Gaming World Forums
General Category => Entertainment and Media => Topic started by: PTizzle on February 26, 2008, 10:10:26 am
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If this has been done somewhere else already, I apologize.
Please reply with your top 5's, I'm interested to hear some stuff I missed out on:
5. CunninLynguists - Dirty Acres
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/54767/dirty.jpg)
The fourth album from Atlanta hip hop group CunninLynguists is once again very, very impressive (despite their name turning most people off, no pun intended). The range on the album is stunning - from more traditional rap tracks like 'Dirty Acres' to the ambient soundscape of 'Yellow Lines', to the quasi-psychotic string driven 'Things I Dream' to the hopeful pads and guitars of the brilliant outro 'Mexico' with band Club Dub, the album remains strong throughout. If I had to point out flaws it'd be that they haven't evolved from their earlier efforts - merely refined the formula.
Mexico ft Club Dub - http://www.zshare.net/audio/810532740d9755/
4. Elliot Smith - New Moon
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/54767/newmoon.jpg)
A collection of unreleased songs usually isn't something to get excited about, but when we're talking about Elliot Smith the collection is very endearing. The opener 'Angel In The Snow' sets the tone for the album - bittersweet acoustic ballads with Smith's wiry, thin voice gliding over the top of them. Other highlights on this two disc, twenty-four song collection include the harmonized story track 'Going Nowhere', the foreboding 'New Disaster', the poppy and upbeat 'Almost Over' and an early (and personally preferred) version of his seminal 'Miss Misery'. If you're an acoustic or Smith fan you can't go wrong picking this up.
Miss Misery (Early Version) - http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/54767/111-elliott_smith-miss_misery_%28early_version%29.mp3/
3. Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/54767/lupe_coverpasticker.jpg)
Wow. From his shaky debut 'Food and Liquor' Lupe showed quite a bit of promise, but I thought it'd take him quite a bit longer to mature into a truly worthwhile artist. But here he is with his second album - one that shocked me on first listen to it's lyrical quality and production. The whole album plays out as a semi-parody of hip hop music in general (implied by the name 'The Cool') and this is explored in songs like 'The Coolest', 'Dumb It Down' and the albums lead single 'Superstar'. There's a lot to like about this album bar the general theme though - not one of the 18 songs (not including the intro) are worth skipping. 'Go Go Gadget Flow' has a clever lyrical style and shows Lupe with an unusually agile flow, 'Hello/Goodbye' is an intense rock/rap collaboration with British band UNKLE and features vocals taking a backdrop to the pounding drums and rolling strings. Then there's the love song 'Paris, Tokyo' which is almost rare in hip hop nowadays. I could go on, but I'll say that if you heard 'Kick, Push' on the Hottest 100 and were at all interested then you'll thank yourself for giving this one a listen.
Hello/Goodbye (Uncool) ft UNKLE - http://www.zshare.net/download/810577113e9db8/
2. Wedge - Heavensville
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/54767/ville.jpg)
It hurts not to put this as number one, it really does. The debut album from Indiana native Wedge, noted as an 'artist to watch' in Rolling Stone has burst out with an incredible debut that'll no doubt sadly go overlooked by the general populace, but deserves as many accolades as possible. It's not a long debut, but it definitely recognises the value of quality over quantity - every song on here is a winner. The entirely instrumental intro 'Systems' follows into 'Jupiter', which is where the album really kicks off. It shifts rapidly from flawless electronic pop to ambient instrumentals to haunting electro/acoustic ballads without at all jarring or alienating the listener. Every song paints a soundscape and image which you'll follow til it's completion - there really aren't many albums around with as much atmosphere or cohesiveness in a project as this one. I could list every song and their qualities, but instead I'll just talk about the incredible 'Architect' which embodies everything I feel about the album. It starts with a dark acoustic melody layered with haunting vocals which flow like another instrument into the song, winding upwards with introductions of strings, electric guitar and backing vocals til a climax shortly before the end of it's 8 minute running time. It's haunting, uplifting, mysterious and genius all at the same time. Combining songs like these with an Imogen Heap-esque bedroom music aesthetic (which I find makes it even more endearing - knowing only one person is behind every second of music) and you have an amazing overall project. The only bad part is it's length (not because it doesn't feel like enough, but because you crave more upon it's completion) and the fact it'll be a sleeper hit rather than gaining success levels of his contempories, which he could easily go toe to toe with.
The Architect - http://www.zshare.net/download/81061614586f65/
1. Kanye West - Graduation
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/54767/kanye.jpg)
Kanye, Kanye, Kanye. An arrogant bastard, a rapper with questionable rhyming skills and the 'go to' man for the black man's Seth Cohen clothing style, yet somehow still also an artist that for the third time in a row has created a record that is so enjoyable it defies it's genre and begs everyone to hearing it. Perhaps it's the incredible production and structure, or the content painted both by words and the music. I don't know what it is, but Kanye's third album is possibly his best yet. Kanye has gone from the shaky Chicago rapper who rushed his flow on 'Jesus Walks' to an accomplished song maker and project manager. He eschews the album problems prevelant in the genre and instead makes pieces of music that flow together so well you'll find yourself listening to the whole album more times than single songs. From the echoing kick/snare pattern of 'Good Morning' to the last synth of 'Big Brother' the album constantly impresses and demands to be listened to. Even when he's being arrogant he's endearing him - you feel less like he's bragging about non-existent skills and more just using the energy to fuel memorable and plain enjoyable music. The singles 'Good Life' and 'Stronger' are catchy but focused at the same time - I can't listen to 'Good Life' without smiling, or 'Stronger' with at least humming the Daft Punk sample (I enjoy the original DP song, very much, but Kanye used it in a way, with such a combination of backing music that it became so much more). From the lazy, off kilter but oddly relevant 'Drunk and Hot Girls' to the inspiring and clever ode to his city 'Homecoming' with Coldplay's Chris Martin, to songs like 'Everything I Am' - relaxed and laid back with scratches by DJ Premier, or the heavy, introspective 'Flashing Lights' the album has to be considered a modern hip hop classic. With the way the genre is going Kanye is one of it's few guiding lights, and with albums like this he proves that he really can back up all the claims, even if he'll still bumrush the Grammy's every now and then.
Homecoming ft Chris Martin - http://www.zshare.net/audio/8106177edaab8b/
Honourable Mentions:
Atmosphere - Strictly Leakage: A free download album that somehow beats out most other rap albums to come out last year. Go figure.
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver: If the Rogue Traders weren't terrible and had the heart to make inspired and inventive music this is what it'd sound like.
Urthboy - The Signal: The best Australian hip-hop album of last year, for my money. 'Nuthin I'd Rather Do' is destined for at least a few barbeques.
Vents - Hard To Kill: The second best Australian hip-hop album of last year. Imagine if an outspoken rebel made an album during a civil uprising and you've got the general idea.
Wiley - Playtime Is Over: I didn't get to hear much UK hip-hop last year, but this was thoroughly enjoyable. Songs like 'My Mistakes' are miles ahead of most American stuff.
Jay-Z - American Gangster: A worthy throw back to the mid-90's golden age.
Timbaland - Shock Value: Finally, Timbo reaches his potential. Great pop music.
UGK - Underground Kingz: Another solid album which doesn't over-reach on it's double disc length, and sadly their last due to the death of Pimp C.
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Instead of a top 5, I'll give you a top 10... :fogetshh:
01. CMX - Talvikuningas
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/01-cmx_talvikuningas.jpg)
A magnificient concept album by the finnish band CMX. Now, CMX is a very old band but this was the first album of theirs I ever bought. It's a concept album (scifi-opera :naughty:) with magnificient finnish lyrics such as "and his tomb is guarded by one hundred thousand killer satellites". The story is well presented and pretty complex. The songs seague seamlessly into each other. "Talvikuningas" (Winter King) is an outstanding album and it was not a hard choice for my #1 spot.
Song highlights: Kaikkivaltias, Tähtilaivan Kapteeni, Punainen Komentaja, Kaikkivaltiaan Peili
02. Phideaux - Doomsday Afternoon
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/02-doomsday.jpg)
Doomsday Afternoon is an album that my friend Lux from #fin familiarized me with. It's the second part of a three album series by Phideaux. Genrewise it's symphonic prog without a lot of the instrumental noodling the genre is known for. The songs are mostly acoustic, melodic, relaxing and very beautiful. Doomsday Afternoon could be described as easy-listening prog, but I don't really agree. It's way too complex and layered for that.
Song highlights: Candybrain, Crumble, The Doctrine Of Eternal Ice (Part Two), Formaldehyde, Microdeath Softstar
03. Turisas - The Varangian Way
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/03-turisas_cover.jpg)
Simply - the greatest viking metal album ever. The only thing Varangian Way lacks is bad songs. The whole album is an epic ride with the ancient varangians on their journey from north to Constantinople. If bands such as Moonsorrow, Finntroll or Falkenbach are to your liking, you'll simply love The Varangian Way. I don't think it'll ever be topped in this genre.
Song highlights: To Holmgard And Beyond, Five Hundred And One, The Dnieper Rapids, Miklagard Overture
04. Sonata Arctica - Unia
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/04-Unia.jpg)
Unia was an album that pretty much divided Sonata Arctica's fans into two camps. Others loved it and the rest hated it. Me? Well, obviously, I think it's the 4th best album of 2007. I never liked the double-bass drum, super high bpm of the earlier Sonata. Unia slows things down and takes in a lot of progressive influences. Tony Kakko uses his voice in a much more varied way when compared to before. I really hope Sonata Arctica continues in this direction because their earlier albums simply can't complete with Unia.
Song highlights: In Black And White, Paid In Full, It Won't Fade, My Dream's But A Drop Of Fuel For A Nightmare, Fly With A Black Swan
05. Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/05-dpp.jpg)
Nightwish's first album without Tarja Turunen was a great success. The Poet and the Pendulum alone is probably the best female fronted metal song ever and the rest don't fall far behind. The one thing Dark Passion Play suffers from is its lenght. Skipping one or two songs (Eva and Last of the Wilds come to my mind) would make the album much tighter and probably make it flow better. Regardless, however, DPP is a great return from one of my first favourite bands.
Song highlights: The Poet and the Pendulum, Amaranth, Master Passion Green, 7 Days To The Wolves
06. Pain of Salvation - Scarsick
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/07-scarsick.jpeg)
There's not much I can say about this album that hasn't been discussed to death by now. I know a lot of people hated it for a variety of reasons, but I like it a lot. Granted, I haven't been listening to it much lately, but it's still one of the best releases of 2007.
Song highlights: Scarsick, Cribcaged, Kingdom of Loss, Enter Rain
07. Porcupine Tree - Fear of A Blank Planet
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/06-foabp.jpg)
You probably saw this one coming, didn't you? I'm not the biggest Porcupine Tree fan but there's no denying that Fear of a Blank Planet is a brilliant album. The reason I'm not rating it any higher is because I still don't really like the last 2 songs. The first 4 are brilliant but it kind of ends there.
Song highlights: Fear of a Blank Planet, My Ashes, Anesthetize, Sentimental
08. The Flower Kings - Sum of No Evil
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/09-sone.jpg)
If you've heard any previous Flower Kings albums, you'll know what to expect from Sum of No Evil. It's the same old symphonic prog delight that they always deliver. It's a great album but there really wasn't anything new so it gets the 8th spot.
Song highlights: One More Time, Love Is The Only Answer, Life In Motion
09. Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/08-sc.jpg)
Systematic Chaos was good, but not really as good as I wanted. I can't really rate it higher because I find myself rarely listening to it at all.
Song highlights: Forsaken, The Dark Eternal Night, Repentance, The Ministry Of Lost Souls
10. Kamelot - Ghost Opera
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23021/10-go.jpg)
Kamelot's The Black Halo is probably my favourite power metal album ever. Ghost Opera couldn't really surpass that and kind of fell flat on it's face. Don't get me wrong, it's a great album and easily surpasses 95% of all other power metal albums. That gives it the last spot on my list.
Song highlights: Rule the World, Ghost Opera, Blücher, Mourning Star
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5. Swinelords (by Twilightning)
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23022/swine_cover_news.jpg)
Twilightning is a Finnish metal band and "Swinelords" is their third album. The style on "Swinelords" is traditional guitar led heavy metal, instead of power metal found in their previous two albums. There's really no bad songs in the album, but neither are there any real shining stars. Of the three albums Twilightning has released so far this one is my favourite.
4. Paradise Lost (by Symphony X)
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23022/symphonyx_paradisel.jpg)
Symphony X finally released a new album after quite some years (five to be exact) and they did deliver. While not as good as the 2002 "The Odyssey", "Paradise Lost" manages to keep the Symphony X sound, with more emphasis on it's heavier side (the way I like it, even though Accolade II is propably the greatest ballad ever).
3. Unia (by Sonata Arctica)
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23022/sonata_unia07.jpg)
With "Unia" Sonata Arctica has moved to more heavier and progressive path, from the old traditional power metal path. While I liked their old power metal albums a lot, "Unia" just managed to take Sonata Arctica to new heights and made the old albums feel not so good. Going heavier and progressive seems to be a popular move with in the power metal scene these days, mostly due to the flooded market and the need to stand out in the sea of power. Sonata Arctica did this move extremely well.
2. Dark Passion Play (by Nightwish)
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23022/nw_darkpassion.jpg)
When I heard Tarja Turunen got kicked out of Nightwish I was shocked. I thought Nightwish could never be as great without her. "Dark Passion Play" proved me wrong. I've never been this wrong actually. Turns out I like Anette's voice a lot more than Tarja's and in my opinion Anette's voice fits Nightwish much better. New and better vocalist isn't the only thing that makes "Dark Passion Play" my number two album of 2007; Great songs with great melodies are a definite proof that the guys in the band know how to make damn good music.
1. UniVers (by Voyager)
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23022/voyagerunivers.jpg)
Every so often I get the need for new music. And when this happens, I usually read some reviews for potential experiments. "UniVers" was one of those experiments. And wow, what an experiment it was! I was completely amazed and mesmerized from the start to the end. I had found a new love... and now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever before listened to as good album as "UniVers". A totally random musical experiment turned out to be my new favourite album. I've listened the album from start to end unhealthy amounts so far and there's not even slight sign of it getting boring.
The music itself is mix of very very many different genres. There's awesome guitar work, extremely nice synth melodies and godly vocals (mostly clean power/heavy vocals with some growl vocals on the first and last song). The whole package just works so well together it's amazing. The overall style of the album could be described as atmospheric spacious futuristic progressive heavy metal.
Because I'm Finnish and english is only my second language I can't tell you exactly how damn great "UniVers" really is, but if you even remotely like metal, check out this album; it's pure eargasm, every second of it.
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#5: Tromatic Reflexxions- Von Sudenfed
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/bp3.blogger.com/_Q4W0HOHf65s/RnmiPh_ariI/AAAAAAAAAE4/rdDjnEJWRTc/s320/Von+Sudenfed.jpeg)
Mark E Smith goes electro! Need I say more? Weird and bizarrely danceable, like LCD Soundsystem fronted by a drunken lorry driver.
#4: Curses! - Future Of The Left
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/files.list.co.uk/images/2007/10/04/future-of-the-left-lp.jpeg)
If you locked Mclusky and At The Drive In in a closet and forced them to breed, you would be committing a horrific and highly disturbing act. Also, you'd get this album. It rules. Buy it.
#3: Grinderman- Grinderman
(http://www.sweetslyrics.com/poze/grinderman.jpg)
Nick Cave fronts a gleefully raucous garage band! Awesome Stooges-esque riffs mixed with sneering, self-mocking, hilariously quoteable lyrics: "I read her Eliott, read her Yeats/ I tried my best to stay up late/ I fixed the hinges on her gate/ But she just didn't want to"... Classic.
#2: The Rotten Mile - Gallon Drunk
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd52/fredlabellimited/GallonDrunk_AlbumSML.webp)
I only just heard of these guys recently, but they've become my new favorite band... It's kinda hard to describe their music... Think the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion mixed with Led Zeppelin, Grinderman, and the Cramps... Only better. They make every other band sound like fucking Beat Happening.
#1: The Narcotic Story - Oxbow
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/www.ondarock.it/images/cover/oxbow_narcotic_(small).jpeg)
A concept album that doesn't suck! Creepy, weirdly beautiful, and completely undefineable. Seriously, I really would recommend this to everyone. It's just one of those weird albums that feel like instant classics on the very first listen...
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Curses, Oxbow, and Grinderman are all very good. I would never put them on a top ten list, but my top ten list is boring and has the National and MIA on it so everyone knows them by now.
haven't heard of the other two, but you've never talked about a terrible band yet!
UGK - Underground Kingz: Another solid album which doesn't over-reach on it's double disc length, and sadly their last due to the death of Pimp C.
I love UGK but man this album DID over-reach. there's even a horrible s&c remix on the second cd. just too many songs.
but what do those Aussie guys sound like, I've been trying to appreciate other hiphop so.
also do you know $imple? he posts on SA and I think he's part of the Sandpeople Collective which is Aussie.
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Fuck man I hate writing a whole list up and then my internet freezes.
I'd put the Ghostface album over UGK personally, same with Lupe. But UGK were definately in my top 10.
The Black Dahlia Murder were definately in my top 5 as well, Nocturnal was some pretty awesome death metal especially from such a young band who don't take themselves seriously.
I mean, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILgOs7j58pE&feature=related
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Uh, what about In Rainbows
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(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3f/Om_pilgrimage.jpg/200px-Om_pilgrimage.jpeg)
om - pilgrimage
this is a wonderful band. nothing on it is as good as "at giza" but the album as a whole is good. im a doom drone murderhead.
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/25540.x-news-borisrainbow.jpeg)
boris with michio kurihara - rainbow
rainbow is a good album by boris and another guitar player. the guitar player is good and he makes a lot of noise that sounds like the devil, over pretty mellow tracks for boris. it's like psychedelic rock or some shit, i would say.
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/Thelastbutterfly/DeerhunterCryptograms.webp)
deerhunter - cryptograms
i dunno if this is the best, but it came out last year and i like it. "spring hall convert" is a nice song.
(http://www.alone.gr/Assets/ELECTRIC%20WIZARD%20Witchcult%20Today.jpg)
electric wizard - witchcult today
satanic rites of drugula
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/files.for-robots.com/blair/images/RatatatRemixes2.jpeg)
ratatat - remixes vol 2
ratatat can make anything good
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I only have 4 albums from 2007 and the only two worth mentioning are Good Arrows by Tunng and Rhythms from a Cosmic Sky by Earthless.
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#5.) Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/aboutasoandthis/0801_top40_amywinehouse.webp)
I'm a pop fan. I like my music to be fun and understandable. I can listen to a woman's singing as long as it isn't cheesy. Amy has a very soulful voice that's very reminiscent of Lauren Hill. She may not hit any high notes, but she can definitely sing. I especially like how she keeps and uses her accent when she sings. The songs are just plain fun.
Favorite Songs: You Know I'm No Good, Tears Dry on Their Own
#4.) Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/aboutasoandthis/LupeFiascoTheCool.webp)
To be honest I thought this was a weak record. I've been a fan of Lupe from the get go, and I even listen to his more underground and unreleased tracks. I really believe he can do better. To me the production values felt a little weak and unfinished. The lyrics are excellent, but not really amazing. I do like this album, I really do. Whenever I talk to people about it though, especially after listening to more and more underground hip-hop artists, I seem to say "You were amazed by this?!?!!?" I guess after understanding Aesop Rock songs, I just kind of chuckled at this.
Favorite Songs: Hip-Hop Saved My Life, Put You on Game, The Coolest
#3.) Talib Kweli - Eardrum
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/aboutasoandthis/TalibKweliEardrum.webp)
I'm a really big fan of this guy, and I still believe this is the best rap album of 2007, including Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. Normally against commercial hip-hop, this is Talib's attempt at a pop record, and to me it succeeds. What makes this even better is that his flip-flopping from underground to commercial is his album's overall concept. It's hard to say why I like this album so much. The production could be better, but the actually songwriting is well constructed. He used a lot of different producers on this record, and yet it sounds consistent. His rapping is more on beat this time around, which is something he almost never does. He even pokes fun at himself for doing it. This is just a fun record if you're a Talib Kweli fan.
Favorite Songs: Everything Man, Country Cousins, Hostile Gospel Part 1, Hot Thing, Listen!!!
#2.) M.I.A - Kala
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/aboutasoandthis/0801_top40_mia.webp)
I'm surprised nobody has heard of her. This is one of the wackiest record's I've ever heard, and I went and bought this and Arular when I first heard about it. Technically it's a hip-hop record. It's a mix of Acid Rap, Bollywood samples, European and African rappers, and warrior chants. M.I.A's lyrics tend to focus on her family's history in India and of her other world travels. After looking it up, it says she tried to make a single album in the U.S. with Timbaland, but had problems with her Visa and had to travel all over the world just to record it. It actually sounds like she stuffed the entire world into this record. Why can't all hip-hop be like this?
Favorite Songs: Bird Flu, Paper Planes, Mango Pickle Down River
#1.) Justice - †
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/aboutasoandthis/0801_top40_justice.webp)
I wish more Electronica acts would sound like this. For using Disco and Breakbeats a lot, none of them really sound Black. A lot of these other records feel empty and souless. These guys manage to capture that feeling though by paying attention to the basslines. They are obvious and complicated, and remind you more of hip-hop and disco than anything else. There's a strong rock feel to the album though, and it feels nice. It sounds like a heavy metal band, playing a Donna Summers song, compressed to death before the volume is turned up at full blast. Too much of it is just plain cool.
Favorite Songs: Let There Be Light, D.A.N.C.E, Newjack, Phantom I & II, and Stress.
Honorable Mentions: LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver, Kanye West - Graduation, Radiohead - In Rainbows.
I'll have you know this was a bitch to write. :gwa:
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I'm surprised nobody has heard of her.
my top ten list is boring and has the National and MIA on it so everyone knows them by now.
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Fuck man I hate writing a whole list up and then my internet freezes.
I'd put the Ghostface album over UGK personally, same with Lupe. But UGK were definately in my top 10.
The Black Dahlia Murder were definately in my top 5 as well, Nocturnal was some pretty awesome death metal especially from such a young band who don't take themselves seriously.
I mean, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILgOs7j58pE&feature=related
Fuckin A-Right man
TBDM is great. Miasma use to be my favorite album by them, until Nocturnal Came out. Plus, it came out on the same day as Colors. Oh I was so happy. It also came out on the same day as Machinations of Dementia, fuck man Sept 18, 2007 was just a bad-ass day for metal.
As far as my list goes
The only one that I can definitely say would be in my top 5 would be Colors. I haven't listened to enough 2007 albums to be sure anymore. I'm just now finding out about some release in 07 that I didn't even know of.
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Alot of people have heard of MIA.
DP you should upload some of that stuff to the zoo :).
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yup everyone here likes her
I'll have to try to construct a list later, but I know it'll have M.I.A. - Kala, and the Field - from here we go sublime. maybe LCD - SoS and battles - mirrored, and I don't know what else!
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Stretching a bit here for #5 and #4.
5) Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters
(http://blog.southernlord.com/wp-content/images/99.pic.jpg)
4) Nadja - Guilted by the Sun EP
(http://www.musicfearsatan.com/Admin/Uploads/DSK/3223/nadja_guilted_(small).jpg)
3) Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/Rihanna-Good-Girl-Gone-Bad-415577.jpeg)
2) JUSTICE - Cross
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/sleevage.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/justice_cross_cover.jpeg)
1) Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
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Curses, Oxbow, and Grinderman are all very good. I would never put them on a top ten list, but my top ten list is boring and has the National and MIA on it so everyone knows them by now.
haven't heard of the other two, but you've never talked about a terrible band yet!
I love UGK but man this album DID over-reach. there's even a horrible s&c remix on the second cd. just too many songs.
but what do those Aussie guys sound like, I've been trying to appreciate other hiphop so.
also do you know $imple? he posts on SA and I think he's part of the Sandpeople Collective which is Aussie.
Sandpeople are American as far as I know - they just work with Aussie artists. If you check their Myspace it says they're American.
But yeah, search Vents - Love Song on YouTube for an idea of Vents (another guy posted Urthboy). It's real revolution rebellion music.
#4.) Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/aboutasoandthis/LupeFiascoTheCool.webp)
To be honest I thought this was a weak record. I've been a fan of Lupe from the get go, and I even listen to his more underground and unreleased tracks. I really believe he can do better. To me the production values felt a little weak and unfinished. The lyrics are excellent, but not really amazing. I do like this album, I really do. Whenever I talk to people about it though, especially after listening to more and more underground hip-hop artists, I seem to say "You were amazed by this?!?!!?" I guess after understanding Aesop Rock songs, I just kind of chuckled at this.
Favorite Songs: Hip-Hop Saved My Life, Put You on Game, The Coolest
I thought the production was great and it was a really focused effort all around. I listen to Aesop quite a bit but I didn't chuckle at Lupe - it's a whole different kettle of fish. I forgot about Talib (as well as MIA) though - they both deserve honourable mentions from me.
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2) JUSTICE - Cross
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/sleevage.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/justice_cross_cover.jpeg)
Yeah! I really enjoyed this, one of the best house albums since Human After All. Nice packaging, too. =P
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one of you grabbed an image off another site that keeps asking for verification fyi, please get rid of it!
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5. David Crowder: Remedy
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41GAP0-7e6L._SS500_.jpeg)
4. Page France: Family Telephone
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yDOVZfOKL._SS500_.jpg)
3. As Cities Burn: Come Now Sleep
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VNHd8dZGL._SS500_.jpeg)
2. Doug Burr: On Promenade
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/312EhyHxYyL._AA200_.jpeg)
1. Psalters: The Divine Liturgy of the Wretched Exiles
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/psychedelicfolk.homestead.com/psalters2006cover.jpeg)
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I wanna live where you people live. Almost nobody listens to my music! :cry:
Maybe it's just high school.
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1. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
This wasn't a hard decision and anyone who knows me even a bit was probably expecting this anyway. Fear of a Blank Planet is not only my favorite album of 2007, but also my favorite Porcupine Tree album. Though shorter than most of Porcupine Tree's albums, there is not a single wasted second here. It's pretty much a culmination of everything Porcupine Tree have done so far, it's got a bit of everything. It's not the easiest Porcupine Tree album to get into and it's not as accessible as the past few albums have been but Fear of a Blank Planet is a really rewarding experience and once you listen to it a few times and truly get into it. Anesthetize is a fucking awesome song (and even better live) and I love Sleep Together and Fear of a Blank Planet. But all the songs are great.
2. Oceansize - Frames
After releasing two fantastic albums, Effloresce and Everyone Into Position, my expectations were really high for Frames and it didn't disappoint. In fact, it was even better than I had imagined, and is now my favorite Oceansize album. Overall, I'd say it's a bit more post-rocky than Oceansize earlier efforts but seeing how I always loved their more mellow stuff like Music for a Nurse, that suits me just fine. Frames has some of the best songs Oceansize have written. Trail of Fire and Savant are both awesome and I can't get enough of The Frame, which might be my favorite song on the album but it's difficult to say because most of the songs are just that good. The last minutes of Unfamiliar are mindblowing and you can't not love the Meshuggah-esque Sleeping Dogs and Dead Lions. The bonus track Voorhees is fantastic as well. Basically, everything about this album rocks. Everything.
3. The Ocean - Precambrian
My favorite metal album of 2007. Precambrian consists of two CDs, Hadean/Archaean, which works as some introduction I suppose, and Proterozoic, the main album. Putting aside the first CD which isn't really anything amazing (but still good), Proterozoic is mindblowing. I don't even know what to say about this album, just listen to it, The vocals are fantastic, it can heavy as fuck and the melodies are stunning. Stenian, Ectasian, Tonian and Rhyacian are among the best metal songs I have ever heard.
4. Ulver - Shadows of the Sun
Ulver takes a much more ambient approach here than ever before. I gotta say, I really like the direction Ulver has been taking in the past few years and it's great that they are evolving and trying new stuff. I fell in love with Shadows of the Sun right away, it's just incredibly atmospheric and perfect music to relax to.
5. Between the Buried and Me - Colors
The Anatomy Of might have been a disappointment, but this is easily and by far BtBaM's best album. My top 5 has awfully a lot of metal considering what I listened to in 2007 but I suppose it was a really good year for metal! Great mix of clean vocals and growling plus nice amount of variety and great melodies make this a must hear for metal fans. Note, good metal.
man i really feel like posting top 30 or something but i think im too lazy to write something about all of them. :( i have been working on best of 2007 last.fm journal for ages but i will never get it done so fuck it.
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ok Render explain to me how Here we go sublime is any good at all. I heard it, it is just this tediously repetitive bass loop going on and on without any innovation whatsoever. It is one of the most redundant records I heard, it is more redundant than an Explosions in the sky album.
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1. UniVers (by Voyager)
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/23022/voyagerunivers.jpg)
Every so often I get the need for new music. And when this happens, I usually read some reviews for potential experiments. "UniVers" was one of those experiments. And wow, what an experiment it was! I was completely amazed and mesmerized from the start to the end. I had found a new love... and now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever before listened to as good album as "UniVers". A totally random musical experiment turned out to be my new favourite album. I've listened the album from start to end unhealthy amounts so far and there's not even slight sign of it getting boring.
The music itself is mix of very very many different genres. There's awesome guitar work, extremely nice synth melodies and godly vocals (mostly clean power/heavy vocals with some growl vocals on the first and last song). The whole package just works so well together it's amazing. The overall style of the album could be described as atmospheric spacious futuristic progressive heavy metal.
Because I'm Finnish and english is only my second language I can't tell you exactly how damn great "UniVers" really is, but if you even remotely like metal, check out this album; it's pure eargasm, every second of it.
Thanks for this man, I checked out Voyager and they sound pretty good. I think I'm going to order uniVers off Amazon right now!
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ok Render explain to me how Here we go sublime is any good at all. I heard it, it is just this tediously repetitive bass loop going on and on without any innovation whatsoever. It is one of the most redundant records I heard, it is more redundant than an Explosions in the sky album.
most people here probably think the same thing, I don't think it's a style you guys would like
I don't know man, I've got terrible music vocab. it's really simple and tranquil, it's got like a comfort quality that feels like waves of serotonin just washing over your brain. I also think it's pretty cool how it's made, and how it manages to achieve this effect with pieces of sound
I dunno, I can't do much more with it than that. yeah it's not super energetic, and by the very way it's created it is repetative. I'd put it on my list because how successful I think it is in using a musical design drastically different than what we're used to, to create something I found really enjoyable
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i can't believe bort likes deerhunter
he just blew my mind
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i can't believe bort likes deerhunter
he just blew my mind
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/media.brainwashed.com/kranky/images/photos/deerhunter.jpeg)
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i can't believe bort likes deerhunter
he just blew my mind
im not even sure if you mean this in a good or a bad way because at first i didn't know what to think about their album but it's actually pretty good.
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im not even sure if you mean this in a good or a bad way because at first i didn't know what to think about their album but it's actually pretty good.
it rules
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5. David Crowder: Remedy
4. Page France: Family Telephone
3. As Cities Burn: Come Now Sleep
2. Doug Burr: On Promenade
1. Psalters: The Divine Liturgy of the Wretched Exiles
did you just look for the most obscure releases you could find this year? because I haven't heard of any of these and I've seen a fuckton of best of 2007 lists.
edit: hahahah they are all Christian bands no wonder.
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Haha yea, to be honest they are all pretty obscure for Christian bands as well (with the exception of David Crowder)
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my 2 favorite releases are:
(http://www.heineken.es/fotos/MIA1G.jpg)
M.I.A. - Kala
She's a babe, and has such a great sense of rhythm and fun. Ace stuff.
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/www.error500.net/images/articulos/in_rainbows-radiohead.jpeg)
Radiohead - In Rainbows
I am not a Radiohead fan, I just like em quite. Now, to me, In Rainbows is their best album yet.
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heh, and I thought no one at GW liked Deerhunter considering the 2 post response I got to the thread I posted about them a while ago...
you guys should listen to Bradford Cox's (the vox guy) solo album he released as Atlas Sound earlier last month. it is pretty awesome too!
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haha shep those are the two albums i was going to post. i would have said basically the same stuff, too.
man i love MIA.
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hehe
I just realized: UK won to me this year.
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(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/www.error500.net/images/articulos/in_rainbows-radiohead.jpeg)
Radiohead - In Rainbows
I am not a Radiohead fan, I just like em quite. Now, to me, In Rainbows is their best album yet.
ew
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I suck at writing descriptions and I really can't be bothered to fetch images of each album (you can just google search them it's not hard sorry) but some of my favorites were:
Joni Mitchell - Shine: Joni has become one of my favorite artists ever. She has been around for a long time, and has quite the discography. I think her voice is really unique, although I can see where a lot of people would think it's annoying. She switches pitches a lot and goes from high to low and things that might turn most people off. I thinks it's different and unique. This album is cool because the songs have lots of instruments. In the past, on lots of her albums/songs it's usually been only one or a couple instruments. Saxaphone is really prominent in this one and it's fits the songs well. I also like the lyrics of this album, some of the songs pertain to war and violence and they make me sad but the lyrics are good. She also re-did the song Big Yello Taxi and it has more instruments and it's slower. Can't say anything else cause I suck at these.
Loreena McKennitt - Night from the Alhambra: This is a live CD/DVD of her performance at the beautiful Alhambra in Spain. She plays songs from all of her cd's. She did the performance in 2006 but this came out in 2007. She plays really well as do all the other musicians. In my opinion, almost all the songs are better than the album versions. Her voice is amazing!
That's all I can think of for now. I suck I might come back and add in more later.
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Maserati - Inventions for the New Season
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a355/shawnr2k/Inventions_for_the_New_Season.jpg)
post-rockish kind of album without the gay and pretense. Synchronicity IV and Show me the Season are cool
Battles - Mirrored
(http://www.gamingw.net/pubaccess/56420/200px-Battlesmirrored.png)
saw these guys live in Seattle a while back and it was an amazing experience. the drummer is pretty TIGHT YO. been listening to them since their earlier ep's but after this album was released they're one of my favorites.
Hella - There's No 666 In Outer Space
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a355/shawnr2k/no666.jpg)
hella's first album as a five piece band, and imo not as great as their older material they are still pretty good. i have been jocking this album on here for a while, i think; mostly because i would turn gay for zach hill.
Marnie Stern - In Advance of the Broken Arm
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a355/shawnr2k/iaotba.jpg)
this album overall is pretty good and she is one of the better female guitarists i've heard. her singing isn't bad either. also i want to do her in the butt.
i can't think of a last one so WHATEVER
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Joni Mitchell - Shine: Joni has become one of my favorite artists ever. She has been around for a long time, and has quite the discography. I think her voice is really unique, although I can see where a lot of people would think it's annoying. She switches pitches a lot and goes from high to low and things that might turn most people off. I thinks it's different and unique. This album is cool because the songs have lots of instruments. In the past, on lots of her albums/songs it's usually been only one or a couple instruments. Saxaphone is really prominent in this one and it's fits the songs well. I also like the lyrics of this album, some of the songs pertain to war and violence and they make me sad but the lyrics are good. She also re-did the song Big Yello Taxi and it has more instruments and it's slower. Can't say anything else cause I suck at these.
IS THIS A FUCKING JOKE.
adfadfaffff.
this was an awful Joni album but even ignoring that, if nothing else, this was an album made for Starbucks.
it sounds like a thousand times more generic than that even leads you to believe.
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does anybody else just feel really bad for the dok?? like i don't even know if it's funny anymore. he's bad at everything
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IS THIS A FUCKING JOKE.
adfadfaffff.
this was an awful Joni album but even ignoring that, if nothing else, this was an album made for Starbucks.
it sounds like a thousand times more generic than that even leads you to believe.
That is your opinion if you think it is awful, but I quite like it. Also yeah the Starbucks thing is gay but whatever.
Why do you think it's awful?
Also how is liking a musician that someone else doesn't like make me bad?
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Needless to say that this year was a great year in music. Here's the albums that caught my attention this year.
5. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation
- Excellent album, with contemporary themes, vibrant tone, agressive riffs -- Worth buying.
(http://kungfurodeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/d_nation.jpg)
4. Leonard Cohen - I'm your man
- A nice comback, that's the least i can say, for that Mr. Cohen, who made a remarkable use of synths, and many other instruments.
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/www.leonardcohencroatia.com/album10.jpeg)
3. King's X - Out of the silent planet
- A promising debut album for that rising band -- King's X. Worth listening
(http://dan.friml.com/cds/Images/164.jpg)
2. Soundgarden - Ultramega OK
- Kind of obvious there.
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/images.amazon.com/images/P/B000000M4A.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpeg)
And finally, the crème of the crème, Blue Öyster Cult - Imaginos
- This album must be credited to Albert Bouchard, BÖC's drummer for several years, who thought of this concept -- A brillant rock opera using technology (modern synths, etc.), and a story that revolves around an agent of misfortune who uses power of dreams to unleash a plague of evil on the real world. A must-have.
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/41/3c/62e84310fca09afd03f04010._AA240_.L.jpeg)
Oh wait did you say 2007?
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[begin ][/begin]
1. Melee - Devils And Angels
Brilliant songwriting. Why this band isn't playing in front of sold out stadiums is beyond me. Fantastic live show.
2. Elliott Smith - New Moon
I don't know if this one even counts, but I think it's some of Smith's best stuff.
3. Bomb The Music Industry! - Get Warmer
Freaking amazing. This CD blew me away. Also, it's free so go download it.
4. Four Year Strong - Rise Or Die Trying
I've been listening to Pop-Punk and the genre's surrounding it for as long as I can remember, and I think it's something special if a band can make me THIS excited about the genre again after so many years. I love this CD. :D
5. Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
Wonderful CD. Not EITS best by any means, but still phenomenal.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Pietasters - All Day
Colbie Caillait - Coco
Steel Train - Trampoline
The Fall Of Troy - Manipulator
Thurston - Trees Outside The Academy
Sleeping People - Growing
and others...
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I don't have a top five, per say, but this CD was definitely overlooked...
(http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5315/ameriebciluvitsl8.jpg)
Amerie - Because I Love It
Of course, not being released in the states have something to do with that as well, but this woman is a really, really underrated artist. She wrote and co-produced every song on the album, and she sung her ass off on these songs. There aren't any "skip" songs, so be speak, though "All Roads" is clearly the weakest, and in my opinion, probably should've been left off.
Maybe this will get a US release? Who knows, but it's doubtful... Oh well, at least I have my copy. Maybe one day Amerie will finally get her big break.
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1. Hafez & Shahram Nazeri - Passion of Rumi
Brilliant fusion of East and West, featuring poems of Rumi as vocally interperated by Shahram Nazeri.
2. Ulver - Shadows of the Sun
This one took quite a while to grow on me, last time I made one of these lists it was pretty low on the list. I took a liking to it some time in January and ended up actually listening to it for about a week straight. I love the strings and the theremins and the chillout feel compared to Blood Inside, but not to take away from that release heheh.
3. The National - Boxer
Love the lyrics and the piano and... oh what hasnt been said about this album? It is so good.
4. Mark Knopfler - Kill to get Crimson
Didn't even know this one was a 2007 release until well into 2008. Knopfler is sliding closer and closer to being a country musician... but I love it all the more for some strange reason.
t5. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
This one also took a while to grow on me because at first I didn't like the return to lo-fi recording, but when actually listening to this album I realized that there are some awesomely funky songs on here and a really interesting use of percussion in most of the songs. Very nice.
t5. Porcupine Tree - Nil Recurring EP
Much better than the actual release this year, I don't understand why the material got cut... Theres just so much here and none of the crap that made Fear of a Blank Planet difficult to listen to straight through.
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1) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/Arcade_Fire_-_Neon_Bible.jpeg)
I'm surprised this hasn't been listed yet. I was really surprised- it managed to build on Funeral and was probably on a par with it. Plus, watching the outro to No Cars Go live is enough reason.
2) Radiohead - In Rainbows
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2e/In_Rainbows_Official_Cover.jpeg)
Whoever said this was boring earlier in the thread is a bit silly. Its not their best album; The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A are superior; but when one of those listed was one of the best albums ever, its a moot point.
3) Jamie T - Panic Prevention
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/Panic_prevention.jpeg)
I strongly advise you all give the track 'Sheila' a play on hypem or w/e. This guy is fantastic.
4) Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ed/Back_to_Black_cover.jpeg)
Can't argue with that voice. Pity she's such a crack whore now.
5) Battles - Mirrored
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ed/Battlesmirrored.png)
Crazy, but in a good way.
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yeah mirrored was one of those albums that was a serious wtf the first time I listened to it but I am digging it more now
also definitely up for best album cover of the year imo
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1. Primordial - To the Nameless Dead
(http://www.headbanger.hu/be/htdocs/updir/Primordial_NamelessDead_cover.jpg)
So emotional and powerful. And it sounds really great. Definitely the highlight of the year.
2. Reverend Bizarre - III: So Long Suckers
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/www.blackhearts-domain.com/images/pochettes/2805.jpeg)
Excellent doom with a lot of jazz influences. It's almost hypnotizing. Anywhere Out of This World is the best song of the year, hands down.
3. CMX - Talvikuningas
(http://www.fanfromhell.com.mx/portadas_blog/cmx_talvikuningas.jpg)
I guess this is a mix of heavy metal, prog and hardcore. It's an awesome concept album, their best album yet.
4. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
(https://legacy.gamingw.net/etc/bleat.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/foabp.jpeg)
This album certainly needs a specific mood for listening. It took a while to open up for me, but it really delivered! Anesthetize is fucking great.
5. Moonsorrow - Viides Luku: Hävitetty
(http://pixhost.eu/avaxhome/avaxhome/2007-05-16/Moonsorrow.jpg)
It features only three songs, of which two of them are very long. It's a great mix of black metal and traditional music. The lyrics fit the style perfectly.
... and some honorable mentions:
Dark Tranquility - Fiction
High on Fire - Death is this Communion
Neurosis - Given to the Rising
Nifelheim - Envoy of Lucifer
Nightingale - White Darkness
Nile - Ithyphallic
The Ocean - Precambrian
Symphony X - Paradise Lost
Ulver - Shadows of the Sun
Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters
At first I was going to list some disappointments too, but I realised there was only one: Scarsick. I can't believe they did this. Oh yes, and Systematic Chaos too.
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Yeah I probably could have mentioned Battles and Arcade fire as well.
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(http://star.walagata.com/w/uprc/FooFighters.jpg)
5. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
I know, I know. "Ew, mainstream music!" Go ahead GW, hold your crosses out and splash your holy water on me. I like the Foo Fighters and have since the first time I ever heard Times Like These. I think this album ESPG (faster than typing out the full name) is a pretty good compilation of songs, but something just feels... Missing. I thought that In Your Honor was an amazing album with several great songs.. But ESPG is just sort of "alright" I guess. It is nice to listen to, but no song reall stands out or speaks to me. The Pretender isn't really anything special either, I don't think.
(http://star.walagata.com/w/uprc/BonJovi.jpg)
4. Bon Jovi - Lost Highway
Ah, now it is time for... "UPRC listens to Bon Jovi! Crucify him!" Ah well, I can handle it. I'm a casual Bon Jovi fan.. Like, I enjoy maybe a few songs from specific albums. Lost Highway, though, was a really fun listen because the band tried a very different style which was country-influenced and I think it worked beautifully. Also I really like the song Any Other Day.
(http://star.walagata.com/w/uprc/ThirteenSenses.jpg)
3. Thirteen Senses - Contact
I loved these guys when DS showed them to me a few years ago. Well, he only sent me one song, I had to find the rest on my own. This was back when they only had one album out, The Invitation. It had some really interesting songs, but Into The Fire was by far the best on there. Then along comes this album.. The first two songs I heard were Contact and Spirals and I thought they were both pretty decent.. But I kind of feel like the rest of the album does not really live up to the standards they set for themselves with The Invitation. Oh well, it's still a good listen.
(http://star.walagata.com/w/uprc/CollectiveSoul.jpg)
2. Collective Soul - Afterwords
Collective Soul, my favourite group of all-time.. It's sad that they are getting slightly worse with each new album, but there are still some great highlights on this album. New Vibration is like a throwback to classic Collective Soul, and I can't get enough of that. It's a good album, because roughly half of it promotes the ever-changing sound and style of Collective Soul while the other half seems to focus on their old sound and style from the 90's. It's a fun album, but far from their best. That would be their self-titled album.
(http://star.walagata.com/w/uprc/Airbourne.jpg)
1. Airbourne - Runnin' Wild
I am LOVING these guys! I picked up the album off eBay late last summer after being tipped by a last.fm user to listen to them. Man, I do not regret it for even a second. Airbourne is just flat out hard rock. They were clearly influenced by groups such as AC/DC and Metallica, two groups I really loved in my teenage years. I never thought I'd say this, but I think these guys could de-throne Collective Soul as my favourite group of all-time.. I just need to wait another year and a half or two until they pump out their second album.
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I love how everyone is so paranoid and defensive of their music tastes!
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I love how everyone is so paranoid and defensive of their music tastes!
well this is a pretty unforgiving community in that regard sometimes lol
people get blasted over the stupidest shit
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that and Bon Jovi is music for retards.
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(http://star.walagata.com/w/uprc/FooFighters.jpg)
5. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
I know, I know. "Ew, mainstream music!" Go ahead GW, hold your crosses out and splash your holy water on me. I like the Foo Fighters and have since the first time I ever heard Times Like These. I think this album ESPG (faster than typing out the full name) is a pretty good compilation of songs, but something just feels... Missing. I thought that In Your Honor was an amazing album with several great songs.. But ESPG is just sort of "alright" I guess. It is nice to listen to, but no song reall stands out or speaks to me. The Pretender isn't really anything special either, I don't think.
Nothing wrong here, this is a pretty good album, even if it might not be as good as some of their older stuff. I went to see the Foos at the NEC earlier in the year, and they do put on a good show!
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I thought Lupe Fiasco's "The Cool" was the greatest album of the year until I heard Talib Kweli's "Eardrum." Pure lyrical/flow bliss.
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ew uprc mainstream music ewww
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ew uprc mainstream music ewww
I know, I know. I need to listen to more Bloody Raiden & The Stormriders, Deathcry, and Buttfuckers, but alas... I cannot find the time...
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I'm pulling your leg, I dont care whether it is mainstream or not, and nobody should.
regardless I dont like foo fighters haha
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agree'd dj soup
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I'm pulling your leg, I dont care whether it is mainstream or not, and nobody should.
regardless I dont like foo fighters haha
Yeah, I know. I wasn't being serious in my reply. I was making fun of the obscure band names I see popping up in #music sometimes.
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Yeah, I know. I wasn't being serious in my reply. I was making fun of the obscure band names I see popping up in #music sometimes.
it's SO FUNNY that bands are obscure, hehe
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I spent almost all of 2007 buying old albums by classic rock bands and old musicals so I really sort of missed out on the entire year's worth of music. So I guess I'll give a top three of the 2007 albums I still listen to:
1. Radiohead: In Rainbows
I guess it's fashionable for music geeks to not like Radiohead but in my opinion they're the best and most important rock band in the world. A program on NPR that reviews new album releases actually referred to them as "an obscure art-rock band" which was actually pretty hillarious.
2. Rufus Wainwright: Release the Stars
Every Wainwright album gets progressively less pop-oriented and therefore more blasted by critics. I think this was his lowest-rated album yet. Personally, it's my favorite of his discography so far. It's far more intimate and impressionistic than his other albums and I absolutely can't get enough of it.
3. Flaming Lips: At War With the Mystics
I can't believe nobody here likes the Flaming Lips? I am not particularly fond of them but this album was a huge surprise. Usually the Lips have neat ideas buried under too-dense production and songwriting that is not actually very good. Their most recent release was a little more neat in its sound and the songwriting was much tighter, but their trademark personality was intact.
Otherwise while I could extol the virtues of Billy Joel and Andrew Lloyd Weber and The Hollys and all the other old crap I got last year I'm pretty sure that none of them released anything in 2007 so
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3. Flaming Lips: At War With the Mystics
I can't believe nobody here likes the Flaming Lips? I am not particularly fond of them but this album was a huge surprise. Usually the Lips have neat ideas buried under too-dense production and songwriting that is not actually very good. Their most recent release was a little more neat in its sound and the songwriting was much tighter, but their trademark personality was intact.
2006
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In no particular order
August Burns Red - Messengers
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b354/unusualgamer/messengers.jpg)
Circa Survive - On Letting Go
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b354/unusualgamer/onlettinggo.jpg)
Dance Gavin Dance - Downtown Battle Mountain
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b354/unusualgamer/RR046-CD.jpg)
Every Time I Die - The Big Dirty
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b354/unusualgamer/TheBigDirtyjpg.jpg)
Memphis May Fire - Memphis May Fire
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b354/unusualgamer/TK0107-900.jpg)
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2006
Oh weird I saw them in concert like in November 07 or something and they were promoting this album so I thought it was new.
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Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Battles - Mirrored
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
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2. Rufus Wainwright: Release the Stars
Every Wainwright album gets progressively less pop-oriented and therefore more blasted by critics. I think this was his lowest-rated album yet. Personally, it's my favorite of his discography so far. It's far more intimate and impressionistic than his other albums and I absolutely can't get enough of it.
Wainwright released a new one this year? I thought there was just that Judy Garland camp-fest this year?
Edit: OK, it got to #2 in the UK. How on earth did I miss this. :fogetmmh:
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Wainwright released a new one this year? I thought there was just that Judy Garland camp-fest this year?
Edit: OK, it got to #2 in the UK. How on earth did I miss this. :fogetmmh:
It's okay I missed it too and bought it several months after release. Maybe he doesn't promote very much in the US?
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I didn't see anything in the UK so he probably doesn't promote at all.