Its that time of the year again. Its time for the staff at Music Universe, who have spent the last year listening to album after album, to tell you which 2007 albums you should be purchasing for christmas, chanukah or birthday presents. 

In no particular order............drumroll please.............

1. Eluvium - Copia 

A masterpiece, awash in textures, atmospheres, moods, and emotion.

 

2. Arctic Monkeys - Favourite New Nightmare

    This is unmistakeably the Arctics, only stronger, harder, sharper, faster.... An extraordinary and fulfilling sequel to their debut.
 
3. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

It's a successful experiment... largely because the differences between Johnny Marr (The Smiths) and Mod Mouse turn out to be more harmonious than anyone could have expected.

4. The National - The Boxer

This sophmore effort for The National is as focused as it is ambitious, absolutely riveting.

5. The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters

Couple raw emotion, glorious musicianship, absorbing hooks and grandiose arrangements together and  this is the outcome. An album which leaves you utterly breathless and wanting more.

6. Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse 

This album is full of explosive epics that don't get tired, tied together in an album that's both instantly accessible and grows on you over time.
 
7. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Neon Bible may be a bold departure from the beloved Funeral, but the divergence is as inspired as the music itself.

8. Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future

For a band that formed little over a year ago, the energy and intent of this record is thrilling and the music rarely fails their undoubtedly grand ambitions.

9. Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times

Because Of The Times is Kings Of Leon's best album yet, their most fully realised and mature work to date.

10. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

As close to a perfect hybrid of dance and rock music's values as you're likely to ever hear.


11. Digitalism - Idealism

Sometimes it's electronic music you can rock to, sometimes it's neo-disco tech-house you can sing with, but it's always the fringe of dance-pop at its peak put together in a razor-sharp package.
 
12. Okkervil River - The Stage Names

This album truely is a collection of gems. It’s one of the year’s essential albums.

13. Angus & Julia Stone - A Book Like This

This album is just so beautiful... poetic lyrics and music that makes you feel so utterly sad, yet at the same time hopeful

14. Band Of Horses - Cease To Exist

Cease To Begin is the second album by this trio. Made at the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, angel-voiced lead singer Ben Bridwell delivers a delightfully soothing record.

15. Iron & Wine - Shepherds Dog

Intimate, literate and wonderfully executed, Iron & Wine seem to have made one of the albums of the year. Don’t let it pass you by.

16. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends

This album was well worth the wait and should win over some new fans and please the old ones too. LSF have picked up precisely where they left off.

17. M.I.A. - Kala

M.I.A. and co-producers, straddle more styles than you’d find in most music collections, let alone on the same disc.

18. Radiohead - In Rainbows

The album proves itself to be what we all thought Radiohead couldn’t make again: a masterpiece.

19. Kanye West - Graduation

West delivers another album full of sharp, soulful songs, exposing his new affinity for synths and electronic drums while adding new lyrical ground to that galaxy-sized ego.

20. Battles - Mirrored

It's dance music that's hard to dance to and post rock music that's hard to rock too. It's what everyone else is NOT making. It's also one of the best releases of the year.

21. The Panics - Cruel Guards

What a beautiful album. The panics have a captivating sound which instantly draws you in. They truly are amazing.
22. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

The Flying Cup Club is an often magical listen and deserving of a wider audience than it will probably reach. Take a punt. Bet on Beirut.
23. Interpol - Our Love To Admire

 Our Love To Admire makes for hugely rewarding listening. Interpol have made a great album.
 
24. Panda Bear - Person Pitch

Panda Bear has created one of the most unusual and beautifully strange moments in avant-garde history.
 
25. White Stripes - Icky Thump

It's eccentric, it's exhilarating, it is, in parts, absolutely compelling, which is what makes The White Stripes one of the greatest bands of modern times.

**Notable absenteees
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light
Liars - Liars
Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature
Jaime T - Panic Prevention
Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur
Justice - Cross
Editors - An End Has A Start 
Daft Punk - Alive
Feist - Reminder