I didn’t see so many movies this year, so I can’t give you a list of those bests. And while I’ve never been without a book to read, not all of this year’s reads were released in 2007, so no bests from there, either.
Music? Well, that I can give you. Rather than doing my usual top twenty albums, I’m getting specific this time. We’re doing singles, the tracks I had on repeat to get me through the day. And so, here’s numbers 20 through 16.
20. “Good Life” – Kanye West (Graduation) – This pick would’ve been “Stronger” if it wasn’t for how incredibly well West manages to use T-Pain’s mechano-robot vocals to such great advantage over a choice Michael Jackson sample from “P.Y.T.” (Bonus YouTube-ry)
19. “Claudia” – The View (Hats Off To The Buskers) – I had this album for months without listening to it. I got it for my birthday, listened to the first couple of tracks, then just set it aside. I guess I wasn’t in the right headspace for it, because hearing it in the last few weeks has revealed just how much I was missing. On most of their songs, The View sound like Supertramp meets Meet The Beatles-era Beatles. Is this serious music? Nope. Just good.
18. “Hate On Me” – Jill Scott (The Real Thing: Words And Sounds Vol. 3) – Jill Scott has always been a force of nature, lending awesome to everything she touches. The rest of her 2007 release is witty, revealing and well worth anyone’s time, but there is something viscerally satisfying about how Jill Scott does a “step-the-hell-off- and-mind-your-own” track. (Bonus YouTube-ry)
17. “Is There A Ghost” – Band of Horses (Cease To Begin) – Everybody loves Band of Horses. Everybody, that is, but me. Try as I might, I just can’t settle in on this Band bandwagon. However, “Is There A Ghost” is a brilliant single, literally. The vocals just flat out shine. The sound reminds me of Doves, circa 2001. It’s a sound I’d like to hear more often. (Bonus YouTube-ry)
16. “Two Step Blues” – Little Brother (Getback) – Marvin Gaye is not dead. He’s hiding out in Durham, NC, secretly producing jams like this one for Phonte and Big Pooh of Little Brother. Obviously.
Next up, 15 through 11. Of course.
2 responses to “The Inevitable List for 2007 (20 to 16)”
Singles? You crafty bastard! Just joshing ya… I think that on Dec 31, I am going to have a mega-playlist-download thing… because there are a ton of great songs that were on only “okay” albums that didn’t make my countdown.
Also, I would love to hear some of your thoughts on my countdown, fellow music guru! I can’t wait to see what singles you post next! It’s downloading time!
I totes gave you the Hats Off to the Buskers CD. I feel very blessed to have influenced even No. 19 of your Top 20, Monsieur Music Connoisseur.