Right now, you are probably thinking: wait a minute, this isn’t the site I’m used to.

Finally, TWM has had a redesign.  The early site got us far enough, and I thank Cam Tomsett and Chris Richard for the work they did. But the truth is that we’ve outgrown the original site’s restrictions.

One of our many new features is that writers now have their own blogs, where they can talk about whatever their heart desires.  Ronan had an idea a few months back that individual writers have their own year-end lists like “Dan’s Top Toronto Albums” as a supplement to the collective 2007 list, and I liked it.  So with that in mind, here are my Top Ten Toronto (and Surrounding Area) Records of 2007.

10.    The Assistants – Self Titled: The Assistants are part of a strong contingent of Toronto bands bringing shoegaze back.  Some people, including myself, like to call it newgaze or nugaze.  Whatever you call it, what is clear to me is that Kiley Meehan, his band and the others revitalizing this genre in Toronto have found an untapped goldmine of potential.  Music lovers are always on the lookout for the new movement and where it’s coming from, and I see no reason why it won’t be right here in Toronto with bands like the Assistants leading the charge.

9. Beth in Battle Mode – Technical Know-How: This is a band that thrives by always giving it full-tilt and walking that fine line between incredibly catchy and excess to the point of annoying.  Where you stand might depend on your thoughts on the amazing keyboard skills of Andrew Ennals (and the use of keyboards in general) and the Abba-like influences they often draw on.  It works well on record, but it completely owns live.  If you like your indie music infused with keyboards and choruses that send you bouncing around your pad, check this band out.

8. Numbers & Figures – The Parable of the Broken Window: Get Up Kids fans who are  on the lookout for bands keeping their dream alive might find what they crave in Numbers & Figures.  I generally don’t even listen to this style of music, so they must be doing something right.  The band has been in the studio and has more new music coming out in ’08, so keep an ear to the proverbial ground.

7. Five Blank Pages – Last Blush: I think I had this band all wrong.  I wrote a sorta half-positive half-bashing review after catching them live for the first time last year.  I just couldn’t get over how thin Noyan’s vocals were, especially live.  I wasn’t wrong about that; what I was wrong about is thinking that couldn’t work effectively for a band.  Time and again, Last Blush provides proof it can.  A lot of that can be attributed to the stellar production of Jose Miguel Conteras, I suppose, but the songs hold up just as well live — so this is my public apology.

6. Foxfire Forest – Foxfire Forest: Are Foxfire Forest better heard as a live band?  I’d say perhaps.  There isn’t a single Toronto band I prefer to go see live than this massive troop of talented musicians.  I still can’t just write off a band’s record because they’ve outgrown it and put on an amazing live show.  I think we sometimes make the mistake of getting to know a band’s killer live show and then judging an album too harshly by association.  Foxfire seems to occasionally get needled for that very reason.

5. Key Witness – Mercury in Retrogade: This record came out so late in 2007 it almost didn’t get considered.  I really believe this band has almost unlimited potential and it’s nice to have a vehicle like Mercury in Retrogade available to spread the gospel.  I’d say more but see Alicia’s review, which says it all.

4. The Ghost is Dancing – The Darkest Spark: In a year that saw Rock Plaza Central relentlessly touring rather than releasing new music, I found myself craving and searching for a band to pick up where Are We Not Horses left off.  The Ghost is Dancing are said band, and I thank them for it.

3. Love Kills – Carry Me Home: And now we are back to that new/nugaze scene I was talking about.  Seeing Love Kills now is probably akin to seeing Jesus & the Mary Chain in their prime.  That’s a bold statement, and I stand by it completely.  Carry Me Home is, simply put, one of the best EPs I have ever heard.

2. Sunparlour Players – Hymns for the Happy: Sorry to be anticlimactic about this record, but I don’t want to be redundant.  I wrote a blurb about these guys in the Top Ten and Top 50, and a review of the record.  It’s good, very very good.  I think you’ve gotten that by now.

1. Fox Jaws – Goodbye Doris: They are from Barrie, which isn’t really Toronto, but the album is far too good to start splitting hairs over.  This isn’t just the best album of the year from our location, it’s one of the best albums I’ve heard released worldwide.