Best Tracks of 2007

This was a hard one. I'll work down to my favorite jam from 2007:

10. Dan Deacon "Wham City"

All of these songs in their entirety are great, but in this one listen to the instrumental midsection.

9. Wilco "Either Way"

Love the first ten seconds. It's like a lullaby.

8. The Go! Team "Patricia's Moving Picture"

I like the instrumental part :)

7. Iron & Wine "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"

Gorgeous chorus.

6. Arcade Fire "Black Wave / Bad Vibrations"

I like when Win Butler's vocals start up and especially the backing female vocals.

5. Band of Horses "Detlef Schrempf"

"And take a little walk when the worst is to come"

4. José González "Down The Line"

Love the haunting guitar. Matches the lyrics perfectly.

3. Radiohead "Reckoner"

I love the strings and then when the percussion comes back in at 3:18.

2. Junior Boys "In The Morning (Hot Chip remix)"

Just give it a chance. Try hard. Please.

1. UGK "Int'l Players Anthem"

I am in love with the first verse by Dre 3000. Some of the best stuff I've ever heard.

Best Albums of 2007

After listening to countless albums, my fave 10 albums of 2007:

10. Various Artists "Ratatat Remixes Mixtape Volume 2"

Ratatat takes the hottest tracks from the hottest MCs and composes their own version. Listen to "Glock Nines" at the playlist at the bottom.

9. The Go! Team "Proof of Youth"

Fun, cheerleading and music all in one. This British group rocks the horns, raps and melodies. Listen to "Wrath of Marcie."

8. Band of Horses "Cease To Begin"

This album grew on me as the year went by. Indie rockish and a twinge of country. Listen to "Is There A Ghost."

7. Jay-Z "American Gangster"

Still head and shoulders above Kanye, Jay-Z reestablishes himself as my personal favorite MC. With his natural flow and hip lyrics, he is still king of hip-hop in my book. Listen to "Say Hello."

6. Headband "For Your Ears"

Accapella group out of Willamette University, this accessible record instantly found it on my most played playlist. Listen to "I'm Sprung" at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=186272065.

5. Wilco "Sky Blue Sky"

Yes, Wilco's last two albums may have been a little...different. But "Sky Blue Sky" goes back to the basics...and improves. Listen to "Impossible Germany."

4. Spoon "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"

Spoon drops another indie rock/pop album. In my opinion their best release to date. Listen to "Black Like Me."

3. Bon Iver "To Emma, Forever Ago"

Superb, emotional, acoustic album. Very raw stuff that takes some time to get used to. Listen to "Lump Sum."

2. Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala"

I can't believe just how much is packed into this album. And just how rare it is to find someone who appreciates it. Listen to "Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig."

1. Radiohead "In Rainbows"

Radiohead. My fave album of 2007. Listen and love them. Nuff said. Check out "In Rainbows (CD 2)" for some more great music. Listen to "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi."

Honorable Mention:

The National "Boxer," Iron & Wine "The Shepard's Dog," Kanye West "Graduation," The Octopus Project "Hello, Avalanche," Radiohead "In Rainbows (CD 2)," The Cinematic Orchestra "Ma Fleur," Paul McCartney "Memory Almost Full," The Arcade Fire "Neon Bible."