Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

PART TWO.

And now, the list you all have been waiting for. My picks for the ten best albums of 2007 [Released between January and July 1, 2007 in America of course] Now I could write extensively about each album, but one, I'm no writer, just an overzealous music fan with a computer and a high speed internet connection. And two, I'm lazy, meaning that if I write too much, I'll get lazy come winter time and just present the same paragraphs again when I bust out my best of 2007 albums list in December. So without further adieu, here are my picks in no particular order.



ONE/LCD SOUNDSYSTEM/SOUND OF SILVER

The phrase fuck what ya heard gets tossed around a lot when it comes to discussing music, but when it comes to LCD Soundsytem and this banger of a sophomore record, you might wanna listen to what the people are saying, cause it's all correct. Trust me when I say yer favorite band's a sucker, and LCD Soundsystem is where it's at.

KEY TRACKS: Get Innnocuous!/All My Friends/Us V Them



TWO/OF MONTREAL/HISSING FAUNA, ARE YOU THE DESTROYER?


If you've noticed, 2007 has been all about the little bands that could breaking out into the spotlight, crafting music far more astonishing and fine tuned than that of their chart topping "veteran" counterparts. Of Montreal is one such act. You'll be hard pressed to find another avant-garde pop album that is damn near perfect from track one, right on down to the middle of the disc. Trust.

KEY TRACKS: Gronlandic Edit/A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger/Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider



THREE/NE-YO/BECAUSE OF YOU

Dear Ne-Yo,

Lately I have been craving me [and enjoying] some old school leaning, but forward looking R&B that talks to me and keeps it subtle, relishing in all that good singing, melodies, and songwriting has to offer. And it's all because of you and this stunner of a sophomore album.

Thanks,

Tauwan

KEY TRACKS: Because of You/Crazy/Can We Chill




FOUR/!!!/MYTH TAKES

Album #1: Spotty and all over the place. Album #2: Funky and cohesive urging you, no, forcing you to get up and get down. Nuff said.

KEY TRACKS: Must Be The Moon/Heart of Hearts/Sweet Life



FIVE/ARCADE FIRE/NEON BIBLE

Belive the hype and get over yourself cause this band will be around for a long time. If you claim to like good, thought provoking music, and are fond of excellent displays of musicmanship (boy that reads like Pitchfork lite)...well, I can stop writing cause you're already listening to this record.

KEY TRACKS: Keep the Car Running/Black Wave-Bad Vibrations/No Cars Go




SIX/AMY WINEHOUSE/BACK TO BLACK

I caught a late flight on the Amy Winehouse plane, but for me, her album came just in the nick of time. Reveling in the sound of girl group/motown/doo wop soul and drenched in heartache and sorrow, Back to Black keeps it real and sometimes that's all you want outta life.

KEY TRACKS: Rehab/Me and Mr. Jones/Tears Dry On Their Own



SEVEN/RIHANNA/GOOD GIRL GONE BAD

A.K.A. Good girl goes out and gets a personality. Yeah it can be argued that said personality is just a combination of swaggers possessed by pop maidens who came before her [and a few of her peers]. Whatever the case may be, this album, more than anything has made Rihanna an artist worth caring about beyond a few singles. Here's hoping she can keep up the good work and do it again.

KEY TRACKS: Push Up On Me/Don't Stop the Music/Lemme Get That



EIGHT/LIL WAYNE/DA DROUGHT 3

Yeah it's a mixtape. And yeah it's avaliable for free on the internet. But trust me, one listen of this, and you'll wish more rappers would toke a little herb and straight murder two discs worth of other people's tracks. One of the funniest, inspired, and passionate rap albums you'll hear all year. Real talk.

KEY TRACKS: We Takin' Over [RMX]/Get High Rule the World/Walk It Out



NINE/ARCTIC MONKEYS/FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE

Tight, concise, and to the point. Again, nuff said.

KEY TRACKS: Brianstorm/Flourescent Adolescent/505



TEN/THE WHITE STRIPES/ICKY THUMP

Nearly ten years in the game, and the White Stripes are still doing more with two people than most bands do with four members or more. Rustic, passionate, falling apart at the seams, this thump sure is icky, but like a car crash on the side of the road it's worth taking a look. Even if it slows you down for a bit.

KEY TRACKS: 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues/Conquest/Rag and Bone