Media Review

2007 wasn’t a very good year in music. Here is the thing, while there were many gems to be found, there were also even more terrible albums. Also, the decline of album sales has hurt many bands. The good news about the decline in album sales is that it’s stopping most of the bands trying to make a quick band. Surprisingly, nobody has told Metro Station about that yet. But regardless… I am hoping for something better in 2008. You may agree with me or you may not, but either way it won’t change my opinion.

Oh I also want to thank everyone who is reading this. Without readers, this would just be me typing to myself. Also, the writers of Emotionalpunk are also pretty great. Going through the lists, I was surprised to see so many well rounded top ten's for the year. In the most non-biased way of course.

Other albums I enjoyed but didn’t quite make the top ten:

25. Poison The Well - Versions
24. Scary Kids Scaring Kids – Scary Kids Scaring Kids
23. Chuck Ragan – Feast or Famine
22. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
21. The Weakerthans – Reunion Tour
20. Ulrich Schnauss – Goodbye
19. Panda Bear – Person Pitch
18. Dear and the Headlights – Small Steps, Heavy Hooves
17. Jimmy Eat World – Chase This Light
16. Anberlin – Cities
15. Bad Religion – New Maps of Hell
14. The Graduate – Anhedonia
13. Down To Earth Approach – Come Back To You
12. The Shins – Wincing The Night Away
11. Minus The Bear – Planet of Ice

Ten Albums of 2007


10. Battles – Mirrored
Experimenting with the indie sound, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly Battles sounds like. Mirrored is one of those albums that you put on and can be assured that you have never heard it before. Just listen to Atlas and try to tell me that you are not interested.


9. The Starting Line – Direction
Some may consider this a guilty pleasure, but these guys write some fantastic songs. While maintaining their pop sound, Direction shows that the band have learned a thing or two about song writing containing some of their best work to date.


8. The Cinematics – A Strange Education
Sure this was a fairly overlooked album and it’s not too hard to see why. Most people wrote The Cinematics off as just another Interpol or The Killers but there is so much more underlying A Strange Education. It breaks the mold of typical indie dance whatever rock.


7. The Panic Division – Songs From The Glasshouse
Songs From The Glasshouse was one of my most anticipated albums of last year and while it’s nowhere near the caliber of Versus, this is still an album that can hold its own. This album sounds like the 80’s, but not the bad parts of the decade.


6. The Field – From Here We Go Sublime
This was a good year for the combination of indie and electronica music. While not taking the normal approach, From Here We Go Sublime doesn’t exactly fall under the genre of indie or electronica. It rests comfortably in between the two and is a great album for anyone looking to try something new.


5. The Ataris – Welcome To The Night
Despite the fact that fans can’t see past the days when Kris Roe used to make a mixtape and decorate it with stars, Welcome To The Night came as a complete shock. This is an incredibly bold take on pop mixed with some shoegaze that was a step in the right direction. Chances are though they will go back to old sound because this album tanked (see:Yellowcard)


4. The National – Boxer
One of the few indie albums that actually stuck with me, Boxer seemed to latch on where most other albums in the genre did not. It’s straight and to-the-point indie pop.


3. House of Fools – Live and Learn
Probably the best band Drive-Thru has signed next to RX Bandits. Unfortunately, not many people take Drive Thru’s signings too seriously. Regardless, this is a fantastic album with many dimensions that most modern music doesn’t take.


2. Against Me! – New Wave
Not putting this album at number one was extremely difficult for me. Most critics are saying that Against Me! fans haven’t taken to the album, but I don’t buy that. This is pretty much a glorified surf-pop album mixed with a bit of rock and roll. It’s not a punk album and there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone should listen to this.


1. Fair To Midland - Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True
It’s odd that I don’t have many words to describe my number one pick, but that is probably because it leaves me speechless. While many will refuse to give this a chance because they are sectioned into the “hard-rock” genre, I like to think this is what Coheed and Cambria wishes their latest album would be. Simply epic.

Best Live Album of 2007:

Daft Punk – Alive 2007
Easily one of the best live albums I have ever heard. It would probably have topped my list, but I felt putting a live album on a best of list was wrong. Either way, live is the best way to experience Daft Punk.

Best B-Sides/Rarities Compilation of 2007:

Alkaline Trio – Remains
Another album that would have topped my list but didn’t fall into the studio album category. This is the reason why Alkaline Trio are my favorite band and it’s not everyday you see a band outdo themselves with their b-sides.

Most Disappointing of 2007:
Motion City Soundtrack – Even if It Kills Me
Armor For Sleep – Smile For Them
Mae – Singularity
Bloc Party – A Weekend in the City
Matt Pond PA – Last Light
There are a lot more but these are the few I can think of at the moment.

Anticipated Albums for 2008:
-Dear and the Headlights
-The Draft
-Rise Against
-Dillinger Four
-Coldplay

Best TV Show of 2007:

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Even though Arrested Development is gone, there is still hope thanks to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for television. This is pretty much a no-brainer.

Best Movie of 2007:

Juno
A lot of fanatastic movies were released this year, but this one stuck out the most. Such heartfelt performances by the cast and quick writing made this film shine.

reviewed by Dave Giumara