
Staff Picks for 2007
Here's the XPN Staff Picks for the Best Music of 2007, including lists for best CDs, songs, and some concerts as well. And, we had Dan Reed pull together a list of some of the songs that XPN played over the last year.
David Dye, World Cafe® Host
Albums
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
The National - Boxer
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Joe Henry - Civilians
Teddy Thompson - Up Front and Down Low
Nick Lowe - At My Age
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Songs
Wilco - "Impossible Germany"
Bright Eyes - "Four Winds"
Amy Winehouse - "Rehab"
The Ike Reilly Assassination - "Valentine's Day In Juarez"
Peter Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
The New Pornographers - "My Rights Versus Yours"
Josh Ritter - "The Temptations of Adam"
Patty Griffin - "No Bad News"
Feist - "1234"
Andrew Bird - "Imitosis"
Roger LaMay, General Manager
Albums
Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - This is Somewhere
Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
Bright Eyes - Cassadega
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga
Lily Allen - Alright Still
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer
Songs
Bright Eyes - "Four Winds"
Loudon Wainwright - "Daughter"
Jason Isbell - "Brand New Kind of Actress"
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - "Stop the Bus"
Wilco -" Impossible Germany"
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - "Gone Gone Gone"
John Doe and Kathleen Edwards - "Golden State"
Sea Wolf - "You're a Wolf"
Flight of the Conchords - "The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room"
Amy Winehouse - "Rehab"
Helen Leicht, Midday and Philly Local Host
Albums
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Scott Matthews - Passing Stranger
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full
Marc Broussard - SOS Save our Soul
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Sea Wolf - Leaves in the River
Dan Wilson - Free Life
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
Mark Ronson - Version
Songs
Kings of Leon - "On Call"
Bloc Party - "The Prayer"
Iron & Wine - "Boy with a Coin"
The Bird and the Bee - "La La La"
Peter Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
Ryan Adams - "Two"
Arcade Fire - "Black Mirror"
Kaiser Chiefs - "Ruby"
Sea Wolf - "Winter Windows"
Feist - "Sealion"
Philly Local: 10 CDs /10 songs
Illinois - What the Hell Do I Know; "Alone Again"
Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart; "Worrisome Heart"
The A Sides - Silver Storms; "Cinematic"
Hoots & Hellmouth - debut; "This Hand Is A Mighty Hand"
Andrew Lipke - The Way Home; "Green Street"
Burndown All Stars - Wake Up; "Some People"
Birdie Busch - Penny Arcade; "Rabbit's Foot"
Sharon Little - Drawing Circles; "You Are A Song"
Slo Mo w/ Mic Wrecka - Smokey Mountain; "Aramingo Take out"
Trolleyvox - Your Secret Safe; "Jean Jacket"
Michaela Majoun, XPN Morning Show Host
Albums
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Amy Lavere - Anchors and Anvils
Chuck Prophet - Soap and Water
Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Patty Griffin - Children Running Through
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Brandi Carlile - The Story
Mocean Worker - Cinco De Mowo!
Songs
Amy Winehouse - "Rehab"
Amy Lavere - "Killing Him"
LCD Soundsystem - "North American Scum"
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly"
Bruce Springsteen - "Radio Nowhere"
Ryan Adams - "Two"
Brandi Carlile - "The Story"
Wilco - "Impossible Germany"
Joan as Police Woman - "Eternal Flame"
Modest Mouse - "Dashboard"
Runners up
Birdie Bush - "Wild Mountain Honey"
Lily Allen - "Knock 'em Out"
Mocean Worker - "Shake Ya Boogie"
Patti Griffin - "Heavenly Day"
Peter Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
Paolo Nutini - "New Shoes"
Fountains of Wayne - "Traffic and Weather"
Hoots and Hellmouth - "Want on Nothing"
Best Live Bands This Year
Mocean Worker
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
The Cat Empire
Blue Method
Hoots and Hellmouth
Jim McGuinn, Y-Rock On XPN Program Director, Afternoon XPN Host
Albums
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquest
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Sea Wolf - Leaves in the River
Mark Ronson - Version
Cold War Kids - Robbers and Cowards
Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch
Fratellis - Costello Music
The Good the Bad and the Queen - s/t
The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour
Songs
Peter Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
The Arcade Fire - "Keep the Car Running"
Josh Ritter - "Right Moves"
Radiohead - "Weird Fishes / Arpeggi"
Rilo Kiley - "Silver Lining"
Tim Armstrong - "Into Action"
The Hives - "Tick Tick Boom"
Dr. Dog - "Worst Trip"
LCD Soundsystem - "North American Scum"
North Atlantic - "Scientist Girl"
Fratellis - "Chelsea Dagger"
Fujiya & Miyagi - "Ankle Injuries"
Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - "Thou Shalt Always Kill"
Weakerthans - "Virtue the Cat Explains Her Disappearance"
Sea Wolf - "You're a Wolf "
Jonny Meister, Blues Show Host
Albums
Bobby Rush - Raw
James Blood Ulmer - Bad Blood In The City: The Piety Street Sessions
Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, et. al. - Global Drum Project
Hiromi's Sonicbloom - Time Control
Turtle Island String Quartet - A Love Supreme: The Legacy Of John
Coltrane
Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Marie Knight - Let Us Get Together
Sugar Blue - Code Blue
Koko Taylor - Old School
James Taylor - One Man Band
Songs
Bobby Rush - "What's The Use"
Mickey Hart & Zakir Hussain, et. al. - "Baba"
Terry "Big T" Williams & Wesley Junebug Jefferson -
"The Wolves Are Howling"
James Blood Ulmer - "Grinnin' In Your Face"
Hiromi's Sonicbloom - "Time Control, Or Controlled By Time"
Otis Taylor - "Long Long Life"
Turtle Island String Quartet - "Acknowledgement"
Marie Knight - "Samson & Delilah"
Miranda Lambert - "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
Melt Banana - "Dog Song"
Kathy O'Connell, Kids Corner Host
Top 10 Kid's Albums
Candy Band - Calling All Kids
Various Artists - Down at the Sea Hotel: Singer-Songwriter Lullabies
Asylum Street Spankers - Mommy Says No!/Asylum Street Spankers
Recess Monkey - Wonderstuff: Or, How One Bee Made The Gray a Little More Green
Buck Howdy - Chickens
Various Artists - For the Kids 3
Peter Himmelman - My Green Kite
Sweet Honey in the Rock - Experience 101
Dream Jam Band - Dream Jam Band
Father Goose - It's a Bam Bam Diddly
Honorable Mention: Kyle Dine - You Must Be Nuts: Music All About Food Allergies
Songs (Non-Kids Corner Picks)
Flight of the Conchords - "Business Time"
Loudon Wainwright III - "Daughter"
Steve Earle - "City of Immigrants"
Beck - "Timebomb"
Richard Thompson - "Mr. Stupid"
Spoon - "The Underdog"
Tegan & Sara - "Back in Your Head"
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - "100 Day 100 Nights"
Fountains of Wayne - "Traffic and Weather"
Sea Wolf - "You're a Wolf"
Dan Reed, Music Director
Albums
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Carbon / Silicon - The Last Post
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Scott Matthews - Passing Stranger
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Vietnam - Vietnam
Songs
Wilco - "Impossible Germany"
Amy Winehouse - "Rehab"
John Doe & Kathleen Edwards - "Golden State"
Oasis - "Lord Don't Slow Me Down"
Carbon / Silicon - "The Whole Truth"
Sea Wolf - "You're A Wolf"
Ryan Adams - "Two"
Dan Le Sac vs. Sroobius Pip - "Thou Shalt Always Kill"
Kings of Leon - "On Call"
Devendra Banhart - "Lover"
Matt Reilly, Weekend Host
Albums
The National - The Boxer
The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The Budos Band - II
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silverr
The Ponys - Turn the Lights Out
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
Mexican Institute of Sound - Piñata
White Stripes - Icky Thump
Beastie Boys - The Mix Up
Songs
The National - "Mistaken for Strangers"
The Ponys - "Everyday Weapon"
The Budos Band - "Chicago Falcon"
Blitzen Trapper - "Wild Mountain Nation"
Electric Six - "Down at McDonnelzz"
Stars - "The Night Starts Here"
Spoon - "Don't You Evah"
The North Atlantic - "Scientist Girl"
Rogue Wave - "Christians in Black"
Feist - "I Feel It All"
Samantha Sullivan, Sleepy Hollow Host
Top Five Albums 2007
Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge
The Clientele - God Save The Clientele
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Quadro Nuevo - Bitter-Sweet Tango
Bebel Gilberto - Momento
And onward to make it my Top Ten of '07...
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat: 25th Anniversary Edition
Rjd2 - The Third Hand
The Real Tuesday Weld - London Book of the Dead
Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature
Ferraby Lionheart - Catch the Brass Ring
Songs of 2007?
The Clientele - "From Brighton Beach to Santa Monica"
Amy Winehouse - "Wake Up Alone"
Richard Hawley - "Serious"
Jose Gonzalez - "Teardrop"
The Bird and the Bee - "How Deep is Your Love?"
Tin Hat - "Daisy Bell"
RJD2 - "Laws of the Gods"
Vic Chesnutt - "Fodder on Her Wings"
The Real Tuesday Weld - "Little Black Birdies"
Bat for Lashes - "I'm On Fire"
Bruce Warren, Program Director
Albums
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
LCD Soundsytem - Sound of Silver
The National - Boxer
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
St. Vincent - Marry Me
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Songs
Wilco -"Impossible Germany"
Coconut Records - "West Coast"
Spoon - "The Ghost In You Lingers"
LCD Soundsystem - "Us V. Them"
The National - "Fake Empire"
Feist - "1234"
The New Pornographers - "My Rights Vs Yours"
Peter, Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
Justice - "D.A.N.C.E."
Illinois - "Alone Again"
Josh T. Landow, Y-Rock on XPN Operations Coordinator/On-Air Host
Top 10 Albums of 2007 / Favorite Songs
1. Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist / "Starz"
2. Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero / "My Violent Heart"
3. The White Stripes - Icky Thump / "Rag & Bone"
4. Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace / "Let It Die"
5. Against Me! - New Wave / "Stop!"
6. Editors - An End Has A Start / "Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors"
7. Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light / "Electable (Give It Up)"
8. Electric Six - I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Master / "Down At McDonnelzzz"
9. The Fratellis - Costello Music / "For The Girl"
10. The Hives - The Black And White Album / "Tick Tick Boom"
Top 10 Songs of 2007 That Are Not On My Top 10 Albums
1. Interpol - "The Heinrich Maneuver"
2. Modest Mouse - "Dashboard"
3. Bloc Party - "The Prayer"
4. Arcade Fire - "No Cars Go"
5. Fountains of Wayne - "Someone To Love"
6. Ken Andrews - "Secret Things"
7. Of Montreal - "Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse"
8. Travis - "My Eyes"
9. Hot Hot Heat - "Give Up?"
10. Dear Leader - "Radar"
Adam B, Y-Rock on XPN Host
Albums (alphabetical order)
A Place to Bury Strangers, self-titled
Cornelius, Sensuous
Holy F#ck, LP
Interpol, Our Love to Admire
LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
M.I.A., Kala
The Nightwatchman, One Man Revolution
Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero
RJD2, The Third Hand
Wilco, Sky Blue Sky
Songs (alphabetical order)
Bjork - "Declare Independence"
Brother Ali - "Truth Is"
Hail Social - "Modern Love & Death"
Interpol - "Mammoth"
Justice - "D.A.N.C.E."
LCD Soundsystem - "All My Friends"
The National - "Mistaken for Strangers"
Social Distortion - "Far Behind"
VHS or Beta - "Can't Believe a Single Word"
Wilco - "Impossible Germany"
Joey O., Y-Rock on XPN Music Director/On-Air Co-Host
Albums
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Against Me! - New Wave
Lily Allen - Alright, Still
Fountains of Wayne - Traffic and Weather
Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Songs
Modest Mouse - "Dashboard"
Fountains of Wayne - "Someone To Love"
Tim Armstrong - "Into Action"
Against Me! - "New Wave"
Wilco - "The Thanks I Get"
Spoon - "The Underdog"
Coconut Records - "West Coast"
Rilo Kiley - "The Moneymaker"
Jimmy Eat World - "Always Be"
The A-Sides - "Cinematic"
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XPN Year In Review
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