Scott Freeman

Top 10 Tuesday: Best Albums of 2007 (So Far)

Since we have passed the midway mark of this year I thought it an apropos time to look back at the best the music world has had to offer through June.
Understand that this list is not static and is likely to change considerably as the year progresses. At this point last year, The Dixie Chicks held my spot for best album. By the end of the year they had fallen to number 9.

Because I’m a YouTube junkie, I’ll give you pertinent videos as well.

10. The Twilight Sad–Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters: These Scottish rockers create an aural masterpiece that harkens back to the Wall of Sound era. These songs are in no way upbeat but they possess a beauty that is able to contain but somber and melancholy lyrics alongside a near symphonic sound. The Scottish brogue may be off-putting for some but, to me, it stands up well as a bridge between the downcast and the upbeat.
Here is a link to an MP3 of the opening track Cold Days From The Birdhouse.

9. Storyhill–Storyhill: This singer-songwriter duo from Montana are all about majestic harmonies and simple tunes. They have the bearing, lyricism and soaring melodies that hints of a modern day Simon and Garfunkel. This is a song they wrote for one of their weddings. It’s called “Highlight” and is my favorite cut on the album:

8. Susan Werner–The Gospel Truth: Werner calls this an “agnostic gospel” album. But what you will find is an album of great faith. This is one of a small influx of more progressive Christian recordings a la Derek Webb that is slowly coming into its own. From the hilarious “Our Father” to the foot-stomping inclusion anthem that is “I Will Have My Portion” Werner continues to demonstrate that she is a tremendous lyricist and a voice that needs to be heard. Here is “I Will Have My Portion”

7. Sinead O’Connor–Theology: If you had told me that I would ever include an O’Connor album in my “best of” anything, I would have laughed at you. But this two-disc set is a revelation and further evidence of the gathering storm of an alternative to CCM. Broken into two different sessions, The Dublin recordings are stark and introspective. The London recordings are largely the same tunes with a full band backing. The difference is between prayer and celebration. Meditation and praise. And her voice beautifully centers the entire project. Here is Something Beautiful:

6. Bright Eyes–Cassadega: Yeah, Conor Oberst is cocky and smug. But he makes a great album. It opts for more cryptic and less heavy-handed political ruminations than some of their previous outings. And that makes for a more enjoyable, diverse collection of tunes. Here is the great “Four Winds”

5. Patty Griffin–Children Running Through: If you have never heard Patty Griffin then you are missing out on one of the great unsung voices in music today. She is an accomplished lyricist, tremendous guitarist. And that voice! Oh, that voice. She can shift from one musical genre to another without breaking a sweat. And this may be her best album yet. Interesting tidbit: when Kelly Clarkson performed on the Idol Gives Back show she chose the Martin Luther King tribute “Up The Mountain” from this album. Here is “No Bad News”

4. Brandi Carlile–The Story: The problem here is how to adequately describe the power and dramatic flair that comes through in Carlile’s vocal. It would be a grave disservice to merely dismiss her as another angst-y female vocalist. She has a range that can transform a song from a maudlin ballad to a roots rocker in one beat. You may remember this song if you watch Grey’s Anatomy. “The Story”

3. Mavis Staples–We’ll Never Turn Back: I’ve had a difficult time not listening to this disc over the last two weeks. Take the greatest songs from the Civil Rights Era, sung by one of the greatest living voices of the Blues and update it for a contemporary audience with the guitar licks of a living legend and you get this collection. Check out this scorching version of “99 & 1/2.” “My God is a freedom God”

2. The Avett Brothers–Emotionalism: If the Beatles did bluegrass it might sound like this. Any other year and this would be my #1 album. Stellar harmonies, clever lyrics, multiple styles converging to produce a pop confection are reasons enough to put this at the top of any list. Here is my favorite track, “Shame”

1. Michael McDermott–Noise From Words: At this point I don’t know what more I can say. It’s not hyperbole to say that this is greatest songwriter of my generation. And this is his best outing since his 1996 self-titled album. It is a crime of the highest order that he is not a house hold name. No song-writer has ever touched me lyrically like Michael has. If you buy any album this year, get this one. Here is the debut video, “Mess of Things”

Honorable Mentions
Todd Snider–Peace, Love and Anarchy
Mary Chapin Carpenter–The Calling
Bon Jovi–Lost Highway
Kelly Clarkson–My December (Note: I love Kelly Clarkson and I really want to love this album. So far, I just can’t.)
Maria McKee–Late December
Lucy Kaplansky–Over The Hills
Of Montreal–Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Son Volt–The Search?

What has been your favorite of the year?