For someone like me who likes to bitch about the state of music, I have to admit, 2007 was pretty darn good. You just needed to know how to find the good stuff.
I've read a bunch of critics' lists of the best CD's of 2007, and unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to hear them all. The critics could well be right. After all, they did list most of my favorite CD's of the year.
Critics whose opinions I value include Chet Flippo (of course) and Jon Bream, who writes for the Star Tribune. I also like to read Entertainment Weekly's opinions, although their demographic is, admittedly, younger. I also perused the list that No Depression Magazine compiled.
So, here's where we agree:
"Raising Sand" - Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
"Revival" - John Fogerty
"Dwight Sings Buck" - Dwight Yoakam
"Magic" - Bruce Springsteen (the prettiest song of the year, "Girls In Their Summer Clothes")
Some mentioned "The Bluegrass Sessions" by Merle Haggard (produced by Marty Stuart).
At least one list included "In A Perfect World" by Gene Watson.
I would also include The Eagles, "Long Road Out Of Eden" and "Goin' Home - A Tribute To Fats Domino".
I'm sure there must be new artists who are great. I hear there's some British gals who are pretty good.
What I know is, the artists who produced the best music in 2007 (in my opinion) have been around since the 1980's or longer:
Alison Krauss, Robert Plant, John Fogerty, Dwight Yoakam, Bruce Springsteen, Merle Haggard, Gene Watson, The Eagles, Fats Domino.
I don't know what this means. A cynic would say, there are no good new artists on the horizon. I don't believe that. I guess we just don't get a chance to hear the new, good ones.
But thank God for the old ones!
And here's an old one:
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