The 21 best record albums of 2007, and 65 you should have heard at least once

Frog Eyes has been a lock at #3 for a while. The trouble I had was in deciding between Himalayan Bear and Bowerbirds. Bowerbirds's Phil Moore has one of those voices that, like Phil Elverum and David Bazan, inexplicably captures me. The music is closer to good literature than is most pop music, with all of the foreshadowing and the well-placed (musical) plot devices, but also with the occasional misstep. Whereas Moore's other band Ticonderoga plays a Chicago-style post rock style, Bowerbirds is more like an Appalachan interpretation of Sufjan Stevens's multi-instrument Brooklyn folk, except with musical integrity. The accordian is tasteful, and the percussion is a well-executed exercise in brainy minimalism.

Himalayan Bear, on the other hand, is steadily brilliant from start to finish. It's the most original new folk since Joanna Newsom, even if the two are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Himalayan bear sounds like a hot rainy weekend in Hawaii spent inside with close friends. It's very laid-back with Hawaiian instruments, but also has a classic country tinge. The music is informed by Frog Eyes, but not derivative of any single band. The vocals are in the same vein, but they're a touch closer to Tom Brosseau and Jeff Buckley. While the Bowerbirds record has some of the better overall songs, I felt that Himalayan bear was more consistent from start to finish. Both are brilliant albums, however, and both deserve a place in your library. You may ignore #30-#65 if you like, but this is the best stuff of 2007.

Interesting Fact: Two of the top three albums were made by bands from Victoria, Canada. There is yet another in the top 30.

1. Himalayan Bear - Attacks The Brilliant Air
2. Bowerbirds - Hymns For A Dark Horse
3. Frog Eyes - Tears Of The Valedictorian
4. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
5. Happy Apple - Happy Apple Back On Top
6. Dr. Dog - We All Belong
7. Victor Bermon - Arriving At Night
8. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
9. Tom Brosseau - Cavalier
10. Sea Wolf - Leaves In The River
11. Eleni Mandell - Miracle Of Five
12. Nina Nastasia And Jim White - You Follow Me
13. Interpol - Our Love To Admire
14. Lymbyc Systym - Love Your Abuser
15. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers
16. Emily Jane White - Dark Undercoat
17. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum
18. Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature
19. The Bad Plus - Prog
20. The Innocence Mission - We Walked In Song
21. Jenn Grant - Orchestra For The Moon
22. Marissa Nadler - Songs III: Bird On The Water
23. Aerial - The Sentinel
24. Justice - Cross
25. Chet - Fight Against Darkness
26. Prefuse 73 - Preparations
27. Carla Bruni - No Promises
28. A Whisper In The Noise - Dry Land
29. Amon Tobin - Foley Room
30. Handsome Furs - Plague Park
31. The National - Boxer
32. Joy Wants Eternity - You Who Pretend To Sleep
33. Magnolia Electric Co - The Black Ram ¹
34. P.G. Six - Slightly Sorry
35. DNTEL - Dumb Luck
36. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
37. Irepress - Samus Ocotology
38. Kevin Drew - Spirit If...
39. Mirah And Spectratone International - Share This Place (Stories And Observations By...)
40. Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter - Like, Love, Lust & The Open Halls Of The Soul
41. Giardini Di Miro - Dividing Opinions
42. El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
43. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
44. The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
45. Pelican - City Of Echoes
46. Antibalas - Security
47. Wolves In The Throne Room - Two Hunters
48. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
49. Richard Swift - Dressed Up For The Letdown
50. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover
51. The Hidden Hand - The Ressurection Of Whiskey..
52. Findlay Brown - Separated By The Sea
53. Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
54. Cepia - Natura Morta
55. Celebration - The Modern Tribe
56. Julie Doiron - Woke Myself Up
57. Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
58. Radiohead - In Rainbows
59. Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbals
60. Subtle - Yell&Ice
61. Raccoo-oo-oon - Behold Secret Kingdom
62. Dälek - Abandoned Language
63. Dog Day - Night Group
64. Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
65. Bishop Allen - The Broken String

¹ Album was unfortunately released as part of the Sojourner box set, but hey, it was a weak year

Previously: Best Albums of 2006, 1994-2005