TMS Presents: The Best CDs of 2007

If there is one thing the saloon bartenders like more than alcohol, its movies. Unfortunately its not time for the Best Movies of 2007 yet, so you have to deal with the Best CDs of 2007.

For reasons I don't remember (tequila was probably involved), I committed to collecting each bartender's list and putting them together in a post that would knock your dick in the dirt. Well, maybe not that good, but it would make your dick go somewhere. Instead, there's this.

Displaying the management skills that got my namesake recalled in 2003, I didn't bother to lay out any ground rules. As a result, some lists have blurbs, some don't. Some include the very important "Biggest Disappointment", others don't. You get the idea. Without further ado, the most Fergalicious CDs of 2007 (in no order whatsoever):

Chip Wesley - This list contains bluegrass. Exercise extreme caution.

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows - Let the naysayers bitch all they want and wax poetic about the brilliance of The Bends. Track for track this is the most solid album of 2007.

2. Okkervil River - The Stage Names - The only album in my Top 5 that no one else probably has. They win my "Quit Bugging Me" Award for the album I keep badgering people to check out. 'The Stage Names' takes the crown from the 2006 winner, 'The Loon' by Tapes n' Tapes.

3. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver - Good to see that some remnants of the whole electronica/dance fad lived on. This album really has grown on me.

4. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky - Just read whatever Brant puts down about them. He can probably praise this album better than I can, or at least give it a nice sprinkling of pompousness.

5. Silverchair - Young Modern - I have to admit the other bartenders turned me on to this. When they first talked about Silverchair having a new album I had to admit I was skeptical. All I could remember was Frogstomp. Well take the thoughts of that album and throw them out the window. Silverchair has greatly evolved. 'Straight Lines' quickly became a favorite of the Summer for me.

6. Hackensaw Boys - Look Out - They're a bluegrass group asshole. You shut your mouth and have a listen before you say anything else. I'm quite certain that if you don't like this album you don't like music.

7. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - This album gets better towards the end then at the beginning. This would've ranked higher if it weren't for track 2, 'The Ghost of You Lingers'. I just don't like that song at all and it's reached "automatic hit the skip button reflex" level every time it comes on.

8. White Stripes - Icky Thump - Jack White still rocking out in his own world of absurdity. The odder tracks like 'Conquest' and 'Prickly Thorn, Sweetly Worn' are probably my favorites.

9. The Subjects - With the Ease Grace Precision and Cleverness of Human Beings - This is a sneaky album. Many of the tracks start out as simple standard fare lo-fi indie rock that you find yourself tapping your foot to. But then they build up some steam and suddenly you find yourself thinking, "You know, this actually fucking rocks."

10. Patton Oswalt - Werewolves and Lollipops - "AMERICA! Eating my lunch from a single bowl!" When you're done with your Dane Cook and Carlos Mencia bullshit, go check out what truly funny and original stand-up comedian sounds like.

Biggest Disappointment - Governor Gray Davis's list

Brant Brown - This list is very diverse.

1. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky - This is their first studio album with Nels Cline on lead guitar. What a master. Slower in tempo than their previous efforts. More easy and heartfelt. Overall, Jeff Tweedy's second-best effort after Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Check out What Light, Side with the Seeds and Hate it Here.

2. Radiohead - In Rainbows - This is their best album since OK Computer, a slight notch above Kid A. A monumental effort on Nude, which has been floating around, occasionally being played live for over ten years. Weird Fishes is a driving song that highlights Yorke's voice. Great album through and through. Check out Weird Fishes, Nude, and House of Cards.

3. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver - Didn't know much about these guys till we saw them live, opening for Arcade Fire (should have been the other way around). This album made me finally break down and delve into the world of what the kids call "electronic" music. The driving rock/dance/disco rhythm's here are fun and made to be played at very high decibels. Check out North American Scum, Time to Get Away, and New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down.

4. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Though not as personally satisfying as Gimme Fiction, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is still a great album if listened to in its entirety. The Underdog looks to be giving these guys some much deserved popular acclaim, even if it may not be the best song on the album. Check out Cherry Bomb and Don't Make Me a Target.

5. Silverchair - Young Modern - As every rock critic has said, these guys finally grew up with Young Modern. While it may not necessarily be my favorite Silverchair album, it's brought them back into the rock fold, particularly with the success of Straight Lines. Daniel Johns is also a hell of a showman live, and clearly overcame the anorexia. Check out Reflections of a Sound and Those Theiving Birds.

6. Stereophonics - Pull the Pin - Certainly not their best effort either, but it has a couple modern rock gems in the batch. They need to get back to the shredding guitar solos and female backing vocals of yore. Check out It Means Nothing and Daisy Lane.

7. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - I'm souring on the Arcade Fire, mostly due to their lackluster live show. Still, no one can deny that this was a very good album. Check out (Antichrist Television Blues) and No Cars Go if you're one of the young Americans that doesn't already own the album.

8. The Good the Bad and the Queen - The Good the Bad and the Queen - Yet another excellent effort by Damon Albarn and a new handpicked crew of talent. Check out Northern Whale and The Good the Bad and the Queen.

9. Richard Swift - Dressed Up for the Letdown - Mellow solo artist that I personally enjoy. Others may not. So be it. Check out The Songs of National Freedom and P.S. It All Falls Down.

10. Kings of Leon - Because of the Times - Much better album than their second. Check out On Call and Ragoo.

Biggest Disappointment - The failure of the United States and philanthropists worldwide to apply charitable monetary contributions at the base levels, in support of the people and organizations who are on the ground solving real issues concerning malnutrition, potable water sources, genocide, and diseases such as AIDS and malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

Chaim Witz - This list is more diverse.

1. Silverchair - 'Young Modern' - Consider my dick to be in the dirt.

2. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - 'Once' Soundtrack - A fitting companion piece to my favorite movie of the year.

3. The White Stripes - 'Icky Thump' - My cat can probably play more complicated drum fills than Meg White but this is an album you can go into battle with.

4. Velvet Revolver - 'Libertad' - Because 'Chinese Democracy' is NEVER coming out.

5. Kanye West - 'Graduation' - Finally a rapper that doesn't scare white people. I'm in.

6. Bloc Party - 'A Weekend In the City' - This is some gay Brit dance rock that I can really get behind.

7. The New Pornographers - 'Challengers' - I try to support pornography in any way that I can.

8. Radiohead - 'In Rainbows' - Because I'm told that it is genius.

9. Cold War Kids - 'Robbers and Cowards' - This album is as uneven as my sexuality but when it's good it's real good.

10. The Shins - 'Wincing the Night Away' - Because Zach Braff told me to.

Biggest Disappointment - Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - This album probably would have been better if several relatives of the band had died while they recorded it

Daft Funk - (insert snide comment here)

1. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero - The most ambitious and well thought-out "album" of the year by far.

2. The White Stripes - Icky Thump - I don't care if it's now "trendy" to like Jack White. He is by far one of the most talented musicians in the world. He knows exactly to go with a subtle blues-y riff, or when to pull out all the stops for a face melting guitar solo.

3. Bright Eyes - Cassadega
4. Coheed And Cambria - Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World For Tomorrow
5. Electric Six - I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Master
6. Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times
7. Queens Of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
8. Against Me! - New Wave
9. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience And Grace
10. The Hives - The Black And White Album

GovernorGrayDavis - This list rules.

1. Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light - Bash away haters. This may be Jimmy Eat World's best CD. "Rock on young savior, just don't get up your hopes" - Where were those words of wisdom when I was 15? Download - Here it Goes

2. Silverchair - Young Modern - I was never into them when they came out, but the last three CDs have really hooked me. Download - Waiting All Day

3. Stereophonics - Pull the Pin - I'm not quite sure where these guys are heading, but I like it. Download - Stone

4. REM - REM Live - There's only one new song on here, but when you combine the CD and DVD, its three hours of REM live. You can't go wrong. Download - Ascent of Man

5. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight - I never thought I'd have a Linkin Park CD on anything other than a most overplayed rock/rap list. This is good stuff though. Download - Shadow of the Day

6. Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead - Another one I never thought I'd end up listing. The System of a Down singer's solo CD is hard and weird. Download - Feed Us

7. The Killers - Sawdust - There are a couple bombs on this one (Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town stands out as particularly awful), but thats inevitable with 17 tracks. Overall, its surprisingly good for a B-sides collection. Download - Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf

8. The Used - Lies for the Liars - This falls apart about halfway through, but 2007 wasn't a good year for music so here it is. Download - Hospital

9. Against Me - New Wave - I never heard of these guys until Thrash Unreal came out. Its kind of a punk/pop thing. Unfortunately they're from Florida. Download - Thrash Unreal

10. Kid Rock - Rock n Roll Jesus - Again, the derth of good music rears its head. I like Kid Rock, but this was a let down. There are five or six good ones on here though. Download - Lowlife (Living the Highlife)

Biggest Disappointment - The fact that every time Radiohead releases a CD that sounds like whales humping people cream their jeans.

Lingering Bursitis - Unfortunately, Camila Parker Bowles and kidney pie didn't make the cut.

1. Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab
2. Radiohead - In Rainbows
3. The Budos Band - II
4. Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
5. Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature
6. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
7. Eugene Blacknell - We Can't Take Life for Granted [compilation/re-issue]
8. Digitalism - Digitalism
9. Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain
10. Battles - Mirrored

Biggest Disappointment - Prince - Planet Earth

Dave Thomas - A lot of these look familiar...

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
3. The White Stripes - Icky Thump
4. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
5. Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab
6. Silverchair - Young Modern
7. Wu Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams
8. Jay-Z - American Gangster
9. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
10. Patton Oswalt - Werewolves and Lollipops

Biggest Disappointment - Bruce Springsteen - Magic

The Hundley - This list has been busted for performance enhancing drugs.

1. Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild Soundtrack - There's really no explanation other than it's just an album full of great songs. Not entirely long, but not too short either. Pearl Jam fans will appreciate it as it (obviously) is similar to the stuff that Eddie Vedder writes. Great driving music. Be sure to listen to "No Ceiling" and "Far Behind"

2. The White Stripes - Icky Thump - Seems like people are love/hate with Jack White. I'm not sure what's to hate aside from his goofy clothes and sometimes "David Bowie" look. The music is raw, loud, and raunchy much like their past stuff, while managing to distinguish itself nicely. Best part about this band is they don't try to do too much. I'll say it, Jack White is this generation's Jimi Hendrix with his talent and creativity. Hit play on "Icky Thump" and "Catch Hell Blues"

3. The Fucking Champs - VI
4. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky - They went all Grateful Dead.
5. Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris
6. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - This is Somewhere
7. Pearl Jam - Live at the Gorge 05/06
8. Silverchair - Young Modern
9. Interpol - Our Love to Admire
10. Bowerbirds - Hymns for a Dark Horse - I only voted for this because I am friends with the lead singer.