Flashback 2007

I just realized I'm the only idiot who hasn't written anything about 2007 that was good. Everyone else blogged about how happy the new year would be or what were their top favorites of 2007. Chippy did his Top 5 Album Covers while Bunny blogged ten entries long about her Top 100 Songs (that was some lengthy stuff there).

I am but two weeks late but hey, who's counting eyy??

Here's my Top 10 Albums of The Year that I thought were pretty good listens.

10. Lifehouse - Who We Are











Songs of Note: First Time, Whatever It Takes, Who We Are, From Where You Are

Never thought they'd have that record out and they haven't sounded uptempo probably since Hanging By A Moment. No surprises in their sound, its the earnestness in their lyrics and the mellowness that seems to seep between the lines. Melody-wise, it all sounds the same and the tunes don't seem to deviate that much from each other.

9. Good Charlotte - Good Morning Revival









Songs of Note: Misery, Dance Floor Anthem, Broken Heart Parade, Break Apart Her Heart

Like all rockstars before them and those whom will precede them, all they manage to do is get their girlfriends pregnant and make mediocre music. And like most Good Charlotte songs, they get stale pretty quickly. Good for those sleepy mornings but pollution for those long nights.

8. The Click Five - Modern Minds and Pastimes










Songs of Note: Empty, Flipside, The Reason Why, When I'm Gone

Cute new lead singer, new album, catchy songs. This not-a-boyband-but-looks-like-one are still wearing their trademark black suits and strutting their preppy stuff. They sounded lame on their first album, Greetings From Imerie House but have managed to somewhat redeem themselves, thanks to keyboardist and composer, Ben Romans. Their songs are addictive but again, not for long. Although up until now, Empty has been much of a favorite.

7. Elliott Yamin - Elliott Yamin









Songs of Note: You Are The One, Wait For You, One Word, Believe

Everybody needs a good dose of Elliott Yamin every now and then. He is an unbelievably small guy --for an American-- with an amazingly big voice. The husky, mellow undertones of his voice reminds me of a cup of rich hot chocolate that just slides down your throat on a cold day. He's on the border of sounding jazzy but not too Nat King Cole, although he retains that subtle hint of soul that makes him unique. Wait For You is his most notable single, but his other works are good too. It's just too damn bad he didn't win American Idol. I was rooting for both Chris Daughtry and him. Check out their live duet of Nickelback's Savin' Me on YouTube. it just shows that Rock and Pop are mixeable. Now, who was the idiot who won, again??

6. Backstreet Boys - Unbreakable









Songs of Note: Nowhere To Go, Satellite, Something That I Already Know, Helpless When She Smiles

Yes, I had to put them in. But they broke my heart. They broke my heart because all their songs are the same old not brand new them. So what if Kevin left?? Howie can't sing either. What's new there?? It's like they Never Left from the last album. Stagnant and full of angst. Come on guys. You're married and you've got kids. What's there to be depressed about?? But I still like their songs just because it's Backstreet Boys and I'm a sucker for cheesy boybands, old or otherwise. Yeah, and I memorized all their songs, okay??

5. Kanye West - Graduation










Songs of Note: Flashing Lights, Stronger, Good Life, Homecoming

Kanye, Kanye, Kanye. I just love the thumping beat of Stronger. It kinda makes you want to bust some moves. Moves that you KNOW you don't have. He won the war against 50 Cent. Both albums were scheduled to be released at the same time and the sales for Graduation led by a huge margin. He's a genius with words. Tell me, how does one use the word WRONGER and put BOTH Prince and OJ Simpson in one song?? That's just dope. He's engaged, he's got tons of Grammy nominations coming in and the only downturn of his life was the death of his mother. N- n- now th- that don't kill me, it can only make me stronger. Word.

4. OneRepublic - Dreaming Out Loud










Songs of Note: Someone To Save You, Mercy, Stop And Stare, All We Are

Ryan Tedder is another musical genius. And you can't believe that a band can look so unappealing but sound so good. Piano is evident in most tracks, played by Tedder. The fact that none of the other members contribute to singing is a question mark. Why, ehh?? But, no matter. Ryan Tedder has the lungs of a blue whale. The album is addictive and it's the sort where you need to listen to a few times to get the feel of it before really sinking your earphones deep down and never letting the album go.

3. Dean Geyer - Rush









Songs of Note: She Comes In Waves, If You Don't Mean It, She Takes Me, Can't Be You


You people wouldn't know him if he walked up beside you on a street. Quick introduction. Born in South Africa, Dean moved to Melbourne where he competed on the fourth season of Australian Idol. Yeah, he's the winner. So anywayz, I won't say his style of music is rock although it does sound like it but there's got a pop element to it. Very subtle, but it's there. It's probably because of his voice. No, he doesn't sound like Jesse McCartney, he's got this rough-edged voice but because he's 22, it's not Bon Jovi-like enough to be rock. But the tunes to his songs are one of a kind and although he's not a hit internationally, he seems to be doing well in the local Australian scene. Just something I brought back to from the Land Down Undaaaah...


2. Boys Like Girls - Boys Like Girls












Songs of Note: Thunder, Five Minutes To Midnight, On Top Of The World, Learning To Fall...and just about the whole album.

Such a refreshing album. And one that I just can't stop playing. The first time I mentioned Boys Like Girls to some friends, they looked at me like I was listening to crap music. Like, you know, they were spinoffs of the Backstreet Boys or something. Now, EVERYBODY wants to be a BLG fan. Shitheads. Supposedly, they released this album back in '06 and Hero/Heroine was their first single. It didn't make much of an impact, apparently so the guys re-packaged it and The Great Escape was an instant hit amongst mainstreamers.

Although their live sound isn't that big a deal, their songs are jumpable. It's the crowd-friendly type of songs where you need to sing it with everybody else to feel it pulsate within you.

1. Take That - Beautiful World (Deluxe Tour Edition)









Songs of Note: Reach Out, Rule The World (Extended), Six In The Morning Fool, Beautiful Morning...hell, the whole damn album!!

Hellloooooo!! Did you think I'd leave the greatest comeback band out?? Especially after they repackaged their album and included Rule The World from that blockbuster Stardust. I was all of nine years old but I remembered watching their last video clip. Do YOU remember what was their last single??

It was How Deep Is Your Love and I was nine, mind you, but I was already thinking my God!! How cute are these boys!! They're tied up by this dominatrix and they looked helplessly adorable with their puppydog eyes!! It was one of the best covers I'd heard over my less-than-a-decade life. And then they just HAD to break up. Bad enough one bad apple left the group when they were at their peak and came to Singapore when I was at an age where I couldn't even go to the shop alone much less go to a concert!!

Ohh yeah, I'd heard about that concert. But I couldn't go.

BUT I'M NOT BITTER!!! Ohhh nooooo...

It was an epoch where collecting magazines were all the rage and if you didn't know the names of ANY of the boybands that were in season, you were a loser.

But that's besides the point.

The first time I heard Patience on the radio, I thought my ears were deceiving me. I cocked my head to one side and contemplated the song. "Gary??" I pondered. It couldn't be. And then the jock on duty said, "Yes, folks. They're back for good!!" And then I screamed and maximized the volume. They're all old, no doubt about that. But their sound is still a joy to listen to PLUS they've got a slight alternative tone to some of their songs so some of it is a little loud. Gary Barlow is still a wonder composer and I just watched a few of their live performances. I would kill to play their songs on the piano. I already know Patience but Back For Good on the piano is just too good for words.

Anywayz, their repackaged album includes THREE versions of Rule The World, which they certainly are. Ruling the world, that is. Beautiful World is their most successful album to date. This, despite the many hits from their various other albums and I am not shy to say that I am so proud and so so so happy that they are back together. With or without that other man.

Okay, we've reached the end of last year's countdown so don't expect to see more from me anytime soon. I'm busy.

Laterz...
Lenny