Best of 2007: Listener's Favorites

by Chris Ryan

Judged by the habits of Rhapsody listeners, 2007 was a year ruled by women. As it should be.  Despite the disproportionate male domination on the release schedule, fully half the albums and songs in the Listener's Favorites Top 10 (compiled from Rhapsody statistics) were by ladies, including both top album and top song spots, and the top four songs. So roll on glamorous sisters, girlfriends, big girls, good girls and back-to-black girls. And may '08 see your success reach beyond the pop realm. We'll be listening.

ALBUMS:

1. Fergie, The Dutchess
Amy without the demons, Mariah without the voice, Gwen without the Harajuku girls, sexual suggestion without the edge, playground chants without the shouting, Fergie without the Peas.

2. Timbaland, Shock Value
We didn’t need anymore proof that Tim was a production genius. Turns out, neither did he. After years of propelling countless artists to the charts, Timbaland decided to try the view for himself. His beats shed the ostentatious quirks, his friends checked their egos at the studio door, and we ate it up. It’s just the way we are.

3. Linkin Park, Minutes to Midnight
Just when we thought it was safe to stop playing “Numb” before you dunk a basketball or lead a SWAT team on a raid, Linkin Park come back to drop the prom-prog hammer on all of us nailheads, turning down the rap and turning up the ambition.

4. Fall Out Boy, Infinity on High
Making fun of fame doesn’t mean you don’t love being famous. No, that’s not a Fall Out Boy song title; it’s one of the few legit criticisms you can level at this quartet on their fourth album. Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, FOB get props for finding the point where baby-faced emo tantrums meet…Babyface!

5. Maroon 5, It Won’t Be Soon Before Long
It may not have felt like it, but it's been five long years in between albums for Maroon 5. (Late-coming Grammys, constant radio rotations and Kanye guest-spots have a way of creating illusions.) And after that extended bout of reflection, they emerged, reborn as a discofied rock band, slick and full of swagger.

6. Rihanna, Good Girl Gone Bad
Rihanna may not radiate the glamour of Beyoncé or the bewitching charm of a Mary J. But give her time. Besides, with songs like “Umbrella,” excessive glamour or charm would only get in the way.

7. Norah Jones, Not Too Late
Jones’ first album of all-original material is a first-rate collection of "soft" and "smart." Just like her audience likes it. Plus, her new role as songwriter-in-chief gives Jones an opportunity to add some political fire to her hushed frappuccino balladry.

8. Amy Winehouse, Back to Black
The U.K.'s blue-eyed soul cred hadn't been reaffirmed like this in a long, long time. (Holler, Dusty!) A sumptuous amalgamation of jazzy torch songs, Motown, Stax, with a little bit of the hip-hop and R&B that the kids go nuts for. The only drawback is the apparent personal price Winehouse seems to keep paying for the success.

9. Kanye West, Graduation
He couldn’t feasibly call himself an underdog anymore, so what does Kanye do? He makes an album that celebrates the good life. Whatever Graduation lacks in cohesion, it makes up for with thrilling songs.

10. Colbie Caillat, Coco
God bless the Internet. The MySpace sensation connected with the digital generation (and their parents) by offering something from years past: soothing, soft pop in the vein of Carly Simon and Carole King.

SONGS:

1. Fergie, "Glamorous"
2. Fergie, "Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)"
3. Avril Lavigne, "Girlfriend" (Radio Edit)
4. Nelly Furtado, "Say It Right"
5. Linkin Park, "What I've Done"
6. Timbaland, "The Way I Are"
7. Daughtry, "It's Not Over"
8. Akon, "Don't Matter"
9. Nickelback, "Rock Star"
10. Gwen Stefani, "The Sweet Escape"