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2007 Year in Review V: The Albums (part 3)
I hope you are all having a wonderful 2008 so far, we return with the countdown of my favorite albums from last year...

60. Wooden Shjips - Wooden Shjips (Holy Mountain)
San Francisco band renews the hippie vibe on this outstanding debut, giving us a unique combination of garage rock snarl and psychedelic swirl.
Recommended tracks: "Blue Sky Bends", "We Ask You To Ride"

59. The 1900s - Cold & Kind (Parasol)
One of my favorite Chicago bands of the past year, the 1900s give us a full-length chock full of male/female harmonies and breezy pop in the vein of Belle & Sebastian (but less twee).
Recommended tracks: "When I Say Go", "Cold & Kind"

58. Dalek - Abandoned Language (Ipecac)
Another stellar album of dark, damaged, and delirious hip-hop from this groundbreaking trio. Definitely not for those that think Soulja Boy is the epitome of good hip-hop.
Recommended tracks: "Paragraphs Relentless", "Corrupt (Knuckle Up)"

57. The Early Years - The Early Years (Beggar's Banquet)
A little bit of Spritualized's drug-inspired dizziness, some of Mogwai's epic build-ups, with a hint of Kraftwerk's motorik groove. An exciting debut.
Recommended tracks: "Brown Hearts", "Song For Elizabeth"

56. Pig Destroyer - Phantom Limb (Relapse)
Quite simply one of the most aggressive and unrelenting discs I heard all year, brings to mind the unforgiving debut of Slayer. But some fantastic lyrics underneath it all as well.
Recommended tracks: "Deathtripper", "Girl in the Slayer Jacket"

55. Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice (Suicide Squeeze)
A pleasant new discovery for me in 2007, the third album from Seattle's Minus the Bear perfectly captures the essence of its' title. Stark, icy, angular, yet beautiful indie rock.
Recommended tracks: "Knight", "White Mystery"

54. Love of Diagrams - Mosaic (Matador)
Surprised I didn't hear more about this Australian band last year, this is a fantastic patch on the nostalgic post-punk flashback other bands have tried recently.
Recommended tracks: "Pace or the Patience", "Trouble"

53. Gui Boratto - Chromophobia (Kompakt)
Chalk up another hit for Germany's Kompakt. Boratto flits and flashes through ambient chill tracks as well as surefire floor fillers.
Recommended tracks: "Beautiful Life", "Terminal"

52. M.I.A. - Kala (Interscope)
While not as immediately captivating as her debut, M.I.A. returns with another international banga filled with global rhythms and blitzkrieg beats.
Recommended tracks: "Jimmy", "Paper Planes"

51. Between the Buried and Me - Colors (Victory)
Progressive, technical, schizophrenic. Another winner from one of the most forward-thinking metal bands working today.
Recommended tracks: "Ants of the Sky", "White Walls"

50. Interpol - Our Love To Admire (Capitol)
This one took a little while to grow on me, but one of those albums I'm glad I put the effort into. Not quite as breathtaking as the debut, but much more atmospheric and soaring than the last one.
Recommended tracks: "Mammoth", "Rest My Chemistry"

49. Mannequin Men - Fresh Rot (Flameshovel)
A blast of reckless burst of energy that reminds you just how much fun rock music can be when there's that hint of danger lurking around the corner.
Recommended tracks: "We Are Invisible", "Dead Kids"

48. Against Me! - New Wave (Sire)
The best mainstream punk album I've heard in quite some time, the perfect mix of politics, passion, and pop hooks.
Recommended tracks: "Thrash Unreal", "White People For Peace"

47. Band of Horses - Cease To Begin (Sub Pop)
These guys follow up their promising debut with another stellar disc of aching and yearning tunes. My only complaint is that its so short.
Recommended tracks: "Is There A Ghost", "Detlef Schrempf"

46. Fields - Everything Last Winter (Atlantic)
Another surprising find for me in 2007, this London band gives us a most captivating blend of rock, pop, and folk.
Recommended tracks: "Charming the Flames", "You Brought This On Yourself"

45. The Noisettes - What's the Time, Mr. Wolf? (UMVD)
Spunky and spastic pop from this energetic trio featuring the unbelievable voice of Ms. Shingai Shoniwa, who has one of the greatest squeals this side of Karen O.
Recommended tracks: "Sister Rosetta (Capture the Spirit)", "Don't Give Up"

44. Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's The Cool (Atlantic)
My favorite rookie of '06 returns with an album that very nearly tops his stellar debut in every way. His flow is impeccable this time out and the production is outstanding.
Recommended tracks: "Go Go Gadget Flow", "Little Weapon"

43. The National - Boxer (Beggar's Banquet)
A much more subdued effort than the excellent Alligator, Boxer finds The National engaging in the post-party comedown. Call it their drunken lullaby album.
Recommended tracks: "Mistaken For Strangers", "Squalor Victoria"

42. Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures (Warp)
For some reason this failed to generate the same kind of buzz their debut did, but I'm at a loss to explain why. Another batch of wiry, intelligent pop songs from this Newcastle bunch.
Recommended tracks: "Our Velocity", "The Unshockable"

41. The Field - From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt)
Dreamy, droning ambient electronica carefully crafted from tiny snatches and samples. The best Lionel Richie sample of '07.
Recommended tracks: "A Paw in My Face", "Sun & Ice"