I realised this year that I have been making holiday mixes for 19 years. These days I’m beginning to wonder how to determine the official length of a mix. In the good old days, it was the length of a 90-minute cassette, and even this year, I pressed CDs, so the playlist remains the length of an audio CD.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the mix next year, I hope to do a “Best Of” all previous mixes. My Dad is probably the only person to actually have all 19 mixes, so it’s up to him to send me a transcribed list of tracks.

Here is the ’07 mix:

Apostle of Hustle – “My Sword Hand’s Anger”
Since becoming a huge fan of Broken Social Scene, I’ve been turning to a lot of other Arts & Crafts label acts, which is reflected in this year’s mix. National Anthem of Nowhere was easily one of my favourite albums of the year. The title track is available as a free download.

Patty Griffin – Stay on the Ride
I’ve always been a sucker for great female folk acts, particularly the blues crooning of artists like Rory Block. I’m not sure what took me so long to get into Patty Griffin (she’s even a redhead), but Children Running Through is good from start to stop.

!!! – Must Be The Moon
One of the acts that played this year’s Electric Picnic. Just try to sit down while listening to this track.

Kristin Hersh – Vertigo
I used to spin Throwing Muses on college radio in Boston. Every track is not stellar on this album, but there are some stand-out gems like this.

LCD Soundsystem – North American Scum
I still prefer the last album and frankly, I had to put this track on the mix for all my new found European friends. Enjoyed seeing the band at the Electric Picnic but would prefer to see them at a smaller club.

Broken Social Scene – Cause = Time (Live at Radio Aligre FM, Paris)
One of my favourite bands. One of my favourite tracks and a nice alternative acoustic version. I did get the chance to see Kevin Drew in Dublin and as much as I like his solo stuff, the Broken Social Scene material was the best stuff, along with the Dinosaur Jr. cover of Wagon.

Andrew Bird – Imitosis
From the first listen, I knew this track would stand out on the year. I knew nothing of Andrew Bird, even though he pressed a few albums on Ani Difranco’s Righteous Babe label. They aren’t alike, but I still feel this release quenched my Sufjan Stevens withdrawal.

Radiohead – All I Need
This is the second time I got a Radiohead album and was initially underwhelmed. I’m such a fool. This song is brilliant. I’ve tried playing it into the ground and still can’t get enough of it. And, finally, will get to see Radiohead for the first time at Malahide Castle in June.

Deerhoof – Believe E.S.P.
Was my song of the year until All I Need came along. Standout performance at the Electric Picnic. I’m not a groupie, but still a bit pissed I didn’t get that drumstick that landed in front of me.

Tinariwen – Cler Achel
Heard this band while watching Glastonbury on TV. Lisa had apparently heard them on a radio broadcast. We’ve been in a trance state ever since. Barely nudged out Vieux Farka Touré on the mix.

Beirut – Nantes
Still not sure where this track came from since the whole album isn’t downloadable from my eMusic account. I don’t understand this whole “freak folk” label with acts like Devendra Banhart. Great track. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.

Stars – One More Night
What’s better than a release by an Arts & Crafts artist? An album of remixes of a release by Arts & Crafts artists, Do You Trust Your Friends?. Sexy is the best description I can give to the track, though I believe if I delve more deeply into the lyrics there’s some darker content in there. More Apostle of Hustle found in this collaboration. Remix album is better than the original in many ways.

Black Moth Super Rainbow – Sun Lips
One album of these guys may be enough, and even though the track is good, I feel like I put it on the mix just to look really cool.

Menomena – Air Aid
First album I heard this year that I knew would be on my Top 5 albums of the year. May also be the only review I’ve done on iTunes. Chance to see them live in February.

What’s missing from this CD length mix? I would have squeezed in tracks from The White Stripes and The National had I the space.

Not to end on a downer, but disappointment of the year was the new PJ Harvey album, White Chalk … not a single electric guitar in earshot. Sorry Polly Jean, I’ll still buy everything you release.

(I’ll post some links and images when I get ’round to it. Believe me, it is a painstaking process on dial-up.)