Ultimate Album of the Year

So the last post was the "top 10" of the year. Today I reveal... the ULTIMATE album of the year. That's right, you thought I was done, but I'm not. That last list was just the countdown to the very very best, which I kept in secret to surprise you. So... the ultimate... the very best... the golden nugget... of the year.... is:



Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation





This album has something for everyone to love. At times wild and eclectic, at other times melodic and beautiful, always surprising, and never disappointing, this album is the peak of what great indie rock has become. It moves from noisy art rock to country western from time change to time change multiple times within one song. This album truly is an amazing feat. Every song on the album is a winner. Influences heard on the album range from early Pavement to fellow indie rockers Tapes 'n Tapes to Wilco to science fiction television shows and rocky scenic views. This album has everything I want, and everything that I love. If you don't own, (and I'm dead serious) go pick it up NOW.

10 Top Albums of 2007

It's reaching about the end of the year, and even though I'm sure there are some fantastic albums to come out by the end of December, I am doing a top 10 countdown of my favorite albums from the past year. Keep in mind, I haven't heard every album that I should have, but these are the albums which I have heard, and which I have loved. Right now it's late, I just finished putting together my final portfolio for English, and got my design project done this morning, so I'm tired. In other words, I'm not going to write a small clip for each album, just show them, and you'll know... you'll know how you love them. HERE WE GO!

10. Okkervil River - The Stage Names


(Jagjaguwar)

9. Feist - The Reminder


(Cherrytree/Interscope)

8. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog


(Sub Pop)

7. !!! - Myth Takes


(Warp)

6. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends


(Frenchkiss)

5. Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings


(Carpark)

4. We All Have Hooks for Hands - The Pretender


(Afternoon)

3. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible


(Merge)

2. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position


(Loog)

1. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?


(Polyvinyl)



And of course, these weren't the only albums I enjoyed all year. I made some other hard decisions as to who should go on the list, so these are the Honorable Mentions:

The Shins - Wincing the Night Away



Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder



The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse



Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha



Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover



The Go! Team - Proof of Youth




And there you have it. Those are my favorite albums from this year, and also a few that just didn't quite make the list, though rest assured, are still excellent. Check them out if you have the time, I promise, they're well worth it.