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I did this last year, and I figured I’d continue the tradition. By looking at last.fm’s “rolling 12 month chart” feature, the following are technically my most played artists, songs, and albums. Unlike last year, the results are not as surprising.

10 Most Played Artists:
1. Beck – 441 (1,059 overall)
2. Radiohead – 382 (1,469 overall)
3. Girl Talk – 378 (378 overall)
4. The Beatles – 324 (406 overall)
5. Animal Collective – 312 (330 overall)
6. Battles – 285 (313 overall)
7. The White Stripes – 279 (872 overall)
8. Red Hot Chili Peppers – 272 (736 overall)
9. Queens of the Stone Age – 264 (810 overall)
10. M83 – 251 (251 overall)

That is a ridiculous amount of Beck. Obviously, part of that is because of Modern Guilt, but that’s just 127 of 441 plays. The only carryovers from last year are Beck (who had 231 plays and was #7), Radiohead (386; #1) and Queens of the Stone Age (360; #3). Girl Talk would be my most played new artist to my library in 2008. I played the shit out of Night Ripper and Feed The Animals.
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It’s just impossible to get to know what an entire year has to offer in music. There will always be that artist you just got into that happens to have a wide discography, other albums you may become interested in but don’t get them because you feel swamped by all that you are listening at the moment; many factors can contribute to an album getting 'late into the game'.

Last year I made a list of 15 albums and ranked them based on average play count, which it’s a convenient and easy way to get pass the torture of comparison but it’s also unfair to any album released after October. Unless there’s a complete take over of my ears, it’s highly unlikely that any of them could ever make it into a list of that sort.

Taking all of this into consideration, I decided to recognize all the 2007 albums that either got added to my library in the final stretch of said year or were acquired during this year. And also reflect on the list I posted last year, am I still listening to those albums?
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OK! First up, because I tend to listen to whole albums and artists more than individual songs, we have a bit of a tie situation going on... actually, a major tie situation going on. So I'll separate said songs with which song I like better, obviously. And there'll be artists repeated all over the place, sorry.

1. How does 2 make you feel?
Ddiamondd
A little bit mental, to be honest.

2. To whom would you sing/play 24?
Black Girls
To someone that wants to have a fucking good time. Oh, to be able to play anything close to that sax freak-out.

3. Is there a way 15 could make you happy?
Gimme The Car
Haha, it's funny. Violent Femmes, kinda happy in a bittersweet way.

4. Would you dance to 25?
Rozalia Bizarre
Hell yeah! I have on the odd occasion. That is an incredibly danceable song.

5. What's the best thing about 8?
Viscera Eyes
Everything really, it's a pretty complete package. I do love the way the intro builds up to the song…

Please tune in Mondays 10-midnight British Summer time at www.oxideradio.co.uk to hear my indie show. This is the playlist from my show from 2nd week of Trinity Term 2008 (29 April).

If you do tune in (streams live from that website), please leave a comment in my shoutbox!

<b>Songs under 4:14</b>
1. of Montreal – She’s a Rejector – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
American guy, despite the name. Definitely not the first or last time you will hear this on the show.
2. The Mae Shi – Run To Your Grave -- HLLLYH
First heard this song/band on the Black Hole of BBC1. Loved it from first listen, tried to go see them in Camden before Camden burned down, but it was sold out. From LA. This song appears on their newest album, which got an 8.1 from pitchfork. This is definitely not going to be the last thing you hear from them on this show.
3. Bishop Allen – The News From Your Bed – The Broken String
Saw these guys in Baltimore’s Autobar (thanks Rachel!) back…

I'm bored.
And I like to rank things.
So here are my 15 favorite records of 2007.
There are undoubtedly more.
But these records were the ones I listened to the most.
And enjoyed the most.










15. Dan Deacon spiderman of the rings

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41R36npXZWL._AA240_.jpg

best song: Wham City

Spiderman of the Rings was probably one of the most inventive albums of the entire year. The record is a kaleidoscope of Looney Tunes influenced beats and drones that could be dismissed as too absurd to even listen to. For some, maybe it is. For me though, the thing just works. Behind the aura of Dan's imagination is a classically taught musician who can pump out some serious melodies. It might be a scary first-listen. But if you give the album time, I promise you will be dancing to Woody Woodpecker loops before it all ends.







14. Iron And Wine the shepherd's dog

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61bDGFbccTL._AA240_.jpg

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this is one of those best of lists all the cool kids are doing these days

1. Frog Eyes - Tears Of The Valedictorian
no one else is close.
2. Shapes and Sizes - Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner
i didn't like this at first. now i do.
3. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
it's pretty good!
4. Holy Fuck - LP
like battles, but better.
5. The Capstan Shafts - Her Versus The Sad Cold Eventually
two of his albums really could have made this list. oh, dean wells.
6. Sunset Rubdown - Random Spirit Lover
some unbelievable songs and some boring ones. too long.
7. Radiohead - In Rainbows
i have nothing to say here.
8. Windmill - Puddle City Racing Lights
surprisingly good even though he sounds like chris garneau and i hate chris garneau.
9. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
somewhat of a disappointment, but still good.
10. Dirty Projectors - Rise Above
unbelievable live. decent album.

honorable mentions: Deer Tick, Deerhoof, (but not deerhunter), Akron/Family, Battles, Neil Young, of Montreal
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This is the first year I’ve ever made one of these best of lists. I started with 76 of the most blogged about albums of 2007 and began to narrow it down until I had my 25 favorite albums of the year. And here they are…

Honorable Mentions
The Shins – Wincing the Night Away
Rilo Kiley – Under The Blacklight
Frog Eyes - Tears Of The Valedictorian

25. Spank Rock and Benny Blanco – Bangers and Cash
Favorite song – Loose
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61--BwZP3tL._AA240_.jpg

24. Feist – The Reminder
Favorite Song – 1 2 3 4
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IkyCIu0SL._AA240_.jpg

23. Modest Mouse– We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
Favorite Song – Florida
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ulwv5WRfL._AA240_.jpg

22. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Favorite Song – Heretics

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Qf9mAlPiL._AA240_.jpg

21. Okkervil River – The Stage Names
Favorite Song – Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61q%2BXWyKzxL._AA240_.jpg
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