After the frantic releasing activity of September and the first half of October, reviewers get to draw half a breath as 2007 begins to wind down towards Christmas.
For the last six weeks, up to 60 albums have been competing for attention every seven days, ranging from lauded indie new kids to established rock stars, and from avant garde electronica composers to folk heroes. Giving everything the attention it deserves is, at this time of year, quite a tall order.
But the compilation albums, novelty records and end-of-year features are already appearing, just as inevitably as the Beano annual creeps up on booksellers and Christmas puddings show up in supermarkets. It’s that time of year.
At least the slight lull allows the chance to catch up with some of the albums released over the last six weeks, and to think back on which have been our favourite albums of 2007 so far.
Of course we’ll be running an albums of the year feature come December. Will your favourite make the cut? Which records have been special for you this year and why?
