My list has some pretty notable albums missing, and it's mainly because there's too much good music and just not enough time! There's a lot of stuff that got put out this year that I'd love to take the time to listen and get into, but there's only so many days in a year! So here's the best of what I got to this year.
1. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
Best of the year, for me. It had competition at different times, but this one stood up the test of time (I've had a leak since July from around here) and is just an excellent, diverse album. Even the 2 bonus tracks are amazing. Top to bottom, I've listened to this album 5-6 times a week since I first got a hold of it. Some weeks more.
2. The National - Boxer
This one really grew on me, much like Alligator, and at this point I'd almost put it #1. Just a great album, top to bottom. I love "Apartment Story" to death.
3. Radiohead - In Rainbows
Another grower. This will make a lot of lists around here, and might very well wind up #1 in retrospect a few years down the road. It's another great Radiohead album.
4. Feist - The Reminder
I might be biased after witnessing one of her incredible live performances. She's just immensely talented and if you have a chance to see her in concert, she's really something else. Jazzing up most of her stuff and letting some of the older rock roots forth. "Sea Lion Woman" and "Honey Honey" are the highlights of this one for me.
5. Miracle Fortress - Five Roses
I really believe this album is criminally underrated. Just a great piece of pop music if you ask me. Weird and whimsical, expertly crafted. I'm not entirely sure, actually, why I enjoy it so much, but I picked it up over the summer and it has gotten very steady play for a solid 6 months now.
6. Apparat - Walls
I was kind of surprised when I made this that an electronic album would make it this high. I'm mostly an indie rock loser. But this album is something else. Arcadia is one of the tracks of the year, for me.
7. Earlimart - Mentor Tormentor
A really solid effort here. I wish Ariana had sung on a few more of the tracks, because Happy Alone is the best of the album.
8. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
I gotta say, I think I'm one of the few that really didn't care for Black Sheep Boy, but this album really grabbed me. Good stuff. Unless It's Kicks and Plus Ones are my favorites here.
9. Pinback - Autumn of the Seraphs
Pinback is sneaky. I forget about them for months at a time, then they'll come up on my shuffle and I'll remember that I really, really like them. They're my favorite non-memorable band ever, I think. Anyway, this was a fantastic album. Especially Blue Harvest and Good to Sea.
10. Daft Punk - Alive 2007
I feel weird putting this in my top 10 having only listened for about a week. But I really love the hell out of it. I can't imagine what this would have been like live. It's tough to tell where this would end up on my list, but I think it's just as likely it'd move up as down.
Rounding out the Top 20:
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
Battles - Mirrored
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Sea Wolf - Leaves in the River
Rogue Wave - Asleep at Heaven's Gate
Caribou - Andorra
Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War
The Most Serene Republic - Population
Eluvium - Copia
Honorable Mention: Grand Archives - Demo EP
I don't like putting EPs into this discussion of best album, they're different entities. Mat Brooke, formerly of Band of Horses and Carissa's Wierd has put together this quartet and their 4-song demo EP has gotten as much play as any of the albums on my list. It's fucking incredible. Listen to "George Kaminski" if you can. Just incredibly poignant, beautiful music. Their first full length is due out in February, and if it's anything like what they've put out here it's going to be a contender to top this list next year.
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Topic: Is it too early to start doing top records of 2007 lists? (Read 77708 times)