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2007 Year in Review II: The Various and Sundry
This is the catch-all category that covers live albums, label compilations, soundtracks, reissues - basically whatever doesn't fit under the category of single, album, or EP. Below are what I consider to be the twenty finest of such from the past year. Click on the links to buy them for yourself.

1. Daft Punk - Alive 2007 (Virgin)
Was there really any doubt? A nearly perfect document of the most amazing live experience of the year. I'll never be able to completely recapture the feeling of watching the robotic duo rhythmically enslave us all from their perch in the pyramid, but this comes damn close.

2. Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall 1971 (Reprise)
A truly remarkable live document of Neil at the height of his first classic era. Essential for any diehard fan, but also a pretty decent introduction for the newbie (if only to understand what made the rest of us the diehards).

3. Sly and the Family Stone - The Collection (box set) (Sony)
A beautifully packaged box that contains the first seven classic albums from these R&B/funk superstars. Mandatory listening for anyone with even the most passing interest in music that makes you shake your ass off.

4. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (collector's edition) (Rhino)
These boys' albums were due for a solid remastering job and they finally received it. Their first, and arguably best, album benefited greatly. The live bonus disc may be a slight disappointment to longtime fans already hoarding their releases, but you just cannot argue with how great the album sounds.

5. Elliott Smith - New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)
A posthumous double disc set that finally pushed me off the fence and into full-fledged fandom. I figured shit, if this guy has outtakes this good, I really need to check out the rest of his stuff. Fantastic stuff all around.

6. Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation (deluxe edition) (Geffen)
This choice may be colored slightly by getting to watch them perform this album live back in July, but I really can't argue with a fantastic package containing one of my all-time favorite albums.

7. Various Artists - The Brit Box: U.K. Indie, Shoegaze, and Brit-Pop Gems of the Last Millennium (Rhino)
The title pretty much sums it up, a fantastic four-disc summation of some of the greatest music the Brits gave us throughout the '90s. The obvious culprits are here (My Bloody Valentine, Oasis, Pulp, Blur), but its the lesser known bands (Cast, Swervedriver, The Wonder Stuff, The Trash Can Sinatras) that make this such a joy to listen to.

8. Joy Division - Closer (collector's edition) (Rhino)
It was a good year for Joy Division and a great year for us fans, getting all these reissues and new live tracks to get lost in.

9. Various Artists - Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration (Stax)
If you already know what Stax is, you already know how incredible these songs are. If you don't, you need to order this thing immediately. Isaac Hayes, Booker T, Otis Redding - need I mention more?

10. Boris w/ Merzbow - Rock Dream (Southern Lord)
Another incredible package design from Southern Lord, this time capturing a live collaboration from some of Japan's most innovative and forward thinking musicians working today.

11. Various Artists - I'm Not There (soundtrack) (Sony)
12. Alkaline Trio - Remains (Vagrant)
13. The Killers - Sawdust (Rarities and B-Sides 2003-2007) (Island)
14. Various Artists - Death Proof (soundtrack) (Maverick)
15. Opeth - The Roundhouse Tapes (Peaceville UK)
16. Various Artists - Ed Rec Vol. 2 (Ed Banger)
17. Superdrag - Changin' Tires on the Road to Ruin (Arena Rock)
18. J Dilla - Ruff Draft (reissue) (Stones Throw)
19. Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same (reissue) (Rhino)
20. Jaylib - Champion Sound (deluxe edition) (Stones Throw)