Holy hell, it’s here!
We are fiiiiiinally posting the Fyrehaus 2007 Year End List. All our favorites, spread out over the next five days. We promise to be better about this next year. Unless we aren’t.
Albums of the Year
Goodbooks - Control: (Sarah Says) I admit that I got into Goodbooks because they look like the boys of Harry Potter, but then “Passchendaele” came out, and it’s a gorgeous, genuinely moving song. But the whole album is amazing! For a debut album, it is insanely tight and together. Here is a handy formula: The Rakes + Editors - 10 years = Goodbooks!
Recommended Tracks: Good Life Salesman, Beautiful to Watch
Cobra Starship - Viva La Cobra: (Sarah) Cobra Starship was intended to be a novelty, and their first album, while good, had the feel of a novelty act stretched a bit too thin. But, faced with the prospect of touring an album he’d recorded alone, Gabe Saporta picked up a drum tech, folk duo This Is Ivy League, and a girl who could rock the keytar (preceded by one that couldn’t). The five of them, plus Patrick Stump doing the producing, was an insane combination. This album is mind-blowing. If you own a gay dance club, this must be on your decks all year. If you like to dance in the privacy of your own home, buy this. If you frequently host dance parties in your mom’s basement, this album will both make people dance, and fill up the makeout corners.
Recommended Tracks: Smile for the Paparazzi, The World Has Its Shine
(Megan Says) Sarah said it first, as she tried to pimp this album to me: it’s like NSync made a fourth album, and it was good. Not just good, great, superb, awesome. It’s the poppin’ fresh beats of 2010, ok, but saddled with lyrics that prove Gabe’s in control of himself and his image, such as “I’m just a boy who’s afraid of the dark,” and ” Only see what I let you see/ Over and over again.”
Recommended: My Moves Are White (White Hot, That Is)
Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High: (Sarah) I put this album on the list because I knew, intellectually, that it qualified, but I couldn’t articulate why, so I put it on. And then I listened to it again. Holy heck, you guys! This album is AWESOME! It’s fun and you can sing along loudly in the car, but its so complicated. The guitars are amazing and intricate, the vocal layering is astounding. I find it hard to work while listening to this, always finding a new chord or run or backing vocal. It’s good. Straight up, no lie, good.
Recommended Tracks: The Take Over, Hum Hallelujah
(Megan) This is an album of singles that still works as a whole. Each song on here, with perhaps the exception of “Golden” should be a single. “Golden” shouldn’t only because it’s too good for singledom. Patrick Stump is proving he’s an excellent producer in addition to his other talents.
Recommended: This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race.
The Kooks - Inside In Inside Out: (Sarah) This is one of those albums that is really hard to be specific about because I had a definite Kooks <i>phase</i>. Back in the early summer, this was all I listened to at work. It’s so poppy and fun. It’s got that tone that people describe as jangly, but I think of as bouncy, like early Libertines.
Recommended Tracks: Sofa Song, Match Box
Lily Allen - Alright Still: (Sarah) Lily Allen’s <i>Alright Still</i> IS TO my 25th year AS NSync’s No Strings Attached< WAS TO my 19th year. It’s got that same poppy feeling. Bubblegum with the undercurrent of really deft songwriting. There are songs that make you laugh in there, and songs that make you dance. It gives you a little more attitude, and makes you feel fabulous.
Recommended Tracks: Not Big, Can’t Knock ‘Em Out
(Megan) Look, this woman can spin words on a dime. Or should I say a quid? “Not Big” is a knockout punch that flirts with you before and buys you a lager after.
The Used - Lies for the Liars: (Sarah) I was never a big fan of The Used, though I vaguely remember their first single, but friends kept recommending this album to me. And it is amazing. It is the greatest angry breakup album ever written. The lyrics aren’t always the best, but the way Bert’s metaphors fall apart into “I hope you choke and you die” in the second verse of “Pretty Handsome Awkward” makes him the embodiment of every pissed off broken heart. Also, the melodies are fun!
Recommended Tracks: Pretty Handsome Awkward, Hospital. (Bonus Tracks - Every teenaged pop-punk couple is going to adopt “All Mine” as <i>their</i> song at Warped this year. The emo/goths are going to go with “Smother Me.”)
Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City: (Megan) Do we have words for Bloc Party? Yes, yes we do: still great. I know many people thought this follow-up to Silent Alarm was disappointing, and I think they’re stupid. This is a concept album without one over-the-top thesis; it’s a rock opera without The Who. Sit your ass in a chair and listen to the entire thing without interruption.
Recommended Tracks: Song for Clay (Disappear Here), We Were Lovers
Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly Angry Mob: (Sarah) Yes, I fully acknowledge that this is a knee-jerk pick. The Chiefs can do no wrong by me. But this album seriously did not get a fair shake. Sophomore albums are never as great as the original, but this is fun. There’s that same Britpop pop, and an undercurrent of maturity. They’ve gone biographical, and it turned out pretty great.
Recommended Tracks: Highroyds, Heat Dies Down
(Megan) I will admit, it took me a while to warm up to this sophomore album, not because it was a radical departure, just because I’m so in love with the original Employment songs. “The Angry Mob” is an astoundingly strong single, one I hope plays at British footy matches. Calling them the next Blur is really an insult to both bands, but if you enjoyed Parklife you should give this a listen.
(Elisabeth) Personally, I’m not crazy about this album, though the tracks have been growing on me a bit when they pop up in shuffle mode. Continuing my ability to like the slow songs that will never be played in concert, “Love’s Not A Competition, But I’m Winning” is my favorite track.
The Cribs - Men’s Needs Women’s Needs Whatever: (Megan) The Cribs have finally grown into their own sound with this third release. They’ve relaxed a bit, know they don’t need to prove themselves (especially to you), and spend more time wrapping their catchy-but-still-hardcore riffs around their Wakefield lyrics.
Recommended Tracks: Our Bovine Public, I’m A Realist, Men’s Needs
(Elisabeth) Their third album managed to be tighter and more sophisticated without losing their slightly manic and anarchic air. And because no one else will mention it: listen to “Shoot the Poets,” it’ll make you cry.
