The poll is closed. Results are in — here is a quick video of Ok Go with my favorite holiday song, the Kinks’ “Father Christmas” Enjoy! Awards will be in the next post.

This year readers, YOU pick the best album of 2007. Everyone listed here has made my “top ten” and deserves accolades. The few that were not included in this poll are EPs or albums of less than 8 tracks and reissues without new content. To see reviews of each of these albums select the Top Ten of 2007 Candidiates link. If you know your favorite already, just vote! Results are dynamic and can be viewed anytime! Final results will be posted on Christmas Day.

I had a wonderful chat with Steve Eggers of The Nines about a month ago after the release of “Gran Jukle’s Field”. It’s finally uploaded to the interviewes section of the site. Enjoy it here!

Next up is the Powerpopaholic year end poll for best power pop album of the year! Don’t forget to vote.

Nathan Eiesland and Alissa Ritchie weave some great indie pop tunes with a coolness similar to early Radiohead and John Mayer. With “The Most Beautiful Song” he weaves harmonies and modern rock backdrop, and it’s an impressive start. The next song “Cigarettes” is a great light pop confessional that pulls straight from the Paul Simon songbook. It’s here that Scatteredtrees really shines. The album has a mellow vibe along the lines of Eric Matthews as the next song “Where We’ve Already Gone’ shows. That song and the follow up “Duet” are just beautiful acoustic coffeehouse styled music. And like a hot cup on a cold night, the melodies will warm your insides when you hear it. The tempo picks up on “Hero’s Welcome” and like John Mayer music, it does it’s best to seduce. It’s jarring to have the electric guitar suddenly emerge on “Springtime Proposal.” Both “Springtime Proposal” and “I Would or I Should” try to add the uptempo nodern rock stylings, but Nathan works best with the ballad. The album gets a bit dodgy at the mid point, with the demo “Poor Man’s Suit” – but comes back nicely with the great ballad “Eyes From A Distance.” If you have an emusic account this is a nice addition to your downloads this month.

The Scatteredtrees | My Space | E Music | Itunes

Listen to “Eyes From Distance”

Dan Fogelberg (August 13, 1951 – December 16, 2007) has passed away. To me he was always the king of the sentimental ballad. Every single Christian pop folkie followed his template for years, and never came close. They don’t write ballads like this anymore. He will be sorely missed.