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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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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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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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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It’s time for Late Night Wallflower’s year end wrap ups! First up, our official “all things Philly” representative and lord of the dance floor, Leah Pavlik.

Top ten lists are always a little difficult for me since I have the memory span of a mentally challenged goldfish. This usually results in my end-of-year lists being suspiciously heavy on albums that came out in the past month or so. Instead of doing a top ten list, these are the albums that I just really, really liked this year. There’s probably better albums, or more groundbreaking albums that came out in 2007, but hey – if they don’t stick in your mind enough to remember them, who cares? Minus five scene points for me, I suppose.

Best Summer Album
There is a tie between Against Me!‘s New Wave and Minus the Bear‘s Planet of Ice. I basically listened to New Wave on a continuous stream all summer long, with short breaks where I cheated on it with Planet of Ice.

Best Surprise
I bought Crime In Stereo‘s Is Dead on a whim when it came out in October, not really expecting much. It’s since become a definite favorite for the year, and “…but You Are Vast” gets my nomination for best song. Seriously, even if you think Crime in Stereo took a turn for the worse with this LP, you gotta admit how great that song is.

Keep reading more of Leah’s picks after the jump.

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