The Best Music of 2007 According to

December 18, 2007 3:13 PM

The best music of 2007 according to Stereogum, Pitchfork, All Music, NME, PopMatters, The A.V. Club, Rolling Stone, TIME, MTV, the Guardian, eMusic, Amazon, Spin Magazine, Q, Largehearted Boy, and more. Among the most frequently listed are Radiohead, Spoon, Arcade Fire, Of Montreal, Feist, and The National.
posted by Soup (68 comments total)

Please, no one comment.
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 3:19 PM on December 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

Don't forget Metacritic's list.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 3:22 PM on December 18, 2007

Radiohead, Spoon, Arcade Fire,
Radiohead, Spoon, Arcade Fire,
Radiohead, Spoon, Arcade Fire,
Radiohead, Spoon, Arcade Fire,
Radiohead, Spoon, Arcade Fire!
posted by Wolfdog at 3:22 PM on December 18, 2007

Your favorite band ____
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 3:23 PM on December 18, 2007

Just go to fimoculous. No need for "best of the year" posts at Metafilter when others do it so much better.
posted by Falconetti at 3:29 PM on December 18, 2007

*Lists, listing lists listlessly*
posted by everichon at 3:35 PM on December 18, 2007

I'm really only interested in the worst/most unknown albums of 2007 seven so these lists aren't really helping me.
posted by fuq at 3:37 PM on December 18, 2007

most unknown albums of 2007

Isn't that where the Pitchfork list comes in?
posted by cmgonzalez at 3:40 PM on December 18, 2007

I sure hope no one produces anything of note until the year ends IN TWO WEEKS!
posted by blue_beetle at 3:41 PM on December 18, 2007

Apparently people were in the mood for flaccid, unadventurous albums from bands who've been around for at least half a decade.
posted by punishinglemur at 3:42 PM on December 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

You know, I'd love to throw in a Radiohead-related Pitchfork joke, but... In Rainbows is just so good. It can't be denied.
posted by ninjew at 3:44 PM on December 18, 2007

Here are three albums which will appear on a best-of-the-year list I will never write:
William Parker and Hamid Drake - Summer Snow
Chico Mann - Manifest Tone, Vol. 1
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Pattie Blingh: Sagala
posted by box at 3:45 PM on December 18, 2007

What does MTV have to do with music?
posted by delmoi at 3:45 PM on December 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

... from bands who've been around for at least half a decade.

Check the bottom of your band to find its expiry date.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 3:46 PM on December 18, 2007 [3 favorites]

I was annoyed to see the Joni Mitchell album on Pitchfork's Worst Album Covers list. What, can't deal with a little goddamn sincerity? And butts?

Also, best releases of '07 that won't show up on any other list:

Tigercity - Pretend to Love
Francis and the Lights - Striking
posted by wemayfreeze at 3:50 PM on December 18, 2007

I sure hope no one produces anything of note until the year ends IN TWO WEEKS!
posted by blue_beetle

Yeah I've been wondering about this too. There have been some solid albums released in the past week or two that definitely deserve some recognition. Lupe Fiasco's new album that was released today, for example.
posted by jourman2 at 3:57 PM on December 18, 2007

WTF? I can't believe they chose ________ and totally left ________ off the list.
posted by psmealey at 4:09 PM on December 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

Traditionally, albums of new music (i.e., not compilations) released in the last four weeks of one year and the first four of the next are considered by the labels releasing them to either be duds or unable to compete during more active release periods (May - July, September - November). I was surprised to see that Mary J. Blige had a new album out this week, but that surprise is in part related to a lack of pre-release hype, a bad sign for Ms. Blige's sales.
posted by joseph_elmhurst at 4:10 PM on December 18, 2007

Fimoculous collects the noteworthy lists (and does a wonderful job not only with music lists but filtering all 2007 lists), Largehearted Boy (my blog) lists all the list I find online (noteworthy and otherwise).
posted by kickerofelves at 4:29 PM on December 18, 2007 [2 favorites]

What the hell is the appeal of LCD sound system? They sound like amateur tracker music from the mid 90's.
posted by delmoi at 4:50 PM on December 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

Here's a self-link to Gridface's top ten, all electronic music.
posted by hyperizer at 5:11 PM on December 18, 2007

WHAT THE FUCK?!? No Fergie?
posted by birdherder at 5:11 PM on December 18, 2007

And this year Christmas is on a Tuesday, so no album releases that week.
posted by smackfu at 5:44 PM on December 18, 2007

There is no Spoon.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:52 PM on December 18, 2007

Oh, wait, there they are.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:53 PM on December 18, 2007

1. Get off my lawn
2. You stupid kids
3. With your loud,
4. Obnoxious
5. So-called
6. Music.
posted by goatdog at 6:12 PM on December 18, 2007

birdherder: Well, here is a list that Fergie tops. For better or worse—mostly worse—it's probably the only list here that matters.

Idolator has been keeping tabs on the year-end lists for the last few weeks. They'll also have their anti-pazz and jop poll out soon too.
posted by Weebot at 6:23 PM on December 18, 2007

Really? Radiohead's MySpace?

Dude. Just link to their goddam impenetrable website. Or maybe one of the bigger fan site.

It's a fine post, particularly now that someone's linked Idolator's rundowns, but really? A MySpace? For them? If anyone showing up on these lists gets a MySpace link, it's Burial as that's all he's got.
posted by sparkletone at 6:30 PM on December 18, 2007

Your favorite band ____

is delicious???
posted by gyc at 6:52 PM on December 18, 2007

And this year Christmas is on a Tuesday, so no album releases that week.

This is untrue. There are a handful of releases on Friday, and another handful on Sunday, blessedbeoursavior.

Also, because I just CANNOT resist, everyone forgot Yesterday's Universe.
posted by carsonb at 6:57 PM on December 18, 2007

Is this the thread where I can rant about how completely fucking boring that Spoon record is? No? OK, then.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:22 PM on December 18, 2007 [1 favorite]

What's an album?
posted by not_on_display at 7:33 PM on December 18, 2007

Lupe Fiasco's new album that was released today, for example.

And is, four hours/listenings later, by far my favorite album this year. I can't get over how good it is.
posted by jacobian at 7:41 PM on December 18, 2007

for stereogum, we let everyone vote, and used a sort of borda count to let people weight their choices, instead of limiting people to a single album. just based on looking at a couple breakdowns from how different albums performed over each voting slot, it looked like the weirder stuff (Battles, of Montreal, Panda Bear) dropped off pretty quickly (high in the 1st slot, much lower in the 2nd and 3rd). seemingly, the bigger the marketing budget, the likelier stuff was to rise the lower the slot got, as enough people wracked their brains to think of other albums that had come out during the year, boosting those albums in the final tally.

if anyone has an interesting idea for handling the voting next year, shoot me a message or leave it in the comments.
posted by paul_smatatoes at 7:58 PM on December 18, 2007

Why must I cry? My sarcasm meter is broken.
posted by zerobyproxy at 8:25 PM on December 18, 2007

My top 25 albums of 2007
My top 30 favorite songs of 2007

in case anyone cares. :)
posted by Mach3avelli at 8:29 PM on December 18, 2007

What is it about Battles that I'm just not getting? Cause I'm trying really hard.
posted by photoslob at 8:57 PM on December 18, 2007

Nothing. It doesn't do anything for me either.
posted by Mach3avelli at 8:58 PM on December 18, 2007

Really? Radiohead's MySpace?

*waves to sparkletone* It's not official. Neither is their Facebook group. I mean, why would they bother?
posted by jokeefe at 9:05 PM on December 18, 2007

And because I'm tired and kind of slow, I know that's not what you meant. So yeah, agreed, just link to Dead Air Space and be done with it.

And twiddle your thumbs for the next webcast which apparently will happen before Christmas...
posted by jokeefe at 9:08 PM on December 18, 2007

The National album is definitely my most listened to this year.
posted by dobbs at 9:17 PM on December 18, 2007

I really, really like the National. It's true.
posted by renraw at 10:34 PM on December 18, 2007

My favorite album for 2007 was Townes Van Zandt's Live at the Old Quarter because that's what I listened to this year.
posted by iamck at 10:47 PM on December 18, 2007

Is it because it is so good, iamck? Is that why?
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:15 PM on December 18, 2007

Or maybe because the restroom, pay phones, pool table, foosball, and cigarette machine are upstairs?
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:16 PM on December 18, 2007

What is it about Battles that I'm just not getting? Cause I'm trying really hard.

You're not missing anything dude.

Just like that Onion headline from a year back:

"Experimental" Band "Theoretically" Good
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:13 AM on December 19, 2007 [3 favorites]

It helps if you see them live. Seriously, they are awesome. People who are raving about them aren't just posing or doing it to annoy, you know - Mirrored was a fantastic album.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:29 AM on December 19, 2007

*waves to sparkletone*

HALLO.

It's not official. Neither is their Facebook group. I mean, why would they bother?

That occurred to me, but then I decided not to trust my memory. Silly me.
posted by sparkletone at 12:45 AM on December 19, 2007

It helps if you see them live. Seriously, they are awesome.

I don't think people realize how little studio-only trickery was involved in the recording of that album. The album leaves me cold mostly, but Atlas is moderately effective at getting hipsters to dance.

However, watching the band pull all that shit off in person, even if the music doesn't do much for you is something to see. I got to see them as a double-headliner with Caribou. Now that was a show.
posted by sparkletone at 12:47 AM on December 19, 2007

What the hell is the appeal of LCD sound system?

They sound like amateur tracker music from the mid 90's.
posted by Grangousier at 1:16 AM on December 19, 2007

I don't much attend to annual best-of lists, except to get some ideas for records to try that I've overlooked, but what's so gratifying about this year is that rare delight of seeing a band one has long rooted for and loved with all the fierce protectiveness of a mother grizzly finally get its due. Go Nats! Go Boxer!
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:29 AM on December 19, 2007

The thing that frustrates me about Spoon is that their (IMO) better albums get little attention, while their latest albums have become critical knobslobfests.

Maybe I'm just getting old but seriously Spoon: Their older stuff was better.
posted by drezdn at 6:15 AM on December 19, 2007

Spoon has always bored the hell out of me.

Most overlooked record of the year, imo: Nordic Nomadic. Absolutely lovely.
posted by dobbs at 6:47 AM on December 19, 2007

Thirding the fact that Battles pulls all of that off live. It's like the best of Miles Davis' On the Corner and Mahavishnu Orchestra's Inner Mounting Flame mixed with voices from Newcleus. Or did I just ruin it again? Meh, I like it.
posted by sleepy pete at 6:50 AM on December 19, 2007

Listen to the whole Lupe Fiasco album online at his website. Watch out for the auto-start.
posted by willie11 at 7:42 AM on December 19, 2007

My Top 10 albums skew a bit different...

IMHO, The Arcade Fire can disappear tomorrow and make the world a better place. Is it just cool to like awful music these days? Maybe so.

And yes, once you've seen BATTLES live, you'll understand the hype.
posted by Zampa at 8:00 AM on December 19, 2007

Zampa, to be fair, Jandek has been... I guess popular is the right word, in some circles for a long, long time.
posted by sleepy pete at 8:33 AM on December 19, 2007

This takes all ten positions on my top ten list
posted by vbfg at 8:44 AM on December 19, 2007

...but then I'm a ridiculous fanboy.
posted by vbfg at 8:45 AM on December 19, 2007

What does MTV have to do with music?

Or Rolling Stone Magazine?
posted by juiceCake at 8:51 AM on December 19, 2007

I'm really only interested in the worst/most unknown albums of 2007 seven so these lists aren't really helping me.

Well for the worst of 2007, have a look at Rolling Stone's list.
posted by juiceCake at 8:54 AM on December 19, 2007

I liked this comment on the A.V. Club list:

"How dare you undermine my personal evalutions and opinions of what albums belong on this list and what order they should go into? The only reason I read this feature is because I hoped your judgements on the best music of the year would nicely coincide with my judgements, thereby making me feel less ashamed, self-conscious, and embarrass by my own taste in things. My existance will be validated!"

Sic.
posted by bluishorange at 9:10 AM on December 19, 2007

When I was 15 or so, I told a friend that I had probably heard of all the bands there were. Rightly she set me straight, but by adding some of these bands to my last.fm tags for later perusal, I'll be THIS MUCH closer to that accomplishment.
posted by artifarce at 10:36 AM on December 19, 2007

It's like the best of Miles Davis' On the Corner and Mahavishnu Orchestra's Inner Mounting Flame mixed with voices from Newcleus.

Huh. Well, I love the Inner Mounting Flame, so maybe I'll give them another listen. But I can't think of another song in my recent memory that went so quickly from "Wow!" to "Meh" than Atlas, so...
posted by jokeefe at 11:06 AM on December 19, 2007

Y'know, I thought about doing this post, only doing it right, mostly by pulling from the ILX thread that covers places like Decibel and Afropop.

But now I guess I'd rather bitch.
posted by klangklangston at 12:28 PM on December 19, 2007

What the hell? Last year I was familiar with every site's top ten albums/bands/singles/whatnot. This year I have no freaking idea who any of these bands are outside of the rare single.

I don't want to be old and clueless anymore!
posted by lekvar at 12:38 PM on December 19, 2007

jokeefe: That's because it's a recording that is 8 minutes long (7 and change or something), not a live experience. I think that some of the other stuff on that album is way more Mahavishnu than "Atlas". You can also try their early EPs (which, actually, might be a better choice as an intro).
posted by sleepy pete at 1:52 PM on December 19, 2007

I know the main point of a music thread here is for people to ask what it is they're not getting about music, but can I just say that I am actually amazed at how much I like that National album. It actually shocks me.

I never thought I'd ever love an album again as much as I loved my albums in high school. I never thought I'd love an album so much it makes me want to be a better person. But here we are.
posted by Tiresias at 6:01 AM on December 20, 2007 [1 favorite]