Top 5 Albums of 2007
Ok, so James and I have been working on our lists of our personal Top 5 Albums of the Year. This was extremely hard for me to do, a top 10 list came much more naturally. Nevertheless I decided on this list. I realized afterwards that is a very "heavy" list but this is just what I really enjoyed this year. There was some really good stuff to come out. Here is what I thought was "the best".
5. Amon Tobin - Foley Room
Electronic/Drum and Bass - This album is by one of my favorite artists. Amon Tobin has so much stuff that I love most notably the soundtrack for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. For this album he only used sounds that he field recorded using equipment that Foley artists use. It's really interesting, and very good.
4. As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us
Metal(core) - Ok, so this band has never been a band that I particulary pay THAT much attention to. I've always thought they were good, but nothing out of the ordinary. This album however blew me away. It's definitely the heaviest to date, and almost every song grabs my attention.
3. Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works
Mathrock/Hardcore? - Once again, this is a band that I have always liked to a certain degree, but never a band that I would imagine producing an album that would be one of my favorites of the year. I was a bit hesitant with this album because it seemed so different. In this case different was very good. They used a lot of electronic instrumentation which gave the music a different feel. There is a lot of melody to be found on this album as well, which DEP isn't known for, turns out they do it extremely well however. The last song for example, Mouth of Ghosts. Even Matt liked that song.
2. Coheed and Cambria - No World For Tomorrow
Rock - This band went from being a band I could not stand, to a band that I absolutely love. I would even say they are one of my favorites. This album was the one that I was anticipating the most. The guys in Coheed are just so talented. If Chris Pennie would have played on this album, I think I would have liked it more but it still came out very well. This was also one that crept up on me. At first I wasn't completely into it but the more I listened, the more it grew one me.
1. Between The Buried And Me - Colors
Adult Contemporary Progressive Death Metal - Alright, this album. Wow. Album of the year by far. Also the only album that I have in my library that I have given every song 5 stars. First off, it plays seamlessly as one long track, and I love when albums do that. Add to that the fact that it has so much dimension and variety to it, not to mention amazing musicianship. I don't even know what to say, other than please. Get this album.
So there you have it, my favorite albums of the year. That is unless something else comes out that blows me away. It would be awesome if you guys posted what you thought were the Top 5 of the year. I promise that I will try to listen to whatever you post, I'd love to know what you've been listening to. If you have listened to any of the albums I listed, tell me what you thought of them.
Here are some honorable mentions.
3 - The End Is Begun
Prog Rock - Amazing album, very similar to Coheed. Definitely tough to not include this in the top 5.
Darkest Hour - Deliver Us
Metal - I love Darkest Hour and I love this album. Another one that was tough to cut out.
Justice - †
Electronic/Dance - Very catchy songs on this album. I love the retro feel of it as well.
Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
Electronic/Industrial - This year I was really turned on to NIN. I ended up really liking them, and the songs on this album coupled with the viral ad campaign were really amazing.
Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
Acoustic/Folk - Really beautiful music. This album was amazing to lay in bed and chill to.
Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Live/Elctronic/Dance - How the hell could I not love an album that is a live recording of the best show I've ever been to in my life. They seriously take live electronic music to an entire new level.
5. Amon Tobin - Foley Room
Electronic/Drum and Bass - This album is by one of my favorite artists. Amon Tobin has so much stuff that I love most notably the soundtrack for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. For this album he only used sounds that he field recorded using equipment that Foley artists use. It's really interesting, and very good.
4. As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us
Metal(core) - Ok, so this band has never been a band that I particulary pay THAT much attention to. I've always thought they were good, but nothing out of the ordinary. This album however blew me away. It's definitely the heaviest to date, and almost every song grabs my attention.
3. Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works
Mathrock/Hardcore? - Once again, this is a band that I have always liked to a certain degree, but never a band that I would imagine producing an album that would be one of my favorites of the year. I was a bit hesitant with this album because it seemed so different. In this case different was very good. They used a lot of electronic instrumentation which gave the music a different feel. There is a lot of melody to be found on this album as well, which DEP isn't known for, turns out they do it extremely well however. The last song for example, Mouth of Ghosts. Even Matt liked that song.
2. Coheed and Cambria - No World For Tomorrow
Rock - This band went from being a band I could not stand, to a band that I absolutely love. I would even say they are one of my favorites. This album was the one that I was anticipating the most. The guys in Coheed are just so talented. If Chris Pennie would have played on this album, I think I would have liked it more but it still came out very well. This was also one that crept up on me. At first I wasn't completely into it but the more I listened, the more it grew one me.
1. Between The Buried And Me - Colors
Adult Contemporary Progressive Death Metal - Alright, this album. Wow. Album of the year by far. Also the only album that I have in my library that I have given every song 5 stars. First off, it plays seamlessly as one long track, and I love when albums do that. Add to that the fact that it has so much dimension and variety to it, not to mention amazing musicianship. I don't even know what to say, other than please. Get this album.
So there you have it, my favorite albums of the year. That is unless something else comes out that blows me away. It would be awesome if you guys posted what you thought were the Top 5 of the year. I promise that I will try to listen to whatever you post, I'd love to know what you've been listening to. If you have listened to any of the albums I listed, tell me what you thought of them.
Here are some honorable mentions.
3 - The End Is Begun
Prog Rock - Amazing album, very similar to Coheed. Definitely tough to not include this in the top 5.
Darkest Hour - Deliver Us
Metal - I love Darkest Hour and I love this album. Another one that was tough to cut out.
Justice - †
Electronic/Dance - Very catchy songs on this album. I love the retro feel of it as well.
Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
Electronic/Industrial - This year I was really turned on to NIN. I ended up really liking them, and the songs on this album coupled with the viral ad campaign were really amazing.
Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
Acoustic/Folk - Really beautiful music. This album was amazing to lay in bed and chill to.
Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Live/Elctronic/Dance - How the hell could I not love an album that is a live recording of the best show I've ever been to in my life. They seriously take live electronic music to an entire new level.