As 2007 drew to a close, 10 LiveDaily staffers and contributors compiled their lists of their favorite album of the past year.

Most lists show few similarities, but there is enough agreement to result in the rough consensus of our overall Top 10 list.

Each writer's Top 10 list--along with his or her thoughts about the year--follows.

Rob Evans, LiveDaily Editor

1. Spoon [ tickets ], "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" (Merge)
2. Meat Puppets, "Rise to Your Knees" (Anodyne)
3. Wilco [ tickets ], "Sky Blue Sky" (Nonesuch)
4. Wu-Tang Clan, "8 Diagrams" (SRC/Universal Motown/Loud)
5. The Ike Reilly Assassination, "We Belong to the Staggering Evening" (Rock Ridge)
6. Earlimart, "Mentor Tormentor" (Shout Factory)
7. The Shins, "Wincing the Night Away" (Sub Pop)
8. Rademacher, "Stunts" (self-release)
9. Public Enemy, "How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul???" (SLAMJamz)
10. Radiohead [ tickets ], "In Rainbows" (XL Recordings)

I heard Spoon's "You've Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" playing over the speakers in a supermarket the other day, but these veteran Austin college rockers somehow went mainstream without selling out. Against all odds, the Meat Puppets put out a new album featuring both of the Kirkwood brothers--and, more surprisingly, it stacks up nicely against the group's best work. Nels Cline's guitar work is pushing Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy in interesting new directions. Ike Reilly writes the best down-and-out stories this side of Paul Westerberg. Wu-Tang Clan and Public Enemy proved that great hip-hop isn't exclusively a young man's game. Just missing the cut in an outstanding year for music: Kanye West, LCD Soundsystem [ tickets ], Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Bruce Springsteen, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Dinosaur Jr., Deerhoof and Dungen.

Jon Zahlaway, LiveDaily Senior Writer

1. Nine Inch Nails, "Year Zero"/"Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D" (Nothing)
2. The White Stripes [ tickets ], "Icky Thump" (Warner Bros.)
3. Foo Fighters [ tickets ], "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" (Roswell)
4. Seal, "System" (Atlantic)
5. Dave Gahan, "Hourglass" (Virgin)
6. Bjork [ tickets ], "Volta" (Atlantic)
7. Velvet Revolver, "Libertad" (RCA)
8. Sevendust, "Alpha" (Asylum)
9. Chris Cornell, "Carry On" (Interscope)
10. Nonpoint, "Vengeance" (Bieler Bros.)

Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor did so many things right with "Year Zero" (and its companion remix set, "Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D") that it is deserving of more than an "Album of the Year" nod; perhaps "Album of the New Millennium Thus Far"--or, more accurately, "Album That Perfectly Captures The Sociopolitical Climate and Trajectory of America Circa 2007." Musically and lyrically, "Year Zero" is a standout in NIN's already stellar catalog; throw in the mind-bogglingly complex and detailed alternate-reality concept that Reznor launched in conjunction with the set, and you have a work of art that far transcends a simple album release. Meanwhile, the fact that I actually struggled to trim this year's list down to the requisite 10 selections--as opposed to groping around for two or three more to round out the batch--speaks volumes about how much I enjoyed the music of 2007. Honorable mentions to artists who just missed the cut: Puscifer, Korn, Satellite Party and Puddle of Mudd.

Monica Cady, LiveDaily Contributing Writer

1. Arcade Fire [ tickets ], "Neon Bible" (Merge)
2. The Bravery, "The Sun and The Moon" (Island)
3. Bloc Party, "A Weekend In The City" (Vice)
4. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, "Baby 81" (Red Int/Red Ink)
5. M.I.A., "Kala" (Interscope)
6. The White Stripes, "Icky Thump" (Warner Bors.)
7. LCD Soundsystem, "Sound of Silver" (Capitol)
8. Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" (Merge)
9. Circa Survive, "On Letting Go" (Equal Vision)
10. Deerhunter, "Cryptograms" (Kranky)

Take me somewhere else. Give me big and bold. That's what I wanted in 2007. Arcade Fire was just that: massive walls of sound and inspiring lyrics that could mean anything from literal references of religion to an internal journey. The same can be said of Deerhunter, underdog indies from Atlanta making a career out of absurd and almost offensive experimental noise--but that's what I dig most about them. Kudos to The Bravery for picking a theme--a dark one about lost love--and turning it into a helluva dance-rock record. Bloc Party, too, took themselves new places with their sophomore release, proving they're more than raucous beats and witty words; the Brit poppers are making a statement about the world. So was M.I.A., who rallied her techno sounds for political change. The best albums of 2007 were all about moving; some called people to the dance floor and some pushed political or personal change, but each of them made moves towards the future.

John Dugan, LiveDaily Contributing Writer

1. Amy Winehouse [ tickets ], "Back to Black" (Universal Republic)
2. Of Montreal [ tickets ], "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?" (Polyvinyl)
3. Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" (Merge)
4. Justice, "Cross" (Downtown/ Ed Banger)
5. Sorcerer, "White Magic" (Tirk)
6. Blonde Redhead, "23" (4AD)
7. Digitalism, "Idealism" (Astralwerks)
8. Feist, "The Reminder" (Cherry Tree)
9. M.I.A., "Kala" (XL)
10. The Redwalls, "The Redwalls" (Mad Dragon)

This year was a better one for singles ("D.A.N.C.E." and "Watch My Feet") than for albums, a better year for rock and dance music than for hip-hop (except for those Lil' Wayne mixtapes). It was a ridiculously good year for dance music, with Justice, Digitalism and like-minded rockin' electronic acts catching on bigtime with a pioneering sound, as well as the always intriguing M.I.A. dropping her second idiosyncratic full-length. Indie guitar music got off a slump with strong songwriting and inspiring production; scene vets Of Montreal, Spoon and Blonde Redhead each reached their career highpoints. Strong women made it happen, too. Feist, whom I wanted to hate, issued a pitch perfect sing-along album, and Amy Winehouse made a damn good, if damaged, soul record.

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, LiveDaily Contributing Writer

1. Fall Out Boy, "Infinity on High" (Island Def Jam)
2. Daughtry, "Daughtry" (RCA)
3. Kid Rock, "Rock and Roll Jesus" (Atlantic)
4. The Feeling, "Twelve Stops and Home" (CherryTree Records)
5. Michael Buble, "Call Me Irresponsible" (Warner Bros.)
6. Carrie Underwood, "Carnival Ride" (Arista)
7. Avenged Sevenfold, "Avenged Sevenfold" (Warner Bros.)
8. Dan Wilson, "Free Life" (American)
9. Josh Groban, "Awake" (Reprise)
10. Kaiser Chiefs, "Yours Truly, Angry Mob" (Universal)

Having watched "American Idol" every year only because I inevitably get the assignments to interview participants/the winners, I surely didn't expect that two contestants--Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood--would be on my year-end list. On his debut album, Daughtry proves he's the real deal, not just some karaoke singer who ended up on a television show. At least four of his songs--"It's Not Over," "Home," "Over You" and "What I Want"--have received heavy radio airplay and, with a tour opening for Bon Jovi, there will probably be more singles released through 2008. Underwood, on the other hand, is in the early stages of promoting her sophomore album "Carnival Ride." Fans can only hope that "Last Name" is released as a single. If so, the hilarious take on a drunken night in a bar could be one of the hottest singles of 2008.

Justin Gage, LiveDaily Contributing Writer

1. Wilco, "Sky Blue Sky" (Nonesuch)
2. Of Montreal, "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?" (Polyvinyl)
3. The National, "Boxer" (Beggars Banquet)
4. Frankel, "Lullaby For the Passerby"
5. Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" (Merge)
6. The Broken West,"I Can't Go On, I'll Go On" (Merge)
7. Radiohead, "In Rainbows" (XL Recordings)
8. Iron & Wine, "The Shepherd's Dog" (Sub Pop)
9. The Besnard Lakes, "... Are The Dark Horse" (Jagjaguwar)
10. Thurston Moore, "Trees Outside The Academy" (Ecstatic Peace)

Jeff Tweedy and company returned in 2007 with my favorite LP of the year, "Sky Blue Sky," a mature album that get back to the more traditional song structures found on the outfit's earlier material. "Hissing Fauna" is 50-plus minutes of clever pop saturated in what sounds like a man on the brink of a nervous breakdown; it is also Of Montreal’s best work yet. The National's "Boxer" moves at a steady pace, creating an "album experience" best taken as a whole, and that whole is one of the best albums released in 2007. Frankel's (Michael Orendy) "Lullaby For The Passerby" is an absolute must for fans of Nilsson, Lennon/McCartney, et al. New Spoon fans will find "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" a great place to begin before being inevitably sucked into the back-catalog. And trust me, you will be.

Eric Grossman, LiveDaily Contributing Writer

1. Radiohead, "In Rainbows" (XL Recordings)
2. Arcade Fire, "Neon Bible" (Merge)
3. LCD Soundsystem, "Sound of Silver" (DFA/EMI)
4. Dr. Dog, "We All Belong" (Park the Van)
5. Feist, "The Reminder" (Cherry Tree)
6. Animal Collective, "Strawberry Jam" (Domino)
7. Gogol Bordello, "Super Taranta!" (Side One Dummy)
8. The Good, The Bad & The Queen, The Good, The Bad & The Queen (Virgin)
9. The National, "Boxer" (Beggars Banquet)
10. Wilco, "Sky Blue Sky" (Nonesuch)

When looking back at all the albums released in 2007, I wanted to leave Radiohead's "In Rainbows" off my top 10 list, really just to prove a point. No, not that the band is wildly overhyped (it isn't) or hasn't quite matched "OK Computer" (still its finest work). Rather, I wanted to be stubborn and note that "IR" has a CD release date of 1/1/08, barring it from appearing on any "best of 2007" list. But who out there buys CDs anymore, anyway? I do, but I realize now, once and for all, that the future is now, and that everyone I know gets their music online, in bits and pieces or all at once. "IR" will go down as the first real album I (legally) downloaded in its entirety, and therefore, the album that I'll always associate with the modern music industry. And what an album ... full of majesty and surprises, a solid addition to a catalog that will ultimately go down as a generation's finest. Perhaps Arcade Fire will vie for that same title, and its "Neon Bible" might've topped my list any other year.

Jim Harrington, LiveDaily Contributing Writer

1. Kristin Hersh, "Learn to Sing Like a Star" (Yep Roc)
2. Au Revoir Simone, "The Bird of Music" (Our Secret Record Company)
3. Cowboy Junkies, "At the End of Paths Taken" (Zoe)
4. Bjork, "Volta" (Atlantic)
5. Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, "Last of the Breed" (Lost Highway)
6. Amy Winehouse, "Back to Black" (Universal Republic)
7. Modest Mouse, "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank" (Epic)
8. The Pipettes, "We Are the Pipettes" (Cherrytree)
9. Toots and the Maytals, "Light Your Light" (Fantasy)
10. Brandi Carlile, "The Story" (Columbia)

When discs from two "American Idol" contestants--Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood--rank among the top 5 selling CDs of the year, it's mighty easy to get depressed about the current state of the music business. Yet, writing off the year in music based solely on the pop fluff from the "American Idol" crew makes about as much sense as writing off Mexican food due to Taco Bell's Chalupa. No doubt, there were tons of worthy releases to be found in 2007--it's just that the majority of them weren't being written about in the glossy magazines that feature Paris Hilton on their covers. In all, the year featured a really compelling mix of great albums by both new artists (Au Revoir Simone, The Pipettes, Amy Winehouse) and trusty legends (Kristin Hersh, Bjork, Merle Haggard). That mix of talent is enough to give one hope for 2008.

Suzanne Kayian, LiveDaily Contributing Writer

1. Arctic Monkeys, "Favourite Worst Nightmare" (Domino)
2. Ani DiFranco, "Live in Boston 11.10.06" (Righteous Babe)
3. Eddie Vedder, "Music from the Motion Picture 'Into the Wild'" (J)
4. Amy Winehouse, "Back To Black" (Universal Republic)
5. The White Stripes, "Icky Thump" (Third Man)
6. Foo Fighters, "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" (Roswell)
7. Wilco, "Sky Blue Sky" (Nonesuch)
8. Modest Mouse, "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank" (Sony BMG)
9. Radiohead, "In Rainbows" (XL Recordings)
10. Various Artists, "Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur" (Amnesty International USA/ Art for Amnesty)

The soundtrack of my day-to-day changes constantly. Today, the Arctic Monkeys dominate, but Ani DiFranco will never be far from top. But the Arctic Monkeys' "Favourite Worst Nightmare" is such a great album. It deserves the top spot. The band fills a void left by a long list of Brits from Elvis Costello to Oasis. Next up is Eddie Vedder, who has done some of his best work on "Into The Wild." One undeniable standout artist in 2007 is Amy Winehouse, who blasted on to the canvas with "Back to Black." And the new albums by The White Stripes, the Foo Fighters and Radiohead will long be remembered as classics in each band's catalog. The same can be said about Wilco and Modest Mouse. The "Instant Karma" disc is a real treat: John Lennon songs interpreted by great bands ranging from Matisyahu to Green Day to U2 create a uniquely new experience that is familiar at the same time. At the beginning of this assignment, I thought this year in music was dismal. Looking back, I was wrong.

Tjames Madison, LiveDaily Contributing Writer

1. Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" (Merge)
2. Caribou, "Andorra" (Merge)
3. Panda Bear, "Person Pitch" (Paw Tracks)
4. Radiohead, "In Rainbows" (XL Recordings)
5. LCD Soundsystem, "Sound of Silver" (DFA/EMI)
6. Black Moth Super Rainbow, "Dandelion Gum" (Graveface)
7. Deerhoof, "Friend Opportunity" (Kill Rock Stars)
8. White Stripes, "Icky Thump" (Warner Bros.)
9. PJ Harvey, "White Chalk" (Island)
10. Dinosaur Jr., "Beyond" (Play It Again Sam)

In a year that found bands and singer/songwriters--and even record execs--creeping backward towards an increasingly rose-colored past, more than just a wistful hint of flower-power nostalgia crept into the alt/indie side of things, almost like The Year 1972 was intent on having its revenge against the past 35 years of dull fare: James Murphy's LCD Soundsystem evokes people and places and time without feeling even an inch removed from the present, while Dan Snaith continues to churn out lovely bittersweet psych/electropop under the Caribou banner. The White Stripes offer a broad overview of everything that ever made them special, and Radiohead does a great leap forward mainly by gazing longingly at its own shoes. Meanwhile, Deerhoof is still weird and brilliant, Panda Bear escapes from Animal Collective with an odd and deeply affecting document, and Austin's vastly underrated Spoon delivers merely the year's finest rock and roll album.