Top music of 2007

So I was sitting at my desk reading through several popular stories floating around the internet when I stumbled across Stephen King's favorite music from 2007. Reading that got me thinking about what I felt like were my favorite albums of 2007. With that being said, here they are.

Scott Miller & The Commonwealth - Reconstruction

I had never heard of this band or this album until sometime early this year. I had stopped by to talk to some friends at WNCW and they played a song on the air while I was in the studio called "I Made A Mess Of This Town" from this album. I asked who it was and where I could get it. They just happaned to have an extra copy lying around and they gave it to me. What a great album. From "I Made A Mess Of This Town" to "Eight Miles Per Gallon" to "Drunk All Around This Town" this album was just an outstanding album. Oh, did I mention it was recorded live?

Tater - Where The Metal Meets The Grass ... Live

Folks from and around Shelby known who this band is. Tater, based in Shelby, has a rockbluegrasscountryalt band that is all about having fun and this live release from this is no exception. Recorded and released by the band in less then two weeks, this album debuts a lot of new material by the band, including the opening track "Anatomy." Just a great album, no questions asked.

Jason Isbell - Sirens Of The Ditch

Jason Isbell, a former member of Southern Rock band the Drive-By Truckers, released his first solo-album this year and boy was it a great album. Several tracks on this album just blew me away, including songs like "Down In A Hole" and "Brand New Kind Of Actress." The two best songs on the album are "Chicago Promenade," a tribute to his grandfather, and "Dress Blues," a song written in honor of a friend he graduated with in high school who died while fighting in Iraq. I'd recommend this album to anyone.

Warren Haynes presents the Benefit Concert Volume 2

This one is sorta special to my family. Every year in Asheville Warren Haynes (of Gov't Mule, The Allman Brothers Band fame) holds what is called the Christmas Jam. He invites all of his friends to come play for a good cause. All money once they break even is given to Habitat For Humanity. This recording is from 12th Annual Event in 2000, which my mother and father just happaned to have attended. My father and I still think you can hear my mother whistling near the end of Gov't Mule & Dave Schools' cover of the Tom Waits song "Goin' out West." Great sets from The Bottle Rockets and the Chris Duarte Group are also highlights on this album. As I understand it the plan is to eventually release all of the shows from 1999 forward (1999 and 2000 are already available) and I can't wait, because I was at all but two of those shows between 2001 and now.

There are of course many more albums and songs that I really enjoyed from 2007 but these are the four that really stick out in my mind. 2008 is looking to be a great year for music already as well, with the Drive-By Truckers and the North Mississippi Allstars planning releases in January. Boy, I can't wait!