Lopez Blogs

THEZAPPING TOP ALBUMS OF 2007 (25-21)

25 ~ The Killers, Sam’s Town: How appropriate that the first on the list of the great albums of 2007 should have been released in 2006! But for me, this list is about albums that i listened to most in 2007 and those are final quarter 2006 albums then so be it! Sam’s Town didn’t quite match the giddy brilliance of debut set Hot Fuss, although it certainly proved that B-Flo and the boys could still pump out bombastic melodies, crafted lyrics and deliver it all with a sense of showmanship and style. Bolt on set Sawdust proved that there were some highlights to add to the opus that made it more or less complete.

3 key tracks: When You Were Young; Bones; Read My Mind

24 ~ Justin Lanning, Behind These Eyes: Young Justin worked pretty hard to get his music out there, and in an outpouring of blood sweat and tears managed to get a small record label to get his music online, leading to a larger distribution deal in the new year. and well deserved it is too. A peppy set of guitar based pop-rock songs matched with Justin’s smooth vocal style meant that despite the poppy nature of the album, the melodies were strong and the sentiments deep. A largely undiscovered treasure trove of pop gems.

3 key tracks: Voices; Fingertips; Take My Breath Away

23 ~ Girls Aloud, Tangled Up: Really, Girls Aloud should have faded into obscurity long before their greatest hits albums (given the success of other tv show acts) but have soldiered on with a stellar selection of singles, that are largely attributed to their collaboration with xenomania. This may be their best album (Christmastry notwithstanding) to date and certainly the most cohesive. In fact, along with Westlife and Sugababes, the Girls are certainly proving that you can have longevity in a pop career and continue to knock out a bonza selection of tunes.

3 key tracks: Sexy No No No; Can’t Speak French; Blackjacks

22 ~ Scissor Sisters, Ta-Dah: Another 2006 remnant but one that I appreciated much much more as 2007 rolled on. The singles may have had the law of increasingly diminshed returns, but that doesn’t mean the tracks didn’t sparkle, particularly those that were built around a honky tonk piano riff. And let’s face it ~ any album that contributed to Sean Same Difference riding onto the X Factor stage on a tricycle has got to be a bit of a winner with me.

3 key tracks: I Don’t Feel Like Dancing; I Can’t Decide; Intermission

21 ~ Rooney, Calling The World: Apart from a sanguine Christmas song on the OC Chrismukkah soundtrack, I had no comprehension of who Rooney were until I heard their glorious single When Did Your Heart Go Missing. The album certainly wasn’t disappointing ~ full of edgy guitar sounds, crystalline vocals and an aces knack of composing detailed melodies that stick in the head for days. Shame the UK got totally jipped on the cover then. The US version is way way better…

3 key tracks: When Did Your Heart Go Missing; I Should’ve Been After You; Paralyzed

THEZAPPING TOP TRACKS OF 2007 (25-21)

25= ~ Britney Spears, Gimme More: Who would have thought that this song that seemed so monotonous and dull at first would be come more insistent and insinuative with each listen? Her personal life may have been an utter car crash (and continues to be) but this slutty electro groove proves that at least her record label have an understanding of what makes a good pop song. Expect Piece of Me to be in my top tracks of 2008. Yes, I am as shocked as you are…

25= ~ Arctic Monkeys, Florescent Adolescent: More clever wordy wordplay from Adem’s wet dream. This for me was the definite stand out moment from their tres bon sophomore set and had me giggling with glee at the rapidfire lyrics that practically spewed from his tongue. Never has rubbishing someone’s life sounded so completely delightful. Now, did she ever find out if it was a mecca dobber or a betting pencil???

24 ~ Hairspray Cast, You Can’t Stop The Beat: Ah, my obsession of the year before Same Difference came into play and actually an ideal song for them to cover. Hairspray was just the feelgood movie of the year with a genuinely addictive soundtrack to match. Every moment of this song positively drips with sunshine and lollipops, and puts a smile on my face every time I hear it. Much like the film does. And same difference. Sigh…

23 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Cara Mia: Suave, good looking, great (then increasingly dubious) hair and the voice of an angel. If that angel had fallen to earth and whored himself out for a few months to get by. mans made this very europop tune sound romantic and dirty all at the same time, and the tune not only worked in dance mix format but also in a stripped back acoustic version, that sits prettily along side his beautiful interpretation of All I Want For Christmas Is You.

22 ~ Magnus Carlsson, Live Forever: It sampled A-Ha’s Take On Me for crissakes so instantly became the best A-ha but not A-Ha song since A1 actually sang Take On Me. Possibly the most pure pop offering of 2007, it sizzled with camposity and glittered with disco magic. And yet again, a stripped back version showed the song in a gentler light as a crooning Magnus sings it ballad style and positively drips with honey goodness.

21 ~ BWO, Rhythm Drives Me Crazy: This won’t be the last time you see BWO on this list. While everyone else found their third album just that little bit samey, I revelled in the fact that at least someone was putting out Stepsesque pop tunes for me to enjoy. This was a bit of a grower, but ultimately a terrific pop dance number that really did deserve to find a much wider audience…

Didn’t quite make the cut, but v good anyway: Simon Curtis, Another Heartache; Maroon 5, Won’t Go Home Without You; Mark Ronson, Valerie; Robyn, Be Mine and Roisin, Overpowered (oh don’t look so shocked at the last two! I don’t get their constant accolades but i do like a couple of their tunes!!)