Jessica Harvey - Review 2007

Top 10 Albums of 2007

10: U.N.K.L.E. – War Stories
At first I was annoyed that Chemistry sounded like a rip-off of a track from Book Harrison’s instrumental ‘Jeff Goldblum’, recorded and played in The Dublin Castle and Little Back Yard Club something like eight years ago. Uncanny that. Anyway, Hold My Hand and Keys To The Kingdom are stand out tracks for me. This reminds me of how good Psyence Fiction was in ’98, and made me listen to that again. I’m probably the only one that thinks Hold My Hand has the same composition as Lonely Soul, but hey.

9: The National – Boxer
Hard to top Alligator and I’m not sure they have, but this warrants a mention in the top ten - if only for Sufjan Stevens featuring and Bryan Devendorf being a bloody excellent drummer. It’s a slow burner, but it doesn’t disappoint.

8: Little Barrie – Stand Your Ground
Not so well known, I first saw them support The Bees at the Electric Ballroom about four years ago. This album, much like their first ‘We Are Little Barrie’ is old school funk with modern lyrics, if you will “another uncharged…telephone”. But really, Billy Skinner on drums is like Animal from the Muppets. To quote Coming to America: “He good. Damn, that boy’s good.”

7: Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
Johnny Marr on guitar. Get in. See them live. See them live. See them live… if only for their instrument-swapping brilliance. Listen out for Dashboard, Fire It Up, Florida [thank you James Mercer from The Shins] and Missed The Boat. It’s a belter.

6: Editors – An End Has A Start
In a live set they never fail to disappoint. Tom Smith exudes humility and keeps the pace every time. This album is one to listen to all the way through; then give a second spin.

5: Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
Listened online pre-release. Thought it was promising. Then saw them perform this live. Jeff Tweedy does this with an attitude on stage too. Cocky little gobshite that he is. Everyone says they loved Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, or the earlier Uncle Tupelo stuff. For me, it’s this album.

4: LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
Saw them for the first time at the Astoria, when I actually went to see The Go! Team a couple of years ago. For something that began as a piss-take and seeming gap in the electro-punkdom market, they’ve done remarkably. Tours seem endless; they certainly put in the hours on stage. Their gigs are the kind that remind you why you first started going to see bands in the first place. This is best listened to on the tube, where everyone stares at you with derision, and you can glare back knowing that, without a doubt, your current track shits all over whatever Dan Brown wankery they might be reading.

3: The Bench Connection – Around The House In 80 Days
Matt Deighton’s music, since that final Mother Earth gig in Camden over two years ago, [which was notably awesome] has just peaked. He’s effortlessly cool. Wake Up The Moths was simply brilliant and completely overlooked, when you see him play at The Cobden Club, or in Filthy McNastys, perched on a stool, offering sarcastic quips between songs with Chris Sheehan and chucking out raw vocals, you’ll wonder why people didn’t pay attention before. To remind others, Deighton stood in for Noel Gallagher on the 2000 Oasis tour and has played with Weller et al. All that and he’s not a cock.

2: Radiohead – In Rainbows
An ambient classic from start to finish. The tracks on the second disc are outstanding too. For a desert island album, I wouldn’t grumble. But it would make me incredibly wistful, which makes for a rather sombre Crusoe. Lost in my own thoughts, I’d probably not get around to making the raft.

1: The Good, The Bad & The Queen – The Good, The Bad & The Queen
You take two already great guitarists [Paul Simonon and Simon Tong] and team them with the melodic Albarn, who I love to hate, but still enjoy again and again. The reason this album rates so highly for me is because I’m leaving London. It makes me think of London, this. That’s all. Oh, and it’s very, very good.

Close, but no Cigar

Jose Gonzalez - In our Nature
The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
Willy Mason - If the Ocean Gets Rough
Fields – Everything Last Winter
Queens of the Stone Age – Era Vulgaris
Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
Field Music – Tones Of Town
White Stripes - Icky Thump
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Baby 81
Super Furry Animals – Hey Venus!
Foo Fighters – Patience, Silence, Echoes & Grace
Gruff Rhys – Candylion
Interpol – Our Love To Admire
The Go! Team – Proof Of Youth
The Bees - Octopus
Air – Pocket Symphony

Top 10 Tracks of 2007

10: Gruff Rhys – Beacon In The Darkness
9: U.N.K.L.E. – Hold My Hand
8: LCD Soundsystem – North American Scum
7: Little Barrie – Pin That Badge
6: The Good, The Bad & The Queen – Green Fields
5: Arcade Fire – Keep The Car Running
4: Fields – Song For The Fields
3: Wilco - Either Way
2: Radiohead – Bangers & Mash
1: The Shins - Australia

2007's Emperor's New Clothes

Kings of Leon - Because Of The Times – Whatever they were doing right before has sadly disappeared. Now, they’re just embarrassing yokels; Poor man’s Cotton-Eye Joe.

Hot Chip – Made In The Dark – No shit. Desperately overrated. They like this sort of toss in Hoxton, I hear.

Olly Wehring - 2007 Review

Top 10 Albums of 2007

10: Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

9: The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Easy to forget, if for the sole reason that this came out very early this year. Am I alone in preferring this to Funeral? If so, good. Because it is. Neon Bible was the victim of the hype in many people’s eyes, the same way Funeral was in mine.

8: Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
There's nothing worse than a smug peer saying: "I recommended this to you, remember?" Yes, Scott, I remember. We found one, finally! Starts off superbly, then holds its own before buggering off and not outstaying its welcome. They know their place.

7: LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
This took me quite some time to get the gist of. In fact, with the exception of North American Scum, the first few listens washed over me with little effect. But persistence was required here, and persistence paid off – making the album ‘quite’ good. Then I saw them live … and the album turned from good to great overnight. Rated in the top 10s of most ‘Best of 2007’ polls, I can finally see why. Electronica with a heartbeat in it. A joy.

6: Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of...

5: Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War
Why does no-one else know this lot?

4: Bruce Springsteen - Magic

3: Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
What a surprise this was. Most Foo Fighters album consist of a cracking lead-off single, a couple of other good’uns, and the rest … just … tails … off… . Not this time, however – this hasn’t got a bad track on it. OK, maybe just one, but hey, it’s the shortest one, and it’s an instrumental. So we’ll forgive ‘em that.

2: Cherry Ghost - Thirst For Romance

1: Radiohead - In Rainbows
To quote a peer, Radiohead could release an album of their nans’ farts, and I’d put it at number one. But this… Their best work since OK Computer? Undoubtedly. The tracks hit you first on an intimate, individual basis, and then envelope you in the most expansive way. Whereas before Thom Yorke had a tendency to string lyrics together as soundbites, what he has to say on In Rainbows feels so personal (“Now that you've found it, it's gone. Now that you feel it, you don't ”), that this made me feel the way I felt when I first heard Paranoid Android. And, yes, that’s by Radiohead too. Album of the century, so far.

Close, but no cigar
Editors - An End Has A Start
The Enemy - We'll Live and Die In These Towns
Matt Nathanson - Some Mad Hope
Maps - We Can Create
Rufus Wainwright - Release The Stars
The Good, the Bad, and the Queen - The Good, The Bad And The Queen
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Sigur Ros - Hvarf/Heim

Top 10 Tracks of 2007

10: Stars - Night Starts Here
9: Ed Harcourt - You Put a Spell On Me
8: Jack Penate - Second, Minute or Hour
7: Radiohead - Bangers & Mash
6: LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum
5: Foo Fighters - The Pretender
4: Air Traffic - Shooting Star
3: Editors - Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors
2: Radiohead - Bodysnatchers

1: Cherry Ghost - People Help the People
Some you will know of the highs and lows of Olly 2007. Some of you won’t. But now all of you know that this was a track that backlit the good times and helped fight through the bad times. So, that’s you lot told.

Honourable Mentions

The Enemy - This Song
Cherry Ghost - Mathematics
Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
Air Traffic - No More Running Away
Radiohead - Reckoner
Bruce Springsteen - Girls in Their Summer Clothes
Fields - Song for the Fields
Soulsavers - Revival
Ghosts - Wrapped Up In Little Stars
Rufus Wainwright - Between My Legs
Wilco - Either Way
Maximo Park - Books From Boxes
The Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
The Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running

Dean Best - 2007 Review

Top 10 Albums of 2007

10. Maximo Park – Our Earthly Pleasures
First single ‘Our Velocity’ was bigger and more frantic than anything on Maximo Park’s 2005 debut – and suggested singer Paul Smith just couldn’t sit still. The rest of ‘Our Earthy Pleasures’ is somewhat more reflective, with Smith’s heartfelt lyrics and vocals at its core. Maybe he just needed a good rest.

9. Cold War Kids – Robbers & Cowards
Stripped down and lo-fi, Cold War Kids at first seem nothing out of the ordinary. But, driven by passionate vocals and a bluesy nonchalance, the Americans are one of 2007’s most vibrant newcomers. ‘Hang Me Out To Dry’, with its somehow minimalist yet forceful bassline, will still sound fresh in 3007.

8. The Cribs – Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever
The Cribs came to life this year after three or four years knocking around the indie underground. The title of this, their third album, seems to suggest they couldn’t give a toss but there is fire in the bellies of the Jarman brothers. With Franz’s Alex Kapranos twiddling the knobs in the studio, ‘Men’s Needs…’ is The Cribs most focused effort but they remain lovingly awkward and angular.

7. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
It was always a puzzle how a debut ostensibly about a relative’s death could sound so life-affirming. This year, Arcade Fire have looked out at the world – and aren’t sure they like what they see. ‘Neon Bible’ turns our post-9/11 world into something approaching the end of the world. Live is where they come to life and their scruffy act is always a pleasure to experience.

6. The Pigeon Detectives – Wait For Me
One for the kids – but this 26-year-old loves it. It’s a simple – and admittedly unoriginal – formula: two-minute songs, hurtling on at a fair lick over a handful of chords and trying to pack in as much in as possible. Pogo-tastic and one for the lads.

5. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Arctic Monkeys have hurdled the ‘awkward second album’ obstacle with ease. Another barnstorming album from the Sheffield boys. Unlike their near-perfect debut, there are one or two wobbles here but in tracks like ‘505’, frontman Alex Turner hints at a wider lyrical and musical repertoire to come.

4. Kings of Leon – Because Of The Times
Once derided as merely The Strokes-after-a-night-on-Jack Daniels, Kings of Leon do improve with age. Their third album, and their best, is bigger and bolder than its predecessors. Maybe it’s all that touring with U2.

3. Editors – An End Has A Start
They may have been pigeon-holed as “Boy Division” but Editors are more than just a poor imitation of Ian Curtis’ post-punk legends. After last year’s slew of poor second albums (Razorlight, The Killers, anyone?), it was a welcome relief that “An End…” saw Editors progress from the spiky anxiousness of their debut to a warmer, more rounded and more emotional sound.

2. The Enemy – We’ll Live And Die In These Towns
Don’t judge a book by its cover. On the surface, the urchins from ‘Cov’ may seem like chavs clumsily singing about dossing around watching Richard & Judy. Scratch the surface, however, and there is a soul to this band that is a pleasure to discover. Older and wiser than they appear – and one of the year’s most fulfilling surprises as a result.

1. Interpol – Our Love To Admire
As usual with Interpol, it took a while to get to grips with this, the band’s third album. Singer Paul Banks is as commanding as ever and, backed by shimmering guitar and throbbing bass, when ‘Our Love…’ does grab hold of you, it just doesn’t let you go. And nor should you want it to.

Top 10 Tracks of 2007

10. The White Stripes – Icky Thump
9. Arctic Monkeys – 505
8. Interpol – Mammoth
7. Editors – The Racing Rats
6. The Little Ones – Lovers Who Uncover
5. Klaxons – Golden Skans
4. Reverend and the Makers – Heavyweight Champion of the World
3. Cold War Kids – Hang Me Out To Dry
2. The Twang – Either Way

1. The Enemy – We’ll Live and Die in These Towns
From the haunting yet proud brass section at the start, to Tom Clarke’s resigned lyrics of “haggard old women with cheap perfume”, this is probably as close as this generation is going to get to “That’s Entertainment”. A band with a big heart and hopefully a big future.

2007's It's Good But Not That Good

Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City
So over-rated. At best, an average follow-up to “Silent Album”, a debut that was packed with promise and one that glided effortlessly from spiky indie-pop to affecting melancholy. This goes from clunky to apeing Snow Patrol.

2007's Emperor's New Clothes

Kate Nash – Made of Bricks
Music for little girls.

Scott Harrison - 2007 Review

Top 10 Albums of 2007

10. Rogue Wave - Asleep at Heaven's Gate

An album in a similar vein to Band of Horses, but not quite as good. The first half of the album is an absolute belter. Unfortunately it dips a little in the last third before finishing on a high note. Well worth investigating for the first half alone..
Key track: Harmonium

9. Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice

Now, Minus the Bear are my band that "take a little listening before you get it" On first listen it all sounds a little drab, like there's not much worth paying attention to. Give it time, however & you'll start to see the hooks. Once you get it, you'll see that this album (much like their previous 2) is pure genius. Best way to describe it would be a slightly harder, heavier version of Death Cab for Cutie. Oh, and if you get the chance, make sure you see them live. prepare to be blown away...
Key Track: Knights

8. Two Gallants - Two Gallants

This San Fransiscan duo showed a lot of promise on their previous 2 efforts, but lacked consistency IMHO. On this, their third full-length, they've finally nailed it. They make much more noise than 2 people should be capable of, and again, you really really should catch them live. Cross the White Stripes with a bit of Dylan, sprinkle in a bit of Johnny Cash and you're close.
Key track: The Hand That Held Me Down

7. Editors - An End Has A Start

Hmmmm Editors, Editors.. I just didn't get them first time around. Even when this album came out I only really liked Smokers.. Then I saw them at T in the Park. Oh. My. God. Since then I haven't been able to get enough of this. Pure brilliance from start to finish.
Key Track: Escape The Nest

6. The Gaslight Anthem - Sink or Swim

Exploding on to the radar with just days to go before the deadline for year-end list - this just could not be ignored. Gritty, from-the-streets punk rock from NJ will inevitably draw (worthy) comparisons to Bruce, while also being accused of following in the footsteps of The Hold Steady. However, the punkier side of this band i think will set them apart from the rest. I bet this is the album Brandon et al had in mind when they dreamed up "Sam's Town". Whichever way you look at it, or whichever way you hear about them, you can take your synth-rock, your art-wank and your nu-rave and cram 'em all up your arse. This is rock and fucking roll.
Key track: 1930

5. Biffy Clyro - Puzzle

2007 - The year of the Biffy. I, like so many other people, only discovered Biffy this year. Not necessarily a bad thing. If I'd have been in it from the beginning, I don't think I would have been quite so blown away by this album. From first listen, I was hooked. Think Idlewild circa 100 Broken windows & you're somewhere close. There's too many reasons to list here why this album is as good as it is. Just do yourself a favour and go get it.
Key track: Get Fucked Stud

4. Okkervil River - The Stage Names

"Brilliantly expansive alt-freakcountry songs" - anon
I don't think there's any other way to describe this album. Far catchier & easier to get into than their previous efforts, most notably 2005's Black Sheep Boy. Also contains the track of the year in "Plus Ones". The album is a collection of songs that illustrate the point that "intelligent" music doesn't have to be obtuse. The lyrics will have you smiling to yourself on the bus, the melodies will have you dancing along, and I defy you to put this album on in the car and not sing along.
Key track: Plus Ones

3. Matt Nathanson - Some Mad Hope

Matt Nathanson to me is what Radiohead is to Olly. It really didn't matter what this album was actually like, it was gonna get a look in at this stage of the year regardless. Remeber last year - a live album in the top 10? Yeah, that was him.. Now, as far as I'm concerned this is his finest piece of work to date. Wonderfully crafted songs, beautiful melodies and amazingly heartfelt lyrics. The only thing stopping this from being top of the pile (and it was in consideration for a while) is the slight disappointment that the recorded material just isn't quite as good as him live.. Still an amazing collection of songs though.
Key track: Come On Get Higher

2. The Hold Steady - Boys & Girls in America

Ok, Ok, so it actually came out October last year but it didn't get an "official" UK release until January of this year. (Since all 3 of their albums didn't get an official release until this year, I was tempted to put all 3 in this list... that good) Carrying on in the Springsteen theme, but throwing in a very modern twist to the lyrics. These are stories of overgrown teenagers and thirtysomethings struggling to let go of their youth. Hell, they've said they only started the band so they could get together 3 nights a week to drink beers together. The songs are catchy as all hell. Best live band on the planet to boot.
Key track: Chips Ahoy

1. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

This album grabs you from the opening moment of the opening track & doesn't let go until the very end. Not a note out of place on the whole thing. I have a funny feeling this is going to be added to my list of "flawless" albums. You know, those albums that are just perfection from start to finish. Not the ones that magazines tell you are flawless, but your own personal list. Words don't do it justice.
Key Track: Is There A Ghost

Top 10 Tracks of 2007

Tegan & Sara - Hop a Plane
Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost
Rogue Wave - Harmonium
Babyshambles - Baddie's Boogie
Black Lips - Cold Hands
The Wheat Pool - Emily Carr
Bruce Springsteen - Radio Nowhere
The Shins - Australia
Biffy Clyro - Get Fucked Stud

1. Okkervil River - Plus Ones

Take a bunch of songs you know that have numbers in the title. Add a number & write a story around it. put it to one of the catchiest tunes of the year. Result? Magic. Songwriting just doesn't get any better than this.

2007’s "What The Fuck Is All The Fuss About - I Just Don't Get It" Award

Radiohead - In Rainbows

The way I see it, when a movie is pretty shit it goes straight to DVD. When music is pretty shit, It goes straight to promotional download or cheapie CD. Am I the only person on the planet that thinks Radiohead sound like fingernails scraping down a blackboard? Ok so they "revolutionised" the music industry. Ummmmm, well actually, they didn't. The Crimea gave their new album away totally for free. AND it was better than this. Olly - you mentioned last year Thom Yorke farting on record? It seems your wish has been granted...

Joe Ayling – 2007 Review

Top 10 Albums of 2007

10. The Wombats – Proudly Present… A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation
Upbeat album with frequent mentions of Liverpool, New York and Shakespeare. Fun to listen to, and Backfire At The Disco is hilarious: "It backfired at the disco... she slapped me at the disco".

9. Plain White T's – Every Second Counts
Hey There Delilah and Come Back To Me were both good pop tracks, but the album has plenty of depth too. The track Write You A Song is a novel way to, well, write a love song.

8. Babyshambles – Shotter’s Nation
Maybe Pete Doherty is onto something - his latest album is inventive, melodic and well produced. Much slower and more acoustic sounding than their last album. The song Delivery is a hit with most indie DJs and Unstookie Titled is as fascinatingly frail as the man himself.

7. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Decent second album by this band/orchestra/choir operation. Even more powerful than the first album, but not as easy to listen, in my opinion.

6. The Pigeon Detectives - Wait For Me
Frantic, intense album and really good band to hear on a night out. The chanted backing vocals sound like a melodic football crowd, never mind the clapping on I Found Out.

5. Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future
What a step forward for the British invasion, full of great drumming and inventiveness. This album flows brilliantly from the first track and everyone loves Golden Skans. Also picked up the Mercury Prize.

4. Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
A good solid third album after a weak second with A-ha Shake Heartbreak. Hang on, shouldn't that be the other way round... Well, front man Caleb has apparently cleaned his act up and it shows. You once again get the impression he'd burst a lung if he had to. On Call is an anthem, while Ragoo reminds me of how catchy this Tennessee quartet's first album was.

3. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
The third best album of the year by the UK's best band, in my opinion. Lead singer Alex Turner stuck two fingers up at the second album vultures with telling lyrics and a really varied playlist. From the cutting edge of D Is For Dangerous to the climatic 505, these songs sound as good onstage as they did in the studio too.

2. The Enemy - We'll Live and Die In These Towns
Nearly won just for their Richard and Judy line in Away From Here. A brilliant debut album that explains the wrongs of town and city life as a whole, not just Coventry (from where the band hail). The track This Song, for example, explains how half of the bands pals from school were pushing prams at 16, while the other half are now pushing pills. Front man Tom Clarke is an accomplished musician and it shows with the strings etc.

1. The Twang - Love It When I Feel Like This
First things first, what a great name for an album, which is as uplifting and honest as the title suggests. The lyrics are humorous and heartfelt, if a little hardhitting at times, while the music itself is supported with strong backing melodies. The Twang's first album has plenty of soul, and will stick in the memory. My favourite tracks are Either Way, Two Lovers, Push The Ghosts and Got Me Sussed.

Top 10 Tracks of 2007

10. Arctic Monkeys - D Is For Dangerous
9. Alicia Keys - No One
8. Amy Winehouse - Valerie
7. Kate Nash - Foundations
6. Leonie Lewis - Bleeding Love
5. Klaxons - Golden Skans
4. Stereophonics - It Means Nothing
3. Wombats - Moving To New York
2. Oasis - Lord Don't Slow Me Down
1. The Twang - Either Way

2007's It's Good But It's Not That Good

Kasabian – Empire (Ed: Last year?)

2007's Emperor's New Clothes

Kaiser Chiefs – Your’s Truly, Angry Mob

Chris Brook-Carter - 2007 Review

Top 10 Albums of 2007

10. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Come back Ryan, all is forgiven for the terrible live show I saw earlier in the year. The consequence of that chaotic evening's 'entertainment' was that this album was given short shrift until late in November when I finally got round to putting the gig behind me. Just as well I did. What we have here is his best work since Gold. Back to his alt-country roots, Adams mixes rockers with what he does best - heartfelt melancholy. The tunes are there, the lyrics personal and it reminds me most of all of his work with Whiskeytown.

9. Blonde Redhead - 23
These art rockers from New York have really left their Sonic Youth past behind them and created a pop album of fragile melodies and ethereal beats. St Etienne, My Bloody Valentine and even the Charlatans spring to mind at times. This is an album that grows with each listen, unveiling new layers on each play. The dual vocals of Kazu Makino and Amedeo Pace also work well, subtley changing the tone and direction of the music and delivering something truly different and experimental seven albums into their career. Impressive.

8. Thurston Moore - Trees Outside the Academy
Well, who would have expected this from the Sonic Youth front man, an introspective collection of acoustic songs that at times have been likened to Nick Drake. It sounds like it could have been self-indulgent, but in the end we have a brilliant collection of tunes, that maintain just enough of SY's chaos to keep you on the edge of your seat. Accompanied by a drummer and violinist, the album has a moody feel, without being downbeat. The album is certainly more straightforward than anything I have heard from him before (even J Mascis, who plays lead guitar on four songs, keeps himself restrained), but it's never dull and the songcraft is as spot on as ever.

7. Grinderman - Grinderman
Two side projects in this top ten already and one more to come. Grinderman is Nick Cave and a collection of Bad Seeds blowing some steam from what seems like a mid-life crisis. Aggressive, rude and raw, the band maintain the quality of the the recent Bad Seeds albums but recapture the intensity of Birthday Party recordings. Cave's lyrics are as dexterous as ever, particularly when lamenting a problematic dry patch in No Pussy Blues. There is nothing subtle about any of this but turned up loud, it sounds great.

6. Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of ...
Simply put, this is songwriting at its finest. Ritter has always been a deft lyricist, and inevitably attracted many comparisons to Dylan, but here he also presents a collection of tunes that seem to sum up all that is good about Americana in one packet. He never gets weighed down under the responsibility of it all though and the over-riding feeling of this collection of songs is that the man himself is having a ball. As a consequence, so do you.

5. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Every review I have read of this album has focused on the strange partnership that is the ageing rocker with the bluegrass goddess. It never seemed that odd to me, Led Zeppelin's music always had its foundations in America's roots. The real surprise, I guess, was Plant's ability to harmonise so well with Krauss. Had this been an album of originals rather than covers, this may well have been at number one. In the end, it matters little, T-Bone's song choice is as thoughtful as ever and the musicianship that backs the vocals is perfect. However, it is the two voices that really make this album a hit. It was recorded in only a few sessions but they sound like they have been together for years.

4. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
This album stands as something of a departure for Sam Beam. The folksy undertones are still there, as are his breathy vocals, but it's altogether a more lush and complex set of songs than anything Iron & Wine have produced before. Layers of strings, horns, guitars and harmonies are laid on top of one another and the whole thing must be quite a spectacle live. Impressively, the songs are intimate but rich and eerily beautiful in their scope.

3. Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge
Rather unfairly in my opinion, Lady's Bridge attracted mixed reviews on its release. Those standing in the negative camp mainly based their criticism on Hawley's lack of ambition to diversify from the sound that brought us Coles Corner. Personally, I think they missed the point. Why should anyone want Hawley to diversify, there are so few artists out there capable of crafting songs like this that it would be our loss if he shifted tack. That's not to say this is Coles Corner II. Lady's Bridge is a little more anthemic, a bit more upbeat and all the better for it.

2. Feist - The Reminder
A testament to a great singer, whose old fashioned vocal performance is married to a thoroughly modern album. The range of styles on this album is breathtaking, from jazz to bluegrass, soul to indie-pop, but it all works brilliantly, held together by great production and that voice. There's not a dud on this album from the Broken Social Scene member and though it's impossible to classify her, there is something for everyone here.

1. The National - Boxer
Alligator 2 this is not. It lacks its predecessor's obvious singles and rock-along moments. As a consequence, this is a far less accessible work. But stick with it and the genius begins to reveal itself. The drumming, at first un-nerving, works itself into your consciousness, Matt Berniger's vocal performance is hauntingly good, and the subtle nature of the song-writing gradually unveils itself. When it does, any fear the band wouldn't top Alligator are blown away by a near faultless set of songs.

Close, but no Cigar
Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
Elliott Smith - New Moon
The Hold Steady - Girls and Boys of America

Top 10 Tracks of 2007

10. Dinosaur Jr - This Is All I Came To Do
9. The Hold Steady - Same Kooks
8. Blanche - I'm Sure Of It
7. Soulsavers - Revival
6. Devendra Banhart - Seahorse
5. Bright Eyes - Hot Knives
4. The Decemberists - Crane Wife Pts 1&2
3. Rufus Wainwright - Slide Show
2. Bruce Springsteen - Gypsy Rider
1. The Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running

Toby Castle - 2007 Review

Top 10 Albums of 2007

10. Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures
Wish I could punt this further up the list but I listened to it again this weekend and I can't put it any higher. Single of the year in Our Velocity. I've seen them live more times than any other band ever. Their live performances helped keep this album in the Top 10. Paul Smith's bowler hatted antics and great angsty Northern tilted lyrics also keep this one up. Wish some of the tunes were a little more memorable...

9. New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
My name is Toby Castle and I'm hopelessly addicted to new musical fads. I admit it I'm sorry. However, NYPC are not exactly signed up cheerleaders for the New Glowstick Generation. Nu-rave? More like nu-electro. Plus Tahita has a good line in filthy sex-talk type lyrics. The guitars & synths on this album rock out but what exactly is angular about their sound? Glow sticks at the ready... let the Ponies begin...

8. MIA - Kala
Dirty basslines, throbbing beats and seriously gobby. The man in Rough Trade said this album was "rinsing". Another new musical genre this year - world grime.

7. Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards
This album's been coming in for a lot of criticism for being evangelical Christians and for pretending to be from the deep south when they come from Long Beach. Brooding, stuccato and urgent. If you like the vocals you like the album, if not it's in the bin.

6. Tinariwen - Aman Iman
My Andy Kershaw moment without the booze and wife beating.... Malian revolutionary blues-rock - battle hardened fighters with scars to prove it but mellowed by the influence of Hendrix. Saw them at Royal Festival Hall. Mindblowing experience.

5. The Enemy - We'll Live And Die In These Towns
Poor man's Jam. Cliched. Deriviative. Words used to describe the Enemy. But ignore the hype especially the latest spat with Alex Zane. It still sounds fresh, noisy and very very angry. More like the best thing to come out of Coventry since The Specials or "the band we've waited for since Oasis went to seed" (copyright Guardian). Away From Here and We'll Live And Die In These Towns unbeatable for first album fodder this year. Heavy rotation on the i-Pod.

4. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
The electronic wizardry of their first album develops into sonic treat for the ears. This time it's not a one man show mixing this time round a proper band with some fine melodies, great lyrics and fantastic soundscapes. North American Scum and All my Friends real quality tracks that lift the soul.

3. Scouting for Girls - Scouting for Girls
November/December is always a good time of year for the release of musical gems and 2007 is no exception. Late entry but is here on merit. It's not going to win next year's Mercury and it won't be on any other list but it's still on mine. SFG are an easy target for the label of 2007's The Feeling. SFG have more talent in their belly button fluff than The Feeling. She's So Lovely & James Bond keep the smile on your face. More piano than guitar this album quietly rocks indie-style along...

2. Hold Steady - Boys and Girls of America
Every time I put on this record I think of college radio, Frat Houses and holidays in Key West. This is noisy rock that shouldn't find a place in a top 10 list for 2007 but it does and it deserves to be here. They look all wrong - balding, podgy, tashes, berets and dodgy prison tattoos but they make the sort of music America should be producing, trumpeting and celebrating. The rock is dead, long live the rock...

1. Jamie T - Panic Prevention
"Fucking croissant". Sheila - a modern classic paen to stella booze. Wimbledon's answer to Shane McGowan paints an uplifting picture of modern life with the best use of the c-word in music ever. Attempts to define this as this year's answer to The Streets afflicts the lazy journalists swelling the ranks of the NME. Comparing this urban poet to Mike Skinner does Jamie Treasys an injustice. His lo-fi, electronic shambling outpourings never cease to make to smile, nod your head & tap your feet. Top drawer.

Top 10 Tracks of 2007

10. Editors - Escape the Nest
9. Jack Penate - Spit At Stars
8. Robyn - With Every Heartbeat
7. Reverend & The Makers - Heavyweight Champion of the World
6. The Wombats - Lets Dance To Joy Division
5. Kate Nash - Foundations
4. Play You - We Start Fires
3. Klaxons - Golden Skans
2. The Twang - Wide Awake
1. Maximo Park - Our Velocity

2007's It's Good But It's Not That Good

Amy Winehouse - Back in Black
She's sings about rehab - I wish she'd fuck off there for good. Her and her Hawley Arms hanging out, beehive sporting friends. I'm sick of the whole saga, sick of her Dad clogging the airwaves on Five Live, sick of my newspaper column inches filled by her mother's "open letter" and sick of her trilby- wearing twat of a husband. The music? It's not about the music, it's the image that is conjured up when you play her record. And the thought that in the New Year we have the pleasures of a Pete and Amy duet to look forward too...

2007's Emperors New Clothes

The Horrors
Faris Rotter and Spider Webb. Rockabilly. Goths. Bag o shite...