2007 has seen me buy more albums than any previous year. I don't know exactly why this is, but it's been a fun year with lots of new musical experiences. Also a lot of bargains. Here I present my top 5 albums of 2007 in no particular order, followed by 5 "honourable mentions" that didn't make the top 5, but bulk out the rest of the top 10. Again, no particular order. Criteria for inclusion is simply that I purchased (or otherwise acquired) the album in 2007, not that it was released in this year. So, without further ado, the top 5:

The Albums

Dark Tranquillity - Fiction

The eigth album from melodic death metal stalwarts Dark Tranquillity, and a fine album it is. Featuring some departures from Mikael Stanne's growled vocals in the form of clean vocals on "Misery's Crown" and "The Mundane and the Magic", along with guest female vocals on the latter courtesy of Nell Sigland, the new singer of Theatre of Tragedy. High points for me include "Nothing to No One", "Misery's Crown" and "Focus Shift".

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

The second album from the rather bizarre Canadian indie band Arcade Fire. I bought this album on the strength of Funeral, and it took a couple of listens through to get a full experience of it. The many and various sounds employed include a hurdy gurdy, a pipe organ, a military choir and a full orchestra. The rather cynical lyrics start somewhat downbeat and slowly pick up, although I do think that "No Cars Go" should have been the last track on the album, moving "My Body is a Cage" back to somewhere around track 7 or 8. High points include "Intervention", "Ocean of Noise" and "No Cars Go".

Nightwish - Dark Passion Play

This is the sixth studio album released by veteran symphonic metallers Nightwish, but the first to include the new singer Anette Olzon to replace the ever stunning Tarja Turunen. A strange mix of songs start with the 14 minute epic "The Poet and the Pendulum", a tale of death and resurrection with aspects taken directly from its near namesake, "The Pit and the Pendulum". There are some angry, thrashing tracks on here and some lighter, melodic tracks that lift the mood, along with a couple that don't initially seem to fit the album at all. Eva, Sahara and The Islander are three such tracks, but after a couple of listens they have become favourites. I can't really pick high points from this album. It's all good, and each track is different enough from the others to deserve its own high point status.

Within Temptation - The Heart of Everything

Within Temptation's fourth studio album, "The Heart of Everything" takes another step away from the folky overtones of Mother Earth and a step toward the more pop/rock influences of Evanescence and Lacuna Coil. While different from earlier work, Sharon den Adel's vocals provide just the right tone and pitch to the songs, which include many different influences. Angrier songs such as "What Have You Done" compliment lighter tracks such as "Forgiven", which is reminiscent of "The Silent Force". High points include "The Howling", "Our Solemn Hour" and "The Cross".

Blind Ego - Mirror

I'd never even heard of Blind Ego until I saw them live supporting a Classic Rock Society gig in Wath-upon-Dearne, with Pallas headlining. They were surprisingly good and I *ahem* borrowed a copy of the CD. The lyrics can be sometimes disturbing, and sometimes touching, but certainly give you pause for, if not thought, then consideration. High points include "Obsession", "Break You" and "Mirror". The bonus track, "Artist Manque" (or Artist Monkey as we prefer to call it) has given rise to much mirth, and my own self-appointed job title of Code Manque.

Honourable Mentions

Sigur Ros - ()

These Icelandic prog rock bands certainly are strange. Well, this one is anyway. I first heard them on a documentary at about 3am after arriving home slightly the worse for drink, and thought the music quite tranquil. The next day I tracked down a copy of () in HMV (yes, that is the only title) and had a listen. I fell asleep before the end of the first track. It's the most relaxing album I have ever heard in my life. After forcing myself to stay awake, I listened all the way through and it is all good. There are two halves, a lighter first and a heavier second half, and these compliment each other nicely. If you can see past the prog rock pretension (an album with no name, tracks with no titles, and all lyrics in a made up language) then this is worth a listen, even if it does remind one of whalesong on occasion.

Lacuna Coil - Karmacode

What can I say, Lacuna Coil are the band that introduced me to female fronted gothic metal. It would be 3 long years before I got to see them live in my own home town of Sheffield, but this latest album is definitely worth a mention in this year's honourable mentions. Technically it was released in 2006, but I only bought it in 2007 so it counts. All good stuff, although it has been slated for using more of the "heavy riffing and wailing" sound and less of the original gothic sound of earlier albums.

Athlete - Tourist

A surprising album. I'd not really heard of Athlete, but the cover art attracted me and I needed another CD to make up my two for a tenner, so I bought it. It's really, really good. Not in my top 5, but damn close. "Wires" is even more emotional when you find out what it's about, although it's an excellent track in its own right.

Kasabian - Empire

Like Athlete, I bought Empire on a whim. The sound is very strange in parts, sounding a bit rock, a bit indie, and just a little bit 70s. All the tracks are good, though, and it's an album I'd gladly listen to regularly. I particularly like "Sun Rise Light Flies" and "The Doberman".

The Hoosiers - The Trick to Life

What an odd bunch of pop nutballs the Hoosiers are. I got the album because it was going cheap at Woolworths and I'd heard "Worried About Ray" and "Goodbye Mr A" about a bazillion times on the radio and telly. Interestingly, those are the only two tracks on the entire album to share the quirky "odd pop" style. I prefer many of the other tracks, especially "Sadness Runs Through Him" and "Killer".