Honorable Mention: Misery Business -Paramore
Yet another pop rock band that uses MTV reality shows, catchy hooks, and non threatening lyrics to lure you in. It might not be ground breaking or even important music but this track is the kind you find yourself blasting and singing along to with the windows rolled down. Definitely my guiltiest pleasure of the year.
5. The Pretender- Foo Fighters
Yes there is a “Foo Formula” and that’s ok. The slow intro, the quiet guitars, the thundering rise of the drums, and then the frenzied guitar work are staples of any Foo song. On the first track from their latest album Dave Grohl and the guys play the parts perfectly and the sum is one of the best rock tracks of the year.
4. Piece of Me- Britney Spears
The surprise of 2007 was that while Britney the person fell lower and lower into the pits of crazy, Britney the entertainer turned out her best album ever. Sure it’s overproduced and we can all agree that Brit probably had little to do with it but in the end she made a dance album that has a number of outstanding tracks. Piece of Me stands out as the strongest lyrically as Britney defends and accepts herself in the face of stardom. If only you saw the sense she makes in the song translate to her real life.
3. State of Massachusetts- Dropkick Murphys
As I mentioned in my initial review of the Boston rockers’ latest album, this track sounds like a sequel to Shipping Up to Boston, their Woody Guthrie cover that gained national acclaim when it was featured in The Departed. This time around though it’s a Dropkick original and it embodies why this band is still successful after 10 plus years. At their show last month in St Paul, this song brought the house down with its battle cries, bagpipes, and thumping drums.
2. Flashing Lights- Kanye West
Overall I think Kanye might be losing his edge a bit but this track might be his best ever. The synth work is crazy and the background vocals are complementary without being overpowering. Lyrically its some of the most consistent work from the Chi-town baller.
1. Here it Goes- Jimmy Eat World
My favorite track from my favorite album of 2007. In a year where perennial favorites of mine like Against Me! and the Dropkicks released new albums, Jimmy Eat World came out with one that shattered the concepts of emo music they helped shape years ago with their seminal album Bleed America. Big Casino and Dizzy are two of the many other great tracks but Here it Goes is the best rock and roll song I’ve heard in the last two years.
Looking Forward to 2008 and Most Disappointing of 2007: Dillinger Four
It’s a testament to how much I love this band that while I can be disappointed that they failed to release anything new for the third year in a row, I’m still stoked beyond belief the their much awaited 4th studio album. I’m keeping my hopes up that they’ll not fall into either of these categories next year.
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