Pet Shop Boys
Although the critics weren't too fond of the Pet Shop Boys 2006 release: "Psychological" I think it is their strongest album in years and their subsequent tour had teeth. Depeche Mode's 2006 hit album "Playing the angel" was another contemporary yet quintessential Mode album that showed how the big guys are doing it.
Erasure's 2007 album "Light at the end of the world" wasn't as good and inspiring as their 2005 release "Nightbird" although the album has two or three tracks that are brilliant and worth the money. Overall, Vince Clarke, in my book, is THE most talented songwriter and keyboarder the modern world has ever seen, yet he is THE most underrated.
The album that blew me away in 2007 was OneTwo's "Instead" - modern, yet eighties related, classic songwriting and stellar performances from Claudia Bruecken and Paul Humphrey's. Only disappointment on the album is the fact that Paul only sings one track. His voice is phenomenal which he proofed in 2007 while touring with his old "OMD" buddies.
In late 2007 Duran Duran released "Red Carpet Massacre" - a great, contemporary album
, perhaps not as melodic as its predecessor "Astronaut" (2004), but songs like "Falling Down" or "Pot full of honey" are right up there with their best recordings.
I also like Kosheen's latest album "Damage" - what a stunner! Other worthwhile releases of "newer" artists in the recent past are The Chemical Brothers 2007 release: "We are the night".
The good music is back - if one knows where to look
