Sometimes I think it takes me waaay too long to come up with my Top 20 albums of a given year. There are a lot of internal debates and arguments that really have no right answer. Really, you reach a point where all the albums are good but how to rank them gets to be quite the challenge. This year was chock full of good music (not matter what the naysayers might groan). I counted something like 175+ albums worth mentioning in 2007, and that is only a tip of the iceberg when it comes to everything that was released in the year. However, I did whittle it down to 20... well, 22 if you count my 2 EP exception (EP's don't count as real albums).

If you're interested in some sub-lists, like my albums "with apologizes" (albums I didn't hear but should have) or "best imports" or "most disappointing" (hint, the band who made it rhymes with Milo Biley), check it out here.

So, here we go:

#21 The EP's - Two EP's made me happy this year, and really, they would be in the top 20, but it seems unfair to me to include EP's versus albums. They're both UK pop, and they're both brilliant in their own cute way.

Los Campesinos! Sticking Fingers Into Sockets (Thanks to igLiz for this band!)

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Finding it much too difficult to decide upon my favorite albums this year, I've decided to go for a "best of" list that puts much more emphasis on physical appearances. These aren't necessarily my favorite albums of 2007 (you can't judge a CD by its cover), but I think they all deserve some recognition for the art pieces that decorate them. After all, there have been some pretty hideous covers this year.

10. "Twilight and Ghost Stories" by Chris Schlarb. I chose this one for its cute colors, bold lines, and its overall dreamy feeling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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OK, well, nobody likes to reflect and rank more than I do (I'm a scientist, I love to quantify), so here goes. I've got my favorite songs of 2007 - no, not best or most innovative, but rather the songs I liked ... lots and lots and lots. There is a little overlap from my forthcoming Best Albums, but also some curveballs. Enjoy!

Honorable Mention:

• "Girls and Boys in Love" by the Rumble Strips
• "Sons of Cain" by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
• "Jack the Ripper" by the Horrors (special note: If the Horrors had a brain and released the original fast demo version of this song on their debut Strange House, it would have been an easy top 10.)
• "Ragoo" by Kings of Leon
• "Heart It Races" by Architecture in Helsinki
• "Geld Essen" by K.I.Z.

#10. "The Prayer" by Bloc Party from Weekend in the City - This song is one of the most interesting songs Bloc Party has recorded. Too bad the rest of the album (short of "Hunting for Witches") just wasn't as cool.

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at Showbox at the Market

Kitchen sink pop met dreadlocked neo-hippies to culminate into something kinda catchy.

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Well, I am in the lovely capitol of Finland, Helsinki, or, if you're Swedish like Jens Lekman, Helsingfors. I'm a little loopy but some fun observations for you to enjoy:

- The Finnish equivalent to Home Depot is call Bauhaus. How awesome is that?

- There seem to be a lot of death metal fans on my flight from Berlin to Helsinki. I'm guessing it was either a festival or the Finns love death metal more than I imagined.

- Helsinki is the same latitude as Juneau, Alaska (more or less), but right now its downright pleasant: sunny, 70 at 9PM.

- I may attempt to go to one day of the 'Flow Festival' here in Helsinki that might involve seeing, very appropriately, Architecture in Helsinki and, less fittingly, !!!.

- The local "Stranger"-like newspaper here in Helsinki had a review of the White Stripes Icky Thump, and although I couldn't understand a word of it, I did see that they gave it 5 out of 5 stars. Even the Finns are falling for the Stripes charms, eh?

That's all for now ... more as it is warranted (and if my iBook doesn't completely die ... don't ask).

Your summer fun album is here! Oh wait, it’s August now, isn’t it?

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That big band of Aussies, Architecture in Helsinki will release their third album, Places Like This, in a couple weeks (on Aug. 21 via Polyvinyl Records) and, will mark the release with a tour of the states.

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Architecture in Helsinki will be guests on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic with Nic Harcourt this morning at 11:15AM PST playing mostly songs from their forthcoming album, Places Like This as well as a couple old favorites. They just wrapped up their US tour last night with a raucous show at the Henry Fonda in LA.

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at Neumos

Architecture in Helsinki's nonstop, infectious energy won a new fan with me.

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The night is going to be a feel good indie-pop dance party with the cute, musically inclined AV club that we call Architecture in Helsinki.

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