For fans of: Wily Mason; Okkervil River; Death Cab For Cutie; the Flaming Lips; Mason Jennings

La-Z-Buoyance
41. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum)
After the incredible and highly influential underground masterpiece the Mysterious Production of Eggs, Bird's follow up was bound to be at least a minor step back, which it is, but luckily, when an artist is as gifted as ex-Squirrel Nut Zipper Bird, a step back is still a step in the right direction.

Here he comes to save the day with another program full of sublime, gorgeous, dreamy, intoxicating, starry-eyed listening pleasure. This is easy listening for music snobs and while it's not as flawlessly flowing as his last piece of astounding art, it's still better than almost anything you'll hear on the radio or anywhere else. A. Bird in an armchair is worth two of pretty much any other kind of bird you can think of. Come fly the friendly skies.

For fans of: Jeff Buckley; Rufus Wainwright; Sting (sans lute, thankfully)

COMING NEXT: Top 50 Albums of 2007 Pt. II (31-40)