Skip to main content

Singles of 2007

Picking singles is the hardest thing these days, with track downloads, and I have no doubt missed some horrible pop tunes that should be on here, but this list is still pretty good. These are in no particular order, after the top 5, which have all been my favourite of the year at some point in 2007, and I still couldn't decide who should have the overall crown.

1. Cassette - The Smartest Bomb : I am probably on a the few people that actually bought this, but I love it. It is very 80s in its sound, but it just really works for me.
2. Bruce Spingsteeen - Radio Nowhere : The first signs that the Boss was back and playing some classy, catchy rock again.
3. Funeral for a Friend - Into Oblivion (Reunion) :
4. Foo Fighters - The Pretender : Let's make no mistake, when the FF are good, they are very good; and this single is true class.
5. Public Enemy - Harder than you Think : Not sure where they've sampled the horns from on this, but couple with Chuck D in full flow, this was one of the stand out tracks on PE's latest album.


6. Kings of Leon - Charmer : KoL do their best pixies impersonation
7. Groove Armada - Song 4 Mutya : I know, let's right a tune about an ex-Sugababe and then get her to sing it too - madness. One of the best pop records of the year.
8. Ryan Adams - Two/Halloween Head : Great tunes, great songwriter, great album.
9. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black : Well, it looks like she may now have gone to rehab. personal problems aside, this song (from one of the best records of 2006) is still a great slice of 60s influenced soul.
10. Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running Whilst the album still disappointed me a bit, this is still great.
11. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend : Yes, it is very annoying, but I still liked it despite myself.
12. Kelly Clarkson - Never Again : Pat Benatar reborn
13. PJ Harvey - When under Ether : John Peel would have liked it, I do.
14. Grinderman - No Pussy Blues : Well, precisley.
15. The Hold Steady - Chips Ahoy : Whoahhh ...
16. Jenny Owen Youngs - Fuck was I : A pleasnt surprise as support for Aimee Mann.
17. McQueen - Running out of Things to Say : As I get further down this list, i know the feeling. A good honest all female rock band deliver a good tune.
18. Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone : Another one of those songs that i really wanted to hate this year, but it is so damn catchy that i sing it every time.
19. Queens of the Stone Age - 3s & 7s : Just a great rock song.
20. Good Charlotte - Keep your Hands off my Girl : I don't like GC. No really. I think they suck. However, I had to admit that this song got under my skin for quite a while earlier this year.

Comments

Jim Marquis said…
I loved "The Pretender". It's furious but not stupid sounding like so much hard rock.

Popular posts from this blog

Substack: the new blogging and a new music newsletter

  Hello again my old blogger blog. Just checking in to plug the new substack newsletter I'm doing. It is also home to the CTTB Music podcast and its archive too. Why not pay me a visit and sign up for future editions of the newsletter (free) 

Todd Rundgren @ The Forum 23/11/2008

I think this was Todd's first appearance at the Forum since he recorded a live album there back in 1994 on the No World Order tour. He was all alone for that one. Tonight, things could not have been more different as Todd brought the Arena tour to London. What can I say. It rocked. Playing the same set that he has been doing for the whole tour - opening with Love in Action, Open my Eyes, Black Maria, I Saw the Light etc, before playing Arena in its entirety - this was guitar rock heaven (and let's face it, probably the last time you'll see Todd doing this kind of tour in the UK). The band were tight, the backing vocals near perfection, and a few ropey moments aside, Todd's vocals strong and good. It was a real joy to see him playing so much lead guitar, after recent years of being more of the 'singer in the band'. There were a few technically issues near the start, when Todd couldn't get the clean guitar sound he wanted, and one amusing moment when he manag...

The Decemberists - 'The Hazards of Love'

Whilst the Decemberists have been around for a number of years, and a friend of mine is a big fan, I have to confess - a few tunes aside - they have never really made much of a splash with me. With their fifth album - 'The Hazards of Love' - a 17-track concept album that sort of tells a story about a fair maiden ravished by a shape-shifting demon (no, really) - however, I am suddenly find myself surprisingly won over. On some levels - like most concept albums - it is utter tosh, but with its repeating musical motifs and reprises, making you quickly think that actually there are only about five actual songs on the album - a clever trick. Like with all good concept albums this makes listening on shuffle not the ideal way to digest this album - especially as their are short 'interlude' pieces joining all the songs too. Added to all this the fact that the band seem to have a love for early 70's British folk/prog/heavy metal and this walks right up my street - and will ...