First and foremost, Merry Christmas to all my readers who celebrate this holiday.  Here is a list of my Favorite Albums Of 2009.  I can't even begin to think of how many albums I have listened to over the last 12 months, but these 50, along with some honorable mentions, seemed to affect me the most in one way or another.  Please feel free to leave any comments/thoughts.



50.  Heartless Bastards - The Mountain  [Fat Possum]
49.  Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid  [Nonesuch]
48.  Jonsi & Alex - Riceboy Sleeps  [XL]
47.  Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk  [Shangri-La]
46.  Andrew Bird - Noble Beast  [Fat Possum]
45.  Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy  [Matador]
44.  Wilco - Wilco (The Album)  [Nonesuch]
43.  St. Vincent - Actor  [4AD]
42.  Volcano Choir - Unmap  [Jagjaguwar]
41.  Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career  [4AD]
40.  JBM - Not Even In July  [Self-Released]
39.  Reverie Sound Revue - Reverie Sound Revue  [Boompa]
38.  Clare And The Reasons - Arrow  [Frog Stand]
37.  Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle  [Drag City]
36.  Dead Man’s Bones - Dead Man’s Bones  [Anti-]
35.  David Bazan - Curse Your Branches  [Barsuk]
34.  M. Ward - Hold Time  [Merge]
33.  Neko Case - Middle Cyclone  [Anti-]
32.  Metric - Fantasies  [Metric Music International]
31.  Bat For Lashes - Two Suns  [EMI]
30.  J. Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues  [Western Vinyl]
29.  The Swell Season - Strict Joy  [Anti-]
28.  Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz!  [Interscope]
27.  Vetiver - Tight Knit  [Sub Pop]
26.  Loney Dear - Dear John  [Polyvinyl]
25.  Sharon Van Etten - Because I Was In Love  [Language Of Stone]
24.  Noah And The Whale - Last Days Of Spring  [Cherry Tree/Interscope]
23.  J. Tillman - Year In The Kingdom  [Western Vinyl]
22.  Papercuts - You Can Have What You Want  [Gnomonsong]
21.  Passion Pit - Manners  [Columbia/Frenchkiss]
20.  Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms  [Secret City]
19.  Fever Ray - Fever Ray  [Mute]
18.  Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic  [Western Vinyl]
17.  Wye Oak - The Knot  [Merge]
16.  Peter Wolf Crier - Inter-Be  [Self-Released]
15.  Cotton Jones - Paranoid Cocoon  [Suicide Squeeze]
14.  Marissa Nadler - Little Hells  [Kemando]
13.  Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix  [Glassnote]
12.  Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca  [Domino]
11.  Bowerbirds - Upper Air  [Dead Oceans]

---

10.  Alela Diane - To Be Still [Rough Trade]

09.  The Antlers - Hospice [Frenchkiss]

08.  Le Loup - Family  [Hardly Art]

07.  Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest [Warp]

06.  Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino]

05.  Cortney Tidwell - Boys [City Slang]

04.  Foreign Born - Person To Person [Secretly Canadian]

03.  Fanfarlo - Reservoir  [Atlantic]

02.  Bahamas - Pink Strat  [Nevado]

01.  DM Stith - Heavy Ghost [Asthmatic Kitty]

---

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)

AA Bondy - When The Devil’s Loose  [Fat Possum]
Atlas Sound - Logos [Kranky]
The Avett Brothers - I And Love And You [Columbia]
Blakroc - Blakroc  [Blakroc]
Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers  [Dead Oceans]
The Dead Weather - Horehound  [Third Man]
Elvis Perkins In Dearland - Elvis Perkins In Dearland  [XL]
Handsome Furs - Face Control  [Sub Pop]
Imogen Heap - Ellipse  [Epic]
Ingrid Michaelson - Everybody  [Cabin 24]
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter  [Anti-]
Kings Of Convenience - Declaration Of Dependence  [Astralwerks]
Norah Jones - The Fall  [Blue Note]
Ohbijou - Beacons  [Last Gang]
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart  [Slumberland]
Regina Spektor - Far  [Warner Bros.]
Silversun Pickups - Swoon  [Dangerbird]
Sondre Lerche - Heartbeat Radio  [Rounder]
Tegan And Sara - Sainthood  [Sire]
Thao With The Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster  [Kill Rock Stars]
Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong  [In The Red]
Washed Out - Life Of Leisure [EP]  [Mexican Summer]
The Whitest Boy Alive - Rules  [Bubbles]
Why? - Eskimo Snow  [Anticon]
The XX - XX [XL]



[Count Me Out] Favorite Albums Of 2008
[Count Me Out] Favorite Albums Of 2007
[Count Me Out] Favorite Albums Of 2006
[Count Me Out] Favorite Albums Of 2005

Here's a list of my Favorite Songs Of 2009. Granted, I may be missing some quality tunes and I've done my best not to repeat artists, but these 99 seemed to stick out the most.  Please feel free to leave any thoughts/concerns and be on the lookout, tomorrow, for my Favorite Albums Of 2009 list.



99.  Do Make Say Think - Do
98.  Yo La Tengo - Here To Fall
97.  Jeremy Enigk - Mind Idea
96.  Venice Is Sinking - Ryan's Song
95.  Silversun Pickups - Growing Old Is Getting Old
94.  Great Lake Swimmers - Everything Is Moving So Fast
93.  Port O'Brien - My Will Is Good
92.  Marissa Nadler - Ghosts & Lovers
91.  Natalie Prass - A Good Man
90.  Radiohead - These Are My Twisted Words
89.  Kurt Vile - Freak Train
88.  Norah Jones - Chasing Pirates
87.  Sleepy Rebels - Kaleidoscope
86.  Imogen Heap - First Train Home
85.  Bell X1 - The Great Defector
84.  Handsome Furs - Talking Hotel Arbat Blues
83.  Spoon - Got Nuffin
82.  Greg Laswell - Off I Go
81.  Andrew Belle - Static Waves (Feat. Katie Herzig)
80.  Leaving A Small Town - Turn Down The Lights
79.  The Dead Weather - Treat Me Like Your Mother
78.  The Avett Brothers - Laundry Room
77.  Sharon Van Etten - For You
76.  Clare And The Reasons - You Got Time
75.  Nathan Xander - Martyr’s Song
74.  Ramona Falls - I Say Fever
73.  Allison Weiss - Yer Going Down
72.  Pilot Speed - Put The Phone Down
71.  Bear In Heaven - Ultimate Satisfaction
70.  The Snake The Cross The Crown - Coming Down The Hill
69.  Wilco - Wilco (The Song)
68.  Loney Dear - I Was Only Going Out
67.  The Love Language - Lalita
66.  Esoteric Tapioca - Oh, The Hoops
65.  Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension
64.  The Thermals - Now We Can See
63.  We Have Band - You Came Out
62.  Peter Wolf Crier - Down Down Down
61.  Matt & Kim - Daylight
60.  Death Cab For Cutie - Little Bribes
59.  Yeasayer - Tightrope
58.  White Rabbits - Percussion Gun
57.  David Gray - Fugitive
56.  Brendan Benson - Poised And Ready
55.  Volcano Choir - Island, IS
54.  The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction
53.  Muse - Uprising
52.  Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls
51.  Headlights - Get Going
50.  Reverie Sound Revue - You Don’t Exist If I Don’t See You
49.  Tegan And Sara - On Directing
48.  Zero 7 - Medicine Man
47.  Washed Out - New Theory
46.  Regina Spektor - Dance Anthem Of The 80’s
45.  Nurses - Technicolor
44.  Ohbijou - New Years
43.  Dead Man’s Bones - Dead Hearts
42.  Camera Obscura - French Navy
41.  AA Bondy - When The Devil's Loose
40.  The Antlers - Two
39.  Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move
38.  David Bazan - Please, Baby, Please
37.  Animal Collective - What Would I Want? Sky
36.  Bat For Lashes - Daniel
35.  Passion Pit - The Reeling
34.  Dan Auerbach - My Last Mistake
33.  A.C. Newman - Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer
32.  M. Ward - Rave On
31.  Metric - Sick Muse
30.  JBM - Cleo’s Song
29.  Patrick Watson - Beijing
28.  Le Loup - Beach Town
27.  DM Stith - BMB
26.  Dirty Projectors & David Byrne - Knotty Pine
25.  Neko Case - People Got A Lot Of Nerve
24.  Sara Watkins - All This Time
23.  Wye Oak - Take It In
22.  Elvis Perkins - Shampoo
21.  The Swell Season - Low Rising
20.  St. Vincent - Black Rainbow
19.  Alela Diane - Lady Divine
18.  Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision
17.  Fanfarlo - Luna
16.  Foreign Born - Vacationing People
15.  Ingrid Michaelson - Maybe
14.  Andrew Bird - Not A Robot, But A Ghost
13.  J. Tillman - Year In The Kingdom
12.  Heartless Bastards - The Mountain
11.  Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Runaway
10.  Passion Pit - Little Secrets
09.  Monsters Of Folk - The Sandman, The Brakeman and Me
08.  Bowerbirds - Northern Lights
07.  Papercuts - Future Primitive
06.  Animal Collective - My Girls
05.  Yeasayer - Ambling Alp
04.  Atlas Sound (w/ Panda Bear) - Walkabout
03.  Grizzly Bear - Foreground
02.  Phoenix - 1901
01.  Vetiver - Everyday

* links via various label and blog sites.


[Count Me Out] Favorite Songs Of 2008
[Count Me Out] Favorite Songs Of 2007

It definitely felt like I attended more than the usual amount of shows this year, however while creating this list, it now does not seem to be that many.  Basically meaning that the majority of the shows are on this list.  Anyway, here they are, my Favorite Live Shows Of 2009.  Please feel free to leave comments, thoughts, shows you attended that were great, shows you regret missing, etc.



25.  Beirut at Pitchfork Fest (07.18.09)

Definitely not as good as the first time I saw Zach Condon and band, but still pretty good.  I don't know, something just seemed to be missing.  On the other hand, I will say that multi-instrumentalist, Kelley Pratt, was top notch.


24.  Frightened Rabbit at Pitchfork Fest (07.19.09)

A lovely performance from these Scots, who claimed they'd played more times in Chicago over the last year than their homeland.


23.  Why? + Au at Bottom Lounge (10.05.09)

Going into the show, I wasn't a big fan of Why?, but after this performance, things definitely started to turn around.


22.  The Great Society Mind Destroyers + Rabble Rabble at Ottoman Empire (04.18.09)

Two great underground psychedelic rock 'n roll bands killing it in a basement.


21.  Plants And Animals at Pitchfork Fest (07.19.09)

Had their album, but wasn't too familiar with the material.  A very pleasant surprise.


20.  Dana Falconberry at Una Mae’s (04.07.09)

Was glad that Dana finally made it to Chicago and playing to ten or so people at a vintage store definitely wasn't expected, but lovely indeed.


19.  Loney Dear + Asobi Seksu at Bottom Lounge (10.10.09)

Loney's sound (sound tech) wasn't as good as Asobi's, but two solid set from two great bands.


18.  The National at Pitchfork Fest (07.18.09)

Honestly, I wasn't feeling this performance as much as I would've liked, but it's the National, they're amazing no matter what.


17.  The Most Serene Republic + Still Life Still at Schubas (09.10.09)

Initially one of my least favorite bands on Arts & Crafts, but this band sure knows how to put on a show.  Plus meeting Kevin Drew and seeing Kevin Barnes was pretty sweet too.


16.  Here We Go Magic at Metronome Festival (06.06.09)

Had hoped to support/catch these guys earlier in the year, but things didn't work out.  Surprisingly their set at this fairly small street fest was far better than I had expected.  Can't wait to hear their 2010 release.


15.  Department Of Eagles + Disappears at Schubas (01.15.09)

One of my favorite records from 2008 and was definitely glad to catch one of the very few shows they performed.


14.  Wye Oak + Julie Doiron at Lincoln Hall (10.29.09)

Wye Oak are probably one of the most solid duos I've ever heard/seen.  I still don't know how the drummer is able to drum and play keys at the same time.  Was also pleased to hear Julie perform a solo set and playing "The Wrong Guy" as an encore was a perfect end to the night.


13.  Metric at Metro (06.14.09)

Oh Emily Haines, you and your new album are absolutely wonderful.


12.  The Antlers at Pitchfork Fest (07.18.09)

A last minute addition to the fest and the band's first time ever to Chicago.  I must say it was quite spectacular.


11.  DM Stith + Osso at Schubas (10.28.09)

David's tunes are so eerie and great, plus the addition of Osso's strings was a real treat.


10.  St. Vincent at Pritzker Pavilion (06.08.09)

After seeing Annie quite a few times, I've usually preferred her solo sets.  This show however, was probably the best one I've seen.  The new songs are really good live.


09.  Yeah Yeah Yeahs + Grand Ole Party at Aragon Ballroom (05.26.09)

Got a last minute ticket to this show and am very glad that I did so.  Karen O and band put on a nearly perfect set.  Would've preferred to hear a non-acoustic version of "Maps" though.


08.  Bowerbirds at Pitchfork Fest (07.18.09)

Third time seeing these lovely people and probably the best.  Was slightly apprehensive about how they'd be in a festival setting, especially since Bon Iver wasn't as good as I had hoped last year, but the audience was so attentive.  You could seriously hear a pin drop.


07.  Yeasayer at Pitchfork Fest (07.18.09)

When the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds during their song "Sunlight," was insane.  A once in a life-time experience indeed.


06.  Grizzly Bear at Pitchfork Fest (07.19.09)

Minus some technical difficulties with the sound, Grizzly were still able to bust out some explosive versions of tunes off the almighty Veckatimest.


05.  Marissa Nadler + Alela Diane at Schubas (11.17.09)

Both of these lovely ladies have released two of my favorite albums of the year and just so happened to be on tour together.  So so good.


04.  J. Tillman at Lincoln Hall (11.08.09)

One of my favorite singer/songwriters embarking on his first headlining tour.  Unfortunately the turn out was a lot smaller than I had expected, but nonetheless it was beautiful.  Joshua also performed my two favorites as an encore.


03.  The Walkmen at Pitchfork Fest (07.19.09)

My favorite set at Pitchfork and couldn't believe how solid they were after playing in France the night (or two) before.


02.  Fanfarlo at Schubas (11.09.09)

This amazing band from the UK decided to kick off their first "official" US tour right here in Chicago and it was truly wonderful.


01.  Cold War Kids at Schubas (04.16.09)

While on tour with Death Cab, these guys took the time to play a sold out show at Schubas, as a part of the venues 20 year anniversary.  Obviously it was pretty amazing.



A Few Shows I Regret Missing

- Animal Collective at Metro (01.22.09)
- Juana Molina at Morse Theatre (02.22.09)
- Ferraby Lionheart + Noah And The Whale at Empty Bottle (04.25.09)
- Vetiver + Papercuts at Chopin Theater (05.12.09)
- Grouper at Hideout (06.06.09)
- Foreign Born at Empty Bottle (07.23.09)
- JBM + Sondre Lerche at Schubas (09.19.09)
- Fever Ray at Metro (10.03.09)
- Bahamas at Empty Bottle (10.16.09)
- Le Loup at Schubas (10.16.09)
- Dead Man’s Bones at Schubas (10.21.09)
- Monsters Of Folk at Auditorium Theatre (10.30.09)



[Count Me Out] Favorite Live Shows Of 2008
[Count Me Out] Favorite Live Shows Of 2007
[Count Me Out] Favorite Live Shows Of 2006

A little over a month ago I was asked to participate in an Albums Of The Decade Blog Tour, where 10 bloggers will choose their favorite albums of the decade.  I'm kicking off week number two, but please head on over to our main page to check out the entire schedule.  Last Friday featured a list from Clicky Clicky Music and tomorrow’s will be provided by Dryve Tyme.  So far it seems that everyone has kept it to ten albums, however I feel the need to change things up.   Below is my list of albums that have had a great impact on my life over the last decade.  Granted, I may be missing/forgetting some quality records, but at this current moment, these are what came to mind.  Also, a majority of these artist have released multiple albums over the last decade, which I thoroughly enjoy as well, but I did my best to keep it to one album each.



25.  Nina Kinert - Pets & Friends  [2008; Phantom Sound & Vision]

24.  The Snake The Cross The Crown - Mander Salis  [2004; Equal Vision]

23.  Emiliana Torrini - Fisherman’s Woman  [2005; Rough Trade]

22.  Menomena - I Am The Fun Blame Monster  [2004; Film Guerrero]

21.  Kings Of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak  [2005; RCA]

20.  Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest  [2009; Warp]

19.  Bowerbirds - Hymn For A Dark Horse  [2007; Burly Time]

18.  French Kicks - Trial Of The Century  [2004; Startime Intl.]

17.  Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism  [2003; Barsuk]

16.  Damien Rice - O  [2003; Vector]

15.  Grouper - Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill  [2008; Type]

14.  My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves  [2003; ATO]

13.  Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker  [2000; Bloodshot]

12.  Ray LaMontagne - Trouble   [2004; RCA]

11.  Sufjan Stevens - Illinois  [2005; Asthmatic Kitty]

---

10.  Pedro The Lion - Control  [2002; Jade Tree]

09.  Sigur Ros - ( )  [2002; MCA]

08.  Coldplay - Parachutes  [2000; Capitol]

07.  Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People  [2003; Arts & Crafts]

06.  Arcade Fire - Funeral  [2004; Merge]

05.  Radiohead - Kid A  [2000; Capitol]

04.  Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot  [2002; Nonesuch]

03.  Limbeck - Hi, Everything’s Great  [2003; Doghouse]

02.  The Postal Service - Give Up  [2003; Sub Pop]

01.  Page France - Hello, Dear Wind  [2005; Fall]

---

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)

Ambulance LTD - Ambulance LTD  [2004; Tvt]
Andrew Bird - And The Mysterious Production Of Eggs  [2005; Righteous Babe]
The Appleseed Cast - Low Level Owl Vol. 1  [2001; Deep Elm]
Billy Bragg & Wilco - Mermaid Avenue Vol. 2  [2000; Elektra/Wea]
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm  [2005; Wichita]
Counterfit - Super Amusement Machine For Your Exciting Heart  [2002; Negative Progression]
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days  [2004; Sub Pop]
Midlake - The Trials Of Van Occupanther  [2006; Bella Union]
Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica  [2000; Epic]
Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy  [2005; Jagjaguwar]
Penfold - Our First Taste Of Escape  [2001; Milligram]
Rhett Miller - The Instigator  [2002; Elektra/Wea]
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World   [2001; Sub Pop]
Spoon - Kill The Moonlight   [2002; Merge]
The Walkmen - Bows + Arrows  [2004; Record Collection]

Hey, we're basically halfway through the year so I've decided to fill you in on what my favorite albums have been so far.  A lot of goodies in my opinion, however there's still plenty of time left.  Please feel free to share any thoughts and or recommendations.



30. Handsome Furs - Face Control [Sub Pop]

29. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart [Slumberland]

28. Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms [Secret City]

27. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast [Fat Possum]

26. Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle [Drag City]

25. J. Tillman - Vacilando Territory Blues [Western Vinyl]

24. Wilco - Wilco (The Album) [Nonesuch]

23. St. Vincent - Actor [4AD]

22. Foreign Born - Person To Person [Secretly Canadian]

21. Loney, Dear - Dear John [Polyvinyl]

20. Marissa Nadler - Little Hells [Kemado]

19. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns [Astralwerks]

18. Vetiver - Tight Knit [Sub Pop]

17. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone [Anti-]

16. M. Ward - Hold Time [Merge]

15. Metric - Fantasies [Redeye]

14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It’s Blitz! [Interscope]

13. Cotton Jones - Paranoid Cocoon [Suicide Squeeze]

12. Papercuts - You Can Have What You Want [Gnomonsong]

11. Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic [Western Vinyl]

---

10. Fever Ray - Fever Ray [Mute]

09. Bowerbirds - Upper Air [Dead Oceans]

08. The Antlers - Hospice [Frenchkiss]

07. DM Stith - Heavy Ghost [Asthmatic Kitty]

06. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca [Domino]

05. Alela Diane - To Be Still [Rough Trade]

04. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix [Glass Note]

03. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest [Warp]

02. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino]

01. Cortney Tidwell - Boys [City Slang]



[Count Me Out] Favorite Albums Of 2008 So Far

First off, Merry Christmas to all and hopefully you're having a lovely holiday. Now for the good stuff, something I know you've all been waiting for for some time now, my Favorite Albums Of 2008 list.  I love the month of December (and even a few weeks before), when people begin posting their own lists.  Throughout the year I definitely encounter a great deal of music, but there's always those exciting few weeks at the end of the year when I discover a ton more music that I've never even heard of.  Granted I feel rushed at this time to listen to as much of this new material as possible, however I sure many of it has yet receive much of the necessary listening time that some of these other albums have already had.  So yes, a few weeks from now this list could/would be completely different, however for the most part I have a strong opinion on the majority of these albums.  I've read quite a few places that 2008 was not a great year for music, but I beg to differ.  Yes, there was not a large number of "amazing" albums, but the ones that were (in my opinion) are on this list.  On the other hand, I believe there was a enormous amount of "pretty great" albums, many of which went unnoticed, and you will definitely find a good chunk of those on this list.  Lastly, I'd like to mention that a few albums (Vampire Weekend, Bon Iver, Bowerbirds) would be on this list, however I had them fairly high on my Favorite Albums Of 2007 list.  Also, there was a good number of albums that ranked high on other lists that I really had a hard time enjoying (Kings Of Leon, M83, Jenny Lewis, Ryan Adams).  Anyway, please feel free to leave your thoughts, questions, concerns, albums I'm missing out on, etc.  Thanks.



50.  Dana Falconberry - Oh Skies Of Grey [2 Minutes 59]
49.  Dosh - Wolves And Wishes [Anticon]  
48.  Liz Durrett - Outside Our Gates [Warm Electronic]
47.  Greg Laswell - Three Flights From Alto Nido [Vanguard]
46.  Rue Royale - Rue Royale [Self Released]
45.  Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s - Animal! [Epic]
44.  Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It [Sony]
43.  Brett Dennen - Hope For The Hopeless [Dualtone]
42.  Blitzen Trapper - Furr [Sub Pop]
41.  Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna [The Social Registry]
40.  Horse Feathers - House With No Home [Kill Rock Stars]
39.  Anathallo - Canopy Glow [Anticon]
38.  Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer [Sub Pop]
37.  Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell [Saddle Creek]
36.  High Places - High Places [Thrill Jockey]
35.  French Kicks - Swimming [Vagrant]
34.  Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs [Atlantic]
33.  Cold War Kids - Loyalty To Loyalty [Downtown]
32.  Beck - Modern Guilt [Interscope]
31.  The Kills - Midnight Bloom [Domino]
30.  The Black Keys - Attack & Release [Nonesuch]
29.  Mates Of State - Re-Arrange Us [Barsuk]
28.  She & Him - Volume One [Merge]
27.  The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely [Warner Bros.]
26.  Deerhoof - Offend Maggie [Kill Rock Stars]
25.  Sigur Rós - Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust [XL]
24.  The Whigs - Mission Control [ATO]
23.  Thao Nguyen - We Brave Bee Stings And All [Kill Rock Stars]
22.  Juana Molina - Un Día [Domino]
21.  Jamie Lidell - Jim [Warp]
20.  School Of Seven Bells - Alpinisms [Ghostly Int’l]
19.  Sun Kil Moon - April [Caldo Verde]
18.  Little Joy - Little Joy [Rough Trade]
17.  Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends [Capitol]
16.  The Walkmen - You & Me [Gigantic]
15.  Land Of Talk - Some Are Lakes [Saddle Creek]
14.  Brightblack Morning Light - Motion To Rejoin [Matador]
13.  Emiliana Torrini - Me And Armini [Rough Trade]
12.  The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead [Sub Pop]
11.  Shugo Tokumaru - Exit [Almost Gold]

---

  10.  The Dodos - Visiter [French Kiss]
  09.  Beach House - Devotion [Carpark]
  08.  The Acorn - Glory Hope Mountain [Paper Bag] (US Release)
  07.  Dr. Dog - Fate [Park The Van]
  06.  TV On The Radio - Dear Science, [Interscope]
  05.  Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes [Sub Pop]
  04.  Department Of Eagles - In Ear Park [4AD]
  03.  Colour Revolt - Plunder, Beg, And Curse [Fat Possum]
  02.  Grouper - Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill [Type]
  01.  Nina Kinert - Pets & Friends [Phantom Sound & Vision]

---

Honorable Mention (in no particular order)

The Ascetic Junkies - One Shoe Over The Cuckoo’s Nest [Self Released]
Brazilian Girls - New York City [Verve Forecast]
Brooke Waggoner - Heal For The Honey [Swoon Moon Music]
Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane [Sub Pop]
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours [Modular Interscope]
Damien Jurado - Caught In The Trees [Secretly Canadian]
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid [Geffen]
Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight [Fat Cat]
Fucked Up - The Chemistry Of Common Life [Matador]
Girl Talk - Feed The Animals [Illegal Art]
Haley Bonar - Big Star [Afternoon]
Joshua Radin - Simple Times [Mom & Pop]
Keane - Perfect Symmetry [Interscope]
Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew [Self Released]
Lykke Li - Youth Novels [LL/Atlantic]
Marnie Stern - This Is It & I Am It & You Are It & So Is That & He Is It & She Is It & It Is It & That Is That [Kill Rock Stars]
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges [ATO]
Okkervil River - The Stand-Ins [Jagjaguwar]
Old 97s - Blame It On Gravity [New West]
Pattern Is Movement - All Together [Hometapes]
Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The Grain [RCA]
Santogold - Santogold [Downtown]
Theresa Andersson - Hummingbird, Go! [Basin Street]
Vetiver - Thing Of The Past [Gnomonsong]
William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow And Crow [Dark Sparrow]

A little late, yes, I know, but this is definitely a hard project.  Many tunes co-inside with my Favorite Albums of 2007 list, but there are some others as well.  To be honest, I feel like there may be some slight bias because I haven't given everything a fair listen and I think it is hard to officially rank these songs, but here's what I have come up with.


50.  Luke Temple - Serious [MP3]
49.  Crowded House - Don't Stop Now [MP3]  [VIDEO]
48.  Caribou - Melody Day [MP3]  [VIDEO]
47.  Paul McCartney - Ever Present Past [MP3]  [VIDEO]
46.  Johnathan Rice - End Of The Affair [MP3]  [VIDEO]
45.  Panda Bear - I'm Not [MP3]
44.  J. Tillman - Ribbons Of Glass [MP3]
43.  Willy Mason - Gotta Keep Walking [MP3]  [VIDEO]
42.  The 1900s - Georgia [MP3]  [VIDEO]
41.  Miracle Fortress - Maybe Lately [MP3]
40.  Bishop Allen - Rain [MP3]
39.  The Besnard Lakes - Disaster [MP3]  [VIDEO]
38.  St. Vincent - Jesus Saves, I Spend [MP3]  [VIDEO]
37.  Feist - Intuition [MP3]  [VIDEO]
36.  Jose Gonzalez - Down The Line [MP3]  [VIDEO]
35.  Kanye West - Everything I Am [MP3]
34.  Josh Ritter - Mind's Eye [MP3]  [VIDEO]
33.  Wilco - Sky Blue Sky [MP3]  [VIDEO]
32.  Arcade Fire - Neon Bible [MP3]  [VIDEO]
31.  Beirut - Nantes [MP3]  [VIDEO]
30.  Iron & Wine - Lovesong Of The Buzzard [MP3]  [VIDEO]
29.  Battles - Atlas [MP3]  [VIDEO]
28.  Page France - What I Have Done [MP3]
27.  Arcade Fire - Antichrist Television Blues [MP3]  [VIDEO]
26.  Bon Iver - Skinny Love [MP3]  [VIDEO]
25.  Beirut - Elephant Gun [MP3]  [VIDEO]
24.  Spoon - Don't You Evah [MP3]  [VIDEO]
23.  Vampire Weekend -  Walcott [MP3]  [VIDEO]
22.  Grizzly Bear - Deep Blue Sea [MP3]  [VIDEO]
21.  Wilco - Hate It Here [MP3]  [VIDEO]
20.  Fionn Regan - Be Good Or Be Gone [MP3]  [VIDEO]
19.  Apostle Of Hustle - The National Anthem Of Nowhere [MP3]  [VIDEO]
18.  The Cotton Jones Basket Ride - Had Not A Body [MP3]
17.  LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends [MP3]  [VIDEO]
16.  Vampire Weekend - Mansard Roof [MP3]  [VIDEO]
15.  Julie Doiron - The Wrong Guy [MP3]
14.  Andrew Bird - Simple X [MP3]  [VIDEO]
13.  Limbeck - Wake Up [MP3]  [VIDEO]
12.  Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch [MP3]  [VIDEO]
11.  Willy Mason - Save Myself [MP3]  [VIDEO]

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10.  Richard Hawley - Serious [MP3]  [VIDEO]
09.  Modest Mouse - Florida [MP3]
08.  Kings Of Leon - McFearless [MP3]  [VIDEO]
07.  Feist - I Feel It All [MP3]  [VIDEO]
06.  Dr. Dog - Heart It Races (Architecture In Helsinki) [MP3]
05.  <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ferrabylionheart">Ferraby Lionheart - Vermont Avenue [MP3]
04.  Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running [MP3]  [VIDEO]
03.  Department Of Eagles - No One Does It Like You [MP3]  [VIDEO]
02.  Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place [MP3]  [VIDEO]
01.  The Shins - Sleeping Lessons [MP3]  [VIDEO]

First off, Merry Christmas to all and I hope everyone is doing well.  2007 was filled with a large sum of quality albums.  I think this year has been my largest album quantity yet (~320) and I still have more to download/listen to.  Yes, this list may eventually change because I probably haven't listened as much as I would have liked, however with the time that I did listen, these are what I have enjoyed the most and or caught my attention.  Enjoy and please feel free to leave comments.


50.  Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
49.  Windmill - Puddle City Racing Lights
48.  Sean Hayes - Flowering Spade
47.  Suzanne Vega - Beauty & Crime
46.  Bill Callahan - Woke On A Whaleheart
45.  Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation
44.  Georgie James - Places
43.  Elvis Perkins - Ash Wednesday
42.  Luke Temple - Snowbeast
41.  Figurines - When The Deer Wore Blue
40.  Deerhunter - Cryptograms
39.  Colleen - Les Ondes Silencieuses
38.  Field Music - Tones Of Town
37.  Eluvium - Copia
36.  Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
35.  Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch
34.  The Sea And Cake - Everybody
33.  Nicole Atkins - Neptune City
32.  Mother Mother - Touch Up
31.  Caribou - Andorra
30.  Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature
29.  Okkervil River - The Stage Names
28.  Fionn Regan - The End Of History
27.  Cortney Tidwell - Don't Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up
26.  Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter
25.  Dr. Dog - We All Belong
24.  Miracle Fortress - Five Roses
23.  Handsome Furs - Plague Park
22.  Phosphorescent - Pride
21.  LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
20.  Panda Bear - Person Pitch
19.  Battles - Mirrored
18.  Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
17.  Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
16.  Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
15.  Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up
14.  Willy Mason - If The Ocean Gets Rough
13.  St. Vincent - Marry Me
12.  J. Tillman - Cancer And Delirium
11.  The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse

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10.  Feist - The Reminder
09.  Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
08.  Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
07.  Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
06.  Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
05.  Ferraby Lionheart - Catch The Brass Ring
04.  Bowerbirds - Hymns For A Dark Horse
03.  Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
02.  Radiohead - In Rainbows
01.  Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

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Honorable Mention

!!! - Myth Takes
The 1900s - Cold & Kind
Apostle Of Hustle - The National Anthem Of Nowhere
The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin
Bishop Allen - The Broken String
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
The Clientele - God Save The Clientele
Do Make Say Think - You, You're A History In Rust
Frog Eyes - Tears Of The Valedictorian
Johnathan Rice - Further North
Joshua James - The Sun Is Always Brighter
Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times
Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers
Limbeck - Limbeck
Menomena - Friend And Foe
M.I.A. - Kala
Mice Parade - Mice Parade
The National - Boxer
Santogold - I Believe In Santogold
The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover
The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters
White Rabbits - Fort Nightly
Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals