This year, music did not disappoint with dozens of amazing records released.  Whether you enjoy electronic, pop, rock, or the ambient sound of crickets mating – 2007 was a great year for music.   

I believe that there is also room for everyone.  There’s room for the dearly departed voice of Jeff Buckley, and the experimental force that is Bjork. There’s even room for the hot mess with even hotter beats that is Britney. Here are my top choices from 2007. 

PJ Harvey - White Chalk

For weeks leading up to the release of PJ Harvey’s latest soul revealing masterpiece, I was warned.  It was a completely different Polly. In this album she projected a new sound and vocal technique we have only briefly enjoyed in her past albums. Reports of pianos, instead of guitars, and angelic soprano vocals, as opposed to the full and bluesy venomous alto, worried me.

Even though I was ready for the change, I was not prepared for how effective the album became at painting these downright sinister stories for 12 ghostly and emotionally emaciated women singing about abortion, unrequited love, and the devil inside each and every one of them.

With White Chalk, PJ Harvey delivers yet another powerful and tight record still embodying the bite of “To Bring you my Love” but this time without the bark.  Unless you count the last desperate wails in the last sixty seconds of the album’s final track “The Mountain.” Now that’s bark.

Notable Tracks: "The Piano," "White Chalk"

The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

There’s always a certain doubt when a band releases an amazing debut such as Arcade Fire’s Funeral. 

With their latest effort, Arcade Fire continues its style of  opulent and organic rock songs that make the listener feel as if they should be driving through the pacific Sun Highway; wind in their hair and worries left behind in the  ocean.

Noteable Tracks: "An Ocean of Noise," "No Cars Go"

Tegan and Sara - The Con

This duo has a way with melody and words that is sometimes hard to explain.  They take their songs and squeeze them of all the pain they are trying to juice while still maintain their pop rock musical structure.   “Call it Off” is a standout with a answer call chorus that just breaks my heart.

Notable Tracks: "Call it Off," "Nineteen"