MusicEdge: Best of 2007

Nick Meador

V. The (Bad) Leftovers of 2007

Biggest Disappointments

These bands are found here not because I think they're trashy. On the contrary, I expected more, since they burrowed deep into my musical core with previous releases.

1. Flight of the Conchords – The Distant Future : This is a puny excuse for a Conchords release. Instead, it should have been a complete soundtrack to the glorious first season of HBO's most recent hit show. Murray must be slacking on his band management duties.

2.  Kings of Leon – Because Of The Times : No more southern rock for this family band. Now they're just shootin' for the mainstream dolla'.

3. The Go! Team – Proof of Youth : Whereas their debut was a balance of instruments and dozens of samples - and blissfully without the female rapper - the second album is cluttered and unrewarding.

4. The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible : I don't know when comparisons to Bruce Springsteen became a desirable thing in indie rock. Let's face it - they rode the David Bowie train too long, and the Boss will carry them even less distance. Call me a musical atheist, but I'm sticking with Funeral.

5. Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City : Perhaps the early-2000s post-punk is dead. I thought Bloc Party had restored the power of lead guitar on Silent Alarm, but the power is out this time.

6.  The Shins – Wincing The Night Away : Did these guys sell out? Or did they just realize that they had to try very little to please the masses after Zach Braff gave them a free ticket to stardom via the Garden State soundtrack? Either way, this album is stinky.

7.  Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War : Poor poor Stars. You had so much to live up to after Set Yourself On Fire (one of the decade's best). This album flopped in too many ways to be forgivable.

8. Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity : I don't know if former guitarist Chris Cohen was responsible for 2005's The Runners Four, but the magic from that album is absent on this jarring one.

9. Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank : The combination of longtime Seattle indie warriors and the Smiths' former guitarist (Johnny Marr) had to be a total win or a total loss. It seems to have been a win in the moolah department, but a loss in the minds of most Modest Mouse or Smiths fans.

Hipster Hoo-hoo Bands

In case the title doesn't make sense, these are extremely overrated bands, and the albums that they released in 2007. I wouldn't be disappointed if I never heard any of them again.

1. LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver : This album dips below all others for being unoriginal, uncreative, and unendurable. But hipsters often lose their ability to perceive, as Bill Hicks would say, and this trash is a prime example.

2. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Some Loud Thunder : No one really caught on to this album, probably because it's a rehash of their debut - and that wasn't as good as everyone made it out to be.

3.  !!! – Myth Takes : Another band that hipsters make out to be godly. It's boring, repetitive junk, and they're even worse on stage than they are on the studio recording.

4.  Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare : One more overhyped cow bites the dust. End of story.

5.  Frog Eyes – Tears of the Valedictorian : One of Pitchfork's longtime whores. They're pretentious, and unworthy of any praise given.

6.  Kanye West – Graduation : Screw you for ruining a Daft Punk song. I don't care if they gave permission. You can't fool anyone. You're a low-class, one-trick sleaze-ball.

Worst Album Cover

1.  Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam : I don't know what this photo actually contains, but it looks like strawberries mashed up with blood. Hopefully it's not human blood. Either way, it makes me want to blow chunks.

Questions or Comments? Contact Nick Meador at meadorni@msu.edu