KingFork's Top 40 Records of 2007
Please give any additions or comments if you feel as strongly about music as I do.
Justice – t
= The perfect lesson for white kids who are scared they don’t know how to dance. “Do the D-A-N-C-E / Stick to the B-E-AT”. Not giving a fuck helps too. This is a sonic journey between analog and digital, space and time, evolution and religion, - close your eyes and put the headphones on alone or crank the hell out of in a huge party. It works wonders in both.
Radiohead – In Rainbows
= Radiohead use cold technology to deliver real human expression. Easter egg guitar parts and Thom Yorke’s intriguing lyrics bear repeating.
The White Stripes – Icky Thump
= American minimal roots rock at it’s finest. My favorite White Stripes record since White Blood Cells.
The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
= “Sleeping Lessons” is one of my favorite songs of the year. “You're not obliged to swallow anything you despise,/See, those unrepenting buzzards want your life”
Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
= Dulcet toned beauty. Some critics whined about this not being yankee hotel and ghost is born. I bet they know and love every note of this record when they are at a Wilco show.
Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
= Difficult not to sing/shout out loud while listening. The Arcade Fire maintain their delicious new band smell.
Kanye West – Graduation
= Much better as a whole than 50 Cent’s “Curtis”. Kanye is the master at creating vocal samples that carry through his choruses without sounding jumbled or incoherent.
Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
= Something about the lead singer’s voice draws me in to these songs. I can’t pause this record because I feel like I’m interrupting his story. Well crafted, expertly produced, interestingly arranged – I listen to this record quite a bit.
Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha
= Being from Chicago – I am an old school Andrew Bird fan. May he take over the world’s symphony halls by force! Andrew Bird’s technique of playing is as unique as his arrangements.
Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
= Isaac Brock delivers his frightening vocals the way we all have come to love. Is that really Johnny Marr playing the guitar? Sounds like a natural progression for Modest Mouse.
Jay-Z – American Gangster
= Jay-Z is such an amazing story teller. I love that he saw the movie of the same name and it inspired him to crank this out in less than 10 days. A Jay-Z record without the “Big Pimpin” is quite refreshing. Not there’s anything wrong with “Big Pimpin”
Robert Plant & Allison Krauss – Raising Sand
= The chemistry between these two artists on this record is chilling. Anyone who admired the folk/blues vein in Led Zeppling needs to own this record.
Spoon – GaGaGaGaGa
= Spoon has yet to make a disappointing album. This one equals the greatness of all their past work. Love the horn section and Brit Daniel’s voice a great deal.
Muse – Black Holes and Revelations
= I looked for the tiredness and predictability after some critics crapped on this record. Sorry, this record rocks! Picture Muse fighting My Chemical Romance over who will be the Queen of the 00’s and winning.
Company of Thieves – Ordinary Riches
= Female lead singer….steals my heart. That line was awful. I have fallen in love with this band and everyone who hasn’t heard of them would do well to give it a listen. Her voice is sweet, cute, demanding, powerful, and naturally beautiful in every song. The bands chemistry is really special. See this band live for cheap while you still can.
Hot Chip – DJ Kicks
= British nerds remixing soul stimulated ear candy. Let the dancing begin.
Burial – Untrue
= An eerie but interesting take on dubstep/triphop.
El-P – I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead
= One of the most driven voices in a vein of rap that can only be pulled off by a handful of people.
Battles – Mirrored
= An unknown ether of channel inputs. Technology beautifully infecting the analog.
The Tough Alliance – A New Chance
= An uplifting techno meditation.
Calvin Harris – I Created Disco
= Well, it does sound like he created an updated cool version of disco. This is another must dance to record.
Bright Eyes – Cassadaga
= The interesting yet sometimes unlistenable Bright Eyes moves towards folkish Americana with
surprising awesomeness.
Dan Deacon – Superman of the Rings
= This is the only record that I have not heard from start to finish. However, I’ve seen him live enough to put this on here. This is my only recommendation made solely from seeing the concert.
The Polyphonic Spree – The Fragile Army
= Possibly the most accurately named band in history. A truly great rock orchestra record.
Fiery Furnaces – Widow City
= Blueberry Boat –esque output from the band of a thousand multiple melody disorders.
Panda Bear – Person Pitch
= Anyone who samples audio from Akira and can back it with a great vocal deserves a pat on the back.
Patton Oswalt – Werewolves and Lollipops
= This is a record worth studying for aspiring comedians. For me it just stays funny even after many listens.
Flight of the Conchords – The Distant Future
= See Patton Oswalt. (above)
Get Him, Eat Him – Arms Down
= Medicine for a mundane day. Great horn parts and upbeat swaying melodies.
Gogol Bordello – Super Tantra!
= More drunk gypsy punk rock to get crazy with.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Is Is EP / Cake – B-Sides and Rarities
= I have a penchant for getting into these leftovers records more than they are intended.
Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Decay Sustain Release
= Either this year has been an especially strong year for electronic music or my taste for dancing cannot be satiated. This album along with…
Matthew Dear – Asa Bread
=…..are great for parties with the white & nerdy. They are something techno/electronic – you feel something is awkward yet you dance anyways.
The Hives – The Black and White Album
= Just fucking awesome. Short style – get in – rock faces – leaves them wanting more.
Manchester Orchestra – I’m Like A Virgin Loosing a Child
= Best drum parts by a rock band in 07 by far. At times this record sounds like Stewart Copeland playing behind (or in front of) At The Drive In.
Inspector Owl – Life Finds Away EP
Minus the Bear – Planet of Ice
Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover
M.I.A. - Kala
Justice – t
= The perfect lesson for white kids who are scared they don’t know how to dance. “Do the D-A-N-C-E / Stick to the B-E-AT”. Not giving a fuck helps too. This is a sonic journey between analog and digital, space and time, evolution and religion, - close your eyes and put the headphones on alone or crank the hell out of in a huge party. It works wonders in both.
Radiohead – In Rainbows
= Radiohead use cold technology to deliver real human expression. Easter egg guitar parts and Thom Yorke’s intriguing lyrics bear repeating.
The White Stripes – Icky Thump
= American minimal roots rock at it’s finest. My favorite White Stripes record since White Blood Cells.
The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
= “Sleeping Lessons” is one of my favorite songs of the year. “You're not obliged to swallow anything you despise,/See, those unrepenting buzzards want your life”
Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
= Dulcet toned beauty. Some critics whined about this not being yankee hotel and ghost is born. I bet they know and love every note of this record when they are at a Wilco show.
Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
= Difficult not to sing/shout out loud while listening. The Arcade Fire maintain their delicious new band smell.
Kanye West – Graduation
= Much better as a whole than 50 Cent’s “Curtis”. Kanye is the master at creating vocal samples that carry through his choruses without sounding jumbled or incoherent.
Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
= Something about the lead singer’s voice draws me in to these songs. I can’t pause this record because I feel like I’m interrupting his story. Well crafted, expertly produced, interestingly arranged – I listen to this record quite a bit.
Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha
= Being from Chicago – I am an old school Andrew Bird fan. May he take over the world’s symphony halls by force! Andrew Bird’s technique of playing is as unique as his arrangements.
Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
= Isaac Brock delivers his frightening vocals the way we all have come to love. Is that really Johnny Marr playing the guitar? Sounds like a natural progression for Modest Mouse.
Jay-Z – American Gangster
= Jay-Z is such an amazing story teller. I love that he saw the movie of the same name and it inspired him to crank this out in less than 10 days. A Jay-Z record without the “Big Pimpin” is quite refreshing. Not there’s anything wrong with “Big Pimpin”
Robert Plant & Allison Krauss – Raising Sand
= The chemistry between these two artists on this record is chilling. Anyone who admired the folk/blues vein in Led Zeppling needs to own this record.
Spoon – GaGaGaGaGa
= Spoon has yet to make a disappointing album. This one equals the greatness of all their past work. Love the horn section and Brit Daniel’s voice a great deal.
Muse – Black Holes and Revelations
= I looked for the tiredness and predictability after some critics crapped on this record. Sorry, this record rocks! Picture Muse fighting My Chemical Romance over who will be the Queen of the 00’s and winning.
Company of Thieves – Ordinary Riches
= Female lead singer….steals my heart. That line was awful. I have fallen in love with this band and everyone who hasn’t heard of them would do well to give it a listen. Her voice is sweet, cute, demanding, powerful, and naturally beautiful in every song. The bands chemistry is really special. See this band live for cheap while you still can.
Hot Chip – DJ Kicks
= British nerds remixing soul stimulated ear candy. Let the dancing begin.
Burial – Untrue
= An eerie but interesting take on dubstep/triphop.
El-P – I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead
= One of the most driven voices in a vein of rap that can only be pulled off by a handful of people.
Battles – Mirrored
= An unknown ether of channel inputs. Technology beautifully infecting the analog.
The Tough Alliance – A New Chance
= An uplifting techno meditation.
Calvin Harris – I Created Disco
= Well, it does sound like he created an updated cool version of disco. This is another must dance to record.
Bright Eyes – Cassadaga
= The interesting yet sometimes unlistenable Bright Eyes moves towards folkish Americana with
surprising awesomeness.
Dan Deacon – Superman of the Rings
= This is the only record that I have not heard from start to finish. However, I’ve seen him live enough to put this on here. This is my only recommendation made solely from seeing the concert.
The Polyphonic Spree – The Fragile Army
= Possibly the most accurately named band in history. A truly great rock orchestra record.
Fiery Furnaces – Widow City
= Blueberry Boat –esque output from the band of a thousand multiple melody disorders.
Panda Bear – Person Pitch
= Anyone who samples audio from Akira and can back it with a great vocal deserves a pat on the back.
Patton Oswalt – Werewolves and Lollipops
= This is a record worth studying for aspiring comedians. For me it just stays funny even after many listens.
Flight of the Conchords – The Distant Future
= See Patton Oswalt. (above)
Get Him, Eat Him – Arms Down
= Medicine for a mundane day. Great horn parts and upbeat swaying melodies.
Gogol Bordello – Super Tantra!
= More drunk gypsy punk rock to get crazy with.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Is Is EP / Cake – B-Sides and Rarities
= I have a penchant for getting into these leftovers records more than they are intended.
Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Decay Sustain Release
= Either this year has been an especially strong year for electronic music or my taste for dancing cannot be satiated. This album along with…
Matthew Dear – Asa Bread
=…..are great for parties with the white & nerdy. They are something techno/electronic – you feel something is awkward yet you dance anyways.
The Hives – The Black and White Album
= Just fucking awesome. Short style – get in – rock faces – leaves them wanting more.
Manchester Orchestra – I’m Like A Virgin Loosing a Child
= Best drum parts by a rock band in 07 by far. At times this record sounds like Stewart Copeland playing behind (or in front of) At The Drive In.
Inspector Owl – Life Finds Away EP
Minus the Bear – Planet of Ice
Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Sunset Rubdown – Random Spirit Lover
M.I.A. - Kala
