2007 Year-End Mix Tape

It was a great, great, great year for music.  My ravenous appetite for new tunes was matched only by the spectacular generosity of those fine pirates individuals who shared their music online and allowed little ol' me to "try it out."  On top of it all, so much of said music was freakin' awesome that I find myself faced with making my annual year-end mix-tape without being able to fit it all on one "tape."  (Ha!  Remember those?)

I could go on about a few bands, like Spoon, LCD Soundsystem, Superfamily, Kings of Leon, The National, Panda Bear, Tegan & Sara, and Dinosaur Jr., but I'm far better at plagiarizing album reviews that writing them.  Besides, music is to be listened to, not read about.  It's not like our ancestors gathered around the fire after a big hunt and danced to somebody's description of how good the latest didjeridu album was, right? 

So what's a fella to do?  Well, thumb my nose at the RIAA and pass along a little musical goodness to you in not one but TWO installments.  This year's mix tape, comprising many (although hardly all) of my favorite tunes from 2007 can be downloaded here (for part 1) and here (for part 2). 

• "None Shall Pass" - Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
• "Imitosis" - Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
• "Same Old Drag" - The Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder
• "Atlas" - Battles - Mirrored
• "Click, Click, Click, Click" - Bishop Allen - The Broken String
• "First Fantasy" - Citay - Little Kingdom
• "Almost Ready" - Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond
• "Hard Sun" - Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild
• "One Two Three Four" - Feist - The Reminder
• "Into Your Dream" - Foreign Born - On the Wing Now
• "Dictionary" - The Go Find - Stars on the Wall
• "Boy with a Coin" - Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
• "A Postcard To Nina" - Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
• "Teardrop" - José González - In Our Nature
• "Right Moves" - Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
• "Say Goodbye To Love" - Kenna - Make Sure They See My Face
• "Time To Get Away" - LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
• "Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys" - Map of Africa - Map of Africa
• "Tombstone" - Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia
• "The Bomb" - New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom
• "Gronlandic Edit" - Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
• "Unless It's Kicks" - Okkervil River - The Stage Names
• "Comfy in Nautica" - Panda Bear - Person Pitch
• "Heavenly Day" - Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
• "15 Step" - Radiohead - In Rainbows
• "Under The Blacklight" - Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
• "Lover In The Snow" - Rivers Cuomo - Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
• "You Know Me Better" - Róisín Murphy - Overpowered
• "My Punishment For Fighting" - The Rosebuds - Night of the Furies
• "Halloweenhead" - Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
• "Normandie" - Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills
• "Rhythm & Soul" - Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
• "I Could be a Real Winner" - Superfamily - Warszawa
• "Back in Your Head" - Tegan and Sara - The Con
• "Kid on My Shoulders" - White Rabbits - Fort Nightly
• "Rag & Bone" - The White Stripes - Icky Thump
• "Either Way" - Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

This certainly isn't an all-inclusive list of the best tunes of the year, but it's a nice sampling of some of my favorites.  Again, you can download part 1 here and part 2 here.  I hope you enjoy it!

Is there anything I missed?  Anyone want to suggest any gems that may have slipped through the cracks before I start looking forward to the new Cat Power and Sons & Daughters? 

Comments

[mr. big dubya]

The Rumble Strips - sort of a Housemartins sound without the political undertones

The Kooks - "You Don't Love Me" (Inside In/Inside Out)

The Klaxons - Golden Skans (also love their cover of "No Diggity")

A couple covers:

Kaiser Chiefs - "Flowers in the Rain"
Foo Fighters - "Band on the Run"
Groove Armada - "Crazy for You"
Franz Ferdinand - "Sound and Vision"

[Kathy]

I really liked Elliot Smith's cover of "Thirteen" from New Moon. Generally, I don't like posthumous collections, but I can't resist a Big Star cover.

[landismom]

What? No "Umbrella"?

(ducking)

[Oh, The Joys]

Let me be the first to say, "Hey, THANKS!!"

Best,
J

[motherbumper]

cool - I only am familiar with a few so now I got some listening to do. Thanks.

[Oh, The Joys]

...and now that I'm all downloaded and listening...

Dude. Thanks again!

[MammaLoves]

I'm so embarrassed that these are mostly unfamilar to me.

Shoot, I'm uncool even among the parentblogger set.

[Motherhood Uncensored]

Don't you have, like, a job or something?

Heh.

If only I had an iPod or whatever those things are called.

[~JJ!]

I have to say, loving music as much as I do...I have only heard some of this list. I may be somewhat embarrassed!

Great stuff.

[Aimee Greeblemonkey]

Oh The Joys sent me over, and I am loving this mix... many I am new to - and I am voracious about music as well! Thanks! Happy New Year!

[Her Bad Mother]

Awesomeness, totally.

[douglas]

I realize this is months over due, but I just had to thank you for a great selection of songs. It's the only play list I've been hearing for about 3 weeks and prompted me to buy 3 full length LPs by select bands. Excellent work.