2007 Shapes the Music Industry plus Top Albums of the Year
Two Thousand and Seven was the spark to the tinder for the end of the music industry as we know it – 2007 was the meltdown.
Musicians, bands and management started realizing the full potential of the digital and Internet soundscape. They started realizing that the current model just doesn’t make sense anymore and began exploring options.
Stars, Prince and Radiohead wielded the biggest digital axe, but rising bands also took a toll by releasing, promoting and selling music on their own through a very simple formula – lots of hard work. Is there a valuable lesson amidst all this?
The Music Industry was divided into halves – those that had the ability, insight and freedom to pursue the new alternatives and those that were tied to their multi-billion dollar structure. One side was (and is) thriving on excitement and opportunity, while the other was (and is) trying to re-group in desperation.
The manufactured artists and bands that were once the pillar of the industry, began crumbling in the public eye and fast. However, in the wake were real bands spreading their music virally. Good music getting to you in a more legit and credible way. Very cool.
There was also the harsh wake up call for bands of old who could no longer rely on simply re-producing and re-jigging old material for a new album. They discovered that a strategically planned reunion performance/tour could be very lucrative – not to mention a great ego stroke. Welcome back: The Police, Led Zeppelin and…The Spice Girls.
The change in the industry, the breakdown of traditional structure, and the digital album releases would be insignificant if the music wasn’t there to support this revolution. Fortunately, 2007 was a solid, solid year for music. Dropping the microscope closer to the scene, it was a solid year for Music in Toronto. We have a world-class, thriving music scene in our city right now and it is intimate and familiar enough to feel unique to those who know it.
There were too many great and impacting releases this year to keep this list of Top Albums of the Year to just Toronto, but there were a few that were more than deserving to be on any list and some that just missed out, but will never leave my car CD player and IPOD.
7. The Assistants – The Assistants
Superficial similarities aside, this record is full of the jangley energy and warm vocal hooks that very much in the vein of The Byrds’ 60s psych-inflected pop. There’s good guitar work on tracks like “Free to Believe” and one of the record’s standout songs “Handful of Heaven.” The Assistants definitely have potential.
Essential Tracks: “Free to Believe” and “Planet News“
6. Kevin Drew – Spirit If
Simply put: This is an album for the ages, an album that you will covet, listen to, and live by. here comes Kevin Drew.
Essential Tracks: “Lucky Ones” and “Backed out on the…”
5. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
The second album from Montreal’s Arcade Fire exceeds all expectations. With string and orchestral arrangements by two of the band members, “Neon Bible” is full of both half-assed punk rock mistakes and meticulously orchestrated woodwinds. Processed strings and mandolin. Quiet rumbles and loud rumbles. But mostly just eleven songs that the band thinks are really good.
Essential Tracks: “Intervention”, “No Cars Go”
4. Kings of Leon – Because of the Times
U2, Radiohead and the Strokes have all praised them. Now it’s time for the rest of the world to catch on.
ESSENTIAL TRACKS: “On Call,” “The Bucket”
3. Feist – The Reminder
You should own this album. It can be played any day anytime. We were really happy to see Feist and other BSS’er break out this year. They are leading our scene.
Essential Tracks: “Sea Lion” and “My Moon My Man” and “1234″
2. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
My man Rhys at Underground Garage (a top notch bar in Toronto) got me on to this band. This is one of my favorite releases of the year. Band of Horses have such a great sound. Head to their Myspace page, close your door, crank the volume and light a…candle.
Essential Tracks: “No One’s Going to Love You” and “Is There a Ghost” 
1. RADIOHEAD – In Rainbows
Sure, the band got loads of attention by being the first band to offer up their disc digitally via their website and letting fans pay whatever they want — but by no means are these bargain basement tracks.
Is it one of their best albums? Hmm….maybe not, but it is a very, very solid album. Plus, you cannot ignore the impact this album has had and will have on the big bad wolf.
Essential Tracks: “Jigsaw Falling Into Place,” “15 Step,” “Bodysnatchers.”
7 Comments
What albums would be on your list? What was your favorite Toronto release? I’ve had many folks suggest Attack in Black.
[...] Toronto Unplugged says 2007 Shapes The Music Industry plus Top Albums Of The Year [...]
[...] Toronto Unplugged sums up their view on the state of the music industry and lists the 10 albums of the year you should have in your collection. [...]
I agree with you on 2007 being a reall year of change in the music business. As you know its what I write about every day on OurDigitalMusic.com. Great eclectic list of new acts too.
[...] Toronto Unplugged sums up their view on the state of the music industry and lists the 10 albums of the year you should have in your collection. [...]
[...] 2007 Shapes the Industry plus Albums of the Year Two Thousand and Seven was the spark to the tinder for the end of the music industry as we know it – 2007 was the meltdown. Musicians, bands and management started realizing the full potential of the digital and Internet soundscape. They started realizing that the current model just doesn’t make sense anymore and began exploring options. Prince and Radiohead wielded the biggest digital axe, but rising bands also took a toll by releasing, promoting and selling music on their own through a very [...]
[...] 2007 Shapes the Music Industry plus Top Albums of the Year Two Thousand and Seven was the spark to the tinder for the end of the music industry as we know it – 2007 was the meltdown. Musicians, bands and management started realizing the full potential of the digital and Internet soundscape. They started realizing that the current model just doesn’t make sense anymore and began exploring options. Stars, Prince and Radiohead wielded the biggest digital axe, but rising bands also took a toll by releasing, promoting and selling music on their own through [...]