 | Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $7.09 Arcade Fire came out of nowhere this year with one of the most underrated, unknown great albums of the year. Sounding a lot like early David Bowie, Talking Heads, and a little bit of Bruce Springsteen, this album returns alternative rock to its righteous guitar riffs and not-knowing-where-its-going tempos. See my review for more information. Favorite track: Intervention
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 | Cassadaga by Bright Eyes
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $2.12 Hes been called the next generations Bob Dylan, and while a few songs do sound like the classic folk singer, Bright Eyes leader Conor Oberst also hones Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, Tim Buckley, early Ryan Adams and Dougie MacLean with his latest masterpiece about his journey to spiritual awakening. See my review for more information. Favorite track: Classic Cars
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 | One Cell in the Sea by A Fine Frenzy
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $2.95 Alison Sudol has the beautiful voice of Sarah McLachlan and Chantal Kreviazuk, but also has the distinct songwriting to set her apart; she writes lyrics that could compete with Coldplay and Keane, and music that stirs the sounds of Philip Glass. Therell be more to come from this beautiful songstress. See my review for more information. Favorite track: Almost Lover
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 | Goodbye Blue Monday by Jeremy Fisher
Buy new: $7.98 / Used from: $0.45 Jeremy Fisher came out of Canada sounding like early Simon and Garfunkel with a cross of Tom Petty and Joshua Radin thrown in. This album is pop rock at its best; the songs are catchy and great to sing along to. See my review for more information. Favorite track: American Girls
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 | Costello Music by The Fratellis
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.97 This is the album that Jet's newest should have been -- simple guitar-driven music with lyrics that are fun! And while most musicians might want their music to grow more, record sales spoke plenty for what the fans preferred. If youre a fan of classic Oasis or Blur, then youll love this! Favorite track: Baby Fratelli
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 | Once: Music from the Motion Picture by Original Soundtrack
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $8.28 The best soundtrack of the year! Although most of the music was taken from an older album featuring Hansard and Irglova, it was fresh and new for most audiences. This soundtrack will have you singing the songs in your head for days on end. After listening to this album, youll hear their chemistry is undeniable. Favorite track: "Lies" and "Falling Slowly
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 | Lifeline by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $3.49 Just like The Killers echoed Springsteen on "Sams Town" and Arcade Fire echoed Bowie and Talking Heads on "Neon Bible," Ben Harper mustve been channeling classic Van Morrison when he and his band recorded the album "Lifeline" in just seven days. Dont be fooled by the Morrison comparison, though; this album is superfluous with gospel, blues and soul. Favorite track: Say You Will
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 | Live at Monterey by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $6.97 This is Hendrixs essential performance and youll be amazed at the effortless transition from song to song by Hendrix and his band. One of my favorite moments is at the end of "Wild Thing," you can hear the crowd and the MCs reaction as Hendrix sets his guitar on fire, a poetic moment of knowing there will never be another performance like this one. Favorite track: Like a Rolling Stone
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 | 100 Days, 100 Nights by Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $6.99 I loved Winehouses sophomore album, but this woman blows her away! Jones may not have all the tabloid baggage that Winehouse does, but, man, can she sing soul! With a production sounding just as if it were out of the 1960s/1970s, Jones and her band swagger and sway their way with all the funk and soul that should be in todays soul. Favorite track: Let Them Knock
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 | As I Am by Alicia Keys
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $2.20 A wonderful musician and a beautiful woman to boot, Keys released the best album of her career so far this past year with this album. She has songs that sound soulful, have a touch of classic Prince, utilize instruments of all kinds; you can tell Keys went through much soul searching to record this album. Favorite track: Superwoman
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 | Sawdust by The Killers
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $3.00 The Killers did just release the Springsteen-esque "Sams Town" in early October 2006, but they released an album of B-sides, soundtrack cuts, and previously unreleased tracks on "Sawdust." If you like the Killers at all, get this album! It also contains a cover of Kenny Rogers "Ruby, Dont Take Your Love to Town" and a great cover of Dire Straits "Romeo and Juliet." Favorite track: Tranquilize
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 | Battlestar Galactica: Season 3
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $10.97 The only instrumental album on this list because its so damn good (and, no, you dont have to be a fan of the Battlestar Galactica TV series to like it)! There is heavy Indian and Irish/Scottish music undertones influencing a few of the tracks and a remake of Bob Dylans "All Along the Watchtower." Favorite track: Admiral and Commander
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 | Year Zero by Nine Inch Nails
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $1.35 Im a big NIN fan but "The Fragile" and "With Teeth" definitely disappointed me. Well, Trent Reznor returns with the music that made him rise to fame with this album. Clearly a concept album about the current administration running our country and its faults, "Year Zero" has some of Reznors finest songwriting. See my review for more information. Favorite track: My Violent Heart
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 | For Lovers, Dreamers & Me by Alice Smith
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $2.63 Smith blends funk, rock, and jazz. I can truly say that there hasnt been another singer like Smith before. The 4-octave singer goes from deep to soft vocals in the matter of seconds and, best of all, she does it flawlessly and sounding good. This is the album that Joss Stone should have released this past year. Favorite track: Garys Song
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 | Magic by Bruce Springsteen
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $0.99 A welcome return to true rock n roll and an underlying political message in most songs; "Magic" truly casts its spell effectively. I was lucky to see them in concert recently and they definitely dont disappoint! Favorite track: Girls in Their Summer Clothes
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 | Traveling Wilburys (2 CD / 1 DVD) by The Traveling Wilburys
Buy new: $26.99 / Used from: $16.56 Roy Orbison. George Harrison. Bob Dylan. Jeff Lynne. Tom Petty. If you dont know these names, you dont know music. They formed this band in the late '80s. After their last album in '90, the albums were discontinued. This year found one of the most anticipated reissues with this album. If you like Orbison, The Beatles, Dylan, Petty or ELO, get this. Favorite track: "End of the Line
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 | Graduation by Kanye West
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $1.23 2007 started out being a great year for the talented Kanye West. Especially once his album topped chart contender 50 Cents new album. Unfortunately, it ended in tragedy as West lost his mother to a cosmetic surgery/heart defect mishap. This album has got a great mix of hip hop, R&B, dance and rock on it for music fans of any genre. Favorite track: Everything I Am
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 | Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $4.11 As I stated above, I love Winehouses newest album and think every track on it is great. Thanks to her and other soul divas like Sharon Jones and Bettye LaVette, soul and R&B has returned to the great sound that Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Sam Cooke started. See my review for more information. Favorite track: Back to Black
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