25 Best Albums I Heard in 2007

1. Various Artist After Dark
ChromaticsNight Drive (IV)
Glass Candy B/E/A/T/B/O/X Italians Do It Better
I always hated when rock'n'roll history shows showed stock footage of rock fans with "Death to Disco" signs. If they only knew that in 2007 disco is what's keeping rock alive. Joy Division Baselines + Italo Disco Flair + Bored-by-Rioting Grrl Vocals = Italians. Johnny Jewel have my babies.

2. Panda Bear Person Pitch Paw Tracks
I remember I accidentally took two different otc pain relievers. It made me feel weird, and I sat in the car listening to this album while the rain dripped down my windshield, distorting the straight lines on the other side of it. I was so transfixed that I even started videotaping my windshield thinking it was something I needed to share. The point is: even with the weakest drugs this album makes you feel amazing.

3. Burial Untrue Hyperdub
The first album snuck by me somehow last year, but it made finding his even-better follow up that much better. Sorta stunning. I'm also "tickled" by the fact that this seems to be a break-up record.

4. M.I.A. Kala Interscope
I just heard this album playing in Urban Outfitters an hour ago, and yet the subject matter is supposed to be about third world rebellion or something of that nature. I don't know how anyone is supposed to rebel when they're caught off guard with beats this bonkers. Makes you wanna grab the lattest Henry Holland rip-off tee and head to the club.

5. Various Artists Milky Disco Lo
There's room enough for two disco comps on this list. Milky Disco sums up nicely the current cosmic-disco scene on one disc even when it's made up so far of limited 12" and mp3 blog remixes. Black Leotard Front's "Casual Friday" is one of my favorite songs, and thank god it begot an entire genre.

6. LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver DFA
Irony is dead. Blame blogs and trucker hats. Sorry James Murphey, I guess you'll have to find something else to tinge your lyrics with. How about actual emotion? Oh you did, and you say the music is actually better because of it?

7. Von Südenfed Tromatic Reflexxions Domino
Electro is the new punk. exhibit a: kids can get a hold of cracked ableton software easier than they can a guitar. exhibit b: Mark E. Smith got together with Mouse on Mars and made a record that blew his latest Fall album, and most other albums, out of the water.

8. Soft Circle Full Bloom Eastern Development
9. Pantha Du Prince This Bliss Dial
Two albums full or gorgeous sound scapes. They don't inspire much cute writing, but they're marvelous for studying or other quiet moments. Pump up the volume and they become all consuming.


10. Justice † Ed Banger/Vice
Life is too short for just one Daft Punk.

13 Honorable Mentions:
Akron/Family Love is Simple Young God
Angels of Light We Are Him Young God
Animal Collective Strawberry Jam Domino
Battles Mirrored Warp
Gui Boratto Chromophobia Kompact
Cocorosie The Adventures of Ghost Horse and Stillborn Touch & Go
Eric Copeland Hermaphrodite Paw Tracks
Matthew Dear Asa Bread Ghostly International
Dirty Projectors Rise Above Dead Oceans
Map of Africa Map of Africa Whatever We Want
Odd Nosdam Level Live Wire Anticon
The Shocking Pinks The Shocking Pinks DFA
White Williams Smoke TigerBeat6