Panda Bear

All Songs Considered's list of the 50 most important recordings of the decade continues, from OutKast to Sigur Ros.

For the past three weeks All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen put favorites CDs from 2007 into a playlist on his iPod and let it shuffle. In the end, the music he was consistently thrilled with hearing ended up on his final top ten for the year. For Boilen, hosting a music show is about trying to find music that listeners will fall in love with — music that will be a good friend and fill listeners with good memories.

Writer and reviewer Will Hermes shares his favorite albums of the past year. Hermes is a frequent contributor to NPR's 'All Things Considered' and writes for 'Spin' magazine, 'The New York Times' and 'Entertainment Weekly.' He's also the co-editor of 'Spin: 20 Years of Alternative Music.'

It was a particularly incredible year for music. Everyone I wanted an album from delivered one: the Shins, the White Stripes, the Shout Out Louds, Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse and many, many more. There were some wonderful new discoveries along the way (Ben Sollee, Le Loup), and some disappointments (Wilco). But overall it was one of the most rewarding years for music in recent memory.

Reviewer Meredith Ochs shares her top ten albums for 2007. Ochs notes her picks are ones that look back to bygone decades: The Dap-Kings, who back Amy Winehouse and Sharon Jones, sounding like the house band of a long-lost R&B label that might be resurrected by Numero Group, or Iron & Wine (aka Sam Beam) getting his Crosby, Stills & Nash on.

Host Bob Boilen talks with reviewers Carrie Brownstein, Will Hermes, Tom Moon and Meredith Ochs about the year's biggest surprises and letdowns in music. Hear their picks for the year's most innovative album, the best new band of 2007, the year's best song and more. Featured songs and artists are listed below.

Panda Bear is known for music that sounds like Beach Boys melodies sung around a drum circle in the middle of the woods. On the multifaceted "Take Pills," the one-man band crafts a knockout, elevated by gorgeous melodies and detailed production.

Writer and reviewer Will Hermes shares his favorite albums of the past year. Hermes is a frequent contributor to NPR's 'All Things Considered' and writes for 'Spin' magazine, 'The New York Times' and 'Entertainment Weekly.' He's also the co-editor of 'Spin: 20 Years of Alternative Music.'

Panda Bear is known for music that sounds like Beach Boys melodies sung around a drum circle in the middle of the woods. On the multifaceted "Take Pills," the one-man band crafts a knockout, elevated by gorgeous melodies and detailed production.