favorite records of 2007
Now that I've spent some time with the new Ghostface and Wu-Tang LPs, I feel fairly comfortable breaking out this list of my favorite releases of the year. I'm leaving off some really good records by stopping at 17, but with my obnoxiously long "songs of the year" list looming (later this week), I figured I'd give everyone a break. Alright, I think I cheated a couple times on this thing, but here are the records of 2007 -- including at least a couple of instant classics, for me -- that I love, and can recommend without reservation. GvsB contributors Garrison and David offer their lists after the jump, and of course, we'd all love to hear your lists. We know you got 'em...
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17. Arcade Fire Neon Bible
People (including me) expecting another Funeral were let down by this, and rightfully so. But after seeing these guys play the new material live in uncomfortably close proximity, I gained an unexpected appreciation for the power of these songs. Plus, I'll be honest, this helped too.
mp3: Black Mirror
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16. Menomena Friend and Foe
mp3: Wet & Rusting
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15. Glass Candy Beatbox
I was hoping for the next proper LP from this Portland duo at some point this year, but this 9-song tour CD compiling most of the band's free myspace tracks from '07 will more than suffice. The throwback/future disco-pop record of the year.
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14. The Besnard Lakes ...Are The Dark Horse
With "Disaster" and "For Agent 13," the Besnard Lakes delivered the most powerful and unavoidably moving album-opening 1-2 punch of the year, hands down.
mp3: And You Lied to Me
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13. Cass McCombs Dropping the Writ
Cass McCombs one-ups his recent and future tourmates Ariel Pink and Jose Gonzalez with one of the most subtly (and accessibly) weird releases of the year. Softer and maybe a little more restrained than his previous work, this cements him as the most underrated singer-songwriter in indie-rock.
mp3: Deseret
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12. Santogold I Believe in Santogold 12" + assorted internet jams
Is this cheating? Fuck it, with songs this unstoppable, Philly's Santi White had to be represented on this list somehow. It's obvious to anyone that's paying attention at this point that she's going to be huge in '08.
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11. Oh No Dr. No's Oxperiment
Please let this spawn a new wave of hip-hop producers bent on mining the seemingly endless treasure-trove of lost Anatolian psych-funk.
mp3: Heavy
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10. M.I.A. Kala
mp3: Paper Planes (elementary school version) (via Mad Decent)
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09. Bodies of Water Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink
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08. Lil' Wayne Da Drought 3
The most prolific (and by his account, the greatest) rapper alive drops the most entertaining hip-hop release of the year. Weezy's wordplay is more ridiculous than ever, and his flow is impossibly self-assured. If "Ride for my Niggas" doesn't leave your jaw dropped as you reach to hit "rewind," then this probably isn't for you.
mp3: Ride for my Niggas
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07. Black Lips Los Valientes Del Mundo Nuevo
I've seen the Black Lips' Good Bad Not Evil showing up on tons of year-end lists, but for me, this live album is where it's at; it's the closest you're going to get to the band's filthy and raw live show, with Tijuana providing the ideal backdrop.
mp3: Not a Problem
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06. Radiohead In Rainbows
mp3: if you don't have this by now...
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05. St. Vincent Marry Me
mp3: Now. Now.
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04. Burial Untrue
Burial has absolutely owned my speakers after midnight for the last couple of months. The lone knock I've seen on Untrue is that it's too cold and "mood music"-y, but the record's soulful, enveloping bleakness is laced with a "glowing, buzzing" (Burial's words) trace of hope that ends up being its biggest virtue.
mp3: Near Dark
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03. Marissa Nadler Songs III: Bird on the Water
mp3: Diamond Heart
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02. White Denim Let's Talk About It
mp3: Mess Your Hair Up
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01. Panda Bear Person Pitch
I think I've probably said enough about this record in the months since I all but named it my album of 2007 back in January. Forget album of the year, this is one of my favorite albums of the last decade.
mp3: Comfy in Nautica
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Click here to check out David and Garrison's lists...
David's favorites of 2007:
1. Panda Bear Person Pitch
2. Radiohead In Rainbows
3. Trojan Records 40th Anniversary Selections + Artist-curated
Compilations (e.g. Johnny Greenwood is the Controller)
4. Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga mp3: The Underdog
5. Black Lips Los Valientes Del Mundo Nuevo mp3: Stranger
6. Deerhoof Friend Opportunity mp3: +81
7. Young Marble Giants Colossal Youth Reissue mp3: N.I.T.A.
8. Colleen Colleen Et Les Boites A Musique (late 2006 release)
9. Burial Untrue
10. Animal Collective Strawberry Jam
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Garrison's favorites of 2007:
1. Radiohead In Rainbows
2. Beirut The Flying Club Cup mp3: A Sunday Smile
3. Josh Ritter The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter mp3: Mind's Eye
4. Panda Bear Person Pitch
5. LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver
6. St. Vincent Marry Me
7. The Black Lips Los Valientes Del Mundo Nuevo
8. Iron & Wine The Shepherd's Dog mp3: Innocent Bones
9. amiina Kurr
10. The National Boxer mp3: Fake Empire