- Christopher Bahn
- Andy Battaglia
- Aaron Burgess
- Andrew Earles
- Scott Gordon
- Marc Hawthorne
- Jason Heller
- Steven Hyden
- Trevor Kelley
- Genevieve Koski
- Gregg Lagambina
- Michaelangelo Matos
- Chris Mincher
- Josh Modell
- Noel Murray
- Sean O'Neal
- Keith Phipps
- Nathan Rabin
- Kyle Ryan
JOSH MODELL
1. The National, Boxer (15)
Based on the success of 2005's Alligator, The National might have been tempted to make a disc full of more upbeat rockers, something to draw an even bigger crowd. But Boxer is beautifully muted and understated, drawing its intensity from slow burn. "Fake Empire" and "Start A War" are still absolutely crushing, though, and they're the centerpieces of an album that plays like an album. It feels like an agitated rainy night ("Apartment Story") giving way to a hopeful rainy morning (the magnificent "Gospel"). No 2007 disc was as perfectly consistent in its vision.
2. Arcade Fire, Neon Bible (13)
The biggest little band in indie-rock (both in sheer numbers and in friends-with-Bruce-Springsteen status), Arcade Fire went from unknown to ubiquitous with Funeral, then used its newfound fame to explore Big Issues on album number two. That shouldn't have worked, but Neon Bible bites off exactly as much as it can chew, tackling religion with fierce humor ("Antichrist Television Blues," "Intervention"), but never forgetting that its music is ultimately about celebration ("No Cars Go"). Unabashedly earnest and unironic in a world (and scene) that devalues those traits, Neon Bible is a huge rock album built to endure. Never mind the sophomore slump—it's the next one that will find it hard to raise to this bar.
3. Bloc Party, A Weekend In The City (12)
4. Low, Drums And Guns (12)
Low may have been attempting to smash perceptions about a genre it essentially created—"slowcore"—with 2005's The Great Destroyer, and though it was a huge step, the transformation wasn't complete until Drums And Guns. A scary, lustily engaged set of songs, it's violent ("Murderer," "Pretty People," "Breaker") one minute and beautifully sweeping the next (the electronics-assisted "Belarus"). It's also nothing short of a complete recreation for a band that could've gone slow and steady forever.
5. Radiohead, In Rainbows (12)
6. Neil Young, Live At Massey Hall 1971 (11)
Depending on which side of Neil Young you're prone to embrace—acoustic or Crazy Horse-d—Live At Massey Hall 1971 will seem like either the Holy Grail or just another acoustic boot. For those wanting the rock, a live CH disc came out this year, too, but this solo set captures Young at the absolute pinnacle of his songwriting and performing powers, playing several songs that would end up on Harvest the following year. It's the perfect point of entry for those who've never experienced the chill-giving sparseness just his guitar and voice provide.
7. Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (7)
8. Editors, An End Has A Start (5)
"An End Has A Start" by Editors
Hello, I am miles and miles better than the Interpol record that came out this year, so please stop giving me a hard time.
9. Band Of Horses, Cease To Begin (3)
10. Les Savy Fav, Let's Stay Friends (3)
EXCELLENT SONGS FROM ALBUMS THAT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE THE LIST
!!!, "Must Be The Moon"
Maximo Park, "Girls Who Play Guitars"
"Girls Who Play Guitar" by Maximo Park
Yeasayer, "Red Cave"
Arctic Monkeys, "Brianstorm"
Sigur Ros, "Vaka (acoustic)"
Illinois, "Alone Again"
Vic Chesnutt, "You Are Never Alone"
Los Campesinos, "Frontwards"
Kanye West, "Can't Tell Me Nothing"
Of Montreal, "Suffer For Fashion"
"Suffer For Fashion" by Of Montreal
Figurines, "Good Old Friends"
LCD, "North American Scum"
Bishop Allen, "Click Click Click Click"
"Click Click Click Click" by Bishop Allen
Art Brut, "Post Soothing Out"
The Shins, "Phantom Limb"
Iron And Wine, "Lovesong Of The Buzzard"
Interpol, "The Heinrich Maneuver"
The White Stripes, "Little Cream Soda"
Black Moth Super Rainbow, "Forever Heavy"
THE COMEDY ALBUM THAT WOULD'VE MADE THE BIG LIST IF WE ALLOWED COMEDY ALBUMS
Patton Oswalt's Werewolves And Lollipops actually made lots of our year-end lists, but since this is best-of music, we had to disqualify it. But that shouldn't stop you from buying it, because it's fall-down hilarious. While you're in the comedy section, check out the stand-up compilation Comedy Death-Ray; Patton's on there, too, along with David Cross, Maria Bamford, Neil Hamburger, The Office's Mindy Kaling, and lots more.
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