The original idea for this opening post was to have my impressions on 2007 music, but I've realised that it takes too much commitment to cover all the categories I was going to write about. Instead, I'm going to go one by one and hopefully get to everything eventually - but who knows.
So, to begin:
Lived Up To The Hype: Hairspray soundtrack
The hype: a fun trailer with that catchy, catchy hook from You Can't Stop The Beat, pretty damn good reviews for the movie all round, It's A Musical (which is hype enough for me)
Cheating a bit, but what can I say? I really wanted to see the movie, and had the best time (twice) - the songs are so, so, so much fun, they're catchy and it's key change heaven. On a bad day, I perk up around track 9, Run And Tell That (there's so much talk about Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron in the youngster roles but for me, Elijah Kelley deserves big props) but if I'm in a good mood, the Good Morning Baltimore opener already does it for me. I really hope Come So Far (Got So Far To Go) gets an Oscar, but it's probably unlikely. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, responsible for this joy ride, also did the songs for South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, which explains the funtasticness there too.
Runner-up: Carnival Ride - Carrie Underwood
The hype: Delightful first album, which was one of the biggest sellers of 2006 (if not the biggest), strong sales for this album, a soaring first single (So Small) which I absolutely adore, good reviews from respected critics including one Matty-O
An excellent sophomore album from the American Idol alumnus. It's no grand departure from her solid debut, but it still feels fresh and the songs have nice hooks and choruses and everything else you need for good country pop (well, except for a key change, maybe). Of the tracks I had initial doubts about, only Twisted continues to fill like unnecessary filler - everything else has definitely grown on me. Highly recommended (unless you hate all things country, in which case, not).
Next time: Biggest Disappointments
