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.

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Tags: Best of 2007, best of, staff by Matthew
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Our resident picture taking superstar Jason Bergman is up next with his picks for the ‘07

1. LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver (DFA)
From the opening space-age drum blips to the final piano part featuring James Murphy crooning about New York City, Sound of Silver is simply perfect. My favorite track seems to change each week, but whether its political and cultural criticism (“North American Scum”) or the revelation that your life and everything in it may not be what you thought it was (“All My Friends”), Murphy and the DFA crew get it right. Memorable lyrics, unbelievably understated funky music, an emotional weight not seen in any other music in this genre, and even a few sing-alongs here and there were more enough to keep me coming back week after week to this album.

2. Crime in Stereo Is Dead (Bridge 9)
Punk rock with sincere emotion. No silly song titles or lyrics that sound like a joke. Crime In Stereo have finally made the album where all their talent finally comes together with songs that just ooze pure, raw passion, even if they left the break-neck guitar solos at home on this effort. Although a track like “Unfortunate Tourist” doesn’t musically fit on the album, I can’t help but listen to the lyrics and think, “Yeah, that sounds about right.” Sure, it sounds like the hung out in a basement, did lots of drugs and rocked out to Deja Entendu a lot, but hey, they’re from Long Island, what else is there to do?

Keep reading for more of Jason’s picks.

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Tags: Best of 2007, best of, staff by Jason
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Few more to go, staff-wise atleast. Let’s focus the spotlight on our resident bearded columnist and official Myspace whore, Constantine Koutsoutis aka Costa.

2007 was the year of whiskey. Well, that and some really good new music; the best of which I’m listing right here. So while the year is still viable, read what I tell you and go buy. NOW!

1. The Unlovables - Heartsickle
What can I say? I love sugar-soaked pop punk with girl vocals. This album is fast, fun, and capable of making you dance all crazy-like almost without trying. Before you know it, you’ve got some Chucks on your feet and a Screeching Weasel shirt on, screaming along to boss tuneage like “Everything’s Overrated. ” Plus, Mikey Erg is in the band! (Whoa Oh)

2. Sundowner - Four One Five Two
Everyone knows this is Chris from The Lawrence Arms’ solo acoustic project. And yeah, I’m sure everyone got tired of solo folk-punk this year. God knows I did at one point. Sundowner’s debut record is nothing like that. Instead, it put me into a cycle of listening to Chris sing about love, loss, literature, with more a unique sound. Despite not getting the notice of other Larry Arms side project The Falcon, this album was a million times better. (Red Scare)

Keep reading on for more of Costa’s picks.

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Tags: Best of 2007, best of, staff by Costa
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In regards to our next staff writer, I dare you to say that Wilco’s last album sucked. I triple dog dare you. Here’s what Kerri Fortune thought of 2007’s musical landscape.

I’m not going to do a “best of ” list because I’ve been rediscovering old artists this year and slacking on listening to new albums.

Anyways, here are some that I thought were jolly good fun. I’ll slap myself silly later for forgetting some.

In Rainbows- Radiohead
Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
The Favourite Game - Uppertiers
Ra Ra Riot [EP]- Ra Ra Riot
Kala - M.I.A.
Along the Quai - The Berg Sans Nipple
Hysterics - Hysterics
Volta - Bjork
Parades- Efterklang
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon
23 - Blonde Redhead
Population - The Most Serene Republic
8 Diagrams - Wu-Tang Clan
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
Hvarf/Heim - Sigur Ros
It’s a Bit Complicated - Art Brut
Challengers - The New Pornographers
S/T - LSD and the Search for God
Boxer- The National
100 Days, 100 Nights- Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Keep reading Kerri’s thoughts after the jump.

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Tags: Best of 2007, best of, staff by Kerri
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Next up, our trusty site maintainer and official Patton Oswalt correspondent, Bill Shouldis.

BEST ALBUMS, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER

The Good Life - Help Wanted Nights (Saddle Creek)
Against Me! - New Wave (Sire)
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (Epic)
LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver (DFA)
Chuck Ragan - Feast or Famine (Side One Dummy)
Lifetime - S/T (Decaydance)
Baroness - The Red Album (Relapse)
Les Savy Fav - Let’s Stay Friends (Frenchkiss)
Elliott Smith - New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)
Minus The Bear - Planet Of Ice (Suicide Squeeze)

Keep reading Bill’s picks after the jump.

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Tags: Best of 2007, best of, staff by bill
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