It was very hard for me to compile a list of only 20 albums for this year’s “best of” list and there were some really strong records which didn’t make the cut. For example, Jimmy Eat World’s Chase This Light was a very solid offering, as was Elk City’s New Believers and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s Some Loud Thunder. While I do like (not love) Radiohead’s In Rainbows, I do give the band a lot of props for trying to shake up the music industry with their “pay what you want” plan.
All that being said, I present to you my Top 20 Albums of 2007. As usual, if you like what you hear, buy the music and support the artists, or go see them live and buy their merch! 
Fuzzy Lion’s Top 20 Albums of 2007
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20. The Snake The Cross The Crown – Cotton Teeth Best Tracks: “Gypsy Melodies” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Cake Walk” / “Behold the River” |
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19. Shout Out Louds – Our Ill Wills Best Tracks: “Normandie” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Tonight I Have To Leave It” / “South America” |
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18. Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger Best Tracks: “Pearls On a String” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Two” / “Halloweenhead” |
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17. Rilo Kiley – Under the Blacklight Best Tracks: “Silver Lining” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Under the Blacklight” / “Breakin’ Up” |
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16. Minipop – A New Hope Best Tracks: “Like I Do” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Butterflies” / “Someone To Love” |
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15. Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion Best Tracks: “Lollipop” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Love Today” / “Any Other World” |
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14. Matt Pond PA – Last Light Best Tracks: “Sunlight” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Last Light” / “Until the East Coast Ends” |
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13. Jeremy Enigk – The Missing Link Best Tracks: “Tatseo Show” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Chewing Gum” / “Oh John” |
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12. Patty Grifin – Children Running Through Best Tracks: “Heavenly Day” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “No Bad News” / “I’m Getting Ready” |
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11. Stars – In Our Bedroom After the War Best Tracks: “Take Me to the Riot” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “The Night Starts Here” / “Today Will Be Better, I Swear!” |
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10. Kate Nash – Made of Bricks Best Tracks: “Birds” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Foundations” / “Pumpkin Soup” |
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9. Travis – The Boy With No Name Best Tracks: “Closer” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Big Chair” / “Selfish Jean” |
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8. New Pornographers – Challengers Best Tracks: “Myriad Harbour” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “My Rights Versus Yours” / “Challengers” |
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7. Okkervil River – The Stage Names Best Tracks: “Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Savannah Smiles” / “A Girl In Port” |
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6. Young Galaxy – Young Galaxy Best Tracks: “Embers” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “The Sun’s Coming Up and My Plane’s Going Down” / “Outside the City” |
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5. Band of Horses – Cease To Begin Best Tracks: “No One’s Gonna Love You” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Is There a Ghost” / “Ode to LRC” |
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4. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible Best Tracks: “Intervention” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Black Mirror” / “Keep the Car Running” |
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3. The National – Boxer Best Tracks: “Apartment Story” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Fake Empire” / “Start a War” |
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2. Pela – Anytown Graffiti Best Tracks: “Song Writes Itself” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Waiting On the Stairs” / “Lost to the Lonesome” |
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1. The Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist Best Tracks: “(Come On) Let’s Go” Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. “Pomp and Circumstances” / “Zeitgeist” |
Zeitgeist takes the #1 spot of the year for me not just because it’s a Smashing Pumpkins record, but because it’s the record I wanted the band to make for a long time. Corgan and Chamberlin went back to their rock roots and created an album that schools all mainstream wanna-be rockers how it’s done.
Pela and The National round out my #2 and #3 spots. Pela’s Anytown Graffiti is a work of art from start to finish. The National’s Boxer proved to everyone that the hype surrounding Alligator was no fluke and it’s possible for a band to experiment and grow without abandoning their roots.
Please feel free to post your best-of lists in the comments or links to your own blogs, as I always love to see what the readers opinions are.
Very nice list, and I was surprised in the least to see SP at the top for ya.
Here’s my Top 12:
http://web.mac.com/digital_derek/Visions_of_the_Unexcused/Visions_of_the_Unexcused/Entries/2007/11/25_episode_2.html
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