Welcome to the fifth and final part of my look back at the fifty best albums of last year: the Top Ten Albums of 2007.
Being that 2007 was one of the best years for music in my lifetime (1975-present), I decided to use a play on titles of some of the greatest albums of all time from the likes of the Beatles, the Smiths, Public Enemy, the Flaming Lips and others as a precursor to each of the ten selections.
What a year it was and these are the best of the best, so sit back, relax, crack open a can of mixed nuts and enjoy the cream of the crop. 40 years from now, you may look back at some of these the way we look back at the Beatles, Stones and the Who. Probably not, but hey, that's what makes music so interesting. The next revolution could always be around the corner...
(Albums 11-50 were also magnificent and more than deserve your time. In case you missed them the first time around, here are the links to Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV.)
THE TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2007:
Songs in the Key of Death
10. High On Fire - Death is this Communion (Relapse)
Of course, High On Fire doesn't really do anything drastically new here and why the hell would they? They're still one of the most consistent metal bands in the world today and once again, across the board, from track to track, here's another album of near-perfect, heavy, sludgy, and groove heavy mayhem.
There is a little more bass added to the mix and even more focus thrown in to the already tight music and vocals, but if you were a fan of them before, you'll still be now. Perhaps the idea here was to get some new people to come along for the ride and Black Sabbath fans may be the next to join Motorhead ones as new High On Fire followers. The modern day sensibility often gets overshadowed by the nods to classic metal, but I'm not complaining. There's still enough to go around for fans of new and old metal alike.
For fans of: Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Corrosion of Comformity, Bleach-era Nirvana, Melvins, early Soundgarden, and Zeppelin
*Best Pop Album of the Year
Reviver
9. Rob Crow - Living Well (Temporary Residence)
I really have no good reason for not picking up the new Pinback album yet, but I think the Professor of All Music That is Good should still give me some extra credit for getting my hands on this hidden gem, the latest from Pinback's own Rob Crow.
Article comments
1 - Les Slater
Jonathan,
Good work. I only read your 10 through 1 but liked what I saw. Been out of touch with music scene for a few years but what I see from your post is inspiring. Bookmarked this page and will start to check out the music.
Thanks,
Les
2 - Les Slater
Jonathan,
My reply didn’t entirely come through even though it looked fine on preview. My ID didn’t come through either.
Les
3 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Well thought out list & nice writing style...
Though, I would have to disagree with Pig Destroyer being the best for 2007. Illogicist came at us with a most heavy release entitled "The Insight Eye" which is very much technical Death Metal but laid back enough to let you get your "groove on". I'm pretty sure there are a few others out there that I may have overlooked because there have been quite a few releases...