The -ist List: Best Albums of 2007

Every year, Houstonist gets together and discuss our favorite albums of the year. This year, there are many artists that have been on our favorites before in previous years, but still there were a few surprises. So we give you our top ten with our own commentary:

The National - Boxer

Houstonist agrees with many critics about the best album of 2007. We first thought that Brooklyn-based The National reached their pinnacle with Alligator from a couple of years back, but we were wrong. With darker lyrics and the mesmerizing baritone vocals from Matt Berninger, along with Bryan Devendorf's drumming and the remaining guitar/piano arrangements from band members, The Boxer knows when to rock and when to just be plain beautiful.

Listen: "Fake Empire" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

iron%2Bwine.jpg Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

Hopes were high for Sam Beam (who is Iron & Wine) this year, after Woman King and his collaboration with fellow Austinites, Calexico. He surpassed those hopes for many. While basically a folk singer, Sam adds enough varying instrumentation to his music to compliment his hushed voice, without over-powering it. “Boy With a Coin” and "Lovesong of the Buzzard" are standouts.

Listen: "Boy With a Coin" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

When a band’s album is called “the most accessible yet,” that usually means it’s the most commercial, mainstream sounding. Not for Spoon. It just means damn good. We argue amongst ourselves if this one is better than Gimme Fiction (which was our favorite of 2005). After seeing Spoon live, with the horn section from Grupo Fantasma, we’re sleeping more sound, knowing that their goodness will continue.

Listen: "The Underdog" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

Feist - The Reminder

In 1967, it was the Summer of Love. In 2007, it was the Summer of Leslie Feist. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing Feist's wistful voice in a TV commercial or on the radio, and we wouldn't have had it any other way. The talented chanteuse and multi-instrumentalist struck gold with her third full-length album The Reminder, reminding us of the sheer power of perfect hooks and solid pop songs. The record's wide appeal landed Feist prized commercial deals and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. But the laurels haven't damaged her indie cred; Feist still finds the time to jam with the Canadian sound collective Broken Social Scene and perform with her musical friends on occasion. She's still Leslie from the block.

Listen: "So Sorry" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

This Chicago band reached their current plateau with 2000’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but they haven’t fallen since. Sure, Sky Blue Sky isn’t as “experimental” as their past two studio albums, but with the whole band involved in the writing process this time (the last two were mostly leader Jeff Tweedy compositions), this album is more cohesive and easy to digest. The calmer atmosphere on this year’s Wilco release may have a lot to do with the band’s new found sobriety.

Listen: "What Light" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

The Shins - Wincing The Night Away

At he beginning of the year, the music industry was abuzz with the release of The Shin’s follow-up to 2003’s Chutes Too Narrow. Wincing the Night Away even debuted at #2 on the U.S. album charts, with only some minor airplay for the first single “Phantom Limb.” The band didn’t stray too far from the formula that first got them notice (which for many, was the inclusion of two songs on the Garden State soundtrack), but they did have more funds to use for the production of the album. The Shins also showed that you could stay on an independent label and reach massive success.

Listen: "Australia" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

Radiohead - In Rainbows
Speaking of bands that did it their way, despite what the music industry guidelines says – Radiohead garnered headlines this year with the release of their digital download-only “pay what you want” album In Rainbows. Fans who’ve grown weary of overboard experimentation with the last few Radiohead studio albums were happy to hear more songs with (gulp) choruses in them. It’ll be interesting to see how the physical CD sales once it’s released in 2008.

Listen: "House of Cards" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

arcade%20fire.jpg Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Another band that didn’t disappoint with their follow-up to a breakthrough album. Neon Bible wasn’t as theme oriented as their first release (Funeral), but continued to show the indie-rock band at its best. In the 80’s, Canada gave us Loverboy; this decade, they gave us Arcade Fire. We’re starting to forgive our neighbors to the north, now.

Listen: "Black Mirror" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

Zookeeper - Becoming All Things
Music at its best is engaging, and when Zookeeper's first LP is firing on all cylinders, it's everything that an album should be. The Chris Simpson-led project evokes the picture of a group of buddies jamming on a porch for all to hear. It's an album of seeming contradictions: sloppy and complex, emotional and playful, rugged and polished. Grab your drink of choice and find a porch to stomp on with this soundtrack.

Listen: "Snow in Berlin" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

band%20of%20horses.jpg Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
Rounding out our ten favorites of the year is a Seattle band that formed only three years ago. Sure, it’s noticeable that Band of Horses is influenced by My Morning Jacket (and maybe even The Shins and Coldplay, to a lesser degree), but their sophomore album builds upon these influences and they have created a sound all of their own.

Listen: "Is There A Ghost" | Buy: Amazon | Official Site

Here were the runner-ups. Yes, there were a lot of runner ups. We used our iTunes gift cards well last year:

Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
MIA - Kala
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Soundtrack - Once
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Beirut - The Flying Cup Band
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
Ozomatli - Don’t Mess With the Dragon
Sigur Rós - Hvarf/Heim
The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
The Go Find - Stars On The Wall
UGK - UGK
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Grand National - A Drink And A Quick Decision
Hooverphonic - President of the Lsd Golfclub
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
PJ Harvey - White Chalk
Stars - In our Bedroom After the War
Stereophonics - Pull The Pin
Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
Girl Talk - Night Ripper
Mary Gauthier - Between Daylight and Dark
Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
Siouxsie Sioux - Mantaray
The Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army
White Rabbits - Fort Nightly
Blonde Redhead - 23
Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone
Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Pela - Anytown Graffiti
Putumayo Presents - A New Groove
Various Artists - After Dark
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band - It’s Not Big, It’s Large
Ra Ra Riot - Ra Ra Riot (EP)
Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation
Richard Hawley - Lady’s Bridge
Travis - The Boy With No Name
† - Justice
Kanye West - Graduation
!!! - Myth Takes
Future Clouds And Radar - Future Clouds And Radar
K-Os - Atlantis: Hymns for Disco
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
The Go! Team - Proof of Youth
Tokyo Police Club - Smith (EP)
Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings
Ethan Durelle - Talks To The Dark