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I've always been intrigued by other "best of" lists, but this year I decided to take it to a whole new level. I e-mailed a handful of bands that I've seen this past year in order to unearth what exactly captivated them in '07. As music listeners, it is our duty to take a keen interest in our favorite musician's influences. After all, they rocked our little world, might as well see what rocked their little world. Therefore, this is an act of paying it forward to those hardworking, underpaid musicians who truly made a difference within the music scene this year.Justin Vernon of Bon Iver
Bowerbirds - Hymns for a Dark Horse
Land of Talk - Applause, Cheer, Boo, Hiss
Feist - The Reminder
Megafaun - Bury the Square
Panda Bear - Person Pitch
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
The Rosebuds - Night of The Furies
Jay Z - American Gangster
Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortadova
Photo by Tim Lytvinenko
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