Enjoy.

1.

Islands – Arm’s Way

It took me a while to get into these guys. I got their first album, Return to the Sea, and after a few listens I just put it aside and kinda forgot about it. After Arm’s Way came out and I started hearing positive buzz about it I decided to give it a shot. I was almost immediately hooked by the first track “In Arm’s Way” but wasn’t so into the other tracks. After listening to the album all the way through a few times (while I was painting the house) I fell in love with it and couldn’t stop listening to it. I’ve since gone back and re-listened to Return to the Sea again and love that now too. These guys are very eclectic. Lots of different sounds and influences going on in each track. There are so many layers to their music. Arm’s Way almost feels like a Concept album in a way. I’m not sure why. It’s quite an experience.

2.

Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night

These guys have to be one of the most consistent bands I’ve come across in a long time. Literally EVERY song on EVERY album they put out is good. Each album seems to top the previous one. You can hear them growing with each release. Only By The Night is very “U2″ at times, some of the songs have that epic feeling to them. However the songs and the album is still very KOL they don’t feel like they are trying to be anyone but themselves. This album has been on HEAVY rotation ever since it came out. I can’t stop listening to it.

3.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – Real Emotional Trash

The lyrics are kinda silly and “out there” at times, but the songs are put together really well. Really nice guitar work on this album.

4.

Sigur Ros – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

It’s nice to hear some shorter tracks from Sigur Ros. This is the most “straight forward” album they’ve put out and they did a good job balancing that and keeping their sound intact. There are some really beautiful, “Pop-y” sounding songs on here (“Inní mér syngur vitleysingur” and “Vi› spilum endalaust”).

5.

Helio Sequence – Keep Your Eyes Ahead

It’s a very heartfelt and emotional sounding album, almost to the point of being a little cheesey. These guys are really good at writing “hooks”. Every song has a really great hook that keeps you coming back for more. There are 3 acoustic songs on this album, which is a first for them. “The Captive Mind” and “Broken Afternoon” are nice, but pretty weak. However, “No Regrets”, (which closes out the album) is a really beautiful song done with just acoustic guitar, claps, harmonica, vocals and backup singers. It sounds like an old-timey gospel song. These guys (its just 2 of them) are amazing live by the way.

6.

My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

I was very disappointed in this album at first. They’ve changed up their sound a bit. The vocals are treated differently (less reverb) and the songs are less progressive and jammy. There is a VERY STRONG Prince influence felt throughout (mostly in the vocals). But even though its not what I was expecting, or hoping for I can’t deny that this is a really good album. My Morning Jacket puts out really great music. I’m still hoping that I’ll get to hear some more guitar jams coming from these guys in the very near future!

7.

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

Really good album. Hard to categorize these guys for me. They’re very eclectic. It’s a nice blend of Electronic and Traditional instruments with the right amount of emotion and feeling, which is usually lacking with music of this type. Really catchy stuff!

8.

David Byrne and Brian Eno – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

I love David Byrne and I LOVE Brian Eno! It’s great to see them working together again. I hope there is more to come from this duo. This album is even better than I was expecting it to be. It’s got more of a Talking Heads vibe to it than some of Byrne’s more recent solo albums.

9.

The Dodo’s – Visiter

Really good album. After the first listen I was sold. It’s got a bit of a Death Cab For Cutie vibe to it at times, although more acoustic and folksy.

10.

Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs

I REALLY didn’t like their previous release, Plans, so I went into this not expecting much. I was happy to hear that the old Death Cab For Cutie that I liked was back. “Cath” is the stand out track on this one and is really great, but the rest of the album is really solid too. (Beautiful album art as well!)

11.

Fleet Foxes – S/T

When I first heard these guys I thought they sounded like a My Morning Jacket rip off (The vocals are very similar at times.) But these guys have a much more folksy sound to them and are more mellow. “White Winter Hymnal” is the stand out track and its a really beautiful song. This is a really solid album. I’m looking forward to hearing more from these guys.

12.

Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow & Blue

Very up-beat, fun, alternative/rock. Sounds very crisp and clean. “Foxes Mate For Life” is a really great track.

13.

Vampire Weekend – S/T

I guess these guys get a lot of flack for some reason. I’m not sure why. I love this album. It’s refreshing. It’s got an afro-pop/Paul Simon’s Graceland vibe going on with the guitar and drums. I can’t wait to hear more from them.

14.

Conor Oberst – S/T

This guy is really knocking it out of the park lately. First he won me over with Cassadaga, the last release from Bright Eyes and now this one. I used to not like him at all, but he’s redeemed himself with me and I’m a big fan now. I know people will disagree, but if this isn’t country music, then I don’t know what is. Some of the best country music now-a-days, is coming out of the Indie Rock scene.

15.

The Black Keys – Attack & Release

I had heard some really great things about these guys so I decided to check them out. Very bluesy sound. Hard to believe its just 2 guys. I’ve since gone back and checked out their other stuff as well. Awesome!

16.

The Walkmen – You & Me

It’s taken me a few listens to get into this, but its finally come around and its very good.

17.

Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer

I’m still not all that into this album. I LOVE their first album and the Handsome Furs album that was done in-between this was really great too. I feel like this one doesn’t quite stand up to those. Having said that though, this is a real good album and I think that It will really grow on me the more I listen to it.

18.

High Places – S/T

Well done electronic music. It’s got really beautiful, ethereal vocals. Nice and mellow chill out music. Easy to listen to.

19.

The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely

These guys just Rock. It’s nice to hear straight forward Rock & Roll!

20.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!

While this album doesn’t hold a candle to my favorites from him (No More Shall We Part and Nocturama), it’s Nick Cave, and the guy simply rules. Such a great songwriter.

I’m a really big fan of both of these musicians so I was very excited when I heard that they were working together again. I’m only a few songs into the album but so far I like what I’m hearing.

You can listen to the entire album in the player below!

1. Animal Collective, Strawberry Jam
2. Band Of Horses, Cease To Begin
3. Cat Power, The Greatest
4. Wilco, Sky Blue Sky
5. Bright Eyes, Cassadaga
6. Handsome Furs, Plague Park
7. Explosions In The Sky, All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
8. Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
9. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
10. Angels & Airwaves, i Empire

Now it’s YOUR turn. What are YOUR Favorite albums of 2007?
Post them in the comments.

Next, I’ll be posting my favorite Books, Movies, and TV Shows of 2007. So stay tuned.

The show was absolutely amazing!!!!! I can’t believe how good these guys who haven’t been playing together for 20 years sounded. It was phenomenal. To tell you the truth, I was a little worried that they would be too rusty and wouldn’t quite pull it off, but I’m happy to say that was not the case at all. These guys sounded better than ever! I was also a little worried because The Foo Fighters opened up for them and I had heard that they were an amazing live band. They were really good (I’d really like to see them headline their own show sometime.) But The Police blew them away!!!

Sting’s voice is absolutely amazing. It’s perfect. His bass playing is really great too of course.

Andy Stewart really shined on guitar. I was very impressed. He had some really great solos! I had always heard that was a frustrating thing for him, because he didn’t really get the opportunity to solo much when they were together previously. But it seems like they’ve let him go off and just do his thing, finally! Unfortunately, he did have quite a bit of guitar tech problems. He had to switch guitars a couple of times and there were some sound and effects issues. They pretty much occurred only during the middle of the set, but they were pretty bad and I felt sorry for him (I’ll bet his guitar techs got an earful that night!!). But even that couldn’t put a damper on the night.

Stewart Copeland has once again shot up to the top of my favorite drummers list! He was great and really reminded me how much I loved his playing. His drums sounded amazing! So loud and clean! Really tight playing.

The set list was really nice. They reinvigorated all the songs by changing them up a bit. But they still managed to keep what was great and familiar about them though. I loved it. It was almost like hearing all new material at some points. The whole time I was just imagining what it would be like if they put out a brand new album with all new songs. It would be amazing! They extended a lot of the songs and jammed them out for quite a while. I was really happy about that.

The stage was pretty cool. They had these big video walls on the sides and behind them that played abstract video and stuff. There were also 3 big screens behind the band and 2 on the left and right of the stage that showed camera views of the band playing. Those were all in HD and looked amazing!!

I took my Dad and he also had a really great time. He was also amazed at how good they were. He also has a new favorite band…he LOVED the Foo Fighters!!

The only thing that sucked about the night was the line I had to wait in for Merchandise. I was in line for pretty much the entire Foo Fighters set! Luckily I had a really good view of the stage while I was in line, so I didn’t miss anything. I’m glad I did it though because by the time I got to the front of the line they were already selling out of shirts. I think I got the last one in my size of the one with the “LA only” dates! At $95 a ticket (or more), $35 a t-shirt, and $20 for parking, SOMEONE was making some serious moneys!!!!

I had such a good time and couldn’t have asked for a better show. I’ll never forget it. You could tell the guys were really enjoying themselves up there. I hope they continue to have a good time and decide to stick together.

My NEW wish, is for them to release a new album and tour some more so that I can see them live AGAIN!

I found a bunch of pictures from that show online. Click here to check them out.

And here are the T-shirst that I got.

This is the only shirt that you can’t buy online. It has the LA concert dates ONLY. This is the shirt that was sold out when I got to the front of the line but luckily the lady was able to find one for me!!

Cool picture on the front

All the tour dates on the back

Click here for more info.

Lately I’ve been really into the new album by Explosions In The Sky, All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone. It’s real good. It sounds just like their other stuff, but as far as I’m concerned thats a good thing. I like to listen to it really loud in the car and while I’m working. I give it 4 stars. (****)