Disposble Media’s Top 10 LPs of 2007.

We’ve reviewed a few albums in the magazine this year. We’ve listened to even more. Here then are our top ten LPs of 2007. Alot of you will disagree no doubt, many will agree. Whatever your standpoint, get in contact by leaving us some comments-we’d especially like to have your suggestions for albums we missed out.

1. Radiohead, In Rainbows
This only just made it to number one by virtue of being (physically) released today. It is the best album of the year and now that it’s available to everyone as a physical CD, there is awkward discussion away from the album to prevent the songs being as immaculate as they are. For a much more detailed look at In Rainbows, keep an eye out for Disposable Media Issue 10, due early January 2008.

2. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
The first listen to Sound of Silver yielded one response; where are the singles? Subsequent listens illicit two responses; 1-who cares? And 2-wow.
This isn’t a dance album. It isn’t a rock album. It’s not indie, grindie, big-beat or hardcore nor is it especially different. What Sound of Silver is though, is an album for music fans, an album for grown ups and kids, an album so immaculately conceived and produced that at times it defies belief that in 2007 someone can produce an album that sounds both perfectly now and so ‘timeless’. It is practically perfect.

3. Justice, Cross
There are times when Cross is so loud that it barely makes sense. Made of what seems like a combination of drum beats and feedback for a large majority, it’s easy to dismiss Cross as an overly simplistic dance album with no real musicianship involved. However, here is an album where every single sound is full of purpose that when layered and structured together and woven with some very heavy drum beats it not only works but also thrusts itself into your body and consciousness. The Daft Punk comparisons are lazy, this is dance-metal and it is immense.

4. Battles, Mirrored
Why does the Battles LP work? At times it tries too hard, other times it seems as though it’s not trying at all. Beneath the obvious math-rock influences and initially unfriendly noodling, is an LP full of melody, pop sensibility and modern day understanding of how music can affect by effect. It sounds like nothing else this year but is a perfect partner for the understated LCD Soundsystem by trying to do the same sort of thing but with a more modern and noisy takes on dance rock. And by god how we love it.

5. Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
It’s Modest Mouse. With Johnny Marr on guitar. And featuring The Shins on vocals on a couple of tracks. It’s utterly ace.

6. The Twilight Sad, Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters
If Explosions in the Sky came from Scotland they might sound like this. It wouldn’t be as majestic, as powerful or as Scottish as this, but at least you know have an idea of just how wonderful this album is.

7. Minus the Bear, Planet of Ice
Minus the Bear’s last album, Menos el oso was a summer album. The cover looked like summer, the album sounded like summer and some of the lyrics were about summer. Planet of Ice is a winter album. It still sounds like Minus the Bear, incredible finger tapping, ‘dance-prog’ structures and knowing lyrics/titles, but Planet of Ice is a slightly grown up affair, with much more emphasis on the prog. Listen at night in winter and be sucked in to the majesty.

8. Low, Drums and Guns
Criminally overlooked in end of year polls, Low’s latest Lp is once again a brooding affair, but now with added drum loops. Enchanting and bewitching, it’s the best Low LP since Things We Lost.

9. Besnard Lakes, The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse
Does this really sound like the Beach Boys having a guitar feedback fight with Spiritualized in space? Yes it does. In places. Comparisons aside, it’s a tremdous album full of both gentle and demanding guitar work, feathery vocal melodies and hugely deep production.

10. 65daysofstatic, The Destruction of Small Ideas
Vocals. There are vocals on the final track of this, 65’s 3rd LP. It’s a new departure for the band, but not a bad decision. Unlike the production. At times it threatens to undermine the thoroughly brilliant musicianship and perfectly structured songs on offer but with a few listens Destruction… allows itself to grow and truly reveal itself as the most subtle and most accomplished 65 LP to date.