Just What You Were Expecting

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, I decided to finally post my top albums of the year list.
However, I really tried to keep this short. You don't need me to tell you in length what each album is like; if you're interested, go look the artist up and check it out.
If it's mentioned here, it's definitely worth it!

HERE WE GO -
TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2007, WITH A BRIEF COMMENT OR MEMORY FOR EACH.
10. "Leaves In The River" - Sea Wolf
[Disclaimer: I now disagree with my choice for this spot, but that's what I submitted to the radio station for my list. More about this later.]
9. "Sound of Silver" - LCD Soundsystem
I actually heard this back in December 2006, and I'll never forget listening to it on repeat while walking to a party and, unfortunately, freezing my ass off instead of shaking it.
8. "Kala" - M.I.A.
Turn this on, see Liz dance.
7. "The Scenery Of Farewell" - Two Gallants (I know it's an EP, but fuck it. It's that good.)
The track "Seems Like Home To Me" from this release makes me want to cry everytime I hear it.
6. "...and the Family Telephone" - Page France
Absolutely perfect for Spring and Summer. You can't frown to this music.
5. "The Reminder" - Feist
I've listened to this album so many times, in so many different situations. I'm not usually a big fan of female vocalists, for whatever reason, but Feist totally had me at "1234".
4. "Person Pitch" - Panda Bear
I'm still amazed with this album. So many good samples, such simple lyrics, and countless emotions evoked with each listen.
3. "The Flying Club Cup" - Beirut
This album makes me want to dance and sing, but in a completely different way. "Achingly beautiful", and "breath-taking" come to mind when trying to describe this.
2. "Strawberry Jam" - Animal Collective
I remember this leaking in frustrating increments, slowly, over the summer. And listening to it with the volume turned up, driving with the windows down. "For Reverend Green" is now one of my all-time favorite A.C. tracks.
1. "Boxer" - The National
The best live act I saw in 2007. I wanted to close my eyes and cry, right there. But I didn't, and I got to hold the door open for them into the show. There is never a bad time to play The National.

Okay, so about that #10 spot: Sea Wolf is awesome, but looking back over the whole year, that album doesn't really deserve a place in the top ten... I just got really infatuated with it in December. Oops!
You may be wondering (but probably aren't), what would I choose for #10? I don't know. There's a handful (maybe more like an armload) of good albums that could easily fit there.
So, here are the leftovers from making my list:

MORE GREAT ALBUMS FROM 2007 THAT AREN'T IN A LIST BUT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED BY ANY MEANS.
"Bangers and Cash" - Spank Rock & Benny Blanco
This EP was the first stuff I'd heard from Spank Rock. And it changed my booty's life.

"Kurr" - Amiina
The girls in Amiina make me jealous - they get to play with Sigur Ros, and the music they make is so beautiful, I'd have it as the soundtrack to my dreams every night if I could.

"It's A Bit Complicated" - Art Brut
I can relate all too well to the first track on this album: an upbeat, 3-minute confession about stopping during a makeout session to turn up the volume on a good song. The other songs are just as charming.

"Total Magique" - We Are Wolves
I'm a sucker for wolves and bands with them in their name, so that's already a plus for these guys. But seriously, this album is full of howling vocals, crunchy guitars, and thick synth - perfect for dancing in the dark.

"Bring On The Comets" - VHS or Beta
This album completely consumed a week of my life - it's that catchy. Too bad the guys were pretty big assholes live. (They took hours upon hours to set up, before the opening bands even went on, and wouldn't let anyone in the hall until they were done. But they did thank me and my roommate personally for starting the dance party halfway through their set. Yeh!)

"Turbo Fruits" - Turbo Fruits
Originally part of Be Your Own Pet, these guys know how to make a short, good, rock song. At 15 songs, the album seems lengthy for a debut, but it flies by quickly when you're happily bouncing to it on the way to class.

"A Lesson In Crime" - Tokyo Police Club
One of the very few bands that I heard about through watching TV this year, these guys made the single "Cheer It On", which was awesome on its own before being remixed into a super-sweet track by the likes of Gregg Gillis (Girl Talk) in his new duo, Trey Told 'Em.

"Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" - Spoon
I'll be honest: I have a huge amount of Spoon in my library, but I never listened to them much. Then, this album leaked, and I immediately chastised myself for not getting into them sooner. This baby could very possibly be my #10.

"Graduation" - Kanye West
Oh, Kanye. Will you ever cease to amaze? If you're looking for an album to play in the wee hours, try putting this one on. There's nothing like having Kanye say "Good Morning".

"French Quarter" - French Quarter
I haven't heard anyone else mention this band, but I found them on a blog a few months ago. With it's woozy guitars, perfect percussion, and warm vocals, this is an album that you can really cozy up to in the colder months.

"Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon" - Devendra Banhart
I didn't get a chance to really listen to this release until a couple of months after it came out, save for playing a few tracks from it during my radio shift. Once I did sit down and give it a listen, I immediately remembered why I love Devendra's music so much.

"Mirrored" - Battles
Not the type of music I'm usually drawn to, Battles intrigued me with their technical yet almost tribal math rock. I wasn't the only one they won over - I've had more than a few friends who really got into this album who I wouldn't have expected to. You could be one of them!

"†" - Justice
"D.A.N.C.E." was one of my favorite tracks of the year, and its music video got my vote for Video Of The Year, as well. "Newjack" and "Tthee Ppaarrttyy" are also awesome dancefloor-fillers, along with the various remixes this French duo has put out. I can't wait to see what they come out with this year.

Last but not least...
possibly my favorite song of 2007:
"Sexual Eruption", by yes, Mr. S-N-double O-P D-O-double G.
Download it here.

I think that about wraps things up.
What do you say?