Five Albums Year-End Edition | Pajiba - Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People

A (Morning) Comment Diversion / Dustin Rowles

Comment Diversions | January 4, 2008 | Comments (199)

Since it’s the first of the year, and we here at Pajiba are hitting you with a heavy-dose of year-end lists and recaps (there’s more to come next week), and since you folks tend to go crazy about one of the topics we don’t cover here (JMW and Dan do a nice job of it on their blogs), we thought we’d let y’all come up with the top five albums of the year. Maybe I’ll tally up the mentions and run a piece on Monday featuring your choices, and you folks can collectively be our music critics.

I’ll start, though my music tastes tend to be a little antiquated, i.e. they were cool about five years ago, but now everything I love keeps showing up in “Grey’s Anatomy.” Damnit. If that isn’t a sign of being uncool, I don’t know what is.

1. Sky Blue Sky, Wilco
2. Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams.
3. All of a Sudden, I Miss Everyone, Explosions in the Sky
4. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, Modest Mouse
5. As I Am, Alicia Keys (I tried to resist. It’s futile)

Oh, and for the curious, the top three selling albums of the year were: Noel, Josh Groban; High School Musical Soundtrack; and Long Road Out of Eden, Eagles (they’re still around?).

← Pajiba Love 01/03/08 | Pajiba Love 01/04/08 →

Comments

1. Brandi Carlyle, "The Story" (yup, showed up on Grey's too, but whatever, the woman's fucking brilliant)
2. Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black"
3. Travis, "The Boy with no name"
4. Michael Buble, "Call Me Irresponsible" (yeah, yeah, laugh it up, but I'm too loyal to his damn band to not put them on here)
5. James Morrison, "Undiscovered"

Posted by: em at January 4, 2008 10:00 AM

Oh, and I forgot Alicia's album too. You can't resist. Probably why I'd kill to be her just for a few days.

Posted by: em at January 4, 2008 10:03 AM

"Josh Groban" is synonymous with "laxative" for me due to the uncontrollable urge to move my bowels whenever I hear any of his crapalicious music. Although, his voice is so cheesily perfect, I'm surprised I don't find myself eternally constipated instead. The world is full of mystery.

Ick.

Posted by: stacialue at January 4, 2008 10:03 AM

1. Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"
2. The National "Boxer"
3. Wilco "Sky Blue Sky
4. Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala"
5. Josh Ritter "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter"

Posted by: Radlum at January 4, 2008 10:11 AM

I'll toss mine in early here for once:

1. The New Pornographers, "Challengers"
2. Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
3. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, "Living With the Living"
4. Jens Lekman, "Night Falls Over Kortedala"
5. Wilco, "Sky Blue Sky"

also, the top three national bestsellers are just depressing: the christmas album everyones grandparents bought (likely off television), the album everyones 8 year old sister bought, and an album that (if memory serves me) was distributed exclusively through Wal-Mart.

why, oh why does this site not offer music commentary? (though I do enjoy the aforementioned blogs) i think it needs to be a goal for 2008, almost to the point where I would be glad to step up to the plate.

Posted by: Leff at January 4, 2008 10:20 AM

I'll toss mine in early here for once:

1. The New Pornographers, "Challengers"
2. Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
3. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, "Living With the Living"
4. Jens Lekman, "Night Falls Over Kortedala"
5. Wilco, "Sky Blue Sky"

why, oh why does this site not offer music commentary? (though I do enjoy the aforementioned blogs) i think it needs to be a goal for 2008, to the point where I, though a long dormant music blogger, would be glad to step up to the plate.

Posted by: Leff at January 4, 2008 10:21 AM

1. Miracle Fortress "Five Roses"

2. Burial "Untrue"

3. Land of Talk "Applause, Cheer, Boo, Hiss"

4. The Shins "Wincing The Night Away"

5. Iron and Wine "The Shepherd's Dog"

Posted by: bwinterr at January 4, 2008 10:22 AM

1. Patty Griffin "Children Running Through"
2. Minus the Bear "Planet of Ice"
3. Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"
4. Maria Taylor "Lynn Teeter Flower"
5. Peter Bjorn and John "Writer's Block"

Posted by: Erin at January 4, 2008 10:23 AM

1. Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, "Raising Sand"
2. Brandi Carlile, "The Story"
3. Ray LaMontagne, "Til the Sun Turns Black"
4. Feist, "The Reminder"
5. M.I.A., "Kala"

Posted by: raspberry beret at January 4, 2008 10:24 AM

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Is Is"
2. Blonde Redhead - "23"
3. The White Stripes - "Icky Thump"
4. Radiohead - "In Rainbows"

AND...

5. Britney Spears - "Blackout"

Oh yeah. I went there.

Posted by: David at January 4, 2008 10:28 AM

1. Matthew Good - Hospital Music
2. The Fratellis - Costello Music
3. Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars
4. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
5. Alicia Keys - As I Am

Oh god, I really don't buy many CDs.

""Josh Groban" is synonymous with "laxative" for me due to the uncontrollable urge to move my bowels whenever I hear any of his crapalicious music."

Oh jesus, me too. We either listen to a craptacular easy-listening CD or the lite music station at work, and I have to hear "because.. you. are. looooooooooooooooooooved..." so many times a day. When he came to Calgary, I was tempted to win tickets just to show up backstage and go "..I hate you. " Him and.. whatshisname. Fergie.

Posted by: Mara at January 4, 2008 10:29 AM

My list is embarrasingly Pitchfork-y:

1). National- Boxer
2). Panda Bear- Person Pitch
3). Jens Lekman- Night Falls over Kortedala (just like everyone else!)
4). Beirut- Flying Cup Club
5). Of Montreal- Hissing Fauna, are you the Destroyer?

Posted by: heather at January 4, 2008 10:31 AM

First and foremost...
1. Spooon "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" (maybe their best album yet?)
2. Wilco "Sky Blue Sky"
3. Andrew Bird "Armchair Apocrypha"
4. Bright Eyes "Cassadaga"
5. The White Stripes "Icky Thump"
and one more pretty please...
6. Feist "The Reminder"

Posted by: Drea at January 4, 2008 10:32 AM

1. Ben Folds - "Songs For Silverman"
2. Amy Winehouse - "Back to Black"
3. Feist - "The Reminder"
4. Wincing the Night Away - "The Shins"
5. Radiohead - "In Rainbows"

Posted by: legib at January 4, 2008 10:38 AM

Okay, and now it's hurting a little that I didn't put Travis "The Boy With No Name" on there. So now I did. So yeah...thats 7 for me. I'm a cheater.

Posted by: Drea at January 4, 2008 10:41 AM

Hard to narrow it down to just five! Here goes

1. Andrew Bird: Armchair Apocrypha (best album of the year. no contest.)
2. Modest Mouse: We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
3. The Decemberists: The Crane Wife
4. Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
5. The Shins: Wincing the Night Away

honorable mentions: spoon, white stripes, wilco, feist, bright eyes...I told you it was nearly impossible for me to narrow it down to five!

Posted by: jules at January 4, 2008 10:41 AM

1. The National : "Boxer"
2. Bloc Party : "A Weekend In The City"
3. The Arcade Fire : "Neon Bible"
4. Chromeo: "Fancy Footwork"
5. Digitalism: "Idealism"

(on the cutting room floor: Beirut, Burial, QotSA and Battles!)

Posted by: Jeff K at January 4, 2008 10:42 AM

I'm not even sure that I bought 5 new albums in '07, so I'll list my purchases. I do endorse them all anyway.
1. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, Modest Mouse (saw them live in concert, too--awesome!)
2. Wincing the Night Away, The Shins
3. Because of the Times, Kings of Leon (also saw them live-a great show)
4. The Traveling Wilburys Collection- The Traveling Wilburys (the compilation was just released this year so I'm counting it)

And still intending to buy Icky Thump...

Posted by: Kt at January 4, 2008 10:43 AM

man, I feel lame. I can't think of a single album that came out this year that I've actually listened to. You wanna talk antiquated music tastes? The only albums I bought this year were the Stooges live in Tokyo and a Maria Callas compilation. Guess I have some listening to do...

Posted by: s. pisaster at January 4, 2008 10:48 AM

5. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
4. Ozma - Pasadena
3. Justice - Cross
2. Coconut Records - Nighttiming
1. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Posted by: Stephanie at January 4, 2008 10:48 AM

It makes me so depressed, and old, the fact that I've got to seach for this. Music used to play a HUGE part of my life, but now, when I find a new musician, or something, I find that the big album of theirs is three or four years old. I was about to put Regina Spektor's "Soviet Kitch" until I saw that it came out in 2003. "Rabbit Fur Coat" by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins came out in 2006. Amy Winehouse? 2006.

I used to be so up on everything new. NIN has a new album? I'm camping out. Pearl Jam released 76 live albums? I've copied half of them. Sigh. Age.

1. Radiohead "In Rainbows"
2. Fiest, "The Reminder"
3. The Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"
4. The White Stripes "Icky Thump"
5. Fall Out Boy "Infinity on High" (fuck you, listen to this album, haters, and try not to dance. I dare you)

Posted by: Withnail at January 4, 2008 10:49 AM

Eh, Withnail, don't feel so bad...music is still a huge part of my life and now I have the hardest time finding new stuff I love. I usually just find artists I love and stick with 'em forever.

Also? "5. Fall Out Boy "Infinity on High" (fuck you, listen to this album, haters, and try not to dance. I dare you)" Hmmmm. I can't seem to get into them because I went to high school in the suburb from which they are from (um, grammar police? It's early for me, sorry) and that just brings back horrid memories, but maybe I'll give it a shot.

Posted by: em at January 4, 2008 10:55 AM

s.pisaster--don't feel bad, I bought some old Stooges (and lots of other old albums, too) this year. And saw them live in Denver. Which reminds me that I also bought the Weirdness, so that's my #5!

Posted by: Kt at January 4, 2008 10:55 AM

i can't think of any 2007 albums i've listened to other than "icky thump".

Posted by: kelley at January 4, 2008 10:56 AM

God, one last comment on here and I'll shut up--I can't believe anyone can listen to Josh Groban. For some reason he sounds like a stuck sheep to me. I also had to deal with listening to his shit non-stop like Mara...I swore I was going to go on a killing rampage if I heard that fucking "You raise me uuuuuuuuuuuupppppppp!" song one more time. GAH.

Posted by: em at January 4, 2008 10:58 AM

The White Stripes-Icky Thump
MIA-Kala
!!!-Myth Takes
Patty Griffin-Children Running Through
The Arcade Fire-Neon Bible

Posted by: sleater at January 4, 2008 10:58 AM

Here we go...

Arcade Fire- Neon Bible
Radiohead- In Rainbows
Caribou- Andorra
Queens of the Stone Age- Era Vulgaris
Feist- The Reminder

All in all a pretty good year.

Posted by: Ebs at January 4, 2008 11:00 AM

Here we go...

Arcade Fire- Neon Bible
Radiohead- In Rainbows
Caribou- Andorra
Queens of the Stone Age- Era Vulgaris
Feist- The Reminder

All in all a pretty good year.

Posted by: Ebs at January 4, 2008 11:00 AM

1. Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
2. The Reminder - Feist
3. Marry Me - St. Vincent
4. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon
5. Neon Bible - Arcade Fire

Posted by: Scott at January 4, 2008 11:01 AM

1. The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
3. Kate Nash - Made of Bricks (though I don't think it's out in the US yet)
4. Nicole Atkins - Bleeding Diamonds
5. The Fratellis - Costello Music

Posted by: Jenny at January 4, 2008 11:04 AM

1. Musiq Soulchild - Luvanmusiq
2. BBC Radio1 Live Lounge Vol. 2 (You haven't lived until you've heard 30 Seconds To Mars' cover of Kanye's Stronger or The Klaxxons cover of No Diggity or Amy Winehouse doing The Zutons' Valerie or on and on and on)
3. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
4. Alicia Keys - As I Am
5. James Morrison - Undiscovered

Posted by: Boogs at January 4, 2008 11:05 AM

And in case that Kate Nash one is ineligible, then definitely the Kings of Leon, Because of the Times.

Posted by: Jenny at January 4, 2008 11:05 AM

1. The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
2. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
3. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
4. Th' Legendary Shack Shakers - Swampblood
5. Patton Oswalt - Werewolves & Lollipops

Posted by: Red Beard at January 4, 2008 11:06 AM

Sad...the only new album I bought this year was Radiohead's "In Rainbows." Which is terrific, of course.

I'll have to add the Travelling Wilburys Collection (thanks, Kt--I almost forgot!) to mine.

Darn kids today...all new music sucks...grumble, grumble.... Maybe if there were decent radio stations or a good live music scene where I live, I'd get exposed to some more non-crap?? I know it's out there; I will have to look into some of your suggesions, Pajibans.

Dustin, you should definitely tally them up for me. That'd be swell.

Posted by: MO at January 4, 2008 11:06 AM

1. Springsteen "Magic"
2. Jimmy eat world "Chase this light"
3. A Fine Frenzy "One Cell in the sea"
4. Buffalo Tom "Three easy pieces"
5. Mandy Moore "Wild Hope"

Posted by: joshiepants at January 4, 2008 11:07 AM

Christ almighty, what's with all the Josh Groban hate?! He made a Christmas album for old ladies. My grandma listens to him nonstop, and he makes her happy. We need artists like him to appease the elderly. Anything to keep them from driving...

CHILL OUT, PEOPLE. I think everyone needs to just relax and listen to "Blackout" for a while...

Posted by: David at January 4, 2008 11:13 AM

1. Arcade Fire, "Neon Bible"
2. Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
3. Kanye West, "Graduation"
4. The Polyphonic Spree, "The Fragile Army"
5. The Shins, "Wincing the Night Away"

Posted by: J. at January 4, 2008 11:13 AM

Woo! I'm not a big music fan so I'm not really the best person to play. I'm only going to count the albums that I personally have bought (and so none that I have stolen from my flatmates). My selections from 2007 (horrible taste alert!)

1. The Fratellis - Costello Music
2. Scouting for Girls - Scouting for Girls
3. The Hoosiers - Trick to Life
4. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
5. The Enemy - We'll Live and Die in These Towns

These are the first five that spring to mind from this year, although I'm sure there are others that I've just overlooked. Oh and honourable mention to Mark Ronson's Version which is bloody superb but I don't yet own, Yours Truly, Angry Mob by the Kaiser Chiefs which is crazily sing-alongable and of course Made of Bricks because Kate Nash is adorably chav.

Posted by: Alex the Odd at January 4, 2008 11:17 AM

1. Amy Winehouse - "Back to Black"
2. Mary J. Blige - "Growing Pains"
3. M.I.A. - "Kala"
4. Talib Kweli - "Eardrum"
5. Alicia Keys - "As I Am"

As for as CD I have listened to the most last year, it's not even new music. It was Love (The Beatles remix album from Cirque du Soleil). I can't stop playing it...

Posted by: Shebbie at January 4, 2008 11:18 AM

I could only come up with 3 that I currently am so in love with I can't stand it:

1. In Rainbows - Radiohead
2. Once - the sountrack
3. The Reminder - Feist

Posted by: Marianne at January 4, 2008 11:20 AM

My musical taste is like Old Country Buffet, there's a little bit of everything and none of it's particularly good.

1. The Fratellis "Costello Music"
2. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes "Love Their Country" (I didn't buy it until 2007)
3. The Casting Out, "The Casting Out"
4. The Red Elvises, "30 Greatest Hits"
5. Ween "La Cucharacha"

Posted by: insertclevernamehere at January 4, 2008 11:20 AM

1. The National, Boxer
2. Richard Hawley, Lady's Bridge
3. Lupe Fiasco, The Cool
4. !!!, Myth Takes
5. Dinosaur Jr., Beyond

Posted by: stevegoz at January 4, 2008 11:21 AM

In no particular order:

MIA - Kala
Grey Gardens - The Broadway Cast Recording
KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Lily Allen - Alright, Still

Ok, to give it an order: Grey Gardens: Broadway Cast Recording is the best album of 2007, if for no other reason than it provides a second version of Revolutionary Costume for Today performed by Christine Ebersole. Then MIA, Winehouse, Allen and Tunstall.

Posted by: Robert at January 4, 2008 11:27 AM

Foo Fighters--Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace
Modest Mouse--We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Rise Against--The Sufferer and The Witness
White Stripes--Icky Thump
Feist--The Reminder

And if I could add a soundtrack to the list, Into the Wild.

Posted by: Girl With Curious Hair at January 4, 2008 11:29 AM

Foo Fighters, "Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace"
White Stripes, "Icky Thump"
Iron and Wine, "The Shepard's Dog"
Clutch, "From Beale Street to Oblivion"
...and just because I laughed when I saw their name on the CD, but when I gave it a listen it turned out to be damn fine....

Alabama Thunderpussy, "Open Fire"

Posted by: PissBoy at January 4, 2008 11:35 AM

1. In Rainbows -- Radiohead
2. The Crane Wife -- The Decemberists
3. Raising Sand -- Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
4. Traffic and Weather -- Fountains of Wayne
5. Berlin Serengeti -- Radio Citizen

Posted by: sansho1 at January 4, 2008 11:37 AM

Tegan & Sara - The Con
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga GA
Feist - The Reminder
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
The Chemical Brothers - We Are The Night

Posted by: Eric at January 4, 2008 11:43 AM

The National/ Boxer (a total grower!)
Spoon/ Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Okkervil River/ The Stage Names
Beirut / The Flying Club Cup
Daft Punk / Alive 2007

Honorable mention to Josh Ritter and Fall Out Boy (because they can actually be pretty fun sometimes).

Posted by: AC at January 4, 2008 11:43 AM

"Transitions Vol. 3" - John Digweed

Posted by: Agent Scully at January 4, 2008 11:43 AM

The White Stripes - "Icky Thump"
M.I.A. - "Kala"
Alicia Keys - "As I Am"
A Fine Frenzy - "One Cell in the Sea"
Jay-Z - "American Gangster"

.... And I completely second (thirded?) the vote for the goodness of Fall Out Boys's Infinity on High

Posted by: NigerianGnaius at January 4, 2008 11:47 AM

This is easy-

1. Children Running Through-Patty Griffin
2. In Rainbows-Radiohead
3. Sky Blue Sky-Wilco
4. we we dead before the ship even sank-Modest Mouse
5. Okay, I can't come up with a fifth

Posted by: summerteeth at January 4, 2008 11:54 AM

God damn it! Fifty-plus comments, and not a single mention of LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver? I'm about ready to up and quit this bitch!

Posted by: Seth at January 4, 2008 12:01 PM

1. The Reminder by Feist
2. Sky Blue Sky by Wilco
3. Alright, Still by Lily Allen
4. Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
5. Under the Blacklight by Rilo Kiley

Posted by: Kimber at January 4, 2008 12:05 PM

I am reading everyone's lists and I have forgotten so many. It's really hard to choose 5. And Seth if it makes you feel any better, I have that LCD Soundsystem album and it is very good!

Posted by: Erin at January 4, 2008 12:09 PM

5. Amy Winehouse - "Back to Black" - She might not last much longer with the rampant drug use, but damn this album is so good. I could also easily put her first album "Frank" here as well.
4. Lily Allen - "Alright, Still" - Fun, quirky, and completely awesome.
3. The Shins - "Wincing the Night Away" -
2. A Fine Frenzy - "One Cell in the Sea" - Beautiful album
1. Foo Fighters - "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace"

Just missing is Nine Inch Nails - "Year Zero". That album takes a little while to grow on me.

I loathe Josh Groban. I used to work with a lady who listened to him all freakin' day and told every single customer about the "awesomeness" of Josh Groban. All of the old ladies love him. I want to staple things to his head.

Posted by: Melody at January 4, 2008 12:11 PM

Um, I definitely didn't buy 5 new albums this year. I bought two. No, wait, three! And one from '06, I think. That's all I can remember, so I guess I have a top 4 list.

1. Hurt - Vol II (check them out. seriously. DO IT.)
2. KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic
3. Hurt - The Black Market EP
4. Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way Around

Posted by: Gabs at January 4, 2008 12:20 PM

1. The Fratellis: Costello Music
2. Neil Young: Chrome Dreams II
3. Jarvis Cocker: Jarvis (okay a late 2006 release in UK but not released in US until 2007)
4. Radiohead: In Rainbows (for the sheer balls for trying to shake up the industry)

Honorable mentions:
1. Arcade Fire: Neon Bible (only because I haven't heard the whole album so it would be cheating to put it on top 5)
2. Bjork: Volta

Biggest disappointments:
1. Rufus Wainwright: Release the Stars
2. Wilco: Sky Blue Sky

Posted by: PaddyDog at January 4, 2008 12:24 PM

Band of Horses, "Cease To Begin"
New Pornographers, "Challengers"
Arcade Fire, "Neon Bible"
Wilco, "Sky Blue Sky"
The Shins, "Wincing the Night Away"

I saw all of these except for Band of Horses in concert this year and each show was awesome.

Posted by: Matt at January 4, 2008 12:26 PM

Just prior to scrolling through the list, I said to myself "Y'know, if this were a drinking game I could take a swallow everytime I see Arcade Fire or Modest Mouse, and chug a fifth everytime I see Britney Spears."

Well, I'd be deader than... well, dead.

Posted by: Skittimus Maximus at January 4, 2008 12:28 PM

Seth,

I saw LCD Soundsystem with Arcade Fire this summer and, while I still like Arcade more, LCD completely blew my mind with their set. They almost made my top 5 based solely on the huge performance they gave. If you haven't seen them live I would recommend it to anyone.

Posted by: Matt at January 4, 2008 12:29 PM

This really makes me realize how out of step I am with modern music. I have heard of very few of the artists you all are talking about, and practically none of the albums. The only new album I've even had the urge to buy recently was the one by A Fine Frenzy, but I've still never seen it in a store.

Maybe I could give that Radiohead one a shot. I seem to recall liking them fifteen years ago...

Posted by: Todd at January 4, 2008 12:32 PM

1. Ashtray Rock by Joel Plaskett Emergency
2. Reunion Tour by The Weakerthans
3. Hospital Music by Matthew Good
4. The Boy With No Name by Travis
5. In Our Bedroom After the War by Stars

Lots of Canadian Content there, but I apologise for nothing!

Posted by: Mary at January 4, 2008 12:38 PM

1. The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour
2. The New Pornographers - Challengers
3. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
4. Kanye West - Graduation
5. Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch

... And another 'honourable mention' for Fall Out Boy's Infinity on High.

Posted by: Kirstie at January 4, 2008 12:38 PM

1.) The Shins, Wincing the Night Away

2.) Silversun Pickups, Carnaval

3.) Wilco, Sky Blue Sky

4.) Arcade Fire, Neon Bible

5.) Decemberists, The Crane Wife

Honorable Mention- Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

These are simply in order of the frequency with which I listened to them. Though perhaps I should give Modest Mouse extra points for seeing them in concert... I will consider this proposition and make changes if necessary...

Posted by: becca at January 4, 2008 12:42 PM

Leff: I agree, Pajiba needs a scathing music critic
This is rough! There were so many great albums this year. Finally a good music year!

5) The New Pornographers - Challengers (Canada's west coast supergroup, saw them live, so good!)

4) Mavis Staples - We'll Never Turn Back (My only non-Canadian entry. She is the 1960's Alicia Keys, and even though she's almost 70, she managed to put out a beautiful, well executed, well sung record)

3) Feist - The Reminder (Canada's indie-pop darling, so f*cking catchy, love that it was recorded in a castle in France)

2) Stars - In our Bedroom After the War (Canada's East coast supergroup rocks it up live as well)

1) The Decemberists - The Crane Wife (I can't get enough of this album, a bunch of dorky Canadian indie kids singing about the American civil war. Catchy, happy songs paired with morose lyrics, a modern indie sound that's wierdly reminiscent of old school Genisis. I don't know how they did it, but all the weird components of this album come together to form an amazing music experience. For reals, try not tapping your toes to "Yankee Bayonnet"!

Posted by: Agente Provocatrice at January 4, 2008 12:47 PM

Thank you, Pajiba powers, for posting this topic; my recent searches for a few new albums, bands, etc, have borne measly fruit (probably through some fault of my own), but I'm open to new sounds and ideas, and the posters have, as always, presented some promising suggestions.

Posted by: becca at January 4, 2008 12:47 PM

heather- was Of Montreal's Hissing Fauna released this year? Wow, this is getting tougher, but I think I'm standing by my picks.

Posted by: becca at January 4, 2008 12:50 PM

Here's mine for the year:

1. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days 100 Nights - If you like Amy Winehouse you'll love this retro throwback to Motown without the crack with the band that suppiled that soulful sound for her.
2. M.I.A - Kala - I dare you to listen to Mango Pickle Down Under and not love it
3. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black - She's a mess but its not often that EVERY track on an album rocks
4. Radiohead - In Rainbows - I get shivers when I listen to this...kinda like how I reacted to their album The Bends.
5. Wyclef Jean - Carnival 2: Memoirs of and Immigrant - Probably one of the best albums he's put out in years.

Posted by: Ms. Parker at January 4, 2008 12:54 PM

So... I really must be out of touch with what's 'cool' lately. Or you lot have absolutely no taste.

Kidding. Mostly.

Can someone please explain the love for Arcade Fire? I loathe them. I also loathe the whole whiny hipster I-sing-after-snorting-helium genre. And I absolutely hate the song 'Icky Thump'. Shut the fuck up, Jack White.

The CDs I bought last year? Behold.

Godsmack - Faceless (which was released in '03)

3 Days Grace - One-X (of which there are approx. four songs I cannot listen to because the radio played the ever-loving shit out of them)

Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead (I really enjoy this CD, so of course my CD player killed it. Two days after I bought it. Gotta find a new copy somewhere)

Tool - Aenima (another old release)

Posted by: Cuno at January 4, 2008 12:59 PM

1. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
2. The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour
3. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
4. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
5. The Narrator - All That To The Wall

Honorable mention: Sondre Lerche, Modest Mouse, New Pornographer, The National, Chuck Ragan, Arcade Fire, Menomena

Posted by: Leo at January 4, 2008 1:07 PM

I am woefully behind on my album purchasing and listening, but here are my top five right now:

1. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
3. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
4. The National - Boxer
5. Christopher Denny - Age Old Hunger

Honorable mentions:
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger & Follow the Lights EP
Patrick Watson - Close to Paradise

Posted by: Carrie at January 4, 2008 1:09 PM

1. MIA - Kala: Went to her show back in November. Quite possibly the best show of my life, thus far. It was a nonstop dance party.
2. In Rainbows - Radiohead
3. Back to Black - Amy Winehouse. Yeah, she's cracked out of her mind, but seriously, her stuff's awesome.
4. The Crane Wife - The Decemberists
5. The Reminder - Feist. Went to her show a few months ago, was surprised by how fun she is with her audience.

Posted by: Corinna at January 4, 2008 1:15 PM

1. "Hospital Music" Matthew Good
2. "Icky Thump" White Stripes
3. "Once" movie soundtrack

Annnndd...that's it. I found this year a little dissapointing in terms of albums. I also don't reside within the majority of people who loved Feist's The Reminder. I thought it was ok, and being a Feist fan since the very beginning, I don't think it matched up to her previous album. That's just my opinion.

Posted by: citizen_cris at January 4, 2008 1:17 PM

some of these are old stuff I discovered this year...
The Shins, Wincing the Night Away
The Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
the soundtrack to Spring Awakening
Sleater-Kinney, All Hands on the Bad One
Skunk-Anansie, Post-Orgasmic Chill

Posted by: Genevieve at January 4, 2008 1:21 PM

I nominate ME to be the Scathing Music Critic for the land of Pajiba!!! I would be strict, but fair; ruling with an iron fist and smiting those tin ears who dare to release an album. Josh Groban...I'm looking at you! Grandmothers love the way you sing. Well my grandmother loved my singing voice too...when in reality, I knew I sounded like 2 dogs fucking in the sewer drain.

Posted by: PissBoy at January 4, 2008 1:27 PM

In no particular order...
Neon Bible- Arcade Fire
Boxer- The National
Battles- Mirrored
Untrue- Burial
Sound of Silver- LCD Soundsystem

Also loved this year: M.I.A., SMD, Justice, Jens Lekman, Ghostland Observatory, Okkervil River, The Clientele

Posted by: kaylars at January 4, 2008 1:28 PM

Can we expect a roundup about this? I'd like to see what the Pajiba Commenter Consensus picks were. Especially since this was a pretty good year for music, I thought.

1. Wilco, Sky Blue Sky
2. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Living with the Living
3. Jason Isbell, Sirens of the Ditch
4. Jay-Z, American Gangster
5. The National, Boxer

Honorable mentions go to Feist, White Stripes, K-Os, Andrew Bird, Ryan Adams, Spoon, Radiohead, Jens Lekman, Band of Horses, Ghostface, Okkervil River, and Dethklok.

And my Josh Ritter Award for Criminally Underrated Album of the Year (tm) goes to... Josh Ritter's "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter"! Ignore the pretentious joke title and give it a chance; it's an awesome little pop nugget with a little Bob Dylan, a little Crazy Horse, a little Bruce Springsteen, and a lot of awesome.

Posted by: Lee at January 4, 2008 1:29 PM

Hey Cuno, who exactly would you include in the "whiny hipster I-sing-after-snorting-helium genre"?

Also wondering what genre you would put Three Days Grace into? Because I'm pretty sure that they would fall into the whiny i-think-im-a-hard-ass-and-my-lyrics-are-so-angry-and-GOD!-look-how-totally-grungy-I-am-don't-you-just-all-wish-you-were-as-hard-ass-as-me genre.

Tool is pretty good though. I'll give you that.

Posted by: Drea at January 4, 2008 1:30 PM

I didn't buy many albums this year, mostly I had my friends burn them. However, I did discover some awesome music this year. Woo.

1.) Riot! - Paramore (how has no one mentioned this yet?)
2.) One Cell in the Sea - A Fine Frenzy
3.) The Reminder - Feist
4.) Carnavas - Silversun Pickups
5.) Minutes to Midnight - Linkin Park (LOADS better than their first two albums)

Posted by: maddragonqueen at January 4, 2008 1:36 PM

m.i.a.-kala
amy winehouse-back to black
spinto band-nice & nicely done
stars-in our bedroom after the war
silversun pickups-carnavas

honourabuhls: justice, delta spirit, the shins, common, lily allen, and tons more that would make the list too long.

Posted by: thatgirlshines at January 4, 2008 1:40 PM

1. Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future (incredible, one of the most original albums I've heard in years)
2. Hard-Fi - Once Upon a Time in the West
3. The Fratellis - Costello Music
4. Artic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
5. The Kaiser Chiefs - Yours Truly, Angry Mob

Posted by: WolfKing at January 4, 2008 1:44 PM

The Radiohead album is amazing.

Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals/Lifeline was great as well.

Posted by: Rachel at January 4, 2008 1:48 PM

These are the albums I listened to the most this year:

1. Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black"
2. Mark Ronson, "Version"
3. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, "100 Days, 100 Nights"-I agree with the posted above-they are awesome!!

I haven't really bought any other albums this year, but have downloaded some stuff, and liked a lot of stuff from LCD Soundsystem, Band of Horses, Silversun Pickups, and others.

Posted by: jillster85 at January 4, 2008 1:49 PM

james morrison, 'undisovered'
mika, 'life in cartoon motion'
amy winehouse, 'back in black'
alicia keyes, 'as i am'
matt nathanson, 'some mad hope'

Posted by: supermeg at January 4, 2008 1:53 PM

Cuno, I will agree that Serj Tankian is pretty damned awesome. 3 days grace is kinda formulaic and just like about 30 other bands out there.

Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park is meh. I can take or leave it. The singles are pretty good, but I miss the older albums with Shinoda and Bennington combined on a track.

Posted by: Melody at January 4, 2008 1:57 PM

forgot one:

mandy moore, 'wild hope' (i know it's cheesy, but i love her and i love this album)

Posted by: supermeg at January 4, 2008 2:00 PM

Cuno, no worries, you just have different taste; your list features some heavy stuff that I'm only familiar with because of my ex-boyfriend's CD collection. It's all generally solid music, but not my style. You don't have to "get" the "indie-whine thing", ya know?

Shit, man, I'm definitely realizing how I made the "frequent posters" list. I really didn't think I posted that often...

And since PissBoy nominated himself to be music critic, I'd like to add my name to the fantasy-running, as well: I'd critique from a lyrical point of view. While I took History or Rock and History of Pop with a fabulous professor at my fine alma mater, and despite the fact that I play a mean flute sonata, I generally relate to music on a lyrical, english-major, poetry-lover, word-economy-appreciator level, which seems obvious but perhaps isn't since music is arguably the most abstract form of art, and lyrics, even funky ones, have a clear teleology, if you will. I also, apparently, have an aversion to full stops in my prose.

Anyway, there's my name in the not-actually-existent hat. And also, I'd like to hear PissBoy sing if he does in fact sound like two dogs humping in a gutter.

Posted by: becca at January 4, 2008 2:00 PM

Wilco, Sky Blue Sky
Band of Horses, Cease to Begin
Tegan and Sara, the Con
Wolfmother, Wolfmother
Modest Mouse, We were dead....

Posted by: LZ at January 4, 2008 2:22 PM

1. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (I hate that I love this album so much)
2. White Stripes - Icky Thump
3. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
4. Feist - The Reminder
5. Tegan and Sara - The Con

Posted by: Nancy at January 4, 2008 2:26 PM

Whoa, I can't play this diversion. As the oldest living (semi-mobile) Pajib[i]an, I would have thought that I would have the most "albums" but I gave up that oldline media. Fortunately, I have a rockin' thirteen year old nephew with great and diverse taste in music. He filled my iPod with everything from 50's doo-wop to whatever genre Amy Winehouse sings. I suppose the most au courant would be Ms. Winehouse's Back to Black. I agree with whomever said that it is rare to find an album where I will willingly listen to all the tracks. Too bad she's on the Janis Joplin smackway to death. The Pod also features Josh Groban on some rips. Say what you will, he has a beautiful voice that showcases all the strengths of classical training without the any of the mannerisms. Buble (poor man's Sinatra) and Wainwright (straight girl's Judy Garland) are also there--together with their progenitores.

Posted by: rudy at January 4, 2008 2:32 PM

1: Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

2: Stars Of The Lid: And Their Refinement of the Decline

3: Yeasayer: All Hour Cymbals

4: Battles: Mirrored

5: No Age: Weirdo Rippers

Posted by: Mohaski at January 4, 2008 2:34 PM

1. Bjork- Volta
2. Tegan and Sara- The Con
3. Cake- B-Sides and Rarities
4. Modest Mouse- We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
5. Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent

Posted by: april at January 4, 2008 2:39 PM

Agent Provacatrice: nice choices, but The Decemberists are American, not Canadian.

I completely forgot about LCD Soundystem, another album that I came lately to but am now thoroughly enjoying.

Posted by: AC at January 4, 2008 2:41 PM

Sorry - no way I'm paicking only five. Ibuy too much music. This only covers purchases of releases new to 2007

The Like Picking a Favorite Child Division
The White Stripes Icky Thump
The Hives Black And White Album

The That's Some Mouth On You Girl Division
Rilo Kiley Under the Blacklight
Amy Winehouse Back to Black
Lily Allen Alright, Still
The Donnas Bitchin
Nellie McKay Obligatory Villagers

The Play it LOUD Division
Grinderman Grinderman
Dropkick Murphys The Meanest Of Times
Serj Tankian Elect The Dead
Electric Six I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Master
Black Lips Good Bad Not Evil
Schoolyard Heroes Abominations
Queens of the Stone Age Era Vulgaris
Detroit Cobras Tied & True
Horrors Strange House

The Let's Party Division
The Fratellis Costello Music
The New Pornographers Challengers
Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare
The Mooney Suzuki Have Mercy
Kings of Leon Because of the Times

The Hey, This isn't Party Music Division
Ryan Adams Easy Tiger & Follow the Lights
The Killers Sawdust
Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

The Check Out the Old Guy Division
John Fogerty Revival
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Raising Sand
The Stooges The Weirdness

Remasters, Reissues and Box Sets
Led Zeppelin Mothership
Elvis Costello My Aim Is True & Rock and Roll music
Various Artists Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970 & The Brit Box
Sly & the Family Stone There's a Riot Goin' On
Tom Waits Orphans

Posted by: Brian at January 4, 2008 2:42 PM

I was actually being a bit self-depricating Becca. Methinks I've come up to the level of 2 cats banging in the park down the street. You know, not right next to you, but 'round the corner and under the jungle gym. You can hear the emotion of the moment in my voice, but it seems distant. It seems to mesh nicely with my band though.

And I agree 100 percent on the lyrical front. Most of the mainstream schlock nowadays has the emotional depth of an Arizona mud puddle. But sucks to the canned music and 3-chord sissy-nannies (Jared Leto...stand up...) as well!

Posted by: PissBoy at January 4, 2008 2:42 PM

Sadly, I don't know that I listened to a single album that came out in 2007 that actually came out in 2007. But I discovered the Shins' "Wincing the Night Away" in '07 (I can't remember if it came out last year or in 2006) and I have to say I think it's the most amazing thing I've ever heard. I listened to it over and over again for about six weeks straight, then took a two-week hiatus, then listened to it exclusively for about a month, and now I've moved on to other music, but every time I hear that album the whole world seems a little bit better.

Posted by: Cady at January 4, 2008 2:44 PM

1. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
2. Daft Punk - Alive
3. Radiohead - In Rainbows
4. Battles - Mirrored
5. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Oh, and I hate Tool, but kudos for trying to mix up the pretty standard indie-fare that we all should have seen coming, and I feel guilty contributing to.

Posted by: Henry at January 4, 2008 2:46 PM

You all have bad taste. Josh Groban? White Stripes? Please.

5. M.I.A.

4. In Rainbows

3. Once Soundtrack

2. Fest, 'The Reminder'

1. Eisley, 'Combinations'

Posted by: mat at January 4, 2008 2:49 PM

watch it you up there - I am a grandma and here are my favorites of this year:
The National , Boxer
Patty Griffin , Children Running Through
Wilco , Sky Blue Sky
Feist , The Reminder and always and best
Bright Eyes , Cassadaga

Posted by: marcia at January 4, 2008 2:50 PM

I only have two best of albums for 2007 - A lot of my favourites put out poncey albums of yawn:

Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black"
Abdominal - Pedal Pusher
(Canadian hip-hop artist - AMAZING!)

***Biggest Disappointments of 2007***

Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - they should just stop
The Shins, "Wincing the Night Away" - meh, the same schytick as their last two albums
Arcade Fire, "Neon Bible" - again with the meh
Ween "La Cucharacha" - I had great expectations for this album that did not deliver.
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife - Almost exactly the same as Picaresque, but less so. Boring.

Posted by: Farfalina at January 4, 2008 2:52 PM

1. Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal

2. Neon Bible - Arcade Fire

3. American Gangster - Jay-Z

4. Myths of the Near Future - Klaxons

5. Icky Thump - The White Stripes

Posted by: Tauwan at January 4, 2008 2:56 PM

I post here pretty regularly I am a huge Tool and A Perfect Circle fan, but I do understand that Maynard is certainly not for everyone. 10,000 Days and AEnima are some of my favorite albums.

I have pretty wide ranging tastes in music given that today alone I have listened to Amy Winehouse, NIN, The Shins, Garbage, and currently Bjork.

Posted by: Melody at January 4, 2008 3:01 PM

1. Against Me! - New Wave
2. Alicia Keys - As I Am
3. Feist - The Reminder
4. John Mayer - Continuum
5. Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live in Manchester & Dublin

**6. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations... yes, I know i'm past 5 and YES it's from 2006, but goddam, that band is phenomenal.

Posted by: mick at January 4, 2008 3:10 PM

Wow, browsing through the list just made me realize that I wasn't on my A-Game last year when it came to music. Usually i'm the first person I know out there seeking new music. I'm going to have to play catch up in '08

On to my list, first up is me rep'ing some hometown pride!

1. Ill Scarlett - All Day with It
2. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
3. Lily Allen - Allright Still
4. The Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
5. Greydon Square - The Compton Effect

The last on my list is worth a check out if you can bear rap. This guys redeems the genre and takes it to a new level. You find me any rapper who will rap about Quantam Physics...........Thats what I thought

Posted by: Jax at January 4, 2008 3:11 PM

I simply cannot believe that no one has mentioned Shotters Nation from Babyshambles.

:sniff:

Posted by: agent bedhead at January 4, 2008 3:19 PM

I must admit I'm not to hip nor do I care to actually listen to this new shit that's out there, I'm sure it's good but whatever. I spend most of my time on the old school shit. Here in no particular order is what I listen to when I'm in the mood.

1. Claudine-gladys knight & the pips
2. Songs in the key of life-stevie wonder
3. Cameo-all they shit
4. ohio players-all they shit
5. George Clinton-everything
6. Curtis Mayfield-when I'm feeling pimpish
7. Grand funk railroad- yep

Posted by: Pookie at January 4, 2008 3:45 PM

1) Modest Mouse-we were dead before the ship even sank
2) Amy Whinehouse-Back to Black
3) Jesse & Joy- Esta es mi Vida
4) Taking Back Sunday-Notes from the Past
5) Anberlin-Cities

Posted by: beppy at January 4, 2008 3:49 PM

Pookie...if you could throw a little James Brown, Commodores, and a tiny bit or Sugar Hill Gang in there, we could totally be a tag team in some backwoods wrestling company. We could wear pimp outfits to the ring and come out to 'Apache (Jump on it)'...or if you wanna stay with Cameo we could do a little 'Shake your pants' action.

Posted by: PissBoy at January 4, 2008 3:54 PM

1. Reunion Tour - The Weakerthans
2. The Flying Club Cup - Beirut
3. Nevertheless - Christine Fellows
4. Werewolves & Lollipops -Patton Oswalt
5. Dance Party in the Balkans - Alaka in Winter

Mary, Kirstie, Leo

Posted by: Kevin Longrie at January 4, 2008 4:13 PM

Honorable Mention:

Population - The Most Serene Republic

Posted by: Kevin Longrie at January 4, 2008 4:15 PM

Btw, the three names at the bottom of my first post are cool people that like the Weakerthans.

Posted by: Kevin Longrie at January 4, 2008 4:16 PM

Drea: I would include the majority of this list in 'whiny hipster' genre, at least the names I recognize. Arcade Fire, White Stripes, Silversun Pickups, Modest Mouse, Against Me, etc., etc. It's this new 'music' that's made me pretty much stop listening to my old radio station, that and I really cannot stand hearing the same songs every four hours, see my comment about 3 Days Grace songs, shit played out of. As for the band themselves, I don't find them whiny, I do find them kind of grunge-y, but um, I happen to like grunge. And I definitely prefer the songs that aren't on the radio, because there are only so many times I can hear 'Riot' before wanting to throw something.

Melody: Serj Tankian is indeed awesome. Not many singers/bands you can rock out to and still laugh your ass off at/with. I will admit 3 Days Grace is somewhat formulaic, but it's music I can sing along to when I drive or whatever, or write to. Besides, my mom's friend's son got me a signed photograph when he was on tour with them. Oh, and I sort of agree with you on Linkin Park, only I hated 'Bleed It Out' and think they need less rap.

becca: I know, I know, I actually have taste... I mean, different taste (if you got offended by that comment, not specifically becca, eat me). I know I don't need to 'get' it, but it just drives me nuts because now that's all most radio stations play, and I listen to the radio all the time (I work in a barn). Fortunately I found a station that plays mostly good music.

Posted by: Cuno at January 4, 2008 4:18 PM

PissBoy, I'm not really into "wrestling", nor am I into hanging with anyone with the word Piss prominently in their name. But sir, I do enjoy reading your post from time to time.

Posted by: Pookie at January 4, 2008 4:20 PM

Damn, PissBoy, that's some progress. Between about ages seven and nine, I desperately wanted to sing for Disney, and god bless my mom for calling a spade a spade and telling me I was awful. And I'm awful to this day. Congratulations on the band and the successful-by-comparison warbling.

Posted by: becca at January 4, 2008 4:21 PM

Cuno, I feel you on the paucity of truly enjoyable music on the radio (and I the so-called whiney indie crowd). NPR is really the only station that gets love from my dial anymore. Perhaps XM is for you...

Farfalina, congratulations are your superior taste, but why rain on everyone's parade? I don't like several posters' selections but no need to be such a killjoy, yo.

Posted by: becca at January 4, 2008 4:30 PM

1. Air France - Trade Winds
2. Lewis and Clarke - Blasts of Holy Birth
3. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
4. The Phoenix Foundation - Happy Ending
5. Blonde Redhead - 23

Posted by: Adam at January 4, 2008 4:31 PM

I need to check Pajiba before late afternoon so I'm not always at the tail-end of the comment diversions. Music was rough for me this year - I used to be far more exploratory, and I got a bit lazy. But I'm sure I can think of five ones I loved that came out this year.

1. Voxtrot - Voxtrot
2. Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War
3. Eisley - Combinations
4. Tegan and Sara - The Con
5. New Pornographers - Challengers

In reviewing this list, I find my music has gotten a lot more girly over the past few months. New Year's resolution: Listen to much more music this year.

Posted by: Claire at January 4, 2008 4:37 PM

Thanks for the response Cuno. I meant no disrespect, just so you know. I love a little mixup in the comment diversions.

Posted by: Drea at January 4, 2008 4:38 PM

Wow, this is pretty sad. I can't even come up with a list of 5. Of all the albums that came out in 2007 that I actually heard, only 2 were spectacular. I didn't really fall in love with anyone else.

The Fratellis - Costello Music
Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris

If I could have an extension to late 2006, I would add The Black Keys and Eagles of Death Metal.

Posted by: shelleyh at January 4, 2008 4:47 PM

Hard to find five in 2007...

1. We Must Obey - Fu Manchu
2. Year Zero Nine - Inch Nails
3. Beyond - Dinosaur Jr
4. The Black and White Album - The Hives
5. Collide - Territory Band

and since it's not just an album as much as a revolution:

Dethalbum - Dethklok

Posted by: seth at January 4, 2008 4:50 PM

I'm surprised that I'm the only person who has mentioned the Coconut Records album thus far. No other Jason Schwartzman fans here?? Plus Zooey Deschanel and CoughKirstenDunstCough lend their vocals on certain tracks. PLUS Jason walked around and took Polaroids of random things he saw and sent one out with every album ordered from his site.

Seriously, check it out. "West Coast" was easily my favorite song of summer 2007.

Posted by: Stephanie at January 4, 2008 4:53 PM

becca: XM? That's XMRadio, as in satellite? Don't you have to pay for that? Oh, and my friend in New Hampshire likes to listen to NPR, but I'm over in Canadia, so we don't get it (I think anyway).

Drea: No worries about disrespect, and you're welcome about the response.

Posted by: Cuno at January 4, 2008 4:56 PM

Always so late to these things...but hey, this is the earliest I've ever made it to a diversion, so I'm posting anyway

In no particular order

1) Tegan & Sara - The Con

2) Feist - The Reminder

3) Kate Nash - Made of Bricks

4) Dragonette - Galore

5) Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight

Honorable mention goes to the Once soundtrack. Fo shizzle.

Posted by: jennybean at January 4, 2008 4:57 PM

Looking over my Itunes library I was trying to find any stand out albums of 2007. I found seven. Seven 2007 albums that is. Terrible year for music in my opinion. I don't go for college rock/twee stuff since I've been out of college 10 years now and didn't like it much then either. It's a mostly terrible time to be a solid hard rock/punk/alternative fan in my opinion. When fucking DAUGHTRY is the Billboard leader in what is being called "hard rock" on the radio you know there is a problem. Any other rock fans feel me 2007's almost total lack of interesting rock music?

That said here's what I'll toss in that I've listened to the most from the 2007 stuff:

"Tori Amos - American Doll Posse" was pretty good. May seem odd to include her on this list but she is one of my favorite artists ever.
"Five Finger Death Punch- Way of the Fist" was a solid, but somewhat monotonous, hard rock entry.
"The Used - Lies for the Liars" had 2 of my back-to-back songs of the year with "Hospital" and "Paralyzed".
"White Stripes - Icky Thump" - about 3/4 good, loved "Rag & Bone".
"Fall Out Boy - Infinity on High" - over produced to the 9's but still pretty good.
"Avenged Sevenfold - Avenged Sevenfold" - they get a lot of shit but I dig some of their stuff. This album has some great tracks, including "Piece of Heaven", a Danny Elfman inspired tale of murder, necrophilia and revenge that kind of has to be heard to be believed. Hysterical.

My one wish for 2008 music is I never have to hear that damn "Rehab" song again. My God, Amy Winehouse is irritating.

Sorry about the long post, it's been a long day.

Posted by: Rob at January 4, 2008 4:57 PM

1. Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
2. Kala - M.I.A
3. Back in Black - Amy Winehouse
4. Alright Still - Lily Allen
5. We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse

Posted by: AmyRose at January 4, 2008 5:08 PM

as i try to remember when all of these were released, last january was terribly long ago...

1) grinderman- grinderman
2) sunset rubdown- random spirit lover
3) the national- boxer
4) burial- untrue
5) pinback- autumn of the seraphs

.02

Posted by: anafghanwhig at January 4, 2008 5:14 PM

Dammit fucking shit.

I was totally going to post like five hours ago until I got trapped in the emergency room for fucking ever (3 hours) to be told by a nurse (never saw a doc) that my son's injury was a fairly common injury called "nursemaid's elbow" (not a dislocated anything like I thought) and could be fixed with a simple twist of his wrist.

Fuck shit ass.

So I will hurriedly dash my list off while Little and Mr. Pink are watching "Cars" before I scrambled to reclaim my afternoon. My list is stuff I bought in '07 so I don't know if it all counts as released in '07.

And to all the assholes music snobs who are looking down at the other posters and pooh-poohing their "bad taste": Come over here, bitches, so I can give you a real nasty case of "nursemaid's elbow". Grrrrrrr.

1. Icky Thump- The White Stripes
2. Standing in the Way of Control-The Goxxip
3. The Reminder-Feist
4. Version-Mark Ronson
5. Sound of Silver-LCD Soundsystem

aaaand

6. American Doll Posse-Tori (because, while not great, it's a step above her recent albums which have been rather blah)

Posted by: Alabamapink at January 4, 2008 5:37 PM

1. Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills (so catchy)

2. The Decemberists - Crane Wife (how can anyone not like the Decemberists??)

3. Eleni Mandell - Miracle of Five (old school bubblegum pop type indie rock. Really really cool. Worth checking out)

4. Feist - The Reminder (obviously!)

5. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (a lot of Wilco fans didn't like this album, but I can't help liking it. SO good.)

Runners-up: Stars (In Our Bedroom After the War), Lucky Soul (The Great Unwanted), The New Pornographers (Challengers)

Everyone here seems to have really good taste in music, so I'm excited to see the final tally.

Posted by: rabo at January 4, 2008 5:48 PM

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
3. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
4. Gotye - Like Drawing Blood
5. Editors - An End has a Start

Posted by: Camilla at January 4, 2008 6:09 PM

M.I.A. - Kala
Play "Bamboo Banga" and I'll dance like no other, every single time

Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
Saw them three times in 2007 and they still got me pumped up each time

Digitalism - Idealism
"Pogo" was the key song on the soundtrack of 2007 for me!

Justice - Cross
Even though the LA hipsters play that shit out, their production skills simply cannot be ignored

Calvin Harris - I Created Disco
This kid is gonna go far. It's just the beginning I fear

honorable mentions - new young pony club, lily allen, chromeo, and bloc party

Posted by: Teresa at January 4, 2008 6:18 PM

Gotye is fantastic! I'm so glad you listed that.

Posted by: Drea at January 4, 2008 6:20 PM

1. Cease to Begin -- Band of Horses
2. In Rainbows -- Radiohead
3. Age Old Hunger -- Christopher Denny
4. Emotionalism -- Avett Brothers
5. Armchair Apocrypha -- Andrew Bird

Posted by: JMW at January 4, 2008 6:29 PM

Matthew Good - Hospital Music
Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
Radiohead - In Rainbows
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Menomena - Friend and Foe

Honours go to:
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Is Is EP
Feist - The Reminder
St. Vincent - Marry Me
The Most Serene Republic - Population
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
The National - Boxer
...

Fuck, I don't like choosing favourites.

Posted by: Jams at January 4, 2008 6:29 PM

anafghanwhig- well holy hell, was Sunset Rubdown's latest released this year too? I love Sunset Rubdown; they're one of my go-to bands.

Seriously, I thought this was a puny music year and selecting five wouldn't be a formidable task, but now everything's gone pear-shaped.

alabamapink- I'm a bit of a youngin' and I hadn't listened to Tori Amos in the past, but her reputation and staying power convinced me to download American Doll Posse, and honestly, I was, for the most part, disappointed. And then I felt guilty for being disappointed by someone who has by all accounts be so continuously good. But you give me hope that I should perhaps look into some of her earlier stuff?

Posted by: becca at January 4, 2008 6:48 PM

Okay, so maybe I'm not cool.

Oh well..here goes...

1)John Mayer - Continuum
2)Radiohead - In Rainbows
3)The Killers - Sawdust
4)Alicia Keys - As I Am
5)Michael Buble - Call Me Irresponsible

Posted by: MC at January 4, 2008 7:02 PM

5. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
4. Radiohead - In Rainbows
3. Elliott Smith - New Moon
2. The Decemberists - The Crane Waife
1. The National - Boxer

If the Elliott Smith one doesn't count because he is dead and that is a collection of previously unreleased old recording, then put The New Pornographers "Challengers" at number 5.

Posted by: the_wakeful at January 4, 2008 7:38 PM

5. That damn Feist album. I want to like it like I want to live next door to Fred Phelps and his merry band of people haters, but it's tooo catchy. Seriously, I love that chick, and I'm totally into boys.

4. Kanye's Graduation. I also don't want to like him, but, well, I do.

3. Hush your mouth about the Modest Mouse, whoever it was up above me that said they should just quit. Excellent album.

2. Lily Allen. I'm sorry, but anyone who can make crackwhores and people mugging old ladies into a summer pop anthem is ok in my book.

1. Amy Winehouse. To say that I love Back to Black is like saying I love air, or taking DR to task for making fun of Texas. I listen to this damn album at least once a day. I probably shouldn't have said that.

Now that I'm done, I have a question: Does it make me a bad person if I say that Travis annoys the living piss out of me? Just curious.

Posted by: Smokin at January 4, 2008 7:48 PM

This has been an excellent year for music, and I really hope 2008 will hold as many highlights as this one did.

1.) Battles - Mirrored
2.) The National - Boxer
3.) Sleeping People - Growing
4.) Pinback - Autumn of the Seraphs
5.) Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound.

Bunch of other highlights and recommendations:
Lazarus - Hawk Medicine
Death Ambient - Drunken Forest
The Skull Defekts - The Black Hand
Oxbow - The Narcotic Story
MGR vs. SirDSS - Impromptu
Thomas Fehlmann - Honigpumpe
Weedeater - God Luck and Good Speed
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Swod - Sekunden
Elegi - Sistereis
Erik Friedlander - Volac
Flying Lotus - Reset EP
Jesu - Lifeline
Marc Ribot - Asmodeus
Vic Chesnutt - North Star Deserter
Tera Melos - Drugs to the Dear Youth
XXL - Spicchiology
Burial - Untrue
Dälek - Abandoned Language
Tomahawk - Anonymous
Om - Pilgrimage.

Posted by: Finch at January 4, 2008 8:05 PM

Hiya alabamapink. I'm (probably) that asshole music snob, or at least one of them. I apologize for your lack of humour, though granted, I'm also sorry your kiddo was hurt, whether it's a common injury or not. I'll be sure to never go against popular opinion again, lest I be branded an asshole, a snob, and a bitch.

Posted by: Cuno at January 4, 2008 8:16 PM

I'm so bad at this. I can only think of two albums I really liked this year. Those are M.I.A. - Kala, and The Killers - Sawdust.

I've not been into the music scene since I was 14 or something, so for a good six years now I've been out of the loop. I would say Coaltar of the Deepers - Yukari Telepath, but since I've only heard (and loved) Evil Line, well... I can't, can I? Can't download the damn thing anywhere, and I'm sure as hell not going to fork over $40+ to get it on amazon. That's money I don't have, my friends.

I'm kind of surprised at how similar the music taste is over here. Movies I can understand, but music too? KIND OF CREEPY, but I can't really talk, since the only two I remembered to like are also pretty popular here.

Also, what the fuck is a Josh Groban? Sounds like a disease.

Posted by: Lola at January 4, 2008 8:28 PM

I'm super super late posting, but I think I will anyway, because diversions are fun...

Now let's see.

1. Bishop Allen - "The Broken String" This is the best album I heard all year, easily. Check it out.
2. Bat For Lashes - "Fur and Gold" She has a beautiful voice, there's slow, haunting-type melodies, what's not to love?
3. Cloud Cult - "The Meaning of 8" Totally crazy, awesome album. Hard to describe, and that's great.
4. Clap Your hands Say Yeah - "Some Loud Thunder" I actually hated this album at first, but now I can't get enough of it.
5. Blaqk Audio - "Cex Cells" It looks dumb, I know, but they've made some of the best industrial musis I've heard in a long time.

Posted by: <3alice at January 4, 2008 8:29 PM

hmm. I clearly have terrible taste in music. What can I say. I appreciate cheesy pop music. There. I said it. So sue me.

I'd nominated Lily Allen's 'Alright, still' except that it was actually released in 2006, at least in the UK. I know I heard it first in 2006 at any rate.

Other than that, letsee...

'On A Clear Night' - Missy Higgins
'So many Nights' - The Cat Empire
'Life in Cartoon Motion' - Mika

And I can't think of anything else...I don't really buy a lot of music, it's a bit pathetic really...

Posted by: rach at January 4, 2008 8:36 PM

1. Wintersleep - Welcome to the Night Sky
2. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
3. Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara
4. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
5. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer

There are other albums I enjoyed quite a bit, such as the new Radiohead album, but these were definitely my favourites!

Posted by: IamKateness at January 4, 2008 8:48 PM

Oh Cuno, darlin', I hadn't even read your posts when I wrote my fiery little diatribe (which was for sure fueled by caffeine and mommy frustration). I was actually responding to another poster who flat out wrote "You all have bad taste."

Music snobbery is a big ole fat pet peeve of mine. Sure fine, if someone doesn't like the same music as I do, but getting all smug and superior about one's own taste is music is effing annoying. Music is supposed to be enjoyable right? Make us feel good? Who gives two shits if what makes you happy is sugary pop or screamo?

And now listen here: don't go saying I've got no sense of humor. Blame the interwebs for not letting you hear the sarcasm in my hillybilly twang as I threaten to put the beat-down on anyone.

And my opinions sure as shit aren't popular.

AND I don't listen to the radio for the exact same reasons you hate it. I loves me some iPod shuffle and in-car CD player.

Lawdy, lawdy.

Anyway...

becca: I'm a long time Tori fan (so that makes me an oldster, I suppose). Definitely check out Tori's earlier stuff in chronological order. Her first album, Little Earthquakes, still breaks my heart. I'd say her best works are the albums from Little Earthquakes to To Venus and Back (mostly for the live stuff on the second disc). After that her work is mostly a mixed bag.

Posted by: Alabamapink at January 4, 2008 8:56 PM

I remember a interview Keanu Reeves did a long time ago, he was asked to name his favorite rock band. And of course he named a band none of you have every heard of. And it hit me, this guy plays the same character in every film he's ever done, but he wants us to believe that his higher mind is somehow seperated from his core value system. I see Keanu Reeves in many of you, the need to be different.

Posted by: Pookie at January 4, 2008 10:05 PM

Our Earthly Pleasures - Maximo Park
The Boy With No Name - Travis
Under the Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
Life in Cartoon Motion - MIKA
We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank - Modest Mouse

Posted by: naysayer at January 4, 2008 10:26 PM

Haha, Pookie make funny... Again.

1. Pharoahe Monch - Desire
2. Talib Kweli - Eardrum
3. Jay-Z - American Gangster
4. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
5. Kanye West - Graduation

Other albums I bought this year that are always in my car;

1. Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor
2. Rhymefest - Blue Collar
3. Dilated Peoples - 20/20
4. The Coup - Pick a Bigger Weapon
5. Public Enemy - Greatest Misses

Posted by: Dexter Morgan at January 4, 2008 10:39 PM

So we meet again Morgan, I thought I recognized your work. Didn't we do battle on a couple of other websites? what are they promising you this time to discredit me?

Posted by: Pookie at January 4, 2008 10:47 PM

Interpol - Our Love to Admire

That's the only one I bought. Technically I've also purchased In Rainbows, but I've yet to receive it.

Posted by: Cindy at January 4, 2008 11:09 PM

I'm so glad that James Morrison was mentioned! I think he's so talented but he seems relatively unknown in popular music (at least in North America). Amy Winehouse, John Mayer and Mark Ronson have also had top spots on my play list this year. I'm looking forward to trying out some of the music listed here!

Posted by: jessdamess at January 4, 2008 11:12 PM

I believe you have me confused with another Morgan, Pookie. I'm a long time lurker at Pajiba that has only recently been brave enough to dive into the shark infested chum fest. And not here to discredit you either. Between you and B-Slim, my boring days at work are often kept quite entertaining. But if you wish to cross swords, and I say that without innuendo, name the topic...

Posted by: Dexter Morgan at January 4, 2008 11:13 PM

1. Arcade Fire- Neon Bible
2. Of Montreal- Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
3. Of Montreal- Icons, Abstract Thee
4. Animal Collective- Strawberry Jam
5. The White Stripes- Icky Thump

Feist just missed the cut.

Tegan and Sara's The Con, Iron and Wine's The Shepherd's Dog, and Stars' In Our Bedroom After the War were all disappointments.

After seeing all the praise here, I'll have to give another listen to the Jens Lekman album as well as Wincing the Night Away, Sky Blue Sky, and Boxer.

I noticed that a lot of people included The Decemberists' The Crane Wife in their lists, but that album came out in October 2006.

Posted by: Priya at January 4, 2008 11:13 PM

Morgan your cunning ways will not work this time. Your feeble attempts at trying to cover your tracks have been exposed. Now again I ask you, who sent you?

Posted by: Pookie at January 4, 2008 11:26 PM

I'm usually not very up to date on music (I only really learn about new albums from MN Public Radio's 89.3 The Current (which is the best radio station ever in my humble opinion. I don't even live in the area anymore, but still listen to it online)
But I have really enjoyed these albums:
1. "The Con"-Tegan and Sara
2. "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter"-Josh Ritter
3. "White Moth"-Xavier Rudd
4. "Under the Blacklight"-Rilo Kiley
5. the "Once" soundtrack

Posted by: Ami at January 4, 2008 11:30 PM

of the top of my head...

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
The Panics - Cruel Guards
Silverchair - Young Modern
Mark Ronson - Version
Feist - The Reminder

Posted by: Loz at January 4, 2008 11:33 PM

Cunning Pookie? So cunning you could brush your teeth with it?

Posted by: Dexter Morgan at January 4, 2008 11:39 PM

off the top of my head...if only i could spell

i'll cheat and add Missy Higgins - On A Clear Night, gotta support the Aussies!
looking forward to listening to the various selections, what a great list!

Posted by: Loz at January 4, 2008 11:41 PM

Morgan, I'm going to get to the bottom of this. I already know who your handlers are.

Posted by: Pookie at January 5, 2008 12:17 AM

Although I've heard and liked tracks by Iron and Wine, Feist, and The Shins (via WMNF Community Radio in Tampa), the only albums released in 2007 that I bought were Rufus' "Release the Stars" & Annie Lennox's "Songs of Mass Destruction". Ru's album was listenable but nowhere as great as the "Want" double; The Lady Ann fares better -- almost every track rocks or feels infused with the same kind of passion she showed on "Diva". Sadly, the most hyped track, "Sing" just sounds like she's backed by an average female choir instead of the all-stars format. I really wanted to hear specific voices in the background, the way that Nanci Griffith allowed the folkie all-stars in "Wasn't That A Mighty Storm" & "Wimoweh" on her two covers albums.

Posted by: matt at January 5, 2008 12:43 AM

1.) Streetlight Manifesto-Somewhere in the Between. I've been waiting four years for this album, and it didn't disappoint.
2.) Tegan and Sara-The Con
3.) Coheed and Cambria-No World for Tomorrow
4.) Tip the Van-Something Wicked
5.) Straylight Run-The Needles The Space

Posted by: Diablotien at January 5, 2008 1:06 AM

All righty.

1. Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
2. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
3. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
4. Manic Street Preachers - Send Away the Tigers
5. Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning

Posted by: Arran at January 5, 2008 1:11 AM

1. 42:19 by Blueline Medic
2. Mirror Mirror by Dardanelles
3. New Maps of Hell by Bad Religion

They're the only ones that I can think of that deserve a mention. I would say Kiss Chasy for what they have done for Australian music, but I really don't like them all that much. Unless of course it is the bassist, naked, inside my head. But that is a whole other top five.

Posted by: Samantha at January 5, 2008 1:23 AM

Nothing new to add, really, until #5, which I was surprised to enjoy as much as I do. I guess it fills a niche.

1) The National - Boxer
2) Interpol - Our Love to Admire
3) Modest Mouse - We Were Dead...
4) Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
5) James Blunt - All the Lost Souls

I also bought Built to Spill's "You in Reverse" in early 2007 which would be in my top 5 if it hadn't come out in '06.

Posted by: moonsover at January 5, 2008 4:04 AM

1) Land of Talk "Applause Boo Cheer Hiss"
2) Jens Lekman "Night Falls..."
3) Radiohead - "In Rainbows"
4) Queens of the Stone Age - "Era Vulgaris"
Tie!
5) Devin The Dude - "Waitin' To Inhale"
5) St. Vincent - "Marry Me" (can't believe no one mentioned her...)

Posted by: Jonathan at January 5, 2008 6:46 AM

one above all,

Intricate machines "the whale ep"

Posted by: rio at January 5, 2008 7:10 AM

becca- according to allmusic it did... so i'm rolling with it. and A+ on sunset rubdown in total. "spirit lover" was a bitch to get into, in our age of singles and 3-minute attention spans, but once I actually sat down and committed myself to a non-stop, no-distractions listen, i was totally hooked.

good job all.

Posted by: anafghanwhig at January 5, 2008 12:26 PM

Yeah Matt! WMNF is fantastic.

Posted by: raspberry beret at January 5, 2008 12:43 PM

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows

2. The White Stripes - Icky Thump

3. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas

4. Feist - The Reminder

5. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

Posted by: crusty at January 5, 2008 1:02 PM

5. Japanther- Skuffed Up My Huffy
4. Times New Viking- Present the Parsley Reich
3. The National- Boxer
2. A Place to Bury Strangers- A Place to Bury Strangers
1. Sunset Rubdown- Random Spirit Lover

Posted by: John Imani at January 5, 2008 2:13 PM

And is anyone else completely baffled by all the praise M.I.A. is getting? I struggle to see the appeal. If I want a gimmicky rapper, I'll take Mickey Avalon.

Posted by: John Imani at January 5, 2008 2:20 PM

Oh, this is easy. There were only about 7 current albums I've enjoyed all the way through.

1. Andrew Bird-Armchair Apocrypha
2. LCD Soundsystem-Sound of Silver
3. Beirut-The Flying Club Cup
4. Feist-The Reminder
5. Spoon-Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Honorable Mention: Tinariwen-Aman Iman

Posted by: Dropout at January 5, 2008 3:08 PM

1. Bright Eyes- Cassadaga
2. Rilo Kiley- Under The Blacklight
3. Radiohead- In Rainbows
4. Wilco- Sky blue Sky
5. Kings Of Leon- Because Of The Times

Posted by: chloe at January 5, 2008 3:46 PM

Late to the game, but still...also, I don't think I'm up to five:

1. Sarah Bareilles -- Little Voice [excellent]
2. Feist -- The Reminder [so catchy]
3. I really want to buy Amy Winehouse's album, but I just can't give any money to the disaster that is her life.

Posted by: Alarmjaguar at January 5, 2008 4:34 PM

oh, and Lily Allen -- great summer album

Posted by: Alarmjaguar at January 5, 2008 4:36 PM

I, too, am hopelessly out of touch musically. This year my most exciting purchase was rediscovering Little Feat. Even my more current purchases are 2006 releases...Silversun Pickups come to mind.

I have the newest Wilco, but I'm more into their earlier releases. I'll come back to the fold when they return to their roots: more country, less alt.

I have some post-Christmas gift card binge shopping ahead of me and will check out many of the Usual Supects that made multiple lists...Patty Griffin, Josh Ritter, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, etc.

But folks, whither the Old Crow Medicine Show?

Posted by: louise at January 5, 2008 4:44 PM

Wow, the trick must have worked, I'd never seen so much Radiohead in a Pajiba list, so I'm glad!

Radiohead- In Rainbows (duh!)
Interpol- Our Love to Admire
Daft Punk- Alive
José González- In Our Nature
Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Posted by: Gaby at January 5, 2008 5:08 PM

Wow, the trick must have worked, I'd never seen so much Radiohead in a Pajiba list, so I'm glad!

1. Radiohead- In Rainbows (duh!)
2. Interpol- Our Love to Admire
3. Daft Punk- Alive
4. José González- In Our Nature
5. Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Posted by: Gaby at January 5, 2008 5:10 PM

Are you all getting some import version of the album, or is it already up on iTunes? Beacuse I have been waiting to buy Made of Bricks and it come out on CD here in the US on Tuesday - 2008

Posted by: Brian at January 5, 2008 7:37 PM

Absolutely stunned how similar my list is to others... Pajibans rock the house!

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3. Modest Mouse - We were dead before the ship even sank
4. Interpol - Our Love to Admire
5. Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City

honorable mentions to Silversun Pickups, White Stripes, Arcade Fire, and The Shins

Posted by: Mark at January 5, 2008 9:00 PM

1.Silverchair-Young Modern
2.Radiohead-In Rainbows
3.Amy Winehouse-Back In Black
4.Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set-The Moon Looked On
5.M.I.A-Kala

Posted by: whenindoubt at January 5, 2008 9:07 PM

Oh, you guys have the best tastes! They're just the bees knees. However, I'm afraid I can't sit idly by and watch you people clutter up the boards with your indie music, especially M.I.A.

My Top 5 Albums of 2007

1. Soulja Boy- Souljaboytellem.com (I'm not shitting you)
2. Soulja Boy- Souljaboytellem.com
3. Soulja Boy- Souljaboytellem.com
4. Soulja Boy- Souljaboytellem.com
5. Soulja Boy- Souljaboytellem.com

Soulja Boy told you indeed.

Posted by: That Guy at January 5, 2008 10:26 PM

I've been reading this site for years, but I haven't felt compelled to post until now. Blame my semi-drunkeness. Ok, here goes the list:

Down - Down III: Over The Under (if anybody agrees on this, I'll be the happiest person on Earth)

Queens Of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris

Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead (I'm happy to see I'm not the only one who liked this one)

Megadeth - United Abominations

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand (it is great to find out that Plant still has one of the best voices ever)

Greetings from Argentina!

Posted by: Petra von Feuer at January 5, 2008 11:09 PM

Fav albums I acquired (though not necessarily from) this year:

1. Since We Last Spoke RJD2
2. Best of Bootie 2005
3. Alright, Still Lily Allen
4. Cross Justice
5. Back to Black Amy Winehouse

Posted by: lunabelle at January 6, 2008 2:16 AM

1. The Decemberists "The Crane Wife"
2. Band of Horses "Cease to Begin"
3. Rilo Kiley "Under the Blacklight"
4. The Fratellis "Costello Music"
5. The Shins "Wincing the Night Away"

BTW, The Decemberists are from Portland, OR, not Canada as previously mentioned.

An EP mention is Bird and the Bee "Please Clap Your Hands"

Posted by: John at January 6, 2008 11:06 AM

alabamapink- my self-identification as youngster was not intended to imply that you are, by default, an oldster; mostly, I was trying to excuse myself for not knowing more of Amos's work. Anyhow, I sincerely appreciate the recommendations, and I'm firing up my iTunes search engine as I ... type. Good luck with the injury-prone toddler; you're a braver woman than I, for reals yo.

Posted by: becca at January 6, 2008 12:11 PM

Bloc Party Bloc Party Bloc Party yes!

Late comment, I know, but I read this at a time when all of my picks were already listed, and I felt I had nothing interesting to add to the postings. And this probably won't be interesting at all, come to think of it.

I would have to say that the album I most enjoyed in 2007 was Ryan Adams' Easy Tiger. Could be because I'm a self-professed Ryan Adams whore. Could be.

I think the biggest disappointment for me was Tori Amos. Don't get me wrong, I love her, I went to see her show last year, she was fab as always, but she lacks the outraged furor that she has shown on previous albums. Nothing new here. We all know The Beekeeper sucked, so I guess American Doll possee was an improvment, however...sigh. I just miss her anger.

So - for me, the greatest musical discovery I made last year was Townes van Zandt. The man has been dead for years, but listening to his music for the first time has opened my mind and heart and has dazzled me beyond all comparison. Oh, to be young is to be sad, is to be HIGH!

Posted by: Rachael at January 6, 2008 12:50 PM

I usually don't catch on to contemporary music until later (if at all). In fact, I think these are the only four albums I bought this year that were actually released in 2007:

Ingrid Michaelson, Girls and Boys
Once soundtrack
Elliott Yamin, Elliott Yamin (can't believe I'm admitting that)
Feist, The Reminder

Posted by: Kristin at January 6, 2008 2:37 PM

just two...

1. Jason Isbell, Sirens of the Ditch
2. Levon Helm, Dirt Farmer

Posted by: jeff at January 6, 2008 7:10 PM

if Josh Groban really works as a laxative, i'm gonna buy all his albums

And here's an album

Tori Amos: American Doll Posse

Posted by: Plobes at January 6, 2008 9:07 PM

1. Spoon--Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
2. Brother Ali--The Undisputed Truth (Not to many hip-hop-heads in these parts...)
3. Modest Mouse--We Were Dead ...
4. Radiohead--In Rainbows
5. The Arcade Fire--Neon Bible [or] Fiest--The Reminder (kinda before the iPod commercial blitz, dear god)

Posted by: eskiimomo at January 6, 2008 9:27 PM

I think I have vastly different taste than most of the commenters here, but here are mine, in no particular order:

As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us

Darkest Hour - Deliver Us

Shadows Fall - Threads of Life

The Bravery - The Sun and The Moon

Arctic Monkeys - Favorite Worst Nightmare

. . . and an honorable mention to Kanye West - Graduation

Posted by: E.S. at January 6, 2008 11:03 PM

1. Café Tacvba - Sino

2. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

3. Radiohead - In Rainbows

4. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

5. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

Posted by: Rafael at January 7, 2008 7:18 AM

1. Boxer, The National (and may I say, GREAT live).

2. Bjork, Volta (Genius and kick-ass live show too).

3. Bloc Party, A Weekend In The City

4. The New Pornographers, Challengers

5. Feist, The Reminder

Posted by: nipsy at January 7, 2008 11:46 AM

1. Boxer, The National (and may I say, GREAT live).

2. Bjork, Volta (Genius and kick-ass live show too).

3. Bloc Party, A Weekend In The City

4. Radiohead, In Rainbows

5. Feist, The Reminder

Posted by: nipsy at January 7, 2008 11:47 AM

The only two "new" albums I bought this year were:

1. The Fratellis, "Costello Music"
and

2. Interpol, "Our Love to Admire"

I bought the Fratellis over the summer and that cd is still on heavy rotation. LOVE LOVE LOVE

I personally liked "Antics" better than this new Interpol album, BUT - they were by far the best live show I saw all year, including the Cure, which is big words indeed. They are an awesome live band.

Posted by: maylai at January 7, 2008 4:40 PM

Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

ever since I saw him live I have wanted nothing less then to bear his children and sit at his feet while he whistles sweet nothings to me.

Leon Helmes - Dirt Farmer

The Arcade Fire--Neon Bible

Yoav - charmed and strange

José González- In Our Nature

Posted by: ziva at January 8, 2008 9:03 AM

I'm 45 and haven't bought a record I've really loved in so long. I read all the reviews to see what the critics liked & what the people liked then buy the CDs only to be disappointed. Or, hear one song, like it, buy the record and I'm disappointed again. I find most music today kind of boring & overwrought. I don't have an iPod & I don't download. Maybe I'm just dead inside but I don't think so. I bought 5 CDs this year:

Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Bruce S. - Magic
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Tom Waits - Orphans, Bawlers & Bastards
New York Dolls - One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This

All good & I would highly recommend them. Especially The Dolls, they need the money. But, overall, that little Miranda Lambert is the best thing going. Not bad for coming in 3rd on "Nashville Star".

Posted by: Erin P at January 9, 2008 5:47 PM

...explosions in the sky and alicia keys?...

......forfuck'ssake.....these are the yanni(s) and celine dion(s) of the new century....

...the fratellis...
...silversun pickups...
...the white stripes...
...vampire weekend...
...and, despite it's commercial appeal,...amy winehouse...

Posted by: johnny at January 9, 2008 9:05 PM

Lupe Fiasco- the cool
Amy Winehouse- Back to Black
The Roots- Game Theory
Kano- London Town

Posted by: stara at January 10, 2008 10:11 PM

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