Favorite Albums This Year:
• Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
No earthshattering innovation here, just more solid work from Spoon.
• The New Pornographers - Challengers
It sounds like band member A.C. Nielsen took the reigns on this one. The canadian supergroup delivered their best work to date.
• The National - Boxer
Was also Paste Magazine's album of the year. The first half of the album is absolutely amazing. Second half is just solid. But it's a great album, nonetheless.
• The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Seeing them perform the songs live on Austin City Limits only made me love the album more. It's not as good as Funeral, but how many masterpieces do you get. Funeral is in the running for album of the decade.

Most Disappointing:
• Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
I saw this on a couple of best of lists. Maybe I just didn't give it enough time, but my musical attention span is pretty short these days with the amount of listens something gets before I decide to pass on it is down to 1 or 2.
• Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War
I think this one was just too slow for me. I also saw it on some best of the year lists. May have to dig it out again.
• Crowded House - Time on Earth
You'd think the reformation of one of the 80's best bands would be cause for celebration. It was a decent album, but not nearly as good as Neil Finn's solo albums. It's not bad. It's just not great.

Honorable Mention:
• The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
I discovered this one early in 2007, but it actually came out in 2006. If you don't have it, go buy it now. It's one of those classic albums that will stand the test of time. So on a technicality, this one is not in my Top 5 for 2007.

The Best Songs of 2007: