Top 13 Albums of 2007

So I was going to make my "Top 10 Albums of 2007" but I came up with 15 albums I wanted to put on it. I managed to whittle it down to 13 and decided that that was good enough. I'm not going to give much of an explanation for why I picked these because I'm no good at that. I am including a YouTube video for each, though. So here it goes:

13. Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth

I didn't get as into this album as I did his last, Shadows on the Sun, but it is still an excellent album. My favorite song is "Uncle Sam Goddamn" which there is a video for, so watch that.

12. Beastie Boys - The Mix Up

When I heard the Beastie Boys were coming out with a new album already (a three year gap is nothing for the Beastie Boys), I was really excited. Then I heard the album had a "60's theme" and I was confused. Then I realized it was all instrumental and, while more fully realized as an album, not totally different from their "In Sound From Way Out" compilation that I paid way too much for an import copy of in middle school. By that time, it was about to come out so I just bought it and enjoyed it.

11. Sole and Skyrider Band - s/t

This album just came out in October and I haven't listened to it too much yet but it's Sole with a live band that doesn't venture too far from his usual sound while still adding new depth because… y'know, it's a live band.

10. Macromantics - Moments in Movement

This is a really fun album, it should be a huge pop radio hit. Unfortunately, female MC's are not allowed (don't you dare mention Fergie) and her Australian accent is probably also unacceptable on US radio.

9. Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust

Saul Williams+Trent Reznor=WIN. Download the album, if you haven't: http://niggytardust.com/

8. Rob Sonic - Sabotage Gigante

I loved the beats on Rob Sonic's last album, Telicatessen, but was otherwise pretty ambivalent towards. He stepped it up big time on this album lyrically. "What's good like referees with two arms erect?" That line is just funny but there is some really good stuff on here.

7. Robert Rodriguez - Planet Terror Soundtrack

This is probably the first time a soundtrack has ever made my list. Robert Rodriguez made something worthy of John Carpenter, this is the best non-orchestral score I've ever heard and the only one that's likely to get played in my car.

6. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero

I've never been a big NIN fan, but the viral marketing for this album pulled me in and the album was more than worthy of it. This was real viral marketing, by the way, not "viral marketing is hot, go buy some CRAZY URL's and let's make some commercials for YouTube!" Speaking of YouTube, please forgive the incredibly corny video, it's a great song.

5. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass

I don't like this as much as Bazooka Tooth, but Aesop Rock stayed true to his word in making an album full of stories. Bazooka Tooth was one big, hectic sound scape full of lyrics that made his other work seem straight forward and simple. He couldn't take it any further in that direction so he went in a totally different one.

4. Atmosphere - Sad Clown Bad Summer 9/Fall 10/Winter 11

Okay, so this is actually three EP's, but together they make a really good album. Sunshine, from Sad Clown Bad Summer 9, was my official "leaving work at 6 AM" song all Summer and always cheered me up after dealing with Larry all night… but that's a different topic all together.

3. Blockhead - Uncle Tony's Coloring Book

Blockhead doesn't get nearly enough credit for his solo material. He is hailed for his production work with Aesop Rock, but for me, his album surpassed Aesop's this year. As for the video… I dunno what's up with that. Looks like footage from a bad reality show, it's not an official video but it's all I could find and the song is great.

2. Hangar 18 - Sweep The Leg

Hangar 18 are the most underrated group in all of hip hop. Their second album is a huge leap from "The Multi-Platinum Debut" which I loved, but tended to stick to one sound and pretty much every song was filled with double time fast raps full of abstract lyrics that you couldn't even understand on the first listen. This time, the beats are much improved and raps have a lot more variety.

1. El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead

I really had no choice to make, this was by far my favorite album of the year. I can't do it justice in my explanation, so just listen to it.