The Final Countdown!!!! (Top 20 Albums - #10 to #1)

And we continue! I should note that each album cover has a link to their MySpace page or something that will provide a tidbit of the music from each of the albums, so if you're interested, you could always sample first. Hope that helps!

#10 I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends


Holy crap! Is that a more fun, Swedish Polyphonic Spree? Why yes, it is. Songs about a Treehouse, a stamp collection, and a painter set it a choral form make this one of the most lighthearted albums of 2007. If you happen to be a fan of the Polyphonic Spree, you'll like them. They took some of the overwhelming hope (and borderline cult status) out of it and replaced it with everyday lyrics and happiness. A great freshman effort and let's hope that their next album is even better.

Highlights - We're From Barcelona, Treehouse, The Painter, Collection of Stamps

#9 Interpol - Our Love to Admire


Lions, and tigers, and deer, oh my! What a peculiar album cover. When I got this album, I was really afraid that it wasn't going to be able to hold a candle to "Antics" or "Turn on the Bright Lights", but after seeing the live at the Norva (again), this album really grew on me. If you're a fan of Interpol and like the dark side of rock (i.e. a modern day Joy Division), you might want to try to get it.

Highlights - Rest My Chemistry, Mammoth, Pioneer to the Falls, No I in Threesome

#8 Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder


Elephant Six was known for his experimentation.(see Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, and Circulatory System). Robert Schneider of Apples in Stereo was one of the original collaborators and Apples in Stereo is a band that was there at the beginning. It's funny that Of Montreal AND Apples in Stereo were in Elephant Six and both have taken a similar route into experimentation. Apples in Stereo is a bit more straight pop than Of Montreal, but they both have the formula down. You might have seen Robert Schneider sing a song for Stephen Colbert on the Decemberists VS. Colbert episode earlier this year. If not, here it is.



Highlights - Energy, Same Old Drag, Sunndal Song, Sunday Sounds

#7 Beirut - The Flying Cub Cup


If I was to go back today and re-do my 2006 list, I would have Beirut's Gulag Orkestar as 1 or 2. I'm not sure if it was Jeremy Barnes's (of Neutral Milk Hotel) assistance on Zach Condon's horn arrangement that did it, but that album really reached me somehow. Well, I heard the new album was coming and was pretty wet with anticipation. Zach and the full band that he's now sporting didn't disappoint. This album has been a constant in the rotation. It's one of those bands that I think if you've ever been a fan of Neutral Milk Hotel or are into a variety of instruments, specifially horns and the accordion, than you'd really really love Beirut.

Highlights - Nantes, A Sunday Smile, The Penalty, Cherbourg

#6 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga


Oh Spoon. How I have loved thee for so long, let me count the ways... I have been with Spoon from the get-go as my brother got "Telephono" from a friend and didn't enjoy it. I loved it then and their evolution from punk to being one of the number 1 indie bands in the country has certainly been a spectacle to watch. It took me a year and a half to find "Girls Can Tell" in Clemson, SC. Now I see Spoon on Austin City Limits. There's never a bad song on a Spoon CD I've decided and you can really tell they're still growing as a band as this album has a lot more horn experimentation in it. For years, Spoon was always a guitar heavy band and the more they explore, the better they get. And that's the sign of a great band. Plus, Britt Daniel has the coolest name in the world. Britt? Brett? Britt? Britt? Yeah, Britt.

Highlights - Rhthm and Soul, The Underdog, You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb

#5 The New Pornographers - Challengers


Let me comment on the cover art first. Apparently, it is a Neko Case creation and for some reason, the art reminds me of Donnie Darko. I think it might be the arrow pointing from the dude.

I'll never understand how these supergroups can do it. Bejar is busy with Destroyer and Swan Lake, Carl Newman got married and released an incredible solo album, Neko Case is always on tour and has a huge solo career. And yet, they still come together and make great album after great album. I was really worried that this was going to be the start of their downfall. That they were all becoming such huge solo artists that they wouldn't be able to keep doing it, but I'm starting to think their solo careers are what makes them work. No one is ever after the limelight. They have the limelight already, so they share the work evenly. It's evident on every album when you get a few Bejar songs (Myriad Harbour, Entering White Cecelia), a few Neko songs (Challengers, Go Places), and a few Carl songs (My Rights Versus Yours, All The Things That Go To Make Heaven and Earth). And then you still have some collaboration songs (Mutiny, I Promise You, Adventures in Solitude, and Unguided). I really don't know how anyone cannot like the New Pornographers. There's something for everyone.

Highlights - Myriad Harbour, My Rights Versus Yours, Adventures in Solitude, Unguided, Challengers

#4 The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible


I MUST see this band live. If you can, check the guide on your cable b/c they were on Austin City Limits on PBS a few weeks ago and it might have been the best ACL I've seen. So much energy. So incredible. Great commentary on religion and the war and life in general. I've attached a video of them playing 'Keep the Car Running'. Might illustrate my point better than words.



Highlights - Antichrist Television Blues, Keep the Car Running, Black Mirror, Neon Bible, Intervention

#3 The Shins - Wincing the Night Away


I almost forgot about the Shins new album when I was compiling this list b/c it was released in January and I believe I had it at the end of 2006. Either way, I would have to say that I do not like it as much as Oh, Inverted World and yet it is still #3 on my list this year. What does that tell you about my love for the Shins? There's some real gems on this album and I think seeing them live and seeing them play 'Breathe' by Pink Floyd made my love for them increase exponentially. They've become pretty popular as of late so I'm sure that this isn't a real shocker and I'm sure the majority of people that would read this has it, but I couldn't avoid putting it on here.

Highlights - Australia, Sea Legs, Phantom Limb, Turn On Me, and Girl Sailor

#2 Lymbyc Systym - Love Your Abuser


A random visit to The Boot with Christine yielded this unbelievable gem. After having seen them twice live this year and getting the vinyl first, the CD doesn't have the same effect as it could have. However, it does bring over the energy of their live show, which is one of the best I've seen.

You should be warned that this is an instrumental record. A lot like Caribou sans the lyrics, it really is a great mood album. A great wake up in the morning record as the chimes at the beginning of Rest Easy/Age Kindly are a very kind alarm clock. My favorite track is by far 'Birds' and that's mainly b/c of the live show. Mike wails on the drums and is coordinating 3 or 4 instruments at once and I found that fascinating. If you ever see them playing at the Boot, call me. We'll go. You can experience it yourself.

Highlights - Birds, Love Your Abuser, Truth Skull

#1 Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala


Call it the Year of the Swede. Tough Alliance, Lucky Soul, and now Jens Lekman. So many Swedes, so little time.

Unfortunately, Jens got rid of his MySpace page, so I linked the album art to his main website.

Jens is great. Jens is Swedish pop. Jens has the best lyrics in the world. He had an EP based on Rocky Dennis from Mask. He also has a song about having to pretend he was marrying his lesbian friend to her parents so she can stay in her lesbian relationship. And he has a song about cutting off his finger while cutting up an avocado. I cannot make this stuff up, people. Within a week of getting this album, I knew it was going to be #1 and that should tell you something. This is a must for everyone's music library so get off your ass, turn off your most recent 'Greatest Hits' purchase, and go get something great. And that's all I have to say about thaaaat. Sorry, I watched Forrest Gump this afternoon.

Well, that's the end of the album countdown, folks. Remember, if you get a chance, type your Top 5 or 10 in the Comments section. I'd love to hear from you, friend or stranger. Everyone have a great week and I'll be getting to the Top 40 songs sooner rather than later. Love you all.

- Brad