Best Rock of 2007
		As in any year, there are so many styles of music and since I've never been one to put rock into genres, I'm not going to start now. I'll just say there is good in everything I've heard, and rock is getting further and further from it's beginnings. As usual I've included my list of underrated and overrated artists, as well as best songs. Compared to many websites lists (Pitchfork, Metacritic, PopMatters) you can see just how varied music taste can be, and how personal lists always trump lists of a group of people. I Hope you all enjoy and feel free to comment and send your own lists at Demander77@aol.com.       There are many bands I never got to, including the same things I never really get into: rap, techno-dance, pop country, etc., things that suck for the most part anyways. Still, the same thing could be said for rock music of any kind also. I listened to about 85 records this year (beating last years 55) and I still came out with about 32 i'd rate 6/8 and above. Funny, how the average was the same as other years, kind of a bad year? Well, there was a lot to be proud of: - The National finally got the reputation they deserved, and gloomy/emotional rock was way in style (Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire, Interpol, Radiohead). - Daring bands made some great albums with insane drumming and experimental guitarists (Fiery Furnaces, Parts and Labor, Marnie Stern, Arctic Monkeys). - Thanks to the Internet, all sorts of bands are getting more exposure and Major Labels are all downsizing, trying to find a way out of the messes they themselves created. Soon, artists won't need labels at all, just websites... Underrated Albums of 2007 10.Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris The Queens 5th record is not their best record, and I doubt anyone would claim that. It is good however, and a step in the right direction. While most band's evolve, only great songwriters can do it in a way that always surprises. Songs like "I'm Designer", "3's and 7's", and "Misfit Love" sound like modern classics, and the thing is - they are. Every Queens album has plenty of great rock music to love and this one is no exception. 9.Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City A step up for Bloc Party, though no one wants to admit it. Released early in the year, it was kind of forgotten about by the end (as most albums with early release dates are). But in a year full of sophomore slumps, this one was actually an improvement. Silent Alarm was good, but this one shortened the number of songs, updated the effectiveness, and had a consistent theme. Even the concept of a modern day Britain and all of the hypocrisy within was completed better than most concept albums. With hard rock songs like "Uniform"and "Hunting for Witches" and pop gems buried within like "I Still Remember" near the end, the albums unity and effectiveness has only enhanced. Give it a chance to sink in and you may agree it is among the better releases of the year. 8.Parts and Labor - Mapmaker The drumming is overwhelming at first, but buried beneath this trio's layers of sound are great distinguishable songs. "Brighter Days" and "Unexplosions" are maybe the best examples of this band's hard style, but it should be noted that bands that can play this well and this fast are usually bad at writing songs. Good thing that is not the case here, because more often then not this is great, melodic, blistering stuff.  I look forward to hearing more from this band, and it helps show that there is an almost infinite amount of good music waiting to be discovered. 7.Rickie Lee Jones - Sermon on Exposition Blvd When a talented person makes a "latter day" record, it is usually garbage, even if it is hyped up to be a comeback record. What is amazing about this record is not only how good it is but how fresh it sounds. The concept is about reinterpreting Jesus words from the bible, and the music is three-chord lo-fi acoustic. If that sounds different then what Rickie Lee is known for, well, it sounds pretty close to the same style she's always had. Some people complained that she collaborated on the music and lyrics at times - well, she has always done that! But it all comes off as one of her best albums ever and if you didn't believe that Flying Cowboys and Traffic from Paradise were as good as they are, this may make you revalue her entire body of work. 6.Sylvie Lewis - Translations Sylvie Lewis is still all but unknown, which is astonishing because she has twice the voice, talent, looks, and songwriting ability of fellow lounge jazz poppers like Norah Jones do. "Old Queens, Monet, and Me" alone should be a hit on any kind of hit chart. Lewis keeps pressing on and changing her sound, this album is equal to her last, 2005's Tangos and Tantrums. As long as she doesn't mind being one of the best singer-songwriters around and not getting recognition, she will most likely be noticed soon. I'll do everything I can to spread the word because she is the real deal: a true master of beautiful melodies. 5.Cocorosie - The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn Definitely the oddballs of the year, Cocorosie are two sisters that make some of the strangest rock music imaginable - but it is very listenable. Songs like "Japan", "Rainbowarriors", and "Werewolf" ensnare you and "Houses" and  "Miracle" take you on the mystical ride to Care Bear country. Yes, it sounds like Bjork rapping with the Teletubbies, but it really is worth a listen! 4.Menomena - Friend and Foe Some people like this band's first record because it is the first example of their particular brand of "college", but this record adds something to the equation - normality. Menomena become an actual rock band with this record, and with songs like "Rotten Hell" and "Weird" I sure look forward to more form them. It is do-it-yourself music made by a trio that deserves recognition. 3.Fiery Furnaces - Window City The band's most experimental record, though still slickly produced and fairly an easy listen. Some pop, some Beefheart, some 70's hard rock, some insane ranting. It can be overwhelming, but it's not near as difficult as Blueberry Boat or Rehearsing Our Choir. The FF may have done more to make experimental music accessible in any other band this decade, which is the actual mission of rock music in my opinion. 2.Marnie Stern - In Advance of a Broken Arm Very overlooked but easily the debut of the year. Marnie Stern is young and she represents the hope of rock music. Truly original, I can't think of anything this music actually sounds like: finger-tapping punk guitar matched by the fabulous crazy drumming by Zack Hill. And the songs....what songs! "Grapefruit", "Every Single Line Means Something", "Logical Volume", "The Weight of a Rock", I could go on because each song is a treasure trove of sound. This next phrase actually can mean something for once: who knows where she will go from here! 1.Interpol - Our Love to Admire This is the most CONSISTENT record of the year, and that is mostly what counts in my book. Listening to all of these tunes, each one rings true in some respect: the emotional scream of "Wrecking Ball", the whirling vortex of "Mammoth", the pure pop of "No I in Threesome". It's all great, and it forms one of the best examples of a man bearing his soul in rock music. Why do people hate this record? I don't really know, but to me every hook sounds assured and every lyric is an improvement on their first two albums. Interpol were always a good band, but here they help represent the hope of rock music like all of the albums on my list - great music being exposed to the masses. I don't care if its rap, country, metal, pop, or Interpol's brand of Doors influenced goth-rock. If it's this good, let it be put on a pedestal. Honerable Mention: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder Just because there were so many sophomore slumps this year, and this one was does what a follow up album should.
	Just Right of 2007 10.The Dark Horse - Besnard Lakes 9.Writer's Bloc - Peter, Bjorn and John 8.Fur and Gold - Bats for Lashes 7.The Shepard's Dog - Iron and Wine 6.Liars - Liars 5. Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem 4.Strawberry Jam - Animal Collective 3.Mirrored - Battles 2.Boxer - National 1.Neon Bible - Arcade Fire Honorable Mention: Marry Me - St. Vincent Overrated of 2007 10.GaGaGaGaGa - Spoon You know, just like the previous Gimme Fiction, I like this record but I don't love it. It's almost like getting an "honorary oscar", people are trying to apologize that they didn't recognize Kill the Moonlight and Girls Can Tell back in 2001 and 2002 by hailing Gagagagaga as some kind of masterpiece. There is some good on here, but NOTHING beyond a couple of songs hasn't been done better before by Spoon themselves. They simply stay pretty good and add to the cannon with this one. 9.Person Pitch - Panda Bear My problem: the noise pieces. "I'm Not" and "Search for Delicious" are not good songs, and they really hurt any kind of impact this album could have. Everything else is at least pretty good, and "Bros" and "Ponytail" are great. I can't help thinking that this would have been better if this album and Strawberry Jam were combined into one, keeping the best songs (that album needs more Panda Bear). 8.Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone This is a prime example of why post-rock can be boring. Each song follows a formula, build to a crescendo, then gets soft again. I can't make anything out of this kind of music, but because it is more in style these days it gets more recognition. See, The Dirty Three and countless other bands were doing this long ago. 7.Grinderman - Nice Cave I love Nick Cave, but I just don't think he can pull it off anymore. This sounds like he is trying waaaay to hard to be some kind of modern version of his old hard rock self. Just doesn't seem natural and so none of it really works for me; more like an old pervert than a preacher or something to that effect. Well, I guess the lyrics are still good but the music is pretty weak. 6.Deer Hunter - Cryptograms Sounds like yet another band trying to be My Bloody Valentine. Maybe at some point in their career they will come up with some interesting stuff, but this is just a bunch of noiiise. Except "Spring Hall Convert", I love that one. But that's only one song! 5.Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird This wasn't praised as much as The Mysterious Production of Eggs was, but it is still very mediocre for Bird to get fame off of it. His earlier works were much more interesting, but now "indie rock" is fashionable. Get all of his others, then this one. 4.We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse This is kind of getting labeled as a misfire now, but when it came out it was all "Johnny Marr! Whoooooooooo!" and "This album is so great no one can touch it!". Well, as time is already proving, it is not that good at all and like every Modest Mouse album, waaaay toooo long. Oh, and I love how the two members of Black Heart Procession joining up gets no mention at all by most publications. 3.Andorra - Caribou This is a good album, it's just not great as people say. It sounds just like the Elephant 6 bands but not as good as most of them usually sometimes are. Yeah. They really chained their style for this record, which might mean they were out of ideas or something, who knows. And "Melody Day" is insanely overrated as a single, so shut up about it! 2.Icky Thump -White Stripes God Awful. I like some of their old stuff but this is the saddest attempt at music White has come up with yet. With the exception of  a couple of tracks, everything is bad. The attempts at branching out are laughable, and they don't deserve a bit of the attention they have any more. Anyone who puts the White Strips as one of the best bands of the last ten years..... would kind of be right because of the first three ...but they have gotten more pathetic then people will admit. This and Satan deserve the 1/8's I gave them. 1.In Rainbows - Radiohead Whenever Radiohead comes out with a record, it is a masterpiece. Oh, does it sound like crap? It doesn't matter because I'm Radiohead and I'm the best band ever and you can't touch me even if all of these songs sound like the worst electronica in the world and "Jigsaw" is decent but still doesn't make any sense. Hey, I'm in Radiohead, I'm going to let you download the album for free so that you think I'm giving you a deal, but I should actually be PAYING PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE IT IS A BUNCH OF HORSE CRAP MY FOUR YEAR OLD CREATED ON MY LAPTOP!!!! So yeah, it kinda sucks, not album of the year. I know it sounds so immature but it was either that or I go about saying what is boring about each song, and you don't want that. No one needs that, just listen to it people! There is not much to like here!!!! Best Songs of 2007 Gotta pick 15, just so many good ones! 15."If You Could Read Your Mind" - Clinic 14."Closer at Hand" - Field Music 13."The Other Woman" - Devendra Banhart 12."Peacebone" - Animal Collective 11."Bros" - Panda Bear 10."Rotten Hell" - Menomena 9."I'm Designer" - Queens of the Stone Age 8."Old Queens, Monet and Me" - Sylvie Lewis 7."Japan" - Cocorosie 6."Apartment Story" - The National 5."Someone Great" - LCD Soundsystem 4."Every Single Line Means Something" - Marnie Stern 3."Mammoth" - Interpol 2."Atlas" - Battles 1."Clear Signal From Cairo" - Fiery Furnaces To see what I thought of every record I heard this year, check out my Year by Year analysis of 2007 Conclusion: 2007 was an interesting year to say the least. Last year the word "indie" became popular, this year it became annoying (even more so than it was to begin with). The term "alternatve" makes sense to me - it is different and out there - but still in the 80's and 90's band's that were totally NOT alternative were called that because it was cool. Now, 10 years or so later, it seems the same is happening with "Indie Rock" and it is quite frustrating. Matador and Merge Records are household names, bands from all over are calling themselves "indie", old outcasts like Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo are talked about everywhere (and in the formers case, selling records with Starbucks!). It is a noted change, this world of indie rock, and it will go down as an odd era of rock music. One might say, "At least challenging music is more widely accepted," but with everything being "cutsie" and "indie" it gets quite annoying, even though it's an improvement form rap-metal and boys bands at the turn of the 21st century.