Also-Rans and Honorable Mentions

2007 was a great year for music, and my Best albums of 2007 post barely scratches the surface of what was new and notable during the year. Accordingly, here are 20 more songs that stood out for me -- yes, some of these tracks were available as imports (or even domestically) in 2006, but I'm not of a mind to quibble over release dates.

All I can say about the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest is that Sweden was ROBBED -- The Ark clearly had the best song in the competition, and performed it flawlessly on the night. It will be interesting to see whether the voting rules are changed in the coming years, as the overwhelming success enjoyed by certain, frankly, uninspiring Eastern European performers was nothing short of scandalous! -- The Worrying Kind

I don't find Art Brut's latest record to be as compelling as Bang Bang Rock & Roll, but it has its moments: Direct Hit

Bloc Party: Hunting for Witches
Burial: Archangel
Caribou: Melody Day
Datarock: Computer Camp Love
Deerhoof: The Perfect Me

Another favorite from the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest was this outrageously camp number from Switzerland's DJ Bobo: Vampires are Alive

Fujiya & Miyagi: Collarbone
The Go! Team: Doing It Right
Hot Chip: The Warning

I love the fact that Laura Veirs kept this song in a key which extends just slightly below her vocal range -- makes me think of Liz Phair (the out-of-her-range thing, that is, not the song): Cast a Hook in Me

I have adored Les Savy Fav for years -- and am delighted that they released a new record this year. I especially enjoy the legend on their website: "Les Savy Fav: Missing out on cashing in for over a decade": What Would Wolves Do

Mew: Apocalypso
Midlake: In This Camp
Pelle Carlberg: Pamplona

Like the Pipettes? You'll like Shitt Hottt: Tony Danza Dancetravaganza

Tokyo Police Club: Cheer It On
The Voyces: You're In Charge Of Driving The Narcotics Trolley, And You're Doing An Excellent Job

The Young Knives are an absolutely fantastic band -- and their bass player's name is "The House of Lords." I truly cannot recommend their (2006) album Voices of Animals and Men too highly: Here Comes The Rumour Mill

OK -- one more:

Erlend Oye can do no wrong in my book. His latest project is The Whitest Boy Alive: Golden Cage

Best albums of 2007

Sure, I like the Radiohead record and the LCD Soundsystem record as much as the next guy, but I've lost count of the number of year-end best-of lists which boast the 1-2 punch of In Rainbows and Sound of Silver. Enough already!

Here's a song from each of the 10 albums to which I found myself returning again and again during 2007:

Mer du Japon - Air - Pocket Symphony

Fucking Boyfriend - The Bird and The Bee - The Bird and The Bee

Fancy Footwork - Chromeo - Fancy Footwork

Sit Tight - Field Music - Tones of Town

Golden Skans - Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Latchmere - The Maccabees - Colour It In

All the Things that Go to Make Heaven and Earth - The New Pornographers - Challengers

She's a Rejector - Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

Don't You Evah - Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

See You at the Lights - 1990s - Cookies

Please consider doing one or more of these fine, hardworking artists a favor: if you like the song, click on the album link and buy the record!