2007, music heaven.

I had a great time with music last year, probably because of settling into in New York City, which is pretty much the focal point for amazing and free (!) concerts by new and exciting bands. Maybe it was also being back in school and spending a lot of time alone studying (and not studying), riding the train, reading, all the while listening to music. Also, I’d be lying if I didn’t give OiNK (RIP) some credit in my musical adventures this year. My little circa-2004 (2003?) iPod mini has had more excitement than it can handle (luckily I upgraded for Christmas this year). It’s been awesome, and I can only hope that 2008 is half as great!

Anyway, here’s my list of the best records of 2007. I guess the one thing these records all have in common is that I was pleasantly surprised by all of them, and that they were (to use a cliché) moving in some way.

I was especially moved by these records:

10. Mary Timony Band – The Shapes We Make

9. Deerhunter — Cryptograms

8. Sondre Lerche – Phantom Punch

7. Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam

6. Dan Deacon – Spiderman of the Rings

5. Fiery Furnaces – Widow City

4. Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala

3. St. Vincent – Marry Me

2. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

1. Scout Niblett – This Fool Can Die Now

It was really hard to pick only ten, but I figured that it would be best to narrow down the list to make it more “meaningful” or something. That said, here are some Honorable Mentions:

Radiohead – In Rainbows

The Shins – Wincing the Night Away

The Field – From Here We Go Sublime

Panda Bear – Person Pitch

Stars of the Lid – And Their Refinement of the Decline

Beirut – The Flying Cub Cup

Blonde Redhead – 23

Blitzen Trapper – Wild Mountain Nation

Boris with Michio Kurihara – Rainbow

Devendra Banhart – Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon

Keren Ann – s/t

Weakerthans – Reunion Tour

!! klk.