This may be a question primarily for you older guys and gals. (We've established that there are some of us here) What contemporary album do you think you would have liked just as much in 1997, 1987, 1977, or even, dare I say, 1967? Has music changed so much, that what sounds good today would have been intolerably weird in the past? Has your taste changed so much that your current favorite would have turned you off back in the day?

I'll give a couple of examples from my experience. In 1997 I was listening to "alternative." Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Janes Addiction. In 1987, mostly post punk. As much as I love Animal Collective's Strawberry Jam today, I think I would have found it strange and unpleasant even 10 years ago, much less 20 or 30. In 1977, I think it would simply have been incomprehensible.

On the other hand, I could easily see myself listening to Boxer, Hissing Fauna, or Neon Bible in 1987 or 1997. They might have sounded odd, but not so much so that their charms would have been obscured.

I'm not a huge fan of the new Devendra album, but I think it would have found a fan base in 1967, though it would have sounded quaint and outmoded in 1977 and 1987.

So, maybe this won't make sense to anybody else, but, I'll give it a go!

I'm currently listening to The Shepherd's Dog, and I can unequivocally say that I would have enjoyed this in 1997. Not sure if I would have been open to it in 1987, but maybe-- I was nearing the height of my REM phase. In 1977, no chance. I was pretty much listening to my Kiss records (fourth grade, give me a break). I was born in '68, so I there's no way I could have enjoyed it in '67. That said, I think this album might have garnered critical acclaim and maybe a cult following in the late-sixties and late-seventies had it been released in those years, but not widespread acclaim.

np: "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"

I agree that I&W would have fit right into the singer/songwriter genres each time it rolls around. Before I discovered punk rock, I had a g/f who was listening to people like Dan Fogleberg or James Taylor. Except for his thematic eccentricity, Sam Beam could have been right there, although I think he's better than either of the two examples I gave. Nobody would have found him out of place.

I haven't updated my favorites for 2007 since June 15th but here's how they stacked up then:

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So far my top ten looks like this:

1) Dinosaur Jr (no real surprise here, I've liked everything Mascis has done regardless of his backing band)

2) Spoon (Every release by Spoon has made it into my top 10 since Series)

3) Julie Doiron (Big surprise here, Julie Doiron solo has never placed in my top 20)

4) The National (Probably my favorite by these guys so far.)

5) Of Montreal (This is by far the best album Tim Barnes has made and has landed in my top five albums by any of the Elephant 6 collective.)

6) The Saints (Another huge surprise. My first exposure to the Saints was Prodigal Son which is a fine album. Later I 'discovered' the first two records and realized what a vastly superior band they were with both Bailey and Kuepper. I'm not saying this album compares to (I'm) Stranded, but it is a solid, solid slab of Rock & Roll.)

7) Broken West (Another surprise as this was their debut.)

8) Calla (Another consistently great band.)

9) Willard Grant Conspiracy (Beautiful, beautiful record)

10) Dr. Dog (Hadn't heard these guys before this year, I keep coming back to this one.)

Two of those bands were actually putting out records in 1987. Of those ten albums, I think I would have enjoyed them all in 1997, and I probably would not have been open to the Calla (too moody), Of Montreal (too quirky), Willard Grant Conspiracy (too depressing) or Dr. Dog (too all over the map) in 1987. Conversely, the others would have been right up my alley. I'm guessing the National would have been my favorite.

I've been listening to a v/a comp today called Bearded Ladies. It's a collection of "forlorn & freakish" chanteuses from the late 60s/early 70s. A lot of obsure and lesser known femme folk, including my beloved Turkish psych goddess, Selda. Any track from my so-far favorite album of this year, Keren Ann's s/t album, would be right at home among these 30-35 year old songs. Also, many of the songs on the comp would fit in on a collection of modern female songwriters. Selda's selection definitely would.

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Has your taste changed so much that your current favorite would have turned you off back in the day?

My taste has changed/progressed much since back in the day (if the day is the late 60s/early 70s). It's impossible to say if any current favorites would have turned me off. If they would have then, I probably would have jumped onto them at some later point in time.

I can't really answer this question. I was 5 in 1997, so...

1997 is as far back as I can reasonably go. One record that I loved from 2006 that I know I would've liked in '97 is The Thermals' The Body, The Blood, The Machine. At the time I still listened to a ton of Green Day, Weezer, Offspring, etc. I'm sure it would've had a familiar sound, and added with the all around immediacy of it the album would've made an easy fit with what my interests.

Much as I like the Thermals' latest (top 10 in my yr end list last year), I think I would have liked in even better in 1997, when compared against all the mall punk bands. I'm not sure about 1987, but in 1977, "The Body, The Blood, The Machine," would have changed my life. Totally blown me away. Great call, less.

I think an equally interesting question is: What music from the 60s, 70s, or 80s wouldn't sound terribly out of place with the music on your 2007 list?

I'll have to think about it a bit, but I'll probably put together a list while I'm watching the Yankees/Indians game tonight.

i think spoon would've made tops for my list if it was 1977 they've got some vintage r-stones in them. altough i've only been around for 87 (not capable of list making though, lest we include raffi.