Top 25 Songs Released In 2007

25. Maritime - Guns Of Navarone
24. Jackie Carol - Hospital
23. Illinois - Alone Again
22. Of Montreal - She's A Rejector
21. Spoon - Finer Feelings
20. The Shins - Girl Sailor
19. The New Pornographers - My Rights Versus Yours
18. Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight
17. Radiohead - All I Need
16. Modest Mouse - March Into The Sea
15. Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
14. Jimmy Eat World - Let It Happen
13. Spoon - You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
12. Of Montreal - We Were Born The Mutants Again With Leafling
11. The Good Life - So Let Go
10. The Arcade Fire - Black Wave / Bad Vibrations
9. The Good Life - Rest Your Head
8. Deerhunter - Spring Hall Convert
7. Spoon - Black Like Me
6. Of Montreal - The Past Is A Grotesque Animal
5. Okkvervil River - Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe
4. LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great
3. LCD Soundsystem - All Of My Friends
2. Lifetime - Just A Quiet Evening
1. Modest Mouse - Spitting Venom

Top Five Concert Experiences Of 2007

The only ground rule was that only proper shows, as opposed to festival performances, were eligible. I would be remiss if I failed to mention two bands who failed to make the list: live performances by the Wrens (ineligible because I saw them at the BAM festival in Roscoe Village) and Okkervil River (who suffered from an atypically large venue and somewhat predictable set list) continue to be among the most thrilling experiences of my life.

5. The Long Winters & The Bound Stems @ The Double Door - 3/24/07
4. Superdrag @ The Metro 10/13/07
3. Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band @ The Beat Kitchen - 2/2/07
2. The New Pornographers @ The Metro - 10/19/07
1. Lifetime @ Subterranean - 4/22/07

Honorable Mention: Okkervil River @ Logan Square Auditorium - 9/18/07, Modest Mouse @ The Orpheum Theater (Madison) - 11/10/07, Kevin Drew @ The Metro - 11/3/07, The Hold Steady & Art Brut @ The Metro - 10/29/07.

Top 25 Songs for November

25. Maritime - With Holes For Thumbsized Birds
24. Stars - Take Me To The Riot
23. Common - Driving Me Wild
22. Maritime - Love Has Given Up
21. Common - Start The Show
20. The Replacements - Androgynous
19. Stars - Window Bird
18. Maritime - Hours That You Keep
17. Matt Pond PA - Basement Parties
16. Stars - The Night Starts Here
15. Stars - Midnight Coward
14. Stars - Life 2: Unhappy Ending
13. Maritime - Pearl
12. Stars - Personal
11. The Weakerthans - Virtue The Cat Explains Her Departure
10. Common - Forever Begins
9. The Replacements - We're Coming Out
8. Sunset Rubdown - The Mending Of The Gown
7. Matt Pond PA - Giving It All Away
6. The Replacements - I Will Dare
5. The Weakerthans - Sun In An Empty Room
4. Maritime - Guns Of Navarone
3. The Replacements - Seen Your Video
2. The Replacements - Unsatisfied
1. The Replacements - Answering Machine