Top Ten of 2007...Part Three

This is the final instalment of my Top Ten of 2007 and it is the most difficult for me. This one is the Top Ten Music of 2007 and there is so much good stuff that giving my Pat Seal Approval, which in turn will make these bands and artist even more popular than before, is almost impossible. I know that I am not a writer for Pitchfork or Blender so I do not necessarily know exactly what I am talking about except I know I feel something when I hear these albums and I am going to try and write about each one from my feelings on it so go easy on me. Anyway here is the Top Ten Music of 2007.

10. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
First heard the song Rehab on the radio and really liked it until it got really popular to the point where I did not want to hear the rest of the album. Then when I got to listen to the other songs besides the popular Rehab, which is a good song, the album made me think of an soulful blues album, really good chill music.
(Favorite Song: You Know I'm No Good)

9. Iron and Wine - The Shepard's Dog
This album was folkey but very catchy and I just got hooked on a few songs. I could think of some clever words to describe the music but it is soft and puts you at easy when you are listening to it.
(Favorite Song: White Tooth Man)

8. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
A classic Spoon album, I do not think as good as there Gimme Friction album but you think they are due for a bad album and Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga would seem like one but surprisingly holds up very well.
(Favorite Song: Don't Make Me a Target)

7. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Another band you thought was due for a bad album because they have been so successful that they could not live up to the hype but then the single Icky Thump comes out and no way this album was going to suck.
(Favorite Song: Catch Hell Blues)

6.M.I.A - Kala
M.I.A. likes to mix rap with that India feel that it makes for an amazing rap experience. I sometimes catch myself dancing like a buffoon in a Bollywood musical in my living room when I am listening to her, none of the neighbors have complained about it yet so I will keep doing it when I listen to her.
(Favorite Song: XR2 )

5. Baby Teeth - The Simp
An obscure choice to round off the top 5 I agree. I have never heard of them until this summer and being introduced to them through a friend and then seeing them live in concert in Iowa City, and though it was a small venue and a small crowd they still rocked my socks off. Their music makes me think if David Bowie had a love child with Elton John then you would get Baby Teeth. If interested in learning more about them I can definitely send you their album it is worth a listen.
(Favorite Song: The Simp)

4. Kanye West - Graduation
Wow. From the open track "Good Morning" to the hit song "Stronger" to the final song "Big Brother" there really was not a bad song it was an amazing rap album. I do get tired of hearing "Stronger" all the time at sporting events but it is still a good song.
(Favorite Song: Good Morning)

3. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
I never really got to listen to their new album before I saw them opening for Arcade Fire and I was blown away by how they sounded. I think I lost 17% of my hearing that night and most of it coming from LCD Soundsystem. Seeing the lead singer, you would not think he could sound so beautiful but then BAM! After the show I went back and could not stop listening to the album. A combination of Disco, Funk, and all out fun. Each song just makes you want to dance in your seat.
(Favorite Song: All My Friends)

2. The National - Boxer
This is a close second losing just by a nose for the number 1 album of the year. This is not to disrespect Boxer because it is an amazing album, I usually will be singing songs from it out of the blue for no reason. I loved their first album with Alligator and was taken to a new level with Boxer. It's songs are so hypnotic you get lost in them and never want to come back, by starting off soft and then building it up to an awesome climax.
(Favorite Song: Fake Empire)

1. The Arcade Fire -Neon Bible
Not a whole lot to say that has not already been said about this album. It is good, really good. Did not think they could get better from their album "Funeral" but they some how did it with a haunting touch. I think I have listened to this album 20 times and I can not skip over one song.
"Neon Bible" took Arcade Fire to the main stream which was evident when I saw them live with LCD Soundsystem opening for them. A lot of people you would think are not into Indie music were going crazy for The Arcade Fire. It had to been the best concert I have been to and is the best album of the year in my opinion.
(Favorite Song: Intervention)

When I said this was tough to make a Top Ten I was not joking because there are some good albums I had to leave off, including Jay-Z's - American Gangster, Radioheads - Rainbows, and Les Savy Fav - Let's Be Friends. I also wish I could included songs on the list instead of a whole album because there would have been for sure on my list UGK - I Choose You (featuring OutKast) and Patti Smith's Cover of Smiles Like Teen Spirit. That is my list though and I hope I turned a few people on to some new stuff and hope to hear some suggestions for albums I missed.

That is 2007 wraped up.

Top Ten of 2007...Part Deux

Sorry for the delay on my Top Ten List of 2007. Now with my movies I am not going to lie, I have not seen a whole lot of movies this year mainly because there was not a good ones to see. I agree "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" and "Wild Hogs" are Oscar caliber films, but I really did not want to see those. There is also some movies that I still want to see, most importantly I want to see "Juno" and would imagine it will jump into my Top 5 when I see it, so I am going to put that at number 8 because the trailer looked so good already. Any way here is my Top Ten of the movies I have seen so far for 2007.

10. The Simpson's Movie
9. Blades of Glory
8. Juno* (until I see it it will jump up)
7. (open until I watch another film from this year)
6. Air Guitar Nation
(Great documentary about my favorite past time)
5. Knocked Up
4. Hot Fuzz
3. King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
(Another great documentary about breaking the Donkey Kong score record, really recommend it)
2. Super Bad
1. No Country for Old Men
(so suspenseful, it was amazing)

I will wrap up my Top Ten of 2007 tomorrow with the most important catergory, best music. Though it will depend on how well the Vikings are beating up the Bears on Monday Night Football, until next time.

Top Ten of 2007

Well I thought since the year is coming to an end, time for me to give my Top Ten of 2007. I will be doing categories in books, TV, movies, and finally music. So for today I will be giving you my Top Ten in books and TV. List comes from the "home offices" of Columbus Ohio...

Top Ten Books of 2007 (editors note: since I did not read ten books this year I am going to recap some of my old favorites that I re-read this year)

10. High Fidelity - Nick Hornby
9. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
8. The Areas of my Expertise - John Hodgman
7. America the Book - Jon Stewart
6. A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby
5. Sex, Drugs, and Coco Puffs - Chuck Kolsterman
4. Anybody Can Be Cool...But Awesome Takes Practice - Lorraine Peterson
3. Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
2. I Am America (And So Can You) - Stephen Colbert
1. Youth In Revolt - C.D. Payne (Favorite book of all time)

Top Ten TV of 2007

10. Friday Night Lights
9. Scrubs (reruns)
8. South Park
7. 30 Rock
6. The Office
5. The Daily Show
4. The Colbert Report
3. Planet Earth
2. Flight of the Conchords
1. The Sapranos

That is the list if you would like to learn more information on Pat's favorite Books and TV of 2007 let me know. Tomorrow I will have my Top Ten in the cinema for 2007.