 | In Rainbows by Radiohead
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $6.47 Once again, Radiohead releases the best album of the year. It took them WAY too long, but blame the label hopping. Highlights include "Reckoner," "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" and "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" ****1/2
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 | Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $7.60 Absolutely incredible album. They become even more like Rush & Floyd by releasing a heavy progressive album. Title track is chilling in it's tale of a country addicted to perscription drugs. ****
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 | Wincing the Night Away by The Shins
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $6.95 Some people dislike this album... Can't understand why. Not as good as "Chutes Too Narrow" but still near-classic. Saw this concert. ****
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 | Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $7.50 Very mature record for the Austin-based band, yet still not commercial. The biggest Indie band in the world strikes again. ****
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 | These Streets by Paolo Nutini
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $5.98 Very smooth album. The guy is maintain some degree of coolness while being sensitive enough to be a hit with the ladies. Your wife will appreciate it -- promise. ****
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 | It Won't Be Soon Before Long by Maroon 5
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $3.53 Okay, so maybe they're a little too commercial for this list, but you can't deny the listenability of songs like "Wake Up Call" and "Makes Me Wonder." ****
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 | Challengers by The New Pornographers
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $4.36 It's tough to top two back-to-back records like "Twin Cinema" and "Electric Version," so they didn't. Instead they released their most mature & safest record. Still very good. ****
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 | Alive 2007 by Daft Punk
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $7.00 Riding the success being sampled in Kanye's "Stronger," Daft Punk toured hard and released this Live album. It's incredible. ****
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 | The Shepherd's Dog by Iron & Wine
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $8.88 "Boy With a Coin" was a huge turn for I & W. The record is edgier and better for it. ***1/2
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 | Light Grenades by Incubus
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $2.40 Haven't been interested in Incubus since 2001's "Morning View," but this record is truely remarkable. Very strong set of songs. ***1/2
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 | Make Another World by Idlewild
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $2.43 Not as good as "Warnings/Promises," but great nonetheless. Sounds like REM meets Pearl Jam, but in a good way. ***1/2
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 | Memory Man by Aqualung
Buy used from: $0.79 Great follow-up to his breakthrough record. "Pressure Suit" had me hooked at first listen. ***1/2
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 | Raising Sand
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $5.11 Unlikely duo, but the spontaneous release pays dividends. Check out "Gone Gone Gone." Anyone else heard that Zep is reforming and touring??? ***1/2
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 | I-Empire by Angels & Airwaves
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $4.69 I'm ashamed I like this record so much. It's actually the strong singles and album cuts like "Sirens" that I enjoy. Tom DeLonge still has a horrendous live singing voice. ***1/2
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 | The Shade of Poison Trees by Dashboard Confessional
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $4.45 Good record. Strong, radio-friendly sound, just like the last record. They need to keep it up. ***
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 | Graduation by Kanye West
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $1.99 Not a rap fan, so I guess it's a compliment this record is so high on my list! Love "Can't Tell me Nothin'" ***
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 | Young Modern
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $3.28 Amazing that these guys are almost 30. I remember when they were just youngsters riding Nirvana's coattails. "Straight Line" is a fantastic single. ***
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 | Timbaland Presents Shock Value by Timbaland
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $0.93 Two hip hop albums on my list?! How did this happen?? I'll tell you how: Timbaland is the best producer on the planet. Period. ***
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 | Boxer by The National
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $6.59 Very weird style. Reminds me of my Leonard Cohen days. Cool stuff. ***
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 | R.E.M. Live 2CD/1DVD by Rem
Buy new: $23.99 / Used from: $6.45 Has it's rough patches, but has it's moments. Of course, the fact that they released this album in support of the band's worst record (Around the Sun) is a bit puzzling in itself. **1/2
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 | American Doll Posse by Tori Amos
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $2.17 What happened to my girl? Proof that you just can't run at a youthful pace forever. Still she had a good run. If this record was cut down to 9 songs, I'd tack on an extra star. **1/2
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 | Sky Blue Sky by Wilco
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $5.35 Try as you might to like this record, in our heart of hearts, fans know this record is melody-less boredom masquerading as "maturity." Every year, there is an album released just like this from a great band. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the most disappointing record of 2007. **
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