Consider these 1997 albums:

Radiohead - OK Computer
The Verve - Urban Hymns
Bob Dylan - Time Out of Mind
Blur - self titled
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One
Bjork - Homogenic

...and these are just a few that come to mind.

Like many, when I first heard OK Computer I was blown away instantly by how different and new this record was.

In the late 90s, there was so much dreck on commercial radio, that it was hard to know which, if any, of these albums would have much lasting importance and even harder to filter through and find the good stuff. These days its certainly easier to find great music, but in hindsight I think '97 holds up.

Sent by Mike @ npr | 5:11 PM ET | 11-23-2007

I agree '97 had some great albums. my favorites not already mentioned are

Elliott Smith-Either/Or
Portishead-Self Titled
Sleater-Kinney-Dig Me Out
Spiritualized-Laides & Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
Super Furry Animals-Radiator
Mogwai-Young Team
Daft Punk-Homework
Modest Mouse-The Lonesome crowded West
Built to Spill-Perfect From Now On
Pavement Brighten The Corners

it was a good year for music definetly, but the early 90's held better albums in my opinion.

Sent by Devin Rodgers | 5:55 PM ET | 11-23-2007

The best pop album of 1997, IMO, was Hanson's Middle of Nowhere. It was a perfect pop album, and surprisingly mature for kids their age.

My other favorites of that year were Portishead and Radiohead (a big year for -heads?).

Sent by Jonah | 7:23 PM ET | 11-24-2007

Without a doubt the best album of 1997 was Middle Of Nowhere. What a stellar pop album that was. A breath of fresh air in the midst of grunge.

Sent by Kelly | 6:38 AM ET | 11-25-2007

"Without a doubt the best album of 1997 was Middle Of Nowhere. What a stellar pop album that was. A breath of fresh air in the midst of grunge"

Sent by Kelly | 6:38 AM ET | 11-25-2007

As far I am concerned grunge was pretty much dead by 1997(at least in mainstream)and we were well into the nu-metal period While I never really listened to Hanson and have often talked crap about them, as far as the mainstream music I remember in 1997, calling it the best pop album wouldn't mean much. I never listened to the album, so I may be missing out. I almost want to listen to it now. 2007 has been a great year for music. While I may not consider it the best release of 2007, I have been listening to Modest Mouse since it came out early in the year. It probably is my favorite release of the year, yet there is so much I haven't gotten to yet and probably won't till next year.

Sent by Oliver | 3:33 PM ET | 11-26-2007

Since we are on the topic of sevens. I have noticed that on almost every album that I have listened to, the seventh track is ussually one of the strongest tracks of the album.

Sent by Oliver | 5:32 PM ET | 11-26-2007

Other 97 albums you guys missed:
Foo Fighters - Colour and the Shape (still their best)
Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen

Also, I had a really hard time picking my top 5 for this year - it has been a good one.

Incidently, mine are:
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Beaten By Yuri - Gerta
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Spoon - GaGaGaGaGa
Feist - The Reminder

Sent by Ian | 1:44 PM ET | 11-27-2007

I am surprised nobody has mentioned "Two Sevens Clash" by Culture released in, of course '77 with a very expectational, apocalyptic tone. One of the greatest reggae albums ever, and reissued in '07 to boot!

Sent by Justin | 6:26 AM ET | 11-29-2007

Thanks for pointing out the "law of 7s," but I'm sorry, that stopped at 1987. 1957, 1967, and 1977 were freakin' REVOLUTIONARY!!

New music was being made that no one had ever heard before. "The Joshua Tree" is a great album and all, but it's not the herald of a new age in music. Nothing from 1997 or 2007 fits in that category either.

And before you dismiss me out of hand as an old fart, who just likes the music of his time, the 80's constitute "back in the day" for me. My generation didn't live up to the template originated by the original Rock n' Rollers, the Summer of Love, or the Blank Generation. I'm man enough to admit it. Are you man enough to admit you used this coincidence of the calendar to inflate the importance of the music of 1987, 1997, and 2007?

Just had to ask.

Cheers,

Tommy B

Sent by Tom Berard | 2:46 PM ET | 12-01-2007

Sooooooooooo subjective, and me being like that guy Nietzche, I find many opinions on music- and very much so for that of Bob and Robin- to be trite or trendy or too (?) something..spread out, worldy, correct... i dunno, but I do take issue with every list I see. I could try maybe...as illustration..a list..like..ok some might be from 2006..soo how about...hmmm, great year, al i can think of are older albums..what about Mark Olson's Salvation Blues, or Wilco's Sky Blue Sky, maybe....Grant Lee Phillips released his most uneven album yet- so no good there...no new MMJ or Gillian WelcH? hmmmm....not a good year- why bother, nothing comes to mind....Music is almost dead because genuine and thoughtful cultural response is lacklustre and sold-out. i dunno ~*~

Sent by james muckleroy | 10:28 AM ET | 12-02-2007

I just found this blog from Monitor Mix -- that must be a switch. I'm not surprised that 1997 was also the year the Jamband phenom peaked -- the Bittersweet Hotel movie even shows Phish at its best, with stellar spring and fall tours, before they unravelled into a mediocre funk band. I also caught the Disco Biscuits that year before they became another techno/jam band. Jazz Mandolin Project probably released their first album around that time, with Keith Jarrett's son on drums.

The interesting thing about the jamband trend was how much it was an echo of the 60s generation. The college students who fueled the bands' touring revenues were the kids of the affluent well-educated baby boomers.

It couldn't last forever, just like the music of the 60s.

Sent by Bill | 1:38 PM ET | 01-03-2008