Welcome to Part III of my look back at the fifty best albums of 2007. Don't worry. I won't be using any gimmicks this time around. This won't be in 3D. It's just the same old story and the same old song and dance, my friends. And from this point on, the entry will be Steven Tyler-free.
Part II was another reminder of how amazing a music year 2007 was. I can say, without hesitation, that the albums from the Avett Brothers, the Ponys, Stephen Marley, Dethklok and Dr. Dog could have been in the top ten of some of my past years' lists.
Part I had some stellar pieces, too, but I think Part II is really where things started to come together. The cream of the crop is definitely starting to form and albums 31-40 was just the beginning.
Based on the (un)popularity of this piece, a lot of people seem to be over 2007, but I need to make it clear once more, just how good the year was for music. It was easily the best year of the century so far and probably the best year for music since about 1994, or so. If that hasn't been evident up to this point, I hope that these next ten albums will start to make that abundantly clear. If not, we still have the top 20 to fall back on.
Back In Black
30. Black Francis - Bluefinger (Cooking Vinyl)
Somehow, quietly, Black Francis aka Frank Black aka Charles Thompson, the frontman for one of the most influential bands of all time, the Pixies, made one of the best rock albums of the year and also his best (and most consistent) personal effort since the secretly legendary Teenager of the Year. How can a man so revered create something so beautiful without being universally celebrated for it?
If you've given up on the man, this is the overwhelming evidence pointing to the fact that you have made a huge mistake. I hate to use the term "return to form", but that's pretty much what this is. It's not the Pixies and it's not Teenager of the Year, but it's a fun, raucous, non-stop party full of a lot of what you've been waiting for and a couple of surprises, too. The secret weapon is that there are so many of those "I can't put my finger on it" moments of familiarity and edge that can only be provided by someone who fronted one of the best bands of our generation.
I shouldn't have to spread the word about an artist of BF's magnitude, but this album has been criminally ignored. Sometimes, things fall under the radar and there is no good reason for it. We all mistakes and often, too many of us do it all at once. Now it's time to right that wrong and get this out there, because this may be the point of his career where he starts inspiring a whole new generation of teenage kids with guitars.
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