In the eternal words of LeVar Burton, don't take my word for it.

Check out this list on Largehearted Boy - it is a directory of pretty much any blog's top lists you can find!

Huge archive of Best of 2007 lists!

Last year, I was really confident in my top 10 list. They were CDs that I knew backwards and forwards and could sing in my sleep. I mean, look at the top 5 - it is a thing of beauty.

This year I am much less confident in my selections. I am pretty sure that the top 4 or so are safe contenders for the top 10, but most could be bumped back to the later spots. The rest, I feel, are just holding tenuously to their titles. While I've given each of the albums thorough listens, there are many songs on each CD that either actively don't thrill me or I can't even remember hearing once the CD has ended! The list truly doesn't inspire me like last year's list does, and I just know that there are a ton of other CDs out there that should be on this list, that I just haven't gotten a chance to listen to. 2007, for me, was really all about individual tracks as opposed to full CDs. But with that said, I did my best to compile my top 10 list - while I think it pales in comparison to last year, it's still pretty darn good.

1. Chris Garneau - Music For Tourists/C-Sides EP.

One reason that I may not be giving 2007 enough credit is because I spent a majority of my time listening to Music For Tourists. I purchased this CD at Virgin Megastore at inflated prices, feeling guilty at the time and hoping it wouldn't suck - it doesn't. Instead, I've listened to this CD more than all of the other CD releases of the year combined. Chris' lyrics and voice are heartbreaking and beautiful. I'll admit it, when I listened to it for the first time, I teared up a bit. And I just can't seem to wear it out - even after so many spins I just want to hear it again. His C-Sides album, just released this month, is a nice bonus, with 5 great new songs. This CD both saved and ruined 2007 for me.

2. Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War

I purchased this album via iTunes before the physical CD was released - that's how excited I was. Usually, I'll just wait and get the CD when I can (I still like having the liner notes, etc.) But this was probably my most anticipated album of the year and I snapped it up as quickly as I could. I'll admit, at first I was skeptical. Stars had a whole lot to live up to following "Set Yourself On Fire." On the first few listens I heard maybe one or two songs that I thought had potential. Otherwise I was underwhelmed. This definitely wasn't as good as "Set Yourself on Fire." Then slowly, slowly track after track began winning me over. The lyrics, the instrumentation, the harmonies... wonderful. And the songs take on new life when performed live. Maybe not as amazing as "Set Yourself on Fire" but very close.

3. Travis - The Boy With No Name

It had been 4 years since Travis released "12 Memories" and I had been craving a new record from them. Unlike many people, I loved "12 Memories." It was dark, a little political and a bit more mature than some of Travis' other stuff. That said, I was happy that The Boy With No Name returned to the style of The Invisible Band/The Man Who. The album is fun, poppy, and has a song for all different moods. First single "Closer" and "Under the Moonlight" are beautiful love songs and "My Eyes" is a song to Fran's son which rivals, if not beats former song about his son "Flowers In the Window." The stand out track, though, is Selfish Jean, which may be Travis' most fun song yet, despite its lyrical content.

4. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Speaking of having a lot to live up to - the Arcade Fire had to follow up its epic Funeral. Once again, at first I was a bit underwhelmed just in comparison to Funeral, but after repeat listens, this CD reveals itself to be an epic in it's own right. The songs work great as a whole, the mood of the album is pretty spectacular, and I have to say that I think the Neon Bible songs work even better live than the Funeral songs do.

5. Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position

Patrick Wolf is a great follower to The Arcade Fire's "Neon Bible." Both have that slightly dark overtones. "The Magic Position highlights Wolf's eerie and mesmerizing voice and multi-instrumentation. I don't understand how title track "The Magic Position" wasn't a break out pop hit of the year.

6. Page France - ... and the Family Telephone

BONUS: Once Sountrack

While the Once Soundtrack is comprised of many songs that are featured on other albums, including the Swell Season album, it is worth mentioning. The new songs are great, and this release finally brought Glen, Marketa, the Swell Season, and in a way even the Frames, into the public consciousness where they deserve to be.