Doobybrain.com

The year 2007 was a busy year in music for me. Here’s what I thought made a musical impact on me in the past year. Lots of good stuff here, so take some time to check them all out.

Now, just to be clear, not all of these albums may have been released in 2007. However, the reason why they may appear on this list of music in 2007 is because I happened to come across them in 2007. With that said, let’s jump in and get this list going.

THE ‘ALBUM OF THE YEAR’ AWARD

Maroon 5 – It Won’t Be Soon Before Long

When I think back on 2007, the album that will remind me most about the good times, the fun times, and the times out of New York City will be Maroon 5’s It Won’t Be Soon Before Long. Hearing the first track (”If I Never See Your Face Again”) just instantly brings a smile to my face.

Runners-up for ALBUM OF THE YEAR:

• Jimmy Eat World – Chase This Light
• Relient K – Five Score and Seven Years Ago

THE ‘I JUST WANT TO DANCE’ AWARD

September – In Orbit

After hearing “It Doesn’t Matter” on the music player on the Abercrombie & Fitch website, I just couldn’t stop playing the song. It quickly became one of a few other summer 2007 anthems of mine. Those who hung out with me in 2007 will recall my obsession with this particular song and album.

THE ‘I KNOW THIS IS OLD AND THAT I’M MAD LATE TO THE GAME’ AWARD

John Mayer – Heavier Things

This album struck me as so delightful that I actually wrote an entry just for it. The fact that this album is several years older than any other album that might be on this list is just a show of how some music can totally slip by me (obviously, I cannot listen to everything or care for everything that’s hyped). Even as I write this little paragraph, I wonder how in the world I managed to miss this entire album especially since it’s so good.

THE ‘SINGLE OF THE YEAR’ AWARD

Timbaland – Give It To Me (feat. Justin Timberlake & Nelly Furtado)

Let’s just say…everytime I drove the car, I had this song on repeat. And when I got out of the car, I had this song playing on my computer. And when I was out, I had this song playing on my iPod. As I am writing this paragraph I am listening to this song. That’s why this song wins.

THE ‘OOHH, THIS BAND IS GOOD LIVE’ AWARD

The Strokes – Live at Alexandra Palace

Again, here’s an album that I wrote an entry for simply because I thought it was worth doing so. Were it not for me trying to find a certain version of “Hard To Explain”, I would have never come across this fantastic live set from The Strokes. And yes, you can still download the entire album for free here.

Runners-up for OOHH THIS BAND IS GOOD LIVE:

• Mute Math – Flesh & Bones – Electric Fun
• Audio Adrenaline – Live From Hawaii: The Farewell Concert

THE ‘ROCKIN’ ALL NIGHT LONG’ AWARD

The Fratellis – Costello Music

I can pretty much listen to this album wherever and whenever.

Runners-up for ROCKIN’ ALL NIGHT LONG:

• Hot Hot Heat – Happiness Ltd.
• The Thrills – Teenager
• Kaiser Chiefs – Yours Truly, Angry Mob

THE ‘POP PRINCESS’ AWARD

Sara Bareilles – Little Voice

It seemed like out of nowhere in the later half of 2007, Sara Bareilles came onto the scene and just stole the pop show. Her single “Love Song” was a big hit and her ensuing live performances on TV as well as on tour (with Maroon 5) propelled her into the music spotlight for sure. In August, I wrote about how much I loved her album and even to this very day it remains one of the most visited posts on Doobybrain.com (primarily for the hand-written lyrics that I provided an image of in that post). If you haven’t listened to this album, you should.

Runner-up for POP PRINCESS:

• Rachael Yamagata – Happenstance

THE ‘CCM’ AWARD

Tim Hughes – Holding Nothing Back

Holding Nothing Back beat out David Crowder Band’s Remedy for this award. It was a hard choice, but I made the choice by imagining which album I’d rather listen to if I were stuck on a huge island in the middle of nowhere with no immediate way to get off. Oh wait, I am in that situation, and I’d rather listen to Holding Nothing Back.

Runner-up for CCM:

• Robbie Seay Band – Give Yourself Away

THE ‘WHAT A SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!’ AWARD

G Swing – Swing for Modern Clubbing

Ask and you shall receive! That’s the lesson I learned when I asked a store employee what was being played over their store-wide music system one day. He said G Swing. I fell in love.

I go through a lot of music every year and only the best manage to find a place on my iPod and computer. But since there’s virtually an infinite amount of music that can win an award and only limited awards available (or rather, a limited amount that I want to make up), there are bound to be a few albums left behind in the dust.

Well, below is a list of albums that are definitely worth listening to but that I just couldn’t fit into any specific category:

• Sherwood – A Different Light
• Travis – The Boy With No Name
• Cary Brothers – Who You Are
• James Morrison – Undiscovered
• mathbox twenty – Exile on Mainstream
• Feeder – The Singles
• The Shins – Wincing The Night Away
• Bebe – Pafuera Telarañas

If you’re craving for some more tunes, then I suggest you check out my end of 2006 music list or my Last.fm page. You’ll likely find something good to try there.

Here’s to a wonderful and musical 2008! Cheers!