Missed in 2007

It's impossible to listen to everything. Here's a few albums that I didn't get around to in 2007 (or at least not until the waning days) but am now heartily enjoying.

I'm Not There Soundtrack
There are 33 Bob Dylan covers in the soundtrack to the Todd Haynes film, and a lot of them are pretty great. The standout track for me is "Goin' to Acapulco" by Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and Calexico, with its laid-back, island vibe some good ol' Calexico horns. You can't go wrong with any of the three Stephen Malkmus tracks, either.
Stream

The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
I guess you'd call this rock with folk and bluegrass influences, but if that's not your thing, don't let those labels stop you. Seth and Scott Avett have a rock-and-roll swagger that's as irresistible as the songs' hooks, and the writing is superb. If I could hop in a DeLorean and redo my Best of 2007, this would be up high.
mp3: The Avett Brothers - Die Die Die

The Black Swans - Change!
See previous post. I like.

A.A. Bondy - American Hearts
I knew nothing of this album by the former Verbena frontman until a Donewaiting.com Best of 2007 list. Fans of Rocky Votolato or early Josh Ritter will love this album. It's nothing fancy, just good, pared-down, somewhat dark songwriting that avoids some of the cliches common in Americana.
mp3: A.A. Bondy - There's a Reason

Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Once Soundtrack
I'd heard a few songs from this soundtrack before seeing the film, but now that I've watched it, the emotions come through in a whole new way. Hansard, Irish singer/guitarist of The Frames, will give you goose bumps when he lets loose on "Say It to Me Now," and "Falling Slowly" is a perfect pop song. (The compatible pair also covers Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" on the I'm Not There soundtrack.)
mp3: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly

A couple that I probably didn't need to get around to:

Rivers Cuomo - Alone: The Home Recordings
A couple of these tunes, such as "I Was Made for You," sound like they could be Weezer classics, but most probably should have stayed in Cuomo's stash of home demos. "Ooh" is just 47 seconds of Rivers layering his voice, and I honestly get a little embarrassed for him during his attempts at Rage-style metal-rap ("The Bomb") and R&B ("This is the Way").

Times New Viking - Paisley Reich
OK, so maybe it'll grow on me, but I don't see what all the fuss is about. I love to see Columbus bands succeed, so I'm happy TNV is releasing its new album on Matador (Rip It Off, 1/22) and has a good amount of buzz going, but I can't say I've truly enjoyed listening to this album all the way through yet. The ultra lo-fi quality does get a bit much, but it's the songs themselves that don't do much for me.
mp3: Times New Viking - (My Head)/R.I.P. Allegory (from Rip It Off)