#17 of 2007: Stars & Handsome Furs*

Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War
Thirty-One Words: Never has protest music sounded so hopeful and danceable. I totally could stand hippies more if this was the music they created. Stars are the band that Chumbawamba never could be.

The one song that makes it worth $17.95: "The Night Starts Here"

Pitchfork Says: 7.4

Handsome Furs - Plague ParkThirty-One Words: Handsome Furs is just Wolf Parade without guitars and dramatics. Between guttural singing and eighties keyboards, the listener can pick up on the complexities applied to the northwest indie rock formula.

The one song that makes it worth $17.95: "Hate this City"

Pitchfork Says: 7.2

*Since Canada has so many bands on this list, I decided to double up at #17.