Jay's Top 12 Albums of 2007

By: Jay Minkin
Date: 12/11/2007
As I look back on my rampant CD buying over the past year, it’s time to crown this year’s champion. These dozen nominees cover a spectrum of genres and have all spent a considerable amount of time in my CD player.

1. One troubadour worthy of nomination is Richard Thompson, who crossed the pond to deliver his political take with Street Warrior.

2. Ryan Adams made an excellent collection of songs with Easy Tiger.

3. Conor Orberst pushed the listening envelope with Cassadaga from his band Bright Eyes.

4. A little softer approach came from Texas singer/songwriter Jimmy LaFave and his beautiful Cimarron Manifesto.

5. A few ladies also shined this year. Jenny Lewis returns, this time with her band Rilo Kiley. Magnificent and hip, Under The Boardwalk highlights Lewis in a much different style than last year’s Americana Rabbit Fur Coat.

6. Patty Griffin released the fantastic Children Running Through.

7. Lori McKenna surprised my ears with a gorgeous piece called Unglamorous.

8. Local favorite Tracey Thomas deserves accolades for an album that continues to hold its own—Ghost Town.

9. Robert Plant and Allison Kraus met at the Rock Hall’s tribute to Leadbelly in 2004 and the collaboration transformed into Raising Sand.

10. Another pairing that produced an outstanding disc—The Scene of the Crime—came from 61-year-old R&B singer Bettye LaVette with a bunch of young southern boys called The Drive By Truckers and keyboardist Spooner Oldham.

11. All of these competed with Sky Blue Sky, the musical masterpiece from Wilco and front man Jeff Tweedy.

12. Then Bruce Springsteen showed up, and along with the E Street Band crafted an album that was Magic. This album packs a big sound (four guitars) and even stronger political undertones, which Springsteen carries over from his previous three albums. There are so many great lyrics and phrases, you’ll want to revisit our middle aged poet’s passionate compositions several times over.

Bruce is still considered family in Northeast Ohio, so this electoral vote goes to The Boss.

Reach Jay at blues4bird@aol.com.

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