Top Albums of 2007 (Select lists)

[DudeAsInCool]

Various Artists (Via Pitchfork)

EDWARD DROSTE, GRIZZLY BEAR

1. Dirty Projectors: Rise Above

2. Radiohead: In Rainbows

3. Deerhunter: Fluorescent Grey EP / Cryptograms

4. Cass McCombs: Dropping the Writ

5. Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

6. Foreign Born: On the Wing Now

7. Feist: The Reminder

8. Vampire Weekend: Blue CD-R

9. Beirut: The Flying Club Cup

10. Papercuts: Can't Go Back

11. Justice: †

12. Sleeping States: There the Open Spaces

13. Róisín Murphy: Overpowered

14. PJ Harvey: White Chalk

15. Yeasayer: All Hour Cymbals

SCOTT DEVENDORF and AARON DESSNER, THE NATIONAL

Andrew Bird: Armchair Apocrypha

Arcade Fire: Neon Bible

Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew: Spirit If...

Caribou: Andorra

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Some Loud Thunder

Doveman: With My Left Hand I Raise The Dead

Feist: The Reminder

The Rosebuds: Night of the Furies

St. Vincent: Marry Me

Menomena: Friend And Foe

Read the full best lists of artists, which include Battles, MIA and many others, right HERE

In addition, Stereogum has also compiled a number of Artist's favorite albums, including top selections from band members of Interpol, Mountain Goat, the Black Lips, etc, etc, RIGHTHERE

[DudeAsInCool]

Allmusic’s Favorite Metal Albums of 2007, Pt. 1

Alcest - Souvenirs d’un Autre Monde

Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works

Dimmu Borgir - In Sorte Diablo

Machine Head - The Blackening

Neurosis - Given to the Rising

Pelican - City of Echoes

Striborg - Nefaria

Turisas - Varangian Way

Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters

Read More

Select Comments

Where’s Therion’s “Gothic Kabbalah”?!

Where’s Cephalic Carnage’s Xenosapien? Far better than (D)Ire Works- way underrated by AMG :(

What about Arch Enemy’s Rise of the Tyrant?

***

Pop Matters Top 10 Metal Albums of 2007

1 Alcest

Souvenirs D'Un Autre Monde

(PROFOUND LORE) AMAZON

2 Pig Destroyer

Phantom Limb

(RELAPSE) AMAZON

3 The Dillinger Escape Plan

Ire Works

(RELAPSE) AMAZON

4 Between the Buried and Me

Colors

(VICTORY) AMAZON

5 Porcupine Tree

Fear of a Blank Planet

(ROADRUNNER/ATLANTIC) AMAZON

6 Moonsorrow

V: Havitetty

(SPINEFARM) AMAZON

7 Baroness

The Red Album

(RELAPSE) AMAZON

8 Jesu

Conqueror

(HYDRA HEAD) AMAZON

9 Neurosis

Given to the Rising

(NEUROT) AMAZON

10 Virgin Black

Requiem: Mezzo Forte

(THE END) AMAZON

[DudeAsInCool]

Various select bloggers:

BadmintonStamps/SkinnySlim's Albums Of The Year

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

Handsome Furs - Plague Park

The Hives - The Black and White Album

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Is Is EP

Jay-Z - American Gangster

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Radiohead - In Rainbows

LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

Runnerups: UGK - Underground Kingz, Little Barrie - Stand Your Ground, White Williams - Smoke, White Stripes - Icky Thump, Ghostface - Big Doe Rehab, R. Kelly - Double Up, Devin The Dude - Waiting To Inhale, Liars - Liars, Lil Wayne - Various Mixtapes.

***

Aquarium Drunkard's 2007 - Year In Review

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

Of Montreal -Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse

The National - Boxer

Frankel - Lullaby For The Passerby

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

The Broken West’s - I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On.

***

The Passion Of Weiss' Top 50 Albums of 2007

50. Redman-Red Gone Wild [Def Jam]

49. Blockhead-Uncle Tony’s Coloring Book [Ninja Tune]

48. Chromeo-Fancy Footwork [Vice]

47. Scarface-Made [Rap-A-Lot]

46. Andrew Bird-Armchair Apocrypha [Fat Possum]

45. Joe Buhdha Presents Klashnekoff: Lionheart: Tussle With the Beast [Low Life Records/Riddim Killa]

44. Elvis Perkins-Ash Wednesday [XL}

43. Electrelane-No Shouts, No Calls [Pure Records/Beggar’s Group]

42. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!-Some Loud Thunder [self-Released]

41. Camp Lo-In Black Hollywood [Good Hands]

40. The Twilight Sad-Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters [Fat Cat]

39. Madlib-The Beat Konducta Vol. 3-4 [stones Throw]

38. Tunng-Good Arrows [Full Time Hobby]

37. Dr. Dog-We All Belong [Park the Van]

36. Of Montreal-Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? [Polyvinyl]

35. Wilco-Sky Blue Sky [Nonesuch]

34. The Ponys-Turn the Lights Out [Matador]

33. The Shins-Wincing the Night Away

_{32. Daft Punk-Alive 2007 [Virgin]}

_{31. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings-100 Days, 100 Nights [Dap Tone]}

_{30. Jay-Z -American Gangster [Roc-A-Fella]}

_{29. Citay-Little Kingdom [Dead Oceans]}

_{28. Monkey Swallows The Universe-The Casket Letters [Loose]}

_{27. The Black Lips-Good Evil Not Bad Evil [Vice]}

_{26. Panda Bear-Person Pitch [Paw Tracks]}

_{25. Wu-Tang Clan-8 Diagrams [sRC/Loud]}

_{24. Wooden Shjips-Wooden Shjips [Holy Mountain]}

_{23. The Field-From Here We Go Sublime [Kompakt]}

_{22. Black Moth Super Rainbow-Dandelion Gun [Graveface]}

_{21. The Clientele-God Save the Clientele [Merge]}

_{20. Jens Lekman-Night Falls Over Kortedala [secretly Canadian]}

_{19. Kanye West-Graduation [Roc-A-Fella]}

_{18. Beirut-The Flying Club Cup [ba Da Bing]}

_{17. Souvenir-64 [Jabalina]}

_{16. Lupe Fiasco-The Cool [Atlantic]}

_{15. The White Stripes-Icky Thump [Warner Bros]}

_{14. Dalek-Abandoned Language [ipecac]}

_{13. Okkervil River-The Stage Names [Jagjaguwar]}

_{12. Burial-Untrue [Hyperdub]}

_{11. Aesop Rock-None Shall Pass [Def Jux]}

_{10. Spoon-Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga [Merge]}

_{9. Iron & Wine-The Shepherd’s Dog}

_{8. The Besnard Lakes- The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse [Jagjaguwar]}

_{7. Caribou-Andorra [Merge]}

_{6. The National-Boxer [beggar’s Banquet]}

_{5. Dungen-Tio Bitar [Kemado]}

_{4. Ghostface Killah-The Big Dough Rehab [Def Jam]}

_{3. LCD Soundsystem-Sound of Silver [Capitol/DFA]}

_{2. Sunset Rubdown-Random Spirit Lover [Jagjaguwar]}

_{1. El-P- I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead [Def Jux]}

_{Berkeleyplace's Top 40 Albums of 2007}

_{1. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga}

_{2. Amy Winehouse-Back to Black.}

_{3. Brother Ali-Undisputed Truth}

_{4. Josh Ritter-The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter}

_{5. Ghostface Killah-Big Doe Rehab. (Year-end post)}

_{6. Band of Horses-Cease to Begin (Review)}

_{7. Voxtrot-Voxtrot. (review) (YEP)}

_{8. Arcade Fire-Neon Bible (Year-end post)}

_{9. Albert Hammond, Jr.-Yours to Keep (Review)}

_{10. MF Grimm-The Hunt for the Gingerbread Man (review) (year end post)}

_{11. Modest Mouse-We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.}

_{12. NaS-Hip Hop…; Jay-Z-Amer. Gangster; Kanye West-Graduation (YEP)}

_{13. Kings of Leon-Because of the Times. (year-end post)}

_{14. Bloc Party-A Weekend in the City (year-end post).}

_{15. Cave Singers-Invitation Songs.}

_{16. Dungen-Tio Bitar (review) (year-end post)}

_{17. Bettye LaVette-Scene of the Crime (Review) (Year-end post)}

_{18. Okkervil River-The Stage Names (year-end post)}

_{19. Kate Nash-Made of Bricks (Year-end post)}

_{20. The Arctic Monkeys-Favourite Worst Nightmare (year-end post)}

_{21. Wu Tang Clan-The 8 Diagrams. (Year-end post)}

_{22. The Deadstring Brothers-Silver Mountain (review).}

_{23. Ryan Adams-Easy Tiger (year-end post)}

_{24. The Foo Fighters-Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace.}

_{25. Johnette Napolitano-Scarred (year -endpost)}

_{26. Boot Camp Clik-Casualties of War (year end post)}

_{27. Stephen Marley-Mind Control (year-end post)}

_{28. Hard Fi-Once Upon a Time in the West (review) (year-end post)}

_{29. Soulsavers-It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s How You Land (review) (YEP)}

_{30. Of Montreal-Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (year-end post)}

_{31. Chrisopher Blue-Room Tones (review).}

_{32. Robbers on High Street-Grand Animals (year -end post)}

_{33. Brad Sweitzer-Stove and Taker. (review) (year-end post)}

_{34. The Broken West-I Can’t Go On I’ll Go On (review) ((year-end post)}

_{35. Tripwires-Makes You Look Around (year-end post)}

_{36. Yeasayer-All Hour Cymbals (year-end post)}

_{37. Jason Isbell-Sirens of the Ditch (review) (year-end post)}

_{38. Deep Dark Woods-Hang Me, Oh Hang Me (review) (year-end post)}

_{39. Parkas-Put Your Head In The Lion’s Mouth (review) (year-end post)}

_{40. Blitzen Trapper-Wild Mountain Nation (review) (year-end post)}

_{OTHER AWARDS}

_{TOP 10 INDIE DEBUT ALBUMS OF 2007}

_{(read the post!)}

_{1. Marnie Stern-In Advance of the Broken Arm (review).}

_{2. Scissors for Lefty-Underhanded Romance (review).}

_{3. Thailand-Motorcade (review).}

_{4. Y Society-Travel At Your Own Pace.}

_{5. The Blakes-Self Titled}

_{6. White Rabbits-Fort Nightly (review).}

_{7. Bat for Lashes-Fur and Gold.}

_{8. George Byrne-Foreign Water (Review)}

_{9. Eastern Conference Champions-Ameritown. (Review) (Best of 2007 So Far)}

_{10. Vampire Weekend-The Blue CDR. (Review)}

_{BEST EPs OF 2007 (read the post!)}

_{1. Atmosphere-Sad Clown Bad Summer (Review).}

_{2. New York Fund-Guns (Original review).}

_{3. Black Kids-Wizard of Ahhhhs.}

_{4. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Is is.}

_{5. Illinois-What The Hell Do I Know? Review.}

_{6. The Features-Contrast (Review).}

_{I Guess I'm Floating - Best Albums of 2007}

_{25) Handsome Furs - Plague Park}

_{24) Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter}

_{23) The Shaky Hands - The Shaky Hands}

_{22) Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times}

_{21) Elliott Smith - New Moon}

_{20) Feist - The Reminder}

_{19) Ted Leo/Rx - Living With The Living}

_{18) Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare}

_{17) The White Stripes - Icky Thump}

_{16) The Shins - Wincing The Night Away}

_{15) The National - Boxer}

_{14) Wilco - Sky Blue Sky}

_{13) Studio - Yearbook 1}

_{12) Deer Tick - The War Elephant}

_{11) Dungen - Tio Bitar}

_{10) Modest Mouse - Were Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank}

_{9) M.I.A. - Kala}

_{8) Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha}

_{7) Canon Blue - Colonies}

_{6) LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver}

_{5) Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga}

_{4) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible}

_{3) Panda Bear - Person Pitch}

_{2) Radiohead - In Rainbows}

_{1) Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam}

_{Read the reviews, Listen to the MP3s at IGIF}

[DudeAsInCool]

Philadelphia Inquirer's Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2007

Carl Allen & Rodney Whitaker, Get Ready (Mack Avenue).

Michael Brecker, Pilgrimage (Heads Up).

Dave Brubeck, Indian Summer (Telarc).

Cyrus Chestnut, Cyrus Plays Elvis (Koch).

Robin Eubanks + EB3, Live, Vol. 1 (Kindred Rhythm).

Charlie Hunter, Mistico (Fantasy).

Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette,

Pat Martino, El Hombre (Concord Records).

Joshua Redman, Back East (Nonesuch).

Read More

[DudeAsInCool]

Amazon.com: Editor's Picks

1. The Reminder by Feist

2. Sound Of Silver by LCD Soundsystem

3. Graduation by Kanye West

4. In Rainbows by Radiohead

5. Back To Black by Amy Winehouse

6. Neon Bible by The Arcade Fire

7. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon

8. New Moon by Elliot Smith

9. Wincing The Night Away by The Shins

10. Raising Sand by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

[DudeAsInCool]

Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2007 (Via Stereogum)

50 Tinariwen - Aman Iman: Water Is Life

49 Dizzee Rascal - Maths + English

48 Robert Wyatt - Comicopera

47 Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals

46 Marissa Nadler - Songs III: Bird on the Water

45 Ricardo Villalobos - Fabric 36

44 Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

43 Stars of the Lid - And Their Refinement of the Decline

42 Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab

41 Life Without Buildings - Live at the Annandale Hotel

40 Beirut - The Flying Club Cup / Lon Gisland EP

39 The White Stripes - Icky Thump

38 Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams

37 Grizzly Bear - Friend EP

36 Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

35 Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil

34 James Blackshaw - The Cloud Of Unknowing

33 King Khan & the Shrines - What Is?!

32 Sally Shapiro - Disco Romance

31 Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity

30 Caribou - Andorra

29 Bon Iver, For Emma - Forever Ago

28 Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond

27 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

26 Various Artists - After Dark

25 The Tough Alliance - A New Chance / New Waves EP

24 Dan Deacon - Spiderman Of The Rings

23 Studio - Yearbook 1

22 Okkervil River - The Stage Names

21 Dirty Projectors - Rise Above

20 Liars - Liars

19 Feist - The Reminder

18 Kanye West - Graduation

17 The National - Boxer

16 Lil Wayne - Da Drought 3

15 Justice - †

14 Deerhunter - Cryptograms / Fluorescent Grey EP

13 Jay-Z - American Gangster

12 No Age - Weirdo Rippers

11 Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

10 Burial - Untrue

09 The Field - From Here We Go Sublime

08 Battles - Mirrored

07 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

06 Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

05 of Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

04 Radiohead - In Rainbows

03 M.I.A. - Kala

02 LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

01 Panda Bear - Person Pitch

Read the full reviews @Pitchfork

[method77]

Pitchfork is crap

[DudeAsInCool]

Pitchfork is crap

I like some of the individual bloggers lists. The UK coverage seems the best to me so far.

[DudeAsInCool]

The forum members at the indy web radio station, LaLa's WOXY, have put together a pretty good list, complete with reviews from All Music. Unfortunately, they are not assembled on one page, so you will have to visit the website to read them:

Woxy.com's Top 100 Albums of 2007

[DudeAsInCool]

Blender's Top 25 Albums Of The Year

25 Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad

24 Bright Eyes - Cassadaga

23 Lily Allen - Alright, Still...

22 Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin

21 Okkervil River - The Stage Names

20 Brad Paisley - 5th Gear

19 Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Sank

18 Justice - †

17 Bruce Springsteen - Magic

16 Jay-Z - American Gangster

15 Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Raising Sand

14 The White Stripes - Icky Thump

13 Feist - The Reminder

12 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

11 LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

10 Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight

09 Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

08 Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

07 The Dream - Lovehate

06 Radiohead - In Rainbows

05 Against Me! - New Wave

04 Kanye West - Graduation

03 Lil Wayne - The Carter 3 Sessions

02 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

01 M.I.A. - Kala

[DudeAsInCool]

KEXPs Great Discoveries of 2007

The Avett Brothers

Album: Emotionalism

Cloud Cult

Album: Meaning of 8

Yeasayer

Album: All Hour Cymbals

The Budos Band

Album: The Budos Band Ii

Bishop Allen

Album: Broken String

Tullycraft

Album: Every Scene Needs a Center

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Album: 100 Days, 100 Nights

Li'l Cap'n Travis

Album: Twilight on Sometimes Island

Explosions in the Sky

Album: All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

Album: Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

Shane Tutmarc

Album: I'm Gonna Live the Life I Sing About in My Song

Orgone

Album: Killion Floor

Vampire Weekend

[DudeAsInCool]

KEXPs-DJs Top Music of 2007

Top Ten of 2007: The specialty show DJs

"Every weekday evening, from 6 to 9PM on KEXP, our Specialty Shows feature a variety of music found around the world and in our own backyard. For African music, there’s The Best Ambiance with Jon Kertzer; for global music, Wo Pop with Darek Mazzone; for roots and Americana, the Roadhouse with Greg Vandy; country and twang, Swinging Doors with Don Slack; rockabilly, honky tonk and surf, Shake The Shack with Leon Berman. Check out their lists for the best albums of 2007":

African and Afro-Caribbean

1. Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba - Segu Blue (out/here) (Germany)

2. Orchestra Baobab - Made in Dakar (World Circuit) (UK)

3. Andy Palacio - Watina (Cumbancha) (USA)

4. Tinariwen - Iman Aman (Water Is Life) (World Village) (USA)

5. Zozo and Sangare Super Beat - Pfanelo (Human Rights) (Gallo) (South Africa)

6. Massukos - Bumping (Pooh Productions ) (UK)

7. Habib Koite - Afriki (Cumbancha) (USA)

8. Angelique Kidjo (Razor and Tie ) (USA)

9. Youssou N’Dour - Rokku Mi Rokka (Nonesuch)

10. Columbiafrica Mystic Orchestra - Voodoo Love Inna Champeta Land (World Music Network) (UK)

Modern Global Music.

1. Bole2 Harlem - Bole2 Harlem, Vol. 1 (Sounds of the Mushroom)

2. M.I.A. - Kala (Interscope)

3. Various Artists - Nuit Tsigane (Silverwave Records)

4. Manu Chao - La Radiolina (Nacional)

5. Balkan Beat Box - Nu Med (JDub)

6. Funky C – Joya (Sonic 360)

7. Sountrack - The Darjeeling Limited (Abkco Music)

8. Caetano Veloso - Ce (Nonesuch)

9. Ceu - Ceu (Six Degrees)

10. Ibrahim Ferrer - Mi Sueno (World Circuit)

Traditional American music.

1. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (Daptone)

2. Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Raising Sand (Rounder)

3. Shane Tutmarc & The Traveling Mercies - I Gonna Live the Live I Sing about in My Song (Inverness Recordings)

4. Eilen Jewell - Letters From Sinners & Strangers (Signature Sounds)

5. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (Universal Republic)

6. Fion Regan - The End of History (Lost Highway)

7. Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II (Reprise)

8. Amy LaVere - Anchors & Anvils (Archer Records)

9. The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism (Ramseur)

10. Billy Joe Shaver - Everybody’s Brother (Compadre Records)

Best Compilations

Oxford American’s 9th Annual Southern Music Issue (Oxford American)

Going Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino (Vanguard)

The Art Of Field Recording by Art Rosenbaum (Dust-to-Digital)

I’m Not There (Dylan): Soundtrack (Columbia)

American Favorite Ballads Vol 5 (Smithsonian Folkways)

Down Home Saturday Night (Smithsonian Folkways)

Listen now to Greg’s most recent show, “Christmas Time In The Roadhouse,” featuring a very vintage selection of holidays songs in jazz & blues from Babs Gonzales’ “BeBop Santa” to Charlie Parker’s “White Christmas.” And Lord Buckley’s 1951 hipster classic “The Nazz” — uncut!

Alternative country (honky tonk, western swing, bluegrass)

1. Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Sony/BMG)

2. Roger Wallace - It’s About Time (Natchez Street)

3. Eilen Jewell - Letters From Sinners & Strangers (Signature Sounds)

4. Ha Ha Tonka - Buckle in the Bible Belt (Bloodshot)

5. Joe Nichols - Real Things (Universal South)

6. Porter Wagoner - Wagonmaster (Anti-)

7. Jeff Kanzler - Black Top Road (self-released)

8. Two Cow Garage - III (Shelterhouse)

9. David Serby - Another Sleepless Night (self-released)

10. The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism (Ramseur)

Rockabilly (boogie, rhythm and blues)

VA - Shake the Shack Rockabilly Ball, Vol 4 (KEXP)

Pat C. Miller & Her Five Aces - My Hearts on (Last Buzz)

Levi Dexter and Magic - The Kings of Cat Street (Raucous)

Rocky Velvet - It Came From Cropseyville! (RVM)

Jason Lee Wilson & His Roundup Boys - High Country (Rhythm Bomb)

The Honeybees - Hive Jive (El Toro)

Chuy & the Bopcats - Losing My Mind (Wild Records)

Michael Shane Borden & The Diesel Kings - The Modern Sounds of (Gulftone)

Blue Lake Records Presents - Lake Rattle & Roll Compilation (Blue Lake)

The Mezcal Brothers - Go Go Rhythm (self-released)

Stressor - Russia ‘N’ Roll (TCY Records)

The Starline Rhythm Boys - Red’s Place (Kill Rock Stars)

[DudeAsInCool]

Slate's Best Jazz Albums of 2007

Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy, Cornell 1964 (Blue Note).

Maria Schneider Orchestra, Sky Blue (ArtistShare). I

Erik Friedlander, Block Ice & Propane (SkipStone Records).

Anat Cohen, Poetica (Anzic).

Carla Bley, The Lost Chords Find Paolo Fresu (ECM).

Paul Bley, Solo in Mondsee (ECM).

Herbie Hancock, River: The Joni Letters (Verve).

Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano, Time and Time Again (ECM).

Joe Lovano & Hank Jones, Kids: Live at Dizzy's Coca-Cola (Blue Note).

Kendra Shank, A Spirit Free: Abbey Lincoln Songbook (Challenge).

[DudeAsInCool]

WXPNs Top 10 Debuts of 2007

The Deadly Syndrome

Album: The Ortolan

Justice

Album: Cross

Via Audio

Album: Say Something

Sea Wolf

Album: Leaves in the River

Let's Go Sailing

Album: The Chaos in Order

Ezra Furman & the Harpoons

Album: Banging Down the Doors

St. Vincent

Album: Marry Me

The Twilight Sad

Album: Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters

The Field

Album: From Here We Go Sublime

Yeasayer

Album: All Hour Cymbals

[DudeAsInCool]

IndieSurfer's Top 20 Eps of 2007

20. High Places - High Places

19. The Harlem Shakes - Burning Birthdays

18. Junior Boys - Dead Horse

17. Animal Collective - People

16. New Young Pony Club - New Young Pony Club

15. SoKo - Not SoKute

14. Joanna Newsom - And The Ys Street Band

13. The Tuss - Rushup Edge

12. Deerhunter - Flourescent Grey

11. Why? - The Hollows

10. Ra Ra Riot - Ra Ra Riot

09. Bright Eyes - Four Winds

08. Beirut - Lon Gisland

07. Grizzly Bear - Friend

06. Cut Off Your Hands - Shaky Hands

05. Of Montreal - Icons, Abstract Thee

04. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Is Is

03. The Black Kids - Wizzard Of Ahhhs

02. The Draytones - Forever On

01. Los Campesinos! - Sticking Fingers Into Sockets

[DudeAsInCool]

SoundRoot's Best World Music of 2007

The Top 10

Kobo Town: Independence

It may have come out in 2006, but I discovered this in 2007 and can't pry my ears away from it. Great, catchy songs with conscious lyrics. Solid throughout, it's easily one of my favorite albums of the year. I've returned again and again to it's joyful celebrations and social critiques, particularly the song "Higher Than Mercy." I can't wait to hear more from this talented Toronto-based crew.

Forro in the Dark: Bonfires of Sao Joao

Globalized Brazilian folk music may be the best way to describe what NYC-based Forro in the Dark do, taking forro beats and flutes, grinding them through a modern mesh, and sprinkling with a dash of David Byrne.

Andy Palacio: Watina

It is isn't necessary to be entranced by the story of the Garifuna people to enjoy the music of Andy Palacio. The rhythms and melodies give hints of Afropop, yet the swing and the maraca infuse a distinctly Latin-Caribbean flavor. Along with Aurelio Martinez (who was our favorite

new artist of 2005), Palacio is spearheading a resurgence of interest in Garifuna culture, a good thing for all of us.

Gipsy.cz: Romano Hip Hop

Czech rapper Radoslav Banga, aka Gipsy, brings together a panoply of musical styles and creates a new, unique form of Roma music, brimming with newfound cultural pride.

Autorickshaw: So the Journey Goes

Along with original Indian-fusion tunes, Autorickshaw's sophomore album includes adaptations of Bengali and Tamil folk tunes, an effective 7-beat version of Leonard Cohen's "Bird on a Wire," and a Bollywood offering penned by the legendary RD Burman.

Don't Be a Stranger: One

From Dutch composer/producer Onno Krijn comes this global mix of styles from Africa (Senegal, Ethiopia), Iraq, Asia (India, Tibet, Indonesia) Scotland, the USA, and the Netherlands that has reviewers using words like brilliant, hypnotic, and astounding. I can't disagree.

Mercan Dede: 800

It's rare for a musician who's sold hundreds of thousands of albums to bow out so abruptly. Heck, it's rare for a "world music" musician to get popular enough to sell so many albums in the first place! Dede's music seems to have found a balance that appeals to both the club/dance set and the traditional world music fans. Mercan Dede's final offering, this album pays tribute to Persian/Sufi poet Rumi, born 800 years ago.

Lo'Jo: Tu Connais Lo'Jo?

Even if you can't tell what they're singing, you can appreciate Denis Péan's dark growl, the unique vocal harmonies of sisters Yamina and Nadia Nid El Mourid, and the tight sound of Lo'Jo collective of musicians. A wonderful introduction for Lo'Jo newbies, that also has plenty to please long-time fans.

Sola Akingbola: Routes to Roots

The best-recorded Yoruba drumming we've heard in some time, a fantastic sonic voyage into the spiritual and musical roots of so much music from West Africa to Latin America to modern blues and rock.

Justin Adams: Soul Science

Justin Adams (who has been called the British Ry Cooder) teams up with Gambian master musician Juldeh Camara to create a musical dialogue that Adams refers to as "the ancient Soul Science of music," but I just call rip-roaring great.

Favorite 2007 compilation:

Si, Para Usted - Funky Beats Of Revolutionary Cuba

While the story (told in the liner notes) of nationalization, censorship, and creativity is fascinating, one can be blissfully ignorant of the politics and still enjoy the Afro-Cuban-Soul-Funk sounds of bands both well known (Irakere, Los Van Van) and obscure (Grupo Los Yoyi).

10 more great albums

Balval: Blizzard Boheme

Zuboly: Értem a Kujonságot

Nawal: Aman

IndiaLucia: IndiaLucia

Shantel: Disko Partizani

Te Vaka: Olatia

Mau Mau: Dea

Angelique Kidjo: Djin Djin

Vieux Farka Toure: Vieux Farka Toure

Ojos de Brujo: Techari

[DudeAsInCool]

The New York Times

Jon Parales

1. RADIOHEAD: ‘IN RAINBOWS’ (ATO).

2. FEIST: ‘THE REMINDER’ (Cherry Tree/Interscope).

3. AMY WINEHOUSE: ‘BACK TO BLACK’ (MCA Universal). As 2007 began,

4. IRON AND WINE: ‘THE SHEPHERD’S DOG’ (Sub Pop).

5. CALLE 13: ‘RESIDENTE O VISITANTE’ (Norte).

6. ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS: ‘RAISING SAND’ (Rounder).

7. LUPE FIASCO: ‘THE COOL’ (Atlantic).

8. BATTLES: ‘MIRRORED’ (Warp).

9. PANDA BEAR: ‘PERSON PITCH’ (Paw Tracks).

10. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE: ‘ERA VULGARIS’ (Interscope).

Read More

KELEFA SANNEH

1. FEIST: ‘THE REMINDER’ (Cherry Tree/Interscope).

2. TURF TALK: ‘WEST COAST VACCINE: THE CURE’ (30/30/Sick Wid’ It).

3. PANDA BEAR: ‘PERSON PITCH’ (Paw Tracks).

4. JOE NICHOLS: ‘REAL THINGS’ (Universal South).

5. UGK: ‘UNDERGROUND KINGZ’ (Jive/Zomba).

6. TRACEY THORN: ‘OUT OF THE WOODS’ (Astralwerks).

7. JENS LEKMAN: ‘NIGHT FALLS OVER KORTEDALA’ (Secretly Canadian).

8. PROJECT PAT: ‘WALKIN’ BANK ROLL’ (Koch).

9. MARNIE STERN: ‘IN ADVANCE OF THE BROKEN ARM’ (Kill Rock Stars).

10. THE-DREAM: ‘LOVE/HATE’ (Island Def Jam).

Source: NY Times

BEN RATLIFF

1. JOSHUA REDMAN: ‘BACK EAST’ (Nonesuch).

2. GILBERTO GIL: ‘GIL LUMINOSO’ (DRG).

3. ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS: ‘RAISING SAND’ (Rounder).

4. BILL MCHENRY: ‘ROSES’ (Sunnyside).

5. NO AGE: ‘WEIRDO RIPPERS’ (Fat Cat).

6. FEIST: ‘THE REMINDER’ (Cherry Tree/Interscope).

7. SAM YAHEL TRIO: ‘TRUTH AND BEAUTY’ (Origin).

8. KARTET: ‘THE BAY WINDOW’ (Songlines).

9. ALICIA KEYS: ‘AS I AM’ (J Records).

10. NINA NASTASIA AND JIM WHITE: ‘YOU FOLLOW ME’ (Fat Cat).

Source: NY Times

[DudeAsInCool]

Brandon Stosuy has assembled a list of songs and albums that didn't make Stereogum's general lists:

Brandon's Weirdest Albums Of The Year (Via Stereogum)

Yellow Swans: At All Ends (Load)

ClockCleaner

WZT Hearts: Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones (Carpark)

Magik Markers: BOSS (Ecstatic Peace!)

Sir Richard Bishop: Polytheistic Fragments (Drag City)

Burning Star Core - "The Universe Is Designed To Break Your Heart"

John Wiese: Soft Punk (Troubleman Unlimited)

Mouthus: Saw a Halo (Load)

Sightings: Through The Panama (Load)

Es's "Sateenkaarisuudelma III" from Sateenkaarisuudelma

Islaja's pretty new album Ulual YYY

Wold: Screech Owl (Profound Lore)

Baroness: The Red Album (Relapse)

***

Musician Excepter: Metal Albums of 2007

Watain: Sworn to Dark (Ajna Offensive/Season Of Mist)

Deathspell Omega: Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum (Ajna Offensive/N.E.D.)

Bergraven: Dödsvisioner (Hydra Head)

Wolves in the Throne Room: Two Hunters (Southern Lord)

The Ruins of Beverast: Rain Upon the Impure (Van)

Nifelheim: Envoy Of Lucifer (Regain)

Om: Pilgrimage (Southern Lord)

Blut Aus Nord: Odinist (Candlelight)

Skeletonwitch: Beyond the Permafrost (Prosthetic)

Alcest: Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde (Profound Lore/Prophecy)

High on Fire: Death Is This Communion (Relapse)

Portal: Outre (Profound Lore)

[DudeAsInCool]

Banning Eyre at NPR Music takes a look at the best in world music in 2007:

"His favorites include music from Mali, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Peru and Senegal, but Watina, the new album from Andy Palacio, stood above the rest. Palacio is of the Garifuna culture in Belize. Watina brings together Garifuna musicians of several generations from Belize, Guatemala and Honduras in an effort to preserve the language and culture of the Garifuna people. Eyre calls the album a breakthrough for Afro-Central American folk-pop."

Listen Here

[DudeAsInCool]

All Music's Favorite Albums Of 2007

Allmusic’s Favorite Albums of 2007:

Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass

Lily Allen - Alright, Still

Amerie - Because I Love It

Antibalas - Security

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

Art Brut - It’s a Bit Complicated

Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

Battles - Mirrored

Blonde Redhead - 23

Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow

David Buchbinder - Odessa/Havana

Caribou - Andorra

Celebration - The Modern Tribe

The Clientele - God Save the Clientele

Keyshia Cole - Just Like You

Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond

DJ Spooky - Creation Rebel

Donnie - The Daily News

Freeway - Free at Last

Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!

Good Shoes - Think Before You Speak

Herbie Hancock - River: The Joni Letters

PJ Harvey - White Chalk

Richard Hawley - Lady’s Bridge

His Name Is Alive - Sweet Earth Flower: A Tribute to Marion Brown

Ian Hunter - Shrunken Heads

Iron & Wine - Shepherd’s Dog

Jay-Z - American Gangster

Joan as Police Woman - Real Life

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights

Justice - Cross

Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala

Liars - Liars

Little Brother - Get Back

Nick Lowe - At My Age

M.I.A. - Kala

Thurston Moore - Trees Outside the Academy

Róisín Murphy - Overpowered

Brad Paisley - 5th Gear

Panda Bear - Person Pitch

Rahsaan Patterson - Wines & Spirits

Pelican - City of Echoes

Peter Bjorn and John - Writer’s Block

Pink Martini - Hey Eugene!

Queens of the Stone Age - Era Vulgaris

Radiohead - In Rainbows

Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad

Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!

UGK - Underground Kingz

Von Südenfed - Tromatic Reflexxions

MST - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Ween - La Cucaracha

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams

[DudeAsInCool]

The Village Voice 2007 Annual PazzAndJop Poll - Best Albums

577 critics voted. You can check out the Top 10+ below...

Read the full list here

[DudeAsInCool]

The Hype Machine: Music Bloggers Top 50 Albums of 2007

The top albums, as cultivated from 648 lists - visit the link above.

[DudeAsInCool]

You can check out 82 cuts from 34 of Wired Magazine's Top 50 Albums of 2007 Via [email protected]