Haven't been paying attention to music for the past year? Don't worry, we have. From rehab to reunions, digital downloading to living legends, 2007 was an exciting time to be a music fan. Street is here to fill you in on some of the highlights that made it a year to remember.
Hip-Hop Rocks The Masses
With the opening of a gate at the top of a field, a herd of 35,000 raced to the front of the stage to witness history in the making. No one wanted to be last in line to see acts such as Cypress Hill, Erykah Badu, Public Enemy, Mos Def and Immortal Technique grace the same stage for the first and what would likely be the last time. As if this combination of over 20 hip-hop geniuses was not enough, the long-awaited reunions of Wu-Tang Clan and Rage Against the Machine made for not only the musical event of the year, but of a lifetime. The words were political and the music inspirational. These legends delivered messages from the rebellious "Fuck you!" to the compelling tirades against the president and the War in Iraq. Avoiding commercialized rap, Rock the Bells consisted only of socially and politically charged hip-hop acts. So much more than a hip-hop music festival, Rock the Bells was a historic event that captured the passions and expressions of generations in less than 24 hours. If you didn't catch Rock the Bells in 2007, don't miss out on Rock the Bells 2008. Not your scene? Well at least you can say that you got the chance to see the haunting fa‡ade of Flavor Flav and verify that he is in fact as ugly in person as he is on TV.
-Ashley Bradley
Internet Killed The CD Star
What do superstars Radiohead, Canadian indie band Stars and music icon Prince all have in common? 2007 saw each of these artists release their most recent albums in nontraditional ways. Radiohead's "pay what you will" digital download system, Stars' digital release of In Your Bedroom After the War months before the album's hard copy release and Prince's distribution of Planet Earth free with copies of one of the UK's largest newspapers were all telling signs of a dying record industry. In the days of file-sharing, legal digital downloads and increased access to music distribution channels, anyone with an Internet connection can play the role of record executive. The album as we know it is becoming obsolete. And it shows. In the end of 2007, Geffen Records was absorbed further into Interscope Records, laying off 70 employees. According to Nielsen SoundScan, total album sales fell 15% this year. Only time will tell about the sustainability of the new business models presented by Radiohead and the like, but as it stands, the record companies seem to be on the losing end.
-Grace Ambrose
Cocaine Is a Hell of a Drug
One can't comment on music in 2007 without looking to the stars who fell off the wagon and into rehab. From up and comers like Amy Winehouse to long established stars like Britney Spears, some musicians seemed to spend more time detoxing than doing anything else. Pete Doherty, formerly of the Libertines and the current frontman of the band Babyshambles, continued his years-long spiral into drug use and addiction. His most recent release, Shotter's Nation, was almost universally panned by critics and fans alike, as was Britney's album Blackout. Artistic failures coupled with embarrassing public showings on both Britney and Amy's parts (nearly naked jaunts through London streets, spur of the moment head-shaving, flashing the paparazzi over and over and over again...), fascinated the public. However, despite the rapid decline of these stars' lives, things seem to be working out for a few walking disasters. Amy Winehouse scored six Grammy nominations for Back to Black. She may not live to see the awards ceremony, but if she shows up, we're guaranteed some excellent entertainment.
-Grace Ambrose
Can I Get an Encore?
From arena rockers to indie heartthrobs, 2007 saw the return of some of the most innovative and influential bands from the past 40 years. Fans from a wide range of music interests had something to be excited about last year, with bands from all genres and sizes coming back for one more go. Sting brought back the trademark "white-reggae" sound of The Police with one of the most successful reunion tours in recent history. The Smashing Pumpkins participated in a similar national tour, bringing together Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin to play songs from Zeitgeist, their most recent release in almost seven years. The most talked about reunions came from the rock underground, with My Bloody Valentine and Portishead returning to start work on new material. Most surprising was the return of rock legends Led Zeppelin who graced a soldout crowd in London in early December. With the late John Bonham replaced by his son Jason on drums, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones headlined a benefit concert in memory of former Atlantic Records executive Ahmet Ertegün, who gave the band their first record deal. Footage of the show found its way around for those who couldn't attend the rare performance, but hopefully in the near future we will be able to catch the legendary act in the flesh, as rumors of a world tour and new material in the works run rampant.
-Johann Diedrick
