Photo by Tim Owen

2007 has been a huge year for all of us here at Late Night Wallflower. You are reading this so I won’t bore you with longwinded, high falootin’ paragraphs of how proud I am of this site. I just want to say thank you. So, thank you for reading and keep on coming back in ‘08.

I tired of debating over it all, so here goes nothing, my favorite music, among other things about 2007.

BEST ALBUMS
1. Cloak/Dagger - We Are (Jade Tree)
I debated. I debated while eating chips or while on the PATH. Then, I debated some more. After a while, it became pretty clear to me. This was THE album of 2007 to me. We Are could safely be placed among Modern Life Is War’s Witness and Paint It Black’s Paradise as recent scene time bombs that grabbed hardcore by the balls. I have listened to it well over fifty times, and that ain’t gonna stop anytime soon. An insanely refreshing and undeniably crucial record.

2. Chuck Ragan - Feast or Famine (Side One Dummy)
Try something. Get a bunch of your friends together, get drunk on some PBR or your cheap beverage of choice (I prefer Yuengling), and talk about life. When the record is over, put the needle back down on track one and if you are not screaming along to every word by then, I’m afraid you may not have a soul. Sorry.

3. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (Merge)
Yeah, the first time I listened to it I thought it was inferior to Funeral. With further evaluations, I was convinced I had shit for brains. The album is just everything that made that first full-length great, times five.

Read more of my picks after the jump.

4. Against Me! - New Wave (Sire)
Much more well-rounded and developed than Clarity, the boys have found their niche. The naysayers will always be there, waggin’ their fingers, but I think the band continues to succeed on their quest of making it ok for band to be edgy and catchy at the same time.

5. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (DFA)
For some reason, I always assumed LCD Soundsystem sucked and that James Murphy was some coked-up Brooklynite who made bad disco punk. Shame on me, for sure. “Someone Great” and “All My Friends” were the two best songs sequenced back-to-back on wax all year long. Hands down. Catchy, dancy and very addictive.

6. Underground Railroad To Candyland - Bird Roughs (Recess)
A late entry into the fight, but no doubt some of the best music I heard this year. This is pop punk at 3 A.M., stripped down, whiskey drunk and crazed.

7. Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil (Vice)
The Black Lips are dangerous, dirty, and have enough hooks to knock out a heavyweight boxer. I think I need a cigarette after all the debauchery on this album….and I don’t even smoke!

8. Young Livers - The New Drop Era (No Idea)
After hearing their three song demo a year ago, I knew this band had greatness in them. The band’s first full-length confirmed my beliefs.

9. Les Savy Fav - Let’s Stay Friends (French Kiss)
Tim Harrington is one of the best frontmen in the game. ‘Enough said. The man’s charisma totally shines through on the band’s latest longplayer. Put on the second track, “The Equestrian,” and you’ll want to break windows, maybe throw some fruit, and probably change your wardrobe at least six times.

10. Bad Religion - New Maps Of Hell (Epitaph)
The best Bad Religion album since they rejoined Epitaph and their strongest since Stranger Than Fiction.

Honorable Mentions
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (Island)
Coliseum - No Salvation (Relapse)
Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond (Fat Possum)
Dustheads - Collected Sounds (Don Giovanni)
The Good Life - Help Wanted Nights (Saddle Creek)
Jesu - Conqueror (Hydra Head)
Lifetime - S/T (Decaydance)
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (Epic)
The New Dress - Where Our Failures Are (Red Leader)
The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters (Fat Cat)
Explosions In The Sky - All The Sudden I Miss Everyone (Temporary Residence)

BEST SINGLES
The Arrivals “I’m Sorry For Saying I’m Sorry”
Art Brut “Direct Hit”
Carbon/Silicon “The News”
Feist - “1 2 3 4″
Gallows - “In The Belly Of A Shark”
Handsome Furs - “Handsome Furs Hate This City”
LCD Soundsystem - “ All My Friends”
Les Savy Fav - “The Equestrian”
Pissed Jeans - “I Still Got You (Ice Cream)”
Black Lips “ Bad Kids”
Spoon - “The Underdog”
The Ergs - “Bike Shoppe”
The Measure [SA] “Union Pool”
Arcade Fire - “The Well And The Lighthouse”
Battles - “Atlas”
Against Me! “Thrash Unreal”

BEST 45s
Bridge and Tunnel - S/T (No Idea)
Government Warning -Arrested (Grave Mistake)
The Measure [SA]/Modern Machines - Split (Salinas)
Off With Their Heads/Blotto - Split (1-2-3-4 Go!)
Off With Their Heads/Dear Landlord - Split (1-2-3-4 Go!)
Chinese Telephones/Dear Landlord - Split (It’s Alive/Recess)
The Ergs/Grabass Charlestons - Split (No Idea)

The best record I kinda felt mixed about after a few early listens but now think is pretty damn good after all.
The Ergs - Upstairs/Downstairs (Dirtnap)
At first I only liked about half the record. I think I’m officially convinced it’s a great record, through and through. Sorry about the somewhat negative review dudes.

The best album from 2007 I haven’t listened to yet
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Yeah yeah, I’m sure it’s amazing. I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Sue me.

The biggest “what the fuck is the big deal” band of 2007
Justice
Seriously, if I hear that god damn “D.A.N.C.E” song, I’m gonna end lives and cut shins.

Best Concert
TIE-Fest VI Weekend and Boredoms’ Boredrums77
I’m not gonna waste my/your time and explain why the Fest VI was one my favorite concerts of the year (even though it was more like 33 performances over three days) so just read all about that here. Instead, I will say that Boredoms’ Boredrums 77 was one of the most awe-inspiring concerts I have ever witnessed. Everyone that was in attendance knew that this was something special. Hundreds were turned away, and forced to view from the Brooklyn Bridge at the ground below them, as 77 drummers worked as an orchestra. I can’t wait to see what they do on 8/8/08.
Most Anticipated Things About 2008

As in every year, a new Dillinger Four record. I feel the need to create a “most anticipated” column just for them. So there. I’m sure I’ll have it up again next year. Also, new records from Paint It Black, Off With Their Heads, Billy Bragg and The Measure [SA] will kick ass. And of course, The Dark Knight movie will most likely own fan boy ass.

Tags: Best of 2007, best of, staff //