Stacy's Top 10 for 2007

Ah, the end of the year. A time for reflection on the changes in your life, on the friends come and gone, on the highs and the lows of this ride we call life. And on the CDs, of course.

The vast majority of my music purchases in 2007 were new projects from old favorites -- Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Kim Richey, Lucinda Williams and Son Volt among them. But there's always room for new (even if new only to me) flavors, and a few of those elbowed out some of my old favorites for room on my top 10 list. It was a vicious battle, but all for the greater good, and hopefully the new and the old will learn to live in peace on my CD shelves -- especially the heavy rotation part of that shelf.

So I give you, for what it's worth, my 10 favorite CDs from 2007. Please note: Aside from my No. 1, which was solidly in that spot almost since its release, the ranks here are almost meaningless. Is No. 3 better than No. 9? Depends on my mood, and the day, and what's on special at the Irish pub down the street. So the ranks ain't nothin' but a number, really. Except for number one. Which is the best number.

THE LIST

10. Baby 81 -- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
I can long for the folky-gothic awesomeness of "Howl" all I want -- they're clearly not going back there. But the direction they are going in is solid rock, solid good. And that I can get behind.
Standout songs: Weapon of Choice, Window

9. Saltbreakers -- Laura Veirs
Quirky, otherworldly and completely listenable on a level deep or shallow.
Standout songs: Don't Lose Yourself, Nightingale

8. Drastic Fantastic -- KT Tunstall
I was fully braced for a sophomore slump ... and I needn't have worried. Every bit as pleasant as "Eye to the Telescope," but moving forward.
Standout song: Little Favours

7. Emotionalism -- The Avett Brothers
Those wonderful Avetts doing their thang. An out-of-the-blue e-mail from a friend proclaiming that album opener "Die Die Die" is "a pretty strong contender for the finest pop song ever" is completely correct. The widespread complaint about the band indulging their weird thing for incorporating answering machine messages into otherwise excellent songs is also right on. Friggin' stop it! But keep doing everything else like you have been, please.
Standout song: Die Die Die

6. The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter -- Josh Ritter
Just when you think you have Ritter's sound pinned down, he pulls out a surprise or two. Much of this album has a far-off 1970s AM radio feel, a new twist on his classic sound. Whatever that is.
Standout songs: To the Dogs or Whoever, Rumors

5. The Search -- Son Volt
Horns!
Standout songs: The Picture, Circadian Rhythm, Beacon Soul

4. The Story -- Brandi Carlile
The title track got some radio play and some exposure on the Internets, but it turns out it was just a gateway drug. The album is fantastic start to finish, with a rock-folk vibe carried by a voice that doesn't sound like anyone else's. Brandi Carlile can alternate between sweet and shriek like nobody's business.
Standout songs: The Story, Late Morning Lullaby, Cannonball

3. The Reminder -- Feist
Dude, I was into Feist way before Apple made her cool. :) At first I worried I'd get sick of "1234" as it took full-time residence on my TV, between iPod ads and video channels, but it hasn't happened yet! And the album is full of just as good, if not better, songs that aren't as ubiquitous. Buy it for "1234," love it for the rest!
Standout songs: 1234, My Moon My Man

2. Under the Blacklight -- Rilo Kiley
I'm not good at concept albums. More often than I care to admit, I don't realize it's a concept until I some reviewer explicitly tells me. If I do figure it out, I often find myself asking "why?" But "Under the Blacklight" executes its concept (a realistic view of life in the sex trade)perfectly, and has a fun time doing it. The vibe is insanely (in a good way) pop-y, and the story makes the rare achievement of being engaging, not forced.
Standout songs: Silver Lining, Breakin' Up, The Moneymaker

1. Sky Blue Sky -- Wilco
It took me a long time to warm up to Wilco, and even since my "awakening" it's always taken me some time and considerable effort to learn to love their albums. But immediately upon listening to "Sky Blue Sky," I went all googly-eyed and knock-kneed, falling for it immediately. Every single song is incredibly catchy, even with lyrics and arrangements that are anything but fluff. The album is complex, moving from light to dark and back again, but it's also fun. Others
may disagree, but to me it's Wilco at their finest -- expressive, evocative ... and, yes, fun to sing along to.
Standout songs: Either Way, Hate It Here, Impossible Germany

JUST MISSING THE CUT

Washington Square Serenade -- Steve Earle: He's ... different ... when he's happy. But he's still good. Major point deduction, however, for the horrible "Satellite Radio" infomercial. Also for New York snobbery. Points added, however, for the "Fuck Lou Dobbs" postscript in the liner notes to remind us all that no matter how happy our Steve is, he's still at least somewhat pissed off.

Raising Sand -- Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Major points for being both weird and wonderful.

West -- Lucinda Williams: A solid album from Our Lady of Badass, just not super remarkable.

NOTABLY ABSENT

It's Not Big, It's Large -- Lyle Lovett: Don't worry, I still think Lyle Lovett is the best artist in all the world. I just think -- and it pains me to say it -- that this was only an OK album. Some tracks were marvelous, but others, well, others came dangerously close to sucking. I can't even put my finger on what's wrong, it's just that I don't thoroughly enjoy listening to this album. That's it.

SPECIAL PRIZE FOR PACKAGING

The Salvation Blues -- Mark Olson: While I didn't catch on fire about the album (though it's solid, and quite good in places -- it's just that I can only take so much Mark Olson in one sitting. It's not him, it's me.), the book-like packaging pleases me to no end. The CD case opens like a book -- a hardcover complete with shiny book jacket. The design is book-like down to the details -- copy right page, library stamp, numbered pages for the liner notes. It really makes me happy just to handle this CD, and whoever came up with the design/packaging (one David Gorman, according to the "copyright page") is a friggin' genius.

Happy new year, everybody. And may we all be blessed with many happy listening hours in 2008!