So, I was sitting around the other night, re-reading some of my posts here on Sod. I do this often. It’s a great way to bask in my glory. But seriously, I was re-reading my music reviews so far, so I could decide what to review next. After reading through them all, I realized something that I had alluded to earlier, these aren’t so much reviews of the albums as they were blatant adoration of them. Essentially, I was taking 5-8 paragraphs to tell you all how much I loved these records, which should already be obvious. I mean, they’re on my list, for crying out loud.

So, in lieu of another post where I make sweet, sweet love to one of my favorite albums from 2007, I’m just going to do the entire list right here, right now. Each album will be recapped with a quick paragraph and possibly an mp3 or a Youtube link. For those records that I’ve previously reviewed, I will simply link to my earlier article about them.

That is all. Let’s do this.

But first, Jump!

10. Caribou-Andorra

9. Les Savy Fav-Let’s Stay Friends
This is just a kickass rock record that will have your feet tappin’ and your head thrashing from start to finish. I first heard “The Year Before The Year 2000″ on the radio and I was immediately hooked. The utter forcefulness of this record is just captivating.

Just for the record, this is a fan-made video. Also, it’s the shit.

8. Tom Brosseau-Grand Forks
This album made me cry the first time I listened to it. I’m not even kidding. Between the high-registered, wailing voice and plaintive guitar and the highly personal subject matter, I was a total mess. Sounding little a slightly effeminate Hank Williams Sr., Grand Forks, ND native Tom Brosseau lays out a tribute album to the 1997 Red River flood on it’s tenth anniversary, and it’s brutal in it’s beauty. For those of us that lived through The Flood, this album stands as a testament to the perseverance of our hometown. It also happens to be a great record.

“Armory” is actually on Tom’s new record, Cavalier, but it’s a fun performance.

7. The White Stripes-Icky Thump

6. Wilco-Sky Blue Sky
The fact that this album made my Top Ten is evidence that I’m getting old. Eschewing the studio chicanery and sonic messing-around and getting down to beautiful melodies, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy is at the top of his talents and is surrounded by possibly the most talented group of musicians in rock at the moment. It’s really quite a sight to behold. So, never mind the fact that it sounds like a record straight out of the ’70’s. It’s good music that’s good for you.

“Thanks I Get” is a b-side of Sky Blue Sky.

5. Apples In Stereo-New Magnetic Wonder

4. The Weakerthans-Reunion Tour
The Weakerthans are the kind of band that your english professors would start, if they had spent as much time practicing guitar as they did reading Faulkner. Every time I listen to one of their records, it takes me right back home to the plains, with the high blue skies above me and the welcoming desolation all around. John K. Samson is one of the best songwriters around and the band more than ably surrounds his words in 4/4 time. Plus, they’re from Winnipeg!

3. Spoon-Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

2. Radiohead-In Rainbows

1. The National-Boxer
The slow, intricate build to a cathartic release, again and again. The slightly awkward lyrics that are sung with such conviction and passion. The ominous feeling that hangs in the air, surrounded by earnest passion. This is the New York City band The National in a nutshell. To tell the truth, I’ve barely listened to the actual studio recording of this album. Right after the release of Boxer, one of the mp3 blogs that I frequent posted an entire live session the band did on French radio. You can find it here. It includes performances of most of the songs from Boxer and proves that The National is the kind of band that can be best appreciated in a live setting. I’ve had the extreme pleasure of seeing them twice in the past year and both times, I was blown away.

Honorable Mentions

Jens Lekman-Night Falls Over Kortedala - He’s Swedish and knows how to make a genuinely enjoyable record, which is more than you can say about The Hives.

John Vanderslice-Emerald City - His second best record about 9/11, so far.

Little Lebowski Urban Achievers-Is This A Party or An Intervention? - the band that reminds me of my years in college, in a good way. And, they’re from Minneapolis!

MIA-Kala - Surprised? Don’t be. She rocks.