We gathered our imaginary staff to determine our collective Northwest favorites for 2007. It was hard work. Imaginary battles were fought, alliances formed, and finally, winners emerged.

You should have seen the way that imaginary Liz can arm wrestle, and how Erik Gonzalez can duke it out for his favorite bands. It was fierce and fun, and we think our final list was well worth the effort.

Here they are: the TIG official editor picks for best Northwest releases of 2007. Enjoy!

#20 Grand Hallway Yes Is the Answer (Self-released)
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#19 Aqueduct Or Give Me Death (Barsuk)
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#18 Night Canopy Of Honey and Country (Go Midnight)
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#17 Team Gina Gina Gina Revolution (Self-released)
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#16 Arthur & Yu In Camera (Hardly Art)
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#15 Minus the Bear Planet of Ice (Suicide Squeeze)
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#14 The Cops Free Electricity (The Control Group)
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#13 Ms Led Shake Yourself Awake (Fish the Cat)
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#12 The Femurs Modern Mexico (HomeSpun)
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#11 Patience Please Fleeting Frequencies (Happy Happy Birthday To Me)
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#10 Grand Archives Grand Archives (Self-released / Sub Pop)
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#9 Shake Some Action! Shake Some Action (Satellite 451)
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#8 Math & Physics Club Baby I’m Yours (Matinee)
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#7 Throw Me The Statue Moonbeams (Baskerville Hill)
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#6 Blue Scholars Bayani (MassLine Media, Rawkus)
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#5 Siberian With Me (Sonic Boom Recordings)
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#4 BOAT Let’s Drag Our Feet (Magic Marker)
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#3 Menomena Friend and Foe (Barsuk)
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#2 Tullycraft Every Scene Needs a Center (Magic Marker)
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#1 Cave Singers Invitation Songs (Matador)
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Honorable mentions:

Blitzen Trapper Wild Mountain Nation (Lidkercow Ltd.)

Modest Mouse We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (Epic)

Schoolyard Heroes Abominations (Stolen Transmission)

The Shaky Hands The Shaky Hands (Holocene Music)

The Shins Wincing the Night Away (Sub Pop)