Yesterday I closed out 2007 by finally posting my favourite Canadian albums of the year and, seeing as my everyday focus is usually on local albums, I didn’t really plan on also doing an international list. However, given that I’m still recuperating from some rowdy New Year’s Eve antics and am not really functioning on all cylinders for 2008 just yet, I thought I’d briefly run down some of my favourite non-Canadian albums of the last 12 months as well.

Of course, this is in no way meant to separate the two lists in terms of quality, as any albums on either list can go head-to-head in my opinion—this was just a last minute thought from a guy whose brain doesn’t want to start tackling the new stuff yet. Next year I’ll probably just merge them both into one list anyway.

Honestly, don’t expect any surprises here. These are all albums that just about every other blog in existence has been touting all year, but I thought it’d be unfair not to mention them here, as they’ve been getting some heavy play in my headphones.

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Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
(Fat Possum)

A friend of mine introduced me to this album by constantly having it in his CD player when we’d get together and I’ll be damned if it didn’t hypnotize me into getting a copy of my own. You just can’t deny Bird’s Charm.

Check out the previously featured “Heretics.”

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The National - Boxer
(Beggar’s Banquet)

When I initially gave Boxer a listen I suppose I was rebelling against the hype it had already received, as it didn’t do anything for me. However, a little humility and a sobering few spins later and it won me over for good (though the indie Canadian listener in me couldn’t help but wish it was The Buttless Chaps…). A great listen from start to finish.

The National - Mistaken for Strangers

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Iron & Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog
(Sub Pop)

Many seemed to think it a gamble for Sam Beam to bulk up Iron and Wine’s sound on this LP, but the songs on display here are definitely indicative of organic growth and not change for change’s sake. An excellent full-length follow up to the coveted Our Endless Numbered Days.

Iron & Wine - Innocent Bones

Check out the previously featured “Boy with a Coin”

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Radiohead - In Rainbows
(Independent)

It says alot about the quality of songs on In Rainbows that I went from never owning a Radiohead album to immediately listing them in my top 5 (and this album would still be top five even if merged with yesterday’s list). It’s just a great album from a band who keep pushing the boundaries.

Read my take on the album here

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Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
(Merge)

What can I say about this album? It’s a fantastic collection of upbeat and catchy numbers that never gets old—proof that Spoon are deserving of their indie-rock royalty status. Not to mention that “The Underdog” is by far one of my favourite songs of the year.

Spoon - The Underdog

Read my reviews of both this album and their live show in Toronto.

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There you have it: some predictable pics for my favourite non-Canadian albums of 2007.

In all honesty, any of these would have fit in my top 12 this year (though Spoon still wouldn’t have dethroned Wintersleep), but I wanted my overall best-of to stay focused on my particular niche. Blah, blah, Blah.