The Best Albums of 2007

50. The Brunettes - Structure & Cosmetics

49. Grinderman - Grinderman

48. Oakley Hall - I'll Follow You

47. Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch

46. Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War

45. Celebration - The Modern Tribe

44. Vietnam - Vietnam

43. Minus Story - My Ion Truss

42. Dr. Dog - We All Belong

41. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights

40. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover

39. The Broken West - I Can't Go On, I'll Go On

38. Explosions in the Sky - Suddenly I Miss Everyone

37. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

36. Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation

35. White Rabbits - Fort Nightly

34. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

33. Handsome Furs - Plague Park

32. Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Sustain Release

31. Phosphorescent - Pride

30. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

29. St. Vincent - Marry Me

28. Feist - The Reminder

27. El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead

26. Pharoahe Monch - Desire

25. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

24. Caribou - Andorra

23. Kevin Drew - Spirit If...

22. Kanye West - Graduation

21. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

20. I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona

I'm surprised this isn't on more best of lists. I know it's a bit over-the-top happy at times but it's full of really great pop songs. I like this more than any of the Polyphonic Spree albums.

19. !!! - Myth Takes

Myth Takes is a huge improvement from !!!'s last album. It's an amazing party record but is interesting enough to keep you coming back.

18. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

I know this is in my top 20 of the year but I also almost included it on my most disappointing albums of the year too. It is still a really enjoyable record; no amazing songs but it's all solid. I just want them to make something as spectacular as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot again, even though it's highly unlikely.

17. Menomena - Friend or Foe

This was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. As the year passed I just kept coming back to this album again and again. There is a bit of contained chaos on this album with the experimentation turning out some great pop tunes.

16. The New Pornographers - Challengers

Challengers is by far The New Pornographers least catchy and immediate album ever. Although it doesn't slap you in the face right away like their three previous albums, it's the first time I have had to listen to a NP album multiple times before it really sank in. Which in their case, is a step in the right direction if you want to keep things interesting. (Read More Here)

15. Miracle Fortress - Five Roses

This was the last edition to my best of list. I got it off emusic a few weeks ago and was putting this list off because I knew it was great, but needed to listen a few more times before deciding where it would fall. If I had more time, it might even move up a few spots. This is excellent stuff.

14. The Rosebuds - Night of the Fluries

The Rosebuds decided to change up their sound a bit and released a near perfect synth pop record. They however are one of the few bands to accomplish this without having a rehashed, retro feel to it.

13. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

I am pretty sure that Spoon hasn't ever released an album that wasn't really good. As far back as my Spoon catalogue goes, there isn't a weak album in the bunch. They continue the streak (and improve upon the almost-great Gimme Fiction) with this year's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Spoon is actually beginning the get the mainstream attention that they deserve.

12. Okkervil River - Stage Names

No lead singer/songwriter is able to express so much emotion in a song these days as Will Sheff. Although I think 2005's Black Sheep Boy was overall a better album, this is definitely more accessible. (Read More Here)

11. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

One of the biggest surprises of the year for me was Band of Horses album, Cease to Begin. I absolutely loved their debut album and just didn't think that they could duplicate that feeling for me. Not only did they release another great album, but they did it without making a carbon-copy of their first one.

10. The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters

Listening to The Twilight Sad makes me wish I had a Scottish accent. The Twilight Sad are able to pull of being loud, noisy, melodic and beautiful all at the same time.

9. Wax Fang - La La Land

This wins the award for favorite discovery of the year for me. Wax Fang could be one of the next great Rock N Roll bands in the tradition of Drive-By Truckers and My Morning Jacket. They aren't on that level yet, but we'll see what they do in the future. (Read More Here)

8. Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals

Making this list made me realize how many great debut albums were released this year. Yeasayer are able to make complex and infectious music without seeming pretentious at all. Once again, these guys could end up being huge. (Read More Here)

7. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Anyone that was disappointed with this album most likely didn't give it a chance. It would be nearly impossible for them to release another Funeral and, to be honest, who really wants that. Although the highs aren't as high on this album, it is still a solid statement.

6. Battles - Mirrored

I usually tend to run from the description "Instrumental Math-rock" as fast as I can. I'm glad I didn't with Battles though. One of the most interesting albums released this year, Battles bring so much to the table, it's hard to keep track of it all. Bonus points for one of the best songs and video's of the year ('Atlas') and one of the best shows of the year (@ The Record Bar).

5. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

As good as Beirut's debut album was, this blows it away. Zach Condon is turning out to be the most promising songwriter of this generation. Do me a favor and buy this album, almost anyone will find something to love, regardless of your taste in music. (Read More Here)

4. The National - Boxer

The National seems to be the critics and blogger's darling this year. Although it's still not as perfect of an album as 2005's Alligator, it's pretty close.

3. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

Even though LCD Soundsystem's debut album was great, it doesn't come close to Sound of Silver. It's dance music that even people that don't usually like dance music will still enjoy. Bonus points for having two nominees for song of the year ('Someone Great' & 'All My Friends').

2. The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse

Any other year and this probably would have been my album of the year. The Besnard Lakes have every facet of music that I love: haunting male-female harmonies, songs that build into epic finales and Canadians.

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows

I can't express how happy it makes me to put a Radiohead album at number one on my albums of the year. Like many music fans my age Radiohead have been a favorite of mine in my most formidable years. Unfortunately they haven't put out an amazing album like In Rainbows since 2000's Kid A. Although their albums since have been good, nothing has been this impressive. In Rainbows contains some of the prettiest songs Radiohead has ever released and it's able to sound like Radiohead without treading the same teritory as their previous efforts. (Read More Here)