Music Blog

Best of 2007: The Singles

Jeremy Petersen on December 29, 2007 at 12:45 PM, last updated March 17, 2011 at 02:51 PM

We jump into our look back at the musical year 2007 in earnest tonight with a listen to some of our favorite singles of the year. In an era when the mp3 has ensured that singles far outsell full albums, the past year or so only furthered that state (for better or for worse) with artists like Feist, Wilco, and Band of Horses lending songs from current releases to TV commercials. On the bright side, popular music of the indie persuasion (if there's such a thing) cast its swath wider than ever, making room for M.I.A., Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and Iron & Wine alike. We also heard our fair share of overplayed but still relentlessly catchy and relistenable tunes, courtesy of Peter Bjorn & John, Spoon, and the aforementioned Feist. All in all, there was a lot to like, a fact we were only reminded of even more when scouring the release lists for the past twelve months. We didn't hear everything, but we found a lot to like in what we did hear-- hopefully you will, too.

Also tonight, we'll revisit a few moments of live musical transendence (or somewhere thereabouts) that took place in our studios in 2007, courtesy of the Avett Brothers, Pseudosix and The Veils, among others.

AND, we'd love to hear from you. Got a song you loved in 2007 you think deserves play tonight? Let us know below and we'll do our best to get it on the air. Yeah, it' a singles party (the musical kind), and you're invited. (Oh, and by the way, you still have until midnight tonight to enter your list of your favorite ten releases of 2007-- you can do that here, too). Enjoy!

2007 MP3s for the taking (not all made it on to air tonight):

►Vampire Weekend: "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

►Caribou: "Melody Day"

►Cave Singers: "Seeds of Night"

►Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: "100 Days, 100 Nights"

►St. Vincent: "Now Now"

►Spoon: "The Underdog"

►Peter Bjorn & John: "Young Folks"

►Amy Winehouse w/Ghostface Killah: "You Know I'm No Good"

►Richard Swift: "Kisses For the Misses"

►Seabear: "I Sing I Swim"

►Georgie James: "Need Your Needs"

►Band of Horses: "Is There a Ghost"

►A.A. Bondy: "There's a Reason"

►Flight of the Conchords: "Business Time"

►Oakley Hall: "No Dreams"

►The Clientele: "Bookshop Casanova"

►Shapes & Sizes: "Head Movin"

►David Vandervelde: "Nothin' No"


Tagged: mp3, Best of 2007

Archived Comments

zed / December 29, 2007
I suppose we should hear some Radiohead, but I'd rather hear "MmaJ" by The Octopus Project. Good show as always. Oh, and this web site is GREAT! Nice work. --Ross

zed / December 29, 2007
and I think I missed the deadline by 1 minute. crap.

Jeremy Petersen / December 29, 2007
Well zed/Ross, not to give anything away, but I'm thinking we're going to be hearing some Radiohead tomorrow night. Speaking of which, you still have 17 minutes to submit your top ten for 2007! Submit! Submit!

Jeremy Petersen / December 29, 2007
nah, says midnight even. you're in! panda bear's making a late push!

zed / December 29, 2007
Panda Bear Person Pitch Of Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? Animal Collective Strawberry Jam Okkervil River The Stage Names Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Jens Lekman Night Falls Over Kortedala Caribou Andorra Arcade Fire Neon Bible Iron and Wine The Shepherd's Dog Deerhoof Friend Opportunity Beat Konducta Madlib ....in no particular order

zed / December 29, 2007
I really hope so, even though my wife hated it. I think she'd vote for Spoon, if that helps complicate things any.

zed / December 29, 2007
oh. And with 11 since I know you won't play hip-hop except MIA.

zed / December 30, 2007
I knew I forgot something. I wanna switch "Hey Venus!" by Super Furry Animals for Deerhoof, please.

Jeremy Petersen / December 30, 2007
Hey sure thing, zed, if only because I totally agree.

Carolyn / December 29, 2007
How about something from the amazing album Time on Earth by Crowded House? Pour Le Monde is a standout single, or Silent House, or People are Like Suns. One of the peak experiences for me in music this year. Thanks :)

Jeremy Petersen / December 29, 2007
Hey Carolyn-- Glad to! Coming up after 10....

rick lepage / December 29, 2007
Really enjoying tonight's show, Jeremy. Lots of great memories from this year, and some new surprises as well - somehow I missed the Veils concert, and that version of State Trooper made me really wish I hadn't. Keep up the great work. Rick

Matty J. / December 29, 2007
haha...Business Time! I never thought I'd hear Jermaine on OPB. Great show tonight.

Carolyn / December 29, 2007
Appreciate your playing CH, Jeremy--thanks. Really nice choice of segue/set with it, too We're enjoying the show tonight, and look forward to listening in the new year.

Jeremy Petersen / December 29, 2007
Ouch. M.I.A.'s not hip-hop, really. We've played Aesop Rock. I'm partial to Public Enemy, Run-DMC and Boogie Down Productions myself.

Jeremy Petersen / December 29, 2007
Thanks all for the comments. Rick, I missed that show, too, but I did get to catch their in-studio show :). Of course, you can listen to the whole thing here. Matty, we all know Jermaine's a trailblazer (in the non-Portland sense of the term) and ground-breaker. OPB's just another under his belt. No problem, Carolyn. Great to hear the band back again.