The numbing list parade rolls on! Today’s opportunity to sit in judgment of others’ opportunity-to-sit-in-judgment comes courtesy of Brit rag Q, who’ve announced their picks for the Top 50 albums of ’07. American readers will have to be understanding on two fronts: First, some 2006 Stateside releases came out just this year across the Atlantic (e.g. Cold War Kids, the Hold Steady, the Decemberists etc.). And second, as in accord with British law and precedent, Arctic Monkeys must place somewhere in the Top 5 (this year, see also). Shit, you guys aren’t gonna be understanding at all, are you (via PSNYC):
50 Stereophonics – Pull the Pin
49 Jamie T – Panic Prevention
48 Justice – ?
47 Kate Nash – Made of Bricks
46 Sigur Ròs – Hvarf-Heim
45 Lucinda Williams – West
44 Gogol Bordello – Super Taranta!
43 Patrick Watson – Close to Paradise
42 The Enemy – We’ll Live and Die in These Towns
41 Keren Ann – Keren Ann
40 Field Music – Tones of Town
39 Joni Mitchell – Shine
38 Fall Out Boy – Infinity on High
37 Robyn – Robyn
36 Common – Finding Forever
35 Hard-Fi – Once upon a Time in the West
34 M.I.A. – Kala
33 Neil Young – Chrome Dreams II
32 Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future
31 Soulsavers – It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s the Way You Land
30 The National – Boxer
29 Roìsìn Murphy – Overpowered
28 The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
27 Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger
26 Beirut – The Flying Club Cup
25 Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
24 PJ Harvey – White Chalk
23 Bright Eyes – Cassadaga
22 The Coral – Roots & Echoes
21 Cold War Kids – Robbers & Cowards
20 The Rumble Strips – Girls and Weather
19 Björk – Volta
18 LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver
17 Rilo Kiley – Under the Blacklight
16 Manic Street Preachers – Send Away the Tigers
15 Interpol – Our Love to Admire
14 Cherry Ghost – Thirst for Romance
13 Kaiser Chiefs – Yours Truly, Angry Mob
12 Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
11 Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
10 Rufus Wainwright – Release the Stars
09 The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America
08 The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
07 Kings of Leon – Because of the Times
06 Bruce Springsteen – Magic
05 The Good, The Bad & The Queen – The Good, The Bad & The Queen
04 Radiohead – In Rainbows
03 Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare
02 The White Stripes – Icky Thump
01 Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
Yep Arcade Fire at number one! Probably don’t need the exclamation point! As the drama of that reveal effectively squashed by the post header. But still there it is, the first — and after the massive amounts of press and inevitable if low-key backlash, perhaps only? — time this year Neon Bible is regarded so reverently. Come to think of it this list is pretty reverent to the traditionally “big” indie acts across the board (Bright Eyes, Modest Mouse, the Shins, the White Stripes), probably a little too much so. Anyway somebody should send their office a copy of Hissing Fauna sometime today.
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there is going to be so much hate, I can feel it already.
Hate comment to follow: (just kiddin’)
Apparently this list is “Rock ‘N’ Roll” focused.
And not in a good way.
Fall Out Boy and no Iron & Wine???
Rilo Kiley above LCD Soundsystem???
Pshaw.
Rilo kiley – gross.
I think it’s so funny how much anger and vitriol is drummed up for these year-end lists, which are the ultimate in subjectivity.
Obviously different people are going to have different tastes.
another ‘best of’ list!? come on now, we know this is just to get people fired up..
but on that note, the Kings of Leon placement is a joke.
no hip hop? no soul? Sharon Jones maybe!?
finally someone gives Field Music props, let we forget that was this year. Great album. And Hard-Fi should be stricken forever from the face of the earth.
the hold steady album is a 2006 release. they should have put gnarls barkley on that list too
http://wm03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=THE|HOLD|STEADY&sql=11:jxfuxqwaldje~T2
http://www.amazon.com/Boys-Girls-America-Hold-Steady/dp/B000HIP3X4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196798193&sr=8-1
this is a list full of major labels, especially all of the top ten. Actually, Arcade Fire to Rilo Kiley are big label releases (i think Boys and Girls in America came out on Universal overseas). just another ploy by the industry, trying to subtly say that the best music comes from a big record label, which we all know is complete bullshit.
Did it come out this year in the UK?
Well, The Rumble Strips are damn good – at least they had them on the list.
@ none, 2007 in the UK. idiot. click on the album, scroll down and see “Releases.”
For the last time, British magazine. The Hold Steady album was released there this year. Now stop complaining.
Field Music! Thank you, thank you.
One of the true hidden gems of 2007. I gave up fighting for this one earlier in the year when no one would listen
For the last fucking time, not all albums are released in the same country at the same time. Sometimes even in the same year. Morons.
Also, hipster heads are exploding everywhere tonight as the Arctic Monkeys make yet another top 10 list.
Wilco? Where is my Wilco? Also the Rilo Kiley record is terrible and should be no where near anyone’s top 50
Lists are stupid and fundamentally flawed, but even so, the fact that I have seen Rilo Kiley in like 2 or 3 of these lists so far, and not near the bottom even mind you, is ridiculous. How boring an album is that?
I used up my screed-writing energy on Arctic Monkeys yesterday. It was going to be the White Stripes today, but I have work to get done so just know that if you wanted to convince a time traveler from the mid 1980s that rock and roll was dead, you would just have to tell them how critically acclaimed The White Stripes’ brand of pastiche+pretending to have Down Syndrome is.
God, I hate this list.
hmmm…see number 38
Geeze. Not even worth dissecting. I think it’s better to just leave this list completely alone.
Please consider that Q is only read by people who buy all their music from supermarkets. Don’t waste your energy getting angry.
infinity on high came out in the states this year. on feb. 6, to be exact.
yeah this definitely the worst list yet.
Mostly because it put fucking king of leon in the top ten. shittiest. band. ever.
The Arctic Monkeys made a song for all the people that have negative things to say about them. It’s called Teddy Pickers. Truest song of the year.
Thanks for that last comment regarding Of Montreal. I’ve been wondering if I’m the only who remembers how fantastic that album is. The only way that I can see how they may have overlooked it is due to it leaking so far into 2006 that they forgot it was technically released this year.
the Foo Fighters at #12 but not NIN critically praised Year Zero?I would rather listen to the dentist drill then Dave Grohl’s catoonish screams and schmaltzy-dad lyrics and adult contemporary radio melodies.
this looks like they just got a list of big indie releases of the year and didn’t bother to listen to any of them. They just threw them on the list in whatever order they could think of. And what the hell is Fall Out Boy doing on any critical list. When did Q become Tiger Beat (is that still around?), I thought it was for old farts.
May I humbly request that no one else be required to hear Of Montreal who mercifully has avoided doing so, thus far?
And anyway… they’re basically a “big” indie act by this point, aren’t they?
Glad for Arcade Fire.. but SERIOUSLY…Okkervil River? If this list is Rocknroll orientated than The Stage Names should be on there. It’s a straight forward ROCK album. bleh.
“43 Patrick Watson – Close to Paradise”
Good choice, but it came out in 2006.
kings of leon? honestly?
I personally think it’s unfortunate that Of Montreal is getting so widely overlooked on these lists…not that the lists mean anything. But come on, Rilo Kiley? That album was mostly horrendous and putting it above LCD Soundsystem is unforgivable.
I’m confused. Is this list just a deluge of big, shiny corporate record company crap or a classic representation of Brit/indie music critic snobbery? Pick a side people, we’re at war!
Also, do we love or hate the Arctic Monkeys? I’m rearranging my iPod playlist so I’d like like to get a definitive response on this ASAP.
Do people not like Strawberry Jam? I haven’t seen it on any of the recent lists.
Who the hell is Cherry Ghost and how does this band get away with naming themselves after a Wilco lyric from an album that only came out 3 years ago? Blech. But I digress, that’s just the tip of the iceberg here.
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
doesnt seem like too many people are keen on Shout Out Louds – Our Ill Wills like i am.
Well, Don vv, I just think it’s funny how people don’t bother reading and immediately add their lame comments. I think commenters should have at the very least do some reading. Face!
FUCKING ENOUGH ALREADY!
The Hold Steady album came out in 2007 in the UK.
For fuck’s sake, shit drops at different times in different countries. Hence some stuff we remember from 06 in the US wasn’t out til 07 elsewhere. Give these publications some credit. However, I don’t remember seeing Future of the Left mentioned on any of the UK lists (it drops in a week stateside) yet so maybe don’t.
Also, “Remembering You Hate The Arctic Monkeys after seeing them on a year-end list” is the new “Loving the Arctic Monkeys before you’ve heard a note of their music.” which, for awhile, was the new “Bashing The Strokes for being derivative without having ever heard The VU or Television.”
This looks like a British Pop magazine’s 2007 Best Of List, which it is.
Where’s Animal Collective? Where’s Of Montreal? Where’s Okerrvil River? They’re on the Pitchfork, Tiny Mix Tapes, and other American Independent Music Media Outlets Best of 2007 lists.
Unless you live in London, listen to pop radio, and read Q magazine religiously and find it misrepresentative, you really need not get worked up about this list.
Save your energy to debate the lists that actually represent yourself and your music taste.
Oh, and please don’t be hasty and be the “The Hold Steady came out in 2006!” guy…you’re going to look really stupid
Why does everyone dump on Kings of Leon – sure they are too high on this list, but they made a great album and are surely not whats wrong with this list
The next guy who refers to an album being released as “drops” is getting kicked in the nuts. You’re not in the Wu Tang Clan douchebag. KTHANXBYE.
wow Austin, first sensible post since the end-of-year lists started popping out.
Seriously, you guys need to understand that Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys are the two biggest bands in England. When I was in Manchester in July, Arctic Monkeys played two nights, each night to an insane crowd of 50,000 +. I was there. It was fascinating. At least 100 drunk/high Mancunians grilled me about Kings of Leon and could not grasp how I did not think they were the second coming of Christ. The same logic explains why The Coral are #22 on this list. Shitty band, but also huge in England.
Sorry, sticking with drops. Released makes it sound like it couldn’t be stolen weeks in advance/ was meant to run free o’er the gently rolling hills of Stratfordshire or some shit. Besides, an album is literally either dropped onto my porch/into the mail slot by USPS or dropped into my shopping bag at the store.
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
Possibly the worst list of this year, along with that other publication that placed Paramore anywhere on their list.
Do I even need to mention that the top 3 records on that list were three of the brutally overhyped records (along with LCD Soundsystem’s) of this year? Fuck, I just did.
For as much as people hate the new Interpol album, I’m surprised that people are bitching on how high it is.
Am I the only one to agree with most of this list??? At least with Neon Bible at Number One. I will also would like to see Helloween since they made a pretty good albumm but nothing heavier than . .. . in here.
STEREOPHONICS SHOULD NEVER BE ANYWHERE NEAR A BEST OF LIST!
I like Kings of Leon…
this list doesn’t even make my top 50 lists of 2007
wait … down syndrome??
bashing ignorant british musical tastes is kind of passe. although the only thing that would make this worse is if it had the ED inducing new album by battles and the 2007 artistic sellout record of the year by animal collective
We all know LCD and Spoon should be higher than Rilo Kiley on this list.
Field Music. The only redeeming factor on the list. Also, where the hell is Panda Bear?
i think this list is fairly accurate…leave it to the brits to always be at least FAIRLY close haha, wayyyy more than yer Spin/Rolling Stones, tahts for sure.
Interpol/Kaisers n the Foos should be WAYY down at the bottom though, guhh interpol haha, dont get me started.
The only cd off the top of my head i’d want on there is the Jarvis Cocker cd, def. worthy, 5/6 great tracks on there.
RILO Kiley i actually JUST got recently, and i’m super impressed by it soo…wayyy more better than i was expecting, i love that girls voice.
My only FINAL thought is that IFFFF you add in those brand new 6 songs from CD2 (discbox) to In Rainbows, those 16 tracks blow EVERY thing else away:)
Q is a middle of the road music mag aimed at high street/supermarket, 30 something CD buyers in the UK – not hipster kids in the US. As such I think the list isnt too bad……I’m suprised they didnt make Hard Fi number 1 though(as fucking despicable as it is!)
I think this is a rock-solid list, actually. People whining over the lack of Pitchfork-approved American indie bands need to get over themselves.
Plus, it’s light years ahead of last year’s list, which had Razorlight, Keane, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Scissor Sisters in the top 10.
Q magazine is not as good as it once was but it still beats shitty Rolling Stone magazine over here. Its the British better version of Rolling Stone.
The list sounds mostly like lifetime achievement awards than best albums of the year
Having said that, Arcade Fire as #1 album of the year is so retarded. The first record was damn good but the second one which has maybe three good songs at best and lamely sounds like someone jumping on the springsteen bandwagon.
the new white stripes album is practically unlistenable. This album and their last album are so bad that meg white has stagefright from the embarrassment of how bad the songs are and how mediocre her drumming is. Too bad because their other albums are awesome. Once Jack got the big head, the quality went to the shitter.
artic monkeys first album was pretty fine but this one sounds like b-sides.
the new bjork is dissapointing too
the only dinosaur that still brings da shit is radiohead. In Rainbows is pretty damn awesome. If they were a new album and that was their first record, people would be wetting their pants about it. Because of their back catalog, people are too jaded to admit how beautiful it is.
I like you mike and I agree with on everything.
Except however, I did not find the new Bjork album disappointing. In fact that album and the new Underworld album are the two most underrated albums of the year from prominent artists.
“this is a list full of major labels, especially all of the top ten. Actually, Arcade Fire to Rilo Kiley are big label releases (i think Boys and Girls in America came out on Universal overseas). just another ploy by the industry, trying to subtly say that the best music comes from a big record label, which we all know is complete bullshit.”
What a snob. Arcade Fire released “Neon Bible” on Merge. You know, as in Neutral Milk Hotel…Oh wait, I hate those sell-out pussies. DAMN MAJOR LABELS!
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
I’m pretty sure these lists mean absolutely nothing.
Why do the Brits have such bad taste. Guess Oasis didn’t put out a record this year…
i love that someone isn’t afraid to give arcade fire the props they deserve for such a masterpiece.
too bad the rest of the list is pretty awful.
Does anyone else think this was kind of a shitty year for music?
bjork? pfft. let’s not kid ourselves. that album sucked.
Apostle of Hustle hasn’t even cracked a top 50/100 list yet?
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
i’m a huge RK fan but i’m quite amazed at how much props Under the Blacklight is getting. i don’t think it’s a horrible album, i just think it’s forgettable. and it’s definitely their weakest effort (for me) so far. guess it shows what a soft porn video can do for you huh?
To Jamie…the ‘Brits’ don’t have bad taste, Q does. Please don’t just take Q’s list as representative of an entire country’s opinion.
Arctic Monkeys over Radiohead? What chav wrote this?
“i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists…” etc etc BLAH BLAH BLAH. how many times does it have to be pointed out, this list is of UK releases – stuff like CWK and the Hold Steady didn’t get official releases over here until this year. simple as.
in much the same way as whoever wanted Jarvis Cocker’s album on their 2007 list, that disc came out summer last year here – it’d be daft counting it in any polls over here. if it was that important, like.
i’m just happy to see the Manic Street Preachers getting acknowledged in a few of these lists – Send Away The Tigers is one hell of a return to form; quite possibly my album of the year. that, or the Rilo one – quit the bashing people!
“Does anyone else think this was kind of a shitty year for music?
Posted by: Greg at December 5, 2007 1:09 AM”
Any year Spoon releases an album is an excellent year for music.
this list doesn’t even make my top 50 lists of 2007
Posted by: Steve at December 4, 2007 8:39 PM
Hahaha – best comment ever.
This is the best list yet.
Yes, I know there are a handfull of 2006 albums here, and a fall out boy album but there are many things very right about this list.
For Example. Arcade Fire as the best album of the year is great, it was really an amazing album. I know it got hyped and anything over hyped is instantly shuned by anyone who is “too cool” for that.
Its also superb to see the following albums in the top 25: Interpol, Good/Bad/Queen/, The Shins, Modest Mouse, Rufus Wainright, Radiohead, Spoon and Beirut (#26).
Its also the highest I have seen Beirut this year and its the best album of the year. It would still be nice to see Andrew Bird in the list.
AND its great to finally see and album give some GOGOL BORDELLO love. much deserved.
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
Worst list so far! Oh, of course, it’s British. Stereophonics and no of Montreal in 2007? I get it… it’s a joke!
My personal top 5 this year so far:
Feist – The Reminder
The White Stripes – Icky Thump
Richard Thompson – Sweet Warrior
Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
John Vanderslice – Emerald City
More info about the good music in life (written in Dutch, I’m sorry) @
http://chenque65.blogspot.com/
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
Where the fuck is bloc party on hear!!!!
I just think it’s funny how desperately I wish to punch rob in the face.
Just to clarify some of the posts concerning Q Magazine:
– It’s a music magazine aimed at women. Over 51% of their readership is now comprised of women or something to that effect.
– Most of the ads are for women. Last year or the year before, they placed JAMES BLUNT as album of the year. Godawful horseshit that it was, it was named album of the year.
– It’s the music industry’s equivalent of Cosmo for fuck sake.
So now, who feels stupid for getting their knickers in a twist over this list?
Anyone who thinks Icky Thump is a good album I kind of automatically look respect for in a musical sense.
Hear me out…
i just think it’s funny how cd’s released in 2006 are making these lists… cold war kids and hold steady probably others i don’t know about. i think list makers should have at the very least made a best of 2007 list that included albums from 2007 only.
@rob: As posited by Gabe from Penny-Arcade: Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = Total Fuckwad.
Stereogum, by not requiring people to register to comment, you’re missing out on one of the great joys of hosting a forum: banhammering douchebags.
I may be a douchebag, but at least I know what cds came out in 2007!
Q is just an majors love fest mag which doesn’t generally feature anybody as new until they have made three albums. I’m suprised they managed to write a list whilst wanking over the Zeppelin comeback zzzzzzz
@rob: So then you must be loving that new live Daft Punk album. My favorite part is the lyrics. Hearing them repeat “Rock. Robot Rock.” about 10,000 times really drives home the meaning.
Sorry, but I’m starting to like Rob. He seems to have a sense of humor.
I’ll take Q over Rolling Stone any day. And yes, 2007 was a mediocre year for music.
Did nobody hear the new Ministry album? Buncha pussies.
“What a snob. Arcade Fire released “Neon Bible” on Merge. You know, as in Neutral Milk Hotel…Oh wait, I hate those sell-out pussies. DAMN MAJOR LABELS!”
In the UK Neon Bible was released on Sonovox and distributed by Universal.
All of this bickering and still everybody ignores this Cherry Ghost bullshit at #14.