Best alternative CDs of 2007


We are one week into 2008 and I must be bored.

Haven't bought one good new disc released in 2008 (sorry In Rainbows was officially released in 2007). So, I thought I would share my favorite list (in no real order... although top 5 probably reflect amount of play they received on my stereo, iPod, and iPhone.

1) Animal Collective: Strawberry Jam
2) Spoon: GA GA GA GA GA
3) Panda Bear: Person Pitch
4) Beirut: The Flying Club Cup
5) Radiohead: In Rainbows
6) Okkervil RIver: Stage Names
7) MENOMENA: Friend or Foe
8) LCD soundsystem: Sound Of Silver
9) White Stripes: Icky Thump
10) Andrew Bird: Armchair Apocrypha
11) PJ Harvey: White Chalk
12) Iron & Wine: Shepherd's Dog
13) Carbiou: Andorra
14) St. Vincent: Marry Me
15) The field: From Here We Go Sublime
16) The National: Boxer
17) Battles: Mirrored
18) Deerhunter: Cryptograms
19) Deerhoof: Friend Opportunity
20) Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer
21) Dirty Projectors: Rise Above
22) White Williams: Smoke
23) Scout Niblett: This Fool Can Die Now (with Bonnie "prince" billy)
24: Nina Nastasia & Jim White: You Follow Me
25) The Besnard Lakes: The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse
26) Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
27) Sigur Ros: Hvarf/Heim

Didn't put any Ryan Adams on the list, but Easy Tiger was good

Disappointments of 2007 (I really like these artists, but couldn't get into these CDs in a big way): New Pornographers, Rilo Kiley, Bloc Party, Devendra Banhart, Interpol, Bright Eyes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Modest Mouse, Lucinda Williams, Shins, MIA, Band of Horse, WIlco ... (Don't Flame me as some of these are not that bad... I mean some have a decent track or two, but I didn't think these CDs were up to these artist's potential... PERHAPS I'M BUYING TOO MUCH MUSIC).
thom_y
I have to say I respectfully disagree with some of your big dissapointments.
Thom have you heard Phosphorescent? Their newer album Pride is great but their masterpiece from a few years ago is titled Aw Come Aw Wry. Imagine Neutral Milk Hotel on valium. I like that album by The Field a lot. Some electronic stuff in that vein but more minimal and dark...Gas-Pop, Gas-Zauberburg, Basic Channel-Basic Channel & Yagya-Will I Dream During The Process?
I do like the Band Of Horses and New Pornographers releases but agree whole-heartedly on Rilo Kiley. They just peaked with Execution Of All Things and went downhill from there.
Thom,

I tried to like Arcade Fire after hearing "Antichrist Television Blues" on the radio. That is an incredible song, but I haven't really gotten into the rest of the album....

Jim,

I take it you were referring to 97X? Do you listen to WNKU 89.7 now? It's mostly singer/songwriter and acoustic rock/folk and NPR news, but its the only game in town at this point. If you want to try some of the bands mentioned, check out Pandora. It's a pretty cool internet radio setup that's called the Music Genome Project. You build a "radio station" based on a favorite artist and Pandora plays music by the artist and similar artist based on the attributes of the chosen artist's musical attributes. Kinda cool......

Enjoy,

TIC
Pandora is very cool. How do the pay the royalties? Do they hit you up for a subscription?

Jim S.