Jason Tate

[Jason Tate]

Introduction

My thoughts, my favorites, my list.


Top Albums of 2007

30) Steel Train - Trampoline
29) Lifetime - Lifetime
28) The Wonder Years - Get Stoked on It!
27) Sherwood - A Different Light
26) A Wilhelm Scream - Career Suicide
25) The Graduate - Anhedonia
24) New Found Glory - From The Screen To Your Stereo Part 2
23) Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice
22) The Spill Canvas - No Really, I'm Fine
21) Logh - North
20) Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High
19) The Starting Line - Direction
18) Straylight Run - The Needles, The Space
17) The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
16) Against Me! - New Wave
15) Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
14) Eisley - Combinations
13) Anberlin - Cities
12) Saves the Day - Under the Boards
11) Iron and Wine - The Shepard's Dog
10) Four Year Strong - Rise or Die Trying
09) Yellowcard - Paper Walls
08) Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
07) Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home
06) Motion City Soundtrack - Even if It Kills Me
05) Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
04) Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace
03) Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light
02) Cary Brothers - Who You Are
01b) Thrice - The Alchemy Index
01a) Say Anything - In Defense of the Genre

Honorable Mention (and Guilty Pleasures)

Paramore - Riot!
All Time Low - So Wrong, It's Right
MxPx - Secret Weapon

Worst (Most Disappointing) Albums of 2007

02) The Ataris - Welcome the Night
01) Cartel - Self-Titled

Best Producer of the Year

01) Brad Wood

Runner-Up: Mike Sapone

Best New Band of 2007

01) The Graduate

Runners-Up: Four Year Strong

Best Lyrics of 2007

05) Sam Beam (Iron and Wine)
04) Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
03) Justin Pierre (Motion City Soundtrack)
02) Max Bemis (Say Anything)
01) Dustin Kensrue (Thrice)

Best Vocals of 2007

05) The DuPree Sisters
04) Jim Adkins
03) Stephen Christian
02) Dustin Kenrue
01) Cary Brothers

Best Live Show

03) Say Anything
02) Thrice
01) Brand New

Hardest Working Band of 2007

01) Four Year Strong

Best Record Label

02) Tooth and Nail Records
01) Vagrant Records

Most Overrated Band

01) The Dear Hunter

Best (Catchiest Song) Single

03) Four Year Strong - Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die
02) Say Anything - Baby Girl, I'm a Blur
01) Foo Fighters - The Pretender

Best B-Side

01) Brand New - (Fork and Knife)

Best 'Other' Website

01) Buzznet.com

Band of the Year

02) Four Year Strong
01) Say Anything

Band(s) Most Pimped By AP.net

02) Four Year Strong
01) Say Anything

In Our Memories

I would just like to take this time to remember everyone we lost this year. May angels lead you in ... RIP.

Best Band Related DVD

01) The Format - Live at the Mayan Theatre

Best Movies of 2007

05) No Country for Old Men
04) American Gangster
03) Knocked Up
02) The Bourne Ultimatum
01) 3:10 to Yuma

Best Book of 2007

01) The Art of Power - Thich Nhat Hanh

Best TV Shows of 2007

03) Scrubs
02) The Office
01) House

The Next Big Thing(s) of 2008

10) Doug
09) We The Kings
08) All Time Low
07) Say Anything
06) The Cab
05) Four Year Strong
04) The Format
03) Between the Trees
02) Driving East
01) The Matches

Most Anticipated Releases of 2008

06) Jacks Mannequin
05) Brand New
04) Plus 44
03) The Format
02) Less Than Jake
01) Thrice - The Alchemy Index (Part 2)

Best Songs of 2007

10) Four Year Strong - Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die
09) Yellowcard - Shadows and Regrets
08) Anberlin - There Is No Mathematics to Love and Loss
07) Bright Eyes - Middleman
06) Iron and Wine - Peace Beneath the City
05) Foo Fighters - Stranger Things Have Happened
04) Minus the Bear - White Mystery
03) Josh Ritter - Next to the Last Romantic
02) Jimmy Eat World - Carry You
01) Cary Brothers - Glass Parade

[Adrian Villagomez]

Best New Hire of the Last Half of 2007

01. Blake Solomon

Runner Up

01. Adrian Villagomez

--

It's cool to see Say Anything and Thrice at the top.

[MattRM]

So was "There Is No Mathematics to Love and Loss" your favorite song from Cities?

[Drew Beringer]

sweet list, some of it very similar to mine! booyah AP in 08!

[Nametekken]

awesome list. I should finish compiling mine.

[12:46AM]

Tie for number one? Well I never!

I should give Cary Brothers a shot. Never bothered to before.

[andrewlterry]

I'm going to guess that the "a" means its about half a rank higher than the "b".

[themostdeplete]

you dropped the ball on the #1 spot tate. cheaterrrrrrr. i was wondering what would actually take the spot, and alas, both of them do.


ps. hate to be that guy, but the mtb album is called "planet of ice."

[Jason Tate]

you dropped the ball on the #1 spot tate. cheaterrrrrrr. i was wondering what would actually take the spot, and alas, both of them do.


ps. hate to be that guy, but the mtb album is called "planet of ice."
I cheating like a mo-fo.

[Poochemist]

I'm gonna have to check out Four Year Strong, because apparently we pimp them out and I don't know anything about them.

[irthesteve]

not too shabby

[anchorandhope]

I read Carrie Underwood instead of Cary Brothers somehow.

[BigAl]

I thought 3:10 to Yuma was atrocious, but I dare not defy Mr. Tate! :P

[GirlsNoGood]

House is suuuch a good show, watch it every week and never get tired of re-runs.

Cassino should have been on the album list.

[Jason Tate]

I thought 3:10 to Yuma was atrocious, but I dare not defy Mr. Tate! :P
I loved that movie.

:shrug:

To each his own.

[fearthesloths]

Best Band Related DVD

01) The Format - Live at the Mayan Theatre

As much as that DVD absolutely rules... Sigur Ros's Heima is now officially the best band DVD i've ever seen, let alone this year

[lauren<3s music]

can't say i disagree too much. i love the fys love, they're amazing. i'd love to see a most disappointed list out of you tate [aka more than 2]

[Merkin]

after garden state/last kiss soundtracks,
i found out how awesome the cary brothers are.
LOVE that cd.

[Steve Henderson]

after garden state/last kiss soundtracks,
i found out how awesome the cary brothers are.
LOVE that cd.
Cary Brothers = one person

[oldskool]

wow, no mxpx?? thats interesting

[FuryCore]

Cary Brothers = one person

Hahahaha. Don't worry, that's what I thought too at first when Tate had just started pimpin' him on the site.

[drudo182]

I thought 3:10 to Yuma was atrocious, but I dare not defy Mr. Tate! :P

Whahahha!

Ben Foster needs a supporting actor oscar nom for this film. Great movie with some really, really good performances.

[Of Dust and Nations]

great list. i've made quite a few believers out of cary brothers thanks to your constant mentioning of them, haha.

[ThisIsDN]

Surprised to see a book by Thich Nhat Hanh on the list. An amazing author and individual

[losethegirl]

I adore 90% of your lists. Big ups for Eisley and Anberlin though!

[cassusriff]

What a kick ass list. I thought no one else in the world loved "there is no mathematics to love or loss" as much as I did. 1a and 1b I completely agree with as far as best albums and completely agree with the disappointments, though I would add emery as well.

Good shit though, I gotta get mine out.

[FUCKDIRTYWIPES]

not bad, does brand new have something planned for next year?

[takeweakme]

I read Carrie Underwood instead of Cary Brothers somehow.

her album would be in my top 20 of the year.

[HiddenInNJ]

First off thanks for the list and a great year on the site.
IMO Agree with The Graduate for 2007 and Cartel. Would put Paramore on the list and would move Say Anything down below Thrice and move Straylight up along with Minus the Bear, best show I've seen this year next to Thrice (who are better live everytime) alongside Brand New

[OCNickLTJ13]

No Arcade Fire or Radiohead and one book... come on Tate

[Momo32T]

I loved that movie.

:shrug:

To each his own.

I personally loved 3:10 To Yuma. Crowe and Bale were good, but Ben Foster had a fantastic performance.

[Julia Conny]

High five for The Graduate. If it wasn't for you, I would have never found that band. And that would have been very very tragic.

<3

[Brand[.]NewBers]

not bad, does brand new have something planned for next year?

I am wondering the same thing?

[Gumbyjag]

Nice nice lists, Tate. You did kind of over-pimp FYS this year.

[Ryzenfall]

I didn't think 3:10 was "atrocious" but i didn't think it was that great. Wyatt Earp was great.

The Graduate definitley proved themselves this year. Good for them.
I don't know why so many of my friends say they don't like Thrice anymore, i only see them getting leaps and bounds better. Bring on Volume 2.

[lightcollapse]

anticipating +44 more than brand new?! weak sauce!

[ilovesofie]

nice list, I only don't understand why the ataris and cartel ends as a dissapointement. Ok, they are changed but that doesn't mean it's bad. Welcome the night is really beatiful when you stay open for it and Cartel ain't that bad i think. Motion City S. play really safe with their album, the surprises in their songs of CTTM and IATM are gone, i think that's a greater disappointment.

[4N6 science]

Thank you Jason, great list

finally someone recognizing that The Matches are the next big thing..I feel like not to many people on this site know of or really like The Matches, which is btw a great band..

[x-factor6]

will BN really finish the album for a 2008 release?

[firstxcrush]

Thank you Jason, great list

finally someone recognizing that The Matches are the next big thing..I feel like not to many people on this site know of or really like The Matches, which is btw a great band..

i fully back this statement. THE MATCHES 08!!!

[inCinerate.1028]

Awesome Jason, Shadows & Regrets from Paper Walls is one of my favorite songs of this year.

[chokeychicken]

the only thing i strongly disagree with is most overrated band.

[Julia Conny]

will BN really finish the album for a 2008 release?

What if they pulled a Radiohead? I could see them doing something along those lines.

[jerichoxeffect]

re do the list, with more four year strong nominations.

[violencexgrace]

Whoa. I gotta admit, my mouth dropped open a little bit when I read who you picked for best book. My dad describes Thich Nhat Hanh as "his teacher;" he's gone to see him talk a bunch of times and marched at his side for this peace walk in MacArthur Park. He'll be totally stoked you've read him.

I was surprised that your top albums list (abridged, maybe?) showed up on Buzznet a couple weeks ago. You're totes a celebrity.

[Jen Knight]

dear hunter as the most overrated band??? im disappointed.

[InaGreendase]

Hm, Four Year Strong and the Wonder Years ahead of Lifetime.

Interesting.

[After Hours]

I agree that The Ataris album was one of the most disappointing.

[Adeniz19]

I loved that movie.

:shrug:

To each his own.loved it also.

want to make some predictions for 2008? noticed that on some of the staffers lists and didnt see it on yours

[loveisdead]

Hm, I'm glad you enjoyed Cassadaga, that album didn't get enough respect around here. Surprised you chose Middleman over Classic Cars though.

[Nametekken]

awesome top 3 shows.

[gusta0117]

01) 3:10 to Yuma

thank God someone else thinks that.

i loved that movie

[verybarrywhyte]

One of the first lists I've seen sans Circa Survive.

[HBdoubleJ]

Jason,
Are you not a fan of The Honorary Title? Just curious. They seem like your style and put out IMO a great record this year. But, I never see you mention them.

[allisterkid]

Definitely some questionable picks. I'm surprised you put The Graduate so low, I thought you loved that album. And I'm also surprised by how high Fall Out Boy is. I haven't enjoyed a thing they've made since Take This To Your Grave.

All in all, it's a pretty good list, though, and I fucking love these things every year.

[halifaxonfire]

glad to see the matches at the top of the next big thing list. they deserve to be huge.

[wellyeahmakeme]

i agree with the most disappointing album.
reminded me how close i was to start crying when i first heard "welcome the night" in its entirety.

[thesiz]

every four year strong song sounds exactly the same.

[PaintTheTarget]

What if they pulled a Radiohead? I could see them doing something along those lines.


I could to, but with the low option being something like $50 rather than $0. Seriously...how the hell are they selling sweatshirts for $65???

[LvAzure]

nice. "Middleman" is up there. I thought that was definitely one of the standout tracks from Cassadaga

[VoiceOfReason]

thank you for anticipating Less Than Jake as much as I

[VoiceOfReason]

and where's Dropkick Murphys??

[eisforaccidnt]

four year strong :D

[AMAAS]

I agree that The Ataris album was one of the most disappointing.


yea, same, I made my list a few weeks ago and put Welcome the Night as my most dissappointing album, Emery and Hidden In Plain View were up there too for biggest dissappointments

[Hurley715]

no weatherbox?

[sheisarebel]

The Matches being the #1 next big thing for 2008. Now that has to be wishful thinking. If people haven't embraced that band's brilliance yet, I doubt they ever will. I thought for sure after Decomposer the Matches would make it big, especially with the moderate success of "Papercut Skin," but, alas, that did not ring true. Why keep dreaming?

[llightmas]

i absolutely agree with cartel being the disappointment of '07. i think paramore could should have been higher but thats just me.

[jaimej]

High five for The Graduate. If it wasn't for you, I would have never found that band. And that would have been very very tragic.

<3
Ditto to that! :-D

[ren]

"Glass Parade" rocks my world. Flawless.

[xXaLLiOo]

im disappointed that mayday parade gets absolutely no mention whatsoever

edit: and that punk goes acoustic 2 (which had the magical power of breaking a good 6 or 7 of my friends away from country and getting them hooked on something good) also had no mention

[xXaLLiOo]

yea, same, I made my list a few weeks ago and put Welcome the Night as my most dissappointing album, Emery and Hidden In Plain View were up there too for biggest dissappointments


am i the only person in the world that liked welcome the night (not my favorite by FAR but act five scene four so it ends like it began does get mention as being one of my favorite songs of all time on my list of like 300 favorite songs of all time)

[fromthepacific]

i like your movies, except i would have put zodiac.

[Jason Tate]

i like your movies, except i would have put zodiac.
Good flick. I forgot bout that.

[RelaxNoRelapse]

new As Cities Burn?

[MCSmate]

Thank you for putting Eisley.
You have some good music up on that list or yours.

[LikeACat]

The woarst "Top Albums of 2007" list of all the staffs by far.

[ilovesofie]

am i the only person in the world that liked welcome the night (not my favorite by FAR but act five scene four so it ends like it began does get mention as being one of my favorite songs of all time on my list of like 300 favorite songs of all time)

you're not alone, i love welcome the night , people just don't realise they have to listen to it with another kind of a feeling, not similar as they did with the other albums...and i do love that song too, together with far from the last call is't my favourite of that album.

[Scott Weber]

Very surprised to not see MxPx on there, how did that fall so far?

[halifaxonfire]

am i the only person in the world that liked welcome the night (not my favorite by FAR but act five scene four so it ends like it began does get mention as being one of my favorite songs of all time on my list of like 300 favorite songs of all time)

i hated Welcome The Night at first, but it has really grown on me. and act five scene four is definitely in my favorites too. i think if it were released by some other band people wouldn't be so critical of it. i'm sure some people would still think its boring or whatever, but just the fact that its The Ataris and its so different from their other stuff i think is what turned most people off from it.

[laurie_ann123]

really good list... *claps*

[laurie_ann123]

really good list... *claps*

[jenny_ell]

nice list. good to see SA made number one. they deserve it.
and i'd have to agree. cartels new album sucked.

[jenny_ell]

oh and wheres coheed? i've read top lists on numerous sites by numerous people and nobody listed the coheed album, which was awesome.

[thelatestplague]

the dear hunter overrated?

i dont get that at all. casey is brilliant

[mogwaifearsatan]

Most Overrated Band

01) The Dear Hunter


http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/830/63t4vyjeumpiclosbdvb2haoi7.jpg

[myaimistruex3]

great to see Iron and Wine on this list. That album rocked.

[MarkyMark1984]

As far as band related dvd goes... i have not seen The Format's... but i would like to say if you have seen the new Sigur Ros Heima dvd, i think you would have that as your top band related dvd. it's so good. watch it.

[joshy hizzle]

I thought 3:10 to Yuma was atrocious, but I dare not defy Mr. Tate! :P

Easily movie of the year..

[Joe DeAndrea]

The woarst "Top Albums of 2007" list of all the staffs by far.

It can't be any worse than your spelling.

[theguilt engine]

i wonder if new plus 44 will be as bad as the first record?

[lanelle2512]

sweet i loved this list, except i didnt know some of the things you mentioned so i'm definitely going to check them out..

but....one thing, though... HOUSE, i get.. but THE OFFICE OVER SCRUBS??

[tommyhaych]

I can't believe An Angle wasn't even mentioned :(

[LouderThanBombs]

I loved that movie.

:shrug:

To each his own.

I loved it too.

What a bad ass ending with Russell and Christian and what not.

[Post-me]

Really good list. There's a bunch of things I didn't listen so I'm going to check them out. Your recommandations rarely disappoint me.

[CircaSin]

at least 25 of your albums should never be on a best of anything list.

[Jason Tate]

at least 25 of your albums should never be on a best of anything list.
Which ones?

[BTNGHRTSBB]

Worst (Most Disappointing) Albums of 2007

02) The Ataris - Welcome the Night
01) Cartel - Self-Titled

word.

[TheDemosRock]

I'm a fan of your lists, Jason.

Did anyone else notice that the link to these lists with all the picture on it has a big picture of Davey Havok? I clicked his head just now and thought it was the most odd thing ever, that he's just there alone, without a band.

[erinmac1982]

props on Minus the Bear - White Mystery

love that song

[sargentlgfuad]

The Dear Hunter!
cmon' overrated?!
if anything they are underrated.
they amaze me, the lead singer can lead TREOS and then come to a new band and make another amazing album.
Cmon!
but for the most part i do like your list, but where's circa survive.?
and blaqk audio!?

[Jason Tate]

The Dear Hunter!
cmon' overrated?!
if anything they are underrated.
they amaze me, the lead singer can lead TREOS and then come to a new band and make another amazing album.
Cmon!
but for the most part i do like your list, but where's circa survive.?
and blaqk audio!?
Didn't like any of those albums.

Sorry.

[SeanEBoy2686]

No mention of Circa Survive... I am surprised. And its not just this list... quite a few seem to not mention it.

[murphy77]

Didn't like any of those albums.

Sorry.

i dont think that makes them overrated, though. you just dont like them.
imo, being overrated is being hyped and loved by a plethora of people but not creating anything special (ex. All Time Low). you may not like the Dear Hunter, but you cant deny the talent of the band.



otherwise, nice list

[Jason Tate]

i dont think that makes them overrated, though. you just dont like them.
imo, being overrated is being hyped and loved by a plethora of people but not creating anything special (ex. All Time Low). you may not like the Dear Hunter, but you cant deny the talent of the band.



otherwise, nice list
The quoted response was not talking about The Dear Hunter at all.

[murphy77]

The quoted response was not talking about The Dear Hunter at all.



Ok. my bad, i see it now. you were talking about circa survive and blaqk audio.
sorry


im not trying to argue, but why do you think tdh are overrated

[Steve Henderson]

You should know that I have never seen 3:10 to Yuma, but I bought it today on DVD on your recommendations.

[wawai'memo]

No love for The Brag and Cuss? I don't think it's possible for him to top Makers but I figured it would be on your list somewhere.

[lizzyxblahh]

next best thing about 2008? the matches.


:-0


what?! the maches have been around for so long and they are so talented and excellent musicians. they cannot possibly be the next bst thing about 2008 when they've already been the best thing since 2006.


duhhhhh. :)

[Jason Tate]

You should know that I have never seen 3:10 to Yuma, but I bought it today on DVD on your recommendations.
Great flick! Hope you enjoy it!

[jwoody]

i disagree with tsl.

[thedondeluge]

Whahahha!

Ben Foster needs a supporting actor oscar nom for this film. Great movie with some really, really good performances.

I've realized for a while that Ben Foster is a really good actor.

[Spenny]

Awesome list... other than the Dear Hunter being most overrated.
I guess it's all opinion, but I think that they deserve all the praise they get.