The Best Music I Discovered This Year

Everywhere this time of year are "best of" lists. I can't tell you what the best new music of 2007 was, I definitely didn't even hear a fraction of it. But I CAN tell you what my best music of 2007 was--which makes my list a little different, as it's the best that I came across this year regardless of when it came out. Here we go:

1. Neon Bible--Arcade Fire

This album is beautiful from end to end. Antichrist Television Blues and Ocean of Noise, two of the best songs on the album, will stay in your head for days. Their music reminds me of Bruce Springsteen for reasons I have not yet identified. And I don't even like Springsteen (or Springballs, as my dad calls him). Go figure.

2. Music From the Big Pink--The Band

Obviously this is a "new to me" 2007 addition on this list. I didn't know much of The Band until I watched "The Last Waltz," Scorsese's documentary of The Band's last concert in San Francisco in 1976.

After watching the movie I bought the album and was blown away. Such simple, rocking songs. Its easy to see why Eric Clapton wanted to join The Band.

3. The Crane Wife--The Decemberists

Saw them at the Hollywood Bowl accompanied by the LA Phil. Even Truman dug it.

4. The Reminder--Feist

Not normally into female singers, but Leslie Feist is an exception.

5. Icky Thump--The White Stripes

Jack White is the ugliest guy I have ever had a crush on. Maybe I can limit the crush to his brain and his hands, purely for the magic of his music-making.

6. The Besnard Lakes are The Dark Horse--The Besnard Lakes

I'm not into super-obscure music, The Besnard Lakes are as close as I can get. They're like a Canadian mix of The Beach Boys and Pink Floyd with a little King Crimson thrown in for good fun. I suggest checking them out.

7. Highway Companion--Tom Petty

Can't go wrong with Tom Petty. This is a "solo" album, but it basically sound just like when the Heartbreakers are with him. "Square One" is the best song.

8. The Best of Warren Zevon--Warren Zevon

I resisted the Warren Zevon for a long long time. Then, the day I was sworn in as an attorney my old boss (the best thing about him was his love for music) played "Lawyers, Guns, and Money." I didn't come across WZ again until I went home last Christmas and my dad gave me his CD.

Zevon is like a much better version of Joe Walsh. The lyrics are amusing (a little cheesy) but poignant. One of the best songs on the album is "The Envoy," which is a political song about Reagan's foreign policy. Another is "Mohammed Radio," where he duets with Linda Ronstadt. A surprising addition to this list.

Honorable Mentions:

These are albums that I enjoyed, but they didn't blow me away.

Ga ga ga ga ga--Spoon

The critics seem to love these guys, but they're just a basic rock band to me. Not bad at all, but nothing exceptional.

Wincing the Night Away--The Shins

Ditto.