Recently, I received an email from our publicist, asking for my Top 5 albums of 2007. As a neurotic list-maker, and uber-fan of the film High Fidelity, I was of course up to the challenge. However, as I scrolled through my iTunes, looking for my favorite current records, I realized that almost all of them were actually RELEASED in 2006, but only became favorites of mine in 2007.
After a small amount of reflection, I came to realize that this is indicative of my musical personality -- i generally will wait until enough people have told me some band or album is really good before actually taking a listen myself. Then, if the first couple listens catch my attention (not necessarily to the whole album; maybe just a song or two), I will slowly invest a little more at a time, like someone who is afraid of the heat might slide into a jacuzzi one inch at a time.
So, here I present my Top 5 of 2007 list, but, more importantly I think, my In-Retrospect 2006 Classics Top 10 List, which is not only a better indication of what I was listening to this year, but also shows which records have stood the test of (some) time, for me at least.
Top 5 of 2007:
1. LCD Soundsystem - "Sound of Silver"
2. The National - "The Boxer"
3. Against Me! - "New Wave"
4. Tegan & Sara - "The Con"
5. Oh, Sleeper - "When I Am God"
2007 Honorable Mention/Recent Loves:
Manchester Orchestra - "I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child"
Radiohead - "In Rainbows"
Bloc Party - "A Weekend In the City"
Motion CIty Soundtrack - "Even If It Kills Me"
Top 10 of 2006:
1. Regina Spektor - "Begin To Hop"
2. The Format - "Dog Problems"
3. The Knife - "Silent Shout"
4. The Sounds - "Dying To Say This To You"
5. The Killers - "Sam's Town"
6. Copeland - "Eat, Sleep, Repeat"
7. Justin Timberlake - "Future Love/Sex Sounds"
8. mewithoutYou - "Brother, Sister"
9. My Chemical Romance - "The Black Parade"
10. Midlake - "The Trials of Van Occupanther"