Pitchfork’s Top 100 Tracks 2007

The best tracks of last year as voted for in Pitchfork and as so very kindly compiled by Stereogum !! Check out: http://stereogum.com/

A great mix tape indeed. There will of course be a few deletions such as cnuts like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, R. Kelly etc and that annoying dumb brella-ella- ella bollox!

Here’s a more detailed discussion of the individual tracks here: pitchforkmediastaff-list-top-100-tracks-of-2007

Top of the heap in their view, not mine however, was LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends” and this is their blurb thereon;

Fidgety piano chords played with clunky imprecision, a ticking rhythm section, and an opening line worthy of a great novel– so begins our favorite song of 2007. Like most of LCD Soundsystem’s future Best of candidates, “All My Friends” starts out handling like a rickety shopping cart and ends up blazing like a house on fire.

What’s special about this one is the story that plays out in between; where James Murphy used to take perverse pleasure in making up his lyrics on the spot, this is proof that he’s too sharp a writer to leave his words to chance. “All My Friends” is about a lot of things– guilt, drugs, the weight of expectation– but mostly, it’s about aging, about how the template for growing older is melting away, and about what decisions we make for ourselves in light of such lowered expectations.

This is a song about building a compass, and for Murphy, that journey not only starts with his friends: it ends there, too.

Here’s the video for the song about a song about building a compass (whatever the fuck that means!)

http://www.youtube.com/v/i2V_ZT-nyOs&rel=1

Tracklisting

100 Ost & Kjex – “Milano Mugolian (A Thrilling Mungophony in Two Parts)”
99 Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew – “Backed Out on the…”
98 Old Time Relijun – “Indestructible Life!”
97 Sir Richard Bishop – “Ecstasies in the Open Air”
96 Times New Viking – “Teenage Lust!”
95 Groove Armada [ft. Mutya Buena] – “Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)”
94 MGMT – “Time to Pretend”
93 Antibalas – “Beaten Metal”
92 Air – “Mer du Japon (Kris Menace Remix)”
91 Menomena – “The Pelican”
90 Miranda Lambert – “Gunpowder & Lead”
89 Air France – “Beach Party”
88 The New Pornographers – “Myriad Harbour”
87 Sophie Ellis-Bextor – “Me and My Imagination”
86 Rekid – “Next Stop Chicago”
85 BARR – “The Song Is the Single”
84 50 Cent – “I Get Money”
83 Sonic Youth – “I’m Not There”
82 Tinariwen – “Matadjem Yinmixan”
81 Modest Mouse – “Dashboard”
80 Grizzly Bear – “Little Brother (Electric)”
79 Magik Markers – “Taste”
78 Amy Winehouse – “Tears Dry on Their Own”
77 The National – “Mistaken for Strangers”
76 Klaxons – “Golden Skans”
75 Escort – “All Through the Night”
74 Black Lips – “Katrina”
73 The Twilight Sad – “Cold Days From the Birdhouse”
72 Ted Leo & the Pharmacists – “La Costa Brava”
71 The Shins – “Turn on Me”
70 Cassie – “Is It You?”
69 Roísín Murphy – “Overpowered”
68 Black Kids – “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You”
67 Devin the Dude [ft. Andre 3000 and Snoop Dogg] – “What a Job”
66 King Khan & the Shrines – “Welfare Bread”
65 DJ Khaled [ft. T.I., Akon, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman & Lil Wayne] – “We Takin’ Over”
64 No Age – “Neck Escaper”
63 Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – “I’m Not Gonna Cry”
62 Cool Kids – “I Rock”
61 !!! – “Heart of Hearts”
60 The White Stripes – “Rag and Bone”
59 Lil Wayne – “Upgrade U”
58 Shellac – “The End of Radio”
57 Electrelane – “To the East”
56 Aesop Rock – “None Shall Pass”
55 Studio – “No Comply”
54 Joanna Newsom – “Colleen”
53 Bat for Lashes – “What’s a Girl to Do?”
52 The Clientele – “Bookshop Casanova”
51 Kanye West [ft. T-Pain] – “Good Life”

50 Dude ‘N Nem – “Watch My Feet”
49 Yeasayer – “2080″
48 Liars -”Plaster Casts of Everything”
47 T2 -”Heartbroken”
46 Deerhunter- “Wash Off”
45 The Honeydrips – “Fall From a Height”
44 Pantha du Prince – “Saturn Strobe”
43 Deerhoof – “The Perfect Me”
42 Spoon – “Black Like Me”
41 Los Campesinos! – “You! Me! Dancing!”
40 Beirut – “Elephant Gun”
39 Sally Shapiro – “He Keeps Me Alive”
38 Matthew Dear- “Deserter”
37 Blonde Redhead -”23″
36 Okkervil River – “Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe”
35 Dirty Projectors – “Rise Above”
34 The Tough Alliance – “Silly Crimes”
33 Dinosaur Jr. – “Almost Ready”
32 R. Kelly [ft. T.I. and T-Pain] – “I’m a Flirt (remix)”
31 Cortney Tidwell – “Don’t Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up (Ewan’s Objects in Space Remix)”
30 Dan Deacon – “Wham City”
29 Arcade Fire – “Keep the Car Running”
28 Dizzee Rascal – “Pussy’ole (Old Skool)”
27 Lil Mama – “Lip Gloss”
26 Jay-Z – “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is…)”
25 Kanye West – “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
24 Gui Boratto – “Beautiful Life”
23 Simian Mobile Disco – “I Believe”
22 Animal Collective – “Peacebone”
21 M.I.A. – “Boyz”

20 Radiohead – “All I Need”
19 The Field – “A Paw in My Face”
18 Chromatics – “In the City”
17 Burial – “Archangel”
16 Feist – “1 2 3 4″
15 Jens Lekman – “A Postcard to Nina”
14 Caribou – “Melody Day”
13 Of Montreal – “The Past Is a Grotesque Animal”
12 Spoon – “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb”
11 Grinderman – “No Pussy Blues”
10 Jay-Z [ft. Beanie Sigel] – “Ignorant Shit”
09 Animal Collective – “Fireworks”
08 Justice – “D.A.N.C.E.”
07 LCD Soundsystem – “Someone Great”
06 UGK [ft. Outkast] – “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)”
05 Rihanna [ft. Jay-Z] – “Umbrella”
04 M.I.A. [ft. Bun B and Rich Boy] – “Paper Planes (Remix)”
03 Panda Bear – “Bros”
02 Battles – “Atlas”
01 LCD Soundsystem – “All My Friends”

Here she be:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/d3yrog
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qop5fi
http://www.sendspace.com/file/sk9z69

Mirror:

http://rapidshare.com/files/80749573/p1.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80750608/p2.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80752656/p3.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80751868/p4.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80751983/p5.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80753821/p6.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80753157/p7.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80760024/p8.zip

Pitchfork’s Top 100 Tracks 2007

The best tracks of last year as voted for in Pitchfork and as so very kindly compiled by Stereogum !! Check out: http://stereogum.com/

A great mix tape indeed. There will of course be a few deletions such as cnuts like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, R. Kelly etc and that annoying dumb brella-ella- ella bollox!

Here’s a more detailed discussion of the individual tracks here: pitchforkmediastaff-list-top-100-tracks-of-2007

Top of the heap in their view, not mine however, was LCD Soundsystem’s “All My Friends” and this is their blurb thereon;

Fidgety piano chords played with clunky imprecision, a ticking rhythm section, and an opening line worthy of a great novel– so begins our favorite song of 2007. Like most of LCD Soundsystem’s future Best of candidates, “All My Friends” starts out handling like a rickety shopping cart and ends up blazing like a house on fire.

What’s special about this one is the story that plays out in between; where James Murphy used to take perverse pleasure in making up his lyrics on the spot, this is proof that he’s too sharp a writer to leave his words to chance. “All My Friends” is about a lot of things– guilt, drugs, the weight of expectation– but mostly, it’s about aging, about how the template for growing older is melting away, and about what decisions we make for ourselves in light of such lowered expectations.

This is a song about building a compass, and for Murphy, that journey not only starts with his friends: it ends there, too.

Here’s the video for the song about a song about building a compass (whatever the fuck that means!)

Tracklisting

100 Ost & Kjex – “Milano Mugolian (A Thrilling Mungophony in Two Parts)”
99 Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew – “Backed Out on the…”
98 Old Time Relijun – “Indestructible Life!”
97 Sir Richard Bishop – “Ecstasies in the Open Air”
96 Times New Viking – “Teenage Lust!”
95 Groove Armada [ft. Mutya Buena] – “Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)”
94 MGMT – “Time to Pretend”
93 Antibalas – “Beaten Metal”
92 Air – “Mer du Japon (Kris Menace Remix)”
91 Menomena – “The Pelican”
90 Miranda Lambert – “Gunpowder & Lead”
89 Air France – “Beach Party”
88 The New Pornographers – “Myriad Harbour”
87 Sophie Ellis-Bextor – “Me and My Imagination”
86 Rekid – “Next Stop Chicago”
85 BARR – “The Song Is the Single”
84 50 Cent – “I Get Money”
83 Sonic Youth – “I’m Not There”
82 Tinariwen – “Matadjem Yinmixan”
81 Modest Mouse – “Dashboard”
80 Grizzly Bear – “Little Brother (Electric)”
79 Magik Markers – “Taste”
78 Amy Winehouse – “Tears Dry on Their Own”
77 The National – “Mistaken for Strangers”
76 Klaxons – “Golden Skans”
75 Escort – “All Through the Night”
74 Black Lips – “Katrina”
73 The Twilight Sad – “Cold Days From the Birdhouse”
72 Ted Leo & the Pharmacists – “La Costa Brava”
71 The Shins – “Turn on Me”
70 Cassie – “Is It You?”
69 Roísín Murphy – “Overpowered”
68 Black Kids – “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You”
67 Devin the Dude [ft. Andre 3000 and Snoop Dogg] – “What a Job”
66 King Khan & the Shrines – “Welfare Bread”
65 DJ Khaled [ft. T.I., Akon, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman & Lil Wayne] – “We Takin’ Over”
64 No Age – “Neck Escaper”
63 Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – “I’m Not Gonna Cry”
62 Cool Kids – “I Rock”
61 !!! – “Heart of Hearts”
60 The White Stripes – “Rag and Bone”
59 Lil Wayne – “Upgrade U”
58 Shellac – “The End of Radio”
57 Electrelane – “To the East”
56 Aesop Rock – “None Shall Pass”
55 Studio – “No Comply”
54 Joanna Newsom – “Colleen”
53 Bat for Lashes – “What’s a Girl to Do?”
52 The Clientele – “Bookshop Casanova”
51 Kanye West [ft. T-Pain] – “Good Life”

50 Dude ‘N Nem – “Watch My Feet”
49 Yeasayer – “2080″
48 Liars -”Plaster Casts of Everything”
47 T2 -”Heartbroken”
46 Deerhunter- “Wash Off”
45 The Honeydrips – “Fall From a Height”
44 Pantha du Prince – “Saturn Strobe”
43 Deerhoof – “The Perfect Me”
42 Spoon – “Black Like Me”
41 Los Campesinos! – “You! Me! Dancing!”
40 Beirut – “Elephant Gun”
39 Sally Shapiro – “He Keeps Me Alive”
38 Matthew Dear- “Deserter”
37 Blonde Redhead -”23″
36 Okkervil River – “Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe”
35 Dirty Projectors – “Rise Above”
34 The Tough Alliance – “Silly Crimes”
33 Dinosaur Jr. – “Almost Ready”
32 R. Kelly [ft. T.I. and T-Pain] – “I’m a Flirt (remix)”
31 Cortney Tidwell – “Don’t Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up (Ewan’s Objects in Space Remix)”
30 Dan Deacon – “Wham City”
29 Arcade Fire – “Keep the Car Running”
28 Dizzee Rascal – “Pussy’ole (Old Skool)”
27 Lil Mama – “Lip Gloss”
26 Jay-Z – “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is…)”
25 Kanye West – “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
24 Gui Boratto – “Beautiful Life”
23 Simian Mobile Disco – “I Believe”
22 Animal Collective – “Peacebone”
21 M.I.A. – “Boyz”

20 Radiohead – “All I Need”
19 The Field – “A Paw in My Face”
18 Chromatics – “In the City”
17 Burial – “Archangel”
16 Feist – “1 2 3 4″
15 Jens Lekman – “A Postcard to Nina”
14 Caribou – “Melody Day”
13 Of Montreal – “The Past Is a Grotesque Animal”
12 Spoon – “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb”
11 Grinderman – “No Pussy Blues”
10 Jay-Z [ft. Beanie Sigel] – “Ignorant Shit”
09 Animal Collective – “Fireworks”
08 Justice – “D.A.N.C.E.”
07 LCD Soundsystem – “Someone Great”
06 UGK [ft. Outkast] – “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)”
05 Rihanna [ft. Jay-Z] – “Umbrella”
04 M.I.A. [ft. Bun B and Rich Boy] – “Paper Planes (Remix)”
03 Panda Bear – “Bros”
02 Battles – “Atlas”
01 LCD Soundsystem – “All My Friends”

Here she be:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/d3yrog
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qop5fi
http://www.sendspace.com/file/sk9z69

Mirror:

http://rapidshare.com/files/80749573/p1.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80750608/p2.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80752656/p3.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80751868/p4.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80751983/p5.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80753821/p6.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80753157/p7.zip
http://rapidshare.com/files/80760024/p8.zip

2007′s Best Music – Selected by various Indie Artists

Band’s Albums Of The Year

by Gigwise

James Chapman of Maps

‘Liebe Ist…’ – Stephen Bodzin

“My record of the year has to be the album by Stephan Bodzin called ‘Liebe Ist…’. It’s an amazing LP, sort of techno but with glitchy electronica poking through all the time. I just came across his music by surfing the net and when I heard one of his tracks I thought it was incredible. The production is superb as well. I love the whole album but my favourite track has got to be ‘Turbine’, which does the whole ‘breakdown/build up’ thing, but in a really original and unexpected way. Really euphoric but dark at the same time, if that’s possible! I’ve been listening to it a hell of a lot this year and would urge anyone into electronic music to definitely check it out.”

Sleeping States

‘Live At The Annandale Hotel’ – Life Without Buildings

“A great document showing one of the most fun and innovative bands of recent times at their energetic best. RIP.”

Sam Genders of Tunng

‘Cheap Demo Bad Science’ – Serafina Steer

“My favourite album of the year is ‘Cheap Demo Bad Scienc’e by Serafina Steer. She plays the harp and sings the most beautiful songs that she writes herself. It’s hard to pin point the sound but there are elements of classical music, pop, jazz and folk and her lyrics are among the best I’ve ever heard. When I hear her play I’m torn between trying a lot harder or just giving up and going back to bar work! She gets a lot of Joanna Newsome comparisons due to the harp but she’s on a very different tip. It’s nice to think of all the people out there who haven’t heard her yet because one day she’ll be their favourite genius.”

Søren B. Corneliussen of The Kissaway Trail

’23′ – Blonde Redhead

“Blonde Redhead’s ‘23’ is to me the best album of 2007. It’s a filler free album, but if I am to pick my favourite songs it would be ‘Dr. Strangeluv’ which makes me think of fairytales. ‘The Dress’, pull you in and makes you listen so intensely you almost forget to breathe, and ‘Silently’ which is simply a hit. I just love putting on my headphones, closing my eyes and disappearing into Blonde Readhead’s dreamy universe. I first listened to ‘23’ last summer, so it reminds me of sunshine.”

Adele

‘Panic Prevention’ – Jamie T

“My favourite album of the year is Jamie T’s ‘Panic Prevention’. The songs are all great. I find it hard to keep up with his lyrics, which just makes it as exciting as it was when I first heard it! Also, I love it when albums have outtakes on it, his has got loads. The front cover is the best of the year. And it’s home to ‘Ike and Tina’ – my favourite track of the year as well!”

Dorian Dumont of The Teenagers

‘Because Of The Times’ – Kings Of Leon

“I already knew and liked Kings Of Leon, king of the rodeo or the bucket are anthems, but I think that this year, the band jumped on the next step. ‘Because Of The Times’ is a classic of the years 2000, it sounds like its not from now, but very actual and modern at the same time. There is a lot of diversity in it and the singles ‘On Call’ or ‘Charmer’ are hits. They composed amazing songs, full of beautiful melodies, without being cheesy in any way. This album is definitely one of the best of the year, and I can’t wait to see them live or listen to new material. Kings Of Leon are growing slowly but surely since they started, they re gonna become one of the most important rock band of our generation.”

Simon Richardson of Damn Shames

‘Cryptograms’ – Deerhunter

“We like this album because parts of it are really good for falling asleep to (like White Ink) and as a band we really enjoy sleeping. However, as soon as you have been lulled in sleep by the ethereal soundscapes you are suddenly awoken by loud abrasive liars-esque tracks like ‘Lake Somerset’. As a result you have weird dreams and get pretty confused.”

Muscles

‘Asa Breed’ – Matthew Dear

“First heard this album when I was in UK in May and as soon as I got home I went and bought it. The ‘most listened to’ album in my stereo all year.”

Mike Frankel of Dead Kids

‘Maths + English’

“Album of the year for me has to be Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Maths + English’. Its filthy dirty but still slick and his vocal flows pure confidence all over it. ‘Pussyole’ is just a stand out track for me and ‘Sirens’ shows his intent to smash together grime and heavy metal. Its moshpit frenzy music. If I was 15 I’d worship the dude. He makes me feel proud to be British.”

Stateless

‘Fur And Gold’ – Bat For Lashes

“Album of the year 2007? hmmm. It’s tough this year, no clear winner to my mind. Except obviously the Stateless album!!! Kidding. I’m gonna go for ‘Fur and Gold’, Bat For Lashes. British songwriting has been depressing recently, loads of really terrible bands becoming massive. But then this came out and it was really nice to see a new British songwriter who actually has some imagination doing well. She writes songs about wizards and princesses, what more do you want! Plus her voice is great.”

Jimmi Naylor of The Pigeon Detectives

‘Because Of The Times’ – Kings Of Leon

“My favourite album of the year has to be Kings of Leon – ‘Because of the Times’. We’ve been playing it a lot on the tour bus, its a real grower. They are a band who’ve generally progressed well, it doesn’t sound like the first two albums. It’s still Kings of Leon but they’ve become better musicians and ever so slightly changed their sound. They’re some big songs on Because of the Times and it’s hard to put down after a couple of plays.”

Charlotte Hatherley

‘In Advance Of The Broken Arm’ – Marnie Stern

“My friend reccomended this album to me only recently, and it’s one of the most interesting and inspiring records I’ve heard all year. Marnie is a completely self taught guitarist and has a bizarre heavy metal hammer on style that sounds totally unique and punk rock. The songs are mini garage-pop masterpieces, and she sings like Kate Bush above a blanket of shred. It rocks and and has made me want to rock too.”

Little Barrie

‘Coming Home’ – Edwyn Collins

“As much as we are fans of Rock’n'Roll bravado and the excitement you get from that there’s something really powerful about the honest, witty often self depreciating way Edwyn expresses his thoughts and feelings. The fact that he is touring the record after such major health problems great news.”

Following on from Foals last week Gigwise has asked yet more of our favourite artists, new and old, to tell us which album was their favourite of 2007 and why. The like of The Maccabees, Good Shoes, Maps, Malcolm Middleton and Hot Club de Paris have all put their thoughts into words for us and some interesting tips there is too. Read on…

Malcolm Middleton

‘Fur & Gold’ – Bat For Lashes

“I’ve pretty much given up on modern music, which is a thing I knew would probably happen to me when I reached 30. I’m starting to work backwards through the icons now, but a few things did seep through this year as a result of friend’s recommendations or leaving the TV on in the background. Stuff like Goodbooks, Band Of Horses, To My Boy and Rhianna. The album I’ve most cherished though is “Fur And Gold” by Bat For Lashes. Forgetting the boring stuff like warm production and exciting wee things going on in the background, it is a great collection of songs that gives the impression of being part of a concept. It draws you into a strange world which is familiar; pop music for smiling too and also ambient music that provides great imagery for those dozing hypnagogic cinemas. I don’t know much about the band but the album reeks of honest expression, seems like musical creation for it’s own sake, not for that of the outside world. Blah blah blah, I love it and will be listening to it for years like an old friend.”

Orlando Weeks of The Maccabees

‘Panic Prevention’ – Jamie T

“Jamie T’s album Panic Prevention is the best album of 2007. It manages to tread the line between innovation and pop perfectly. It’s charming, British and out of all the recently released records will stand the test of time best.”

Hadouken!

‘Variations On Swing’ – Meet Me In St. Louis

“Meet Me In St. Louis are a post-hardcore band form Surrey on the Big Scary Monsters label. They’re massively talented and ambitious musicians and are the first to admit their intricate riffs and many time signature changes should be ‘a recipe for disaster,’ and yet while their debut album may sound unduly awkward and inaccessible to some ears on first listen, with persistence the tracks reveal themselves as not just technically impressive feats but exhilaratingly urgent and passionate songs, with massive vocal hooks.”

Jack Barnett of These New Puritans

‘Comic Opera’ – Robert Wyatt

“Because he is a genius!”

Matthew Smith of Hot Club de Paris

‘Panic Prevention’ – Jamie T

“I normally ignore or never hear about mass press hyperbole and in this case the same was true, fortunately somebody passed me some songs of his and we checked him out. We were lucky to catch him in some smaller venues at the tail end of last year and he’s just incredible. The cut and paste style production of the album really gets across the shambolic energy of the live shows. This is a punk rock record and a really fucking good one at that.”

‘SSS’ - SSS

“Technically this came out in 06 but it was reissued on Earache in 07. It sounds like a thrash classic from 1986. The musicianship is technically brilliant and the lyrics are exactly what you want from thrash, perhaps only needing a bit more about the environment/toxic waste to top off the authenticity. This is testament to the fact that being derivative doesn’t mean that a band is devoid of their own ideas. It’s a homage to bands like Anthrax, Death Angel, Suicidal Tendencies etc but isn’t just a cheap imitation. This is one of my all time favourite metal records.”

Paul Rafferty of Hot Club de Paris

‘Rise Above’ – Dirty Projectors

“The idea of covering Black Flag’s first full length didn’t strike me as a particularly good one, but this record has spent the last 6 months convincing me that it actually is. David Longstreth’s latest masterpiece was conceived from his teenage memories of Damaged and he has delivered an incredible pop record brimming with crooned melodies and webs of clean, shimmering guitar lines. This record challenges the format of the traditional rock quartet and is as much fun as it is experimental.”

‘Discography’ – Spy Vs Spy

“This is a collection of the two records Stoke on Trent’s Spy Versus Spy made before their break up in 2001. They recently reformed and have been touring again. 10 years ago, I couldn’t help but think this band were making the most important and vital music I’d ever heard. It sent me searching for the bands that were responsible for influencing their sound and soon enough I discovered a whole bunch of records I wouldn’t have known about if it hadn’t been for them.”

Rhys Jones of Good Shoes

‘Colour It In’ – The Maccabees

“I think its hard to chose a favourite album, there are plenty of albums I like equally to this one, but with this album I could listen to it over and over again, it sound tracked my whole year really, well the part of the year it was out! And I think they’re the best band within their genre! Hopefully next year will be sound tracked by their second album.”

Sebastien Tellier

’Alive 2007’ – Daft Punk

“I was at these wonderful shows in Bercy and the recording does manage to capture the energy and beauty of the experience. I like to play it very loud. Daft Punk are genius.”

Luca of Cazals

‘Myths Of The Near Future’ – Klaxons

“My favourite album of 2007 is ‘Myths Of The Near Future’ by Klaxons. The song-writing on it is superb and the production is great too. Forget the Mercury prize and all the nu-rave bullshit; these are just labels that journalists seem to need in order to make sense of a band. I see this simply as a great pop record that owes more to Bowie and a certain kind of prog rock than 90′s dance music. Of course there are some references to that but they’re certainly not the focus on this album. Infectious vocal melodies, abstract lyrics and interesting arrangements; this is what ‘Myths Of The Near Future’ is all about.”

Nate Smith of Shy Child

‘Attack Decay Sustain Release’ – Simian Mobile Disco

Album of the year is tough because for Shy Child this was Year of the Track. Simian Mobile Disco “Attack Decay Sustain Release” has to be our favorite full album because every song is one of the best tracks of the year. Our favourites are ‘Sleep Deprivation’, ‘Hot Dog’, ‘I Believe’, and even ‘Scott’, which sounds straight out of Fantastic Planet. Props to Buraka Som Sistema, Metronomy, Timbaland, Klaxons for some of the other best tracks of the year.

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly

‘Cease To Begin’ – Band Of Horses

“I’m not sure whether the trend towards downloads is responsible but it definitely seems this year that there were more big tracks than big albums. ‘Cease To Begin’ by Band Of Horses has to be my favourite, fantastic melodies and full to the brim with passion and soul. I remember hearing the front end of the album in Berlin thinking there is no way the rest will be as good, but I was wrong. One of the few records this year that gets better with each listen but still manages to blow your mind on first spin. The Radiohead and Burial records were strong contenders and show that the UK is still giving birth to the most forward thinking albums in the world.”

2007′s Best Music – Selected by various Indie Artists

Band’s Albums Of The Year

by Gigwise

James Chapman of Maps

‘Liebe Ist…’ – Stephen Bodzin

“My record of the year has to be the album by Stephan Bodzin called ‘Liebe Ist…’. It’s an amazing LP, sort of techno but with glitchy electronica poking through all the time. I just came across his music by surfing the net and when I heard one of his tracks I thought it was incredible. The production is superb as well. I love the whole album but my favourite track has got to be ‘Turbine’, which does the whole ‘breakdown/build up’ thing, but in a really original and unexpected way. Really euphoric but dark at the same time, if that’s possible! I’ve been listening to it a hell of a lot this year and would urge anyone into electronic music to definitely check it out.”

Sleeping States

‘Live At The Annandale Hotel’ – Life Without Buildings

“A great document showing one of the most fun and innovative bands of recent times at their energetic best. RIP.”

Sam Genders of Tunng

‘Cheap Demo Bad Science’ – Serafina Steer

“My favourite album of the year is ‘Cheap Demo Bad Scienc’e by Serafina Steer. She plays the harp and sings the most beautiful songs that she writes herself. It’s hard to pin point the sound but there are elements of classical music, pop, jazz and folk and her lyrics are among the best I’ve ever heard. When I hear her play I’m torn between trying a lot harder or just giving up and going back to bar work! She gets a lot of Joanna Newsome comparisons due to the harp but she’s on a very different tip. It’s nice to think of all the people out there who haven’t heard her yet because one day she’ll be their favourite genius.”

Søren B. Corneliussen of The Kissaway Trail

’23′ – Blonde Redhead

“Blonde Redhead’s ‘23’ is to me the best album of 2007. It’s a filler free album, but if I am to pick my favourite songs it would be ‘Dr. Strangeluv’ which makes me think of fairytales. ‘The Dress’, pull you in and makes you listen so intensely you almost forget to breathe, and ‘Silently’ which is simply a hit. I just love putting on my headphones, closing my eyes and disappearing into Blonde Readhead’s dreamy universe. I first listened to ‘23’ last summer, so it reminds me of sunshine.”

Adele

‘Panic Prevention’ – Jamie T

“My favourite album of the year is Jamie T’s ‘Panic Prevention’. The songs are all great. I find it hard to keep up with his lyrics, which just makes it as exciting as it was when I first heard it! Also, I love it when albums have outtakes on it, his has got loads. The front cover is the best of the year. And it’s home to ‘Ike and Tina’ – my favourite track of the year as well!”

Dorian Dumont of The Teenagers

‘Because Of The Times’ – Kings Of Leon

“I already knew and liked Kings Of Leon, king of the rodeo or the bucket are anthems, but I think that this year, the band jumped on the next step. ‘Because Of The Times’ is a classic of the years 2000, it sounds like its not from now, but very actual and modern at the same time. There is a lot of diversity in it and the singles ‘On Call’ or ‘Charmer’ are hits. They composed amazing songs, full of beautiful melodies, without being cheesy in any way. This album is definitely one of the best of the year, and I can’t wait to see them live or listen to new material. Kings Of Leon are growing slowly but surely since they started, they re gonna become one of the most important rock band of our generation.”

Simon Richardson of Damn Shames

‘Cryptograms’ – Deerhunter

“We like this album because parts of it are really good for falling asleep to (like White Ink) and as a band we really enjoy sleeping. However, as soon as you have been lulled in sleep by the ethereal soundscapes you are suddenly awoken by loud abrasive liars-esque tracks like ‘Lake Somerset’. As a result you have weird dreams and get pretty confused.”

Muscles

‘Asa Breed’ – Matthew Dear

“First heard this album when I was in UK in May and as soon as I got home I went and bought it. The ‘most listened to’ album in my stereo all year.”

Mike Frankel of Dead Kids

‘Maths + English’

“Album of the year for me has to be Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Maths + English’. Its filthy dirty but still slick and his vocal flows pure confidence all over it. ‘Pussyole’ is just a stand out track for me and ‘Sirens’ shows his intent to smash together grime and heavy metal. Its moshpit frenzy music. If I was 15 I’d worship the dude. He makes me feel proud to be British.”

Stateless

‘Fur And Gold’ – Bat For Lashes

“Album of the year 2007? hmmm. It’s tough this year, no clear winner to my mind. Except obviously the Stateless album!!! Kidding. I’m gonna go for ‘Fur and Gold’, Bat For Lashes. British songwriting has been depressing recently, loads of really terrible bands becoming massive. But then this came out and it was really nice to see a new British songwriter who actually has some imagination doing well. She writes songs about wizards and princesses, what more do you want! Plus her voice is great.”

Jimmi Naylor of The Pigeon Detectives

‘Because Of The Times’ – Kings Of Leon

“My favourite album of the year has to be Kings of Leon – ‘Because of the Times’. We’ve been playing it a lot on the tour bus, its a real grower. They are a band who’ve generally progressed well, it doesn’t sound like the first two albums. It’s still Kings of Leon but they’ve become better musicians and ever so slightly changed their sound. They’re some big songs on Because of the Times and it’s hard to put down after a couple of plays.”

Charlotte Hatherley

‘In Advance Of The Broken Arm’ – Marnie Stern

“My friend reccomended this album to me only recently, and it’s one of the most interesting and inspiring records I’ve heard all year. Marnie is a completely self taught guitarist and has a bizarre heavy metal hammer on style that sounds totally unique and punk rock. The songs are mini garage-pop masterpieces, and she sings like Kate Bush above a blanket of shred. It rocks and and has made me want to rock too.”

Little Barrie

‘Coming Home’ – Edwyn Collins

“As much as we are fans of Rock’n'Roll bravado and the excitement you get from that there’s something really powerful about the honest, witty often self depreciating way Edwyn expresses his thoughts and feelings. The fact that he is touring the record after such major health problems great news.”

Following on from Foals last week Gigwise has asked yet more of our favourite artists, new and old, to tell us which album was their favourite of 2007 and why. The like of The Maccabees, Good Shoes, Maps, Malcolm Middleton and Hot Club de Paris have all put their thoughts into words for us and some interesting tips there is too. Read on…

Malcolm Middleton

‘Fur & Gold’ – Bat For Lashes

“I’ve pretty much given up on modern music, which is a thing I knew would probably happen to me when I reached 30. I’m starting to work backwards through the icons now, but a few things did seep through this year as a result of friend’s recommendations or leaving the TV on in the background. Stuff like Goodbooks, Band Of Horses, To My Boy and Rhianna. The album I’ve most cherished though is “Fur And Gold” by Bat For Lashes. Forgetting the boring stuff like warm production and exciting wee things going on in the background, it is a great collection of songs that gives the impression of being part of a concept. It draws you into a strange world which is familiar; pop music for smiling too and also ambient music that provides great imagery for those dozing hypnagogic cinemas. I don’t know much about the band but the album reeks of honest expression, seems like musical creation for it’s own sake, not for that of the outside world. Blah blah blah, I love it and will be listening to it for years like an old friend.”

Orlando Weeks of The Maccabees

‘Panic Prevention’ – Jamie T

“Jamie T’s album Panic Prevention is the best album of 2007. It manages to tread the line between innovation and pop perfectly. It’s charming, British and out of all the recently released records will stand the test of time best.”

Hadouken!

‘Variations On Swing’ – Meet Me In St. Louis

“Meet Me In St. Louis are a post-hardcore band form Surrey on the Big Scary Monsters label. They’re massively talented and ambitious musicians and are the first to admit their intricate riffs and many time signature changes should be ‘a recipe for disaster,’ and yet while their debut album may sound unduly awkward and inaccessible to some ears on first listen, with persistence the tracks reveal themselves as not just technically impressive feats but exhilaratingly urgent and passionate songs, with massive vocal hooks.”

Jack Barnett of These New Puritans

‘Comic Opera’ – Robert Wyatt

“Because he is a genius!”

Matthew Smith of Hot Club de Paris

‘Panic Prevention’ – Jamie T

“I normally ignore or never hear about mass press hyperbole and in this case the same was true, fortunately somebody passed me some songs of his and we checked him out. We were lucky to catch him in some smaller venues at the tail end of last year and he’s just incredible. The cut and paste style production of the album really gets across the shambolic energy of the live shows. This is a punk rock record and a really fucking good one at that.”

‘SSS’ - SSS

“Technically this came out in 06 but it was reissued on Earache in 07. It sounds like a thrash classic from 1986. The musicianship is technically brilliant and the lyrics are exactly what you want from thrash, perhaps only needing a bit more about the environment/toxic waste to top off the authenticity. This is testament to the fact that being derivative doesn’t mean that a band is devoid of their own ideas. It’s a homage to bands like Anthrax, Death Angel, Suicidal Tendencies etc but isn’t just a cheap imitation. This is one of my all time favourite metal records.”

Paul Rafferty of Hot Club de Paris

‘Rise Above’ – Dirty Projectors

“The idea of covering Black Flag’s first full length didn’t strike me as a particularly good one, but this record has spent the last 6 months convincing me that it actually is. David Longstreth’s latest masterpiece was conceived from his teenage memories of Damaged and he has delivered an incredible pop record brimming with crooned melodies and webs of clean, shimmering guitar lines. This record challenges the format of the traditional rock quartet and is as much fun as it is experimental.”

‘Discography’ – Spy Vs Spy

“This is a collection of the two records Stoke on Trent’s Spy Versus Spy made before their break up in 2001. They recently reformed and have been touring again. 10 years ago, I couldn’t help but think this band were making the most important and vital music I’d ever heard. It sent me searching for the bands that were responsible for influencing their sound and soon enough I discovered a whole bunch of records I wouldn’t have known about if it hadn’t been for them.”

Rhys Jones of Good Shoes

‘Colour It In’ – The Maccabees

“I think its hard to chose a favourite album, there are plenty of albums I like equally to this one, but with this album I could listen to it over and over again, it sound tracked my whole year really, well the part of the year it was out! And I think they’re the best band within their genre! Hopefully next year will be sound tracked by their second album.”

Sebastien Tellier

’Alive 2007’ – Daft Punk

“I was at these wonderful shows in Bercy and the recording does manage to capture the energy and beauty of the experience. I like to play it very loud. Daft Punk are genius.”

Luca of Cazals

‘Myths Of The Near Future’ – Klaxons

“My favourite album of 2007 is ‘Myths Of The Near Future’ by Klaxons. The song-writing on it is superb and the production is great too. Forget the Mercury prize and all the nu-rave bullshit; these are just labels that journalists seem to need in order to make sense of a band. I see this simply as a great pop record that owes more to Bowie and a certain kind of prog rock than 90′s dance music. Of course there are some references to that but they’re certainly not the focus on this album. Infectious vocal melodies, abstract lyrics and interesting arrangements; this is what ‘Myths Of The Near Future’ is all about.”

Nate Smith of Shy Child

‘Attack Decay Sustain Release’ – Simian Mobile Disco

Album of the year is tough because for Shy Child this was Year of the Track. Simian Mobile Disco “Attack Decay Sustain Release” has to be our favorite full album because every song is one of the best tracks of the year. Our favourites are ‘Sleep Deprivation’, ‘Hot Dog’, ‘I Believe’, and even ‘Scott’, which sounds straight out of Fantastic Planet. Props to Buraka Som Sistema, Metronomy, Timbaland, Klaxons for some of the other best tracks of the year.

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly

‘Cease To Begin’ – Band Of Horses

“I’m not sure whether the trend towards downloads is responsible but it definitely seems this year that there were more big tracks than big albums. ‘Cease To Begin’ by Band Of Horses has to be my favourite, fantastic melodies and full to the brim with passion and soul. I remember hearing the front end of the album in Berlin thinking there is no way the rest will be as good, but I was wrong. One of the few records this year that gets better with each listen but still manages to blow your mind on first spin. The Radiohead and Burial records were strong contenders and show that the UK is still giving birth to the most forward thinking albums in the world.”