I'm afraid there is a little self release bias here. The two singles we have released on Lost Music Records are easily amongst my favourites of this year. It seems weird trying to place them in a top ten. I love both the singles (The Manhattan Love Suicides and The Fischers) equally. They are, for me, easily among some of the best releases of the year. I really do. Hence they both get placed in this year’s top ten. It’s been a very good year for singles. The continued resurgence of the 7” record has given me an increased appetite for the single and this year has seen a bumper crop of releases – so much so that many great singles failed to make the top ten – honourable mentions to Town Bike, Their Hearts Were Full of Spring, Screaming Tea Party, The Pains of Being Pure At heart, Pocketbooks, Strawberry Story, Hermit Crabs and Das Wanderlust. But here is my top ten singles of 2007:

10 The Scaremongers - Nodding Dog/ You Can Do Nothing Wrong (In My Eyes) (Corporation Pop)
09 Sarandon - Joe's Record (Slumberland)
08 Slow Down Tallahassee - So Much For Love (Thee SPC/Cloudberry)
07 The Bridge Gang - London Sky Tonight (Sounds Experience)
06 Radio Luxembourg - Mostyn a Diego (Peski)
05 Horowitz - Tracey Anne (Cloudberry)
04 The Fischers - Down The Days (Lost Music)
03 Fanfarlo - Fire Escape (White Heat)
02 The Manhattan Love Suicides - Kick It Back EP (Magic Marker)
01 The Manhattan Love Suicides - Keep It Coming EP (Lost Music)

And one final thought - If we’re talking about singles I couldn’t let the year end pass without mentioning the wonderful Cloudberry Records. 60 odd releases (all lovely 3” CDs) in less than 12 months – and the vast majority of them are indiepop gold. The label should be applauded.

Top Ten Live Acts

It’s been a hectic year on the live music front – with lots of great shows being put on around London (from the likes of Sprial Scratch, Fortuna Pop and How Does It Feel To Be Loved?). Their seems to be a real desire to put on lovingly crafted shows these days. Lost Music Presents also started back in April 2007. That’s been a source of much joy to Savo and I, and latterly we've been joined by Tom in our promoting adventures. Some of the bands we have put on have made the top ten. But I’d like to thank all the bands that have played a show for us this year. As I said there have been lots of great shows this year and my favourite band of all time, The Jesus and Mary Chain only went and did the unthinkable – they reformed. I had to be there. So a trip to LA was called for. They didn’t disappoint. So that’s the pre-amble – here is the top ten live bands I have seen this year:

10 The Besties
09 Irene
08 Strawberry Story
07 Keith John Adams
06 The Fischers
05 Sarandon
04 Horowitz
03 Cats On Fire
02 The Manhattan Love Suicides
01 The Jesus and Mary Chain

Again, there is one special event that it would be wrong not to mention. That was this summer’s Indie Tracks festival – held at a Steam Railway centre in Derbyshire – a delightful event with many, many top bands playing their hearts out. The festival was a joy to be at, the people, the bands and the location making it something extra special. It was such a lovely weekend. A delight to be at. So I am happy that next year’s festival has been confirmed (again, for the end of July).

Top Ten LPs

The top LPs of the year has been the hardest to choose and given another week I am sure this list could have been turned on it’s head. It’s been a very consistent year for LPs – which makes it hard to choose a favourite – as no one of the top dozen or so LP has stood out. I’d love to include The Electric Pop Group - but alas their LP came out at the tail end of 2006, the same goes for The Manhattan Love Suicides debut – which has easily been my most played record of the year. I could cheat and include it – as the vinyl version was released in 2007 on Squirrel Records. But it wouldn’t feel right including it again in my list. So, it’s been omitted. So here it is – my favourite ten LPs of the year:

10 Holyfuck - LP (Young Turks)
09 Tullycraft - Every Scene Needs A Centre (Magic Marker)
08 Celestial – Dream On (Skipping Stones)
07 Boat - Let's Drag Our Feet (Magic Marker)
06 A Smile and A Ribbon - The Boy I Wish I Never Met (Shelflife)
05 Cats On Fire - The Province Complains (Marsh Marigold)
04 Insect Guide - 6FT In Love (Dead Penny/Squirrel)
03 Annemarie - ABC on TV (Plastilina)
02 Stuffy/The Fuses - Angels Are Ace (Sour Puss)
01 Butcher Boy - Profit In Your Poetry (How Does It Feel To Be Loved)

And if I made this list at a different time (let's say, tomorrow) it could easily have included releases by any of the following: Super Furry Animals, Jonquil, Irene, The Voices, The Ponys, Plastic Fuzz, The Lodger, Love Dance, Ceremony, Tillmanns, Candie Payne, A Place To Bury Strangers and California Snow Story.