. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
2. Radiohead - In Rainbows
1. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

my picks...

Posted by: Colin at January 8, 2008 10:45 PM

I'm proud to say that I own 4 out of those 5 albums. The only one I don't own is Amy Whitehouse. By the time she reached Australia she was so overexposed that I couldn't get beyond it.

Posted by: Camilla at January 9, 2008 4:07 AM

good list, but disappointed m.i.a.'s kala is off the list :(

Posted by: studpup at January 9, 2008 2:47 PM

Ruiner was '05, I think...A Wilhelm Scream put out Career Suicide this year, which was equally good. And congrats, Pajiba, on having the exact same top 5 as every other rag out there...please, please, please, stick to the movies...it's what you do best.

Posted by: Vincent at January 9, 2008 9:14 PM

Sigh... I liked the way Amy Winehouse looked better before she got all scrawny.

I know this is kinda off topic for this post, but seeing her name brought back memories of her before she began to take after the likes of Lindsay and Britney. Sigh...

Posted by: CarpePancakes! at January 10, 2008 1:54 AM

I think that's the reason I still have a special, hopped up on goofballs place in my heart for Amy. Frank was fantastic, and having heard it far sooner, it put Black into context stylistically.

Posted by: Smokin at January 10, 2008 3:15 AM

I read the earlier thread and cannot believe there wasn't more love for Rufus Wainwright's "Release the Stars".

Posted by: Samantha T at January 10, 2008 10:58 AM

Release the Stars by Rufus Wainwright is fantastic! Probably my favorite from this year. It's so beautifully and bombastic and deliciously campy that I just want to make love with Rufus over and over and over again. But then I remember that he's gay, and feel a little sad.

I really like PJ Harvey's White Chalk this year, too. Major departure from her previous work, and not my favorite of hers, but still awesome. It's like a sad ghost story that's pretty restrained until the last wailing note at the end of the album. Love.

I love Amy Winehouse, and, gargumma, I know what you mean (I feel that way about Alicia Keys, I can't listen to that shit to crap to save my life). But I just think Amy is so damn talented, both lyrically brilliant and vocally, that I find it excusable. And I really like how her voice and melody does sound like a throwback to old soul, but her lyrics are about over-drinking and slutting around. She's funny while heartbroken, soulful yet modern. Crazy yet talented. I hope she gets her act together. She's not supposed to overdose for another ten years or so. Why won't she follow the rules?

Love In Rainbows. I was just listening to it this morning. It's haunting and beautiful and although it's not my favorite of their albums, it's a welcome change because they sound like a band again. I was hoping they would stay away from the experimental electronica stuff and they did so yay!

I really like Feist's album this year, but it's not as good as Let it Die. All of the songs on it are good, but some strike me as pretty boring and even though I've had Let it Die for a couple years, it still hasn't gotten tired.

Posted by: kayla at January 10, 2008 2:22 PM

Where's the hip hop love on this board, man?!




Lupe Fiasco, anyone? Anyone?? ANYONE?!?!?!?!

Posted by: Queen Lena at January 10, 2008 11:47 PM

yeah, there's no excuse for LCD Soundsystem's "Sound of Silver" to not be on here. come on.

Posted by: Josh at January 13, 2008 4:38 PM

Queen:

I'd show love for Food & Liquor but I just don't like The Cool that much. And for the love of God would he just stop dedicating every song to someone.

Posted by: AD at February 6, 2008 10:01 PM