Top 45 Arctic Cactus Hour Discs of 2007

The Arctic Cactus Hour continues to be a great excuse to preview new music and then share the best with you.  Much of what we play comes directly from bands or from independent and regional labels - the best music is often the least known.  2007 saw some great releases and you can’t go wrong buying any of the artists listed in our Top 45 below.  If you can’t find what you want at your local music store, check out my favorite on-line source, Miles Of Music at www.milesofmusic.com.   Be sure and tell them the Arctic Cactus Hour sent you.

Based on airplay, here are the top Arctic Cactus Hour discs of 2007….all 45 of them.

Top 10 Arctic Cactus Hour Discs for 2007

#1 Mary Chapin Carpenter – The Calling (Zoe)

#2 Lucinda Williams – The West (Lost Highway)

#3 Elana James – Elana James (Snarf)

#4 Sunny Sweeney – Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame (self-released)

#5 Audrey Auld Mezera – Lost Men & Angry Girls (Reckless)

#6 Kasey Chambers – Carvinal (Warner)

#7 Various – Luckenbach! Compadres! (Palo Duro)

#8 Jason Boland & The Stragglers – The Bourbon Legend (Sustain)

#9 Kelly Willis – Translated From Love (Rykodisc)

The Next 12

Various – Endless Highway: Music Of The Band (429 Records)

The Starlings – Songbook (self-released)

Trent Summar & The New Row Mob – Horseshoes & Hand Grenades (Palo Duro)

Bill Kirchen – Hammer Of The Honky Tonk Gods (Proper American)

Steve Earle – Washington Square Serenade (New West)

Son Volt – The Search (Transmit Sound)

Donna Hughes – Gaining Wisdom (Rounder)

Wrinkle Neck Mules – The Wicks Have Met (Lower 40)

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers – No More Beautiful World (Emma Java)

The Blue Jays – A Hundred Songs (Hithouse)

Jaimi Shuey – Wrong Girl (Boronda)

23 More

The Psychedelic Cowboys – Jangle Watlz (Taxim)

Marty Stuart – Compadres: An Anthology Of Duets (Superlatone)

Burrito Deluxe –Disciples Of The Truth (Luna Chica)

Elizabeth Cook – Balls (31 Tigers)

The Infamous Stringdusters – Fork In The Road (Sugar Hill)

Pam Tillis – Rhinestoned (Stellar Cat)

Dale Watson – From The Cradle To The Grave (Hyena)

Robbie Fulks – Revenge (Yep Roc)

The Hideaways – The Whiskey Tango Sessions (Dren)

Adrienne Young – Room To Grow (Addiebelle)

Last Train Home – Last Good Kiss (Red Beet)

The Duhks – Migration (Sugar Hill)

Gurf Morlix – Diamonds To Dust (Blue Corn)

Loomer – Songs Of The Wild West Island (Newtone)

Jay Boy Adams – Old Shoe Box (Smith Entertainment)

Lost Immigrants – Waiting For Judgment Day (Palo Duro)

South 40 – Home (BC Records)

Ricky Skaggs/Bruce Hornsby – Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby (Sony BMG)

Jimmy LaFave – Cimarron Manifesto (Red House)

Darrell Scott – The Invisible Man (Full Light)

Brandon Jenkins – Seven (Smith Entertainment)

Elisabeth Ames & The Countrypolitans – Anytime (Ultrpolitan)

Miranda Lambert – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Sony BMG)

Willie, Merle, Ray – Last Of The Breed (Lost Highway)