Vox Hunt: Best of 2007
Show us which album tops your best of 2007 list so far.
I've bought a lot of new music this year, but it's hard to say which is the best. Here are my favorites so far with brief comments on each (in no particular order):
- the National - Boxer - If only these guys could figure out how to put on a decent live show, they'd be unstoppable. Their studio albums keep getting better and better.
- Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon's latest was impressive, but it failed to reach the peaks of their earlier material like Girls Can Tell and Kill the Moonlight. Also, it loses some points for being named Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.
- Teddy Thompson - Upfront & Down Low - I love covers records, and this one was the best of the year.
- Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation - I've never driven stoned through the mountains in a thunderstorm, but if I ever do, I hope Wild Mountain Nation is playing in the background.
- Utah Carol - Rodeo Queen - Utah Carol is the only band I've ever sent fanmail...two letters, in fact. The title track from Rodeo Queen is my favorite song of the year. You can listen to it on their myspace page. Make sure you listen at least to 3:10...that's when it really gets good. They've also got a fancy schmancy website that I've never been able to get working properly.
- the Long Blondes - Someone to Drive You Home - Click here for my review of Someone to Drive You Home and a few videos from the album.
- Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová - Once - This is one I'll probably still be listening to ten years from now. It's music at its best.
- Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge - This is another great release by Sheffield's Richard Hawley. I've only listened to it four or five times so far, but I think it's probably his best yet.
- Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog - My life will not be complete until I see this guy in concert.
Although it's difficult to pick my favorite CD of the year, it's easy to pick my least favorite. It would have to be Wheat's Everyday I Said a Prayer For Kathy and Made a One Inch Square.
