Top 5 of 2007

Unfortunately, I didn't download too much music this year. At least, I don't think so. But it's not about quantity. It's quality. This year my music taste reverted back to indie and electronica. Where as last year, I was blasting hip hop, reggae, and Bjork. Interestingly enough, Bjork did not make my top 5 this year. We'll talk about Volta another day though.
This is not the typical "Top 5" list you see posted because this list consists of music I played most often. I am very particular about what I want to hear. I listen to music to release emotions, thoughts, feelings, expressions, etc. I use music as an outlet of everything inside me. So this list can be considered "trinh!'s Favorite Emotions of 2007" rather than a list of albums critiqued as so. As works of art made by artists. No, no, no. This is not that at all. So, in no particular order, here is "trinh!'s Most Played Releases of 2007"

Radiohead - In Rainbows
The track I find most moving on this album is All I Need. I could listen to this song over and over until my insides melt. I dim the lights when this song begins to play. I move slowly when I dance to this song but I can move to the beat as well. This song is so sad and so honest, but it harbors a warmth that is ever so comforting. Soothing. I could ball my eyes out to this song but it would be beautiful. This is how Radiohead albums make you feel. No matter what you are going through, it is always beautiful. Play this album when you wake up alone. Play this album when you are feeling introspective. Play it on lazy Sunday afternoons when it's cold outside and looks somewhat blue/gray outside so that when the light enters your room, it feels cold. Wear your most comfortable slippers and pjs and sip on hot tea.

Justice - †
I got into a dancing mood and Justice completely helped fuel that. This album was made just for that emotion. The need to rock your body to sick beats. And believe me, these beats are siiiiiick. The obvious single on this album is "D.A.N.C.E." which is incredibly danceable, pop-y and fun. Don't let this song fool you though, the rest of the album is nothing like it. † (pronounced "cross") is electronic music that makes you feel dirty. You want to be in a club of 2,000 sweaty bodies all grinding up on each other. Everyone moving and sweating. Breathing and dancing. Anticipating the drop and feeling the tension. It's so hot and you don't get that feeling from anything else. This is a solid album, not a compilation of singles that sound nice when played next to each other. These songs take you on a raunchy dance-capade. I'm down for that anytime.

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
I like that I don't have to get up and move to LCD when I hear it. I can choose to chill or dance. Versatile music is always a plus because you can play it whenever you don't know what else to play. I find myself in that situation often and LCD is never a wrong choice. On this album, I particularly like Someone Great. Maybe it's the baseline. I think it's mostly because I can dance differently to this song depending on the part. I think the best time to play LCD is at small gatherings of people. It's chill music, so people can still converse, but if they are not in a conversation, they can be into these songs. The songs are happy and won't bring a party down. It's just good like that and I found myself playing it often.

The Chemical Brothers - We Are the Night
This album was a complete surprise. I was not expecting The Chemical Brothers to put anything out this year because they have been off my radar screen since 2002. And then suddenly they came back into my life with this. And fuck yeah. This album is the shit. I love dancing to this album. I could do it over and over. Saturate is the sound of bliss. Harpoons brings back fond memories of My Bloody Valentine. And The Pills Won't Help You Now is beautiful. There is no particular "sound" for the songs on this album, yet it's still a solid and cohesive. Not many have the ability to create an album that does such a thing. This album takes you on a nice journey, one I will take many times more.

M.I.A. - Kala
If you ever need to feel some girl power, throw in M.I.A. She is full of energy and power and you can feel all that and more in her music. The beats make you wanna get up and move because life's too short to sit still. M.I.A., she's got some anger. But she's angry about things people should be angry about. Saying her words out loud ain't so bad. She's badass and she knows it, her music has a sexy quality. I heard she used to live with Peaches, that place must have been pouring out sexy hot energy night and day. Damn, Peaches and M.I.A. living together under one roof. Who could handle that? Play M.I.A. when you want to stomp your feet to a heavy beat. Or when you want to shake your ass around.