Best of 2007

Because I'm too lazy to do a separate, more comprehensive Best of 2007 list (and because the year kinda sucked), I'll just reprint my list that was printed in today's Boston Herald, which includes all releases: CDs, DVDs, videos, commercials, whatever. Anything music-related that was "released."

1. Bat For Lashes, video for "What’s a Girl to Do"
Donnie Darko on a bicycle, set to the spookiest single of ’07.
2. Editors, "An End Has a Start" (Epic/Fader)
On this album, a band breaks away from its idols in a meteor shower of sonic haze.
3. Jupiter One, "Countdown" (Cordless/WMG)
Space rock ascends to dizzying heights in this New York band’s single.
4. Wonderful Spells, "The Prophecy of Smarmulous Rex" (self-released)
A sterling EP debut from Boston’s new melody makers.
5. Justice, video/single for "D.A.N.C.E." (Ed Banger/Vice)
Neon T-shirts flash along in this video to one of the year’s best dance singles.
6. A Place to Bury Strangers, "A Place to Bury Strangers" (Killer Pimp/Vacancy)
Avalanches of piercing noise cradle this CD’s infectious pop melodies.
7. "Control" (Rhino)
A movie soundtrack reminder of how music used to be, even with the Killers involved.
8. Feist’s "1234" iPod ad
At 20 seconds, the song’s irresistible; at three minutes, a bit overdone.
9. Okkervil River, "The Stage Names" (Jagjaguwar)
Underrated band making its way to a mainstream breakthrough.
10. "The Brit Box: UK Indie, Shoegaze, and Brit-Pop Gems of the Last Millennium" (Rhino).
A concise four-CD history lesson.

Other releases I’ve enjoyed: The Information’s “Natural Language” EP*, Emergency Music’s “You’ll Be the Death of Us All, Honey”*, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s “Baby 81,” Kaiser Chiefs’ “Yours Truly Angry Mob,” the entire Bat for Lashes album, the Blakes EP, and other stuff I’m clearly forgetting. Thank God I didn’t hear that Miley Cyrus song until now. (*: Deemed too close to the pill circle to be included in my published "best of")