sevenLOVE/v1 - Favorite Music of 2007

These albums and songs (in no particular order) were my personal favorites of 2007.
ALBUMS
1.) Amy Winehouse, Back to Black

Her increasingly bizarre exploits and lately tragic persona may be a favorite of the tabloids, but no one turned out a more brilliant, exhilarating, enjoyable album all year. From the increasingly tragic and ironic Rehab to the heartbreakingly beautiful Love is a Losing Game to the genius Supremes-infused title track to the cathartic Tears Dry On Their Own, the album, from start to finish, is a wonder - awash in vintage Motown, classic pop, and modern R&B. A modern day masterpiece.

2.) Alicia Keys, As I Am

Alicia Keys just keeps getting better and better with every album. As I Am is by far her most satisfying yet. Continuing her convergence of vintage with more modern explorations of R&B and hip-hop, she adds flourishes of rock and classic pop into the mix as well, creating a rich album full of killer songs. Smash hit No One, new hit Like You'll Never See Me Again, and Tell You Something are a few of the very hard-to-pick highlights. Also, don't miss out on a killer duet with John Mayer, Lesson Learned.


3.) Maroon 5, It Won't Be Soon Before Long

"Sophomore Slump" is clearly not in this band's vocabulary. Maroon 5 came out of recording hibernation, hooks blazing, with first single, Makes Me Wonder, a fierce disco-rock declaration, and never looked back, giving us an album soaked through with insatiable hooks, great pop songwriting, and the sweet sounds of lead vocalist Adam Levine. Don't miss Wake Up Call, Nothing Lasts Forever, Not Falling Apart, and Better That We Break.



4.) Michael Buble, Call Me Irresponsible

Some may dismiss him as a cold Sinatra wannabe, but there is no denying that voice. No one his age in music today can wrap their velvety voice around a gorgeous pop standard like Michael Buble. Not only does the guy have some of the most breathtaking male pop vocals anywhere, but he continues to prove astute with his song choices - in particular, Willie Nelson's Always On My Mind, a classic song of lost love and regret that he turns into a gorgeously lush meditation.


5.) Josh Groban, Noel

If I ever got the chance to record multi-million selling albums, I would want them to sound like Josh Groban albums. No one is making more gorgeous sounding albums than he. It was really only a matter of time before he tackled a holiday album, and thank goodness too, because this is one of the greatest Christmas albums to come along in quite some time. From the moment the choir comes in on Silent Night, you will be completely hooked and unable to let go until the closing strains of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir-assisted O Come All Ye Faithful. Don't miss the beautiful and timely original, Thankful.


6.) Barbra Streisand, Streisand Live in Concert 2006

The greatest female pop singer of our time proves that she's still got it on this double disc recording of her 2006 concert tour. From classics including a stunning, Act I closing Funny Girl suite to newer material like her haunting rendition of Unusual Way from the Broadway musical Nine, there's no denying the wealth of talent still being utilized to astounding effect in this vocal tour de force.


7.) Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion

No album this year was more irresistably fun than this one - it's like a giant glass of the most bubbly, effervescent pink champagne. If Elton John, the Scissor Sisters, and Freddie Mercury got together and had a baby, that baby would be named Mika. Don't miss the infectious Lollipop, the driving Grace Kelly, the beautiful Any Other World, the gospel finale Happy Ending, or Relax (Take It Easy) with its classic '80's sample of I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight.


SONGS
1.) Rihanna featuring Jay-Z, Umbrella
2-3.) Fergie, Glamorous (featuring Ludacris) and Big Girls Don't Cry
4.) Beyonce, Irreplaceable
5.) Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown, No Air
6.) Seal, Amazing
7.) Sugarland, Stay
8.) Chris Brown, With You
9.) OneRepublic & Timbaland, Apologize
10-11.) Justin Timberlake, What Goes Around...Comes Around and Lovestoned
12.) Mark Ronson, Stop Me
13.) LeeAnn Rimes, What I Cannot Change
14.) Robin Thicke, Lost Without U
15-16.) Rihanna, Shut Up and Drive and Rehab
17.) Hem, The Part Where You Let Go
18.) India.Arie, The Heart of the Matter
19.) Dashboard Confessional, Stolen
20.) Martina McBride, Anyway
21.) Dierks Bentley, Long Trip Alone

CONCERTS
-I only went to two major concerts this year, but oh what concerts. Justin Timberlake's Futuresex/Loveshow and Beyonce's The Beyonce Experience were both tour de forces in terms of talent, artistry, and pure musical spectacle.

Coming soon...Favorite Films and Books of 2007.

My stomach is stuffed (with food). The trash is stuffed (with discarded giftwrap paraphenalia - isn't it a shame to spend so much time carefully putting together beautifully wrapped packages only to have them ripped open in a moment of post-dawn Christmas morning frenzy?). And our house is stuffed (with relatives). It must be Christmas Afternoon. And here I am - secluded away on the Mac, typing this, the very first entry in my new blog.

Now, I have attempted blog beginnings before with only the best and most heartfelt of intentions only to find my interest wane soon thereafter (whether its minutes or months) as the blog dies a slow, neglected death. This time is different though. This time, I am determined to stick with it. So here we go...