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Most Enjoyed Albums of 2007

January 19, 2008

I’ve finally narrowed it down to just 25… my favorite albums from 2007. These albums are all quite heavily part of the rotation on my iPod (well, at least they were before the iPod went kaputz!). Of course my list is heavily tipped toward Adult Contemporary /Alternative /Indie Pop-Rock /Americana with a little Country thrown in the mix because that is the kind of music I predominantly listen to, although I did stumble on some rather interesting bands that flirt around the edges of those genres this year — some I liked, some I didn’t. Note that I did not consider EP’s, re-releases, collections or greatest hits albums unless at least 50% of the material was new (which is the only thing that kept Matchbox 20 off my list).

So what did I base my choices on? In most cases the choices are based on the overall album, there are some albums which contain a song or two that I really, really like that did not make the list because the rest of the album didn’t do anything for me. I am generally drawn to music that is not only vocally pleasing, but has lyrics that say something to me. It is also important to note that just because an album made the list does not necessarily mean that I think it is the best work done by a particular artist or even my favorite from their catalog, just that I liked it more than the other hundred or so new albums I listened to from 2007. So without further explanation or fanfare, here is my list, in no particular order as that varies greatly from day to day. Clicking on any title will take you to the album page at Amazon.

  1. Cowboy Junkies ~ At the End of Paths Taken
  2. Band of Horses ~ Cease to Begin
  3. A Fine Frenzy ~ One Cell in the Sea
  4. Brandi Carlile ~ The Story
  5. Ryan Adams ~ Easy Tiger
  6. James Blunt ~ All the Lost Souls
  7. Steve Earle ~ Washington Square Serenade
  8. Melissa Etheridge ~ The Awakening
  9. Griffin House ~ Homecoming
  10. Jack Ingram ~ This Is It
  11. Drew Kennedy ~ Dollar Theater Movie
  12. Ben Lee - Ripe
  13. Lifehouse ~ Who We Are
  14. Jon McLaughlin ~ Indiana
  15. Bruce Springsteen ~ Magic
  16. Collective Soul ~ Afterwards
  17. Bon Jovi ~ Lost Highway
  18. Lucinda Williams ~ West
  19. The National ~ Boxer
  20. Martina McBride ~ Waking Up Laughing
  21. Waking Ashland ~ The Well
  22. Rilo Kiley ~ Under the Blacklight
  23. Eisley ~ Combinations
  24. Matt Nathanson ~ Some Mad Hope
  25. Robbie Seay Band ~ Give Yourself Away

Winners outside the rules…

  1. Hem ~ Home Again, Home Again EP
  2. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals ~ Follow the Lights EP
  3. Matchbox 20 ~ Exile on Mainstream

There are a few albums that got great reviews, were wildly popular and made Best of 2007 lists far and wide, that I just couldn’t get into no matter how hard I tried. These are tops on my list of albums I tried really hard to like…

  1. Feist ~ The Reminder (I just don’t see what all the hype is about)
  2. Amy Winehouse ~ Back to Black (I really, really do not like this album that seemed to get rave reviews by everyone but me)
  3. Over the Rhine ~ The Trumpet Child (this one wasn’t really all that popular, I just wanted to like it a lot more than I did because I’m a big fan of this band and love most everything they have put out)
  4. The Eagles ~ Long Road Out of Eden (who doesn’t want to like the Eagles? but sometimes it is best just to let sleeping dogs lie)
  5. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss ~ Raising Sand (by all accounts I should have loved this album as I have liked Alison Krauss since forever and consider Led Zeppelin one of the great classic rock bands of my era…)

Posted by Deb  

Topics: music, lists

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