The best albums of 2007

As promised, here is the first Everything is Pop posting from Nelse. This is a fantastic addition to the blog. I look forward to seeing what comes next! Welcome to RandomTope!

I never did get around to creating my own music blog this year, like I had hoped, but here is my first stab at the topic.

For the most part the end of the year was rounded out with some really weak albums. However, there were some highlights that are worth mentioning from the past year.

My picks for the top 10 albums of 2007:

Amy Winehouse “Back to Black"

Disregard all the drama, the Britney comparisons, the scars, the boyfriend, the crap performances, the drunken photos and take a good listen to this album again. This is absolutely my number one album for the year. The music soars and I am mesmerized by Amy’s voice. Here’s to hoping she can sort herself out and deliver another knock-out album like this one!

Mika "Life in Cartoon Motion"

Is he straight, is he gay? All I say is, “Who cares?” As long as the music gets this good, does it really matter? Mika exploded onto the overseas pop charts with the songs like Love Today, Grace Kelly, Big Girls and Happy Ending. Unfortunately, he didn’t really hit over here in the U.S. I had a feeling most of us wouldn’t get it. If you aren’t afraid to hear a great pop album with a guy that sings in a falsetto voice through half the album then you might actually love it. A little bit of Freddie Mercury and more bubble-gum pop.

Lily Allen “Alright, Still”

Lily delivers some sharp lyrics and a sarcasm that caught me completely off-guard. I would hate to get in tangle with her on the street. Along with Amy Winehouse, this was another Mark Ronson produced gem that kept me rocking in 2007. Not to mention Lily has a powerhouse singing voice that is perfect on record or live.

Roisin Murphy “Overpowered”

This album will make you want to move with its massive bass lines. She's a lesser-known artist here in the US, but you may remember her previous efforts with a group called Moloko. Anyone remember the tracks “Sing it Back”, “The Time is Now” or “Fun for Me?" Well, Roisin has managed, at least in my opinion, to overpower those tracks with her second solo album. For this record she goes back to her dance-pop roots to deliver an album that has been on heavy rotation on my iPod.

Just Jack “Overtones”

Every song on Jack’s second album is as listenable as his first album “The Outer Marker”. In the same vein as Lily Allen, Just Jack delivers some very cool grooves and clever lyrics. The song “Starz in Their Eyes” sounds like an ode to Britney. Also, be sure to check out the track “I Talk Too Much,” with guest vocals from Kylie.

Mark Ronson “Version”

After enjoying two of my favorite albums from this producer, Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, I certainly had to check out his latest offering. Not really a solo album, but a full-on collaboration with some great artists and soulful beats. Mark knows how to let the artists shine. The lead single, "Stop Me," from Daniel Merriwether turns a classic Smiths songs into a funky summer groove. Don’t miss out on the “Toxic” remake or Lily’s cover of the Kaiser Chiefs' “Oh My God”.

The Killers “Sawdust”

Although not completely a new album it does pack in some amazing unreleased tracks and b-sides. For good measure they added two new tracks, a cover of Joy Division’s “Shadowplay” and a Lou Reed collaboration, “Tranquilize”. The one gem tacked-on to the end is Stuart Price's reworked version of “Mr. Brightside”. This remix is probably one of my favorite remixes of all time.

Annie Lennox “Songs of Mass Destruction”

The Diva is back with some songs that certainly rival her debut album. Every track is sung with the raw power and emotion you would come to expect from Annie Lennox. The good news is that the album is not as somber as her last record, "Bare," and has kept me captive since its release. I think “Dark Road” was the wrong choice for the lead single here in the U.S. as there are so many other energetic tracks on the disc.

Foo Fighters “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace"

Dave Grohl and team have no problem delivering consistently strong albums and this was no exception. I didn’t know much about the band, but I found myself re-discovering their back catalogue when this album came out. Some great rock tracks are on here that should be blasted from the car stereo after a rough day at the office. Oh, and the videos are as memorable as ever! Be sure to check out the campy “Long Road to Ruin” clip.

Kylie Minogue "X"

Unfortunately, this one will not see a U.S. release until 2008. If you are willing to drop a few extra bucks for the import version you won’t be disappointed or better yet, just download it online. I am already in love! This was a last minute must-add to my best of 2007. Welcome back Kylie… we’ve missed you!

Be sure to check out these other 2007 contenders:

Common "Finding Forever"
Seal "System"
The White Stripes "Icky Thump"
Alicia Keyes "As I Am"
Belanova "Fantasia Pop"
Metro Station "Metro Station"

You're not integral to the project. You're the pretender.

Here's two completely divergent musical directions for you to peruse today:

1) Foo Fighters, "The Pretender"

It's been a few weeks, and I'm still pretty stoked about the Foo Fighters new single The Pretender. It's a perfect blast-yourself-awake-in-the-morning-driving-to-work song. Turn the volume up and give it a whirl:



Now that you've been rocked out, let's shift gears.

2) Pet Shop Boys, "Integral (Perfect Immaculate mix)"

As part the Pet Shop Boys upcoming Disco 4 collection, they've gone and remixed a great song from their last album and given it a fresh new video. Watch closely. There's more to it than meets the eye:


(UPDATED: The original link I posted was a more basic version. You can still find it HERE. If that link doesn't work, check out the Popjustice link below.)

For the surprising subliminal explanation of what you just saw head over to PopJustice. It's a brilliant concept that cleverly plays into song's message. This is what we call cutting edge interactive technology.

Of course, my iphone doesn't quite have the bells and whistles to play along. Considering what I recently ruminated HERE, not being so integral may be better anyways.

The song, however, sounds and looks fantastic.

"I wanna challenge MTV right now to play more videos!"

The bottom line from tonight's Video Music Awards: I'm clearly too old for MTV, but I'm never too old for great music.

Luckily, amidst the endless brain-sucking reality show promos and the too-hip-to-be-cool revamped format, MTV surprised by rocking Las Vegas (with a small teensy exception).

The real news: Rihanna is now a superstar.

Tonight she graduated from the ranks of the wannabes and proved she's got the goods. Just one step in front of the cameras with a microphone and she was electric. The entire place was wrapped around her finger. Then for dessert she showed off a more playful side, jamming at ease with Fall Out Boy of all people. The woman has pipes and is in control. I love it!

Speaking of the emo wonders, the Fall Out Boy suite looked like the best party of the night by far. I'm perpetually amazed how Pete Wentz and company have won me over to their side. Their early fame pretty much brushed right by me, leaving me to really discover them with the new album, which is generally fantastic. I may be a few decades old for this party, but I'm officially a fan now. Let's just hope they keep it together for the long haul. Props to Gym Class Heroes too for breaking through, I've had some neat stuff of theirs on my iPod for a while now.

The best part tonight was that when people showed up with a real microphone, they really brought it. Nelly Furtado belted it out when she needed to, proving once again that she's earned her way back to the top. Alicia Keys was mesmerizingly playful channelling a George Michael classic and making it all her own. Linkin Park seriously rocked the nightclub. Dave Grohl and his Foo Fighters tore through their amazing new single. Even Kanye West gave me a reason to tap my foot, almost making me forget he was destroying Daft Punk.

The night also gave some well-deserved props to a pair of puppet-masters behind much of the music that MTV is quietly still playing in the late hours of the night. Timbaland ruled the night running from his suite party, to the club he controlled with Linkin Park to his rousing closing medley with Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado. Mark Ronson continued to wow me as the evening's fearless house band leader. He had the goods backing up Alicia Keys, letting Maroon 5's Adam Levine shine and sneaking in all sorts of great stuff from the past year in music. Both Timbaland and Ronson brought their distinct visions for pop music to the table tonight.

There were two performers who notably went the lip sync route tonight.

One of them more than made up for it and literally soared. Chris Brown earned his Michael Jackson moves leap by leap, from table to table. It was pure tour-de-force show-stopping entertainment.

The other, Britney Spears, turned it into a trainwreck of a comeback. As someone I hold near and dear put it best:

"She might as well have come out with a cigarette and beer in her hand," said a wise man I know.

For the most part, though, MTV shook things up a bit and brought the music back, if only for a night. Choreographed spectacle gave way in Vegas tonight. allowing great perfomances to soar on thier own.

It's a shame the commercial breaks made it clear that this was only a one night stand, despite Justin Timberlake's earlier challenge otherwise.