the GUARDIAN-escolhas 2007

1 LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver What we said: "Sound of Silver houses two songs that pack a devastating emotional punch ... This is dance-rock for grown-ups: extraordinary." 5 stars 2 Radiohead: In Rainbows What we said: "It may represent the strongest collection of songs Radiohead have assembled for a decade." 5 stars 3 The Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America What we said: "The Hold Steady's bar-room rock is a perfect, if counter-intuitive accompaniment to Craig Finn's downbeat tales." 5 stars. Picks of the year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2007's best albums As voted by the Guardian's music writers. Tell us what you think on the blog Friday December 7, 2007 The Guardian James Murphy sleeps off a hard night celebrating his illustrious Guardian critics' endorsement 1 LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver What we said: "Sound of Silver houses two songs that pack a devastating emotional punch ... This is dance-rock for grown-ups: extraordinary." 5 stars 2 Radiohead: In Rainbows What we said: "It may represent the strongest collection of songs Radiohead have assembled for a decade." 5 stars 3 The Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America What we said: "The Hold Steady's bar-room rock is a perfect, if counter-intuitive accompaniment to Craig Finn's downbeat tales." 5 stars Article continues -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 MIA: Kala What we said: "An album that could only have been made in 2007." 4 stars 5 Klaxons: Myths of the Near Future What we said: "Indie chancers trying to pass this ropey stuff off as a dance revival is insulting and pointless." 1 star 6 Kings of Leon: Because of the Times What we said: "Like a hunk of blue cheese, Tennessee's Kings of Leon seem to be getting better with age." 4 stars 7 Grinderman: Grinderman What we said: "Not many rock records make you laugh out loud, fewer still make you laugh out loud intentionally." 4 stars 8 Battles: Mirrored What we said: "These hi-tech New York instrumentalists finally propel themselves into quite another league." 5 stars 9 PJ Harvey: White Chalk What we said: "The austerity of Harvey's self-imposed constraints is uncompromising but rewarding." 4 stars 10 Feist: The Reminder What we said: "While nothing here is wholly original, it is a pleasure for as long as it plays." 3 stars 11 Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare What we said: "There's nothing to scare off the more lumpen sections of their audience, but more than enough to make the discerning listener wonder what they might do next." 4 stars 12 Robert Plant and Alison Krauss What we said: "The music is sparse, blues-inflected country, suggestive of dusty rooms illuminated by shafts of golden evening light, in which these two exquisite voices can roam and relax." 4 stars 13 The Felice Brothers: Tonight at the Arizona What we said: Not reviewed 14 Arcade Fire: Neon Bible What we said: "An album this mired in fathomless darkness shouldn't sound so dazzling, but it does. A thrilling enigma." 4 stars 15 Les Savy Fav: Let's Stay Friends What we said: Not reviewed 16 The Good, the Bad & the Queen: The Good, the Bad & the Queen What we said: "You're left both marvelling at the album itself, and considering what a unique figure Albarn cuts." 4 stars 17 Britney Spears: Blackout What we said: "A torrent of ferociously distorted synthesizers, electronically treated vocals, snapping drum samples and bovver-booted glam rock beats." 4 stars 18 Bruce Springsteen: Magic What we said: "Continues to suffer from a difficulty in locating a decent tune, but there is plenty to enjoy." 3 stars 19 Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter What we said: "The constant Dylan and Springsteen comparisons can't be easy. But Ritter just gets more assured." 4 stars 20 El-P: I'll Sleep When You're Dead What we said: "A series of abrasive and rattlingly nonconformist tracks with densely packed parcels of syllabic invective." 3 stars