Scott Freeman

The 20 Best Albums of 2007, Part 2

Here are my top 10:

10. Sara Groves–Tell Me What You Know
The only album on my list marketed to an exclusively Christian market, Groves returns with another fantastic piece. In many ways she is the female Derek Webb with an equal concern for social justice and godly change in this world. She manages to do it without the heavy hand of Webb which often translates to a disc more given to repeat listening.
Download This: I Saw What I Saw
Note: The video on this song is inspired by her trip to Rwanda

9. The Avett Brothers–Emotionalism
This album was my number 2 at the halfway point of the year. Since then some greater works have come out and I have been able to place my finger on my greatest critique of this work: the parts are better than the whole. Although the first five songs make one of the best album openings you can find the remainder operates best as stand-alone tunes. Still it’s the closest you can get to a meld of the Beatles and bluegrass.
Download This: Shame

8. Emerson Hart–Cigarettes and Gasoline
This is about as good a debut album as you can find. As a matter of fact it would be much higher on my list if he wasn’t up against so many stalwart outings. He strikes me as a better, more lyrically proficient Rob Thomas. This is probably the most polished and pop outings on my list.
Download This: If You’re Gonna Leave

7. Matt Nathanson–Some Mad Hope
This album took more percolation time with me than his previous works. But when it finally clicked it found its way into a repeat rotation. Nathanson has now moved on to major label work and it shows in the production values of this album. He has abandoned his more acoustic leanings for more of a “band feel.” And it works.
Download This: Heartbreak World

This is a video for “Car Crash”

6. Melissa Etheridge–The Awakening
Melissa Etheridge’s The Awakening is a companion to Bruce Springsteen’s earlier “The Rising.” Far and away the best outing of her career. Every track crackles with emotion, rage and pathos. Say whatever you will about her she is churning out some stellar work. Nothing more evident of that then the closing track, “What Happens Tomorrow”, a call to people with a social conscience to stand up and bring forth change in this world.
Download This: What Happens Tomorrow and Kingdom of Heaven

5. Josh Ritter–The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Ritter’s album “The Animal Years” was my number one album of 2006. He turned around this year and released another stunning work. A great disservice would be given to this album to be overly compared to his previous disk. This is a different work and, although not as transcendent, is worth listening to in its own right. If Animal Years was one of the best releases of this decade then Conquests simply serves to cement Ritter’s place as one of the best songwriters of this generation.
Download This: The Temptation of Adam

4. Griffin House–Flying Upside Down
The discovery of Griffin House is proof positive that eMusic is the best place to go today for new music. Stumbling across this album a couple of months ago prompted me to go and download everything he has released to date thus far. He is a tremendous song-writer tackling subjects as weighty as war, faith and love. This album has the best anti-war song of the year hands down in “I Remember.”
Download This: I Remember (It’s Happening Again) Seriously, download this song, now.

This video is “The Guy That Says Goodbye To You Is Out Of His Mind.”

3. Bruce Springsteen–Magic
My love of all things Springsteen is well documented. And this is his best album since “Born in The U.S.A.” This is vintage Springsteen hitting on all cylinders. The multi-layered lyrics, the tightness of the E-Street band, and the trademark vocal that is at turns defiant and mournful. At the age of 58, The Boss proves that he is still relevant by refusing to go quietly. This album reflects maturity mixed with the youthful drive that made “Born to Run” an anthem for a generation.
Download This: Long Walk Home

2. Mavis Staples–We’ll Never Turn Back
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. Every track crackles with intensity and reverberates with the spirit of a people who would not be moved. This is an album that commemorates the heart of an era and prompts us all to consider once again the weight of our own prejudices and stereotypes. This is not simply an album to own but one to study.
Download This: I’ll Be Rested

Here is “Eyes On The Prize”

1. Michael McDermott–Noise From Words
Was there any doubt that this would be my number one? It is still the one disk released this year that I get excited about firing up on my iPod. Every song is teeming with heart and lyrical beauty. 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.
Download This: The whole thing, but if you choose just one then download the best song of the year and the most moving “I Shall Be Healed.”

This is “Mess of Things”

So, what are your best albums of the year? Thoughts on these?

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Now playing: Mavis Staples - Jesus Is On The Main Line
via FoxyTunes